In some distant sea filled with turbulent storms is Arae-Rul, a small island where magic roams free, communities of animal-like monsters thrive, mysterious meta-human beings perform research in grand marble halls and humans build themselves a place between the others.
This blog is here to act as a repository of information detailing the world of Arae-Rul, its inhabitants, history, legends and mysteries as well as the mechanics and design of the upcoming strategy/roleplaying campaign based in the Era, Tempus Tempera.
This place offers a space for all the details relevant to the campaign and perhaps future ones as well. Players are encouraged to participate and discuss, inquire and develop the materials as they are posted, as well as posting their own materials, such as back story, history, vignettes, world and character ideas, and discussion topics.
Introductory details of the world of Arae-Rul will follow tomorrow.
Future posts: details on Monsters, Humans and Ascendants; The World Overview; Delta Principa Overview; Dark Wood Overview; Discephri Libri Overview; The Verdus Ascendi; Nyghres; The Lanterns; The Night Watch; The Watchmakers.
More to come as things develop.
Discussion thoughts; as the game maps are being developed, I'm curious as to what appeals more to the players -- to people prefer stylized maps, or ones that feel more realistic? Is there a preference to drawn, artistic maps or something tile-based?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Three remarks:
1) "The watchmakers?" Do they make nearly indestructible watches, perchance?
2) Do whichever map type is easiest to draw, really. Stylized would probably work better than realistic, based on how you've described the game so far, but don't spend too much time on that.
3) Arae-Rul is an island. Is there an "outer world" beyond the sea?
It occurs to me that maybe I should identify exactly WHICH Scott I am. This is the Jack Lasceter Scott claiming responsiblity for the last post. I'll see if I can add a signature or something.
We can post, right? In that case, to save time, I'll start the convention of posting character profiles for our six humble stars.
Joachim
Age: 21
Height: 5'7
Build: Slight
Hair: Black
Joachim has been wandering Arae Rul since he was 14. In this time, he's apprenticed himself to a herbalist, a thief, and a strategist. Given that his dream is of a compendium of information regarding Arae Rul, it's no surprise that he carries a number of books around with him everywhere to take down everything he sees. His initial training is as a scribe and a scholar, and his reading and training as a strategist has intensified a natural revulsion to violence. Thus, on his travels, he is a vegetarian by necessity, since he can't bring himself to kill animals for food and hates the idea of setting traps. He is not averse to eating meat, since he is aware that the natural order of things is eat and be eaten, but his gentle nature prevents him from being his own butcher.
While gentle, Joachim is not averse to acting against something he feels is not right. He is perfectly willing to use his knowledge to do the right thing. For someone as frail as him, this amounts to standing in the back shouting out orders.
Presenting Jack Lasceter! "Expansive City" is a stand-in for wherever Greg deems appropriate.
Background:
Leopold "Jack" Lasceter is the playboy second-born child of the prominent lasceter family of Expansive City. His father, Theodore VI, is currently serving his fourth term as the city's aristocratic mayor, and Jack has lived a life of privilege. His brother's name is Theodore VII, but Jack likes to call him Teddy. Teddy hates it when people call him that.
Jack's mother, Mirabella, is a "lesser" aristocrat. Her family, Taelon, is still considered neuveau riche, having rose to prominence and wealth under mysterious circumstances just a few years before Mirabella was born.
Jack is the only known living half-Ascendant in his family. Officially, he gets it from his mother's grandfather. Unofficially, Jack thinks that he's his mother's bastard son. He's never got confirmation, but it would explain why Teddy was always Daddy's favorite.
Jack's preferred persuasion technique is seduction, but that's only good for beautiful babes. On everyone else, he prefers blackmail. Indeed, it's because of his coercive skills that Jack has been able to stay on the family bankroll well into his twenties; he knows certain secrets about Daddy that he would ruin certain Lasceters if they were made public.
Daddy's health isn't as good as it used to be, and Jack knows that he's getting only a pittance under Father's will. Unfortunately, Teddy is just about impossible to blackmail, being infuriatingly upright and prudish. Or maybe he's just very good at not getting caught. In any case, Jack's got nothing on big brother and he's not likely to find anything soon enough.
If Jack loses his money, then the party's over. Worse, he'll lose his fiancee, Kelly; her father will cancel their engagement, and Jack will lose his most devious and capable partner in crime. Maybe even the love of his life.
Jack has set out to secure his and Kelly's lives of tasteful excess at the expense of the wealthy. That takes reputation and influence. Jack has decided that he should be known throughout the land as a hero, and he will spare no effort in making his rise to glory look effortless. And so the legend of Jack lasceter begins...
Allies and contacts:
Jaqueline Roche ("Kelly"):
Jack's arranged fiancee and conspirator, a likewise black sheep of a respected family of Expansive City. The two are on excellent terms, considering that they've technically been cheating on each other since the engagement; they just don't consider themselves to be "in a relationship" with each other yet, and they love to drive their parents up the wall.
The Roches are old and respected, but not particularly wealthy by Jack's standards. Kelly's father ALSO doesn't like Jack, but he'll keep the engagement as long as he thinks that Jack has a secure line of credit.
Kelly is a full Ascendant. She and Jack trained under the same teacher, and they've been friends since early childhood. Her Disciplines are Light and Persuasion.
Kelly is the only person that Jack trusts completely.
Other siblings ("The Intrepids"):
There are other children in the family. They're not important at the moment, and we can worry about them if they come up. In any case, Jack's got a much better relationship with them than with Teddy.
Pretty girls the world over; the "Roses":
Jack has "friends" in every city. They're his information network, such as it is.
Attributes:
Profession - Playboy
Discipline - Discord
Quirks:
Compulsive nickname-giver
Mostly vegetarian (Will eat meat where etiquette demands, but doesn't like the taste.)
Chess Master
Playboy-chivalrous ("Women are precious; they ought to be enjoyed.")
Immune to hangovers
Gear:
"Silver Rock" engagement watch: As is customary in aristoratic society, Jack and Kelly exchanged timepieces instead of engagement rings. Jack's is a (very strong silver-like alloy) watch with the name "Roche" embedded into it. It's heavy, durable, and swings beautifully around on its chain. It also conducts electricity, and it is Jack's de-facto weapon of choice in a tight spot. Like everything else "Silver Rock"
Heavy duster: A rugged leather jacket, dyed vibrant snakeskin green. Nearly as effective as leather armor, and SO much more stylish.
Letters of credit: The old-world equivalent of an expense account. Good for any reputable bank in any large city. Less useful out in the boondocks.
Petty cash: Jack usually keeps a fair chunk of change on hand. Just because he's away from home doesn't mean he'll stoop to preparing his own meals or sleeping in a flophouse with all the commoners.
Stash: Various narcotics in herbal form. Jack doesn't smoke, so most of them need to be steeped in water. Effects include drowsiness, hyperactivity, altered libido, irritability, weight loss, halucinations, and altered perceptions of time. Do not cause long-term problems.
Smelling salts: Always handy to have these.
Ah... some of this info is outdated. Kelly's disciplines will be different than what you see here. Let's just assume that some of the details are subject to rewrites. Please forgive length of previous entry.
To Respond here:
Scott;
The Watchmakers are a (predominantly) Human organization who deal in defending cities against Nyghres. (Post will come soon. Vicious Charcoal shapeshifters, in the coles notes)
Tiling is seeming most appropriate, but I might do it with style..
As for the 'outer world'; it's entirely unknown. There's sometimes people washed ashore (rare) but no ship has ever gone far out and returned. The storms off shore are beyond vicious, and some say that the edge of the world lays beyond Arae Rul's shores (ala flat earth theory)
Also, for the pair of you; Thanks for the enthusiasm. :D
But I'll get you guys posting privilages so you can put your character bios on the front page, rather than in the comments. :)
Post a Comment