The Last King ... a campaign idea

[FreeXenon]

I was just reading today's class act Class Acts: Barbarians - Secrets of the True Born and I was inspired with the following campaign idea...

Setting Description
The world is naught but streams of blood and wrent cities. The only thing that has stood between complete domination civilized lands by the BBEG and his minions have been the rampaging hordes of barbarians who have put their collective differences aside to stop his vile tyranny. The barbarian hordes have kept the BBEG's complete control of the world at bay for the last 50 years, but have been unable to defeat him. As the years of war have past and the lands are ravaged, only small pockets of civilization remain. All of the world's lore and knowledge centers have be burnt to the ground, and perhaps the only remaining "civilization" that truly remains are the barbarian tribes.

Unknown and deep within masses of the barbarian hordes lie the line of the Great King. The person does not know nor care of his civilized past or lineage, but part of the prophecy that says the end of all of this slaughter and death lies in him/her embracing thieir destiny and reaching past his primal ways.

PC Stuff
The PC's will most likely come from the civilized lands and be part of the last remaining peoples that have just a small part of the remaining lore and knowledge of the prophecy and the world's history.

They will most likely be involved with finding the pieces and parts that will lead them to find the Last True King, collect lore, supplies, peoples, and help the barbarians to defeat the BBEG once and for all. Perhaps they will be in charge of setting up and defending a small village to collect the masses of refuges.

Perhaps the PC are tutored by the only Wizard or or Warlord in their village, perhaps the PC is the only student of the long lost and proud tradition of Sword Mages or Templar Order. All whose collective pride and knowledge failed to do what the uncivilized barbarian hordes could do.

Just a little inspiration....

Yoink at will....

Tweak at will...

Discuss at will...

 

[Herobizkit]

Love it. You could create Barbarian templates similar to racial templates for each tribe, or (if 3e) use the Totem Barbarian alt classes from the UA.

Oh, wait, you said the players are on the side of Knowledge... When I read it, I assumed that one of the Barbarians would become the Last True King.

Oh wait, I re-read it and one of the Barbarians is destined for greatness...

I should probably wake up before I continue. *lol*

 

[FreeXenon]

Yup! That is what I was thinking...
Good morning! =)

 

[Haltherrion]

I love a good dark ages setting, which this certainly seems to be

Seems like lots of potential to have hidden sources of power and knowledge that the players can uncover during their quests, hidden allies they can find all while gathering the lore and artifacts necessary to save the world.

I would develop the time line and the major players more. It seems like this has been going on for more than 50 years but it isn't clear from what you posted already (seems like it should be more than 50 years given the devastation and the fact that the great king doesn't know he is the great king).

Also, why does the great king matter? What is he bringing to this? Is he prophesied to lead a resurgence of the humans? Is he able to wield certain artifacts or powers?

Where did the barbarians come from? Have they mostly been lurking at the edge of civilization and are now the only thing left? Or are they more the remnants of the civilization? A mix? How are they holding back the BBEG? Barbarians are usually stereotyped as being nomadic and not one for holding a defensive line.

That doesn't mean they can't be thwarting the BBEG but how do they do it? Are their sources of power they can control or interfere with? Do they thwart by being too nimble to squash or do they thwart by challenging him more directly in raids, capture of power points, or what not? Is their a hidden power helping the barbarians (that always makes for a fun plot twist mid-campaign).