The Original Elysion.
- "Even now, in the year 93 of the Second Era, that grand and dark throne sits empty. That exalted chair, the cause of so much bloodshed and scheming. Quiet it sits in it's great hall, waiting for someone worthy.""Only time will tell who that may be. When we once again witness...""The Rise of Kings."
A (now defunct) Minecraft Roleplay server originally founded by imjoebaker, Rise of Kings was one of the most consistently active communities as far as fantasy roleplay goes. Though various locations have gotten the spotlight, the main focus of the server is the continent/island of Elysion, a land of elegance and varying climates, shared by four primary provinces or Kingdoms. In Borealis, the sort of capital of Elysion itself, sits the grand Obsidian Throne, the most coveted seat of power in all four realms. Whoever takes control has essentially rose to Kingship, thus explaining the title.
While player-written lore has diversified things immensely, the original server concept was inspired heavily by Game of Thrones. The dynamic of multiple provinces opposing each other over a central seat of power existed as one of the main political foundations, but these days you can also find a not too unfamiliar world map, various magical and fantastic creatures, and plenty of roleplay-formed history and character names to learn.
This server provides examples of:
- Absurdly Sharp Blade: Bluesteel weaponry while it was still a thing, was the strongest set of weaponry available. It was often carried by nobles and was considered to be the strongest metal on Elysion during that time period.
- Action Girl: Lots. While women fighting does end up being rarer than their counterpart, the occasion sword-swinging lass will make an appearance.
- Age Lift: Some players do this with younger characters, to get them to a more playable age.
- Alchemy Is Magic: Alchemy on Rise of Kings includes the use of the more traditional creation of potions and remedies as well as fantastical transmutations not unlike those seen in Fullmetal Alchemist.
- All Your Base Are Belong to Us: Any time anyone successfully invades anywhere else.
- All There in the Manual: The lore section provides a large amount of explanation for most things happening in the world, and provides the setting with dynamics that would otherwise go unnoticed.
- Always Chaotic Evil: Any sort of Lich, demon, undead, or otherwise.
- Always Identical Twins: Eideard Taran, both the older and the younger.
- Ancient Egypt: Well, we tried.
- Badasses Wear Bandanas: A trope that should just be renamed Callum
- Beary Friendly: Despite killing a fuck tonne of people, Torstein Leifstrom applies to this trope. At least in public.
- Big Fancy Castle: Valkenburg, Veridan Keep, , Borealis, Havenhall, Hawk's Ridge...take your pick.
- Black-and-White Morality: Many of the more Idealistic organizations and characters were marked by a belief in this. In practice...Not so much.
- Blood Knight: To the extent not having this makes people doubt your characters gender
- Bottomless Bladder: In some ways, all characters tend to at least fill a small spot within this trope. Because players don't want to spend their time Role Playing the mundane task of urinating everyday.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Occurs both ICly and in OOC, no examples please Jammo.
- Chased by Angry Natives: Despite the fact they'd suit the bill nicely, Sarrowmerk subverts this, mainly being too high most the time.
- Clone Army: 5 minute armies could be interpreted as such, especially since they match the emotional range expected of this trope.
- Cool Boat: Due to the skill of the BT every single boat in the game
- Cool Old Guy: Probably too many to count.
- Combat Pragmatist: Aside from the multitude of pragmatic fighters found, the females of Rise of Kings tend to favor the dirty tactics.
- Crapsack World: Elysion counts as this a large amount of the time, especially after the Diverge.
- DreamWorks Face: A good way of showing your edginess without killing someone or instadodging every punch
- Evil Overlord: The Pink Hatter, and his secret organisation. This Manipulative Bastard ruled Elysion for a time.
- Everyone Is Armed: Oh God this is true, within 5 minutes a smart player can have enough swords to build the iron throne.
- Eyepatch of Power: Depends on your skin, but if it occurs it means the character is an instant piratey badass.
- Facial Dialogue: Crucial to roleplay in a nutshell, and required upon lying
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Several, Winterbane is based on Nords, Darrowmere on Medieval Europe, and there are numerous examples outside of Elysion as well. Such as Saracin, a country based on the Middle East, Hayping, based on Asian cultures, and much, much more.
- Freudian Trio: Three famous pirates... Henry, Skarper and Dasan. While Henry was emotional, dreary, complicated, but a crack shot with a Crossbow, Skarper was cunning, crafty, cerebral, and detached from conventional morality, Dasan was somewhere in between.
- Kiss Me, I'm Virtual: Any and all relationships with an NPC, for instance a mercenary captain and his follower.
- Knight In Shining Armour: Also a trait that several characters, mainly Darrowmerians, try to replicate.Jammo2k16: That's Harvey.
- Language of Magic: Some of the magic on Rise of Kings follows this theme.
- Local Hangout: Good place to find roleplay, taverns are a good shout
- Medieval European Fantasy: The setting has generally always been this, with variations.
- No Periods, Period: Invoked by most of the female characters as along with the bladder thing it wouldn't go down too well, despite one suggestion that bloody rags could be used as missiles.
- One Head Taller: Seeing as most of the men are over 6 feet, and the women typically a foot smaller, it's surprising this doesn't come up more.
- Poison Is Evil: The Union are infamous for this in their assassinations, they even have a member nicknamed 'Rat Poisoner' as testament to this. A number of Lords, Nobles and Kings have fallen to a cup of poisoned Absinthe (The particular choice of beverage, because a strong smelling drink disguises the poison's give away scent)
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: Winterbane and Akvar.
- Royal Brat: Almost too many to name.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: The Majority of the Kings and Lords of Elysion did something at one point or another, but several do stand out.
- Royally Screwed Up: Well, if you've got the money and power, why not complement it with a little insanity?
- Running Gag:
- We're not entirely sure God ever Willed anything...
- WHERE IS ZORPHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOS
- This Is My Side: Oh God so much, invoked constantly by squabbling rulers.
- Time Stands Still: Tried and unfortunately crashed the server on its relaunch day.
- Sweet Polly Oliver: Suprisingly hard to do, but mistaken identities do come up by people expecting this
- Super Family Team: Royal or noble houses usually come under this, until hit be the usual genocide.
- Voice Grunting: Winterbane in a nutshell
- What's Up, King Dude?: In order to maintain roleplay, this is common, with results as you'd expect
