Isle of Draught

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This article is about Isle of Draught. For other uses, see Draught (disambiguation).

Coat of Arms:Needs to be redone. If anyone wants to write it up, feel free and @mail it to Catelyn!

Colors: Emerald, Navy, and Silver

Map: Map of Draught

Contents

Baronies and Lordships

Here is a listing of the Nobles of Draught. These are people that would be well enough known throughout the isle and, more specifically, to their lieges and people of their particular areas. Duke Rhyse and Duchess Catelyn are the current Duke and Duchess of the Isle. If you have any questions about any of our available positions, or you want ideas or aid in developing something that suits your idea for what you want to do for one of the positions PLEASE contact us! In game page or @mail Catelyn.

Welcome to Draught and we shall see you soon!

The Barony of Amphorae


This Barony’s main resource is healers and healing herbs. These are a people dedicated to the protection and preservation of human life, and the School of Healing is located on their lands, specifically in the Lordship of Healer’s Hall. Several plantations of herbs are worked in this Barony, spread out across both lordships.


The Barony of Destine


This Barony’s main resources could be considered the exhaustive maps their astronomers have produced of the stars, though as all of the Baronies in Draught, several plantations of both healing herbs and the spices that are Draught’s main economy are planted here. Everything we know of our world and the heavens above has come from the studies of Destine astronomers. Filled with astronomers, astrologers, and gypsies, Destine produces the Empire’s finest navigators - provided anyone ever gets a ship into open water not controlled by the currents. However, there is a more quirky set of the population - the fortunetellers and astrologers who believe all of life can be predicted by reading the stars, tea leaves, crystal balls and palms. Their talents are not magical, though a few (very few) have proven remarkably accurate, a fact which has thus far defied scientific explanation.


The Barony of Ethos


This Barony is filled with the Purists of Draught, whose religious fervor have made them pariahs of a sort among their own people. Believing that Providence’s grace saved us all from the horror of demonkind, these people desire to live their lives in servitude to and worship of Providence - though there are many ideas across the Empire of what that worship should be. The Soranus family seems to have stepped into leadership of the motley crew and been intrinsic in bringing more order and direction to it.


The Barony of Miller's Isle

  • Baron: Currently under Ducal control while Lancaster relatives are sought (open for app)


This Barony contains some of the greatest minds on Draught, and its main economy is constructed around the production of power, alchemy, and the evolution of science. The College of Science is located here, specifically in the Lordship of Pyria, and the Lordship of Tinker’s Bench boasts the Empire’s finest shipyards. Only in Miller’s Isle are there /no/ spice or herb plantations - their fields are devoted to testing areas for the various machines and power sources that they invent, as well as large spaces of mostly uninhabited land where alchemists can test their more dangerous potions and scientists their most dangerous inventions without risk to others. This is also where M.O.S.S. has its headquarters, as a branch of the School of Science.


Resources

  • Healing Herbs: Aconite, Agrimony, Aloe, Alumroot, Amaranth, Angelica, Anise, Arrowwood, Balsam, Barberry, Belladonna, Bethroot, Betony, Bistort, Bitterwort, Black Alder, Bloodroot, Boneset, Bryony, Burdock root, Cannabis, Catnip, Celandine, Chamomile, Comfrey, Consumptive’s Weed, Echinacea, Edelweiss, Elderberry, Endive, Feverfew (Featherfew), Germander, Ginkgo, Goldenseal, Hawthorne, Hops, Hyssop, Ipecac, Lady’s Mantle, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lily of the Valley, Lungwort, Mandrake, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Motherwort, Mugwort, Myrrh, Myrtle (Bayberry), Passion Flower, Pennyroyal, Primrose, Redwort, Ribwort, Rue, Sassafras, Skullcap, St. John’s Wort, Stoneroot, Tansy, Valerian, Witch Hazel, Yarrow (Nosebleed)
  • Spices: Bay, Caraway, Cloves, Cumin, Dandelion, Lemon Grass, Lemon Verbena, Licorice, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Patchouli, Peppermint, Shallots, Tarragon (Mugwort), Vanilla,
  • Combination: Basil, Cardamom, Chives, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Dill, Dyer’s Saffron, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Mint, Mustard, Parsley, Pepper, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Wormwood (Absinthe)
  • Other: Henna, Tobacco
  • Machines: Lever, Inclined Plane, Wheel and Axle, Screw, Wedge, Pulley, Gears, Chains and Belts, Ratchet, Crank and Rod, Rack and Pinion, Arch, Bridge, Compass, Loom,
  • Sources of Power: Horsepower, Windmills, Waterwheels, Tension springs

People of Draught

The people of the Isle of Draught fall into several distinct categories. Overall, they are a highly intellectual people, with a love of debate and experimentation. Overwhelmingly, they all subscribe to the ideal of improving life for all people through various means – however, the ways in which they choose to go about this are what separate them at a basic level. The divisions of society on Draught are as such:

  • The alchemists, herbalists and healers: These are the people who prefer to seek ways to extend life through alchemical compounds and advanced healing methods. They also seek ways to improve the quality of life through certain potions that enhance a person’s natural abilities or emotions, or produce hallucinogenic or euphoric effects. These are the people who are concerned with diet and exercise, and with finding ways to live longer, and retain strength and with throughout the natural life cycle.
  • The engineers and machinists: These are the people who seek ways to improve the quality of life by inventing labor-saving machines that can do the work of man. Alternate power sources such as windmills and waterwheels are the inventions of these folks, as well as simple machines such as levers, pulleys, and so forth.
  • The astronomers and astrologers: These are people who seek to discover the secrets behind life’s mysteries as a way of accepting or altering fate. They seek to gain knowledge by reading the stars and casting horoscopes. Not all of these people believe in astrology, and there is a great division between this sect as to the usefulness of that particular science. Some claim it is not a science at all, but an act of charlatans.
  • The Purists: These are people who seek to improve the quality of life by rejecting actions seen as 'wrong' or 'sinful' in an attempt to stem the influence of darkness and the agents of the Lord of the Abyss. This is the smallest sect on Draught, but in many ways, the loudest. Fascinating speakers, this sect boasts many people with the power of verbal persuasion, able to form passionate and compelling arguments for their way of life. Virtue and personal purity is considered a sign of devotion to Providence, though not every purist agrees on the precise definition of such. They encourage abstinence from hallucinogenic and euphoric drugs, and in distant ages were mistrustful of astrology and machinery, but some of the more archaic tenets of the faith have evolved with time. All major doctrine is compiled in what the Purists call the Libris Sancti which draws together several sources, including a tome written by the Emperor Jonathan Caprios. It describes a struggle that only began with the rising of the Gateway, as ancient evils that once ruled humanity outright now worked through shadows and subterfuge to maintain their rule, and ultimately release their Dark Lord.

Homes on Draught

Most homes on Draught are built out of stone with the hopes that regardless of who inhabits, the home will be relatively safe no matter the mishap, and also because stone is in abundance in many lordships on Draught, while trees are in limited supply and often times destined for the shipyard in Miller’s Isle. Those that are poorer may live in towers that are shared by several families or groups; this is especially common for those just out of school and in the process of gaining financial independence. Explosions or mechanical mishaps of one sort or another are frequent, and it is incredibly common for quite a number of structures on the Isle to be undergoing repairs.

Justice on the Isle of Draught

The Duke and Duchess of Draught have a household guard, made up mostly of those members of society who preferred the path of the warrior and trained on Guardian Isle. They are in large part responsible for protecting the peace, and when necessary, can and do arrest citizens accused of wrongdoing to be brought before the Duke and Duchess.

All matters of justice that do not directly pertain to treason are handled by the Duke or Duchess. Treasonous subjects are remanded to Gateway Isle to be dealt with directly by the Emperor.

The Isle of Draught has developed a tradition of trial by jury, with the Duke or Duchess acting as judge. The typical jury consists of six members of the populace – for noble crimes, all members of the jury are noble, and for citizen crimes, all members of the jury are citizens. Members of the jury are chosen by random lots. Every person accused of a crime is given a representative to speak on their behalf. The victim of a crime is also given a representative to plead his case. The representatives are known as Advocates, and vary according to the situation – they are hand-selected by the Duke or Duchess for the purpose of each specific trial.

At a trial, evidence is presented by both sides and the jury deliberates on the facts of the case. When they have reached a unanimous decision, the trial is complete and the person is declared guilty or innocent. In case of a split jury, the Duke will decide the fate of the accused. The Duke or Duchess is solely responsible for meting out punishment when someone is found guilty.

Punishment varies according to the crime. In the case of theft, a warning may be issued if the item was small or there were mitigating circumstances – however, habitual thieves are punished more severely, by imprisonment, loss of a hand, or death. Convicted murderers are almost always executed.

The theft of an idea or invention is one of the more serious crimes on Draught. Intellectual property is seen as sancrosanct, and claiming someone else’s original thought or idea as your own will, if proven in a trial, earn you a branding and outcast status in society. This is known as, appanded with an O. Anyone on Draught who sees this symbol will refuse succor, aid, food, or shelter to the outcasted person. It is not uncommon for those who have been outcasted to flee the Isle of Draught for their own survival, as murder of an outcast is not seen as a crime.

Technology on the Isle of Draught

Invention is an important aspect on this Isle, to push beyond that which we already have and make it better. Over the history of Draught, many an inventor made the Isle both famous and infamous with their creations, the only thing ever unchanging is the hunger to continue advancing the Isle and the Empire as a whole.

The current level of technology seems to be focused on clockworks. Those are the most popular of toys on the Isle, others are attempting to create household items to help with the mundane chores of everyday life. Timepieces in varying shapes and sizes, from the very small to the enormous have become common place. A large clock tower has even been erected at the School of Science in Pyria that chimes at the top of every hour.

There has been a small amount of focus on steam and the possibilities of steam, though that is largely overlooked by many inventors. There are rumors of a potential heating system being invented using steam, though details of this are sketchy at best.


If you are bringing a new invention into the game, or even changing something that is already in the game, please submit a +dticket. If you have any questions, page Catelyn or Julie!

Marriage on the Isle of Draught

For the most part, marriage on Draught is a practice of the nobility. The ordinary citizens of Draught participate in the ritual. When bloodlines are not required to be known for the purposes of heirship, the people of Draught are free to indulge themselves in whatever matter they choose, often creating unusual relationships or more short-term ones, as suits them.

For example, it is not uncommon for a male and female student who work together closely in their studies to develop a romantic attachment that does not last beyond their graduation. Adults who are continuing their research at a more advanced level generally abstain from romantic entanglements while working, to keep their minds clear of distractions, but in-between projects are likely to seek companionship for short pee.

Whenever a child results from such an assignation, the parents will often form a more stable relationship to see that said child is raised properly, and with all of the necessities. This occasionally takes the form of a marriage, but often is more of a business arrangement, with both parents contractually obligated to support the child in certain ways. Due to the prevalence of birth-control herbs on Draught, unplanned children are a rare event, and this system has worked for the people of Draught for many generations.

Some people of Draught practice the ritual of handfasting, which is, in hort-term marriage. It is most common during periods of intense research when all efforts must go towards completing a specific task or project. The handfasted couple generally contains one person involved in a project and another who has recently completed one. It provides for the care and comfort of the working individual, so that simple things such as eating, sleeping, and keeping up with the home are not set aside during their period of intense concentration. It is said that the fringe benefits are quite comfortable as well.

A handfast lasts until the working individual has completed their research or project, at which point it can be mutually dissolved without rancor, or renewed so that the other partner can then begin a research project of their own. It is generally frowned upon for a handfasted couple to allow themselves to become pregnant – the distractions of a child defeat the purpose of the union, and therefore most handfasted couples make use of birth control herbs and remain childless.

A relationship that intends to lead to children can occur in two ways. Marriage, something that is a required practice with nobility, is not the only option for the common citizens of Draught. The second option for the Draughten citizen is known as The Covenant, a contractual agreement between two consenting adults for the express purpose of creating progeny. It is similar to a marriage only in that it provides for the well-being of any children that result from the sexual union of the two parties involved. Any obligations on behalf of each partner are dictated into the contract and their responsibilities end there. Some Covenants allow for the couple to live together and raise the children, others require that the couple live apart and the children have equal visitation with each parent. Some Covenants even dictate in what manner the children will be educated, which college they will attend, and who will pay for their basic needs – while others merely state that all expenses will be shared equally by each party. A Covenant is a legal contract, but varies from couple to couple so widely as to be completely unrelated to any other Covenant. All Covenants must be witnessed by the Duke or Duchess of Draught or their appointed representative, upon whom final responsibility rests for punishment in any breaches of contract. Even though it's not a marriage, no one person is allowed to enter into more than one contract for a time period specified in the contract, varying by the contents of the rest of the contract and decided by the Duke or Duchess, or their appointed representative. Though it is uncommon for the Duke or Duchess to do so, in extenuating circumstances only they are permitted to force changes or negate The Covenant. Draghten Nobles are not and have never been permitted to enter into such a contract under any circumstances.

Drugs on the Isle of Draught

It should come as no surprise to anyone that many people among the population of Draught are under the influence of some mood, mind, or body-altering drug often. If they’re not testing out their own herbal compounds, they’re using herbal assistance to keep them awake, alert, sexually responsive, mellow, happy, or who knows what. The sheer availability of these herbal mixtures on Draught – often as simple as going out to your garden and picking the required ingredients – makes regulation nearly impossible.

It is important to understand the difference between what the Draught people refer to as ‘recreational’ drugs, and those compounds that are commonly used in healing, weaponsmithing, and the practice of certain magics. Recreational drugs are those that affect an individual when taken internally, in many different ways, and are used specifically to bring about those effects. Heightened arousal, periods of intense concentration, speed, strength, or euphoria, and other such effects fall into the category of ‘recreational’ drugs. Recreational drugs are heavily regulated on every Isle, including Draught, and are strictly prohibited in many areas according to local law and custom. Anything with a poisonous effect – including many healing herbs – are regulated, but not considered recreational. Though some poisons are forbidden even on Draught, healing herbs (by Imperial decree) can never be forbidden in any part of the Empire, though their use can be restricted to college-educated healers.

Any citizen of Draught may use any chemical or compound on him or herself as often as he or she wishes, regardless of consequence. If said compounds cause that person’s death, they will be mourned – but such is the consequence of experimentation. However, no drugs may be used on any other person without their express permission. This is the first and most basic rule – and it is the odd bird indeed who chooses to ignore it. Only psychopaths have been found to use chemicals against another person, and those few in the history of Draught who have been caught have been shunned, or even executed if the offense was great enough. Almost without exception, the people of Draught are responsible in keeping their experiments in dosage limited to their own bodies.

There are even more severe penalties for selling or transporting restricted types of drugs /off/ the Isle of Draught to the other Isles of the Empire. Such behavior is against Imperial Law and anyone found doing so is immediately remanded to the Emperor for punishment. This is rare, but human greed being what it is, not unheard of. Some of the compounds on Draught – especially those of a sexual nature – are heavily sought after on other Isles and the criminal who seeks to provide them can become quite rich in a very short time. Generally speaking, though, his or her life expectancy is numbered from such activity and one thing no Draught person has been able to do is find a way to take their wealth with them beyond the grave.

Recreational Drugs: Following is a list of some of the more common 'recreational' drugs available from the Isle of Draught. Any drugs listed in italics are heavily regulated or illegal, and cannot be purchased on the open market.

Drug List

Age of Majority

At age 17, a person reaches what Draughtens call the Age of Majority. It's the age at which a child can move out on their own, stand on their own two feet and decide their future. Essentially it's the age at which a person is considered an adult. It's common for children to continue in the footsteps of the training they've already received, but not unheard of for one to go in a completely different direction, though by doing so they fall behind in their studies and often are a bit older before they graduate that a person might normally be.

When a person reaches the Age of Majority, their family is also no longer required to care for a child. Some families hold very strictly to this and at the age of 17, push the child out into the world like a baby bird from the nest. Others are not so strict and will continue give their support.

A parent, caregiver or guardian to a child under the age of 17 is required by law to provide for their child, and if they do not they can be brought up on charges for neglecting to do so. Providing is a vague term though, and does not mean that anyone will step in to prevent abuse or take a child from a home that's not affectionate, it simply means that the child will receive at least the minimum care (food, clothing, etc) and educational requirements as dictated by the laws of Draught. The process in which a person must go through to file an official complaint is a complicated one, starting with their direct liege, (lord, or baron if there is no lord in place) and on, and usually must be done by an adult. This can complicate matters if there's no adult willing to do so.

At 17 a person can also sign a legally binding contract and be held accountable to the agreement. If a person signs a contract before 17, whether it's honored or broken and whatever recompense on either side given, is discussed and decided on by the parent or guardian and the person who owns the contract. If an agreement cannot be made, a third party mediator is brought in.

M. O. S. S.

M.O.S.S. is a sub-section of the College of Science on Draught Isle, and has been a part of that school of learning since it's conception. Though previously operating only on Draught Isle, recently researchers from M.O.S.S. have arrived on Gateway Isle at the request of Duke Draught, because it has become apparent over time that Draught Isle does not provide enough of a representative sampling of the Empire's population to make the surveys scientifically accurate.

The purpose of M.O.S.S. is to examine human behaviors, opinions, and physiology in order to draw reasonable conclusions about life. Everything is an experiment, according to M.O.S.S. philosophy. From the question of a survey or poll itself to the manner in which people react to it, every detail is studied and debated amongst the scientists who belong to this organization. Results are published quarterly in a scientific journal produced specifically by M.O.S.S., and annually in the School of Science's year-end report.

Though M.O.S.S. is nominally a part of the College of Science, the acting head of the department has traditionally been the Duke or Duchess of Draught, whose authority has often been necessary to encourage survey participants to answer even embarassing questions with honesty. The privacy of survey participants has always been a closely guarded thing, and M.O.S.S. researchers are screened very carefully to ensure that they are men and women dedicated to scientific discovery and not subject to abusing their knowledge.

OOC NOTE: M.O.S.S. is not intended to embarass or annoy anyone OOCly. Although its existence is canon, it is meant to be something fun for people to participate in. If you find it less than amusing, simply tell the M.O.S.S. researcher oocly that you do not wish to participate, and you won't have to. M.O.S.S. is a voluntary, on-going TP created and any questions or comments should be brought to admin. Thank you!

Healing

Healing...is not a science but the intuitive art of wooing nature.

These times refer to the time taken to return to the same level of functionality that a person had prior to injury. As always there is leeway and these times are only given to provide a rough guideline as to how long such injury types may take to heal. All IC times have been converted into an equivalent RL time for ease of use. Players are encouraged to discuss their injuries with any attending healers, especially in relation to how long it might be expected that they rest within any halls of healing before being discharged. Where there is a range of times, this represents the approximate minimal to maximum amounts of time required for healing depending upon the severity and extent of the injury.

Also, given the methods of treating in particular many of the more severe injuries there is likely a very high chance of infection and or mortality. Whilst it makes for fantastic roleplay for the occasional miraculous recovery from a traumatic and likely fatal injury, it quickly becomes unrealistic to happen on a regular basis. As such players are encouraged to think about whether they are willing to have their characters face such possibly fatal injuries and if not, perhaps opt for something a little less dangerous.

Herbology

Everything on this world has a purpose .. every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission to find that cure.

Herbalists are a vital cog in the machine that is Draught. Without herbalists, both the science of alchemy and healing would suffer greatly.

Holidays on the Isle of Draught

A work in progress! If you have any ideas or suggestions for holidays or celebrations for Draught, @mail or Page Catelyn!

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