Once upon a time great heroes roamed the land protecting it from evil. These are not those heroes.
Dungeon Punks
TLDR:
- High Casual
- Heroic Fantasy with a mixture of some good of Magitek/Steampunk themes and ideas
- Focus primarily on character interaction with some good old fashion combat thrown in their to keep things exciting
- Posting Length will probably be about one to two solidly written paragraphs at least but definitely quality over quantity.
- You may get to punch a dragon in the face... what else do I have to say?
The Movement of the World:
In the beginning the world of Austry was nothing more than a barren rock floating through the turbulent Void Sea that intersected the many planes of existence. Then they came, the precursors, the one's before, the ancients, every culture has a different name for them but the story remains same, they were the ones that brought life to a barren world. Using great magical powers they crafted five great towers and dispersed them to the planet's surface. Each of these great towering monoliths upon contact with the plant's surface began to release arcane energy at an alarming rate. Great pulses of magical energy swept across the world creating oceans, land and air. Once a small barren speck became a brilliant orb of blue and green primed for life. When the surface conditions were deemed habitable for life, the towers performed their secondary function acting as temporary seed banks for a host of life they released these small creatures across the world. A new paradise, a new bastion of life to give life a chance where the ancients themselves had once failed.
The first true empire came with the rise of the Orc-Kin. Brutal and savage, these warriors with enhanced metabolisms and surprisingly large brains were the first to organize from small groups, to warrior tribes, to a united empire. The Ur'akrath Empire ruled over the lands of Austry for 3000 years across nine distinct bloodlines. It was a time of great progress under the strict control of the Warchief, the absolute monarch of the Empire everything from what a merchant could sell, a farmer could make or the laws that were put against them was deemed by the Warchief's direct rule. But with a firm hand came great advances with the development of writing, the first workings of metal in the form of bronze, the first legal system and law codes albit crude in their origins following the old adage of an eye for an eye. Though the the Ur'akrathians greatest legacy was their great monuments, master builders of stone and rock they crafted huge temples, complex cities and ornate tombs to house their dead beneath the ground. Monuments which many still stand today as a testament the quality of their builders.
Though like any great flame eventually the roaring fire must subside to barely sustain embers. The Ur'akrath Empire was based on a very strictly regimented caste structure with the Warchief on top --> Generals ---> Shaman Folk ---> Other Army Officers ---> Nobles and so on until it finally reached the slave caste. The slaves were the bottom of the foodchain and almost exclusively non-Orc in origin and considered less worthy than the dirt they walked upon. But the slave caste itself made up the most sizable part of the population consisting of a variety of different tribes, races and others subjugated by the Ur'akrath Empire and pretty much made second class citizens. So the angers of the slaves matched with a failing infrastructure as the empire became stretched too far while trying to deal with barbarian invaders was making things very hard to keep order. Eventually several of the Warchiefs prominent generals staged a coup against him and ignited a civil war that give the slaves a chance to revolt in the ensuing chaos. The Ur'akrath empire officially came to an end when the leader of the slave revolt in the capital a Dwarven female by the name of Aeris Stoneforged brought her great hammer down upon the last Warchief's head. The empire soon after fragmented and split just as it's late ruler's head had upon the floor of his palace, never again to reclaim it's lost glory.
Over the centuries that followed many kingdoms rose and fell, for even they were still plagued by the same fate of the Ur'akarth empire as the flame rises so must it fall. For each age of progress and enlightenment came substituent years of long and terrible darkness so is the way of things. Though through it all upon the bones and ashes of fallen kingdoms the races of Austry persisted. They of course changed over time becoming more distinct adapting to the climes that they called home. They set up homes, villages and cities and endeavored to find out more about the world around them. Slowly over time bronze transited to iron and iron to steel as technological advances spurred forward fueled by the great and powerful arcane powers harnessed by those that could control their immense power.
Eventually on the northern edge of the southern lands came the rise of two great kingdoms founded by two brothers. The Arashan and Elladein Empires, two great kingdoms founded by the split of the Aemenid Empire upon the death of its Emperor Cyrus and the subsequent division of the lands between his twin born elder sons. Ever since their foundation the Arashan and Elladein Empires have been in constant squabbles amongst one another which claiming sovereignty over the other. The two empires in competition for land, military prowess and to be the reigning dominate power in the area began to wage war with one another, long and terrible war. A war which held in the ways of importance being at the intersection of three of the known continents of the world those that controlled the Aemenid Peninsula controlled bountiful supplies of trade, commerce and prosperity. Caught in the middle of this war was the small Kingdom of Storia a small enclave surrounded on all sides by the Elladein and Arashan empires, it was once the long time ally of the Aemenid Empire.
Eventually after two hundred years of fighting the long war ended and a peace ensued. Caught in the middle of a terrible cold war between the two empires, Storia has become caught in the middle of the conflict serving as a meeting point between the two countries where agents attacked one another, assassination occurred and even revolts inspired by either side. Though despite it all with the prosperous trade routes running through it and faith in its rulers, the people have presented with upturned chins and smiles upon their face. But even so dark plots arise on the horizon and the sovereignty of Storia and maybe the entire world hangs on the balance.
The first true empire came with the rise of the Orc-Kin. Brutal and savage, these warriors with enhanced metabolisms and surprisingly large brains were the first to organize from small groups, to warrior tribes, to a united empire. The Ur'akrath Empire ruled over the lands of Austry for 3000 years across nine distinct bloodlines. It was a time of great progress under the strict control of the Warchief, the absolute monarch of the Empire everything from what a merchant could sell, a farmer could make or the laws that were put against them was deemed by the Warchief's direct rule. But with a firm hand came great advances with the development of writing, the first workings of metal in the form of bronze, the first legal system and law codes albit crude in their origins following the old adage of an eye for an eye. Though the the Ur'akrathians greatest legacy was their great monuments, master builders of stone and rock they crafted huge temples, complex cities and ornate tombs to house their dead beneath the ground. Monuments which many still stand today as a testament the quality of their builders.
Though like any great flame eventually the roaring fire must subside to barely sustain embers. The Ur'akrath Empire was based on a very strictly regimented caste structure with the Warchief on top --> Generals ---> Shaman Folk ---> Other Army Officers ---> Nobles and so on until it finally reached the slave caste. The slaves were the bottom of the foodchain and almost exclusively non-Orc in origin and considered less worthy than the dirt they walked upon. But the slave caste itself made up the most sizable part of the population consisting of a variety of different tribes, races and others subjugated by the Ur'akrath Empire and pretty much made second class citizens. So the angers of the slaves matched with a failing infrastructure as the empire became stretched too far while trying to deal with barbarian invaders was making things very hard to keep order. Eventually several of the Warchiefs prominent generals staged a coup against him and ignited a civil war that give the slaves a chance to revolt in the ensuing chaos. The Ur'akrath empire officially came to an end when the leader of the slave revolt in the capital a Dwarven female by the name of Aeris Stoneforged brought her great hammer down upon the last Warchief's head. The empire soon after fragmented and split just as it's late ruler's head had upon the floor of his palace, never again to reclaim it's lost glory.
Over the centuries that followed many kingdoms rose and fell, for even they were still plagued by the same fate of the Ur'akarth empire as the flame rises so must it fall. For each age of progress and enlightenment came substituent years of long and terrible darkness so is the way of things. Though through it all upon the bones and ashes of fallen kingdoms the races of Austry persisted. They of course changed over time becoming more distinct adapting to the climes that they called home. They set up homes, villages and cities and endeavored to find out more about the world around them. Slowly over time bronze transited to iron and iron to steel as technological advances spurred forward fueled by the great and powerful arcane powers harnessed by those that could control their immense power.
Eventually on the northern edge of the southern lands came the rise of two great kingdoms founded by two brothers. The Arashan and Elladein Empires, two great kingdoms founded by the split of the Aemenid Empire upon the death of its Emperor Cyrus and the subsequent division of the lands between his twin born elder sons. Ever since their foundation the Arashan and Elladein Empires have been in constant squabbles amongst one another which claiming sovereignty over the other. The two empires in competition for land, military prowess and to be the reigning dominate power in the area began to wage war with one another, long and terrible war. A war which held in the ways of importance being at the intersection of three of the known continents of the world those that controlled the Aemenid Peninsula controlled bountiful supplies of trade, commerce and prosperity. Caught in the middle of this war was the small Kingdom of Storia a small enclave surrounded on all sides by the Elladein and Arashan empires, it was once the long time ally of the Aemenid Empire.
Eventually after two hundred years of fighting the long war ended and a peace ensued. Caught in the middle of a terrible cold war between the two empires, Storia has become caught in the middle of the conflict serving as a meeting point between the two countries where agents attacked one another, assassination occurred and even revolts inspired by either side. Though despite it all with the prosperous trade routes running through it and faith in its rulers, the people have presented with upturned chins and smiles upon their face. But even so dark plots arise on the horizon and the sovereignty of Storia and maybe the entire world hangs on the balance.
For A Few Coins More:
Thus begins our tale 2194 years since the fall of the Ur'akrath Empire in the small kingdom of Storia. Citizens come from all around flock to the capital city of Dasma to partake in the festivities. For you see tonight the crown princess of the kingdom, Ariannona Escaphant Mylene Rosberg is coming of age and in tradition Dasma will be filled with revelry for five nights and days in celebration. Yet even in this time of great peace and happiness, the shadows of their neighbors looms over them. In secret among exchanges of hands and secretly delivered letters, a plot has been made fueled by those inside of the Kingdom's own court. A plot that threatens the stability and peace of the entire Aemenid Peninsula if not the world. An assassination has been planned.
This of course is where you come in. You come from all walks of life and from all races, either by chance or purpose you have come to the city of Dasma be you either thieves looking to take advantage of the festivities, a guardsman still loyal to the kingdom, a urchin streetrat working in the kitchens, a noble from a far off land or something else all together. Despite your differences you all come together in the events of the evening and inadvertently ending up helping princess Ariannona escape from the coronation with her life. None of you want any part in these politics, you don't want to be heroes and go save the world you want to sit at home and live your peaceful little life. But you see that is okay because she isn't looking for heroes, she's looking for help and offers you all the world in terms of whatever you may desire coinage, prestige, royal pardons whatever it may be if you help her she can grant it to you if you only help her on a most dangerous quest. It's of course an offer you can't refuse.
This of course is where you come in. You come from all walks of life and from all races, either by chance or purpose you have come to the city of Dasma be you either thieves looking to take advantage of the festivities, a guardsman still loyal to the kingdom, a urchin streetrat working in the kitchens, a noble from a far off land or something else all together. Despite your differences you all come together in the events of the evening and inadvertently ending up helping princess Ariannona escape from the coronation with her life. None of you want any part in these politics, you don't want to be heroes and go save the world you want to sit at home and live your peaceful little life. But you see that is okay because she isn't looking for heroes, she's looking for help and offers you all the world in terms of whatever you may desire coinage, prestige, royal pardons whatever it may be if you help her she can grant it to you if you only help her on a most dangerous quest. It's of course an offer you can't refuse.
The Aemenid Peninsula:
GM Note: Taking a lot of history and cultural influences from those cultures found in the Indo-Iranian language groups for the creation of this part of the world rather than creating my own map, I took one of the Arabian Peninsula and turned it one hundred and eighty degrees to give it a sense of familiarity but at the same time an odd disconnect. Oh and the star is where Dasma is located.
The Three Kingdoms:
The Kingdom of Storia:
Storia has pretty much existed in some incarnation or another since the fall of the Ur'akrath Empire all those years prior. Located in the former heartland of the Ur'akrath Empire Storia has always been a peaceful kingdom not having the need or want to wage war against other sovereign states. Rather it's relatively small army is instead used to repel raiders hiding out in beyond the grasps of civilization. Most of Storia is vast expanses of desert and rock, intermittently mixed with small verdant oases where water found refuge. Due to this most Storian cities are located either on the coast or on the Ashapar River the main lifeblood that runs through the kingdom.
Despite these somewhat harsh conditions Storian cities are large sprawling affairs of brilliant stone that stretch into the sky. Due to the Aemenid Peninsula's location at the so called "Crossroads of Civilization" trade and people from all over the known world flock to Storia. Due to these meld of cultures and ideas, the kingdom has become a beacon of cultural, arts and more importantly learning with the latest in arcane learning and technology being produced in Storian Universities and workshops. Storia is ruled by an age old monarchy with the Rosberg Family have ruled the kingdom for eight generations at this point through relative peace and prosperity.
Despite these somewhat harsh conditions Storian cities are large sprawling affairs of brilliant stone that stretch into the sky. Due to the Aemenid Peninsula's location at the so called "Crossroads of Civilization" trade and people from all over the known world flock to Storia. Due to these meld of cultures and ideas, the kingdom has become a beacon of cultural, arts and more importantly learning with the latest in arcane learning and technology being produced in Storian Universities and workshops. Storia is ruled by an age old monarchy with the Rosberg Family have ruled the kingdom for eight generations at this point through relative peace and prosperity.
The Arashan Empire:
While the Arashan Empire technically doesn't have any land on the Aemenid Peninsula its presence is still felt well throughout it. One of two empires to be forged in the splitting of the Aemenid Empire. A land of sweeping plains and rugged plateaus the Arashanians are an industrious people. Blessed with a land rich in natural metals and ores they have a strong production based economy backed by the strict hand of the Emperor. House Marciveau has ruled the Arashan Empire for two generations and in that time have restructured the Empire having a more direct hand in the influence of production and the day to day lives of the Arashan people. The Arashan military is one of the largest in the known world along with Elladein and are notable for their highly skilled Wyvern Riders and for being one of the first nations to fully implement Elven Firearms into their arsenal.
The Elladein Empire:
The land of the Long Sun, the Ellaein Empire is composed of a large expanse of sweeping deserts, large savannahs and deep jungles. The other kingdom formed in the dissolution of the Aemind empire. The Elladien people are stout in their faith and loyalty. They are most certainly the strongest military power on the Peninsula with a highly trained army, fueled by compulsory service of all denizens of the empire in one way or another from the age of seventeen to forty five. The Elladein empire actually ended up gaining the most in its long wars against the Arashan people, conquering their small holdings left on the peninsula and forcing them off of it at least in the physical sense if not the political one. The Empire is run by the Imperial Senate itself filled with infighting, backstabbing and treachery across all bound with the Royal Family of House Ralvein serving only as figureheads at this point, a face for the empire.
Magic and Technology:
Magic in the world of Austry is an interesting little subject. Arcane energy in many ways could be considered one of the most precious resources in the world. That is Arcane energy is limited in its availability stored in deep ley lines beneath the earth that were formed when the towers landed on the planet long ago in the age of formation. Magic is sort of an all inclusive thing, nobody is born with or without the ability though some do have a natural knack for such things. Magic instead comes through study, book learning and lots of practice to have the willpower to be able to draw the energy up from the ley lines beneath the surface.
You see in its raw form aracne energy is very potent and very unpredictable. Some would argue that it may even have a personality of its own. A thousand tiny particles all wanting to move in their own direction and do whatever they really want to do. A mage must be able to have the mental fortitude to coerce these particles through sheer willpower to act in a way profitable to them. It's a dangerous game of course playing with raw arcane energy as if one fails to bend it to their will, well at the best nothing happens and it the worst one of those mana particles shattered and the person vanshin torn asunder by the very underlying fabric of the universe. Mages also participate in communication between the elemental planes, the raw intersecting planes of existence where it is believed that the Arcane energy leaks from this weird and twisted lands house hosts of spirits, demons and others that sometimes have a habit of leaking through.
Technology comes from the intersection of mortal ingenuity and the foundations set by arcane learning. Uses a mixture of the classical sciences mixed with the raw potency of harnessed magic. Together these aspects work to produce great inventions and works great flying machines, looms that run by themselves and great factory systems. A system of telegraph networks instead of being fueled by electricity are instead controlled by connected networks of psionic users transmitted messages across the way to one another. Though the most world changing of these objects are Elven Firearms. The elven races have hunted with bows for ages, and many of them still do. However Elven arcanists were the first to create weapons that used a magical blast powder to propel round projectiles forward, specifically iron and silver bullets. Once a new phenom of the world having been around for quite some time now they have become more openly accepted by the people of Austry and have been adopted most effectively in the use of warfare. While most weapons of these kind were still muzzle loaded affairs, the raise of cannonry has become something of note with the Arashanians having perfected the use of such weapons in what they call "Dragon Fire".
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Dungeon Punks and the world of Austry. Yet again another world inspired by my time as a Dungeon Master. The world of Austry is a land that has been around the block a few times if you know what I mean and because of that I find it a very interesting little place. The idea for Dungeon Punks came because after having run through many a Dark Fantasy campaign and dealing with grumpy wizards and foreboding prophecies for far too long, I guess I wanted something a little bit more light hearted in its foundations you know? A fantasy setting that can be serious but still have some moments of laughter in it. So I looked towards the old classics of Heroic Fantasy with their tales of adventure and fighting monsters and conquests and soon an idea began to form in my head. Inspired by things like Conan and especially the graphic novel series Rat Queens, I wanted to make a different kind of fantasy story.
So taking the standard base of a "Save the Princess story", I decided to play with it a little bit. Maybe changing the setting from stereotypical fantasy Western Europe to maybe something inspired by Hindu and Indo-Iranian mythology, hence the creation of the The Aemenid Peninsula. And straight heroes are always a boring bunch aren't they? So the next decisions was less hard going with the idea of what if they weren't heroes at all? Or at least at first. What if they were just a bumbling bunch of random individuals that sort of just got thrown into the Princess escorting business with no real rhyme or reason, persuaded by ideas of gold and glory instead of fighting evil and chivalry. So with those ideas in mind I slowly began to craft what you have hopefully just read.
But of course I can't do this myself, a roleplay is kind of a sad thing without people to RP with. So this is where I must ask for your help, you few brave souls that would like to partake in this adventure with me. Can I promise that it will be the best RP ever in the existence of forever? No I cannot. Can I promise you character interaction, some fighting here and there and a well thought out plot ready to be shaped and molded by player choice? Well that is something I can supply in a more dispensable manner. So if you enjoy world building, fantasy, slinging magic spells, or maybe just hitting things with a really big stick maybe this is for you. If not... well there is always next time right? So any takers?
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