Writing for IRON on IRON on IRON
Following the footsteps of my inspiration before me, these are some notes for myself and others on the mental space and some resources for writing stuff for IRON on IRON on IRON.
THE LLLLAND
This will be a more streamlined version of this post.
To every statement given as truth, break another. Incongruencies create weird and real locations.
Consider a LLLLand with four Ls: Location, Legions, Lords, and the Lord.
Location
A village is merely a group of farmers finding safety in numbers.
A source of fresh water makes a town of a village. On the other hand, a poisoned well can turn a village into a graveyard.
A village up a hill can see far. Any piece of Land that can be farmed will be farmed. Abundance or lack of farmable Land affects populace, settlers and habitants.
One castle/fortification per 50000 people. If absent, any other fortified location will be used, mostly religion-related places such as churches, abbeys or monasteries.
Either hygiene or plague. Probably the latter, but sometimes the former. The bigger it is, the worse it gets.
Legions
Village: 50-1000 people
Town: 1000-8000 people
City: 8000-12000 people
Capital: 12000 and beyond
An average town has a ratio of 8:2 of farmers to other trades, and most exist to better farm.
Farmers know the basics of all things (Average Trade Quality). Smiths know horseshoes and tools, rarely swords.
Armies are expensive; any bigger than 1% of the populace cause its own collapse and famine in the Land. Armies need wars, or they become aimless thugs and hedge knights, which are not afraid to use IRON in IRONless situations.
Every other kid dies before the age of 15. Breed non stop to beat the game of numbers. Pregnant women are common, children run around and help around as soon as they can.
People are born, grow, live and die without ever living their birthplace and their social placement in their family. Travel is an exception reserved for troublemakers, ruffians, rascals, circuses or merchants, and travelers are expected to be inquired as such.
Lords
Strong lords have strong lieges and weak heirs.
Lands ruled by children, multiple people, old dying lords or plagued with dozen aimless heirs are prone to be seem as weak and vulnerable.
Marriage is a bigger weapon for territory and power than IRON. Suitors, sex and fertility are valuable assets.
Lords have shields and colors and dress accordingly. Some colors are more expensive than others.
Lord
Everywhere you look is The Lord. He is the one cultural common denominator. Whatever is not christian sticks out like a sore thumb.
The Church and the churches are not one and the same. The Church hold interests that of a king. Churches hold power, places and the interest of the Legions. All villages have some religious structure, or a reason not to.
Monks are librarians and researchers. Higher monks are professors. Nuns are administrators. Higher nuns can hold great power through administration of lands and people. Both are alternatives to a life unmarried and non conforming gender roles.
Priests are only human. Their sins are the most interesting.
THE CHARACTERS
Besides the questions presented in the IRON on IRON on IRON ruleset, consider the details below to give life to these individuals.
Describe clothes. Nobles and foreign traders may use imported silk or colorful tints. Regular folk use untinted wool.
Describe cleanliness and smells. Working makes one dirty and sweaty. Bathing is either a communal event or a privilege. Bathing houses are crucial to socialization and the real "inn/tavern" of medieval society. Everything everywhere is MUDDY.
The majority of the masses abscond violence, but are familiar to it, even if of natural origins. Most families carry a handful of deceased children in their hearts.
Non-farmers have a explicit role in the society. A village may not have two of the same Trade, so the village smith may not be able to travel away but their apprentice might. Their Trade is probably their surname and definitely their social position.
Art is made by artists, either through patronage of a lord or The Lord, and talks about those same subjects. Carnivals are tool of the common people to mock and loudly revolt against the idiosyncracies of their lords and leaders, even religious ones.