synecdoche
First Post
[See also the World Builder blog]
Following Up
Okay, so today I am just going to make a little list of what I know so far.
1) An area that was previously inaccessible to much of the known world has recently begun to be settled by a variety of folk, spurred on by a combination of land availability, mineral deposits, and treasured ruins.
2) The area was previously inaccessible for a number of reasons. First of all, a nation of dwarves who lived in the mountains that separated the new region from the known world had sealed off the only routes to the new land for their own reasons. Second, a massive war in the known world was occupying the attention of most nations that would have any interest in settling the new region.
3) The reason the dwarves had sealed off the region was due to a terrible curse that was brought upon the region by an evil power (I'm leaning toward Demon Lord here) which caused all kinds of magical effects, including the corruption of the people who formerly lived there, the rise of the undead, and the creation of new monsters (think aberrations here). Recently, a group of adventurers defeated (or so they think) a powerful force who they believed (incorrectly) to be the source of the problem. In actuality, they did defeat a powerful being, but it was hardly the only source of dark energy in the region.
4) The settlers who are moving into the region are a mixed bunch. There are a number of "ordinary citizens" who were displaced by the war, people looking to make a quick fortune, adventuring groups, people attracted by the availability of land, nobility who think that they can advance their power, monstrous humanoids who are trying to start a new life for whatever reason, religious groups who want to establish a foothold in the region, and groups that felt that they were victims of persecution in the known world.
5) Already in the region are a number of races. I thinking of using the various goblinoids here, who were previously unknown in the world. Many of the goblinoids are belligerent, as a result of the curse as well as the fact that they are being pushed around by the new settlers. However (as per Tussock's suggestion on rec.games.frp.dnd), there are a number of humanoids (wild elves) that managed to evade the curse of the demon lord. These people should be of particular interest to the elven nations from the other side of the mountains.
6) The campaign will focus (intially at least) on a particularly lawless town based on Deadwood as presented in HBO's series of the same name. The town will be run by a corrupt adventurer-turned-businessman who maintains a private police force to keep the peace but cares little for anything that does not directly affect his money-making.
7) There are a number of ruins to explore for dungeon crawls. In addition, at least a few people from the known world are taking a great interest in the area and are doing a number of things to stir up trouble in the new region, including paying humanoids for scalps (thanks again Tussock), financing bandits and adventuring parties, and sending in political agitators. Furthermore, the humanoids won't take encroachment on their land lightly. There will also be a cult that is dedicated to the demon lord, as well as the undead legions of the demon lord.
Okay, that's the situation, at least. I want to start developing some more specific things at this point, primarily the Deadwood-esque town and perhaps a few sketchy details on the nations on the known side of the mountains. I hope to get to that tonight.
Following Up
Okay, so today I am just going to make a little list of what I know so far.
1) An area that was previously inaccessible to much of the known world has recently begun to be settled by a variety of folk, spurred on by a combination of land availability, mineral deposits, and treasured ruins.
2) The area was previously inaccessible for a number of reasons. First of all, a nation of dwarves who lived in the mountains that separated the new region from the known world had sealed off the only routes to the new land for their own reasons. Second, a massive war in the known world was occupying the attention of most nations that would have any interest in settling the new region.
3) The reason the dwarves had sealed off the region was due to a terrible curse that was brought upon the region by an evil power (I'm leaning toward Demon Lord here) which caused all kinds of magical effects, including the corruption of the people who formerly lived there, the rise of the undead, and the creation of new monsters (think aberrations here). Recently, a group of adventurers defeated (or so they think) a powerful force who they believed (incorrectly) to be the source of the problem. In actuality, they did defeat a powerful being, but it was hardly the only source of dark energy in the region.
4) The settlers who are moving into the region are a mixed bunch. There are a number of "ordinary citizens" who were displaced by the war, people looking to make a quick fortune, adventuring groups, people attracted by the availability of land, nobility who think that they can advance their power, monstrous humanoids who are trying to start a new life for whatever reason, religious groups who want to establish a foothold in the region, and groups that felt that they were victims of persecution in the known world.
5) Already in the region are a number of races. I thinking of using the various goblinoids here, who were previously unknown in the world. Many of the goblinoids are belligerent, as a result of the curse as well as the fact that they are being pushed around by the new settlers. However (as per Tussock's suggestion on rec.games.frp.dnd), there are a number of humanoids (wild elves) that managed to evade the curse of the demon lord. These people should be of particular interest to the elven nations from the other side of the mountains.
6) The campaign will focus (intially at least) on a particularly lawless town based on Deadwood as presented in HBO's series of the same name. The town will be run by a corrupt adventurer-turned-businessman who maintains a private police force to keep the peace but cares little for anything that does not directly affect his money-making.
7) There are a number of ruins to explore for dungeon crawls. In addition, at least a few people from the known world are taking a great interest in the area and are doing a number of things to stir up trouble in the new region, including paying humanoids for scalps (thanks again Tussock), financing bandits and adventuring parties, and sending in political agitators. Furthermore, the humanoids won't take encroachment on their land lightly. There will also be a cult that is dedicated to the demon lord, as well as the undead legions of the demon lord.
Okay, that's the situation, at least. I want to start developing some more specific things at this point, primarily the Deadwood-esque town and perhaps a few sketchy details on the nations on the known side of the mountains. I hope to get to that tonight.
