Beyond Madness

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DrakeStryker

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Created Feb 26 '14
Last Post Aug 21 '14 at 12:21pm
Status Aborted
System Pathfinder 1e

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Thread: Pathfinder 3.5: Beyond Madness - Fantasy Horror

Game Description

"And I looked beyond the place between spaces, and saw an abyss I could not fathom. And as I looked into the abyss, the abyss looked into me..."

October 30th of the year 1035 - The skies have darkened, eldritch clouds converging above the Mayoral Castle. There's a smell in the air, like a coming storm. Rain refuses to fall, taunting the metropolites below. Old seafarers mutter in poorly lit bars about another shift in the winds. The Mayor has stopped all appearances entirely, something the recluse has not been known for. Whispers of fear stab through the heavy nights. The gigantic crystal at the city's heart has been pulsing with odd colors. Something's not right. Even the stray dogs know it, whimpering back to awnings of shops in vain attempts to stay out of it. It's on the tip of everyone's tongue, but no one has words for it...

GeographyThe world of Oa'ryth has been around for untold millenia, a place of wonder and invention. The continents of Ashgaard and Cearn are the only truly civilized places in the world, the former being a corrupt dictatorship and the latter being a benevolent kingdom. The large island continent of Nal'li is a wasteland of a desert, completely uncharted by civilizations. Phrao has been seen from shipside, but hasn't been explored, as the jungle has been told to be a wild anarchy, populated with dangerous creatures that rampage through the land freely.

You reside in Ashgaard. The capital of Ashgaard is a port city called Klain. The city is a massive magical nexus, even at first glance. The city is made out of three seperate levels, two gigantic metal plates hovering over the ground level and around the castle at the city's epicenter. At the center of the city is the massive castle, with a gigantic crystal as its centerpiece, possibly providing the magic that keeps the plates from falling on top of one another. Crystalline tubes run through the city, azure energies coursing through them. In each corner of the city, a gigantic elevator runs from plate to plate, connecting the plates to each other and providing transportation to those who are given access. Such transportation is strictly monitored in the police state.

Gnomes are the main inventors behind the advanced technology that runs in Klain, which is fused very tightly with magic. The elevators that travel up the levels are a combination of levitation spells infused in crystals and steam-powered gears rotating the gemstones into various positions to resonate energy off of one another. Trains powered by wind and fire elementals glide from quarter to quarter. The Mayoral Guard carry energy-infused muskets and their armor is fortified with dwarven metals and gnomish gearwork. The Tower of Knowledge, run by the local mage guild, is a mass of clockwork gears, crystalline energy tubes and a shining gemstone that glows different colors at its peak.

NOTEYes, this means that weapons found on table 5-4 on page 145 of the Dungeon Master's Guide are available for the game, though mostly only within the confines of Klain, the most advanced city.

Well-Known LegendsHeroes of the previous age faced epic challenges well-known by the civilized world. Men known as Pelor, Heironius, Cuthbert, and Olidammara travelled the world, eventually attaining godhood. Today, they are worshipped, supposedly grant clerics and paladins their power. True accounts of their exploits are gone, replaced by their respective religions, whose mythology conflicts with each other. Each god's mythology paints the god worshipped as the savior deity, rescuing the other companions, that needed to be taught lessons. Olidammara teaches adaptation, inventiveness and creativity are the tools of true power. Heironius preaches the virtues of chivalry, bravery and justice. Pelor advocates the banishment of evil, undead and spreading holiness and goodwill. St. Cuthbert tells his followers to seek truth, promote justice, and encourages wisdom from his followers.
Note: These are not the only dieties worshipped by the people, but these four are the most prominent. They follow the description found in any 3.x D&D book, but there is a specific mythology regarding these specific dieties that may (or may not) be uncovered in the course of the game.

Klain DetailsKlain is run like a dictatorship by a human named Bane Zoz'zen, a secretive man barely seen by his constituents. Although the armor-plated police seen in the daytime keep the society of Klain in order, they are rarely seen actually arresting citizens. Rumors whisper that those who speak out against Bane are taken by the very shadows themselves. The majority of Klain's citizens are either human, gnomes, halflings or Illumians, but plenty of other humanoid races can be found within the city. Very few of the citizens are monstrous in nature, but the odd tame creature can be found here or there, mostly within the slums, if at all. They are looked down upon by most within the city, and treated as second-class citizens by the police.