The Grand Finale

For the past 6-7 years and 35 levels worth of game-time... I've persued a single and very very long story Arc in my roleplaying setting.

I'm saddened that the end of that story approaches; but the time is perfect.

My players are moving away, starting careers , married or what have you. And the novel inspired by this setting is proceeding at a decent rate; with all that and the impending release of 4th edition now is a good time to bring this story to a conclusion.

On top of that, upheaval in my life has brought about a shift in my storytelling style. In many ways it is impossible for me to tell this story any longer. In the early days of the arc I was inspired by the changes in my life to explore new themes... many of which are no longer appropriate to the life I have now. Many of the people who inspired me are long gone, or have hurt me with their actions. Some of the ideals that I wove into my story became disillusioned. Like a million artists before me my life was catalyst for my craft.

It is only right that with a major shift in my life comes an end to this era of roleplaying. I will find new players, write new stories and explore new ideas. In a few weeks my players will gather from all around the state; and for many this will be their last adventure. Suffice to say it's a mixed bag for me. To conclude such a magnificant story leaves me alittle heartbroken, but I now have a free canvas to start again.

Rest in peace Gary.

Earlier today one of my role models, the father of Role playing; Gary Gygax passed away.

Like so many other young writers I was introduced to the world of fantasy by his works. I would sit and watch my uncle play every week when I was young. Eventually I would become a player, DM, and bright-eyed designer. Role playing taught me to overcome my shyness, and how to tell a great story.

I owe this man a great debt, his work inspired and will inspire me well into the future. As it inspires my gamer peers at Penny Arcade and Order of the Stick. I know that his work will live on in me, and many many others... somehow it lightens the pain in my heart to realize that.

I hereby dedicate this weeks adventure to his memory. Don't worry Gary I'll make you proud with this one.

A Grim Flavour

I haven't roleplayed in several months. In large part it was due to my health. But to a lesser extent boredom caused it.

You see I've been a storyteller my entire life, and the hardest part of being a good storyteller is to tell the stories that your audiance wants to hear. Too many storytellers don't do that. I have to limit myself to what my players can both handle (in terms of skill) and enjoy. My setting has a distinct flavour which I am very proud of. A dose of high fantasy, a touch of sci-fi, a few sprinkles of drama and intrigue. It reflects it's creators broad range of ideas as well as being a deeply fascinating mesh.

It would be unfair to say that I am bored of my world, or the ideas it represents, or the stories and characters therein. Closer to the truth would be to say I am bored with using the same tools, inspirations and general Mileu. I've added to my arsenal of storytelling almost non-stop for the last ten years. I've played in almost the same exact way for even longer then that. Its become a mold that stifles my creativity and bores me. I've been playing with an idea for a few months now. I've decided the time is right to gather some players and do it. I call it dreadspire.

It started with a simple image in my head. A row of battered bleary eyed heroes standing on a barren blasted landscape. Each looks with a combination of dread and awe upwards. It is wrong to call the dreadspire a tower, for towers are made of brick and morter. The dreadspire appears to be a giant ebon screw twisting itself into an empty sky. It's a marval of magical engineering; the spire itself breaches the ancient dimension of horrors, it appears to be made of whirling unspeakable darkness, but in truth it is the very fabric of reality twisted to new purpose.

It was an interesting idea, I had always intended to add more gothic elements to my setting but never had the time or inclination to follow them through. I took that inital interesting idea and melded it into my settings existing history. The tower was constructed by the 3rd apprentice of Zom who attempted to enslave the horrors of the otherworld. Being undead he was resistant to the effects of the horrors at first. But slowly it started to erode what remained of his sanity. With what remained of his wit he attempted to seal the breach between the two dimensions. Although partially successful the taint from that dimension has leaked into the countryside... a remote valley kingdom along the eastern border of Brenntor and Kokuran.

The tiny kingdom's armies are soom engulfed by lesser horrors and the crazed necromancers now escaped minions. It escapes the notice of the major powers completely. Mordathal has been sacked and the children of Taia greatly depleted. The knights of Brenntor and the Elves cannot leave the Worldseed unguarded and therefore cannot be of aid. Most of the other powers suffered heavy losses in the war of the sundered soul, the only two major players to remain unscathed were the demons of Kilrah and the Celestials of Sethror. Both had refused to venture troops to the mortal plane and it appears that trend would continue.

The temples to the gods are destroyed in this tiny country, the monasteries for monks, the wizards towers. The survivors are pushed back farther and farther. Heroes, adventurers, knights, sellswords and even the occasional supernatural rise up to fight the spreading corruption. Most are cut down or driven insane. Some become undead and others are twisted by the otherworld into soulless monsters.
Finally from the west comes a hope. The crusader Pell brings his army of undead hunters, with him are an order of Chronomancers who intend to seal the rift of the Dreadspire.

The genre of Gothic horror is famous for some elements of this situation. The powerlessness of the local government, the fall of heroes, corruption of even the most noble or powerful. The themes are plentiful. But what makes them interesting in the context of my setting is what I bring to bear against the unspeakable horrors. Often in Gothic horror the heroes are portrayed as being powerless against the old ones except for a bit of rare lore or a powerful artifact. In my setting magic is plentiful and replaces technology in many regards. The old ones are powerful but they are they are not indestructible. Mortals have the power to combat them. The breach can be repaired by the Eternal Order who watches over the health of time and space. The undead are not so fearsome to Pell's crusaders who have fought them for two decades.

Also one thing makes my Gothic horror sub-setting better then most others. No werewolves fighting vampires. Seriously. We get it. Cut it out with the vamps v wolves thing.