More than 450 years ago, history was changed by a cataclysmic
struggle between the forces of darkness and light. The conflict
enveloped small and great, mortal and immortal, gods and devils. Few
survived it's destructive passing. None were spared it's devastating
touch. At the end of seven long years of plane spanning war, the massed
forces of those left alive came together in battle one last time at the
heart of the greatest kingdom of the age, Nathilus. The destruction
wrought that day laid waste to an entire continent and claimed lives in
the hundreds of thousands and came to be known as "the Price" as it was
what had been required to finally bring the fighting to an end.
Across the face of the world there were floods,
earthquakes, volcanic upheavals and other catastrophes of unimaginable
horror. Formerly great nations were swept by turmoil and unrest.
Centers of learning and knowledge fell to bands of starving raiders or
ravening humanoid tribes who saw their chance at last. Savagery and
barbarity became the standard as morality was swapped for just one more
day of life, no matter how crude. Contact between the races dwindled to
the point where they seemed myths to one another. The older races of
dwarves and elves settled into their ancient kingdoms and licked their
wounds, dreaming of regaining their strength someday. And so things
stood for many years, until there arose among the humans a man, of
vision and determination unmatched, who led his people to prominence and
set them on the path to recover their lost culture and pride. The man
was named Averon and became high-king of a nation at the forefront of a
reclamation of the lost skills and wisdom of the fallen kingdoms. The
wars fought to reclaim territory now overrun by the baser races were
long and bloody, but saw the alliance of men, dwarves and elves grow
strong and faithful. But, of course, time has a way of changing things.
Today's world finds itself with as many kingdoms and cultures
as the world once lost. Nations struggle for financial supremacy or to
recover ancient knowledge before their rivals. Intercontinental travel
is a rarity and isolationism the order of the day for most kingdoms. So
much of what was known in the days before "the Price" remains lost and
forgotten, and yet some progress has been made.
The ancient libraries of the Eldritch Citadel have been
re-discovered, and even though the destruction wrought by looters was
terrible, there is much of value to be found there. Many kingdoms send
out expeditions of bold explorers seeking troves or pockets of these
lost secrets that may be of use. There are even rumors of a colony
having been founded on the coast of ravaged Nathilus.
The kingdom of Essandir, long ago birthplace of high-king
Averon, stands as a shining beacon of enlightenment and learning despite
lying under the shadow of the ever growing forces of their demi-human
hating neighbor, Volungrod. For more than 20 years there have been
hostilities brewing along the border between these two realms and now
they look to be boiling over.
You are the descendants of the resilient men and women who
undertook the rebuilding of the world. You are the product of their hard
work and ingenuity, and as such find yourselves more capable than the
average citizen. Your background has given you more than a passing
familiarity with arms, armor, tactics and even the eldritch arts in some
cases. You find yourselves in the small border town of Frostcreek, last
settlement on the trade route north out of Essandir, as it swims in
rumors of an impending Volish invasion, a recent discovery in a nearby
dwarven mining outpost, loggers suffering from some sort of curse, and a
delivery of furs and hides that should have reached town a week ago. A
fairly thick crowd mills around you on the docks, making you wonder at
the town's prosperity in the face of trouble. The Coldrun River churns
south, casting a light mist over the valley behind you as you head up
the hill toward the town's thick log palisade. At the gate you stop and
look east across the water to the town of Oreport, where teams of
workmen are visible loading boats for the trip south. With a shrug, you
duck inside the gates and look to see what this new town may have in
store for you..... What I ask for from you:
1) Cooperation. With both your group mates and me. Don't be a
prima donna. Don't hog the spotlight from them if you can avoid it. Be a
team player who is concerned with the good of the group first. Trust
that I will involve you in the story unfolding around you in a way that
will make you a major character on the pages of the history of Vorkalis.
2) Candor. Be frank and open in your evaluation of how the
game seems to be going in your post-session critique. I need a clear
view of what you, as players, like or don't like about my style of
GMing. All too often someone drifts away if there is a clear channel of
communication like this in a group.
3) Camaraderie. I know it's not always possible, but I've
found groups made up of players who are friendly with one another work
best. To further this, I ask that our players communicate via Skype or
the group forums. If you're the sort of person who logs in expecting to
be entertained by the session without any interaction since the last
one, this group isn't for you. What I offer in return:
1) Depth & Detail. As stated earlier, I have put a lot of
work into this campaign and intend to continue to. It's a labor of love
and I am looking for the right people to share it with. If you are the
sort of player who likes to discover ancient secrets, dig up lost runs,
uncover forgotten lore or even just learn tidbits about the region
you're traveling through, I promise you'll find your fix here.
2) Maps, Maps, Maps and also a few Maps. Every scene and
every setting in my games take place on maps that I have designed and
put long hours of work into to bring greater immersion to you.
3) Concern for the Players. After each session you will be
asked to submit a critique of what transpired to help me get a better
grasp on what you want or don't, like or don't. I strive to keep my
finger on the pulse of the group so I can create the best atmosphere for
us all.
4) Dynamic Lighting, Background Music, Sound Effects &
Handouts. My style incorporates all of the things available through the
magnificent Roll 20 platform and I will continually work to make our
games more enjoyable for you through their use. I rely heavily on
handouts to guide the narrative and utilize a vast fantasy art library
to help me with this.
5) Passion. Plainly stated, I love the fantasy genre. I love
creating a world in cooperation with you, my players. When we're all
clicking, no amount of work is too much to overcome to keep the creation
going. ============================================================================================================= I'm looking for 4 players who can get along well with others and play the game for the fun of it, not to min/max their way to a medieval super hero. If you're still with me and interested please PM me with any questions you may have and I'll set up a meeting on Skype where we can talk more about the game. Thanks for your time.
