Hey everybody, I'm building up a campaign for a very dark setting, and I would like your input on the idea.
I don't have a creation story, and only have a handful of Deities, but those shouldn't be super important.
Basically a deity named Nostera lives in the center of the planet. He is an ethereal earth spirit that keeps the planet alive, and is the father of all creation.
During the "First Epoch" all of the humanoid races first come into contact with eachother. There are the Elves, tall and pale and cruel to their enemies. The dwarves, a stocky pastoral hill people, former slaves of the giants, recently freed. Then the race of man. Mankind had no distinct culture, nd in this age was savage and bloodthirsty.
The Elves taught mankind the finer points of society, where the dwarves taught mankind the importance of laws and honor.
Together, these races flourished.
This Epoch lasted 4 millenia without much conflict, the occasional petty war was fought, but this was mostly a peaceful era.
The Second Epoch, Or "Age of Light" as the elves called it, was a time of great prosperity, especially for the elves. This was the time in which the Elves discovered the nature spirits, and how to harness their power. Magic was invented.
The elves were very gifted with magic, and used it to great effect.
With it, they were able to win these petty wars, and become conquerors.
They were able to create a slave race of sprites.
After their conquest was over, and there was peace to be had, the elves shared the gift of magic with the other two races. Taught them how to harness it, and how to absorb it.
Little did the elves know Nostera's life-force, as well as his sanity was being drained every time a spell was cast.
The Age of Light ended, and the Age of Blight began.
Nostera had been driven completely mad by the rampant use of magic. He unleashed a curse upon all who used it, so they shall become undead. The races of men called this "The Affliction".
The sprites created by the elves became a twisted race that most would recognize as goblins.
As the infestation spread and civilizations fell, the races of men pressed on, continuing to use magic to try to turn the infestation. There was no hope.
The dwarves left their hills and farms, and dug deep into the mountains to find refuge from the Affliction.
The Affliction spread like wildfire, and nearly all the world was covered in the undead.
Animals started to become afflicted. The carriers of this disease were immune to it, and over time began to mutate. A cruel race of ratmen was born of the affliction, whose only goal in life is to spread the disease, and end all life.
The rats soon found their way under ground, as the goblins waged war above.
The elves fled to a far off island, never to be seen by the eyes of men or dwarves again.
Now, thousands of years have passed, and all who are alive are afflicted. The alchemists and magicians of the world have found ways to stave off the affliction, but resources are running thin. The only way they know of to slow the affliction is to consume raw magic. Unicorn horns, ent bark etc.
Magic is no longer a choice any more either, because all are born afflicted, all are born with magic potential. the two go hand in hand. The wizards of the world are those who can control their magic potential, while the rest are ignorant of their abilities.
Wizards become afflicted faster, and are only used in warbands to provide support to the warriors.
Many wizards embrace the affliction, and give up. They leave their homelands, and preform the necromantic ritual. These men get to keep their minds in tact when they become afflicted,atleast for a while. They become fodder like the rest of the Affliction.
Let me paint this picture: the dwarves are deep underground, where the Rats have followed, continuing to spread the affliction. Mankind is constantly under attack by goblins, Afflicted, and Rats. Population and resources are so low that the races of the living are constantly raiding eachother, to steal magic items, and food, and treasure, to try to stay alive for just an extra week.
The world is tearing it's self apart, and the only people who have the potential to help are on an island, slowly becoming more and more afflicted by the day.
What do you think?
Let me know
Thanks for reading guys
Austin
takes an inventory of his painted 15mm Dwarves.
