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Aether's Renaissance: Appendix to Diarmaid's Story

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EDIT: Given that this was rejected by the admins, not all of the information here will be used. Particularly, the things covered under Part 2 will be greatly toned down or gotten rid of in my stories. However, I will still cherry pick from this list, and admins can see the stories as I write them. 


TL;DR Diarmaid's Pokemon of Avalon is a lot more rigid and close-to-the-real-life Renaissance period than most members' canons. You don't need to know all of this information to enjoy Diarmaid's storyline, but should you ever have any questions, this reference guide is here.


Preface: What is this Guide For?

Pokemon of Avalon is a group about a Medieval-ish Fantasy world reminiscent of a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon universe. Unlike most PMD-related groups on here, however, the feel is much more laid back and less rigid about its rules-- of course, all within reason. This relative freedom allows its members to take great liberties with the lore and the universe of PoA's world of the continent of Aether, and thus every member has a slightly different perception of how the world works. 

However, some canons can take larger breaks from the accepted lore than is generally perceived on the surface. 

One of the relatively further-out-there storylines would be the one of Diarmaid mag Carthaigh, a Minccino soldier of the Aetherian realm of Ireland, whose canon is a bit more rigid and well-defined than the PoA of other members. Whereas most PoA members will usually just sort of allow the universe to exist however it would like with a general Medieval Fantasy feel, Diarmaid's canon is much more solidly based in the world as if it were this world's equivalent of the 1490s-1510s. All of the counterpart cultures in Aether that exist in Diarmaid's universe are a bit closer to what their real life versions were around this time period, and this can cause a number of aesthetic and (mostly minor) historical changes to the lore as his stories perceive them. As well, political feelings and other such things will be adjusted to what I know existed of them in the early 16th century. 

In honesty, Pokemon of Avalon to me is a way to practice blending Realism with Fantasy and applying it to other stories. That is not to say that I value the group as nothing more than a practicing tool, but as I get older I can't simply write willy-nilly stories without gaining something useful from the experience. This is especially the case in that my fiancee and I are preparing to begin writing our own original series which we intend to publish, and we would like it to be of a quality that is fit to be published. 

But I digress.

For a while I could just sum up my version of the universe as 'everything in Diarmaid's universe is as it is in PoA unless I specifically say that it's not', but given my portrayal of the Italian mercenaries in Diarmaid's M5 (which at the time of writing this is still underway), I feel it necessary to define what is different from his canon and the generally-accepted universe that Aether takes place in. 

To any mods reading this, I'd like to reassure you that I'm not just replacing 'Aether' with 'Renaissance Europe WITH POKEMON'. If that were the case, why would I even join this group? What I am basically doing is marrying Renaissance-ish Fantasy with Pokemon of Avalon's lore as much as I can within the boundaries of the rules and in such a state that it is still recognizable as PoA's Aether. At the very least, I'll try. 

I will also never make it such that the redesigns get in the way of Missions and the normal canon. I will make it such that the attitudes and aesthetics of some characters may change slightly, but they will be essentially the same. 

So, without further ado, let's get started with the actual guide. 

Important Note:
To justify the coexistence of technology made for combat and structures made to keep Pokemon out, two things are important to remember when reading Diarmaid's stories: 

1) Nature is 'more resistant' to Pokemon
Pokemon Moves still do mostly as what their descriptions say, however they're not quite as effective. A well-built stone wall will not crumble simply because a Pokemon used Brick Break or Rock Smash on it-- in this world, they must break through with that move, and some manner of tool to amplify it. Even then, it will take a longer time. 

2) Moves cannot/have difficulty being lethal
Pokemon themselves are very tough. Moves will not, or at least will have a great deal of difficulty, killing them. Much like in the games, they are creatures wherein the smallest, weakest kind can survive attacks that would otherwise level whole cities. Weapons made of certain materials are required to actually kill Pokemon, though it is an accepted fact of life and is not spoken of often. Blades of swords, tips of arrows, the heads of maces, even the bullets in firearms are almost always laced with such material. This 'material' is extremely cheap and widespread and forms naturally on many woods and metals. 





Part 1: The Tail-End of the Medieval Times

As I stated before, Diarmaid's Aether is generally a version of Pokemon of Avalon's world that is a step or two closer to each country's real-life counterparts as they existed in the 1530s. Otherwise, they will just get a generally Renaissance feel. 

While most people still consider the 16th century to be the Medieval Times, in truth it straddles the line somewhere around the border between that and the Early Modern era. In fact, for some historians, the Early Modern era began in the 1400s when the idea of countries being 'Nations' began to crystallize, and countries as we know them today began to take their modern shape. As such, this maybe-Medieval-maybe-not time period is going to be reflected on Diarmaid's version of PoA, and might put it into some heavy contrast to other members' versions of the world. 

1.1 Semi-Medieval Politic

While the idea of a 'nation' was starting to form around this time, patriotism wasn't really a thing yet. This is something that a LOT of people don't seem to know, so, I'm bringing it up here. Lands belonged to nobles, you lived on their land. This is a really general statement, but people didn't (usually) fight out of a sense of national pride, at least not in the same way as people do it today. If there was any pride in why anyone did anything for a greater cause, it was that they were doing something either for the benefit of their home or the benefit of their lord

A good example of this sort of thing taking place is in the story of St. Joan of Arc (1412-1429), wherein she was often remembered as being seen calling the people of France to stand together against outsiders, as if it were a big, unified country. She was among the first people to really see France as a big nation with unity and pride, and as such the general response to her message was "What the heck do you mean 'stand together? With some people we don't even know from over the mountains over there?" Eventually she became instrumental in France's pride as a unified country (after she had died), but for her time this was a generally new idea.

France was just a place like any other. It was just a place that Kings owned. As long as the kings were good to the subjects, then who cares? It goes to note that France was also at war with Burgundy, a powerful Duchy that mostly spoke French and is now today a part of France. They didn't really have any sense of national unity either; they did what they did for their dynastic rulers. Finally, it also goes to note that Joan of Arc was going at length to try and put up the rightful king of France. 

A good example of writers trying to project national fervor onto historical figures would be in Braveheart. A good movie, but filled to the brim with historical inaccuracies-- Scotland wasn't fighting for freedom per se, their nobles were fighting against English ones. 

Also, Prima Noctis was never a thing.

So how does this apply to Pokemon of Avalon? Characters will not display any idea of national pride as is shown in the modern day, as a lot of people like to show. This is not to say that nobody has any pride in anything, just that the general public will express it differently. There's still regional rivalries. A Pokemon from Aether might be happy not because of how strong Aether is but of how good Alaric is as a King, and a Pokemon from Genoa would be jealous of Pokemon from Venice. 

...this also means that the Aetherian Anthem will not exist in Diarmaid's canon. National anthems weren't a thing until the 1800s. 

1.2 Military: The Last 'Medieval' Armies

The 1500s are generally considered the last truly 'medieval' times, and nowhere else is this more apparent than in the military. At least, in my opinion. Armies since the 1300s (I believe) were beginning to become more and more 'professional' rather than just composed of militia-- that is, soldiering became an actual job, rather than just something that farmers were told to do when they heard a mustering call. By the 1500s, the military probably looked the closest it did to how modern fantasy perceptions of medieval warfare portray it; large groups of armored men fighting other groups of armored men, all armored in at least iron plate regardless of class. However, since the 1400s, there have been two relatively new additions to most arsenals of the time that were slowly becoming more and more prevalent: Pikes, 19-ft long spears meant to be used in formation, and Firearms. Which are, well, firearms.

By the mid-1400s, European firearm technology had improved quite a bit and was deployed in full scale in at least one army. Even then, nearly all European militaries had some level of access to it, and it was beginning to overtake warfare by the 1500s. The Pike grew up alongside the firearms and began to become more and more prevalent as time went on. By 1530, armies deployed a mixture of what would be imagined as traditional Medieval soldiery (archers, crossbowmen, heavy infantry...) alongside these new kinds of troops. Of note, firearms had been in Europe since at least the late 1200s, they just weren't quite as prevalent. 

To the mods, I say don't worry: Diarmaid himself will not be using firearms until the Explosives Master class becomes available. Background characters may, but not in a huge capacity. I'll explain more on this later.

Structure is also something that a lot of people get confused about when looking at Medieval times. Some people think their armies back then were just mobs of untrained peasants charging at each other in big mosh pits. Others think their armies had the same military structures as we have today. At least, those are the most common perceptions that I see, neither of which are true. 

In truth, army structure varied quite a bit from region to region. This is not even taking into consideration that Pokemon of Avalon includes a lot more than just Medieval Europe. But let me try to get a general idea going on. 

In Feudal societies, the idea was usually that Lower Nobility had to give Higher Nobility a number of troops, as a part of their fealty to them. These troops were drawn from the men that were subservient to the Lower Nobility. Of course, the Higher Nobility would also maintain troops of their own, drawn usually from their own holdings. In other words, Knights would have to gather a certain number of their servants as soldiers for their Counts, whom gathered their servants (including the Knights) as soldiers for their Kings, whom gathered their servants (including the Counts) as soldiers for their Emperors. 

It goes to note that not all trees of nobility were so clean as Knight << Lord << King, but that's a topic for another day. 

Nobility were tasked with leading their servants into battle, and so generals and leaders were usually drawn from the nobility that gathered those soldiers-- but this wasn't always the case. Non-noble captains did exist to stand in for their noble masters. 

I will try my best to portray non-European militaries faithfully to their originals, but for them I may need to resort to a lot of internet reading.

This sort of general structure will be applied to Diarmaid's PoA whenever the story will talk about military actions. Given that Diarmaid is a soldier and will mostly participate in military-related plots, that will be a lot. 

1.3 Technology and Society

Modern day folks tend to really look down on Medieval and Post-Medieval society, but it was nowhere near as bad as modern misconceptions like to say it was. By the 1400s, European technology was starting to really get going, and despite what a lot of people will tell you, the Catholic Church actually preserved a lot of pre-Christian, Roman, and pre-Medieval scientific texts. Those that had access to knowledge (which admittedly, was difficult to get in many places) were just as well-educated as those that could access it in the pre-Medieval times. Technology actually had quite a few improvements during the Medieval times as well, which really began flourishing by the time the Late Middle Ages rolled around. 

Without going into too much detail, Medieval Europeans by the 1500s had access to paper (year 1150, widespread by the 1350s), gunpowder (1248, widespread by 1410s), medical antiseptics (1200s), the printing press (widespread-ish by the 1500s), mechanical clocks (widespread by 1300s) and...well, you get the idea. Of course, not everyone had access to these things, but they were still in existence and relatively widespread.

Not much more to say on this than that, and that it will be portrayed in Diarmaid's Pokemon of Avalon. 

I will not be portraying much in the way of religion. I may make some vague references to Catholicism, Islam, or even Orthodox Christianity, but feel free to interpret those as various religions to Arceus or some other Legendary Pokemon. 



Part 2: Countries of Avalon



This is probably what will change the most out of the Pokemon of Avalon canon when translating over to Diarmaid's story, however they will be a bit easier to explain. 

Long story short, as I said, the countries will simply be updated to a Renaissance-ish versions of themselves. However, I won't do this for everyone and some countries I will leave relatively untouched. All of it will still have to recognizably be Aether and not, well, the real world's medieval Europe, so I'll do my best to find good compromises where I can. 

Most of these nations have access to gunpowder technology. 

1. The Kingdom of Aether 

Redesign: ---> Holy Roman Empire

In Diarmaid's storyline, Aether is a bit of a kingdom that is behind the times, hence the lack of the Explosives Master soldier class. It's understandable, as the kingdom has existed for but a few years and is ruled by a foreign king whom has yet to establish himself fully. All of the Medieval European nations exist separately and each have their own territory within Aether. While technically subservient and enfeoffed to King Alaric, not all of them quite acknowledge his power over them. This makes Aether a bit Holy Roman Empire-ish in a way, lots of nominal power but little actual ability to exercise its control. 

The Europeans are subservient to Alaric because of a...legend of a king that would restore the ruined palace in Aether or something along those lines. As if he's pulled a sword from a stone and has become rightful king by some will of heaven. It will take some time for everyone to acknowledge that this event has happened. 

All of that said, this makes Aether a divided and relatively weak, but special Kingdom known for raising heroes under the gentleness and mystic aura of King Alaric. Will Alaric be able to prove himself worthy of being the Emperor over all of Aether's independent kings and lords? Time will tell. 

It is of note that many of their client kingdoms are beginning to adopt gunpowder weapons, but Aether itself has not even begun to. 

1a. Ireland

....is not a unified entity. Ireland as it exists in this canon is an island divided between several relatively petty principalities, kingdoms, and independent cities. Existing on the edge of Aether's territories, it is plagued by raids from the more violent elements of the Veethfolnir, poverty, and lagging technology nearly as bad as Aether's. Many here do not even know that Alaric is their high king. 

Captain Diarmaid mag Carthaigh the Minccino hails from the northwestern coast of Ireland, from the Kingdom of Tyr Connell. 


2. The Empire of Artiphron

Redesign: Ancient Greeks ---> Byzantine Empire

Artiphron was once a member of Voluntas's empire before that eventually waned. When the light of that empire finally flickered and died, Artiphron carried on the banner and stayed a wealthy naval trading state. Its wily mercantile dealings and the relatively unsecure over-land trade routes passing through Nizhoni, Gunjyhn, and Badiya have left it as the most major artery of trade to the more civilized Eastern countries. 

Lately, its power has been waning like the Voluntan Empire before it. However, as long as it maintains its strong hold over trade, it should still prosper for some time. 

3. The Empire of Voluntas

Redesign: None (see 3a)

Voluntas was once a large and sprawling empire covering from Gailamir and Khetmaat all the way to Aether and Badiya. Over a thousand or so years, that empire has waned into only owning their heartland. Their unwillingness to move on from traditionalistic, antiquated policies and technologies has left them steadily waning even further and even slowly fracturing. This is particularly bad along their western coastlines, where the rich and disgruntled merchant cities are individually declaring independence, and the eastern wilderness where the Gailamir and their cultural elements under Voluntan control are equally dissatisfied. 

Ever-innovative but not quite as decadent anymore, Voluntas struggles to hold on to the grandeur that it has left as it works to hold itself together. 

3a. The Italian City-States

Design: Medieval Italian Maritime Republics

Along the coast of Voluntas are the fiercely independent merchant cities of Genoa, Pisa, Sicily, Venice, Florence, and Palermo. Some cities that have declared independence, like Padua and Verona, are inland, but generally lack the wealth that their counterparts have from their maritime trade. Each of these prideful republics have amassed a great amount of wealth, such that the more powerful among them have surpassed the whole wealth of Artiphron on their own. 

These states are well-known for producing companies of mercenaries, which many of them rely heavily on as they can only draw small armies from their populations. Culturally, they have more in common with Aether than they do Voluntas at this point, but each would find the prospect of joining the Kingdom of Aether laughable. 

4.  The Sultanate of Khetmaat

Redesign: Ancient Egypt ---> Mamluk Sultanate 

The hot lands of the Khetmaat may be far from Aether, but they have a long history together. The Kingdoms of Aether had once launched a lengthy campaign in support of the Empire of Artiphron several hundred years ago, and even conquered away much of their holdings. They have since retaken their home and are in amicable-enough relations with Aether and Artiphron, though pockets of resent do still exist between these peoples. 

Lately they have been having trouble with Gunjyhn and Badiya, whom are currently attempting to force Khetmaat to come under their rule. These wars, too, have calmed significantly in the past decade or so, but they are still wary of their neighbors. 

5. Gang-Tie

Redesign: None(Ming Dynasty)

No changes. Were once ruled by the Chanyu before their dynasty was overthrown.

6. Sazanami

Redesign: None (Feudal Japan)

 Very little changes with Sazanami from normal Avalon. They are still nominally ruled by a Shogun, but are divided into a number of mostly-independent warlord Daimyo. 

7. Samudaay

Redesign: None

Very little changes with Samudaay from normal Avalon. Like Sazanami and Aether, they are actually divided between a large number of different dynasties vying for power. Unlike those nations, however, nothing unites them together beyond cultural similarity. 

8. Badiyan Empire (and Gunjyhn)

Redesign
: ---> Ottoman Empire

Little changes from their normal Avalon forms. However, their leaders are in league with each other and rule jointly over their lands as a large confederated state. 

9. Veethfolnir Tribes 

Redesign: None

Little changes from their normal Avalon forms. They are stigmatized as behind the times and barbaric, but are rather civilized and up-to-date for having such a reputation. 

10. Chanyu Khanates

Redesign: None (Northern Yuan Dynasty)

 The Chanyu are a relatively divided folk. Once the conquerors of almost the entire central continent of Avalon, their empire fractured and assimilated into other nations. The lands that they still held fiefdom over were divided among the Great Khan's princely sons, whom each began to split away from their parent's khanate. Chanyu as a nation is composed of the holdings of the Chanyu Princes that vied to stay together in their homeland. 

Many of the renegade Chanyu Princes held lands that are now part of Gang Tie, Badiya, Gunjynh, and even Khetmaat and Aether. 

11. Tonaltzintli Empires

Redesigns: None

No difference from normal Avalon, aside from that they are split into the Maya and Aztec as independent, but friendly, nations.

12. Naklin Tribes

Redesign: None

No difference from normal Avalon, aside from that they are divided into different tribes.

13. Nizhoni Tribes

Redesign: None

No difference from normal Avalon, aside from that they are divided into different tribes.

14. Kalka Tribes 

Redesign: None

No difference from normal Avalon, aside from that they are divided into different nations and tribes.

15. Pae'aina Tribes

Redesign: None

No difference from normal Avalon, aside from that they are divided into different tribes.


16. Unknown

Redesign: None

 Well, how do I change that? 
EDIT: In light of this appendix being rejected, at least it gives a feel for the kind of stories that Diarmaid's stories will be taking place in. From here on, I'll just submit my stories and see if the admin team lets them fly. If those are rejected as well, well, I'll cross those bridges when I get to 'em. 




Appendix for stories relating to Captain Diarmaid mag Carthaigh

...so yeah, I just sort of wrote these on a whim. I felt it would be necessary to describe each of the changes that I would make to Diarmaid's Pokemon of Avalon to a more Renaissance-y world. 

I do apologize if this clashes with te interests of any mods, and I apologize again fervently if you feel the need to respond. 

Should this count towards it, 

Cressents:
3,460 words = 3,450 Cressents
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CoulroCarnivalesque's avatar
Well, you certainly know your stuff, I'll give you that, I've seen few good summaries on the time period - and the transition between medieval to renaissance - so this is a fantastic read because your grasp on history and your ability to fit it into the PoA universe, and the logics as too why it would work the way it would.

However, as good as it is, it is still a renaissance period, and that's not within the group's canon time period - which, albeit, is very wishy-washy in and of itself, as it already contains the glory days, or lack therefore of, of many nations that didn't exist together. Regardless, the renaissance definitely does not fit with the PoA canon, the ideas and technology that came with it are too advanced for what the group is going for, so this really cannot be taken as a canon.

I'm sorry if this makes writings things for your character difficult, but I can't think of any actual way you could use this without it upsetting the setting we've worked on making for PoA, because, if you were to go with what you have here, you'd have a totally different world from the one we've given everyone to work within.

You've no need to apologize, I wouldn't want you to, you're clearly someone with a deep love and understanding of history so I don't want you to feel even the least bit sorry for using your skills to create something that is, in fact, brilliant. If anything, I suppose an apologize would be due from us for not being able to host a world where your ideas worked, but that's how the group was made and the admin team is intent on having it run it's course the way we wanted to when we came up with all of the ideas for it.

Again, this is wonderfully written, and I really do appreciate it, because you're trying to take what we've given you with the group and take it far, but it cannot be done in this way. If you really do wish to explore this sort of idea further, you'd need to do it somewhere other than Avalon and Adoni.