goldencalf

I used to play games similar to this often but not for quite awhile, in fact I haven't really done any creative writing or any sort for a number of years, and it's been very slow going trying to write up my application. I thought I'd post what I've come up with so far to show just to show that I'm still around and keen to play.

WIP Purulus Region 39 History Most Puri have no interest in their ancestors or the origins of their kind, but their history as told by the Mosquito Shamans begins with an elven tribe exiled from a distant homeland for unjust cause and then lured by deceptive dreams to a swamp by a pair of monstrous demi-gods named Vys and Kot, fleshy, colossal maggots, to worship and serve at their whim. With nowhere else to go and threatened by the giant spearmouth mosquitos that obeyed the cruel gods, the tribe settled in the swamp, resigned to their fate. Plagued by sickness and the steep sacrificial demands of their masters, they eked out a pitiful existence for generations, but all the while wise shamans among their number studied the swamp, the plants and wildlife, and built up a wealth of knowledge. The shamans devised a scent that would repel the spearmouths, a brew that would give courage and numbness to pain, and a poison potent enough to kill gods. With these, led by their shamans clad in fearsome mosquito masks, the tribe slew Vys and Kot, and won their freedom. Over time the corpses of the two dead demi-gods turned to stone and became the mountains in the north of Purulus, and there the Mosquito Shamans built their most sacred and secluded lodges, forbidden to all outside their fellowship, where they would retreat, those that survived, when the cities fell to the armies of Dejan. In modern times it is the only place they may be found, hidden in Mount Vys and Kot. Until the Dejan's conquest, the Mosquito Shamans were at the top of Purii society, maintaining their position by hoarding knowledge, monopolizing medicine, concoctions that granted visions, a pleasing numbness, or brief euphoria, and most of all the scent that wards away the spearmouths. Rickety cities built from bamboo, mud and resin grew around their grand swamp lodges, their dense population able to sustain themselves from the tainted abundance of the swamp. They gathered, hunted, and herded. On the coast they fished and practiced aquaculture. Lack of food was rarely an issue, but population growth was kept in check by disease and violence. Contact with the outside world was limited, the Purii quickly developed a well-earned reputation as carriers of disease. Outsiders very seldom visited, but some local traders would venture out, most often traveling by sea or river, and bands of raiders frequently left to seek plunder to bring home. The Mosquito Shamans kept close watch on any bandit or merchant who began to gather too much wealth, sending mercenaries to knock them back down a notch or two, lest they threaten their power. The disorganized Puri warriors proved no match for Dejan's disciplined armies when they arrived, but rampant disease and strange wildlife took a heavy toll on the invaders. In return they wreaked their vengeance on the Puri. All but one city was burnt to ash and a majority of the population was either enslaved or slaughtered. The last standing city was renamed Dejaria and became the capital of the latest Imperial province. More to come Geography Save for the pair of mountains at the northern border, the entirety of Purulus is covered by a vast swamp, teeming with life. The flora and fauna of the swamp are present nowhere else on Emjata, and attempts to introduce any non-native flora and fauna inevitably fails, as does attempts at introducing native flora and fauna elsewhere. The countless variety of vibrant plantlife, growing thick and tall, has one notable absence, that of any hardwood trees. The trees that do grow tend to be tall and spindly, lacking in bulk, making for poor construction material. Local wildlife consists almost entirely of arthropods, including a few gigantic varieties such as the towering, horned megasoma and the much-feared spearmouth mosquito, with some species of mollusc inhabiting the coastal salt marsh. Throughout the swamp, an overwhelming barrage of odours bombards the senses. Stenches of rot and decay competes and intermingles with the pleasing scents of flowers in bloom. More to come People and Culture The elves of Purulus call themselves the Purii, while the Empire named them the Purulosii, but most outsiders refer to them derogatorily as bog elves, or boggarts. The average Puri slouches at about five feet tall. They are pale skinned, with a green tint that darkens the more they are exposed to sunlight. They are usually marked by disease, past or present, most showing pustules or pustule scars on their bare flesh, and less commonly yellow, red, or weeping eyes, missing teeth, or bloated, pot bellies. They have long, pointed ears common to elves, though the pointed tips are known to curve out and down with certain illnesses. They have fine features and vainly tend to their appearance, even the poorest among them can be found routinely applying paints and powders to their faces and dressing as grandly as they can in colourful clothing made of dyed cloth and chitin, and enviously admiring the wealthy who blend local fashion with that out of the outside world. More to come Government Economy Faith

Could I reserve 39?

I wouldn't mind giving it a try.  The whole gross, bleak vibe really appeals to me, and it's not one I've seen many game ads evoking.   I've never really got into black metal but I did see they listed Godspeed You! Black Emperor in their "music that helped" list and I've been a huge fan of theirs for a long time.

Thanks for the advice.

I've been giving some thought to running a game of one of Legacy: Life Among the Ruins or Free from the Yoke, two PbtA games with more of a big picture focus where players control factions in addition to individual characters.   Just checking to see if there's any interest around in taking part in a game of either.  I'm happy to answer any questions anyone might have about the two systems and I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences playing them.