Okay, so I figured that this one needed a reboot, and, following discussions and such, here it is again, with changes to the world, story, and characters, amongst other things.
There is quite a substantial wall of text that follows, so my apologies, I wanted to give as clear as picture as possible, and aim to cover everything I could. If I've missed anything I will update, and if anyone wants any more info, feel free to ask
World Information:In the centre of the world of Dytaria lie four continents, by their old Elven names: Vaedra to the North, Naerlas to the East, Sylaethar to the South and Aerlastra to the West, separated by ocean, with varying Islands in and around the main four land masses. It is upon Vaedra that this story takes place; a land inhabited primarily by Humanity, though it is also home to the Dwarven Kingdoms, Orcish tribal dominions, and the Empires of the Elves, and their great enemies the Dark Elves, along with an area of land controlled by the Brotherhood of Secranus, a collective of cultists, Demons and Demon hybrids who worship the Dark God Secranus.
In the North, stretching from the border with the West, down to the border of the central lands, and the top half of the Eastern reaches, lies the foremost Human Empire: The Kindaran Empire. Directly below them, and dominating the remainder of the East down to the Southern coast is the second most prominent, and bitter rival Zalandrian Empire, also a Human nation. The central lands, sharing a border with Kindara, which lies to their North, are the landlocked Dwarven Kingdoms, the Orcish dominions, the Human and landlocked Zalmoxian Empire, The Human Kingdom of Thruxia, also landlocked. Below the Dwarves lies the landlocked nation of Luxia, a Human state, and the Southernmost Nomadic steppes of the Kylaanian Khanate. The lands of the Brotherhood of Secranus lie on the Southern coast, bordering the Khanate, Luxia and the Orcs, and is one of the few places in the world where Demons wander freely outside their home realm. Below the Zalmoxians are the Human nations of Krodaan, which is landlocked and Verath, the latter of which lies on the coast. Below Thruxia, bordering Zalandria and Krodaan, are the landlocked plains of various nomadic tribes. Finally, to the West lie the Elves: The High and Wood Elves dominate the West from the centre of the West to the North, bordering Kindara, the Dwarves and Luxia, whilst the Dark Elves stretch from the centre of the West to the Southern Coast, bordering Luxia and the Khanate steppelands. Though these borders are established, this is by no means the extent of the creatures found within each nation: many different races can be found living in Human lands, for example, and species like Halflings and Gnomes are found across the world, their homelands being parts of established nations as protectorates.
A point of note is that whilst the cultists, Demons and Demon hybrids that inhabit the lands of the Brotherhood are in theory confined to the Southern coast of their lands, they are in fact able to strike most anywhere in the world, simply using these lands as a base. Most notably, they have an outpost somewhere in the Orcish lands near the border with Kindara, from which many raids have been launched to kill and capture those who dwell in the smaller settlements along the Orcish border.
Kindara enjoys friendly diplomatic relations with the Elves and Dwarves, and has good relations with the Zalmoxians. They have trade agreements with their partners, and most other Human lands, though Thruxia only grudgingly works with them, for it was Kindara and Zalandria who in the ancient days toppled the once mighty Thruxian Empire and reduced it to the tiny Kingdom it is today. Relations with Zalandria have always been terse, and now things have taken a daunting turn. Zalandria has made alliances with Krodaan, Verath and the nomadic peoples it borders, and has even begun talks with the Thruxians.
The Story:Recently war has been brewing between Kindara and Zalandria. Tensions have been steadily rising over the past few months, with the breakdown of diplomacy and the forging of sudden alliances, which threatens to boil over into full-scale warfare at the drop of a pin. Preparations have been made by both sides, but the Kindarans have found another threat surfacing, this time from within: Aranthor, Arch-Mage of the Imperial Council of Magi has absconded from the Capital, Thel Kindra, along with several forbidden artefacts from the Imperial vaults. Aranthor has taken his stolen prizes and fled to an ancient tower in Southern Kindara, with the assumed intention of defecting to the Zalandrian cause with the artefacts. This cannot be allowed to happen, and the Emperor has decided upon a course of action: as an Imperial Arch-Mage Aranthor will be expecting the Kindaran response of a joint military-Magi assault upon his position, so the Emperor has commissioned a task force to be assembled to defeat Aranthor and retrieve the stolen artefacts.
To increase the chances of security, this task force has not been officially advocated, but rather, a series of recruitment posters for the Capital’s Adventurer’s Guild have been circulated: Those who take an interest are instructed to bring the advertisement, along with themselves and any partners they have to the Adventurer’s Guild, where a mission brief will be granted. Today is that day.
Character Creation:As for how the game will work: I will be playing Aranthor, the principal villain, along with the Imperial leader of the party.
As for your characters, classes and races are up to you, though if you want to be a party member, you can’t be evil. However, if you wish to play a secondary villain, feel free just please message me with the idea you have so I can check it fits. Alternatively, you can request one, since there will be places along the way where they fit in, though do expect villains to end up up dead eventually.
As a guide to races available, the usual suspects for fantasy, eg Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Halflings, Gnomes etc are okay, as are the half-breeds eg Half-Elves, Half-Orcs etc. This list is by no means exclusive, it’s just to give an idea of the common races found in this area of the world. The only definite restrictions I’m putting in place are: No Demons, No Celestials, No Dragons or other high-end magical creatures, and no half-breeds of these races can be chosen for your characters. Low-end exotic/magical creatures (eg Changelings) can be chosen, but please run them by me so I can see if they’re likely to fit into the game
The same idea for classes; the usual suspects, or combinations therein.
Feel free to be from whatever area of the continent you wish, bar the Brotherhood lands and the Dark Elf territories, unless you’re evil, in which case, go for it, but still no Demons. Feel free also to be from an Imperial Establishment (Magi Circle, Army etc) if you wish since we’re starting in Kindara, or whatever other background you want for your character.
If you have a character in mind you are not sure would fit/think is a bit too exotic or anything like that, feel free to run the idea by me, and I’ll clarify anything you want to ask.
Finally Equipment: Since this is based on an AD&D Module, so are some of the mechanics. Since this is a critical mission, you will either be provided with, or may begin with if you to work it into into the character creation, some enchanted equipment, of intermediate level; I say that enchanted covers both magically enchanted and Holy/Blessed equipment. Such items should be class appropriate. Please run by me what you intend to have if you're starting with it, or if you're not starting with any, request it in game when it comes up
Also feel free to ask any other questions/queries/things you’d like clarifying, big or small, and I’ll answer them for you
That's it for now, if there are any updates, I'll let you know when I post them here. Otherwise, enjoy
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The day had dawned brightly, with a hint of early mist falling lightly over the Capital City, so as to give the sunlight rapidly flooding over the buildings a hazy quality, and lent a slight chill to the morning air.
Below the window, the City was coming to life, with the market traders already stirring, chattering and barking orders as they moved carts and merchandise from storage to the market square which lay beneath. Groups of citizens also began to emerge as the markets came to life again, and soon a cheerful, if somewhat sleepy bustle had descended over the area as yet more light filtered down through the layer of dewy mist over the City.
The clack of hooves on the cobbled streets cut through the growing market sounds, followed by the telltale tramp of armoured boots on the stone. The giveaway that this was not any normal morning in Thel Kindra, but another morning in a City preparing for war. The Capital was far enough back in the Empire that it would never expect to see any fighting, but standard Imperial Procedure demanded a gathering of forces at the Capital City nonetheless, and rumours were that the Emperor himself was planning to personally lead the Kindaran First Army into battle, which meant an even larger military build up as though the Capital were a frontier City.
As the column of soldiers, infantry and cavalry both, moved through the square, coming down from the great hill upon which stood the vast white citadel that was the Imperial Palace, the civilians moved aside from their usual business to allow the troops unhindered passage, continuing their business, though now with some speculations no doubt added as to the developments of the war.
It was at that point he closed the window shutters and returned his gaze across the large table, replete with food and refreshments, to the large oaken door at the far end of the grand room, tapestries hanging from every all, great murals of heroes, treasure and the pride of the guild to which they belonged. A fire burned in the great, sending flickering shadows across the wall behind it, and torches burned brightly in place of the natural light that would have been admitted through the windows, were they not all closed for security.
Two guards stood either side of the doorway inside, armoured in plate and clutching shields and lances, with longswords hanging from their belts below, the Crest of Kindara, a soaring Falcon clutching two crossed swords in its talons, within a shield design, emblazoned on their chests. They had the same design, only coloured, upon a deep blue background, upon their shields. The torchlight rippled across their armour, casting long shadows onto the ground at their feet.
The man watching the door from the far end of the room was clearly Elven, the firelight accentuating the pale skin, telltale high cheekbones and pointed ears synonymous with their race. That and he stood a good head taller than most Humans, as was the norm. His long blonde hair ran down to below his shoulder blades, and was currently tied back in a ponytail. The firelight shone in his moss-green eyes as he watched the door, hands idly resting on the finely detailed golden hawk head pommels of the twin elven blades hanging from each hip, the bands of his own elven armour with the crest of his family enamelled onto the chest reflecting the light of the torches. He wore a cloak of blue over his armour, which covered the back, and which was fastened at the shoulder by clips in the fashion of the Imperial crest of Kindara.
The other occupant of the room was currently a broad man of middling height with leathery skin long tanned under the sun. Like the two guards, he was also garbed in plate, though his armour was highly enamelled in goldwork, with the Imperial Falcon above a personal family crest. A curved blade hung at his belt, and a long crimson cloak descended from his shoulders, fastened with the Imperial Falcon clips. His arms were emblazoned with a rank insignia of the Imperial General staff. The man had a crop of oaken hair, flecked with grey, and a similarly coloured wiry beard and moustache sprouting from his face. He was sat at the head of the table, facing the door, a goblet of wine in front of him. He too watched the door with anticipation of the arrivals.
Soon, those who had answered the call would be directed to this room on the third floor by the Guildmaster below, upon presentation of the recruitment poster, and then they could begin.
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The black marble room shone brighter for the twin fires, roaring in their grates at opposite ends of the great chamber, with the intervening space lit by curious floating globes of black fire, which gave out the same light as a torch would, despite their appearance.
At the far end of this room, stood the imposing black obsidian throne, set high on a dais so as to overlook the entire room. The throne was an exact copy, minus the material chosen, of the Imperial Throne of Kindara. Nothing less would do, of course. The one occupying it was a man of middling height, deathly pale and decked out in the finest black satin robes a mage could hope to come by, adorned with gold filigree and veins of silver thread. Because only the best would do, of course. His hands were adorned by jewelled rings, and a golden chain was visible on his neck, though any pendant fell below the front of the garments he wore. A painstakingly nurtured and sculpted beard sat in an exact point on his chin, as black as the robes he wore, and the same shade as the obsessively neat cut of hair atop his head. Within his beard, a band of gold was worn in the centre, holding the style in shape. Upon his head sat an elaborate circlet of platinum, bejewelled, and bearing three prominent prongs of black diamond as decoration, and a single black diamond set dead centre of the circlet, below the middle prong. Because only the best would do, of course.
The man clutched in one perfectly manicured hand, a slim black staff, of some unknown material, carved with ancient symbols and topped by four curved clawed pieces of the same material, grasped at the apex of which was a symmetrical, pointed blood red gem. The entire staff was suffused with a shadowy mist, which made it appear simultaneously corporeal and incorporeal, such that the entire structure appeared to be constantly shifting, and the wielder may appear to be holding a staff comprised of shadow rather than solid material.
He was sat lazily on the throne, a look of annoyance creasing his brow, watery blue eyes as hard as stone as he glared down at the robed figure at the foot of the throne: "Well?" he snapped briskly, voice eloquent yet punctuated by impatience and imperious tones.
The figure robed in simple black was currently kneeling at the dais when it looked up at the man. There was no face beneath the hood, only darkness, punctuated where the eyes should be by small flares of necrotic green fire which burned in what could be assumed to be sockets, though they cast not light themselves and did not illuminate any further features. Whatever was beneath the material beside the burning flames that served as the creature's eyes remained unseen: "My lord Aranthor." it rasped in a voice that ground like a stone coffin opening, and with about as much emotion and warmth: "We have much to report."
"Then get on with it!" Aranthor narrowed his eyes sternly, voice as aloof and commanding as possible: "You are interrupting my thoughts!"