The world I have started to work on for our BW game

[Donny D.]

I wanted a world very much in the flavor of Tolkiens Middle Earth but different enough I can still be creative with the world and story without having to worry about existing cannon. I know it is very similar to many worlds out there already (ala Middle Earth and Midnight) but I thought I would give world building a go before using someone elses world. Here is what I have come up with so far.

1st Age
Age of Light. A mythic age of the great and powerful kingdoms of Men, Elves and Dwarves. Stories and myths of great heroes of legend from the Age of Light are still told to this day and inspire many.

2nd Age
Age of Darkness (you knew it was coming)... The Dark God Charnoth, in coming to earth, ends the 1st age in war, blood, and darkness. His enduring onslaught forced men into secluded groups of refugees seeking safety and many turn to barbarism.
The Dwarves lock their mighty mountain gates and remain within their dark, vast holds for long centuries. The Elves, who understand the most what is at stake, fight the Dark One and his armies throughout the second age and the Elven kingdom of Yrantha finally drives Him from the world, at great cost to themselves. Most of their great Citadels were seiged and destroyed by Great Trolls and Spiders and worst of all, the orcs, who were created by the Dark One from Elven stock. These new orcs hate the Elves above all for they represent the hight from wence they fell. The Elves who were greatest of all races in the 1st age are all but spent in the 2nd.

3rd Age
Known as the Reawakening this age is now over 2000 years old. Following Charnoths defeat, this age sees the resilient race of men rebuilding their kingdoms. The Dwarves once again opened their ancient holds and the Elves begin to sorrow over all that has been lost and cannot be restored. For the Elves the world will always bear her eternal scars from the Dark One's war.

Play will begin in the 3rd age with troubling tales of the reemerging of the Dark One's servants. Trolls are multiplying in wilderness areas and Orcs are once again raiding from their mountainous caves. Tales that Giant Spiders and other ancient and evil creatures are once again coming forth into the world will produce many would be heroes, as an ominous Darkness is gathering over the Elven Kingdom of Yrantha far to the North.


Now... Here is what I see as happening in the world during play.
The Elven kingdom of Yrantha has been seduced by the Dark God Charoth and have become evil and life hating. He plans to complete his task of destruction this time by taking out the Elves first and although he has won Yrantha, there are still other, smaller, kingdoms of Elves that he still fears. (Please, if anyone has implimented the Dark elf race for their games proposed here http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=323#323 please let me know how to represent these elves in play)

Charnoth Fears. Although he is evil incarnate and hateful and vicious his fear is his greatest weakness. He has tasted defeat once before and fears it this time around too. He is more subtle and cunning this time and uses 'dark seductions and temptations' to overcome his enemies if possible. I would like to represent this 'seducing to the darkness' somehow in gameplay but I'm not sure how.

Any Dark Elf ideas, or 'dark seduction' ideas would be greatly appreciated (as well as other 'story' ideas.)

[Kublai]

Dark Elf Tongue Twisters are the real enemies to Elfdom. With their powers of Persuasion, they can quickly break down an Elf's mind and reduce him to Spite. Thus, they make the perfect villains.

Dark Elves won't appear different than normal Elves. Use this to your advantage. Since normal Elves wouldn't dare think that their neighbor has gone to the Spiteful side, a Dark Elf could act pretty much right under everyone's noses.

Use the Dark Elves as Charnoth's Leiutenents. As Elves, they are still bad-ass enough to kick the toughest Troll's butt, so they could easily dominate a group of more "chaotic" baddies. They also can easily pretend to be unspoilt Elves and receive the grace his is deserved from the other races. Insidious, I say!

[luke]

Ah, the DE lps, songs, resources, etc are all done. They need a little playtest and review before being ready for release. Expect them in the Annual.

-L

[Manicrack]

This is going far away from middle earth feel, but add demons as a non-physical enemy, that corrupts places and people, and, well, tempts them to sin.
Just an idea.
Also, the dark god should try to create a war between two of his enemies.
For example, he makes all people in a human kingdom belive that elves are evil and ought to be destroyed and a war starts.
Think King of Rohan, controlled by his adviser.
So, at some point war is just everywhere, and the dark lord(or whatever his name) is grinning right in the middle of it.
Once a war between two sides stops, because one of them one, he sends in his army to take over the winner, now that their army is weakened.

-Crack

[Donny D.]

Ah, the DE lps, songs, resources, etc are all done. They need a little playtest and review before being ready for release. Expect them in the Annual.

-L

Great! What is the tentative release date for the Annual?

[Donny D.]

This is going far away from middle earth feel, but add demons as a non-physical enemy, that corrupts places and people, and, well, tempts them to sin.
Just an idea.
Also, the dark god should try to create a war between two of his enemies.
For example, he makes all people in a human kingdom belive that elves are evil and ought to be destroyed and a war starts.
Think King of Rohan, controlled by his adviser.
So, at some point war is just everywhere, and the dark lord(or whatever his name) is grinning right in the middle of it.
Once a war between two sides stops, because one of them one, he sends in his army to take over the winner, now that their army is weakened.

-Crack

I don't think I'll use the demon idea but I really love the idea of Charnoth working behind the scenes getting his enemies to fight each other. I'm definately thinking the Humans and the Dwarves. He knows that last time the Dwarves just shut themselves in their deep halls and doesn't want to have to contend with them later so he will try to get the Humans to destroy them now. Plus I LIKE the idea of a great war between the Dwarves and Humans. I think I will have the Elves of Yrantha (Dark Elves) play both sides against each other without anyone knowing they have joined Charnoth. Perhaps the remaining kingdoms of 'good' Elves will have to come to the rescue again (unless they too are brought into the Human/Dwarf war). I could see the whole world enveloped in paranoia and war while only a few who know the truth can try to fight the true darkness (at least until the world figures out they have been duped and turn to fight Yrantha and Charnoths other evil forces). I'm wondering how to get the players involved in all this.

Another problem I see is an end game. How can the players actually win? In LotR everything hinged on the destruction of the ring, so no matter how big Saurons forces grew and how overwhelmed the forces of good were the good guys could still win if they could just destroy that ring. I think I would like something to this effect in this campaign since by the time the world would realize they have been duped they will have spent themselves fighting each other and not be able to mount any real opposition. Plus I see Charnoth as even bringing Dragons into the mix (they haven't been seen since the 1st age). Toward the end of the Campaign things are gonna look pretty hopeless for the good guys.