Estia
created by scenicowl
find me on: janitor ai and saucepan ai
World
Estia is a kingdom in a dark fantasy world set in the pseudo-1700s. The kingdom takes loose inspiration from English and French culture of the time, alongside my own additions and fantasy elements.For example, weapons like muskets exist just as they did in the 18th century of our own world, but in Estia they are mainly used by Vampire Hunters or mounted cavalry, and are too expensive for the average citizen to afford (cheaper models do exist, but are notoriously unreliable and just as likely to backfire as to fire properly, making them extremely dangerous to use).
Geography
Estia is a sprawling kingdom that spans most of a continent. It is a land of dense forests, scattered villages, and ancient secrets. Much of the territory remains wild and wooded, with small, often isolated communities nestled among the trees. The largest and most infamous of Estia's forests is Blackwood Forest—a sprawling, shadow-choked expanse that remains largely unexplored. The deeper one ventures, the more twisted and unnatural its creatures become.The capital city, Hailfel, is a thriving port city within a day’s journey of the royal castle. Though some of Estia’s larger cities and key towns are marked on the provided map, there are countless smaller villages that are unmarked.
Society
OverviewEstia is a highly patriarchical society, ruled by a King. Men and women are expected to adhere to 'traditional gender roles'.Inheritance laws limit inheritance to the male line in a family, and are followed strictly among royalty and nobles, however there is much more flexibility for the lower ranks of society.Ranks of royalty and nobility follow the order of:♔ King
♔ Prince
♔ Duke
♔ Count
♔ Viscount
♔ BaronTitle is direct indicator of responsibilities, but is only a possible indicator of wealth and social/political power. A count could be wealthier than a Duke, for example, and a Baron could have more social and political power than a Count depending on their connections. The female counterparts to each rank (Queen, Duchess, Countess...) are due equal respect to their title, but any power they hold is wielded much more indirectly.An unmarried noblewoman remains the charge of her parents regardless of her age. Upon their passing, her guardianship would fall to the next male heir. Again, these rules have much more flexibility among the lower classes.
The BlightedPhysical disabilities, prominent birthmarks, and chronic illnesses are often seen as evidence that the individual has been touched by dark forces or marked by a demon for nefarious purposes.It’s not uncommon for families to abandon these children in the depths of the forest, hoping to appease the unholy powers they believe to have caused their child’s condition. Blackwood Forest is probably the most common site at which people choose to abandon such children due to its association with the supernatural, however the practice is certainly not limited to BlackwoodThose who choose to raise a “blighted” child are often seen as self-sacrificing, admired for their virtue and selflessness in raising a child tainted by the touch of a dark force —but never free from scrutiny. The child, no matter how loved within their home, is rarely accepted as a full member of society.As the children grow older, they are typically refused entry to guilds, denied apprenticeships, and shut out of community life. Most are forced to rely on family for survival, beg on the streets, or take on highly undesirable work that most citizens are unwilling to do.
Creatures
Vampires:In Estia, vampires—like witches and demons—are seen as soulless abominations. They are feared, hated, and hunted. It’s widely believed that once a person is turned, all traces of their humanity are lost. Any flicker of emotion or hint of compassion is dismissed as either a hollow echo of what the living person once felt or a calculated attempt to deceive.A human becomes a vampire when drained of blood by their sire, then fed that sire’s blood in return. The newly turned awaken disoriented, feral with hunger, and often incapable of controlling their burgeoning powers. This makes them wildly dangerous to the average person who crosses their path—but also vulnerable. Trained Vampire Hunters are able to easily dispatch fledglings before they have learned to control themselves.Animal blood alone is unable to sustain a vampire for long. However, a vampire can sustain themselves on a diet of mostly animal blood when combined with small, regular doses of human blood, though it will never grant the same kind of health and power that a fully human-fed vampire enjoys. Those who feast primarily on human blood are faster, stronger, and harder to kill.Though daylight won’t reduce Estian vampires to ash, it does sap their strength, leaving them sluggish and vulnerable. The can be killed through many of the other usual ways such as decapitation, fire, or a stake through the heart. With the development of firearms, Vampire Hunters have also found that vampires can be killed with a bullet straight through the head if the bullet has been specially blessed by a priest.
Witches:Witches are humans who have sold their souls to demons in exchange for power.Further information to come.
Demons:Further information to come.
Roles
Vampire Hunters:People who hunt inhuman threats—vampires, witches, and demons—are collectively known as Vampire Hunters, named for the most infamous of the beasts that prey upon Estians. Multiple guilds exist across Estia, each with its own methods and codes.The most elite among the guilds is the Darkshield Hunter’s Guild, backed by the royal family, the Magdalenes. With the crown’s coin and blessing, the Darkshields enjoy unrivaled resources, access, and legitimacy. Their main guildhall stands in the capital city of Hailfel.
Priests:Priests in Estia have responsibilities beyond sermons and confession. They are regularly called to purify places suspected of demonic activity, bless graveyards to keep the dead from rising, and consecrate bullets for Vampire Hunters—imbuing ordinary firearms with the power to kill the undead.Witches fall under the jurisdiction of both the Hunters and the Church. Vampire Hunters tend to kill witches on sight. The Church, however, insists on due process: a confession, corroborating evidence, and a formal trial before a witch is condemned to burn at the stake. This procedure was implemented following past episodes of mass hysteria and reckless accusations that led to the deaths of innocents.Still, these protections are not ironclad. A high-ranking clergyman—such as an Archbishop—could theoretically bypass this process entirely, declaring someone guilty without confession or proof and having them sent to be burned on his word alone.
Knights:All knights in Estia serve the crown—at least in name. In practice, most operate through local branches, answering to regional lords who enforce the king’s will on a smaller scale. Knights are rarely seen on battlefields these days, and are more often found patrolling city streets or mediating local disputes.Their role has become increasingly bureaucratic as largescale wars have died down between kingdoms in the past decades, however every knight is still trained for combat and equipped to hold their ground in a fight. Should war ever return to the kingdom, the king’s call can—and will—summon them back to the frontlines.
Laws
Inheritance Laws:Noble titles and the lands tied to them may only pass through legitimate male bloodlines. If a lord dies without a lawful male heir and no widow survives him1, his estate reverts to the crown. Unmarried daughters are considered part of the property—marriage arrangements for them become the king’s responsibility.For noblewomen, this is a dreaded fate. Their future is left to the whims of the King's politics and favoritism, paired off with whichever man the king wishes to bestow favor on at the time.2 Some are matched with respectable husbands. Others find themselves the wives of cruel and abusive men.
(1) If a widow survives the lord and there is no male heir, the property remains hers until her death.(2) In the case of a single unmarried daughter, her father's title, land, and wealth would be given to her arranged husband through the marriage. In the case of multiple unmarried daughters, the title and land would go to the arranged husband of the eldest daughter along with a portion of the wealth. The rest of the wealth would be divided to give to the arranged husbands of the younger daughters as their dowries.