Beliefs

How would you like to be surrounded by people that want to enhance each others experience and truly feel like a community of brothers and sisters? How would you like a king who shows up for the sole reason to do good for the community? Ashland believes in providing the best social experience possible with people you can trust and rely upon. We want you to follow our king because you want to. We want you to be a part of us because you feel welcome, and grow to love this wonderful kingdom, because you've built strong bonds with us. Wouldn't you like to be part of a kingdom in which you have the absolute confidence that other people that you may or may not know would be willing to sacrifice themselves so that you may not only survive, but thrive? If you have wanted to be part of a community that truly feels like one, then you have just found your home.

Location

Ashland is Located in Kingdom 2, containing the Alpine Tundra (previously known as the Rocky Mountain Steppe) and Lower Montane Forest.

Alpine Tundra

The Rocky Mountain Steppe of Elyria, more traditionally referred to as an alpine tundra on Earth, is the highest biome in Elyria. Sitting just below, and up into the snow zone at elevations between 2km and 6km, is too cold for most trees to grow. The rocky mountain tundra is home to rugged mountain terrain covered in mosses, lichen, grasses, and shrubs suitable for grazing animals that prefer the colder climate. The rocky mountain steppe has only one soil type, with a water retention rate at a low 10%, making the terrain excellent for digging, but poor for holding water.

As a result, the settlements that exist in the rocky mountain are typically near large pools of water, or deep in the mountain sides where water runs through underground rivers. Overall, the rocky mountain gets between 150cm and 400cm of rain each year. Its high elevation and ready access to secure mountain strongholds and colder climate makes it home almost entirely to the Hrothi, with a secondary population of Brudvir who roam the lands above the mountain hunting for big game.

The resources available in the Rocky Mountain Steppe makes it most suited for settlements with the following primary industries:

• Defense

• Hunting

• Education

• Bureaucracy

• Dryland Farming

• Pastoral Farming

• Subterranean Farming

• Mining

• Stone Quarry

As a largely Hrothi biome, the primary religion is Virtori. With food sources coming in the form of hunting, and various types of farming, the Rocky Mountain Steppe is one of the more populated biomes, sitting just above the Broadleaf Forest and Tropical Rainforest, about the same as the Mixed Leaf Forest and Tidal Marsh, and sitting below the Shrublands, Grasslands, and Tropical Wetlands.

Lower Montane Forest

The Lower Montane Forest, as its namesake suggests, lies between the foothills and mid-montane altitudes—from 1400m above sea level and down to around 300m at their lowest point. Well below the snowline, and often in the shadow of great peaks, annual rainfall is between 100-200cm.

Comprised largely of coniferous forests interspersed with high altitude plains, the somewhat acidic soil retains around 50% of water due to deep root systems the support underground aquifers. As a result, there are a variety of tree types, flowering or berry-producing shrubs, and grasses that attract a good amount of small and large game, and their natural predators. Settlements tend to be near mountain streams and lakes, as water access is important for both industry and mobility.

The resources available in the Lower Montane Forest makes it most suited for settlements with the following primary industries:

• Logging

• Hunting

• Fishing

• Trade

• Rainfed Farming

• Textiles

• Pottery

• Defense

• Education

• Bureaucracy

This biome is comfortable enough for the Neran that they form the majority, but there exists a significant population of Kypiq, The Waerd, and even some intrepid To’resk. Despite its diversity, the Virtori faith remains dominant in the region. With food coming from a variety of sources, but mobility limited due to dense forest and uneven terrain, the population is average, sharing similar totals as the Woodland Savanna and Swamp, but decidedly more than the nearby Alpine Forest.

Code of Honor

Communicate Respectfully to friend and foe. We are all here to play games and we are all here to have fun. Perfect harmony is not expected, personalities will clash, but be mindful and maintain a level head. We earn respect by giving respect in all venues of communication. Loyalty You are free to associate with who you like, but do not forget where your loyalties lie. Dual and multi citizenship is prohibited. (Only applies to NA-W) In game, if you are, for example, a trader that has setup shop in every kingdom, this is perfectly acceptable and expected behavior. Being a mercenary for both sides is not. -Poaching from other duchies, kingdoms, etc, is prohibited. Speak Up Do not let a fight, misunderstanding, or other issue fester into drama and petty attacks, and instead strive to bring a clear and final resolution to the problem before it escalates. Try to resolve the situation on your own, but if you believe you are being bullied, harassed, or mistreated by anyone in the community, regardless of their title, you should absolutely bring it up to a Moderator, Duke, or the King and Queen. Inflammatory subjects Do not, do not, do not talk about real life politics or religion. It is the wrong platform. If you are so bound and determined to argue political issues online, then go to a political blog or news site. Same goes for religion. We are here to game, not make our lives more stressful. (Does not apply to in game politics and religion) -No insensitive racist memes. No posting something to purposefully get a rise out of someone. -NSFW - Nothing containing nudity, intense sexuality, gore and/or other potentially disturbing subject matter. Advertising/Spam - No advertising your discord unless you are given permission to do so. Keep spam and overuse of the same thing to a minimum. Personal Information/Doxing No real life photos of others in the community without their consent. No posting phone numbers or other related personal info. Do not give out any personal information of anybody, whether they are a part of the Kingdom or not. Punitive Action Please don't argue with moderators. A large part of their job is to enforce the rules and keep the peace. If you have an issue with a moderator or how something was handled, please use direct messages to a Moderator, a Duke/Duchess, or Royal Family member, including the King and Queen. Ashland trusts and relies upon all its citizens, and expects its citizens to reciprocate. Any Ashland citizen who violates or dishonors the Codes, or otherwise transgresses against the Kingdom, may be punished by a sworn representative or the King at his discretion.

What you can expect

A monarchy whose purpose is to protect citizens rights to ensure that they live as free as possible. And to tax to the least extent possible, while still taxing enough to cover the basic needs, essentials.

Benefits

Security . Whether you are a solo player looking for a group or a place for your group to call home, we provide that security and stability for you. Even more than that we provide a place where you can build trust to watch each others backs.

Companionship . A close knit community and a big kingdom at the same time, we provide the structure for you to have fun and rewarding relationships with other citizens of Ashland.

Variety . Choose a duchy to call home, each with their own unique culture and style. One duchy may be focused on military, while another on technology, or another on farming or trading.

Adaptability. We have one of the most dedicated and prepared communities in all of Elyria. We see the writing on the wall and adapt accordingly.

Who we are looking for

We want people that share our beliefs and goals and will always be looking for capable people.

We need and want just about any role that is out there.

And If you are seeking a leadership position, ask yourself,

Am I willing to put myself at risk to help others?

Will I take care of the people in my charge?

I will not forget that this is a game we are playing, but I do take leadership seriously, because you are like a non-profit leader and if you do not do your job then you are next to useless. You help make the players you are around have a better or worse experience, so in a way you are in charge of people’s fun. And people are here to be entertained.

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