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[[Category:Campaign Setup]]
 
[[Category:Campaign Setup]]
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=Campaign Setup=
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 +
=The Motley Crew: Campaign Background=
 +
 
 +
Welcome to Cinnibar and Odd Arbage, a Provincial rivermouth town and Village port, respectively.
 +
They are located at the end of the world in a Dark age. You are the crew of the ''Motley'' a ship of indeterminate size but enough heart for bold adventures in an age of Bronze and Iron.
 +
 
 +
==Campaign Setup==
  
 
This is the wiki page for the campaign setting of The Motley Crew, an odd band cast into dangerous times at the end of the world.
 
This is the wiki page for the campaign setting of The Motley Crew, an odd band cast into dangerous times at the end of the world.
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==The Motley Crew: Campaign Background==
 
−
Welcome to Motley and Odd Arbage, a Manor town and Village port, respectively.
 
−
They are located at the end of the world in a Dark age.
 
  
−
===Recent history===
+
Countless (450) years ago, a piece of the moon fell from the sky and destroyed the Great Powers, who had grown decadent and dangerous. You are the descendents of their servants, subjects and pets.
−
When the Grand and High Powers finally fell to arrogance and insane magics in the Great Age, they took much of the Light out of the world. Whole peoples, races, spirits and divine beings became pieces and pawns in their elaborate, ritual wars. They bent time and space, plane and cosmos to their bidding, summoning Eldritch horrors to their own amusements, stocking and populating grand territories with their own creations, violating ancient precepts and slaughtering their avengers. They bent the very fibre of reality to accommodate their increasing perversities, and as all things do, the Wheel finally turned. So much so that the Moon, it’s mother, spun a tear from the sky to finally quell the Dark.
+
 
 +
This is a Bronze Age setting with limited magic, where Iron is slowly altering the way magic is used. Most gods are now silent in the world.
 +
 
 +
The known lands are filled with humans of many different cultures and races. There are other, stranger creatures and peoples on the fringes of the world.
 +
 
 +
The people of your home areas are civilized and live as part of a larger Empire. However, your local area has seen three empires in the last 200 years and is still here.
 +
 
 +
=Characters and Players=
 +
 
 +
'''[[Ineya]]'''  Boat people girl. Played by Jarulf
 +
 
 +
'''[[Sithalkes, son of Teres]]''' A Warrior from the high valleys of the Lees, [[played by Asen_G]]
 +
 
 +
'''[[Logan the seaborne]]''' A man with no past, played by t@nya.
 +
 
 +
'''[[Malie Hinapouri]]''' 'Shark in the dark of the moon'. A spirit Warrior from the Islands==, played by Bulya.
 +
 
 +
*Chalkine
 +
*Max
 +
 
 +
'''Character creation'''
 +
 
 +
*[[Creating base characters]]
 +
*[[Master skill List]]
 +
*[[Motley Crew Character Sheet]]
 +
 
 +
=Equipment=
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
We are using [[Price Lists]]from Griffin Island.
 +
 
 +
for a more expanded list, use [http://www.dimacleod.co.uk/rpg/rq.htm],
 +
Duncan Ianin MacLeod's excellent website. If prices clash, go with griffin mountain.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Starting Gear==
 +
 
 +
Assuming an average level of wealth
 +
 
 +
*100silver +200silver in goods
 +
*An average outfitting of weapons and non metal armour.
 +
*If your profession pushed you higher up the social scale, this increases.
 +
 
 +
For instance, Bulya's character was a spirit-warrior of the Shark, so will have access to to metal armour.
 +
 
 +
*Anyone can voluntarily up their social standing pre-game, as long as you can justify it. A crafter might have a small workshop in Odd...or be the head of a coral/pearl/shell trading empire and be living in one of the big houses near the citadel.
 +
 
 +
Once you've set your status, though, you will need to support it. Being poor has its advantages for adventurers.
 +
 
 +
=Setting =
 +
 
 +
==Languages==
 +
 
 +
*There is a '''trade Argot''' , though it doesnt rise above 50% + mod.
 +
 
 +
*The base language for motley would be '''Gott''', with a lot of people speaking the '''elder tongue'''.
 +
 
 +
*'''Low and high Gault''' are the languages of the Empire - Low Gault and Gott are related (half chance to understand the other)
 +
 
 +
*'''Islander''' is totally unrelated to any other language nearby.
 +
 
 +
==The Shallow Seas Ocean Daughter==
 +
 
 +
The Mother Ocean has many daughters and they are the seas of the world. In the shallow seas they call her daughter The Rainbow Daughter. She is the mother of all the corals and creatures that call the place home.
 +
 
 +
There are many spirits within her realm, but they define themselves by their relationship to her. Deep ocean has other spirits. Islands each have a spirit and the people who llive there need to acknowledge them.
 +
 
 +
Rainbow Daughter has two lovers - the sun and the clouds. When she is with one, the other rages. Her many children are the animals and humans that live on or in her.
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
 
 +
'''The Grand and Terrible Age'''
 +
 
 +
When the [[Grand and High Powers]] finally fell to arrogance and insane magics in the Great Age, they took much of the Light out of the world.
 +
*Whole peoples, lands, spirits and divine beings became pieces and pawns in their elaborate, ritual wars and amusements.  
 +
*They bent time and space, plane and cosmos to their bidding, summoning Eldritch horrors to their own amusements, stocking and populating grand territories with their own creations.
 +
*They violated ancient and divine precepts and slaughtered their avengers.  
 +
*They began to bring change to the very fibre of reality to accommodate their increasing perversities.
 +
 
 +
The [[Great Wheel]] finally turned. So much so that the Moon, it’s mother, spun a tear from the sky to finally quell the Grand and High Powers.
 +
 
 +
The Grand and High Powers, in their arrogance unrepentant, were destroyed in a Light that decimated the Known lands.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''The Moons Burn.'''
 +
 
 +
Completely destroyed every Grand or High Power, any offspring, anything that contained any of their essence or fragment of their spirit. It reached across all the known worlds at the same time and even into the infinite. All trace of the Powers ceased to be.
 +
 
 +
The Tear of the Moon fell on the heart of the Powers Empire and destroyed half the world - leaving behind huge, glassy wastelands surrounded by desert or desolate badlands.
 +
 
 +
Only in places like Land Ends, where tall mountain ranges absorbed and deflected the worst of the Moons Burn, did people survive. Even here, great storms boiled overhead, thier rain and lightning seeking out and destroying any trace of the Grand and High Powers.
 +
 
 +
'''History begins'''
 +
 
 +
Things that were not part of the Powers survived the Moons Burn if they were not touched by the great burning light directly. This included people. Most of the survivors were servants of the Powers, their pets or slaves, unwitting or otherwise. With all the great wonders and everyday magics of the Powers gone, most peoples fell to barbarism or reverted to more primitive lifestyles. Here and there, cities or estates held on to enough knowledge and civilisation to use metals and mills and keep some of the old skills alive.
 +
Most of these places, like Motley, have a similar history, holding on to enough of a civilization to weather the Storm and the chaos afterwards.
 +
 
 +
'''Recent history'''
 +
That was a long time ago as the Sages tell it, in the lives of long dead ancestors. Those who count say it's been 442 solar years.
 +
 
 +
But the world still feels small this side of the mountains that saved the remnant populations of the hundreds of different types of subject peoples, left behind when the Grand and High powers were consumed and used to rebalance the world.
 +
 
 +
Illis is an isolated citadel and market town and has been for nearly 200 years - although two Kingdoms and three Empires have come and gone, Illis has been Illis through all of it. The same with Odd Arbage, one of several villages and clans owing loyalty to Illis. It is a Cliffside fishing town and deepwater port, home, like Illis, do well over a dozen clans and bloodlines from the last age. It has a small Keep and residing Captain, three shrines and a small collection of houses and homes. It is also home to the adventurers.
 +
 
 +
The area is ruled by the Illisian Prince, now Governor and Marshall of Eastport - a title that has changed hands more than once. The current Prince hopes to establish a legacy, but then so did the last three.
 +
 
 +
Between them, the Town and Villages provide shelter for 4 000 souls, and support the surrounding 15 000 who work the land and sea. The province is sheltered between the Saviour Mounts to the East and North and the Karstfells to the West, and has very little flat, open land, except around the rivermouth. Odd Arbage sits East the mouth of the Aird river, which flows North and East through rugged, unnavigable twists and turns, all the way to the Lee Plateaus and the Republic of which Illis is currently a far-flung arm.
  
−
The Grand and High Powers, in their arrogance unrepentant, were destroyed in a Light that decimated the Known lands. Only places like Motley survived at all - subject towns and cities far, far on the borders of the world, nestled in the lee of mountains that stood between them and where the Moon’s Tear touched the Earth.
+
Not that it is an ignored subject - the fisherfolk bring in exotic Southern fish and other things, dyes and shells the sell well in the north. The same with the local fruit and root crops - all have a market far away, which means coin and exotic goods, and the folk of Illis grow barley and wheat enough only for their own needs. Even the peasants do well by Republican standards.
  
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===Even more recent history===
+
Add the small but steady merchant ship traffic that ventures into Odd Arbage from the Border colonies or Manii to the west, and the place is fairly cosmopolitan for a village of 650 odd.
−
That was a long time ago as the Sages tell it, a generation even to an Elf. But the world still feels small this side of the mountains that saved the remnant populations of the hundreds of different types of subject peoples left behind when the Grand and High powers were consumed and used to rebalance the world.
 
  
−
Motley is an isolated manor and market town and has been for nearly 120 years - although two kingdoms and three empires have come and gone, Motley has been Motley through all of it. The same with Odd Arbage, one of several villages and clans owing taxes and loyalty to Motley. It is a Cliffside fishing town and deepwater port, home, like Motley, do well over a dozen races, clans and bloodlines from the last age. It has a small manor and residing Knight, a Church, and a small collection of houses and homes. It is also home to the adventurers.
+
=='''Technology:'''==
  
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The area is ruled by the Baron Motley, Lord Eastport - a title that has changed hands more than once. The current Baron hopes to establish a legacy, but then so did the last three.
+
'''No Stirrups, no shipboard weapons.'''
  
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Between them, the Town and Villages provide shelter for 2 000 souls, and support the surrounding 10 000 who work the land. The barony is sheltered between the Saviour Mounts to the East and North and the Karstfells to the West, and has very little flat, open land, except around the rivermouth. Odd Arbage sits East the mouth of the Aird river, which flows North and East through rugged, unnavigable twists and turns, all the way to the Lee Plateaus and the Monarchy of which Motley is currently a far-flung arm.
+
'''Mature Bronze Age (Early Iron)'''.
  
−
Not that it is an ignored subject - the fisherfolk bring in exotic southern fish and other things, dyes and shells the sell well in the north. The same with the local fruit and root crops - all have a market far away, which means coin and exotic goods, and the folk of Motley grow barley and wheat enough only for their own needs. Even the peasants do well by kingdom standards.
+
The civilized nations of Land Ends (and a few less civil) have built themselves around Bronze. Both Tin and Copper can be found locally and traded for fairly easily.
 +
Iron is available but until recently has been hard to find...many Powers had Iron mines that are now unstable or unworkable and any readily available source was too poor in quality. The Empire of the Lee Plateau (which has no name at present and only a vague political structure) has recently begun producing more Iron, mainly for infantry and heavy Cavalry.
  
−
Add the odd merchant ship that ventures into Odd Arbage from the Lesser Isles or Moonburn, and the place is fairly cosmopolitan for a village of 350 odd.
+
The many, many barbarian and nomad tribes are generally able to buy or make some bronze, but a lot of it is acquired through trophy.
  
−
===Current situation.===
+
Some more primitive cultures don't use metal at all, especially ones isolated from general cultural contact.
−
Bandits - or worse. Thats what the knight said when he gathered all he could - men at arms, the village mage, the local priest, the woodsmen, the militia - and rode out to hold Airdsford crossing. Fully two thirds of the fighting force of the village, leaving behind the sick, the older, the ill trained and the young.
 
−
Now it is dawn two days later and there has been no word. The local Squire, left in charge, barely has enough stubble to rub in indecision - and no word comes from the North.
 
  
−
Someone has to do something...
+
'''Ships'''
 +
 
 +
As far as ships go, you are looking at single masted square rigged galleys, smaller lateen rigged coastal traders and single mast fishing boats as your most advanced ships. No wheel and rudder mechanisms and oars rule for speed. You'd rarely spend more than a night away from shore and most ships beach or layover at night. well known trade routes are the exception to this.
  
−
=Characters and Players=
 
−
What I'm assuming is that you are the right folk in the right place at the right time.
 
−
The 36 point buy is to reflect your inner Skywalker/Galahad/Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Part of adding gestalts to the mix was the need it creates [generally] for a range of decent Attributes rather than one or two whoppers.
 
−
36 points gets you a flat 14 in all attributes, which makes you better than average at everything, and from there you build your strengths and flaws.
 
  
−
I can't stress enough that the characters are supposed to be special, in the sense that they are going to be thrown in over their heads and need the capabilities to deal with it.
+
'''Magic use.'''
  
−
I think this style of game relies far less on niche protection...in fact, I'd say covering the bases as many different ways as possible would be handy. There will be sandbox elements to this game and as a GM I only 'balance' encounters in terms of availablity of avenues of retreat. If you encounter four Ogres, you need to make some quick decisions.
+
*Must always have a '''POW of 15''' - it it drops below this, magic ties are lost.
  
−
[[Maggie the Witch]]
+
*'''Iron effects all magic''' - a human can have contact with only a limited amount before it begins to disrupt it.
  
−
[[Domik Boscage]]
+
*There is '''Spirit (or Common or Hedge) magic''', but it is restricted to Members of Magical or Spiritual orders, commonly known as Low Magic.
 +
This is the magic of Craft Guilds, Religious Orders, Barbarian warrior Lodges, witches and Warlocks, apothecary and Herbalist. Bards and initiates gain this sort of magic.
  
−
[[Rufus Hillsfar]]
+
In the past it was more common. Part of its decline may be attributed to increased Iron usage.
  
−
=House Rules=
+
*'''Divine Magic''' is gained through the worship of and bargaining with divine forces. Only priests and champions may wield it. Druid types, too.
  
−
==Basic changes==
+
*'''Spirit Magic''' is obtained through bargaining with spirits and only occasionally involves learning spells. More often, you have allied or bound spirits.  
−
*Rule 1: Fighters get two good saves [pick the other] and a feat every level.
 
−
*Rule 2: Forget cross class skills costs. Characters can buy any skill they like.
 
−
*Rule 2a: Gestalts get the skill points from both classes. Fighters get 4sp in this system.
 
−
*Rule 3: I'm going to use the optional Armour as DR rule from Unearthed Arcana, but on top of normal AC.
 
−
*Rule 4: It is quite legal to make a gestalt character that is the same class twice. To be effective, however, you would want a class that can trade out all of its class features for ACF's.
 
−
*Rule 5: Assume initiative is now static [not rolled] and that things that previously triggered AoO's now allow Immediate Actions outside of initiative order. This Immediate action takes the place of any standard or move action.
 
−
*Rule 5a: Assume all move and standard actions are now interchangeable. You get two a round. Note, this does not apply to spellcasting.
 
−
*Rule 5b: assume any attack, feat or special ability that requires a full round action now only requires a standard action. This does not apply to spells.
 
−
*Rule 6: Druids must trade wildshape for some form of ACF, or their animal companion drops to 1/2 level, as per a ranger.
 
−
*Rule 7: There is always a way around 'absolute' [no non-magical counter] magic spells. Each must be learned individually.
 
−
*Rule 8: I am employing a 'per rest' rather than per day rule. this means any significant break is a chance to recharge normal per day abilities. Only a few spells are still restricted to per day. While this may seem to shortchange fighters, they have gained much through increased feats and quicker actions.
 
  
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And that's it rules wise.
+
*'''Sorcery''' Confined to the literate, must be learned from Grimoires.
 +
I'll decide which books magic to use once people start creating their PC's.
  
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==What does fixed initiative mean? where'd my AoO's go?==
+
'''Non Humans'''.
−
*What does this [initiative] mean?
+
Humans make up the peoples of Land Ends. There are many different kinds of people, some altered by powers in the past to be servants, pieces of Art or pets.
  
−
It means everyone gets to state what they intend to do each turn [using the standard descriptors], and higher initiative gets to play out their actions first after statements are made. Interrupts occur when actions happening would normally trigger an AoO. Everbody in this system gets one 'round' of action - there are no free attack's from AoO's.
+
There are, however, many, many other sentient folk, though non human.
 +
Most are hybrids, like Centaurs and Satyrs - a mixture of human and animal forms.
  
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*So if I have a lower initiative than someone who drinks a potion next to me, I can take my turn as an interrupt to their action?
+
There are Sauri, however - sentient creatures descended from the dragons. The two most common types are Saurians (lizardfolk), a generally savage people who inhabit warm, desert lands and Newtlings, who live along rivers and in swamps.
  
−
Yes you could, but that is your 'attack' action for the round. You dont get to belt/trip/push/jump on them and then get an attack in later.
+
There are the giants and their descendents, too. They were common as the brute force component of a Powers lands or holdings, and their descendants plague the less hospitable parts of the world.
  
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*Does the interrupt still have to be a melee attack? And I won't get my turn on my normal Initiative score in that case?
+
Most other sentients fall into the category of embodied forces from other planes of existence, from elementals to The Kind Folk to Gods and their servants.
  
−
No and yes. You might bung a brick at them, yell abuse, fire off a quick spell or missile...but thats your attack for the round.
+
These many, many races tend to exist away from human society or on its fringes - most have learned that humans make poor neighbours.
  
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It might feel odd, but it simplifies combat a lot [for me] and stops ogres from backing away endlessly with longspears.
+
==Themes==
  
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Mechanics wise, it'd be quite low level 3.5, along the lines of the E6 rules modifications, and stay within this framework for the length of the [forseeable] game... [for those unaware of E-6, it is basically a set of alterations to 3.5 so as to halt level progression at sixth level - further abilities learned through an expanded feats list bought from every 5k of extra xp ]. Resource poor due to setting and the general removal of high level characters and their opponents...so there's a lot less magic, but a lot less need for it. A definite need for social skills. Alchemy and healing skills become more important, and that +1 dagger becomes a handy find indeed.
 
  
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==Experience points==
 
−
One thing...as gestalt characters, you will need +50% experience for each level increase. Experience beyond 6th level will be 7500xp per new feat. Levelling up will be pretty much instant [the first 5 minute break past your last xp earning].
 
−
==Legal sources for this game==
 
−
*Core Books+UA - SRD
 
  
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Classes, Races, Spells.
+
===The Coming of Iron.===
 +
Iron has previously been a scarce metal, found either as relics of the great Age [in various forms of steel] or as bloom iron, pounded into wrought iron or layered steel. The Powers had Many uses for Iron in the past and have mined all but the meanest sources.
  
−
*Core Book II's, the ''Complete...'' series and the ''Races Of''... series.
+
Iron affects magic. A little makes it unstable, a lot disrupts it entirely.
 +
Steel can be the same, but is sometimes a conduit for magic force instead. The hows and whys of this were known to the Powers, but that knowledge is yet to be regained.
  
−
ACF's, Feats, Races and racial substitution levels only.
+
I'd like to have a variety of different magic types in the game, based around systems from BRP, Legend and Runequest Three. Their relative rarity is up to you.
  
−
Feats from all the above-mentioned books are available to view at : http://realmshelps.dandello.net/datafind/feats.shtml.
 
  
−
Crystalkeep provides a summary of most of 3.5 at this site: http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/index.php. Check out the variant base classes [but note only the ones from the abovementioned books will be considered], races and some of the Alternate Class Features.
+
==Magic Types==
 +
Possible magic types are:
  
−
Apart from that, there's suggestions and help here, of course...
+
'''Innate Magic'''
  
−
==NPC Classes==
+
These are the inner magics of true skill that set heroes apart without them being spellcasters.
−
NPC's
 
−
PC's are the only Gestalts of PC classes, apart from major villains.
 
−
Most NPC's will be single classed, though some may be PC/npc gestalts.
 
  
−
NPC types are expanded slightly to allow for the fact that you may actually need some [ hirelings, militia, packcarriers, etc]
+
*'''Natural Magic - Talented (skill % based)'''.
  
−
Commoner -
+
Talents are skill based and each skill has a talent. Some people are born with a Talent, even before they master it and these are known as Birth talents. Some people develop a talent for a skill after years of practice (95%+ in the skill) These are known as Masteries.
−
Slave/urban/sedentary BAB 1/2, Sk2+; 1 simple wpn, one skill focus.
 
−
Rural/primitive BAB 3/4, Sk2+; Lt Arm, 3 Simple wpns. [most of the villagers]
 
−
Expert -
 
−
Sedentary BAB1/2, Sk 8+; Skill focus, 1 simple wpn. Will good [ a scribe or scholar]
 
−
Active BAB 3/4, Sk 6+; Lt arm, all simple wpns. Will good [a herbalist or Craftmaster]
 
−
Warrior -
 
−
Regular BAB 1 Sk 2+; All simple, martial wpns, all armour, all shields. Fort good [men at arms, sergeantry,]
 
−
Irregular BAB 3/4 Sk4+ All simple, martial, lt/med armour, lt/med shield. Ref good. [archers, scouts, light cavalry]
 
−
Adept -
 
−
Arcane/Divine BCB 1/2, Sk2+ Simple wpns. Adept spells, Good will [a Priest or Mage]
 
−
Witch BCB 1/2, Sk2+ Simple wpns. Witch spells. Good will. [a witch...what else?]
 
−
Aristocrat -
 
−
Leader - BCB 3/4, Sk4+ Simple, Martial wpns. All armours, shields. good will, fort [a knight type/sometimes gestalted with Paladin or Fighter]
 
−
Ruler - BCB 3/4 , Sk6+ Simple, martial, all armours, lt/med shields. good will [more a baron or entourage type; gestalted with rogue for a spymaster.]
 
−
Councillor - BCB 1/2, Sk8+ Simple. Skill focus, Bard spells. good will [somes a gestalt with cleric, wizard or sorceror. Astrologer, advisor, vizier, keeper of the keys, etc].
 
  
−
==The Bardic Witch or Warlock==
+
*'''Gifted Attribute'''.  
−
'Witch' is now a Bard variant, deleting the singing and playing requirements and adding spoken/chanted words for a more witchy feel. Powers and abilities remain the same as a 'normal' bard, but their source is divine. Rapier becomes the light sword used in witchcrafty type rituals, dagger becomes athame-typestuff...
 
  
−
The witch addition spell list.
+
Similarly, some people have Gifted Attributes - the warrior who always pulls off feats of strength, the scholar who can will an obscure piece of knowledge out of their memory, the tracker who can run all night. Each attribute can be taken as gifted.
−
*0 Lvl: arcane mark, cure minor wounds, dancing lights, detect poison, virtue.
 
−
*1st L: Command, doom, endure elements, speak with animal.
 
−
*2nd L: none.
 
  
−
==Magic vs Skill: The annoying thing about Arcane Lock.==
+
*'''Maximum umber of Talents and Gifted Attributes'''.
−
I'd like to impose a fiat. Anything spell like up to third level that has an absolute skill-blocking effect (see arcane lock) has a way around it that is [relatively] mundane. In arcane lock's case, cold iron lockpicks allow a rogue to suppress the spell temporarily, and a cold iron prybar can be used to open open it if need be. This information will only be available to Knowledge checks under special circumstances. Each mundane weakness normally has to be worked out individually, of course. [why do you think they call it Experience points...?
 
  
−
=Local Knowledge=
+
Each Gift/Talent takes up a point of your Int, in the same way spirit magic or Sorcery does. The three aren't eclusive, So a PC with Int 15, three talents and two gifted attributes has ten points available to memorise Low magic or Sorcery spells.
  
−
==A map of Motley and the EastMarch==
+
*'''How to use Talents and Gifts'''
−
The Eastmarch lies in a Wet Mediterranean climate zone, with long dry Summers, stormy and wet Autums and Winters that only bring snow to mountainous areas, though they will be wet in the lowlands.
 
−
Frosts are confined to the highlands, so there are two different growing seasons for two types of produce. Local vegetable and fruit production is pretty much continuous over the seasons and the area has a diverse food base, enough so that famines are rare.
 
  
−
The Eastmarch produces: Exotic citrus, grapes and wines, apples and cider, olives and olive oil, 'southern' fish, pearl of shell, purple and blue dyes, inks,  high grade shale, southern hardwoods and herbs/spices. Local wheat and barley/rye only.
+
'''Talents/Gifts''' consume 1MP per 10% difference between a skill roll (or attribute test) and a desired result. Adding a special success (or a x 1 result for an attribute check) costs +3 pts over and above the % cost to reduce the roll to that level of success. Adding a critical success coss +6 pts.
 +
*Talents are used before a roll is made. MP cost is worked out after the roll is made.
  
−
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/Motley.jpg
+
For '''Gifted attributes''':
 +
Attribute Tests fall into two types, Resistance rolls (Att vs some other force) and Characteristic rolls (Attribute x One to five gives degree of success)
  
−
For a rough sense of scale, it is 50 miles [82km]as the crow flies between Motley and MiddleMount.
+
MP's are consumed at the rate of 1 per 5% change on the resistance table or 1 per 10% reduction in a characteristic roll, +3MP for Attribute x1
  
−
Major Features.
+
'''Note''': Talents and gifts are not considered magical, so magic hating types can still have them.
−
*'''The Burned Mounts.''' These low mountains burst into flame during the Moons Tear. Their people and places are forgotten.
 
−
*'''The Bad Lands''' Mostly desert and patches of fused sand, there are oases and patches of seasonal green in this dry land. Temperatures vary considerably on this high, wasted plateau but run to the chilly, and only the various warm blooded saurian species seem to thrive there.
 
−
*'''The Savior Mounts'''. High and jagged mountains that are impassible at all but two points, both treacherous. These mounts protected the river valley and places beyond from the direct effects of the moons tear, and have provided a barrier to the strange creatures that have grown in the Bad Lands since.
 
−
*'''The Lesser Sea''' A warm and shallow ocean protected by landforms and island chains from global currents. Home to much of the Eastmarches wealth and the trade route to the Lesser Isles [a collection of large and small island colonies] and Moonburn [the last true Citie].
 
−
*'''The KarstFells''' a former Holding of a minor Power, the KarstFells were an idealised expression of UnderEarth wonderland. After the Moon's Tear and the fading of the old powers, the place settled into a more natural ecology, both on the surface and underearth. Many of the slave creatures and exhibits have reverted to their old gods and ways, and many odd, dangerous hings haunt the Fells.
 
  
−
==A map of Odd Arbage==
+
='''Magic schools.'''=
  
−
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbage.jpg
+
'''Magical Talent'''
  
 +
Only people with a Talent in a magical skill can use magic. The skill might be Worship Rude Pantheon, Low Magic, Sorcerous Art or something more specific.
  
−
Just a little picture of Arbage. fully brown buildings are covered longhouses. The others generally have gardens and reflect three or four odd styles from around the races/cultures settled since the Moons Tear.
+
This makes magic rare...you are either born to it or get there after great effort.  
  
−
There is not a lot of fine detail, but brown = mostly wood, grey = stone and black=Grand Age Architecture [read: unbreakable.] The black dots near the deepwater groyne are spikes that never move or wear.
+
If you actually want to be talented in a magical skill, you need to use up two talents to do so - one to have magical talent, one to be talented in it.
 +
 +
'''Low or Common Magic'''
  
−
Old Odd is the centre of the village, despite being smaller. It is here you will find the market once a week, and the few buildings devoted to anything other than living and working.
+
Learned from particular Backgrounds and Professions.
  
−
Families and clans: [on average, a family will be 5 people, a clan 10] total population is usually 375 or so. You are currently missing about 20% of the population [70 people], mostly the fighting age men and women and their leaders.
+
There are Six Subtypes or traditions of common magic:'''
  
−
* 9 clans of Local folk [Olive skinned, brown hair and eyes. The 'average' human]
+
*Battle/Hunt
−
 
+
*Craft/Hearth
−
  - 5 fishing clans, devoted to various aspects of gathereing ocean harvests.
+
*Spirit
−
  - 3 farming clans, devoted to a mix of hillside and bottomland farming.
+
*Elemental
−
  - 1 Milling clan, devoted to the growth, grinding and baking of grains.
+
*Wild
 +
*Common
  
−
* 3 clans of mountain folk [Fairer skinned, tending to blondes and redheads] From the North and the Lee Plateaus.
+
These are purely cultural and anyone who can learn Low Magic can (in theory) learn any spell.
−
 
 
−
  - 2 Herding clans, devoted to cattle, sheep and goats, the production of dairy, and butchering.
 
−
  - 1 Orcharding clan, devoted to the growth of cooler fruits, Olives, and oil production.
 
−
* 3 clans of wood elves. Originally from the Great Sylan Lords parklands.
 
  
−
  - 1 Forestry clan, devoted to the management of the local woods and creatures therein.
+
You may learn spells up to your Int in points. (Minus any Talents or gifted Attributes).
−
  - 1 Fishing clan, involved in pearl of shell and dye-making, as well as exotic sea goods.
 
−
  - 1 Farming/gathering clan, devoted to the gathering of wild growth foods, herbs and spices.
 
−
* 2 Families of High Goblins.[+2 Cha instead of -2, 0 level race]
 
−
  - 1 Ponyriders clan, Devoted to the breeding, training and use of forest ponies, donkeys and Mules.
 
−
  - 1 farming/fishing clan, devoted to subsistance living and labour for hire.
 
−
* 4 clans of Water Halflings [as per Elemental Races, SRD]
 
−
  - 1 Ponyriders/Houndbreeders clan, devoted to the breeding, raising and selling of ponies and hounds.
 
−
  - 3 Fishing clans, devoted mainly to shoreline and river/pond/lake fishing and the finding of exotic water foods.
 
−
* 1 Family of Water high Goblins [as per water halflings, but -2 str, 0 level race]
 
−
  - Fishing clan, devoted to deep sea fishing and working with Dolphins.
 
−
* 2 Families of High elves.
 
−
  - 1 Crafters family, working in Iron and Wood, leather and other, more exotic goods.
 
−
  - 1 Archers clan, devoted to the making of bows and accessories, their instruction, use and hunting skills.
 
−
* 2 clans of ManOrcs [half orcs]
 
−
  - 1 fishing clan, devoted to deep water runs and whale hunting.
 
−
  - 1 Herding clan, devoted to goats and high mountain sheep.
 
−
* 1 clan of Water ManOrcs.
 
−
  - Devoted to deep diving and pearl of shell gathering.
 
−
* 1 family of Hellas
 
−
  - Devoted to healing and herbs/spice gathering. Also, inverventions with house and evil spirits.
 
−
* 2 clans of earth Dwarves.
 
−
  - 1 shale gathering clan, devoted to the gathering, shaping and use of high quality shale and slate.
 
−
  - 1 Fishing clan, devoted to deep water and shoreline netting.
 
−
* 1 clan of Lios [Half-elves]
 
−
  - Devoted to the production of wines and ciders, the growing and grafting of grapes and apples.
 
−
* 9 'Mixed' clans - open to joining by outsiders without marriage or blood ties, unlike a normal clan or family. vitally important to the social fabric of Motley and the whole Lee Kingdoms, these 'mixed' clans gave the homeless and lost a sense of place and belonging in the days after the moons tear. 120 years of tradition have cemented them into the social fabric alongside family or 'blood' clans. [mostly human and 1/2 elf, or human and ManOrc, but with a sprinkling of gnomes, elves, Dwarves, High goblins and oddities].
 
−
  - The workers clan. a collection of small families who work mainly for others.
 
−
  - The fishers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the sea.
 
−
  - The Landers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the land.
 
−
  - The Inn clan. Runs the local Inn/townhouse.
 
−
  - The Militia clan. Maintains and supports the watchtowers, their gardens and foodstores, weapons and provisions.
 
−
  - The Crafters clan. An unofficial clan made up of all practicing craftmasters without immediate clan ties, and their families.
 
−
  - The Manor clan. Another unofficial clan. composed of the knight, his family and entourage, their families and hangers on.
 
−
  - The Temple. All the associated folk who run and maintain the Temple of the Rude Pantheon.
 
−
  - The Clan Marine. A local version of the Militia clans common to the kingdom.The local version requires decent boating skills.  
 
  
−
The manor is made of logs. Here is a map of sorts.
+
'''Divine'''
  
−
==A map of Odd Manor==
+
Divine magic as per RQIII, but tied to Pantheons. Through sacrifice of permanent POW, you build a 'Divine reservoir' which you fill out from the pantheons spells.
 +
These can be changed each time you pray for renewal, which will be daily or hourly depending on your rank.
 +
Divine ranks require high POW - 15 for Acolytes, 18 for full priests. Acolytes can only memorise 1/4 of their POW in spells, Priests 1/2.
  
−
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbagemanor.jpg
+
*Three Pantheons:  
−
=Nearby Places and Facts=
+
**''Rude Pantheon''. A pragmatic Divine order with links to many diverse survivor gods, who have formed a survival compact with Mortal Races. Priests of the order form temporary bargains with gods in return for fulfilling divine requirements.
 +
**''Church of the Child''. A variety of Orders with one link - the Child of Light, who reincarnates in a mortal form once every generation. The teachings of the different Children have led to a multiplicity of different Sects and Orders.
 +
**''The Old Ways'' Druids, Bards, Lawspeakers, Smiths, rangers and witches, warlocks and old Earth gods.
  
−
==Bladhame==
+
*Can also worship in cults to individual gods.
−
Bladhame, "Son of the Stones", was a dwarven fortress at some point in the distant past; a mountain hollowed out through unknown magics or unimaginable labor. A handful of dwarves dwell today, along with elves, gnomes, and a great many humans. Precisely what killed the original inhabitants of the city remains a mystery, but stories and theories abound. Ask any two Bladhamers, and you'll hear half a dozen tales between them.
+
*Can also be gained in limited ways from other traditions and guilds, who have patrons.
 +
** The Harpers Hall, The Guild of Sages, Philosophical Orders, , etc.
 +
** These are semi divine orders, often with only a few divine spells.
  
−
It remains, however, one of the few remaining gateways to the World Below. Behind enormous stone doors, sealed with runes and sigils of obscure and arcane power, Taggit Dal Uggrit ("The Road That The Sun Never Sees") still runs deep into the earth, bringing the occasional caravan from the peoples who dwell below.
+
'''Sorcery'''
  
−
The trade in strange goods and stranger knowledge, these merchants, and none can truthfully claim to have seen their faces. But they deal honestly and well, and their occasional presence has drawn folk from great distances with the hope of learning...or acquiring...something that will give them a bit of power.
+
Could be MRQII Sorcery or BRP/Basic fantasy magic.
  
−
==The Older Ones==
+
*Sorcery is the study of a Sorcerous Art (to manipulate spells). There are many. Each Sorcerous Art allows you to cast spells from Grimoires of that type.
−
Premise: Kuo-Toa are evil aztec fishmen from a different, older evolutionary path before Man.
+
*Sorcerors must also learn specific Grimoires to gain access to a group of related spells.
  
−
Late on the quietest winter nights, some of the shormost residents of Odd Arbage say that they can hear, just for a moment in the dead of night, a strange bell tolling out across the waters. By day, the stories are ridiculed, dismissed; but on those nights, the people of Odd Arbage shutter their windows tight and keep a roaring fire.
+
Many schools of sorcery are confined to very specific effects.
  
−
The oldest among them speak tales, when in their cups, of a time when the bells were answered by bells from the shore, and when they were they drew closer, and dark happenings took place at the shoreline.
+
='''The Different Folk of Land Ends'''=
  
−
But that hasn't happened for nigh-on twenty years, they say, though they glance fearfully at the odd gold trinkets that are in some family heirloom collections: little-worn and ill-favoured by all but the most brazen, who often come to a bad end.
+
*Different breeds of human inhabit Land Ends - this often leads to humans having different baseline Attributes from normal. The common types in the area are mentioned, but there may be others.
  
−
Have new trinkets been seen around the town of Odd Arbage? None are sure. Perhaps the stories are so long-forgotten that the pieces are no longer seen as cursed. Perhaps some benighted jeweller is replicating them out of ignorance or misguided curiosity.
+
*Folk of Illis
 +
*Valley/Sea folk(local)Golts or Gelts - Std
 +
*Mountain Folk: Gaults or Goltish (locals) - Std (From the Lees Plateau)
 +
*Wood folk: Gern or Cern (locals) - Std
  
−
But the fishing this year has been the best ever; better even than the year before that, which was better again than the year before that... and some of the old folk wonder to themselves, and stoke roaring fires...
+
The above make up 80% of the population.
  
−
==The Movealong Shadows==
+
*Sylvan folk: Bacchae or Woses. -2 Int, +2 Con and Cha (from the elder woods - Relics)
−
Once there were villages in the foothills of the Karstfells, to the west. Some of the elders can still remember when they were burned out, or found empty. Now only wild men, the nomads, dare to dwell there, and even they speak of enemies that come in the dark, through some moonless night or thick fog, leaving behind only empty tents to be found in the morning. None know who or what they are, but they move through the rocky hills like ghosts, evading watches and guards. Each dark night you camp in the same place you risk them finding you, and then you are never seen again.
+
*Elder Folk:Limnis. -3 Str, Siz, Con. +3 Int, Pow.(from the elder woods - Relics)
 +
*Andermen: -3 Siz.(from the Fells. Minor race.)
 +
*Helleas: -3 Str, Con. +3 Pow,Cha. (old slave race)
 +
*Islanders: Vanu or Piri : +2 Str and Siz. (from across the seas)
 +
*Bladhamers: -6 Siz, +3 Con. (old Servant race)
 +
*Goblins: Heabog or Snauk: -3 Str, Siz. +3 Dex. (from the Fells)
  
−
==The Karstfells==
+
*There are many non-human races or oddities in the area - generally creations of the great powers.  
−
The Fells have a bad reputation, getting steadily worse the further west you go...which pushes Bladhames trade route undergound, where these attacks, oddly, never occur.
 
  
−
Your character might have been driven out of the Karstfells as a child...or know more than he's telling.
+
'''Other well known folk of Lands End'''
  
−
Considering the Karstfells as the fantasy equivalent of Bolivia/Central America cave system wise, this creates an environment where the surface is bleak and dangerous and the underearth is possibly safer and a more diverse, vibrant ecology...probably connecting to underwater rivers and ocean openings [a sunless sea or two?], where ancient marine races have found their contemptuous
+
*Republic of the Lees is the formal title of the Leelander Republic. The population is mainly Goltish or Gaults, but there is a minor race of Fenlings along the coast of the Shallows.
−
conquerers to now be a thing of history...  
+
Fenlings -4 Siz, Str, +2 Con, Dex. Semi-Aquatic, excellent swimmers.
  
−
==The Hellas clan==
+
*The Haut: Haut were a Powers idealised nomad guard. They still reside in the area sculpted for them before the Fall.
 +
These days, there are two breeds of Haut - the old Kloos or Dragon Haut and the New Clans, who make up 80% of the population.
  
−
The Hellas clan has been in Motley since the world changed...though their circumstances have changed somewhat. The result of twisted, magical crossbreeding between higher and lower outsider bloodlines, the Hellas were magical accessories, bred much as pets are in some cultures.
+
Old Haut: +1 Str, Siz, Con.
−
Those few in Motley at the time of the world change were part of the retinue of a minor local Power. When he vanished in a flash of light along with his inner circle, those Hellas left banded together with a few refugees to form their own clan - specialising in otherworldly magics.
+
New Clans: -2 Siz, +2 Con.
  
−
There is only one family of Hellas clan in Odd Arbage - Natt the healer, his wife Eleanor the Herber and their daughter Bough - who seems to have a way with spirits and such.
+
All humans can still interbreed, so they are Races.
 +
Old Haut dont...they try to keep their bloodline pure. There are only 10 000 or so left. They are idealised nomadic barbarian horseman, not really fit for the practicalities of true steppe living. Everything about them is too big. Their mounts are too large, too hungry, their technology and weaponry require too much metal and they are large, not compact people. They have survived through acting as a warrior clan for the New Clans.
 +
The new Clans are survivors who came to the Haut for help and knowledge after the Fall. They are mainly local races, interbred with the now extinct plains folk and the few Haut who sire bastards.  
  
−
==The Brotherhood of the Blessed Bolt==
+
Most border cultures (Primitive peoples, desert nomads, border States) will be standard human.
−
The Brotherhood of the Blessed Bolt
 
  
−
This organization of wandering ranger/paladins formed after the Fall of the Moon's Tear to deal with the monstrosities that still roamed the land.
+
'''Raft People'''
 +
These encompass several closely related groups of people, with a shared heritage as an experiment from one of the more benevolent High Powers. They can be divided in two very broad groups, the settled ones and the semi-nomadic ones. The settled groups live on the islands and on small villages made up of a crazy maze of rafts, small boats and stilt homes. They are poor people but trade some with neigbouring lands, mostly various forms of fish and other sea food, sponges and pearls. Their economy has slowly improved over the last few decades.
 +
The nomadic groups follow different sholes of desired fish depending on the season. Small groups of a few families often band together but no groups would exceed more than two or three families. Once a year they all try to head back to their cousins for the great ceremonies and markets that are becoming increasingly important in keeping cultural continuity between the two groups. This is a time of trade, marriage negotiations, tall tales and so on.
  
−
They do not crusade. They hunt and protect.
+
Both groups are peaceful, though the settled folks are becoming increasingly aware that they present a target for both slavers and raiders. Many of their barge towns have become too complex to easily untangle for a quick escape.
  
−
As monstrosities declined, so did the Brotherhood. Most went on far-ranging journeys to find evil, and few ever came back. Those that stayed became more like knights-errant, wandering and dispensing justice as they saw fit. Those few though kept the memory of the traditions alive, the techniques of monster-hunting, of the various weaknesss and vulnerbilites of demons, devils, lycanthropes and worse.
+
They often have great stamina and peculiar powers related to their life style, such as being able to hold their breath far longer than most people, swimming deeper into the ocean and so on. Some say they can even communicate with dolphins and sing with whales. Some reportedly have finely scaled skin and webbed hands and feet, though that may just be rumours.
  
−
They revere the Father Sun, whose face watches and judges them by their actions everyday.
+
'''The Shallow seas'''
 +
(Ill have to put that back on the map) receive the full blast of the warm Western current. The reef shown is coral and the sheltered areas teem with tropical marine life. The sea should be dotted with tiny islands, reefs, atolls, giant kelp beds, etc. These people hunt sharks and giant crabs in the shallows and whales along the continental shelf.
  
−
A fallen Brother is said to have forgotten the face of his father.
+
'''The Folk of Seven Forms'''
  
−
They train not so much in direct combat, as in stealth and attack from a distance, using specially crafted repeating crossbows.
+
These are the generally accepted sentient 'Races' or cultures, according to accepted knowledge in Land Ends. All are considered to be rare and exotic, living for the most part away from humans.
 +
They are each associated with a Form rune and the man/folk rune.
  
−
==The Archivists Order==
+
*The Shee. People of the Spirit. A range of large to small, light and subtle folk, long lived and tied to the Spirit Runes.
−
They call themselves, in their clandestine meetings, the Archivists. Others call them thieves. Some few refer to them as the Bookwyrms, and regard them with a special sort of loathing.
+
*The Kin. People of the Folk/man rune. Humans in all their wondrous variety.
 +
*The Saurii. People of the Dragon. A range of giant to small, long lived hardy folk, tied to the Dragon Runes.
 +
*The Taurii. People of the Wild. A range of Large to small hybrid folk embodying beast and human forms. Tied to the Beast Runes.
 +
*The Huldre. People of the Green. A range of giant to tiny folk with plant based attributes. Tied to the Plant Runes.
 +
*The Dverger. People of the Land. A range of giant to small, strong and durable folk, long lived and tied to the Primal Runes.
 +
*The Nerii, People of the Waters. A range of colossal to small aquatic beings, tied to the Water Runes. They're not counted among the Six Forms because land dwellers don't usually have much interaction with them, lacking any common language or medium of communication, since air breathers can't speak in water and vice versa, just to begin with.
  
−
The Archivists feel that is their divinely appointed task to accumulate as much knowledge as possible, in any and all possible form, and to cache it in hidden places to keep it from being lost forever the next time that the Moon sheds a tear.
+
=Local Knowledge=
 +
== A Map of Land Ends==
 +
Land Ends is an East Facing Strip along the border of the continent. The area pictured is in the 40 degree north equivalent latitudes. The East Side experiences a mild Maritime climate, the area around the Lesser Sea a more Mediterranean climate. The Eastmarch Valley is a Temperate Seasonal climate.
  
−
Some, it must be admitted, take this sacred duty rather more seriously than others.....
+
There are scattered, semi nomadic peoples to the West and South of the EastMarch, across the Sea to the Lonely Shores there are Saurian Tribes. The Elder Wood is home to several small nations, including a grand City-State on the shores of the Lesser Sea. The towns near Irdis deep are all independent and involved in petty wars.
  
−
==The Sambaqui Mounds==
+
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/MegamapII-1.jpg
−
Dotted along the coast of the Lesser Sea are barrow-like mounds known as Sambaquis, mostly overgrown and unnoticeable. The Church maintains that they are simply piles of refuse, shells and broken pottery, from ancient primitives who once lived here.
 
  
−
The common people know better, however. The Sambaqui are burial mounds for the first of the Kuo-Toa kings. Any man who sets foot on one of the mounds is blighted - he will never raise a son to take his place and his dreams will shrivel. A woman who steps on a Sambaqui will have her children taken by the Kuo-Toa but will be blessed with unnatural health.
+
==A map of Motley and the EastMarch==
 +
The Eastmarch lies in a Wet Mediterranean climate zone, with long dry Summers, stormy and wet Autums and Winters that only bring snow to mountainous areas, though they will be wet in the lowlands.
 +
Frosts are confined to the highlands, so there are two different growing seasons for two types of produce. Local vegetable and fruit production is pretty much continuous over the seasons and the area has a diverse food base, enough so that famines are rare.
  
−
It is said that the Barons, ignorant of common wisdom, have all stepped on Sambaqui and have even taken taken some of their wealth from the mounds. But they have paid the price.
+
The Eastmarch produces: Exotic citrus, grapes and wines, apples and cider, olives and olive oil, 'southern' fish, pearl of shell, purple and blue dyes, inks,  high grade shale, southern hardwoods and herbs/spices. Local wheat and barley/rye only.
  
−
*Characters are part of a small community who lose the majority of their defenders in a conflict - the PC's are the apprentices, squires and initiates who were left behind to provide a skeleton guard. Now they are all that is left. Using a 'points of light' [more a 'dark ages', really] background for the setting, the game becomes about dealing with the outcome of most of your workforce [and family] being dead, keeping the community alive and replacing all the lost resources that losing most of its fighting population results in. This will be hard to do in a resource poor world [if you consider population as a resource].
+
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/Motley.jpg
  
−
*The concept is fairly different to 'normal' [in the loosest sense] D&D, in that the characters start with a vital objective [save the village] and a resource poor environment to do it in [no high levels, no magic traders]. The community itself becomes the 'treasure' and the characters need to defend it from bands of looting orcs, various baddies and other adventurers... and the replacement of people in a small community is a long term objective, inclined to tie the party to one area.
+
For a rough sense of scale, it is 50 miles [82km]as the crow flies between Motley and MiddleMount.  
  
 +
Major Features.
 +
*'''The Burned Mounts.''' These low mountains burst into flame during the Moons Tear. Their people and places are forgotten.
 +
*'''The Bad Lands''' Mostly desert and patches of fused sand, there are oases and patches of seasonal green in this dry land. Temperatures vary considerably on this high, wasted plateau but run to the chilly, and only the various warm blooded saurian species seem to thrive there.
 +
*'''The Savior Mounts'''. High and jagged mountains that are impassible at all but two points, both treacherous. These mounts protected the river valley and places beyond from the direct effects of the moons tear, and have provided a barrier to the strange creatures that have grown in the Bad Lands since.
 +
*'''The Lesser Sea''' A warm and shallow ocean protected by landforms and island chains from global currents. Home to much of the Eastmarches wealth and the trade route to the Lesser Isles [a collection of large and small island colonies] and Moonburn [the last true Citie].
 +
*'''The KarstFells''' a former Holding of a minor Power, the KarstFells were an idealised expression of an UnderEarth wonderland. After the Moon's Tear and the fading of the old powers, the place settled into a more natural ecology, both on the surface and underearth. Many of the slave creatures and exhibits have reverted to their old gods and ways, and many odd, dangerous things haunt the Fells.
  
−
==Gods and the Rude Pantheon==
+
==A map of Odd Arbage==
−
The relationship between mortals and gods is fundamentally different in this campaign.
 
−
The Grand and High Powers planted their heels firmly on the neck of many deities, great and small, during their increasingly insane reign. Some, like Pelor, Ehlonna and Boccob, who's existence is woven into the make of the world, were supressed into little more than their earthly manifestations [Sun, woods and magic]. Others, like Lolth and Yondalla, were enslaved. Some fled and hid, some were killed. All were humbled.
 
−
When Bahamut fell and the Winds stilled, the world paused...and one of his semi divine sons took the mantle of Bahamut. The magical and philosophical implications of this are still being fought out in the hearts of mortals and Outsiders alike.
 
  
−
Only the primal forces of Nature and the Middle Way endured unchanged as their existence was the canvas on which the Powers made their marks. The Old Ways, woven into the interdependence of existence, were only in danger near the end, when the Powers began to claw down existence and were flattened by nudging the Wheel. As those clerics who have had [oddly frank] divine messages answered can attest to, the Moon's Tear had a number of effects across all the planes, all fatal to the powers and their ilk - and many others besides. Apparently, Hell and the Abyss are pretty much empty.
+
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbage.jpg
  
−
The Gods of the Rude Pantheon
 
  
−
This is a religion - a new approach to faith between the devout and the Deities that remain. Inspired by Caeran Twiceborn, who died and lived again after talking with the god of Death, who was a god without a name. Returning to life is not unknown, but returning after a year and a day is.
+
Just a little picture of Arbage. fully brown buildings are covered longhouses. The others generally have gardens and reflect three or four odd styles from around the races/cultures settled since the Moons Tear.
−
The story from there is long and involved, but the part crucial to the church is the compact it promises between gods and mortals - namely that gods will strive together to ceate a better world as mortals must. Old emnities are not part of the Church's way, and the
 
−
"Rude Pantheon" is called so with understanding of it's possible interpretations.
 
  
−
In practical terms, the Rude Pantheon is a collection of the remnants of the gods of another age...and the few who have arisen since the Moon's Tear.
+
There is not a lot of fine detail, but brown = mostly wood, grey = stone and black=Grand Age Architecture [read: unbreakable.] The black dots near the deepwater groyne are spikes that never move or wear.
−
There are many other Gods and semidivine beings, but they are generally unimportant in the area.
 
  
−
==The Gods and goddesses that remain.==
+
Old Odd is the centre of the village, despite being smaller. It is here you will find the market once a week, and the few buildings devoted to anything other than living and working.
−
All deities except for Crom cruach are from the 3.5 greyhawk campaign, so theres a pile of information on them out there if you need it.
 
  
−
All the Gods and goddesses of the rude Pantheon are in bold. The Church is built around a combination of romanesque local god acquisition and the practicalities of both mortal and divinity surviving the age of Powers.
+
Families and clans: [on average, a family will be 5 people, a clan 10] total population is usually 675 or so.  
−
a note on the condition of Gods.
 
  
−
A [[Returning God]] is one who was suppressed during the reign of the Powers. Their influence in the world is now far more embedded in what they represent, with much less free will.
+
* 24 clans of Local folk [Olive skinned, brown hair and eyes. The 'average' human]
 +
** 15 fishing clans, devoted to various aspects of gathereing ocean harvests.
 +
** 8 farming clans, devoted to a mix of hillside and bottomland farming.
 +
** 1 Milling clan, devoted to the growth, grinding and baking of grains.
  
−
A [[Broken God]]is one who was used and abused in some manner by the Powers. most have suffered power loss and permanent disabling/crippling injuries of some sort. they cannot really be worshipped with any regular expectation of help, but provide a general amount of power for clerics of a pantheon [such as the rude Pantheon]to draw upon.
+
* 6 clans of Mountain folk [Fairer skinned, tending to blondes and redheads] From the North and the Lee Plateaus.
 +
**4 Herding clans, devoted to cattle, sheep and goats, the production of dairy, and butchering.
 +
**2 Orcharding clans, devoted to the growth of cooler fruits, Olives, and oil production.
  
−
A [[Dead God]] is just that - gone from the world. you will not that no major god is truly dead - someone/thing has taken their place.
+
*3 clans of Elderfolk [smaller, nore nimble]. Originally from the Great Sylan Lords parklands.
−
more minor deities tend not to have as well defined a portfolio for some ambitious demibeing to occupy.
+
**1 Forestry clan, devoted to the management of the local woods and creatures therein.
 +
**1 Fishing clan, involved in pearl of shell and dye-making, as well as exotic sea goods.
 +
**1 Farming/gathering clan, devoted to the gathering of wild growth foods, herbs and spices.
  
−
Lords of Law Major
+
* 2 Families of Underfolk. [from the Fells]
 +
**1 Ponyriders clan, Devoted to the breeding, training and use of forest ponies, donkeys and Mules.
 +
**1 farming/fishing clan, devoted to subsistance living and labour for hire.
  
−
* '''Bahamut''' [G] Wind Cold (Metal Dragons). Was killed and 're embodied' in one of his sons.
+
* 8 clans of Andermen [short, rounder, healthy] Originally from the Fells.
−
* '''Heironeous''' [G] Chivalry, valor, war. A Broken God.
+
**1 Ponyriders/Houndbreeders clan, devoted to the breeding, raising and selling of ponies and hounds.
−
* '''Hextor''' [E] Tryranny, conflict, fitness to rule. A Broken God.
+
**3 Fishing clans, devoted mainly to shoreline and river/pond/lake fishing and the finding of exotic water foods.
−
These brothers, while they have not set aside their viewpoints, now have a truce of compact.  
+
**4 Crafting clans, mainly in timbers and ropes.
−
* Kurtulmak [E] Traps, (Kobolds). A Silent God, unheard from since the time of Powers.
 
−
* '''Moradin''' [G] Smithing, building (Dwarves-once). A returned God. Dwarves refuse to worship him.
 
−
* Tiamat [E] Conquest, Trickery (Chromatic Dragons). A broken Goddess. Her worshippers now only gain divine aid through blood relation.
 
−
* '''Wee Jas''' [N] Death, magic, vanity. Scarred and enslaved by the powers, she is now the Goddess of Death only, and consort to the unnamed god of Afterlife.
 
−
* '''Yondalla'''[G] Protection, exploration (Halflings). A Broken Goddess.
 
  
−
Lesser
+
* 1 Family of Undersea folk [from the Fells]
 +
**Fishing clan, devoted to deep sea fishing and working with Dolphins.
  
−
* Cyndor[N] Time, the infinite. Dead - the post is now filled by a league of Outsiders
+
* 6 Families of Old Northerner Folk.
−
* Delleb[G] Scribes, writing, study, lore. Dead, though many strive to fill this position.
+
**1 Crafters family, working in Iron and Wood, leather and other, more exotic goods.
−
* Osprem[N] Ships, sea voyages, sailors. A returned God, now considered fickle. Proprietry worship only.
+
**1 Archers clan, devoted to the making of bows and accessories, their instruction, use and hunting skills.
−
* '''Pholtus'''[G] Light, Order, Stability, steadfastness. Dead. A Solar of odd heritage holds this 'post'
 
−
* '''Rao'''[G] Peace, serenity, inner knowing [monks] Dead and returned. One of he few gods to come through the time of Powers with inner honor intact.
 
−
* Wastri[N] Animals, bigotry, purification. Gave himself to the Old Ways as is now part of their 'pantheon'
 
  
−
Circle of Nature Major
+
* 2 clans of Islanders [big,strong]
 +
**1 fishing clan, devoted to deep water runs and whale hunting.
 +
**1 Herding clan, devoted to goats and high mountain sheep.
  
−
* '''Boccob''' [N] Knowledge, Magic. A Broken god, enslaved and drained by the Powers.
+
* 1 clan of Otter Folk.[small, nimble,semi-aquatic]
−
* Crom Cruach [N] Darkness, earth, stealth, trickery. Something awoken by the Deepfolk during the time of Powers, a grim, silent goddess who survived by never being anywhere.
+
**Devoted to deep diving and pearl of shell gathering.
−
* '''Ehlonna''' [G] Nature, forests, fertility, flora/fauna.(Humans). A returned goddess.
 
−
* Fharlanghn [N] Roads, travel, trade. Dead.
 
−
* '''Garl Glitter Gold''' [G] Humor, wisdom, trickery. The other God to survive without betraying his nature, Garl played a dangerous game of high Drama cat and mouse with the Powers most decadent and most in need of amusement . He is now the prime dwarf god...
 
−
* '''Nerull''' [E] Underworld, crimes, murder. A broken God, made blind.
 
−
* Obod-Hai [N] Nature, Freedom, hunting, animals.(Humans). A formerly enslaved God, broken to the demands of the Powers to service their creations. Now a suspicious, lonely and haunted version of himself.
 
−
* '''Pelor''' [G] The Sun, Light, Healing. A returned God, whose special place as ruler is now reduced to humble tasks.
 
−
* Vecna [E] Secrets, intrigue. A Broken god, literally a twisted Shadow of its former self.
 
  
−
Lesser
+
* 1 family of Helleas [Bred as servants to the Powers]
 +
**Devoted to healing and herbs/spice gathering. Also, inverventions with house and evil spirits.
  
−
* Bralm[N] Insects and industry. Broken and twisted to many tasks. Now beyond the reach of all but a few followers of the Old Way.
+
* 2 clans of Bladhamers. [short,broad,muscular, tireless]
−
* Celestian[N] Astronomy, Wanderers. Dead. His dying was cruel and long.
+
**1 shale gathering clan, devoted to the gathering, shaping and use of high quality shale and slate.
−
* Geshtai[N] rivers and lakes. Broken and enslaved, now a haunting echo confined to magic gifts over or in water.
+
**1 Fishing clan, devoted to deep water and shoreline netting.
−
* Incubalos[E] Plague, famine, disaster. Dead. His sphere is contested by foul things of the outer planes.
 
−
* Istus[N] Destiny, the future, foretelling. A Returned God, now considered fickle.
 
−
* Joramy[N] Volcanoes, wrath. Dead.
 
−
* Moquol[N] Trade and negotiation. Dead
 
−
* Pyremius[E] assassins, poison, fire. Dead
 
−
* Tharizdun [E] Insanity, destruction. Dead
 
−
* Xan Yae [N] shadows and stealth. Dead
 
−
* Zuoken[N] Mental power, inner strength [monks] Dead
 
  
−
Courts of Chaos: Major
+
* 1 clan of Bacchae. [tall, charming, lacking wisdom]
 +
**Devoted to the production of wines and ciders, the growing and grafting of grapes and apples.
  
−
* '''Corellon Larethian''' [G/N] Arts, Music, Magic. (Elves) A partly enslaved and broken god who survived by dissappearing into their spheres of influence. Now darker in attitude.
+
* 9 'Mixed' clans - open to joining by outsiders without marriage or blood ties, unlike a normal clan or family. Vitally important to the social fabric of Motley and the whole Lee Kingdoms, these 'mixed' clans gave the homeless and lost a sense of place and belonging in the days after the moons tear.
−
* Erythrul [E] War, frenzy, slaughter, panic. Broken and enslaved. This god is now near mindless and lends only the powers that bear his name.
+
120 years of tradition have cemented them into the social fabric alongside family or 'blood' clans.
−
* '''Gruumsh''' [E] War, territory, leadership. (Orc kind) Now blind, crippled and forced to depend on others.
+
**The workers clan. a collection of small families who work mainly for others.
−
* Kord [G] Strength, courage, fitness. [monks] Dead. A human with mighty relics of the god stands in his stead.
+
**The fishers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the sea.
−
* Lolth [E] Darkness, spiders, deceit (Dark Elves). Broken and enslaved.  
+
**The Landers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the land.
 +
**The Inn clan. Runs the local Inn/townhouse.
 +
**The Militia clan. Maintains and supports the watchtowers, their gardens and foodstores, weapons and provisions.
 +
**The Crafters clan. An unofficial clan made up of all practicing craftmasters without immediate clan ties, and their families.
 +
**The Citadel clan. Another unofficial clan. Composed of the knight, his family and entourage, their families and hangers on.
 +
**The Temple. All the associated folk who run and maintain the Temple of the Rude Pantheon.
 +
**The New Temple. All the folk who are associated with the Temple of the Child of Light.
 +
**The Old Temple. All the folk associated with the outdoor temple to the Old Ways.
 +
**The Clan Marine. A local version of the Militia clans common to the kingdom.The local version requires decent boating skills.  
  
−
Lesser
+
The citadel is made of logs. Here is a map of sorts.
  
−
* Beltar[E] Malice, caves. Dead
+
==A map of Odd Manor==
−
* Iuz[E] Deceit Dead
 
−
* Llir[G] Poetry and the Arts. Insane.
 
−
* '''Llerg[N]''' Beasts, nature. Broken
 
−
* '''Procan'''[N] Oceans, seas, water. Broken and enslaved.
 
−
* Telchur[N] Cold, winter.
 
−
* '''Tritherion'''[G] Individuality, Liberty. Broken.
 
  
 +
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbagemanor.jpg
  
−
Religion, like other things, goes through cycles. The current cycle in
+
=[[Nearby Places and Facts]]=

Latest revision as of 10:29, 21 April 2012


The Motley Crew: Campaign Background[edit]

Welcome to Cinnibar and Odd Arbage, a Provincial rivermouth town and Village port, respectively. They are located at the end of the world in a Dark age. You are the crew of the Motley a ship of indeterminate size but enough heart for bold adventures in an age of Bronze and Iron.

Campaign Setup[edit]

This is the wiki page for the campaign setting of The Motley Crew, an odd band cast into dangerous times at the end of the world.

Countless (450) years ago, a piece of the moon fell from the sky and destroyed the Great Powers, who had grown decadent and dangerous. You are the descendents of their servants, subjects and pets.

This is a Bronze Age setting with limited magic, where Iron is slowly altering the way magic is used. Most gods are now silent in the world.

The known lands are filled with humans of many different cultures and races. There are other, stranger creatures and peoples on the fringes of the world.

The people of your home areas are civilized and live as part of a larger Empire. However, your local area has seen three empires in the last 200 years and is still here.

Characters and Players[edit]

Ineya Boat people girl. Played by Jarulf

Sithalkes, son of Teres A Warrior from the high valleys of the Lees, played by Asen_G

Logan the seaborne A man with no past, played by t@nya.

Malie Hinapouri 'Shark in the dark of the moon'. A spirit Warrior from the Islands==, played by Bulya.

  • Chalkine
  • Max

Character creation

Equipment[edit]

We are using Price Listsfrom Griffin Island.

for a more expanded list, use [1], Duncan Ianin MacLeod's excellent website. If prices clash, go with griffin mountain.


Starting Gear[edit]

Assuming an average level of wealth

  • 100silver +200silver in goods
  • An average outfitting of weapons and non metal armour.
  • If your profession pushed you higher up the social scale, this increases.

For instance, Bulya's character was a spirit-warrior of the Shark, so will have access to to metal armour.

  • Anyone can voluntarily up their social standing pre-game, as long as you can justify it. A crafter might have a small workshop in Odd...or be the head of a coral/pearl/shell trading empire and be living in one of the big houses near the citadel.

Once you've set your status, though, you will need to support it. Being poor has its advantages for adventurers.

Setting[edit]

Languages[edit]

  • There is a trade Argot , though it doesnt rise above 50% + mod.
  • The base language for motley would be Gott, with a lot of people speaking the elder tongue.
  • Low and high Gault are the languages of the Empire - Low Gault and Gott are related (half chance to understand the other)
  • Islander is totally unrelated to any other language nearby.

The Shallow Seas Ocean Daughter[edit]

The Mother Ocean has many daughters and they are the seas of the world. In the shallow seas they call her daughter The Rainbow Daughter. She is the mother of all the corals and creatures that call the place home.

There are many spirits within her realm, but they define themselves by their relationship to her. Deep ocean has other spirits. Islands each have a spirit and the people who llive there need to acknowledge them.

Rainbow Daughter has two lovers - the sun and the clouds. When she is with one, the other rages. Her many children are the animals and humans that live on or in her.

History[edit]

The Grand and Terrible Age

When the Grand and High Powers finally fell to arrogance and insane magics in the Great Age, they took much of the Light out of the world.

  • Whole peoples, lands, spirits and divine beings became pieces and pawns in their elaborate, ritual wars and amusements.
  • They bent time and space, plane and cosmos to their bidding, summoning Eldritch horrors to their own amusements, stocking and populating grand territories with their own creations.
  • They violated ancient and divine precepts and slaughtered their avengers.
  • They began to bring change to the very fibre of reality to accommodate their increasing perversities.

The Great Wheel finally turned. So much so that the Moon, it’s mother, spun a tear from the sky to finally quell the Grand and High Powers.

The Grand and High Powers, in their arrogance unrepentant, were destroyed in a Light that decimated the Known lands.


The Moons Burn.

Completely destroyed every Grand or High Power, any offspring, anything that contained any of their essence or fragment of their spirit. It reached across all the known worlds at the same time and even into the infinite. All trace of the Powers ceased to be.

The Tear of the Moon fell on the heart of the Powers Empire and destroyed half the world - leaving behind huge, glassy wastelands surrounded by desert or desolate badlands.

Only in places like Land Ends, where tall mountain ranges absorbed and deflected the worst of the Moons Burn, did people survive. Even here, great storms boiled overhead, thier rain and lightning seeking out and destroying any trace of the Grand and High Powers.

History begins

Things that were not part of the Powers survived the Moons Burn if they were not touched by the great burning light directly. This included people. Most of the survivors were servants of the Powers, their pets or slaves, unwitting or otherwise. With all the great wonders and everyday magics of the Powers gone, most peoples fell to barbarism or reverted to more primitive lifestyles. Here and there, cities or estates held on to enough knowledge and civilisation to use metals and mills and keep some of the old skills alive. Most of these places, like Motley, have a similar history, holding on to enough of a civilization to weather the Storm and the chaos afterwards.

Recent history That was a long time ago as the Sages tell it, in the lives of long dead ancestors. Those who count say it's been 442 solar years.

But the world still feels small this side of the mountains that saved the remnant populations of the hundreds of different types of subject peoples, left behind when the Grand and High powers were consumed and used to rebalance the world.

Illis is an isolated citadel and market town and has been for nearly 200 years - although two Kingdoms and three Empires have come and gone, Illis has been Illis through all of it. The same with Odd Arbage, one of several villages and clans owing loyalty to Illis. It is a Cliffside fishing town and deepwater port, home, like Illis, do well over a dozen clans and bloodlines from the last age. It has a small Keep and residing Captain, three shrines and a small collection of houses and homes. It is also home to the adventurers.

The area is ruled by the Illisian Prince, now Governor and Marshall of Eastport - a title that has changed hands more than once. The current Prince hopes to establish a legacy, but then so did the last three.

Between them, the Town and Villages provide shelter for 4 000 souls, and support the surrounding 15 000 who work the land and sea. The province is sheltered between the Saviour Mounts to the East and North and the Karstfells to the West, and has very little flat, open land, except around the rivermouth. Odd Arbage sits East the mouth of the Aird river, which flows North and East through rugged, unnavigable twists and turns, all the way to the Lee Plateaus and the Republic of which Illis is currently a far-flung arm.

Not that it is an ignored subject - the fisherfolk bring in exotic Southern fish and other things, dyes and shells the sell well in the north. The same with the local fruit and root crops - all have a market far away, which means coin and exotic goods, and the folk of Illis grow barley and wheat enough only for their own needs. Even the peasants do well by Republican standards.

Add the small but steady merchant ship traffic that ventures into Odd Arbage from the Border colonies or Manii to the west, and the place is fairly cosmopolitan for a village of 650 odd.

Technology:[edit]

No Stirrups, no shipboard weapons.

Mature Bronze Age (Early Iron).

The civilized nations of Land Ends (and a few less civil) have built themselves around Bronze. Both Tin and Copper can be found locally and traded for fairly easily. Iron is available but until recently has been hard to find...many Powers had Iron mines that are now unstable or unworkable and any readily available source was too poor in quality. The Empire of the Lee Plateau (which has no name at present and only a vague political structure) has recently begun producing more Iron, mainly for infantry and heavy Cavalry.

The many, many barbarian and nomad tribes are generally able to buy or make some bronze, but a lot of it is acquired through trophy.

Some more primitive cultures don't use metal at all, especially ones isolated from general cultural contact.

Ships

As far as ships go, you are looking at single masted square rigged galleys, smaller lateen rigged coastal traders and single mast fishing boats as your most advanced ships. No wheel and rudder mechanisms and oars rule for speed. You'd rarely spend more than a night away from shore and most ships beach or layover at night. well known trade routes are the exception to this.


Magic use.

  • Must always have a POW of 15 - it it drops below this, magic ties are lost.
  • Iron effects all magic - a human can have contact with only a limited amount before it begins to disrupt it.
  • There is Spirit (or Common or Hedge) magic, but it is restricted to Members of Magical or Spiritual orders, commonly known as Low Magic.

This is the magic of Craft Guilds, Religious Orders, Barbarian warrior Lodges, witches and Warlocks, apothecary and Herbalist. Bards and initiates gain this sort of magic.

In the past it was more common. Part of its decline may be attributed to increased Iron usage.

  • Divine Magic is gained through the worship of and bargaining with divine forces. Only priests and champions may wield it. Druid types, too.
  • Spirit Magic is obtained through bargaining with spirits and only occasionally involves learning spells. More often, you have allied or bound spirits.
  • Sorcery Confined to the literate, must be learned from Grimoires.

I'll decide which books magic to use once people start creating their PC's.

Non Humans. Humans make up the peoples of Land Ends. There are many different kinds of people, some altered by powers in the past to be servants, pieces of Art or pets.

There are, however, many, many other sentient folk, though non human. Most are hybrids, like Centaurs and Satyrs - a mixture of human and animal forms.

There are Sauri, however - sentient creatures descended from the dragons. The two most common types are Saurians (lizardfolk), a generally savage people who inhabit warm, desert lands and Newtlings, who live along rivers and in swamps.

There are the giants and their descendents, too. They were common as the brute force component of a Powers lands or holdings, and their descendants plague the less hospitable parts of the world.

Most other sentients fall into the category of embodied forces from other planes of existence, from elementals to The Kind Folk to Gods and their servants.

These many, many races tend to exist away from human society or on its fringes - most have learned that humans make poor neighbours.

Themes[edit]

The Coming of Iron.[edit]

Iron has previously been a scarce metal, found either as relics of the great Age [in various forms of steel] or as bloom iron, pounded into wrought iron or layered steel. The Powers had Many uses for Iron in the past and have mined all but the meanest sources.

Iron affects magic. A little makes it unstable, a lot disrupts it entirely. Steel can be the same, but is sometimes a conduit for magic force instead. The hows and whys of this were known to the Powers, but that knowledge is yet to be regained.

I'd like to have a variety of different magic types in the game, based around systems from BRP, Legend and Runequest Three. Their relative rarity is up to you.


Magic Types[edit]

Possible magic types are:

Innate Magic

These are the inner magics of true skill that set heroes apart without them being spellcasters.

  • Natural Magic - Talented (skill % based).

Talents are skill based and each skill has a talent. Some people are born with a Talent, even before they master it and these are known as Birth talents. Some people develop a talent for a skill after years of practice (95%+ in the skill) These are known as Masteries.

  • Gifted Attribute.

Similarly, some people have Gifted Attributes - the warrior who always pulls off feats of strength, the scholar who can will an obscure piece of knowledge out of their memory, the tracker who can run all night. Each attribute can be taken as gifted.

  • Maximum umber of Talents and Gifted Attributes.

Each Gift/Talent takes up a point of your Int, in the same way spirit magic or Sorcery does. The three aren't eclusive, So a PC with Int 15, three talents and two gifted attributes has ten points available to memorise Low magic or Sorcery spells.

  • How to use Talents and Gifts

Talents/Gifts consume 1MP per 10% difference between a skill roll (or attribute test) and a desired result. Adding a special success (or a x 1 result for an attribute check) costs +3 pts over and above the % cost to reduce the roll to that level of success. Adding a critical success coss +6 pts.

  • Talents are used before a roll is made. MP cost is worked out after the roll is made.

For Gifted attributes: Attribute Tests fall into two types, Resistance rolls (Att vs some other force) and Characteristic rolls (Attribute x One to five gives degree of success)

MP's are consumed at the rate of 1 per 5% change on the resistance table or 1 per 10% reduction in a characteristic roll, +3MP for Attribute x1

Note: Talents and gifts are not considered magical, so magic hating types can still have them.

Magic schools.[edit]

Magical Talent

Only people with a Talent in a magical skill can use magic. The skill might be Worship Rude Pantheon, Low Magic, Sorcerous Art or something more specific.

This makes magic rare...you are either born to it or get there after great effort.

If you actually want to be talented in a magical skill, you need to use up two talents to do so - one to have magical talent, one to be talented in it.

Low or Common Magic

Learned from particular Backgrounds and Professions.

There are Six Subtypes or traditions of common magic:

  • Battle/Hunt
  • Craft/Hearth
  • Spirit
  • Elemental
  • Wild
  • Common

These are purely cultural and anyone who can learn Low Magic can (in theory) learn any spell.

You may learn spells up to your Int in points. (Minus any Talents or gifted Attributes).

Divine

Divine magic as per RQIII, but tied to Pantheons. Through sacrifice of permanent POW, you build a 'Divine reservoir' which you fill out from the pantheons spells. These can be changed each time you pray for renewal, which will be daily or hourly depending on your rank. Divine ranks require high POW - 15 for Acolytes, 18 for full priests. Acolytes can only memorise 1/4 of their POW in spells, Priests 1/2.

  • Three Pantheons:
    • Rude Pantheon. A pragmatic Divine order with links to many diverse survivor gods, who have formed a survival compact with Mortal Races. Priests of the order form temporary bargains with gods in return for fulfilling divine requirements.
    • Church of the Child. A variety of Orders with one link - the Child of Light, who reincarnates in a mortal form once every generation. The teachings of the different Children have led to a multiplicity of different Sects and Orders.
    • The Old Ways Druids, Bards, Lawspeakers, Smiths, rangers and witches, warlocks and old Earth gods.
  • Can also worship in cults to individual gods.
  • Can also be gained in limited ways from other traditions and guilds, who have patrons.
    • The Harpers Hall, The Guild of Sages, Philosophical Orders, , etc.
    • These are semi divine orders, often with only a few divine spells.

Sorcery

Could be MRQII Sorcery or BRP/Basic fantasy magic.

  • Sorcery is the study of a Sorcerous Art (to manipulate spells). There are many. Each Sorcerous Art allows you to cast spells from Grimoires of that type.
  • Sorcerors must also learn specific Grimoires to gain access to a group of related spells.

Many schools of sorcery are confined to very specific effects.

The Different Folk of Land Ends[edit]

  • Different breeds of human inhabit Land Ends - this often leads to humans having different baseline Attributes from normal. The common types in the area are mentioned, but there may be others.
  • Folk of Illis
  • Valley/Sea folk(local)Golts or Gelts - Std
  • Mountain Folk: Gaults or Goltish (locals) - Std (From the Lees Plateau)
  • Wood folk: Gern or Cern (locals) - Std

The above make up 80% of the population.

  • Sylvan folk: Bacchae or Woses. -2 Int, +2 Con and Cha (from the elder woods - Relics)
  • Elder Folk:Limnis. -3 Str, Siz, Con. +3 Int, Pow.(from the elder woods - Relics)
  • Andermen: -3 Siz.(from the Fells. Minor race.)
  • Helleas: -3 Str, Con. +3 Pow,Cha. (old slave race)
  • Islanders: Vanu or Piri : +2 Str and Siz. (from across the seas)
  • Bladhamers: -6 Siz, +3 Con. (old Servant race)
  • Goblins: Heabog or Snauk: -3 Str, Siz. +3 Dex. (from the Fells)
  • There are many non-human races or oddities in the area - generally creations of the great powers.

Other well known folk of Lands End

  • Republic of the Lees is the formal title of the Leelander Republic. The population is mainly Goltish or Gaults, but there is a minor race of Fenlings along the coast of the Shallows.

Fenlings -4 Siz, Str, +2 Con, Dex. Semi-Aquatic, excellent swimmers.

  • The Haut: Haut were a Powers idealised nomad guard. They still reside in the area sculpted for them before the Fall.

These days, there are two breeds of Haut - the old Kloos or Dragon Haut and the New Clans, who make up 80% of the population.

Old Haut: +1 Str, Siz, Con. New Clans: -2 Siz, +2 Con.

All humans can still interbreed, so they are Races. Old Haut dont...they try to keep their bloodline pure. There are only 10 000 or so left. They are idealised nomadic barbarian horseman, not really fit for the practicalities of true steppe living. Everything about them is too big. Their mounts are too large, too hungry, their technology and weaponry require too much metal and they are large, not compact people. They have survived through acting as a warrior clan for the New Clans. The new Clans are survivors who came to the Haut for help and knowledge after the Fall. They are mainly local races, interbred with the now extinct plains folk and the few Haut who sire bastards.

Most border cultures (Primitive peoples, desert nomads, border States) will be standard human.

Raft People These encompass several closely related groups of people, with a shared heritage as an experiment from one of the more benevolent High Powers. They can be divided in two very broad groups, the settled ones and the semi-nomadic ones. The settled groups live on the islands and on small villages made up of a crazy maze of rafts, small boats and stilt homes. They are poor people but trade some with neigbouring lands, mostly various forms of fish and other sea food, sponges and pearls. Their economy has slowly improved over the last few decades. The nomadic groups follow different sholes of desired fish depending on the season. Small groups of a few families often band together but no groups would exceed more than two or three families. Once a year they all try to head back to their cousins for the great ceremonies and markets that are becoming increasingly important in keeping cultural continuity between the two groups. This is a time of trade, marriage negotiations, tall tales and so on.

Both groups are peaceful, though the settled folks are becoming increasingly aware that they present a target for both slavers and raiders. Many of their barge towns have become too complex to easily untangle for a quick escape.

They often have great stamina and peculiar powers related to their life style, such as being able to hold their breath far longer than most people, swimming deeper into the ocean and so on. Some say they can even communicate with dolphins and sing with whales. Some reportedly have finely scaled skin and webbed hands and feet, though that may just be rumours.

The Shallow seas (Ill have to put that back on the map) receive the full blast of the warm Western current. The reef shown is coral and the sheltered areas teem with tropical marine life. The sea should be dotted with tiny islands, reefs, atolls, giant kelp beds, etc. These people hunt sharks and giant crabs in the shallows and whales along the continental shelf.

The Folk of Seven Forms

These are the generally accepted sentient 'Races' or cultures, according to accepted knowledge in Land Ends. All are considered to be rare and exotic, living for the most part away from humans. They are each associated with a Form rune and the man/folk rune.

  • The Shee. People of the Spirit. A range of large to small, light and subtle folk, long lived and tied to the Spirit Runes.
  • The Kin. People of the Folk/man rune. Humans in all their wondrous variety.
  • The Saurii. People of the Dragon. A range of giant to small, long lived hardy folk, tied to the Dragon Runes.
  • The Taurii. People of the Wild. A range of Large to small hybrid folk embodying beast and human forms. Tied to the Beast Runes.
  • The Huldre. People of the Green. A range of giant to tiny folk with plant based attributes. Tied to the Plant Runes.
  • The Dverger. People of the Land. A range of giant to small, strong and durable folk, long lived and tied to the Primal Runes.
  • The Nerii, People of the Waters. A range of colossal to small aquatic beings, tied to the Water Runes. They're not counted among the Six Forms because land dwellers don't usually have much interaction with them, lacking any common language or medium of communication, since air breathers can't speak in water and vice versa, just to begin with.

Local Knowledge[edit]

A Map of Land Ends[edit]

Land Ends is an East Facing Strip along the border of the continent. The area pictured is in the 40 degree north equivalent latitudes. The East Side experiences a mild Maritime climate, the area around the Lesser Sea a more Mediterranean climate. The Eastmarch Valley is a Temperate Seasonal climate.

There are scattered, semi nomadic peoples to the West and South of the EastMarch, across the Sea to the Lonely Shores there are Saurian Tribes. The Elder Wood is home to several small nations, including a grand City-State on the shores of the Lesser Sea. The towns near Irdis deep are all independent and involved in petty wars.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/MegamapII-1.jpg

A map of Motley and the EastMarch[edit]

The Eastmarch lies in a Wet Mediterranean climate zone, with long dry Summers, stormy and wet Autums and Winters that only bring snow to mountainous areas, though they will be wet in the lowlands. Frosts are confined to the highlands, so there are two different growing seasons for two types of produce. Local vegetable and fruit production is pretty much continuous over the seasons and the area has a diverse food base, enough so that famines are rare.

The Eastmarch produces: Exotic citrus, grapes and wines, apples and cider, olives and olive oil, 'southern' fish, pearl of shell, purple and blue dyes, inks, high grade shale, southern hardwoods and herbs/spices. Local wheat and barley/rye only.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/Motley.jpg

For a rough sense of scale, it is 50 miles [82km]as the crow flies between Motley and MiddleMount.

Major Features.

  • The Burned Mounts. These low mountains burst into flame during the Moons Tear. Their people and places are forgotten.
  • The Bad Lands Mostly desert and patches of fused sand, there are oases and patches of seasonal green in this dry land. Temperatures vary considerably on this high, wasted plateau but run to the chilly, and only the various warm blooded saurian species seem to thrive there.
  • The Savior Mounts. High and jagged mountains that are impassible at all but two points, both treacherous. These mounts protected the river valley and places beyond from the direct effects of the moons tear, and have provided a barrier to the strange creatures that have grown in the Bad Lands since.
  • The Lesser Sea A warm and shallow ocean protected by landforms and island chains from global currents. Home to much of the Eastmarches wealth and the trade route to the Lesser Isles [a collection of large and small island colonies] and Moonburn [the last true Citie].
  • The KarstFells a former Holding of a minor Power, the KarstFells were an idealised expression of an UnderEarth wonderland. After the Moon's Tear and the fading of the old powers, the place settled into a more natural ecology, both on the surface and underearth. Many of the slave creatures and exhibits have reverted to their old gods and ways, and many odd, dangerous things haunt the Fells.

A map of Odd Arbage[edit]

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbage.jpg


Just a little picture of Arbage. fully brown buildings are covered longhouses. The others generally have gardens and reflect three or four odd styles from around the races/cultures settled since the Moons Tear.

There is not a lot of fine detail, but brown = mostly wood, grey = stone and black=Grand Age Architecture [read: unbreakable.] The black dots near the deepwater groyne are spikes that never move or wear.

Old Odd is the centre of the village, despite being smaller. It is here you will find the market once a week, and the few buildings devoted to anything other than living and working.

Families and clans: [on average, a family will be 5 people, a clan 10] total population is usually 675 or so.

  • 24 clans of Local folk [Olive skinned, brown hair and eyes. The 'average' human]
    • 15 fishing clans, devoted to various aspects of gathereing ocean harvests.
    • 8 farming clans, devoted to a mix of hillside and bottomland farming.
    • 1 Milling clan, devoted to the growth, grinding and baking of grains.
  • 6 clans of Mountain folk [Fairer skinned, tending to blondes and redheads] From the North and the Lee Plateaus.
    • 4 Herding clans, devoted to cattle, sheep and goats, the production of dairy, and butchering.
    • 2 Orcharding clans, devoted to the growth of cooler fruits, Olives, and oil production.
  • 3 clans of Elderfolk [smaller, nore nimble]. Originally from the Great Sylan Lords parklands.
    • 1 Forestry clan, devoted to the management of the local woods and creatures therein.
    • 1 Fishing clan, involved in pearl of shell and dye-making, as well as exotic sea goods.
    • 1 Farming/gathering clan, devoted to the gathering of wild growth foods, herbs and spices.
  • 2 Families of Underfolk. [from the Fells]
    • 1 Ponyriders clan, Devoted to the breeding, training and use of forest ponies, donkeys and Mules.
    • 1 farming/fishing clan, devoted to subsistance living and labour for hire.
  • 8 clans of Andermen [short, rounder, healthy] Originally from the Fells.
    • 1 Ponyriders/Houndbreeders clan, devoted to the breeding, raising and selling of ponies and hounds.
    • 3 Fishing clans, devoted mainly to shoreline and river/pond/lake fishing and the finding of exotic water foods.
    • 4 Crafting clans, mainly in timbers and ropes.
  • 1 Family of Undersea folk [from the Fells]
    • Fishing clan, devoted to deep sea fishing and working with Dolphins.
  • 6 Families of Old Northerner Folk.
    • 1 Crafters family, working in Iron and Wood, leather and other, more exotic goods.
    • 1 Archers clan, devoted to the making of bows and accessories, their instruction, use and hunting skills.
  • 2 clans of Islanders [big,strong]
    • 1 fishing clan, devoted to deep water runs and whale hunting.
    • 1 Herding clan, devoted to goats and high mountain sheep.
  • 1 clan of Otter Folk.[small, nimble,semi-aquatic]
    • Devoted to deep diving and pearl of shell gathering.
  • 1 family of Helleas [Bred as servants to the Powers]
    • Devoted to healing and herbs/spice gathering. Also, inverventions with house and evil spirits.
  • 2 clans of Bladhamers. [short,broad,muscular, tireless]
    • 1 shale gathering clan, devoted to the gathering, shaping and use of high quality shale and slate.
    • 1 Fishing clan, devoted to deep water and shoreline netting.
  • 1 clan of Bacchae. [tall, charming, lacking wisdom]
    • Devoted to the production of wines and ciders, the growing and grafting of grapes and apples.
  • 9 'Mixed' clans - open to joining by outsiders without marriage or blood ties, unlike a normal clan or family. Vitally important to the social fabric of Motley and the whole Lee Kingdoms, these 'mixed' clans gave the homeless and lost a sense of place and belonging in the days after the moons tear.

120 years of tradition have cemented them into the social fabric alongside family or 'blood' clans.

    • The workers clan. a collection of small families who work mainly for others.
    • The fishers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the sea.
    • The Landers clan. a collection of small families who make their living from the land.
    • The Inn clan. Runs the local Inn/townhouse.
    • The Militia clan. Maintains and supports the watchtowers, their gardens and foodstores, weapons and provisions.
    • The Crafters clan. An unofficial clan made up of all practicing craftmasters without immediate clan ties, and their families.
    • The Citadel clan. Another unofficial clan. Composed of the knight, his family and entourage, their families and hangers on.
    • The Temple. All the associated folk who run and maintain the Temple of the Rude Pantheon.
    • The New Temple. All the folk who are associated with the Temple of the Child of Light.
    • The Old Temple. All the folk associated with the outdoor temple to the Old Ways.
    • The Clan Marine. A local version of the Militia clans common to the kingdom.The local version requires decent boating skills.

The citadel is made of logs. Here is a map of sorts.

A map of Odd Manor[edit]

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/drifterne05/arbagemanor.jpg

Nearby Places and Facts[edit]

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