Roleplay Title: Neos Kosmos
Creator: LoliKokoro
Type: Sci-fi, drama
Skill Level required: Literate or up
Literacy demonstration: Yes
Character Restrictions: No more than six
Required Character: There are three character types to pick from, and each type requires certain characters. Further explanation will be below. Profile thread can be found here.
Reliquans - Expedition leader + three members
Dywan - Household leaders + family members
Penavci - Chief + royal family + hunters + other Penavci
Basis:

Story

In the year 2203, scientists successfully created an underwater community in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Puerto Rico. It was advertised as the "ultimate living experience" and named Reliqua. It was thought to be the future of humankind as we know it. Despite protests and people believing it to be a dangerous lifestyle, people all over the world came to live in the large domes in the warm waters of the Atlantic.

They grew their own food using the latest technology. They shopped at malls provided. And as ethnicities mixed and lived amongst each other without regards to national borders, they became more aware of peace between countries. People all over the world were amazed by how serene and heavenly this deep sea city was. This didn't sway the skeptics; they were still convinced that something terrible would happen if they moved their families beneath the waves. But nothing did. For almost twenty years, the underwater community was happy.

Until a series of natural disasters occurred. Week long lightning storms destroyed homes and cities, and then massive wildfires continued to wreak havoc on the land. Communications between the land and sea were cut, and the underwater nation lived in ignorance of what was going on above, per request of the city’s leaders.

Just as the people above struggled to recover from the storms and ran from the fires, a great flood came. It rained for almost two years. When sun finally showed, all but a small section of North America was submersed in several miles of water.

Life was hard for the survivors. Some took to the mountain range on one side of the island to find the remnants of bases and homes that still stood. There, in the high mountains formally known as the Sierra Nevada’s, they built new villages out of burned houses.

The people left behind were exposed to the elements as well as predators. They had no choice but to revert to a primitive state, hunting to survive and living in poorly made shelters.

The people underwater continued to thrive. Their technology was advanced and they ate well.

In the year 5010, the world was very different. The people in the mountains had grown wings and taken to the sky. The people in the grasslands gained great speeds as they battled against vicious killer animals, resembling those found in the savannas of Africa. A silent war broke out between the two tribes, their increasing differences only breeding hatred.

Meanwhile, shifting tectonic plates had moved Reliqua closer to the island. As the residents of Reliqua took notice of the approaching mainland during their long swims through the ocean, they grew more curious about the world above. Life in their fiberglass bubbles was peaceful, but a select few yearned for something more.

This was the year the expedition began. The Leaders of the underwater city decided to send out a group of residents to explore the land above. Within hours, a team of five had hit land and were already making negotiations with the grassland Penavci. They took up residence along the sandy beaches of the Penavci territory.

The Dywan, the winged, cliff-dwellers, struggled to trust the invaders, especially once friendly relations between the Reliqua people and the Penavci were established. Both native tribes tolerated the intruders, helping them when asked.

Months have passed. The Reliquan expeditioners make no indication of leaving any time soon. They try to understand the natives, but the conflict between the two tribes distresses them. The Penavci have shown them kindness and have held out their hand in benevolence, but they are growing impatient.

As tensions between the Penavci and the Dywan grow, and the Reliquans continue to wedge themselves into a society in which they don't belong, it can only be so long before something snaps. War may just be on the horizon.


The Tribes


Reliqua - The Reliquans are a peaceful, good-natured group of people. Having lived in isolation for thousands of years, they have a strong sense of community. Because their technology is so advanced, they are used to a very high standard of living and it's not unusual for people to live well past one hundred years. They are all incredible swimmers, and are able to hold their breath for at least an hour. Each generation is able to hold their breath longer than their predecessors. However, even though they are kind and generous, the extreme amount of power their Leaders possess means that corruption is not uncommon, and a good portion of the history textbooks have been altered or rewritten. They really have no idea about the Great Flood, or even what the world was like before the migration to Reliqua.

Life is incredibly diverse, but there is very little cultural difference. Some families may choose to follow traditions of their ancestors, but there really isn't a prevalent culture. Life is very controlled, as Reliquans are highly organized individuals. Up on the surface, they are quickly trying to maintain order.

The Reliquans live in a society based on democracy and capitalism, but over time those institutions have weakened. People can be whatever they choose to be; shops can be opened by anyone with something to sell, anyone can enter school to be a teacher or a scientist, and people can be board members of hospitals or schools or the like. However, everything is practically controlled by a The Elders, a group of the oldest residents of Reliqua (of course, they must be healthy and mentally stable enough to hold the position). They decide which stores receive their licenses, how many new people can get hired in a certain field at a certain time, and what those people do for a living. They control the curriculum in schools and edit the textbooks. They are in charge of practically every aspect of life in Reliqua, even though no one really notices the strict control. They know every person born in Reliqua and have the greatest collection of information in the history of the earth. They are wise and truly care for Reliqua, but they often use their power to manipulate people and how they look at things.


Dywan - The Dywan are a proud and intelligent race; back when the first survivors moved into the mountains, they were able to salvage some books and writing utensils. Therefore, they can read and write, and this is part of the reason why they feel superior to the illiterate Penavci. They have large, powerful-looking feathered wings, but in reality their wings are rather weak, and they cannot fly very high or very far. Most people just glide from cliff to cliff. They have created cave dwellings and small houses along the sheer drop, and can be seen flitting from ledge to ledge. They have also taken on an agricultural lifestyle; they grow crops on the wider, higher ledges, and raise sheep and goats along the mountainside. Apart from their power of flight, they are able to see from great heights.

The Dywan do not have the strongest form of government as they run solely on merit. Those who have gained the respect and trust of the community are allowed to have the most authority. Once a month the head of every household joins in a town-hall-like meeting in which he or she talks about the complaints or worries of the family. Because of this truly equal and fair system, anyone can has the ability to do any sort of job, and they often circulate. Women and children can put in as much effort as men, as long as they're capable. However, status means a lot to the Dywan, and they often try to appear as intelligent and trustworthy as possible to gain more authority, even if it is just an act. It seems like a rather trusting society, but people are easily suspicious and relationships tend to be fairly shallow.


Penavci - The Penavci had to adapt to a harsh environment; the grasslands provided very little protection from the elements and the fierce predators that collected on the island. They have developed a rather primitive lifestyle; they live near the beach, where they fish, and along the forest, which provides them a little bit of protection. However, few dare to go past the first few rows of trees, as the Dywan often take their herds of sheep into the forest to graze, and even the smallest encounter can result in bloodshed. The Penavci live in crude huts made out of mud and sticks, and live in an occupation-based hierarchy. They are led by a Chief and they glorify Hunters as authority figures. The Penavci have developed powerful legs for running and a keen sense of hearing. Armed with spears and arrows crafted by hand, they hunt deer-like creatures and collect herbs and fruit.

The Penavci are rather big cat in nature; they live in constant danger of attack by the Dywan or predators, but those who aren't Hunters have a relatively lazy lifestyle.

The Penavci live in a monarchy, a rather hierarchical one at that. The Chief holds the power and only his son may take after him. The hunter class is regarded as nobility and are always incredibly valuable not only to the tribe but for marriage as well. Those without a set role are treated rather coldly. It is a very sexist society; women are expected to marry early and have children and maintain the camp, but female hunters are becoming increasingly common. Men are the only ones allowed to choose a wife, so many parents set up arranged marriages for their daughters, to save them the possible humiliation of not being picked. The Penavci are very traditional, especially the royal family, and often resist change. Still, they honor strength over everything else, so it's not hard to rise to a much higher rank if you are strong. However, traditions are beginning to weaken somewhat as people get married later and later, women break into more masculine fields, and people begin to take interest in the Reliquan visitors. Nowadays in the Penavci camp, only the royal family still participate in very old-fashioned traditions.


Character Roles

There are various character roles that can be filled. For Dywan and Penavci characters, the options are endless, but there will only be five Reliquan characters.

Reliquans - Reliquan characters are members of the expedition team sent to explore the surface. Characters should ideally have some sort of specialty; i.e. medic, archaeologist. There should also be a leader. The expedition team, although also treated as diplomats and mediators between the three nations, are mainly there for information collection.

Dywan - Because there aren't any strict governmental roles for the Dywan, there aren't any real roles that need to be filled. It would be nice, though, to have some adults who can play the household leaders and take initiative.

Penavci - Like the Dywan, there's a broad range of characters available for play, but some important ones would be members of the royal family and the noble class, the hunters. The Chief should be a traditional and strong-willed leader. His children are also available to play. The hunters are a well-respected group of individuals, and unlike the royal family, anyone can become a hunter as long as they're capable.