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Overview

About This Game

The imprint of war, recent and ancient, lies heavy on the land. Orders from Royal and Imperial Court land in your hands - find the former Imperial Archaeologist, suspected to be at a dig site, precise location unknown, deep in the wilderness. And then give him the King's justice - death. But this wilderness lies in a region of recent rebellion, restive neighboring nomads, bandits in the forests, and unnamed and unnameable things in the night....

Game System

Worlds Without Number

Detailed Description

Brief Description

The imprint of war, recent and ancient, lies heavy on the land. Orders from Royal and Imperial Court land in your hands - find the former Imperial Archaeologist, suspected to be at a dig site, precise location unknown, deep in the wilderness. And then give him the King's justice - death. But this wilderness lies in a region of recent rebellion, restive neighboring nomads, bandits in the forests, and unnamed and unnameable things in the night....

Longer description

The premise is this - you are a group of people sent to kill the former Imperial Archaeologist. This is fairly open ended regarding your background - you could be an assassin in Royal service, a grizzled veteran set on a bizarre assignment, a "volunteer" from the University of High and Elemental Magics, a local tracker dredged up from the prison with the promise of clemency and such for loyal service, what have you.

The challenge is that you need to find out where this guy is and get there alive and able to win a fight. The region is very recently wartorn with the local Royal Warden raising his banner, a white fox on a black field, in revolt not five years prior with the rebellion dispersed but not defeated until only last year. The regional capital of Argorgotha was sacked but in the chaos of the storming of the city's defenses the rebel Warden had made a successful breakout from the city with many of his elite troops and many of his man-at-arms and volunteers simply cast down their arms and threw off their uniforms to live and maybe even fight another day. And so this rebel lord is either dead, in exile, or lurking in the woods. Many of his men were killed, but others either remained loyal to him or else took up the trade of banditry. Or so the rumor goes. Still, rumor or no, not even the most foolish merchants would go beyond sight of the city walls without a heavy armed escort.

About me in very short

I have been active on MW for about three years now. I have played in a bunch of games in a bunch of systems - including this one. My WWN experience is several PBP games here along with several live sessions and short pbps on Discord (not MW affiliated). I have run one game to very near its conclusion (as of writing in late August they are in the final showdown).

I am to maintain a brisk pace and provide player agency and wide ranging experience.

WWN is a system with some situationally powerful, encounter-winning abilities. As a GM I aim to have it such that if you manage to maneuver yourself into a position where you can pull off something like that, you can do so and feel great about it. I don't want to always look for ways to nitpick you out of a victory or stack the deck such that the game is unfair.

What I am looking for

This will be a hopefully reasonably fast paced (3+ posts a week) adventure. The worldbuilding so far is just enough for the adventure itself, so no great delving into deep lore. Looking for roughly five players. If you have run a game for me on MW that is seriously in your favor. If you are in a long-running game with me currently as a player, message me or otherwise reach out if you are interested to discuss. I'd like to have some new faces that's all.

New to WWN and new to MW are both welcome! I'd like a mix of newbies and veterans.

The game may be dangerous and WWN is a fairly high powered system for OSR. That means that PCs are relatively tough especially with foci and such - but enemy spellcasters and warriors are similarly lethal. WWN spells can instantly wipe out low level parties or individuals or otherwise do wondrous things. Knowing the skillset available to you - snap attacks, screening, and so on - will be essential to a successful adventuring career.

Should a PC bite the bullet, I'll deal you back in very quickly.

NPCs will react fairly realistically as best as I can manage as a GM. If you threaten a guard, they might move aside, but they'll remember and likely report it. If you tell something that clearly is not true or make a blatantly nonsensical argument, no skill roll will convince an NPC.

NPCs will also not fight to the death. Predator animals will run away in a tough fight, bandits will break off or negotiate, and most enemies will be rolling Morale checks per the book.

 

Character Creation in short

Lvl 1 standard character creation with the following exceptions: Roll and arrange in any order. If your rolls are genuinely awful then we can work something out. Max hp at lvl 1. At subsequent levels reroll ALL hit dice including that one with the usual rule of gaining at least 1 max hp/lvl applying.

Anything in WWN Core or in Atlas is alright.

The setting is more or less generic fantasy in substance. The domain in which you start is overwhelmingly human by happenstance more than anything. Elves, dwarves, and halflings are around with no substantial official or unofficial discrimination or what have you towards them. Not using the Latter Earth setting. Latter Earth "classes" and foci e.g. from the Deluxe book are allowed.

Style wise - keep everything fairly barebones. Fieldsets, some bold, some italics, and a picture is enough.

- Do not "hard-set" colors or use garish colors widely! If you hard-set a color such that it does not change with the use of another theme, it will be near impossible to read

- avoid anime style or overly stylized images

Some of my inspirations

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings . Erikson's Malazan: Book of the Fallen series. Cormac McCarthy's works, especially the Border Trilogy and Blood Meridian. Westerns, notably spaghetti and more modern Westerns. *Seven Samurai* and *13 Assassins*. *Apocalypse Now*. Stevenson's Treasure Island. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Pullman's His Dark Materials. Jordan's A Wheel of Time. This is turning into a list of random fantasy novels so I'll cut it off here...

 

Community

OSR
  1. What's new in this game
  2. matt_s
    Nah, don't worry about it
  3. Xiadais
    Oh, I thought we were rushing to finish Alia's shopping trip so that we'd all be together for the keep. Should I modify my post?
  4. matt_s
    technically the writ is with alia since she used it to get permission to buy pointy things. she'll show up in a moment but there is a slight bit of "desync". everyone feel free to post or wait until next update, i wanted to just have this small exchange to set the stage / environment a bit before you meet the Prince.
  5. Xiadais
    Does anyone have more to add about why we're trying to see the Prince of Chains?
  6. Xiadais
    Lord Xylanthir "I can see that it is," Lord Xylanthir concedes. He musters himself to his full height, standing with his most noble bearing, as he produces the tablet with their royal charge and passes it over. "We have business to the north, and request admittance to the keep to requisition information and, potentially, aid. Our charge may very well be of interest to the Prince of Chains himself, who, as it happens, is the intended recipient of a message I bear from downstream." During his statement, the lord paces slowly and deliberately, ensuring his positioning draws attention to Cedric "his" loyal warrior and Mendraz the healer—the latter in case a medic's presence would subtly lead to a more positive impression in light of the parade of bandaged infantry. Abridged Statistics Resources HP 6/6 • System Strain 0/14 • Committed Effort 0/4 • Spells Cast 0/1 Defenses AC 16 • Physical 14 • Evasion 15 • Mental 13 • Luck 15 Skills Connect-0 • Lead-0 • Magic-1 • Ride-0 OOC N/A
  7. matt_s
    The man smiles as he collects the coins. I thank you for your patronage and wish you good fortune in whatever task lies before you. The two guards at the gate to the keep compound - it was a masonry keep ringed by a short curtain wall with an open wooden gate at which the pair were posted - examined Xylanthir and his companions with professional detachment. Cedric could immediately sense that these soldiers were as good specimens of men-at-arms as one could reasonably hope for. Their armor was mail in good repair with well-fitting steel helmets and each held a halberd, the end at their feet. They were cold sober and they gave off a sense of tightly wound springs, ready to snap at any foes. The guard on the right responded, As you may have gathered, we are soldiers. This is our trade for just as the blacksmith forges at his anvil we make war on the battlefield. The other adds, There are plenty of comings and goings. As you would expect, messengers, patrols, local officials, all such sorts. The question is, what sort are you? The questioning was abruptly cut off by a commotion in the distance and the guard shouted, Make way! to the assembled companions. The reason for the ruckus was soon clear as a small column of elves wound towards them. These elves bore the sigil of the recurve bow that flew on the keep before them. Their armor of mail and interlocking steel scales was clearly masterwork but filthy from the grime and the gore of combat. A few were bandaged and limping. But they marched with no small amount of martial pride. The guard nearest to Xylanthir continued, State your business and maybe we'll let you pass on. But this is a busy place with busy folks.
  8. Oligopsony
    I had imagined 2s/day as wages but can reverse that if that was the intention!
  9. Xiadais
    Lord Xylanthir "Thank you," Lord Xylanthir says to the sober-ish merchant, "the King reward you for your patience." He heads toward the keep, finds the main entrance, and begins making small talk with the nearest guard. "Busy times, these, no? Peace seems a distant memory, replaced by continual struggle. How many have come through these gates today alone, I wonder? Thank you for your service to the crown, goodman." Abridged Statistics Resources HP 6/6 • System Strain 0/14 • Committed Effort 0/4 • Spells Cast 0/1 Defenses AC 16 • Physical 14 • Evasion 15 • Mental 13 • Luck 15 Skills Connect-0 • Lead-0 • Magic-1 • Ride-0 OOC N/A
  10. Zombie D Luffy
    Mendraz Cusara
  11. Zombie D Luffy
    Mendraz Cusara Mendraz spends the rest of the trip either tending to his duties as ship's physician when an occasion arises and learning what he can about the art of sailing from whoever seems willing to teach him, though he seems particularly keen to learn something of navigation and of knots. He seems happiest when his hand is turned to something, and he's never seen to be idle for long. Having been told that he should inquire after his nephew from the Prince of Chains, or at least his agents, and it being the place they expect to get the most recent intelligence on the Royal Archaeologist, once in Mashkan, Mendraz goes along with Lord Xylanthir and the others heading to meet the head man.
  12. Tecumseh
    Alia Alia is annoyed. First, there's the implication that she couldn't afford a blade. Second, she's kicking herself that she didn't even think to try to commandeer one. In her defense, she's not accustomed to being on this side of the law; she resolves to exploit her new association next time. She jingles her coin pouch to signify her ability to pay. Then she turns her attention to the merchandise, which does not overly impress her. Eh, the frontiers never have the best product, she thinks to herself. The master crafstmen stay in the capital, getting rich making ceremonial armor for Sir Whosits and Whatsits. Alia picks up a stiletto. The tip is pointy and the metal doesn't flex, which means it suits her needs. She taps her finger on the spike. I could make a dinner fork work, she thinks idly. This is better. "I'll take it," she tells the stout older man. She fishes ten silver out of her purse and slaps them down. Her eyes drift over the bows but they do not tempt her. They are certainly nothing like the elegant wooden recurse longbow that's depicted on the banner. Slotting her new purchase in her belt, she departs and heads to the small keep of masonry in the center of town.
  13. Landid
    Cedric Blackburn HP: 9/9 | AC: 17 | AB: +1 | Saves: Phys 14+ | Eva 15+ | Men 14+ | Luck 15+ Their trip was surprisingly uneventful and Cedric was a little disappointed by that. Oh well, there will be plenty of other opportunities. "I have nothing that needs attending, off to the Prince. The sooner we tell him what that Garrison needs, the sooner they will have it. Hopefully." He adds. Wartime seemed to hobble the logistics of the kingdom and they knew nothing of the issues in their current locale. Fantroy was hiring basically mercenaries for their current target after all.
  14. matt_s
    Her brief inquiries lead her to a blacksmith's workshop with banners flying both the Royal colors and the Prince of Chain's sigil on its a forefront. An almost sycophantic display of loyalty. A stout older man with white hair and beard stopped her and asked for her affiliation with the loyalists. The writ was enough to prove such, but evidently not enough to act as a line of credit. The way things work here, he said kindly but patronizingly, is that good loyal souls like me contract with the garrison and allied private guard companies and so forth. I believe you fall in that latter category. Someone who runs errands and guards secondary supply caravans. But I have been mistaken and if so I mean no offense. So in short, I can sell to you since you are on the right side of this - a pause as he searched for the right word - unpleasantness, but I'll need silver for anything you purchase. He walked her through his inventory. Serviceable weapons but not masterpieces. A few bows in the elven fashion but that was more mockery than anything. Still, such bows, such knives, such swords, all could do their grisly task... Perhaps to his frustration, "bored" and "sober" seemed somewhat mutually exclusive descriptors when applied to the local mercantile class. A pair of merchants, bedecked in finery more reminiscent of the Capital city so far away as to be in another time altogether were drinking and laughing heartily at a parasol-shrouded table outside a small restaurant. The Prince... you looking for him? Laughter. For no reason conceivable. Just... just follow the soldiers back to the hive. More laughter. But then one seemed to make a desperate lunge at sobriety. Go... go to that stone keep over there. The one with all the flags and such. There's your Prince. Hardly a chain on 'im, though.
  15. matt_s
    The night passes uneventfully to those accustomed to the nature of such places as this village. The tavern was rowdy, the guards paced the stockade and the pier with varying degrees of vigilance, and eventually Captain Larsson was able to corral his sailors onto the ship and prepared to cast off near first light. The river seemed silent, the gentle lapping of water against the hull, the creaking of rigging, and the pulsation of the sails a far contrast to the sounds of commerce and revelry and despondence in the village. The lads stand their watches diligently but there are no bandits or rebels to be seen. On the third day from setting out, they pass a great mountain range with peaks of granite shrouded in mist. On the fourth, they in the early afternoon notice the current slacked. The forested horizon is replaced by low slung timber buildings and smoke rising in thin black ribbons from chimneys. They are in Mashkan, the town by the Lake. A small harbor vessel hails you and Captain Larsson bids them to come aboard. After presenting some papers, the harbor pilot takes the helm and brings the Prosperity into dock. Anchor is weighed, a gangplank thrown down. The silver promised to you is apportioned. This comes out to 350 silver. The date is now March 7th. This is a town of much greater size than the village you left two days ago. The town is maybe a few thousands in population or large enough for such a number for it may have been emptied by the war but it is hard to say. The harbor is filled with vessels, some for trading like the Prosperity, others for fishing. A few warships lay at their moorings, their guards clearly visible even in the Lake-mist. There are soldiers going about their business along with farmers, fishermen, fishmongers, blacksmiths, sailwrights, carpenters, and all other sorts. A small keep of masonry stands in the center of town. A banner of an elegant wooden recurve longbow ensnared by black iron chains flutters from the battlements. People are less morose than in the village you recently left, but even at the dock, you can tell that Mashkan is not exactly a happy town....
  16. matt_s
    i'm doing more or less alright. I posted a new topic, I want to keep the "chapter" page counts more or less manageable so I can go back and dig through things if need be. It should hit the site soon. The last two posts on the last topic still "count" but I did replicate the scene setting text from the first topic. Post in there not in the old one when it shows. I think the whole party should meet with the Prince, so individual errands can resolve before or after. Before makes sense, I can update on Alia's activities in that case.
  17. Xiadais
    Lord Xylanthir Lord Xylanthir takes in the rest of the business with the bandit quietly, trying to assuage his guilt for not helping out the garrison. It's really not my place, and I would not benefit enough from it... I will just need to make sure they get the supplies and reinforcements they need. He spends the remainder of the river voyage more subdued than he had been before the village. The ordeal seems to have knocked the wind out of his sails. At the docks, he accepts his pay with only a small amount of displeasure; he had done exactly what he had been hired to do, but there hadn't been any opportunity to go above and beyond to prove that he was worth more. The nobleman looks around the town. It is certainly less impressive than he'd expected of a place headed by someone called a Prince, but it is a big improvement over the village full of drunkard soldiers. "I have a duty to the earnest men of the prior garrison. Who is coming with me to the Prince of Chains?" he asks. Once the group is properly split, he asks any bored-looking merchants where he might find the aforementioned head of the region. Abridged Statistics Resources HP 6/6 • System Strain 0/14 • Committed Effort 0/4 • Spells Cast 0/1 Defenses AC 16 • Physical 14 • Evasion 15 • Mental 13 • Luck 15 Skills Connect-0 • Lead-0 • Magic-1 • Ride-0 OOC N/A
  18. Xiadais
    I hope you get better soon.
  19. Zombie D Luffy
    There was mention of 2sp/day as the standard rate and that it could be waived for working, but then it was waived anyway because the mages could normally get more than the boat was willing/able to pay.
  20. matt_s
    I'll double check later but that's my recollection.
  21. Tecumseh
    Alia Alia spends a good portion of the journey on the bow of the boat, scanning the shoreline. She's most commonly there in the dusky hours after sunset, and the dawn hours prior to sunrise. Perhaps that is when the advantage of her elven eyes is greatest. She wraps a blanket around her shoulders to ward away a chill, but otherwise stands as still a sentinel, moving little except her eyes to survey the terrain. When they arrive in Mashkan, her mood is difficult to read. Perhaps she's disappointed to be deprived of a fight, or perhaps she takes it as a compliment that no one tried to attack on her watch. She collects her silver and feels a weight lifted off her shoulders; it's nice not to be broke anymore. Mashkan is not a happy town, but frontier towns rarely are. Towns like this are usually full of hardscrabble survivors who are trying to carve out an existence despite the surrounding dangers. It's a life that doesn't lend itself to ease and contentment. Alia decides to see if this writ can be used to buy weapons. She rounds up anyone interested in additional armaments and then ventures into town to find a quartermaster or an armorer who can sell her a stiletto. A bow might be tempting too, but she decides to wait to see the quality of the stock available.
  22. Tecumseh
    Oh, I might have misread the post. Perhaps the clerk was saying that it would cost the scholar 2sp/day (for transport), not that he would earn that much. Sorry, @Oligopsony!
  23. matt_s
    Simeon was a scholar but I don't think he really offered services to the ship so didn't draw pay. I'll give you the five full days. I've been foggy in a head cold and generally somewhat sloppy with bookkeeping... 350sp
  24. Tecumseh
    A bit of bookkeeping. There seems to be a bit of a discrepancy in the duration of the trip. The departure post said we set sail on March 3rd. The most recent IC post implies that we arrive on the fourth day, but it says March 7th (which would be the fifth day). Here are the daily wages, to the best of my knowledge: Alia - seasoned warrior, 10/day Cassia Ci-Uwatha - mage, 20/day Cedric - seasoned warrior, 10/day Lord Xylanthir - mage, 20/day Mendraz Cusara - doctor, 10/day Simeon Westgrace - scholar, 2/day (Simeon posed as a scholar out of discretion) That's a total of 72/day. So I calculate 288 silver if the journey was four days, or 360 silver if the journey was five. @matt_s Can you confirm if I've done the math correctly and, if so, which total is correct?
  25. Xiadais
    That's a nice name. Much easier to say than "the town by the lake".
  26. matt_s
    New town! I finally named the town by the lake Mashkan. You can do usual town things (poke around for rumors or what have you) and see if you can talk to the garrison commander (Prince in Chains). You can buy arms and armor at the book list price in town from the military armorers if you show the writ of officialdom.
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