"Between the time when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of. And unto this, Conan, destined to wear the jeweled crown of Aquilonia upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!"
--- Akiro the Wizard (Conan the Barbarian, 1982)
The Hyborian Age
"Crom! My plans!"
The Hyborian Age is a setting written by Robert E. Howard and detailed in his Conan the Cimmerian stories. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Conan stories were published in pulp magazines, and they basically are the grandfather of modern day sword and sorcery stories. The stories paint a picture of a "lost age" in Earth's prehistory, somewhere between the sinking of Atlantis and the end of the last Ice Age. I will accept the original stories as the canon ones, but I will make a couple nods to the Arnold Schwarznegger movie. I will also incorporate a couple things from H.P. Lovecraft, as some of you might know, he and Howard were pen pals, and who doesn't like getting occasionally attacked by Cthulhu? Jokes aside, it will be more on the level of references, if even that.
The Introduction
For the past five years now, King Conan has ruled the kingdom of Aquilonia. He has seen horrors beyond the wildest nightmares, fought men and beasts alike and conquered kingdoms and hearts of the women across Hyberborea – yet after his greatest victory, King Conan cannot rest, even in his own palace. Xetalca the Stygian, a merciless sorcerer, genius alchemist and a name darker than a Cimmerian night sky without stars, has sworn revenge against King Conan. It is said that the Xetalca's gaze alone can break the best Aquilonian steel. Conan, burdened by his duties, is recruiting people to help in hunting down Xetalca.
The Setting
The game uses Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age setting, and the RP is set a few years after Conan has become the King of Aquilonia. He has settled down, but his enemies lurk in the shadows, plotting his downfall. Nobles squabble day and night, and only barely King Conan has survived two attempts on his life. He has married Count of Poitain's daughter, but still hasn't sired an heir, which has set of some concerns to spreads in Conan's allies.
Basic grasp on Hyborian lore required. I will not be requiring remembering every published Conan the Barbarian story of the top of your head (because I haven't even read all of the Howard's work), but the feeling and atmosphere of a sword and sorcery adventure are important in this game.
Magic will play a role, but remember, it is extremely rare. It often takes years to master, and even modest power comes at great price. And King Conan probably doesn't like wizards, thanks for his superstitions and more or less violent experiences with wizards during his travels.
Rule one of magic: "Magic is like good whisky; use it with care."
Below, some reference material (essays, maps...) on the setting that I have found.
Map source: http://hyboria.xoth.net/maps/ for Aquilonia & https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/Maphyboria.jpg for Hyboria
--- Akiro the Wizard (Conan the Barbarian, 1982)
The Hyborian Age
"Crom! My plans!"
The Hyborian Age is a setting written by Robert E. Howard and detailed in his Conan the Cimmerian stories. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Conan stories were published in pulp magazines, and they basically are the grandfather of modern day sword and sorcery stories. The stories paint a picture of a "lost age" in Earth's prehistory, somewhere between the sinking of Atlantis and the end of the last Ice Age. I will accept the original stories as the canon ones, but I will make a couple nods to the Arnold Schwarznegger movie. I will also incorporate a couple things from H.P. Lovecraft, as some of you might know, he and Howard were pen pals, and who doesn't like getting occasionally attacked by Cthulhu? Jokes aside, it will be more on the level of references, if even that.
The Introduction
For the past five years now, King Conan has ruled the kingdom of Aquilonia. He has seen horrors beyond the wildest nightmares, fought men and beasts alike and conquered kingdoms and hearts of the women across Hyberborea – yet after his greatest victory, King Conan cannot rest, even in his own palace. Xetalca the Stygian, a merciless sorcerer, genius alchemist and a name darker than a Cimmerian night sky without stars, has sworn revenge against King Conan. It is said that the Xetalca's gaze alone can break the best Aquilonian steel. Conan, burdened by his duties, is recruiting people to help in hunting down Xetalca.
The Setting
The game uses Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age setting, and the RP is set a few years after Conan has become the King of Aquilonia. He has settled down, but his enemies lurk in the shadows, plotting his downfall. Nobles squabble day and night, and only barely King Conan has survived two attempts on his life. He has married Count of Poitain's daughter, but still hasn't sired an heir, which has set of some concerns to spreads in Conan's allies.
Basic grasp on Hyborian lore required. I will not be requiring remembering every published Conan the Barbarian story of the top of your head (because I haven't even read all of the Howard's work), but the feeling and atmosphere of a sword and sorcery adventure are important in this game.
Magic will play a role, but remember, it is extremely rare. It often takes years to master, and even modest power comes at great price. And King Conan probably doesn't like wizards, thanks for his superstitions and more or less violent experiences with wizards during his travels.
Rule one of magic: "Magic is like good whisky; use it with care."
Below, some reference material (essays, maps...) on the setting that I have found.
Map source: http://hyboria.xoth.net/maps/ for Aquilonia & https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/Maphyboria.jpg for Hyboria
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