NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 8552758" data-attributes="member: 6801845">I had something similar in my current campaign as an intro.  For me it was describing a scene where a local bard was telling the story of what had happened previously.  But no powerpoint or anything like that, just a scene for the PCs to read before the game started to give them an idea of the setting.  We discuss more specifics about motivations and goals in the session 0 or after an intro session or two.[SPOILER="Intro story"]The old storyteller looks at you, and gives you a knowing smile. An elderly half-elf, Kerenna SpellSinger walks with a limp and uses a gnarled staff for support but her eyes glitter in the light when telling a story and her voice is still strong and vibrant. You are part of a group that has gathered around the fire to hear a story as the evening sun gives up it’s last rays to darkness, a story that may be new to some of you.“Long ago” Kerenna starts in what sounds like a whisper but somehow carries to all those gathered around “when I was but a young lass with my future spread before me like the open ocean, we lived on the edge of Quag’s Keep, said to be the greatest city of the western realms.”Kerenna waves her hand over the fire, and the sparks dance and twirl forming an image of a bustling port city covering several square miles. It was an unimaginably large metropolis, with a population measured in tens if not hundreds of thousands.“While it was not always a safe place to be” the image zooms in to one of many dark alleyways where two men with knives threaten a young street urchin. While the only sound in the room is an occasional gasp from the crowd and the crackling pop of the fire, you could swear that the sounds of the shifting logs are instead the gravelly voices of the thugs laughing at the urchin’s plight.“There was still hope, and goodness to be found.” The perspective of the image changed slightly showing a hooded figure coming to the rescue of the urchin, chasing off the thugs.“That is how my story began.” Kerenna intones “A street urchin, hungry, cold not expecting aid or comfort from anyone.” Her voice cracks slightly at the pain of the memory “But I was given a second chance, a chance to earn my way”The images shift and blur once more, showing a young girl working at a local shop making shoes, laughing at something the cobbler said.“My mysterious benefactor paid my apprentice fee so that I could have a new life, but he could not stop the destruction that came raining down when Loki broke free from his chains.”The image shifted once more spiralling up into the sky, giving a hawk’s eye view and then going even higher. Impossibly far to the east a volcano erupted on the other side of far away mountains, a plume of fire and ash rising into the sky forming the face and upper body of the screaming god released from prison.The figure hurled molten red rocks to the far reaches of the globe, spawning even more volcanoes and quaking earth. One rock hit the sea south of Quag’s Keep spawning another volcano that erupted causing massive tidal waves that washed over much of the city. The parts of the city that were not drowned were pummelled by fiery rock.Zooming impossibly high, the silent audience was shown that the destruction was not limited to just one area, that the cataclysm was spread wide and far to lands unknown.“Much was lost that day in a blink of an eye. Somehow I survived when others perished.” The storyteller was silent for a moment as a single tear creased her wrinkled cheek.In a wan voice she continued “The following years were difficult.” The image now showed the ruined remains of the cobbler’s shop and a you girl gaunt with hunger looking out at a sky heavy with clouds as wisps of snow blew by. “Those were hungry years, years of failed crops, years of little or no sun. Years when we thought the end of times had come.”The sun fully set as the image dissolved once more into the flames as even the light of the fire seemed to dim, as if giving up the fight against the darkness.“But even in our blackest hour, we never gave up hope.” The flames pop and crackle once more somehow shedding light similar to the first light of dawn.“On the edges of a dead city people settled, even flourished.” Images reformed, now showing a young woman hanging a sign for a shoe store with the help of a young man. The two walk into the shop holding hands.“The gods were at war, but what are a few decades to the immortal? We were safe enough for the moment, some even thought the threat of Ragnarok had passed. But there was always a threat looming on the horizon. Entire villages would just disappear overnight.” A village scene formed, with people scrambling to hide in their houses as a dense fog rolled in. When the fog leaves, there is no sign of life and the houses have been destroyed.“There was trade between the main holdings, OldCastle on the west side traded with the Iron Hill dwarves and in turn traded with NorthGate for grain and food supplies. Both traded with Riverside which maintained a shipping and fishing industry despite the constant threat of pirates.” A stylized map of the three cities formed, showing small caravans going from city to city in a constant three way flow.“We prospered and in many ways were safer than most. But it was never safe.” One of the caravans is shown being attacked by creatures from the ruins of the old city, with people being dragged off screaming into the darkness.“But leaders arose, guided us safely through the troubled times.” images form of the dwarven monk Duran Rockfist commanding troops as they defend the walls from attack along with the elven archer Edewen and Jorgen Carlson, human paladin of Heimdal leading the defense of the city.“Then one day the war of the gods came to a conclusion. Riverside was attacked by Loki himself who summoned great and terrible creatures.” Images form of a dark cloud over the borough of Riverside as dracolichs and fiendish creatures from the dark reaches of Jotunheim.“Loki had destroyed a seal on a gate to Jotunheim. The Asgardians descended from the heavens and recaptured Loki once more.” A scene forms of gods fighting in the skies high above Riverside in a tumultuous scene of power, lightning and fire.“Fortunately the town leaders Bridget and Buggle, arose to evacuate the people.” A tall blonde woman, a bald half orc and others are shown shouting orders and giving directions as people flood onto boats “The gods were able to close the gate once more, and Loki was returned to his prison.”The clouds clear slowly showing a smoking ruin of a town. “The destruction of the city was nearly complete and the seal was imperfect.” The gaping fissure that was there before is gone, covered in melted rubble but with tiny fissures glowing red.“We have not been able to reclaim Riverside. Evil still claims that part of the old city, but for the rest of us life goes on.”“We grow strong once more, but always under the threat of incursion from creatures drawn by the evil power of the rift.” Images now form in the fire of goblins, orcs and shambling undead.“Fortunately we have strong leadership, in Duran and his advisors Edewen and Jorgen’s daughter Kristina to keep us safe.” As the names are spoken, images of the three leaders are shown.“So we gather tonight to celebrate …” the speech goes on but you are too distracted to pay attention, perhaps by a vendor selling your favorite snack or a cute girl/guy walking by that gives you a quick smile.[/SPOILER]</blockquote>

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