Red Wizard

Interest Check for an Eldritch Victorian Fantasy Tale of Suspense

@Bacon is fluffy Cool, thanks :)

Now all we need are a few more interested players!

Interest Check for an Eldritch Victorian Fantasy Tale of Suspense

The biggest question I have is how does magic function, why it was stamped out so successfully, and why didn't the older more successful races like the dwarves especially...not become even more successful industrialists?

@Bacon is fluffy

Magic is an art in which you bend or contradict natural law with your mind, often with the aid of spells, chants, runes, and other arcane paraphernalia. The elves claim that magic was bestowed to them by the gods, who in turn used it to create the world and everything in it. It takes a lot of time and effort to learn magic, compared to the relatively fast return on investment that industry yields. That, and the fact that the use of magic, as well as magical artifacts, tend to distort natural law in its proximity, made it impractical to employ in cities as industial enterprises expanded.

The elves, naturally, shun industry because of their aptitude for magic. Elven culture also suffers from arrogance towards the other races, making them see industry as a very human thing. The dwarves are disgusted by the exchange of quality for quantity that industry often applies. They strive for perfection and praise individual skill, making the automated process of industries seem like a low thing. That said, there are of course individual elves and dwarves who see the benefits of technological progress and industrialization, but as a culture they do not. The orcs never got a chance. The nomad warrior tribes of the orcs were quickly subdued by the modernized human armies, and while some clans still roam the wilderness as bandits and raiders, most orcs find themselves as slaves working the machines of the factories in human cities.

I hope that answers your questions!

Interest Check for an Eldritch Victorian Fantasy Tale of Suspense

Welcome to [as of yet unnamed], an eldritch victorian fantasy tale of suspense!

The idea I have is simple:

In this game you will take on the role of an investigator performing an inquiry into a strange occurrence. Each character may have their own reason for doing this; they could be a hired detective, a concerned citizen, or perhaps have a personal interest or agenda tied to the conundrum. The characters will at some point intersect, forming a party, and work together to solve the mystery.

The setting:

Imagine your standard Tolkien-esque fantasy world; elves, dwarves, orcs, and men. They live in a perpetual magical medieval age, fighting for the forces of good or evil. The elves are the immortal masters of magic, the dwarves are the peerless masters of artifice, the orcs are the fearful masters of war, and the humans... they're mostly there. Until, that is, they undergo an industrial revolution. Suddenly the world is turned on its head, and after only a short century, remade. Railroads run through the once untamed wilderness, carrying roaring engines and trains to and fro the growing human metropolises. Factories spew black smoke into the sky, drowning the rooftops in smog. Electric lights burn along cobbled streets in the night, casting sharp shadows on brick buildings. Magic, once a natural part of everyday life, has become the taboo art of mystics and charlatans. And all the while, the ancient forces of good and evil lurk in the background of the modern age, waiting for their moment.

I'll go into more detail once we've got a few players, or if you have any specific questions. Feel free to apply or ask below!

Character Driven NRP

@therel40 That's great! Any ideas for a nation?

Character Driven NRP

@Lucidnonsense Sounds cool! Care to elaborate?

Character Driven NRP

Welcome. This is a small scale, dark age, fantasy NRP. It is set in a fictional world of comparable size and climate to Earth. It is summertime, which to the feudal mindset means war season, and the people of the land are preparing accordingly.

These are the dark ages of this world. The golden age of civilization collapsed a few hundred years ago, and much of what once was has been lost. What remains are petty kingdoms run by petty sovereigns, waging petty wars and plotting petty schemes against eachother. And all the while the people struggles, and progress seems to have come to a grinding halt.

Although this may be a fantasy game, the fantastic elements are to be kept grounded and sensible. Magic is a word for that which cannot be explained; it is not an awesome force of fireballs and levitation. There may be fantastic creatures in the hills and woods of the land, or even sentient humanoid beings other than man, but the rule of sensibility applies here also. No acid-spewing dragonborn or flying birdpeople shenanigans.

Unlike some NRPs this game will be easy on stats and details. I do not want an in-depth description of your economy, or a full report of every unit in your army composition. What I want is to get the feel of your nation. Something based on a trope or archetype that can ultimately be summarized in a single sentance; "Steppe horseman raiders from the west", "Religious goods peddlers from the riverlands", or maybe "Nomadic orc warriors from the northern highlands". Needless to say, I want you to write more than that, but about three to five paragraphs should be enough. Leave some room for development in the IC!

I've even got a cool map, to spark interest. Check it out!

Hostile Aquisitions - The Corporate Cold War of the 22nd Century

@Perihelion@Steel Legion

Hello. I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. I've been swamped IRL and haven't had the time to log on. I understand completely if you're disappointed and have moved on to other games. Again, I'm so sorry.

The Court of the Gods

@Cyclone

Hello. I'm so sorry to have kept you all waiting. I've been absolutely swamped IRL and haven't had the time to log on. I will spare you further uncertainty and bow out of the game. Thank you for considering me.

Hostile Aquisitions - The Corporate Cold War of the 22nd Century

@Perihelion

Incoming in a couple of hours!

Hostile Aquisitions - The Corporate Cold War of the 22nd Century

@Steel Legion@Perihelion

How do you guys feel like moving on to a game thread? I could leave the IC open for a few more days, but I'd hate to lose momentum due to lack of activity. Chances are more people will join even if we start.