OOC: In the Mead-Hall of Hrothgar

[Maerdwyn]

In off the moors, down through the mist bands, accursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for prey in the high hall.

-lines 710-13​

I am considering beginning a Cthulhu Dark Ages campaign for a few (as few as 1, 4 is the max) players that will initially be set in sixth-century Scandinavia. I wanted to see if there was enough interest for me to continue planning it out.

This would not be d20 Cthulhu (Lack of experience with Chaosium's CoC or Cthulhu Dark Ages is fine - I can walk you through it. This will be my first time GMing the system anyway.)

There may or may not be Mythos involvement in the events of the campaign - from your character's perspective, it will be best just to take things as they come without assumptions implied by the system of choice. The key here will be playing a person who outlook is appropriate to the time period (we won't be rigidly historical in this, though, and I'll ask that people be willing put up with that - I'm looking for good role playing with historical atmosphere, not good history with opportunities for role playing, if that makes any sense. I love the poem, but I'm not an expert in the time period - more like an enthusiast ).

Characters may very well believe in magic, but it won't be present in the D&D sense (at least not which the characters have seen with their own eyes). Rather, most people of the time will have an ever-present superstition and a belief that anything that happens has a magical cause or consequence. Whether those beliefs are correct is another matter entirely. They will place a huge importance to family, and I will ask that each character has at least one NPC that is curently alive that is somehow important to them - spouse, child, friend, etc describedat least briefly in their character sheet.

The PC's will probably be Geats and members of Beowulf's warband on their way to save Hrothgar's people from the murderous Grendel; If you have different ideas, that's fine too, within a cerrtain range (no travellers from China please). Either way, expect some differences from the poem.

If anyone is interested, please let me know.

 

[Bobitron]

Holy moley, that sounds pretty cool. I already declined a similar game over at GG because of inexperience with the system, but I'd really love to play in a game with you, Maerdwyn.

Would you be willing to create a character for me if I gave you an overview of him? I could get on MSN or Im to work it out with you, if you like.

 

[Fenris]

(in my best Horshack voice)
Oh, Ohh Ohh Oh, Mr. Maerdwyn!

I am a sucker for Beowulf. Count me in. I have player the old Chaosium system a long time ago, but will need help as well.

Fenris

 

[Bobitron]

Here's my rough idea for a character, Areld the Bear.

The son of a reputable shipbuilder, Areld spent his youth among the lowlands south of Mälaren Lake in what would one day become the Baltic coast of Sweden. By the time he reached adulthood, he had grown into a jovial man with a massive, hulking build. Now 35, he is the veteran of a dozen raids to the soft lands in the south, and bears a few scars to prove it. He has not yet been defeated in combat, though, and holds a reputation as a fearsome warrior. He is incredibly superstitious, feeling everything that happens is due to intervention by the gods or evil spirits trying to forces their will upon man.

In a band of Geats, Areld will probably be the most veteran of the warriors, but he is no leader. He prefers to be directed, fighting all foes with his long-hafted axe, thick black beard and shaggy mane of hair wildly flaying about. His prized possession is a coat of mail which he cleans nightly to avoid rust.

The most important figure in Areld's life is his father Ultaer, who made the very ship they travel on. He is now in the last years of his life, but still holds a position of honor with Beowulf and the rest of the Geats. His younger brother, Gret, has taken over the shipbuilding at this point, but Ultaer still oversees the work and commands much respect.

I'm not sure how skills/attributes work, but I'm thinking a warrior with high strength and stamina, not too clever and fast to jump to conclusions. He knows ships and the sea very well, having spent his childhood helping his father and traveling on them for years.

edit: speeling

 

[Maerdwyn]

Great! Love to have you, Bobitron and Fenris. If one or two others express interest in the next couple days, that would be fine, too. It will take a little time for me to get everything put together, but we can start on characters.

Let's start with backgrounds and personalities, etc and then we'll fit the mechanics of the system to them. If you want, I can put together some links for you on the various tribes and the culture of the time - there' quite a bit out there (lots of it conflicting) but we'll go with the parts we like. We're looking at about the year 515CE, if that gives you any help. Beowulf was of the Geats(Goths), who were from what's now southern Sweden. The Sveum (Swedes) were around at this time and place, too and they've been warring with the Geats (the two groups are roughly equal in strength around this time). There are Saxons (including Angles and Jutes) in Denmark, but we'll call the ones who have sent for aid from the Geats Bright-Danes. The Frisians in Holland are a favorite raiding target of the Geats and the Danes.

The Celts were down in France, Spain and Britain at this time, but the Germanic tribes are kicking their butts in all three places (With Arthur currently holding the line in Southern Britain - but his fame wouldn't have reached most in Scandinavia)

As I said, the easiest fit would be Geatish (Gothic) members of Beowulf's warband (or shield bearers thereof), Danes from Hrothgar's petty kingdom would work well, too. I'm sure there are other good concepts, that you two might come up with, and I'll look at those too.

Most characters will be worshipping the Gothic pantheon of gods (the Christian aspects of Beowulf were added later on), with the highest god being Tyz (later Tyr)

More to be added as I put things together.

 

[taitzu52]

Hi guys. Yes, I see you.

I'm going to initially ask for an alt spot, as I'm in another CoC DA with some of you. And again, I feel like a groupie.

So I'll be watching, if you get that third player, and no one else pipes in, I'll swoop on in.

Cheers!
TZ

 

[Maerdwyn]

Bobitron, looks good so far - I'll try to put something together for you guys regarding the crunch of character generation, but Areld definitely looks like he will work.

 

[Maerdwyn]

Hi guys. Yes, I see you.

I'm going to initially ask for an alt spot, as I'm in another CoC DA with some of you. And again, I feel like a groupie.

So I'll be watching, if you get that third player, and no one else pipes in, I'll swoop on in.

Cheers!
TZ

Np, TZ. You're down as an alt

 

[Bobitron]

Bobitron, looks good so far - I'll try to put something together for you guys regarding the crunch of character generation, but Areld definitely looks like he will work.

Cool, thanks.

I read Beowulf, but in like 9th grade, so I don't remember much. 13th Warrior is my more recent frame of reference; both the book and the film. A quick search on the Geats turned up enough historical info to get me started. Most of my gaming material with references to the era is really Viking based, so won't apply in the strictest sense. What's the deal with religion of the period?

 

[Rhialto]

Could a wandering Byzantine scholar work? Seeing as Justinian's conquest of Italy is looming near in the future, and they were still a trading power? Or is that too much of a stretch?