~"Love as Thou Wilt."~
~"Where sex intersects with power there is danger."~
The City of Elua is the Capital of Terre D'Ange. The city was named for Blessed Elua, who wandered Terre D'Ange with his companions. Blessed Elua was born of the blood of Yeshua ben Yosef, the true son of the One God, the tears of the Magdelene as she wept for him as he hung on a Tiberium cross, and begotten in the womb of Mother Earth who gave Blessed Elua life. Elua wandered Europa, unaided at first, flowers sprouting in his footsteps, but soon Angels of the One God left heaven to safeguard the grandson of the One God, whom the One God had forgotten in his grief. In all the places Elua traveled he was turned away. Namaah, an angel and one of Elua's companions laid with strangers in doorways for coin so that Elua might not go hungry.
Only in Terre D'Ange, a land which had no name, did the people accept Elua with open arms. His one precept:
"Love as thou wilt."
Each of Elua's companions took a province of this land for themselves. Only Cassiel abjured, abstaining and remaining by Blessed Elua's side, like a brother. Elua who wandered the country for three score years, claimed no place for himself, save Elua, which he liked best, and so the city was named for him. Elua's descendants and the descendants of his Companions came to rule this land, like their progenitors each of them with surpassing grace and beauty. The City of Elua is home to the Kings and Queens of Terre D'Ange, the Scions of Elua, each of the Provinces is ruled by a Duc or Duchess who can trace their lineage back to on of the Campanions of Elua. Many of them come to Elua to politic and some engage in the services of the Servants of Namaah.
The Servants of Namaah are sacred prostitutes trained in Her mysteries. Their home, the Court of Night Blooming Flowers is divided into Thirteen Houses, each catering to particular proclivities and clientele. For hundreds of years the Night Court has catered to the needs of the Scions of Elua and his companions, Lords and Ladies of noble houses big and small. But be warned:
"Where sex intersects with power there is danger."
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The Kushielverse is based on the Universe created in the novels of Jacqueline Carey. The novels follow the story of a courtesan in a historical fantasy or alternate history (Terre d'Ange) society that follows a demi-god, Elua, whose precept is "Love as thou wilt". The map of Terre d'Ange, the "Land of the Angels," bears a striking resemblance to that of France. Fictional versions of Greece, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Spain also figure prominently in the series. Elua was born when the blood of Yeshua ben Yosef, the son of the One God, mingled with the tears of the Magdelene and carried in the womb of Mother Earth. With Elua's peaceful wanderings and the one God's rejection of him, seven angels then rejected the ONe God to become Elua's companions on Earth. These angels and Elua himself then founded a nation and commingled with humans before leaving. D'Angelines are the people from their descent.
This game is based on the setting, but events in the game are meant to take place long after the books end. Familiarity with the books is not necessary, but as with all games based specific universes foreknowledge will help. Many players can get by with a basic understanding Medieval Renaissance culture. Some technology, like stitches in medicine, is out of place for the period, but is easily explained by the logic that the Angels passed on their wisdom when they passed along their genes. Games in this verse tend to focus sex, passion and courtly intrigue. As a result peasant life tends to be under represented, while the Court of Night Blooming Flowers tend to be represented in force, with as many emotions and agendas as the nobles who hire their services.
Blessed Elua's precept "Love as Thou Wilt" respect all different forms of love. "Kushiel's Arts" or BDSM feature prominently in the series, although they do not always feature heavily in the games they do occasionally make an appearance. The principal is that all manners of love are accepted, the obvious restriction in the game Universe is that games strictly adhere to the RPOL Adult Games Policy.
Like the book, the games of the Kushielverse tend to focus on good writing, gradual character development and meticulous attention to detail. As a result the games encourage complex, deeply thought out characters.
Frequently Kushielverse games result in players who have never read the books giving the series a try.
This message was last edited by the user at 22:37, Thu 11 June 2015.