AGE OF DAWN: Tyrants Fall, Heroes Rise, Legends Begin

[Dead Cruiser]

TYRANTS FALL
HEROES RISE
LEGENDS BEGIN

It is the year 56 in the AGE OF DAWN. The lands of BOREA, better known as the IRON KINGDOMS, marked beginning of this new era with the fall of the ancient ATLANTEAN EMPIRE, following a decade of war, plague and corruption known as the YEARS OF DUSK. Fallen, too, are the upstart KINGDOM OF THULE and the vast civilization of IIRAM. Much destruction was wrought in the devastating Years of Dusk by barbarian hordes, hailing from HYPERBOREA to the North, and the LEMURIAN STEPPES to the East. Death swept through the land on the winds of sickness and mutation; an unholy pandemic the likes of which never before seen in this world. However, even these disasters pale in comparison to the chaos sown by the emergence of dark enclaves wielding unnatural power not seen since the founding of the Empire many thousands of years ago. Many thought this to be the end of the world. It was, however, merely a new beginning.

Even as the forces of DESTRUCTION, DEATH and CHAOS bring ruin and misery to Borea, there is still yet hope. The unearthly power of MAGIC has returned to the world, both in the hands of mortal men and in the form of mystic beasts not seen for countless aeons. Though the mighty kingdoms that wielded it are dead, the arcane practice of ALCHEMY still holds strong in this new age, though its remaining practitioners must fight tooth and nail to keep their craft from dying out. Lawlessness and savagery run rampant in the Age of Dawn, and to be a man in these times takes a rare courage. Those who dare to stand against the tides of darkness are truly free, as no man has been since the shackles of the Atlantean Empire fell over Borea.

Rarer still are men of such mettle and spirit that their wills shape destiny, and their exploits are the stuff of legend. The Years of Dusk wiped clean the slate of history, and these heroes have risen up to write it anew. These living legends wield might and majesty that has not been seen since the the time of the OLD GODS, before the founding of the Empire. Rumors and mysteries surround them, as followers flock to turn their deeds to myths and their words to scripture.

THE AGE OF DAWN IS RISING

---

Hey hey, so this is a little thing I've been cooking up for a couple of weeks. The basic premise is that YOU are a hero in this Age of Dawn, shaping history in this exciting new era. It is a time of adventure and excitement, the beginning of a new golden age. However, there's a bit more at work beneath the surface. Magic has returned to the world, after having mysteriously vanished in ancient times. Dark and otherworldly forces have returned as well, as well as whispers of the Old Gods, who disappeared with the sorcerers eons ago.

Think of this as a dynamic, character-driven adventure in a world that is suddenly and jarringly changing from one of low-fantasy to high-fantasy. Your characters are the real movers and shakers in this setting, so I encourage dramatic and far-sighted plots and ideas. Inspirations for this include games such as Warhammer Fantasy Battles and Exalted, the writings of Robert E. Howard, and symphonic metal bands like Bal-Sagoth. I'm leaving much of the setting open for the players to fill in as they desire, but I have a framework established beyond the blurb that I wrote up there.

Please let me know if you're interested, or if you have any questions or comments.

Thanks, and I hope to see you soon!

[TheWizardLizard]

I'm very interested. A few questions, though - how exactly does the magic system work in this setting? And will players already be famous heroes, or are they just starting out?

[Flagg]

Of course interested

[Dead Cruiser]

I'm very interested. A few questions, though - how exactly does the magic system work in this setting? And will players already be famous heroes, or are they just starting out?

@TheWizardLizard

Firstly, thank you for your interest.

There is no magic "system," per say, as the RP will be somewhat abstract. The player characters will be quite powerful to start with compared to other RPs (somewhat answering your second question), and so limitations defined by systems are mostly unnecessary.

Magic comes in a vast array of varieties and methods, depending on the practitioner and their particular discipline. As magic has returned relatively recently, there are almost no formal schools or methods, apart from those studied by ancient cults and other holdouts, or learned from relics they've unearthed.

The player characters will indeed be accomplished heroes at the RP's outset. Not necessarily famous, but certainly among the best there are at what they do. Think of them in D&D terms as being somewhere between levels 11 and 20.

Of course interested

@Flagg

Thanks!

[DeltaV]

Interested.

[FateWeaver]

So... is there a particular pantheon of these Old Gods, or are we free to steal pick and choose from whatever we wish?

Also, count me in.

[Dead Cruiser]

Interested.

@DeltaV

Welcome, welcome.

So... is there a particular pantheon of these Old Gods, or are we free to steal pick and choose from whatever we wish?

Also, count me in.

@FateWeaver

The Old Gods exist only really as a concept during the Age of Dawn, as they have been for some time. People are generally sure they were worshiped at some point in the distant past, and legend holds that they could exert their divine will on the mortal world. More or less the same sources that prove the "existence" of magic in the past will claim that the Old Gods were real entities.

These days, the average person wouldn't be able to name a single individual among the Old Gods, as all records of them are limited to buried ruins and ancient relics. The three major empires of Borea- Atlantis, Thule and Iiram -each practice a heterodoxy of what is approximately the same monotheistic religion, which doesn't wield any demonstrable supernatural power.

If you want to get into the specifics of the Old Gods, their details depend on where you're getting your information. Interpretations vary by region and culture. But they wouldn't be one to one with any pantheon that we the players are familiar with.

[Dead Cruiser]

Are there any other questions, comments or interest?

I'd like to drum up just a bit more interest before things get rolling.

[DeltaV]

Is there a map prepared?

[Dead Cruiser]

Is there a map prepared?

@DeltaV

Not quite. I sort of wrote myself into a corner with the overall layout of the setting, and I can't find an adequate map to suit my needs. At the same time, I really don't have the skills necessary to make a map that would meet my standards. Also, I wouldn't want to specify too much, and discourage worldbuilding and creativity on the behalf of my players. But if you'd like here's a crude MS Paint representation of Borea. Just to give a general idea, as there are various geological features and whatnot that I've not detailed, but they can be tailored to the players' needs. Naturally, the understanding is that these were the approximate political alignments of the areas prior to the Years of Dusk.

[Little Bill]

Interested!

[Flooby Badoop]

So this looks pretty d4nk, but what exactly are we going to be doing in this world?

[Minato Namikaze]

Certainly interested cx

[Kingfisher]

A man expresses his interest.

[Dead Cruiser]

So this looks pretty d4nk, but what exactly are we going to be doing in this world?

@Flooby Badoop

The idea is that the players will be figures of power or influence in the Age of Dawn. There will be something like an overarching plotline, but the player characters will need to have their own goals and agendas, which will weave together with each other and the main storyline.

Interested!

@DeadBeatWalking

Certainly interested cx

@Minato Namikaze

A man expresses his interest.

@Kingfisher

Welcome, welcome.

I think we have enough people for me to start working on the OOC. Not to say that I'm not open to more prospective players.

As I do this, I'd like you all to start forulating your character concepts. The primary focuses of each character should be their goals and their ideals. The former is simple; I would prefer if each character had their own individual journey, mission or something to that effect. Don't hesitate to think in the long term or on a heroic scale with these goals; yiur characters will be living legends after all. The latter concept, ideals, would be slightly more abstract; think of concepts that your character either embodies or greatly values. Power, war, nature, freedom, death, etc, this is the sort of thing I mean. Try to come up with one to three of these, but don't feel pressed to build your character around them or to oversimplify yiur character to meet them.

Any information that I can supply to assist in character creation before as I work on the OOC, I would be happy to divulge. And as I've said before, I leave the details of the setting wide open for players to fill in as it suits them. Feel free to share and discuss ideas as they suit your ideas.

[Kingfisher]

I've been working on my CS today, and my character is shaping up to be more of a villain, will that work?

I also got a bit carried away and did extensive amounts of world building for the north.

[Dead Cruiser]

I've been working on my CS today, and my character is shaping up to be more of a villain, will that work?

I also got a bit carried away and did extensive amounts of world building for the north.

@Kingfisher

Hmm, it probably could. Tell me more about this character. And if you're inclined, share a bit about what you've come up with.

[seanmcchapman]

Not planning on joining just wanted to say that this sounds pretty cool. (browsing)

[Kingfisher]

<Snipped quote by Kingfisher>

Hmm, it probably could. Tell me more about this character. And if you're inclined, share a bit about what you've come up with.

@Dead Cruiser

Right now, My character is Khalaevna, a disinherited princess from the imperial North.

I'll put the worldbuilding I've done in a quick hider

Northern fun time

Stretching out over the frozen plains of north Borea, The Thalzamarian Empire extends across the roof of the world, and is wrought of some of the fiercest warriors and sorcerers to ever walk the realm. An Imperial kingdom, The Empire is ruled over by Tsar Viktar Ozlevskiy, the supposedly god-appointed emperor of all Thalzamaria.

The most precious resource to be found in Thalzamaria is Taynthrill; a durable and lightweight metal, which can be crafted into deadly weapons, and armour which affords its wearers unparalleled manoeuvrability.

Religion

The dominant faith is that of Mortaroth, the Bear of the Night. The order of the Cleritari pay homage to Mortaroth, in vast palace-like churches all across Thalzamaria, and are composed of several different chapters.

The Red Cleritari- The High Priests and Priestesses of Mortaorth.

The Blue Cleritari- Occult sorcerers, and the royal order of magic users.

The Purple Cleritari- The lore masters, and keepers of ancient records.

The Black Cleritari- The solemn tenders of the dead.

Military

The Thalzamarian military is composed of three chapters, each serving a different purpose.

The Inperiskiy- The rank-and-file soldiers, the Inperiskiy are built of conscripts, peasants, and lower ranking nobles.

The Voyagorodyen- Military-nobles, The Voyagorodyen are elite warriors who practice the ancient military code of Nytvoia, and value honour and loyalty above all else.The Voyagorodyen serve as generals within the Thalzamarian military, and comprise the Tsar and Tsarina’s personal bodyguard.

The Krovajhal- The covert branch of the Thalzamarian military, the Krovajhal are the elite spies and assassins who pledge their loyalty to the Tsar. A private mercenary order at the disposal of Thalzamarian nobility, these graceful killers are divided into several cults, each competing against one another.

The Konagu Horde

Vicious barbarians from the desolate plains beneath Thalzamaria, the Konagu Horde was comprised of seasoned marauders from the inhospitable wastes of Olum.

The Konagu united beneath a single Qagan (the bloodthirsty warchief of the Horde), after the chosen champion of each Konagu tribe underwent a shamanistic ritual to determine who would be appointed leader. After the ritual, the Qagan and his or her blood relatives were imbued with the blessings of the Konagu Pantheon, and gained mastery of the Four Warrior Graces; Rage, desire, valor, and passion.

The Thalzamarians and the Konagu waged war on each other for many generations, with the warriors of Olum constantly launching invasion after invasion upon Thalzamaria. The Konagu’s divided nature and lack of proper tactics proved to be their undoing every time, as the Thalzamarians ultimately drove them back into their wasteland home.

It was when the Tsar Viktar came to power that the Konagu met its end, as the warrior emperor pressed the assault, and pursued the barbarian horde back into Olum itself, massacring man woman and child without the faintest hint of mercy.

The Tsar’s army stormed the Konagu capital, taking Qagan Ghal and his family prisoner, at Viktar’s command.

The public believed the Qagan and his kin to be dead, but Viktar had other plans, and kept them alive in secret. Having heard stories of the Four Warrior Graces, and the gifts that they imbued within their chosen, Viktar planned to breed with the Qagan’s wife, and create a Olevsky child with these blessings. He forced himself upon her, then, once she had bore him a daughter, had the whole family put to the sword.

In doing so, Viktar had evoked the wrath of the Konagu Pantheon, who bestowed the Tsar’s daughter with powers beyond that which he had bargained for.

The child princess Khalaevna was cursed with four malicious blights upon her soul. Her rage was wild and unruly, her desire uncontrollable. In valor’s stead was a zealous hatred, and in passions’ stead was a temper which knew no bounds.

The royal family, and a whole cohort of guards and tutors tried to control Khalaevna as she grew up, but soon it became apparent that all was for naught.

Abandoning her in the Shagora mountain range on her thirteenth birthday, the Tsar expected his daughter to perish in the snowy peaks. She survived, perhaps just to spite him.

After years of scavenging and scrounging just to stay alive, Khalaevna stumbled, weak and malnourished, upon the lair of the Trogoikos.

The Trogoikos were a species of gremlin-like cave-dwellers, exclusive to network of underground passages and tunnels inside the Shagora mountains. The rodents tried to swarm upon the weakened Khalaevna, but her rage and cruelty proved to be more deadly a weapon than their unmeasurable numbers.

Khalaevna carved through the Trogoikos nest, until she emerged out of the mountain, and wandered straight into a city-like camp which housed the remains of the Hyperboreian peoples, having settled in the northern peaks after their failed invasion of southern Borea.

The clansman set upon Khalaevna, but their leader, a chieftain named Carthain, intervened. He questioned the young woman, wanting to know how she had managed to somehow sneak past his guards and make her way into the camp undetected.

Khalaevna told Carthain about the Trogoikos tunnel network, and how it led out into the mountain passes beyond. Carthain explained to Khalaevna that the Trogoikos had been leading night-time rains on the Hyperboreian people since they migrated this far north, but that they had been unable to track them.

The young woman led Carthain and his barbarians through the underground passages, where they wiped out the Trogoikos with ease. Impressed by the young woman’s skill and cunning, Carthain offered Khalaevna a deal; guide the marauders of Hyperborea through the mountain passes, help them take Thalzamaria by surprise, and Carthain would take her as his queen.

Khalaevna accepted.

What I had planned after this is that the barbarians invade Thalzamaria, and there's an epic struggle between the two factions. I hadn't yet decided how that would play out, it ultimately culminates in Khalaevna stripping the land of its resources, and turning herself into a sort of trade queen.

Let me know if that works for you.

[Dead Cruiser]

My lunchbreak is ending, so I can work on this with you in more detail later, but here are my initial thoughts:

Basically any civilized society that exists currently is roughly sixty years old at the most. Is that enough time for this empire to have sprung up and established all of these customs?

Borea is mostly temperate. If you couldn't tell by the shitty map, it's basically Europe. As you go North into Hyperborea and Lemuria, it becomes more of a Tundra, and eventually Arctic. This is probably important to note if you want to write about a society of Northmen.

What you've written I think would probably work best as some sort of derivative of Lemurians more than Thule or Hyperboreans. Think of Lemuria as somewhere between Russia and Monoglia; it's a vast, cold, shitty plains. The Lemurian tribes were united under a single warlord during the Years of Dusk, but he died and his empire dissolved before the Age of Dawn began. Perhaps this lends some inspiration to you.