A Wild Hunt - A Witcher Roleplay
(collaborative effort with the lovely @Yennefer)
Introduction and OOC Information:
Hello boys and girls and welcome to this RP that takes place in the world of Sapkowski and CDProjekt Red's The Witcher. Set before the events of game number three, the Witcher: The Wild Hunt, players will be part of a group of adventurers. Read more below. This is an interest check for now, we'll see how many people might like such a story. Opinions also welcome!
Who are we looking for? People of all shapes and sizes, ICly and OOCly. We are starting around the outskirts of Novigrad. The world of the Witcher is as diverse as it is atmospheric. In these times of war and contempt, humankind is rife with bigotry and extremism towards those that are different. Elves and dwarves terrorise the countryside, banding together in what are known as scoia'tael commandos. Sorceresses and sorcerers are prosecuted and burnt at the stake. Yet all of this conflict and bias make for interesting characters to breathe life into. Will you play a stigmatised mage in hiding, a witch hunter, a priest or temple guard, an acrobatic thief or spy, an alchemist, a knight, a disenfranchised noble, a bounty hunter, an elf freedomfighter or dwarven guerrilla, a Nordling partisan,...? There will also be a few places for those wishing to portray a witcher themselves. When developing your character, try and include a reason as to why they would be part of this mission to investigate the Wild Hunt.
IC Outline:
The world is in chaos. The air is thick with tension and the smoke of burnt villages. The fearsome Empire of Nilfgaard crossed the River Yaruga, ravaging the helpless Northern Kingdoms. For these were plunged into bedlam after the deaths of several of their monarchs, Foltest and Henselt among them. In these uncertain times, no one can say what fortune holds in store, who will bring peace to the world and who will cause it only misery. But a force darker and deadlier than war emerges.
The petty men and women commanding tin-plated armies fail to understand that their conflict is child's play compared to the Wild Hunt, the otherworldly threat which now looms. These ghastly spectral riders have for ages plagued the world, bringing misery and death. It is rumoured they herald war and calamity. What better age then, for them to harry the skies? Yet, it seems they have an unholy purpose in mind. A group of professionals has been assembled. Their purpose: find out what the Wild Hunt is after, where it will strike and why.
Dijkstra, that most atypical spy, has returned from exile in secret. Occupied with carving out his personal criminal empire in metropolitan Novigrad, the former head of Redania’s secret service has one eye on the events of the world. King Radovid and Emperor Emhyr grapple with one another for the fate of the North, but have seemingly no interest in the underlying threat that is the Wild Hunt. Once again, or so he tells himself, it falls to him to keep watch, to mount an investigation. Whose shoulders but his should carry the weight of the world?
Well… apart from those brave or desperate few that will be his eyes and ears in the field.
Setting Resources:
- High-Res world map
- The introduction cinematic to the third game which explains the status quo well.
- Witcher Wiki
- General wikipedia article on the series
- How magic is seen in the world of the Witcher
- Scoia'tael, information on the non-human partisans that are supported by Nilfgaard in their fight against the Northern Kingdoms
- More to be added as necessary
Rules:
- GMs are currently @Yennefer and I. Feel free to contact us whenever you require assistance or information. Other GMs may be appointed as the RP progresses. Don't feed us after midnight.
- High-casual standards; this means a common sense approach; game of logic and collaboration.
- Character Sheets should be posted on the OOC (though they can be sent via pm as well) for approval/disapproval. Not all decisions will be made public.
- You are assumed to be an adult by submitting a character for this game; please act like one.
- Players are allowed to play as witchers, but we do not want them to be endemic. For now, the limit of witcher characters is capped at 3.
- Applications may take a few days before a decision can be made. Generally issues will be resolved over pm.
- Players are encouraged to play typically one-on-one scenarios, small group scenarios, cloak-and-dagger scenarios, small plots and large plots. To be creative, and to interact with their fellow players on their own to plot is expected. Take initiative.
- Players are allowed to play as more than one character, however preferably start out with just one.
- While an overarching plot will be provided, input and suggestions are welcome. This is a collaborative writing effort.
- More to be added as necessary