Difference between revisions of "Myth"

Revision as of 22:51, 9 June 2007

Introduction

Myth is a General Roleplaying scenario, in a fantasy setting. The exact details and story of the setting are still being finalized.

Locations

Myth takes place on the fictional world of Midgard. The central continent on Midgard is Asga, on which the following locations can be found...

• Dalriada – the largest kingdom in Midgard, Dalriada is home to men and women from many species and walks of life. The city of Bai-Ulgan lies at the centre of Dalriada and is thus considered the capitol of the civilized world. Bai-Ulgan was founded hundreds of years ago by King Mergovas, whose bloodline ruled Dalriada and much of Midgard for centuries. Stretching all across the central continent of Asga, the terrain of Dalriada ranges from lush green plains to harsh icy mountain ranges. Bai-Ulgan itself is a city of stone, each structure built from scratch by the founding settlers.

• Verbannen – the underground tunnels and caves occupied by the Trow.

• Ankaa - a great kingdom to the Southeast separated from Dalriada by the formidable Hadar Wastelands. Ankaa is mostly jungle and savannah with coastline to the South and mountainous regions to the North. The capital city of Ankaarizad rests on the holy River Eridan, whose tributaries keep the land green and fertile. The Ankaaric people are ruled by regional lords called Sheiks, who are united under the banner of the Rajjah. Ankaa is known for its great learning, especially in the realm of magics.

Races

Men

Hardy and adaptable, men are the most abundant species on Midgard. Coming in all shapes and sizes, they can be found in all most every corner of the world and often share only one thing in common: their thirst for expansion and growth. Dalriada is the largest and first of all human kingdoms, with Bai-Ulgan acting as the seat of power. With the recent death of the King, and no heir in sight, Dalriada has become divided as noble houses, assuming power of individual fiefdoms, vie for control.

Second in power to Dalriada is the kingdom of Ankaa, which lies across the Hadar Wastelands to the Southeast. The Ankaarim have little interest in affairs outside their borders and so have had virtually no dealings with Dalriada. Goods from both kingdoms travel across the Hadar with nomadic Shamassi caravans; it is highly dangerous to attempt to cross the desert without their guidance.

Ankaaric magical prowess is legendary, and their secrets are guarded closely by the various Arcane Colleges. Most Ankaaric mages are Fire/Metal.

Glauca

It is believed that the Glauca were once human fishermen, who grew so fond of the sea that they vowed never to leave it. Though they possess gills and are most at home beneath the waves of the Great Ocean, they are able to travel on land and are regarded fondly by the Men of Midgard. Due to their affinity with the sea, many Glauca become sailors and some even take up careers in piracy.

In terms of physical appearance, Glauca differ from baseline human stock in a number of ways. As well as possessing gills, Glauca have a slight pigmentation to their skin – ranging from pale blue to dark green. By human standards, many Glauca are considered handsome and Glauca women are often spoken of as being the downfall of many a man.

Most Glauca magicians are Water/Metal.

Fian

The Fian are a nomadic warrior race of peoples who believe themselves to be descended from the race that originally created the world. Uncertain of their heritage, the Fian often find themselves on the fringes of society. Their natural skill for hunting and combat sets them in good stead for careers as mercenaries and swords-for-hire. Although most of the Fian are solitary creatures, some restless Fian have banded together as the Larcus Brotherhood, a guild of thieves lead by the charismatic Rimuova.

The Fian are distinguishable from the Men due to their pointed ears, luminous eyes and somewhat feral appearance. As a people they are extremely dependable and frown upon dishonesty – making the existence of the Larcus Brotherhood particularly offensive to those more traditional Fian.

Most Fian magicians are Wood specializers, though their secondary element is wildly diversified.

Inspiration for the Fian is taken from the mythological Fianna. Consequently, Fian have Gaelic sounding names.
Some examples of notable Fian: Ciaran ó Broin, Diarmuid Mac Giolla, Mahon Maolomhnaigh.

Trow

The Trow are believed to be a sub-species of the Men of Midgard. According to Dalriadan myth, the Trow species began with the banishment of Prince Hugo from Dalriada. Hugo was the eldest son of the legendary King Mergovas, who sought to usurp the throne of the newly founded Bai-Ulgan for himself. As punishment for his treasonous actions, the Gods of Midgard condemned Hugo to spend eternity in darkness, never again to set foot on the holy land of Dalriada.

Many Trow, to this day, still harbor this old suspicion and avoid the kingdom of Men if at all possible. There are those who do venture out of the underground caverns and warrens of Verbannen, the home of the Trow, rarely achieve a status any higher than of servant or menial laborer. With pale skin and lank hair, they are unpleasant to the eye, and often lack the 'civility' prided by the Men. In spite of this, the Trow are notoriously sharp-witted and often possess a dark sense of humor to match their bleak outlook on life.

Most Trow magicians are Earth/Fire.

Ankaarim

Southeast of Dalriada is a vast stretch of desert known as the Hadar Wastelands. Many Dalriadans believe that all the country to the East is desert inhabited by nomadic traders. But beyond the Hadar is a region of lush jungles and verdant savannahs known as the Kingdom of Ankaa. The Ankaaric civlization has developed largely independent of western influence and in some ways has surpassed Dalriada - their cities boast great colleges and libraries, magic-powered street lamps, internal plumbing, public baths with hot and cool water, as well as beautiful temples, palaces, and gardens. Their feudal society is governed by a council of regional Sheiks and their deputy Sharifs, though all swear fealty to the Rajjah, who rules in the capital city of Ankaarizad and commands the majority of the army.

Aside from ethnic rivalries, the people of Ankaa live mostly in peace united under the banner of their Rajjah. This was not always so. The verdant lands were once contested by another nation, Nusakar. The Ankaarim and Nusakans fought bitterly for many years until a powerful Ankaaric wizard ended the war with one horrific spell. The Nusakan lands became desert and the people crumbled into dust, but a counterspell preserved the Nusakan armies as immortal undead warriors. They still lurk beneath the sands to attack travelers indiscriminately and occasionally still wage war on Ankaa's borders. Those who disturb Nusakan crypts and other ruins risk incurring their wrath and joining the armies of the dead.

Mer

Similar to Glauca in that they love the sea, the Mer do not possess gills though they can hold their breath underwater for close to twenty minutes. They have large eyes with secondary eyelids for protection underwater, small petite bodies and webs between fingers and toes. They live by the sea, usually in 'cities' built into seaside cliffs. Sometimes considered to be the result of interbreeding between Glauca and the Fian. Of all the races the Mer are the fewest in number.

Most Mer magicians are Water/Air.