created by Aurora and Mia

disclaimer : this rpg is based on Grishaverse books series. You don't need to know the whole story but only the basic infos written on this carrd. Feel free to ask for everything!

Prince Nikolai has finally returned to Ravka, and the entire Grand Palace is shuddering with his birthday celebrations. But suddenly the throne room plunges into chaos.

Faces blank and devoid of features; arms, legs, hands ending in the dim suggestion of claws, a broad back crested by wings that roiled and shifted as they unfurled like a black stain. The room is invaded by the nichevo'ya, "the nothings", shadow creatures created by the Darkling. And they are hungry.

The Crown Prince of Ravka, Vasily, is killed instantly when one of the nichevo'ya tears off his arm and leaves him bleeding on the parquet flooring.
The civil war has officially begun.

Which side will you be on?
Will you fight alongside the Darkling, or will you bleed for Ravka's freedom, alongside the Grisha of the Second Army?

Quickly choose your side.
We are going to change the world.

The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness crawling with volcra, monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.
On maps, the Shadow Fold is shown as a long, narrow lake, a stain, and sometimes just a bleak and shapeless cloud.
Animals are too noisy and easily scared for travel on the Fold, so crossings are made on sandskiffs with enormous sails that skate almost soundlessly over the dead grey sands. Traversing the Fold is the only way to provide a landlocked Ravka of critical supplies.

The Shadow Fold was created around 400 years ago by the Black Heretic, because of his want for power. However, he did not anticipate what such power of that magnitude would do to mere men, turning them into ''abominations'' generations ago.

What no one knew, however, was that the Black Heretic served many kings over the years and faked his death many times.
And that he was still the general of the Second Army.
The Black Heretic was, in fact, the Darkling.

He did all this because he wanted the Grisha, the people with powers, to be respected and served, not just in Ravka, but in every other country. He planned to expand the Fold and gain power over Ravka but needed a Sun Summoner to destroy the volcra and carry out his ambitions.
After his true identity was discovered, the Darkling created his own army of Grisha loyal to him and to his cause.
The Second Army, on the other hand, passed into the hands of Katarzyna Belyaeva, leader of the Corporalki who had once been the right-hand man of the Darkling. The General, together with the Sun Summoner, decided to create the Grisha Triumvirate. The purpose of the Triumvirate is to enable the Grisha to be led by themselves instead of by the Darkling; as a result, all three Grisha orders are represented within the Triumvirate.

Which side will you be on?
Will you fight with the Darkling, or with the Sun Summoner? Will you betray your country, or will you defend Ravka's crown?

RAVKA

capital : Os Alta

government : monarchy. The Lantsovs are the royal family of Ravka. The Lantsov crest is the Ravkan double eagle. The eagle holds a scepter in one talon. In the other, it grips three black arrows bound by red, purple, and blue ribbons. These symbolize the Darkling’s power through the three orders of the Grisha.

climate : Ravka's climate is cold as it usually snows in winter. Its summers are warm and there is a thick layer of permafrost at its northern border.

language(s) : Ravkan Language.
Suli Language.

ethnic groups : suli, nomadic people from the northwestern part of Ravka. They are mostly carnival performers and fortune-tellers.

religion : the Ravkan religion, although organized, does not appear to have an official name and lacks a central deity, mainly relying on the worship of Saints. It is sometimes referred to as the Ravkan church or the Worship of the Saints.

currency : vlachka (sg.), vlachki (pl.)

FJERDA

capital : Djerholm.

government : Fjerda is ruled by the royal Grimjer family.

language : fjerdan.

ethnic groups : Hedjut, also stylized as Hedjüt, are a people in northern Fjerda. They are referred to as "fishermen of the north".

religion : Djel is one of the gods worshiped by the Fjerdans. He is known as the wellspring, and his symbol is the ash tree. Fjerdan burial tradition involves burying their dead so that they might "take root", becoming roots of Djel's tree.

currency : krydda.

appearance : Typically, Fjerdans have pale complexions, blue eyes, and blond hair. The Hedjut people, who live in northern Fjerda and in the cities and towns along the Stelge River, are an indigenous ethnic group who have tan skin and curly hair.

grisha : Fjerdans perceive Grisha power as dangerous and witch-like, and they train their drüskelle to hunt and kill Grisha.

SHU HAN

capital : Ahmrat Jen.

government : monarchy. The Shu are ruled by the Taban family. It is a matriarchal monarchy, meaning power is usually passed to the eldest daughter, although the reigning queen can make an exception.

climate : Shu Han is also known for the state of perpetual summer that it resides in - even when its neighbor Ravka is in winter, Shu Han remains warm and sunny.

language : shu language.

religion : there are various temples in the capital. The Six Soldiers, the sacred protectors of Shu Han, feature in Shu religion.

appearance : people of Shu descent have a common trait of straight black hair and yellow-gold eyes.

grisha : Expanding on their scientific discoveries, the Shu have combined Grisha Steel, Ruthenium, and bone to create human-weapons known as Khergud. They are people who are meant to capture Grisha for the Shu government and for their research. They are rumored to dissect them in search of the source of their power, some even believing the source to be a Grisha's spleen.

KERCH

capital : Ketterdam

government : Kerch has no royalty. It is governed by the Merchant Council, a group of merchants representing the oldest and wealthiest families in the country. The Kerch government is represented by three flying fish, which are printed on Kerch money, incorporated into architecture, and flown on ships alongside trading company flags. The national color is purple.

culture : The hub of all international trade, Kerch relies on sea transport and its own neutrality in world affairs to maintain its position in the global economy. It is protected by a strong navy.
Kerch is also home to a teeming criminal underworld centered in the capital city of Ketterdam.

language: Kerch.

religion : Kerch religion centers on Ghezen, the god of industry and commerce. It is said that nothing is sacred to the Kerch except trade.

currency : kruge.

grisha : Although slavery is illegal in Kerch, Grisha and others are often bound to wealthy merchants as indentures under terms that sometimes amount to slavery.

NOVYI ZEM

culture: Novyi Zem is known for its dark-skinned people, its frontiers, bustling coastal cities, extensive farmland where jurda is cultivated, and sophisticated firearms. It is also known for being a refuge for people, both Otkazat'sya and zowa where they can begin a new life in anonymity. It is a young country compared to other nations. The expanse of the True Sea keeps Novyi Zem separated from global conflict, allowing the nation to prosper.
government: Novyi Zem has ministers, but its exact structure of government is unknown.
language: Zemeni.
grisha: grisha are called "zowa", which means "blessed".

WANDERING ISLE

government: stratocratic ruling. the Wandering Isle is ruled by a marshal, a military chief commander.
language: kaelish.
appearance: the people of the Wandering Isle are typically redheaded and pale-skinned.

FIRST ARMY
The First Army, also known as the King's Army, is the principal land warfare force of Ravka along with the Second Army.
It is composed of non-Grisha Ravkans, sometimes referred to as Otkazat'sya in historical texts. There is a natural rivalry, bordering on hostility, between the First and Second Armies, arising from a mistrust of Grisha power on the part of the First Army, and a scorn for the ordinariness of otkazat'sya on the part of the Second Army.
The First Army does not recruit soldiers outside of Ravka, unlike the Second Army.

The basic First Army uniform consists of a tunic, trousers, an olive coat and leather boots.

OTKAZAT'SYA
Otkazat'sya, also known as "the abandoned" is a term used to refer to people without Grisha powers. In the Ravkan Language it is another word for an orphan.

MAIN POSITIONS
General
Major
Colonel
Captain (Kapitan)
Private
Tracker
Cartographer
Cartographer's Assistant

SECOND ARMY
It is based in the Little Palace and in contrast to the First Army, which is composed of Otkazat'sya, the Second Army is made up entirely of Grisha.

As a uniform, every soldier of the Second Army wears a kefta in the color of their order, which fulfills several functions, such as distinction between the different orders and being a symbol for being a Grisha and a member of the Second Army.

GRISHA
Grisha are humans who practice the Small Science. They are traditionally divided into three orders, Corporalki, Etherealki and Materialki, with each order being further divided into specialized types

CORPORALKI : the order of the Living and the Dead.
They wear crimson kefta. Their power focuses on the human body. They are the highest ranking soldiers of the Second Army and also considered as the most feared.

Healers: can use their powers to heal others. They can mend bones, heal wounds, etc. However, they cannot repair wounds inflicted by a nichevo'ya. In the Second Army they wear red kefta with gray embroidery.
Heartrenders: can use their powers to damage a person's internal organs. Their ability ranges from slowing a person's pulse to snatching the air from their lungs. The target must be in their line of sight. They are feared by other Grisha and considered the most valuable soldiers. In the Second Army they wear red kefta with black embroidery.
Tailors: have the ability to change a person's appearance. Tailors were once considered rare and special; however, in Ravka, tailoring is now taught to all Corporalki students of the Second Army. In the Second Army they wear red kefta with blue embroidery.

ETHERALKI : The Order of Summoners.
They wear blue kefta and usually work and fight in pairs.

Squallers: can manipulate the wind by raising or lowering air pressure to fill a ship's sails or to move objects.
In the Second Army they wear blue keftas with silver embroidery.
Inferni: can manipulate fire by gathering combustible particles of substances like methane or hydrogen, but they need a spark to start the fire.
In the Second Army, they wear a blue kefta with red embroidery.
Tidemakers: can manipulate water.
An ordinary Tidemaker can control currents, summon water or moisture from the air or a nearby source. But they can also change water into ice.
In the Second Army they wear a blue kefta with pale blue embroidery.
Special cases:
Shadow Summoner : have the ability to gather and manipulate darkness. The Darkling and his mother, Baghra, are the only known Shadow Summoners.
Sun Summoner: have the ability to bend and summon light. They can also summon heat from the sun. Alina Starkov was the original Sun Summoner.

MATERIALKI : The Order of Fabrikators
They wear purple kefta. They are the least respected order due to having no use in a fight. Nevertheless, their products, such as Grisha steel, armor and blasting powders are very important for the Second Army.
Because Alkemi and Durasts often share their workspaces and do similar work, they usually aren't distinguished and are only called Fabrikators.

Durasts: can manipulate glass, steel, wood, plants, stone, or anything solid on a molecular level. This includes changing a solid's shape, texture, or composition. They can make flowers bloom, remove an object's pigment, move objects without touching them, and even absorb harmful matter from another person's body into their own. They wear purple keftas with gray embroidery.
Alkemi: They specialize in chemicals like blasting powders and poisons. Alkemi wear purple keftas with red embroidery.

SMALL SCIENCE
Most Grisha see their powers as "extensions" of the natural world which is why they don't call their power "magic" but instead Small Science. For example, Inferni cannot produce fire but can manipulate naturally occurring combustible gases, and Durasts do not create metal: rather, they simply have the ability to alter it.

Grisha who don't use their powers for extended periods of time are said to grow weaker over time. Grisha who are very powerful and frequently use their powers can live a very long life.

MANIFESTATION
Most Grisha gain their ability at a young age. In Ravka, children are tested by Grisha Examiners as soon as their powers are detectable and, if present, are subsequently sent to train in the Little Palace. Although the conditions for the inheritance of Grisha powers is not clear, there are cases of children manifesting the same abilities that their Grisha parent has.

AMPLIFIERS
Amplifiers usually consist of bones, scales or teeth as the animals must be killed first in order to obtain their ability to increase power. This is also only available to the individual who killed them.

Living amplifiers are rare and can increase a Grisha's power while still alive. They also have the ability to detect Grisha power in a person through touch. However, a Grisha wishing to hide their power can block this ability with a layer of paraffin wax between themselves and the amplifier.

Only the Darkling's most favored Grisha possess amplifiers.

MERZOST
Merzost (Ravkan for "Abomination" and "Magic") is an alternate form of the Small Science. It is the power of creation, of life over death.

It requires the sacrifice of something essential from the person attempting it, and consequently the act of performing merzost drains vitality from the person. The power can be unwieldy in the extreme, and is likely to produce unexpected or unintended results to a devastating degree.

Only three Grisha are known to have used merzost:
Ilya Morozova, who created three amplifiers using merzost.
The Darkling, who created the volcra, the Shadow Fold and nichevo'ya with merzost.
Alina Starkov, the Sun Summoner. Her use of the merzost turns her hair white.

The following list is made only of the most important positions / positions that are limited. If there is a position that you want, please make sure to comment under the reservations post.

The © indicates canon characters that for reasons related to the organization of this list I didn't put with the other canon characters.

If you have additional important positions in mind that are not present in this list, don't hesitate to message us!

SECOND ARMY
general. taken
member of the Grisha Triumvirate. (one for each order. Corporalki taken. Etherealki open. Materialki open.)

FIRST ARMY
general. open
major. open
colonel. open
captain. open
cartographer. open

RAVKAN ROYAL FAMILY ( Lantsov )
king Alexander Lantsov (Alexander III) [ age 40's-60's ]. © open
queen Tatiana Grimjer Lantsov [ age 40's-60's ]. © open
prince/princess. ( there's not a limit, but make sure to message us first )
advisor. open

SHU ROYAL FAMILY ( Kir-Taban )
queen. open
prince/princess. open (princess Ehri taken)
advisor. open

FJERDAN ROYAL FAMILY ( Grimjers)
king. open
queen. open
prince. open
princess. open
advisor. open

SPECIALIZED POSITIONS ( message us first so that we can send more informations )

The Apparat © : spiritual advisor to the kings of Ravka and the head of the Ravkan church. (open)

Leader of the Soldat Sol : the Soldat Sol, also known as the Sun Soldiers, are the holy warriors sworn to protect the Sun Summoners. They were originally led by the Apparat but now are in their own. (taken)

Leader of the Tavgharad : The Tavgharad are a force of elite female warriors, trained to serve the queens of Shu Han. They protect the Queen and her family, keeping them safe from harm. (open)

Commander of the Drüskelle : Drüskelle are holy soldiers from Fjerda who hunt Grisha and take them for trial and execution at the Ice Court. The drüskelle order is open only to males. (open)

CANON CHARACTERS
the darkling. taken
Sun Summoner. taken
Nikolai Lantsov. open
Genya Safin. open
Zoya Nazyalensky. open
David Kostyk. open
Fedyor Kaminsky. open
Nina Zenik. taken
Sergei Beznikov. open
Tamar Kir-Bataar. taken
Tolya Yul-Bataar. open
Adrik Zhabin. open
Nadia Zhabin. open
Leoni. open
Harshaw. taken
Kaz brekker. taken