Aesthetics of the New Wallachia

The Clash of Cultures

Wallachia is not a cozy place where everyone gets along.  The fact that so many refugees from wildly disparate cultures have been forced to exist in once space under horrifying and stressful conditions has created a lot of strife.  This is reflected in the mix of aesthetic signifiers visible among different groups, only some of whom have tried to assimilate into Wallachian culture in any way.  All of this is exacerbated by the deep class divides in this land.

Warding Signs

The citizens of New Wallachia have many reasons to fear evil and darkness and make every effort to protect themselves by whatever means they can think of.  A common sight is various kinds of warding signs and charms from all cultures.  You can see everything from traditional Wallachian wreathes of garlic to Jack-O-Lanterns, Chinese Fu, and Nkisi from the Congo region of Africa being placed around to ward off evil.

Bucharest – The Capitol of New Wallachia

After the inception of the Curse, Bucharest became swollen with people.  Filthy tenements pile over filthy tenements with the poor citizens of old Wallachia and refugees from other lands practically stacked like cordwood.  The city’s public services are constantly overwhelmed, and the King has begun efforts to resettle the citizens of this place into smaller towns around New Wallachia.  In the meantime, people make do.  The only thing keeping the common folk from some form of revolution is the fear that something worse may come about if King Tepes and the monarchy itself is deposed. 

The Guard

The Guard is the main military and police force of New Wallachia, enforcing the King’s will and being responsible for protecting the citizenry from the depredations of the monstrosities that came with the curse.  Guard members are not typically infused with occult powers like some of the King’s other servants but make up for this by using enchanted arms and armor.  The number of people with unnatural abilities are still too uncommon to be a major component of the Guard and are instead sequestered into the Seekers and The Hand.

The Seekers

Seekers are the explorers and troubleshooters of the monarchy.  They are responsible for dealing with problems too small for the Guard but large enough to be a threat.  They are also the King’s main agents in pursuing some end to the Curse, scouring the lands for whatever scrap or lore or magical power that might be useful in turning back the tide of darkness.

The Hand

No one is sure what the Hand is doing, only that they work for the King directly.  Some have speculated that they work as secret police, hunting down enemies from within the kingdom.  Their unseen presence forms a subtle threat against dissent or betrayal, both for the nobles, the clergy, and the various other organs of the state.