planning D&D 3.5e: Moertus

[Authetius 30]

Hey all. Gonna throw this game up again. I say again because last time we tried this technical difficulties with programs shot it down, so this time it will be played on forums rather than live. It is a D&D campaign and it does go by all the 3.5 rules. I was so psyched to start this game but it never happened... let's see if it will run this time.

 

I'm just gonna put a short introduction to the world in a spoiler here before I go to bed, more will be put later if people are interested.

 

Long before the world of Moertus came into existence the Gods of the universe waged an endless war against one another. As the centuries passed their war became more and more violent, until it climaxed during a great battle known as the “Sundering”. As the Gods launched their mightiest attacks against each other the very fabric of the multiverse tore apart leaving a void of endless darkness that spread between the realms of all the Gods. This caused the Gods to pause and end their ceaseless struggle against each other, at least for a time.

 

During this peace Astrild, the Goddess of Fire and Goodness, found that her healing light could create life in the void. As she filled it with her light her energy coalesced into the heavenly spheres. She reached out and formed the world of Moertus, and on this world she placed a race of beautiful immortal beings called the “Athar”. They prospered and grew into a enlightened civilization that spread across the world. But Astrild was not the only God whose power could affect the void.

Nicor, the God of Darkness and Evil, discovered he too could reach into the void. He used his power to bring death to the Athar, he spawned inhuman monsters and wrought natural disasters. And while the Athar languished Nicor unleashed his worst affront, he created Tiamat. The Mother of all Dragons destroyed the last of the Athar, sending her children out into the world to hunt down any Athar hidden on Moertus. When she was done she left the world leaving her children to feed on it’s bones. As the Dragons and other monsters ravaged the world, Astrild formulated another plan to bring goodness back to Moertus.

 

Astrild approached the other Gods; Rig the Earth Lord, Ormet God of Water, and Kun the enigmatic God of the Winds. They had seen what had transpired between Astrild and Nicor, and it drew their interest. Astrild forged an alliance with the other Gods. She would grant them the power to form life and they would use that power against Nicor. And as the pact was sealed Rig created the Dwarves and Gnomes, Ormet created Humans and Halflings, and Kun created the Elves. Astrild knew that Nicor had drawn energy from the immortal life forces of the Athar as they died to create Tiamat, so she limited the life spans of the God’s creations in order to prevent Nicor from doing anything like that again.

 

The races of Moertus struggled to rise up and survive in a savage world. But with the help of the Gods, the good races of the world built their civilizations and carved out portions of the land for themselves. As the first rulers of Man began to found their Kingdoms, conflicts arose between Humans and Elves. Soon the conflicts turned to war, and for the next 150 years Man and Elf fought bitter battles trying to wipe each other off of the face of Moertus. The Elves drove the Humans back and at a time when it seemed the Elves would wipe out Mankind the “Exodus” occurred.

 

The Exodus was a time in which huge groups of Elves and Dwarves migrated to the far north. Those that joined the Exodus all shared one common denominator, they had heard the call of Nicor and sought to form a new kingdom in his name. As their worship became more fervent their very bodies, as well as their souls, changed to reflect their new dark following. Once they had traveled deep into the northern wilderness they founded their new homes. The Dwarves traveled deep into the earth and named themselves the Duegar, the Elves moved into a dark forest filled with the ruins of the Athar and took the name Drow.

The Dwarves and Elves each blamed the other for the corruption of their people, and so war erupted between the two races. The Elves, unable to maintain a two sided war, signed a peace treaty with the Humans several years after the war with the Dwarves began. And for the next 400 years the war between Elf and Dwarf raged. In the end the suffering they caused each other forced them to sign a truce, and the war came to an end.

 

As the next 600 years passed the races of Moertus entered into various pacts, and treaties. Several times war threatened to return but, as the races worked together against the monsters that also made Moertus their home, they found they could benefit from cooperation more then from conflict. A Human King came to the rulers of both the Dwarves and the Elves, and he presented the idea of a unified ruling body. One that would allow each race it’s own Sovereignty, but called for the blending of military forces on certain maneuvers, and a greater sharing of resources and trade goods through increased trade routes. As well each ruler would agree to discuss internal and external problems with the others before declaring any states of war or embargo. The rulers agreed and they constructed a central meeting place they named the “Free City of Nidaros”, and it quickly grew into a cosmopolitan place where anything from across the land could be found.

 

With the founding of Nidaros the rulers officially signed the treaty that would bind them. They named this new foundation the “Alliance” , and each agreed that once per year the rulers of the Dwarves, Elves, and the three Human Kingdoms would meet for a full week of discussion and deliberation. As well each ruler agreed to leave open lines of communication to one another throughout the entire year, in case the need for immediate contact became needed.

 

A century has passed and civilization has flourished beyond compare under the Alliance. And the future shows new advances right on the horizon.

 

[Linguz 140]

I'm in!

 

Hey, how do we start? First level, gold, etc. Tell us what we need to know.

Edited March 31, 2012 by Linguz

[Authetius 30]

Start at 5th level with 9000 GP. Magic items that are published in the book must be sent to me and approved first if you're going to buy them as some are quite unbalancing in this situation and wont be used. Anything else?

[Linguz 140]

Any restriction with books?

 

And how do we roll the stats?

[Authetius 30]

Use 3.5 player handbook I and II for everything. Other books contain unnecessary info that makes it all the more complex. You could use items that you find other books if you can afford them, but I don't need to be dealing with more prestige classes, feats, abilities and all that.

 

Roll 4d6, keep top three and discard lowest number. Distribute the six numbers you have to any stat you want.

[Guest]

Can Steelquill, Stix, and I join in as well?

[Authetius 30]

Yes plz! The more the merrier (until it becomes to many).

[Coal 26]

I would most certainly like to join as well, the setting seems pretty interesting, planning to be a Barbarian so is there any place that is Viking like?

Edited March 31, 2012 by Coal

[Guest]

Would this character idea work? A sorceress who first prestiges in Assassin and then as the taint begins to affect her more she prestige classes in Tainted Sorcerer? I just want to know if this is possible before I start working on any of the mechanics.