Kingdom of Night - Setting Fragment

[Rechan]

After watching "The Good German" and doing a little research on post-WWII Berlin, I had an idea for a campaign setting - or at least a piece of one.

Once the continent was aligned in a sprawling empire. Though the empire came to fragmentation. One of the fragments, Arn, was the most powerful and ambitious - it seized control of the neighboring lands, and carved a nice large swath through the Empire. Even decades after the war, Arn was itching for a fight. Its ruler, its people were arrogant, and the neighbors didn't dare test Arn, instead they just stockpiled and waited.

Then one day those at the edges of Arn were under attack; not from the neighbors, but from Something Below. Skirmishes with creatures (I have not specified what they are, Drow, Undead, Psionic Insects, something). Arn sent expeditions to go deep into the earth, where they discovered that these Creatures had amassed a large collective beneath the surface, right under Arn! Arn responded by sending its armies down.

The creatures from below came to the surface, inacting a great ritual that plunged the kingdom into forever night, as the creatures hated the sun. They swarmed the kingdom, destroying its armies. Though they did not destroy Arn, merely occupy it; they claimed it as their own.

Arn's neighbors launched an offensive, and another war took place, between the creatures, the neigbors, and Arn's resistance. The resulting war was... not good. It was long, taxing, and eventually no side was a clear victor.

Arn, still plunged in darkness, was carved into pieces by its hungry neighbors wanting vengeance for the war after the Empire's fall. The creatures still occupied the once proud nation, and its people's wills are crushed beneath their defeat and the weight of their past hubris.

Arn's capital was split into three fragments, one controlled by the creatures, one by either neighbor.

Too gimmicky/one-dimensional?

 

[Rechan]

No comment?

Guess it is kind've bland.

 

[Gilladian]

Well, its an interesting background. But what sort of campaign will it be? What do you perceive as the role of adventurers?

Are they supposed to be fighting against the invaders? Is there a way to eventually break the darkness? Do the PCs belong to Arn or are they occupiers from one of the neighboring nations? or both?

What kind of tone do you have in mind? Grim and gritty or more high fantasy? I see more grittiness, but I'm not sure...

What is the capitol of Arn like now? Who are the powerful forces? Is there trade or even communication between the neighbors and the invaders? Or is it merely a standoff? These are interesting questions in a setup like this.

 

[Rechan]

Well, its an interesting background. But what sort of campaign will it be? What do you perceive as the role of adventurers?

I didn't have a campaign in mind; this is just an idea that popped into my head. It's just background on a country in the campaign world.

I see lots of options. The PCs are mercenaries. Agents of one of the factions. "Freedom fighters" trying to restore some of semblance of normalness to Arn. Wholly unrelated to the area in question - Just Passing Through.

Apparently people on the WotC boards like the notion of Psionic Insects. I might stick with that. But ultimately, the invaders from below are Not Evil, just dark and strange.

However, what comes to mind is that with Arn plunged into darkness, this is drawing creatures who prefer the dark. Especially undead. The suffering or despairity might draw creatures that fed on entropic emotions. Thus it would draw the attention of adventurers, monster hunters, etc.

Grim and gritty or more high fantasy?

Grim and Gritty, with a touch of horror, and more than likely a bit of intrigue.

What is the capitol of Arn like now? Who are the powerful forces? Is there trade or even communication between the neighbors and the invaders? Or is it merely a standoff? These are interesting questions in a setup like this.

The Capital is split with walls. The city itself isn't damaged from the war, but the populatin of the capital (and the country's population) looks Depressed.

I hadn't decided on the neighbors. But there's a tense sort of trade and communication between them. Think Cold War; they're suspicious, they don't like one another, but there might be power deals and backalley agreements among the betrayals.