This is the world i am in the process of creating, for use in a possible D&D campaign(3rd ed) and/or novels.
Basic Concept: fairy-tale type world created by a bored god(also known as Adym), in a great void so he could be left alone. The world consists of the material and ethereal, unlike most worlds, it is surrounded, in the astral plane, by a great black void and cannot be traversed. so there are no gods, except the ones the races created themselves, no devils, demons, or angels. the sky will have something wierd about it but im unsure as to what exactly, there is one moon and stars as normal. the technology level will be bronze-iron age, steel weapons will be considered masterwork items. even though it will be mostly "western" in concept, i will be putting in "eastern" things like ninjas and samurai, but im looking to just re-name these as there is not going to be such a drastic difference-there is no asia. There are psionics, but it is rare. there will be NO emphesis on alignment(its generally used as a wall or a crutch), no posivite/negetive energies. i will be exploring the differences between the real and ethereal, and develop a logical interactions with these and death.
in the past there was once a great empire, but is now ruined and forgotten. the only known hold-over from this empire is a written language found on many books found from that era: Draconic. since then, lesser nations have appeared in Alaria consisting of: Humaria, Eldaria, Mystis, Norrik, D'Levil Empire, Theldar, Al-Adym, Mawmirth desert, Gnimish, and Reolixia. After years of border wars, the land of Mystis was declared the great negotiation table and all borders were clearly defined, and all disputes resolved as peace settled over the lands-mostly, the D'Levil Empire still fights to expand.
there are 3 known continents: East and West Alaria(relatively well developed old world), and Nyria(newly colonized new world). the main race-nations are: human, elf, dwarf, gnome, halfling(hobbit-type, not lightfoot), orc, goblin, giant, fey, also: kenku(bird people), changeling, shifter(lycanthrope-touched), Maenid(shiny human vulcans), xeph(short black humans with darkvision). there will also be varients or subraces as follows: High- civilized, Wild- primitive, terrain dependant: Wood- Dark- Hill- Mountain- Plains- Desert- etc., also will be adding some cultural elements(cultural enemies and prejudices, talents), and finally i will allow some individuals to be raised be another race/culture and mix/match some abilities. there are dragons, but not as you know them, mostly, their abilities and appearance change according to thier environment. dragons are considered completely mythical in Alaria, but fey are well known but mysterious-like in medieval fairy tales. kenku are only found on Nyria. dire animals are going to be so mean that they cannot be reasoned with, and will not be able to be selected for things like animal companions. dinosaurs will be somewhere in the world but i not where yet. here are some nations that i want to model after real cultures: wood elves of nyria will be like native americans, nomadic hunter and gatherers; i want to somehow make the orcs of nyria like ancient greece, probably sparta, or ancient china, because who wants more boring orcs; dwarves will have clan tattoos, and expansive haraldry like medieval england and france.
Nyria is where my main story will start, and on that continent there will be natives: wood and wild elves, tons of fey, kenku, orcs, giants, shifters and changelings at least; and colonists: humans, dwarves, high elves, goblins, and more.
The main story starts with a character based off me, Dradym Ryzar, a dwarf found and raised by wood elves(and as i write it will be able to be seen here: Novel). some other cool characters will include: Porris Alumbar, human pirate that hears voices and has psychokinetic powers, followed by a gnomish researcher; Dyrdra, a were-bear priestess who heals by causing pain, Jerid Reinhold(PC) semi-noble human colonist with a knack for traps; Fengtokk(PC) half-orc barbarian with asperations to become a priest. some other characters that ive created from other d&d campaigns may make an appearance. I dont really have much of a middle for my story yet besides a betrayal or two, some deaths, some happy endings in the middle, revelations, and due to the fact that i am a guy, i want to somewhere, somehow, have one romantic hot lesbian sex scene. But in the end there will be an apocalypse, and the world will be saved in the last minute with a noble sacrifice, that will have a dramatic and lasting effect on the rest of the world.
i am playing with the following ideas: iffy:*there is no "divine" magic, clerics and druids get their spells like wizards, and draw their power from the ethereal realm itself and is not wisdom-based*, arcane magic comes from their surroundings and there are psionics, which comes from within. all pantheons and solitary gods are/were created by the races and are not real entities, the religions are like the real world: where superstition and freak occurances are attributed to these false entities, and people give credit and blame instead of taking responsibility, or for the illusion of power and security.
i want to create a great feat-tree, similar to the mastery feats in iron warriors, a d20 sword and sorcery supplement, im starting off with fighting style mastery ranks.
character advancement will require training when aquiring new feats or class abilities-stuff completely new to the character unless i decide it isnt needed or can be thrown in narritively. Characters will have an alignment, and i want to have a point system in place to track the shifts, but after the creation process you will not know what it is, it will not stop you from using your abilities(you only have to justify your actions to yourself), and abilities that effect or detect those alignments will either be changed or lessened(paladins smite abilities will be more like the favored enemies of rangers).
This currently imaginary campaign i am hoping will have several adventuring parties(thus several campaigns) at once and eventually i plan to have them meet up, like a(n) MMRPG. In each party there will generally be one main character that will not die until he meets up with the rest of the main characters. the creation of each branch starts with a main character interview, and based on that, i will create your first adventures, secondary PCs, nemeses and story arcs.
If this intrigues you or you just want to help or play and you live in the Portland area feel free to comment or email me, i get more inspired if i can bounce ideas off of people. |