Editing Heartstone Codex (section)

=Notepad=
==For thought / discussion==
* Aim to run game: 
*# based in one geographical location, with some local exploration and troubleshooting; 
*# with a looser prequel to that (which could go in a different direction), or 
*# with things falling apart - i.e. society is crumbling due to invasion, plague or what have you.

==Needs  particular work / input==
# Local NPCs
# Gods
# Names for: Emperors, the Granite Tribe (I don't like that)
# Organizations
# Underworld (not if there is reincarnation!)
# Prophets

==Cool Ideas==
# Place where the first dragon was born, not far from home.

==Might be nice to have an idea at some point==
#Sirdehaar tribes

==Thoughts from recruitment thread==
''...that have NOT necessarily been addressed or incorporated...''

'''Drifter:''' 

-Prophets. Some of them real. For new approaches to the divine.

-A world that is, mostly, on the ebb of the cycle of history. From the ebb will rise some great power...but who will it be?

-Crises of faith, conversions of entire city states to new religions - by force or by inspiration. What actually happens when a god loses their worshippers...and is it true that the underworld is ruled by ancient former gods lost to the Kindred, [shorthand for the human-elf-giant thing] and not devils at all?

Prophets, who's words and deeds change the religious thoughts of entire nations. Moses. Zarasuthra. Gautama. Confucious. Trippitakka...and a few conners and duds...

'''Asen:'''

I have one word for these characters: Huns!

'''AJC:'''

Why are the barbarians sweeping across the lands? Is this necessarily a bad thing?

What is the state of the empire? Really like the idea of the the hired mercenaries - are these also barbarians (from another land)?

Is the concept of enlightment related to the Empire only, or generally acknowledged throughout the land?

Saw a comment re your preference of a "lack" of Good and Evil...does this mean that things are all various shades of grey...what about absolutes such as '''angels/demons/'''etc?

What are the relations between the various races? How do they perceive each other?

'''Drifter again:'''

So, we are looking at a reasonably innovative [tactics and perhaps some technology- wise] nomad nation that is invading/skirmishing with a massive but corrupt at the core Empire...

If the barbarians are emulating mongols then they are well trained, well led and have a few tactics that will baffle the empires entrenched military.

If the Empire is emulating the [later?] Byzantine Empire then it has corrupt administration and political systems alongside genuine zealots, some pretty cool technological gimmicks of their own and a bunch of barbarian feoderates of questionable loyalty.

Maybe the few remaining drakes in the west have no love for the Empires Knights, who have hunted them in the past to near extinction.

If you are considering twists, give the Nomads access to serious rocketry and mysterious subject troops from the far East to make and use them.

I really like the idea of some form of Saurian nation to the South, and making it a cultured and ancient Empire, formed out of a number of riverine city states spread across the equivalent of the entire Nile system. Taking its current unified form of various Sultanates/Satrapcies based around culture, sub-species or environment, but ruled spiritually by a Divine Majestrix. You'd basically have everything from primitive 'lizardmen' to a sophisitcated series of city states and at least one Metropolis, where hundreds of thousands of Saurians and other races rub shoulders.

It might seem pretty peaceful from the outside, but its peoples fight a whole range of internal wars, from regional tournaments to 'wars of flowers'[assassin wars] to subject race proxy wars.
This is seen as good and healthy by the Sacred ruler who is the physical host of the spirit of their primal progenitor. She would be a living goddess, and all of her husbands would be considered sacred,as would her offspring. Her choice of husbands and semi divine children are based on the relative power of different factions and regions within the empire, and she can mate with any member sub-species [or different species, when it comes to it] by assuming their form. It is a unique power granted to each Majestrix.

'''mathey:'''

It may be appropriate to come up with an order of monks or scholars or some combination of the twain to be responsible for the codex initially. Given the state of affairs, they may have ended up on the wrong side of a religious or political argument and been whittled down to a small number. They'd likely have their own spin on the contents of the codex, possibly more or less accurate than most readings, possibly pretty crazy or apocalyptic.

This order may be self-reliant and self-sustaining at this point, or maybe it has support from some warrior clan or sect to provide them with security. I think that could open up some potential for bookish as well as soldierly concepts with a deep bond with the campaign McGuffin from the start.

'''Sam:''' 

A "whole fighting order" can easily be twelve people, if it is only just getting started.