This was a great read Keisandoril. I can't wait to see the great things you accomplish in CoE!
A humble man running a general goods store in the bustling streets of his home city is about to close up shop after a successful day. He passes his daily portion of food over to the orphan waiting shyly, flanked by an elegantly-dressed woman with a kind smile on her face. The pair move off down the street to the nearby orphanage, situated next to an establishment for both escort services and the etiquette and education of the women of Elyria.
A few minutes later, a leather-clad hunter steps up to the store and provides the merchant with his weekly share of hunting spoils, to sell and barter with. The merchant smiles and returns the favour with a small amount of coin and more food, which the hunter takes and brings to the outskirts of the city, where a lodge filled with people like him are waiting to eat after a full day of hunting and gathering.
The merchant eventually packs up the other coin he has made into a specially-crafted box. He places it at the front of his store, and after a while, it is collected by a finely-suited woman who appraises the coin before smiling and taking it away, to the bank to which she belongs in the city, for collection and redistribution the next day.
At last, after closing up shop, the innkeeper walks tiredly down the street, to his local tavern, where he enjoys a fine meal and drink at discount prices, as well as good company with people he knows well. It is a good life.
All of the people mentioned in this scenario are connected in one, core way: They all belong to a community. A network, where everyone is looked after, underneath a great umbrella, no matter the business they carry on. An organisation in which every lone businessman, hunter, traveller, adventurer, and other individuals, feels at home in the massive, expansive world of Elyria.
This is the Blue Umbrella Collective.
As indicated above, the Blue Umbrella Collective is a group that seeks to unite many different departments with their own leaders together, so they might protect each other and help all their businesses grow and develop together. Whatever you want to do in Chronicles of Elyria, I can almost guarantee you will find a place here! We are looking for anyone and everyone who would like to be a part of something bigger in Elyria, whether you be a blacksmith, a banker, or a travelling bard!
As an organisation overseeing many different types of work, you might want to ask about individuality. What if you wish to start an inn or a tavern, and you would like the security and safety of the Collective, but you don’t want to call your place “Blue Umbrella Tavern”? Or if you are a travelling merchant, but you wish to come up with your own name for your business?
Worry not – we all respect and encourage individuality! Your establishment does not have to loudly and proudly state the Collective’s name if you do not want it to. We simply want everyone to feel safe knowing that their business is protected by a greater umbrella!
The organisation has goals to expand as far as it can, bringing in as many interested people as possible into the fold! However, initially, we will be starting in the Duchy of Lyon, located in the Demalion Empire – a place where we have been welcomed and have a solid starting position! If you or anyone you know are anywhere near there, make sure to check us out! And if you are not, don’t worry – if you are interested in joining us, that is all that matters! We will not turn you away. Everyone is welcome, and if you are far away from our starting place, we can simply incorporate you as an extended member! You will still be able to start with us if you wish to.
This is the interesting part. Because of the nature of the organisation being expansive and inclusive of everyone, our goals here are quite broad. Also, each overseer and leader contributing to this collective is an avid Role-Player, looking to see the development of RP in a game like Chronicles of Elyria. To simplify these goals, they can be broken down into the following two:
To connect aspects of RP (roleplay) with the CoE game mechanics to make it interesting for everyone, regardless of whether they enjoy RP or not. To expand all the businesses to include as many people as possible in as many places as we can, so that everyone has a place somewhere.
Much of these are still in the early stages of development. This means that there is even more opportunity for you to come in and be a part of this initiative!
The Gilded Rose is a community hub that interweaves with game mechanics to make it an interesting place for any kind of player in the Duchy of Lyon. The organization consists of a network of taverns with employee lodging providing escort services for nobility, including both high and low-class establishments, bearing the same name across the Duchy. It aims to first settle in the main County of Lyon and spread out across the counties if the organization grows or if the appropriate funding and interest are gathered.
The women of the Gilded Rose find boarding at their establishment, they will be educated in skills such as reading and writing, etiquette, art such as music and poetry and are allowed to take up hobbies of any kind such as tailoring, cooking, farming, etc. The purpose of this is to provide the Gilded Rose with a sense of professionalism and classiness. Of course, men are not to be excluded from the business. They could serve as bouncers or bards or fulfil other roles if so desired by both parties and county standards. Each of the establishments will focus on their county or settlement’s desire to make it a varied organization with a place for everyone.
Seek out this department if you are interested in becoming any of the following:
The Hunting department of the Collective will focus on those who wish to make their living in CoE out in the wilderness – surviving, tracking prey, and hunting – or those who wish to raise animals that may be used to achieve this – of course, that would be animal husbandry. This department will look to establish hunting lodges where it can do its business. The lodges will serve more than one purpose. They will provide a place for those who wish to hunt for a living; food for citizens in the form of meat products; leather and other hunting spoils to sell and barter with; even a place for aristocrats or others who wish to embark on hunting trips!
Seek out this department if you are interested in becoming any of the following:
The Banking Department will focus on the handling and overseeing of any monetary and financial aspects of CoE. This will undoubtedly be quite an important part of the game and will focus on areas such as bankers, moneylenders, debt providers, debt collectors, contractors, and all other financial matters. There is an aim to be a bank in most major cities, where citizens can store their money safely! In addition, banks under the Collective will oversee the smooth flow of money to and from all the other businesses in the organisation!
Finally, legal matters will no doubt be important in CoE as well, so feel free to contact this department if you are interested in the law!
Seek out this department if you are interested in becoming any of the following:
What would a city, town or village be without a local watering hole? A place where those who work hard to make a living – be it through farming, trading or adventuring – can relax at the end of a long day, drink, sing songs, and be merry? The Taverns Department seeks to do just that! Through an interconnected string of taverns and inns in as many places as possible, anyone who wishes to run or work in one of these fine establishments should seek out this department!
Not only does this department want to expand taverns and inns, but for sport and entertainment – and not to mention a bit of betting money – sanctioned fights will be held to any and all who wish to participate in or simply spectate!
Seek out this department if you are interested in becoming any of the following:
This department is responsible for looking after any merchants, traders and crafters who wish to open or join a business. If you are interested in exploring the business side of CoE, by selling wares, or making them yourself, this is the department for you! Whether you plan to travel or set up shop somewhere, it can be a daunting task. With help from others, you will be able to grow so much faster – and lift others up with you! Seek out this department if you are at all interested in making money by making or trading goods.
Seek out this department if you are interested in becoming any of the following:
As you can probably tell, this is going to be a mammoth project in CoE – which is why we need your help! Whether you have questions, want to join us, or simply want to help out in another way, make sure to let us know! Below is a compiled list of all the people you can contact through Discord, and our Discord invite link if you would like to join!
Thank you for reading, and we hope we have inspired you to become a part of something greater in the wonderful project that is Chronicles of Elyria!
