New Empire

New Empire: Hewn From Dishonor

The Pitch

Fourty years ago: The Sinspawn rose, crawling forth from the dark shadows of the four corners of the world. Like a hellish wave, they descended onto the people of Man, Elf and Dwarf. The Great Alliance beat back the darkness but as soon as the war was won they found themselves fighting their own kind. Warriors, once raised and armed, only wanted to continue their bloody conquests.

An uneasy peace now covers the land. A fragile system of alliances keeps the powers of all in check. In the forests, the Elves sing and hunt. In the lowlands the humans keep the peace and worship their gods. Deep under the mountains the Dwarves toil. And in [insert cool city name here], the house of Emperor falls to ruin. Only one wearing the lost Star Blessed Crown can unseal the royal doors and be proclaimed Prince of All.

Far to the east, at the base of the mountains lies Up-Town. Here the dwarfish outcasts trade with humans and elves and do other work deemed unsuitable for true Dwarves. A rumor flies that the Star Blessed Crown has been seen. Much honor would be restored to the dwarves that found this item. Dwarves, however, are not the only ones searching for the treasure. It is also whispered that the darkness is rising again.

The Story So Far

The adventure started when the Dwarves met a human swordsman by the name of Artuk. He claimed to know where the rumors of the Star Blessed Crown originated. The oathbreakers were about to get the truth out of him when they were interrupted by a noble, High Lord Visthlor of the Red Court and a dragon rider. After a brief confrontation the High Lord left with Artuk.

The party split up to try to learn more about this Visthlor character. Most of the group found a oathbreaker who sold bits and pieces of Sinspawn. An apothecary of evil, if you will. They talked, decided they really didn't get along and left.

Meanwhile, A'ir used his strange magics to turn into a bird and follow the dragon riders. He arrived in time to overhear Artuk tell the riders that he heard of the Crown from his friends Janes in the city of Silara, right before Janes went crazy and killed himself. Then the dragon riders killed Artuk and left riding their fire breathing mounts.

The party reunites at the inn that met Artuk in and shared news. Boblere noticed the innkeeper overhearing their conversation then tried to rough him up a bit. A bar fight started and the party was thrown out on their rear ends. The spent a night in the fields and returned to Up-Town to look for work on a caravan heading towards Silara.

The Characters

Bolbere (Aaron)

Beliefs

• Prince Burik made me swear an oath to ensure the crown came back to him. My banishment ends when the crown rests on Burik’s brow.
• If dwarves were meant to travel the oceans, The Maker would have crafted us with fins and gills. I will not set foot on a boat.
• Sinspawn deserve no foothold in this world. With the help of that sniveling human worm, Gurgan, and the coward Piotr, I will found an army of outcasts to destroy any foothold they may have in this world!
• Oath – I swore to Liaren I would find her upon my discharge and be with her, the laws of our peoples be damned!

Instincts:

• When outnumbered, light the fuse.
• Always be ready for battle.
• When on watch, build munitions.

LPs: Born Artificer -> Ardent -> Soldier Axe Bearer -> Greybeard; Age 77

Stats: Wi B4 (0/1), Pe B5, Po B5, Ft B5, Ag B4, Sp B3

Attributes: Hea B5, Ste B6, Hes 6, MW B11, Circles B2 (0-1-0), Res B0, Greed B2

PTGS: Su B3 Li B5 Mi B7 Se B9 Tr B10 MW B11

Traits: Chuffing (Char), Humility (Char), Healthy (C-O), Landlubber (Dt) (I’ll change this last one if you don’t think we’ll be hitting the water any time soon, but I’d like us to end up crossing the ocean or riding a river or hitting the sea or something)

Skills:

Dwarven Rune Script B2 Fire Building B2 Soothing Platitudes B3 (0/1/0) Forage B2 Axe B4 Throwing B3 Conspicuous B2 Intimidation B2 Field Dressing B5 Command B3 Munitions B3

Circles:

10 pt relationship with Prince Burik, brother of VKM 5 pt relationship (-2 for love, -1 for forbidden) with Swordsinger Liaren of the Elven Protectors

Gear:

Dwarven Arms (Two Light Axes, a Sweet Axe, and an Iron Cased Bomb), Dwarven Chainmail, Dwarven Munitions toolkit, Dwarven Field Dressing kit, Clothes, Travelling Gear, Sturdy Shoes

Gurgan (Geoff)

Avatar of Avarice (Gurgan the Generous)

Concept/Bio: Conniving, greedy Sorceror, known around town for being a generous soul, willing to do favours for the unfortunate. In reality, greedy little conman raising an equally deceptive apprentice, and fully expecting a betrayal. Wants the crown for his own selfish reasons, but expressing an interest in helping these poor, downtrodden Dwarves reclaim their honour. You can trust me!

Beliefs:

• (immediate) I must earn the trust of the Dwarves to gain a foothold in my search. I will ingratiate myself to Bolbere.
• (longterm) The Crown must be worth a pretty penny – I will claim it from the Dwarves.
• (impossible) You know what? I bet if I wore that crown, I could convince the Dwarves to obey me…

Instincts:

• When my apprentice is confronted, let him handle it.
• When confronted physically, use Call of Iron.
• When surprised, stand and drool.

Lifepaths: City Born, Neophyte Sorcerer, Sorcerer, Confidence Man

Age : 28

Stats: Wi: B5, Pe: B4, Po: B4, Fo: B4, Ag: B4, Sp: B4, Speed Mult.: x3.5

Attributes: Ref: B4, Ste: B6, Hes: 5, Hea: B4, MW: B10, Circles: B2, Resources: B2

PTGS: Su: B3 Li: B5 Mi: B7 Se: B8 Tr: B9 Mo: B10

Traits: [Char] Extremely Respectful of Ones Betters, [Dt] Gifted, [Dt] Scheming

Skills:

Enchanting B5 Falsehood B4 Inconspicuous B2 Persuasion B4 Read B2 Research B2 Sorcery B5 Staff B3 Symbology B2 Write B2

Reputations: Minor reputation for generosity in TOWN.

Relationships: My Young Apprentice! (Bodyguard/Squire)

Gear: Clothes and shoes and traveling gear, Staff

Property: Enchanting shop and home in nearby trading TOWN

Spells: Call of Iron (Ob3), Sparkshower (Ob2)

Weapons: Bare Fisted I:B2 M:B4 S:B6 Add 2 VA – Fast Shortest Staff I:B3 M:B5 S:B7 Add 2 VA – Fast Long Two Handed May Great Strike

Filhaarn (Geoff's follower)

Conniving, greedy Neophyte Sorceror, reputation as faithful apprentice to Gurgan.

Beliefs:

• I’ll play along with Gurgan until something better comes along.
• I bet I can convince the Dwarves to turn on Gurgan later on.
• I wonder if I can make Gurgan my bitch…

Instincts:

• Whenever Gurgan casts a spell I don’t know, insist on being taught it at the next opportunity
• If I see an opportunity to claim Gurgan’s work as my own, do so.
• The second I come up with a viable plan to eliminate Gurgan and claim his shop, do so.

Lifepaths: City Born, Neophyte Sorcerer

Age: 18

Stats: Wi: B4, Pe: B4, Po: B4, Fo: B4, Ag: B4, Sp: B4, Speed Mult.: x3.5

Attributes: Ref: B4, Ste: B5, Hes: 6, Hea: B4, MW: B10, Circles: B2, Resources: B0

PTGS: Su: B3 Li: B5 Mi: B7 Se: B8 Tr: B9 Mo: B10

Traits: [Char] Extremely Respectful of Ones Betters, [Dt] Gifted

Skills: Enchanting B2 Falsehood B3 Persuasion B2 Read B2 Research B2 Sorcery B3 Symbology B2 Write B2

Relationships: Relationship with Gurgan the Gullible, Hahahaha.

Gear: Clothes and shoes, Staff

Spells: Call of Iron

Weapons: Bare Fisted I:B2 M:B4 S:B6 Add 2 VA – Fast Shortest Staff I:B3 M:B5 S:B7 Add 2 VA – Fast Long Two Handed May Great Strike

A'ir the Clanless (Dusklighter)

Tainted former Artificer and Runecaster

Beliefs:

• The fates tell me I cannot beging to be considered truly dwarven untill the crown is returned to the clans. I shall use what ever power I must to return it.
• Honour is personal, not granted by others. Everyone has their reasons for thier actions. I have no problem with the so-called honour-less as long as they are true to themselves. I will prove that the “honourless” are not actually so.
• The sorcerer my use blasphemous arts, but such terrible things are what I need to protect my clan. I will learn all he knows.
• I swore to my wife that I would not return until I deserved my beard once more; I will cleanse myself in the in the sacred lakes of Silara.

Intstincts:

• Always consult the runes, they have the power to guide every action to the outcome desired by the fates.
• Never decline a request toread someone’s fate.
• Always scavenge for useful trinkets.

Lifepaths: Born Artificer, Tyro, Rune caster, Tainted One

Stats: Pow B4, Agil B5, Forte B5, Speed B4, Will B5, Per B5

Attribute: Health B6, Reflex B4, Steel B6, Corruption B1 (1/0/0), Hes 5

Skills: Dwarven Rune script B2 Black metal Artifice B3 FireBuilding B2 RuneCasting B4 Scavenging B2 Sinspawn Wise B4 Sorcery B4 (1/0/0) Inconspicuos B3 Hammer B3

Traits: Determained, Slave to Fate, Filthy, Dark Gift, Beardless, Dreamer

5 pt relationship with wife Baztia Ornora, who refuses to see him until he is clensed (-2 romantic, -1 forbidden)

3 pts for travelling gear, clothes, and well shod boots 10 pts on Dwarven Tools (Cast Iron Runes)

12 pts on Fire Fan 12 pts on Havoc’s Hand 8 pts on Falcon Skin

NPCs:

Visthlor

High Lord of the Red Court

Stats: Will: B4

Skills: Persuasion: B4

Abenzio

Dwarven oathbreaker, sinspawn shopkeeper

Places In The World

Up-Town

A merchant city and the chief point of trade with the Dwarves. It is also the home of many of the Dwarven oathbreakers, outcasts who deal mainly with the human merchants.

Silara

A desert oasis that's the central point on a number of caravan routs. It is also home of the Sacred Lakes, guarded by the Sword Dancers.

Character Creation Rules

Guidelines:

• 4 lifepaths.
• Races:
  • Dwarves: Must be either end in Outcast or have the Oathbreaker trait. (See Traits section below.)
  • Elves or Human: Must have some reason to be interacting with Oathbreakers in a Dwarven trading town.
  • Others races: Ask and we'll work something out.
• Traits
  • Oathbreakers is a 1 point character trait available to all Dwarves.
  • All Humans recieve the char trait: In Awe Of The Dragon Riders
  • All Elves recieve the char trait: Distrustful of Dwarves
  • All Dwarves recieve the char trait: Angry With Men

Magic!

• Sorcery (from the core books) is available.
• Enchantment is as well.
• Faith is used among humans and works on everyone (not just believers).
• Blood Magic also exists, but is not available to PCs. (Foreshadowing!)

Artha: Starting artha: Fate: 2, Persona: 1

Beliefs:

• 1st belief: Why you are trying to find the Star Blessed Crown
• 2nd belief: A personal goal.
• 3rd belief: Something that ties you to another PC. This can be a good or bad connection.
• 4th belief (if Dwarven): Your oath.

Additionally, one belief should be completabile right away. This is something you'll start working on the second we start playing. Another belief should be completabile within the scope of the campaign. It will happen sometime, but not anytime soon. The third belief should be impossible