The Ring of Fire and Dragons.
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Scope
The motivation behind building The Ring of Fire and Dragons.
Stories can't happen without a world to play them out.
I love being immersed in story. I want to know all the lore, all the whys, all the details. So building the world is fun, but makiing it breathe, that needs other people. I can't tell you what people would do, or choose. I'm just one person, I need to see what other people would/will do.
So many "what if...", so little time.
What if Terry Pratchett wrote satire about the Pacific Northwest?
What if the classic DnD beasts evolved in North America?
What if exploration happened BUT colonialism never happened, because humans were compeating with... -- dragons, and elves, and dwarves, and etc -- so population levels never really got to the tipping point.
The goal of the project
Virtual Tabletop RPG - my storytelling space
I want my DnD group(s) to have the feeling of free will. Like their characters can choose to wander in any direction without falling off the edge of the world. There might be a cliff to fall off, but dang it, there will be something at the bottom.
I want my geography to tell me what animals or monsters inhabit that space. I want the placenames to point to a people's history, a particular group of settlers.
The Ring of Fire and Dragons.'s Unique Selling point
Local, Ridiculas, Fantastic
Utter silliness ballanced by geographic realism.
- A subspecies of Red Squirrel that has a sight weapon of "charm," and speaks "Squeekum."
- Or Litlikonsk, a North American true basilysk that can be found in areas with geothermal hot springs.
A celebration of Silly, with moments of terror and wonder, grief and joy.
Theme
Genre
High Fantasy with the feel of a modern urban fantasy, only not urban.
Tech resemples 14th century, just on the cusp of new ways of thinking; exploration, questioning classical (ie 1st century) theories.
Limits
- gunpowder does not workas well as magic
- engines will be outperformed by magic
Magic is available to all races, but harnessing it is difficult, similar to using the wind to power something.
Reader Experience
Unexpected Beauty and Complexity
- full of unexplored places, inspiring wanderlust
Cracks in the old ways of knowing, allowing for new inventions, theories
- opportunities to make something new, unique
Morally nuanced
- VERY few creatures are morally extreme
- documented alignments are suggestions not determined
Reader Tone
The world as a whole is balanced, but in regions... it depends.
- A world without shadows is a world without free will
- The brightest light casts the darkest shadows.
- The greatest evil is often hiding in plain sight, clothed as an angel of radience.
- Camalot does exist from time to time, but it is ephimeral
Recurring Themes
- Ruins of past civilizations, battles, ghost towns
- Re-occuring theme of things seeming fine on surface but being corrupt beneath
- Power struggles between status quo and new ideas/inventions
- the more absolute power is, the more it corrupts.. even, or especially, those who are supposed to be pure.
- Every moment of terror or grief is eventually countered by a moment of joy or wonder. And visa versa.
Character Agency
Character agency is directly related to level and reputation
- Bigger fish make bigger ripples
- Relationship and Rank provide access to power
The GM respects player agency and will do the utmost to refrain from "railroading" by limiting choices or "nerfing" conesquences of player actions.
- character death is a possibility
- players really are driving the story
Focus
Drama
Revival of the Red Empire
The Red Empiror was overthrown nearly 300 years ago, but the remnents of his power base were never destroyed, and now have built enough power to try to re-establish an empire led by a young dragon, the progeny of the old emperor. The Brigadire, the Blood Crow, and the Gore Crow are all preparing to stage a counter-revolution.
Soft power
The Cloud Kingdom (Peru). Origin of Llama caravans, currently the best way to transport goods over Ryopytav Mountains. Emporer of the Cloud Kingdom (Gold Dragon) wants to establish his offspring in Ryopytav mountains, possibly at old monestary ruins. Supportive of liberal government[/p ]
Eldath's Cascades. Challenging the orthodoxy of the Church of Eldath, could possibly expose Gore Crow's manipulations.
[Order of St Gwen Dragonsbane.
Trade Blockade
The presence of Kraken in the Dagger Inlet has blocked shipping in and out of Neverwinter, save for the small trickle that comes in over the Snow Squall pass. Inventors in Vantage are working on devloping airships capable of transporting significant quantities of goods, maybe even challenge the mountains?
New magic/alch/artifices drives market for exotic beasts/monsters
Emerald Enclave struggles to regulate, protect from overhunting, shut down black market
Status Quo is hard to break
Most temples only interested in gaining/guarding power
Most politiacl figures are scared of public opinion
The Ring of Fire and Dragons is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.
The Ring of Fire and Dragons is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Coyote & Crow. Portions of the materials used are property of Coyote & Crow ©Coyote & Crow, LLC.