Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

Sorry, the mismatch between my phone and these boards strikes again.

This situation is obviously unstable. The Outer Ones are consistently trying to break into this new reality before it becomes stable. The PCs are working to maintain this reality.

Basically, this setting blends Reality Quakes with

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

Still trying.

Basically this setting blends The Madness Dossier with a Mage: the Ascension like setting. Feel free to replace WoD Mages and supernaturals with who you like. The Mages and their conflicts with each other and the Outer Ones are behind the scenes of this reality.

The Outer Ones are left undefined so that you can pick and choose your preferred ultimate terrors.

More later.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

The very pulp/comic book reality chosen by humanity's defenders has a logic to it. To keep out the Outer Ones and sustain a viable reality for humanity and the rest of Earth's biosphere and spiritual sphere were somewhat contradictory goals. Any reality bubble capable of protecting and nurturing life and spirit would need to connect to the Collective Unconscious. However, the Collective Unconscious is the easiest way for the Outer Ones to attack humanity and drain them of the very essence that allows free thought and individuality.

However, by using the Collective Consciousness, pop culture and similar material the Outer Ones could be blocked. The bizarre realms of the pulp magazines and early comic books weirdly blended both the Collective Unconscious and the Collective Consciousness in a fairly contradictory mess. The Outer Ones can't make heads or tails of it.

The great problem is that the inherent contradictions weaken the reality bubble that shields humanity. Mages, and those supernaturals allied with them, have to patch over the contradictions and prevent Reality Quakes from destroying the reality bubble.

The longer the bubble lasts the more stable it is. However, the more stable the bubble the more desperate the hungry Outer Ones become.

A major strategy has been to use the pulp versions of the solar system to place most of the contradictions off planet and away from humanity's attention. Thus the horrors that threaten humanity are hidden in the jungle temples of Venus, the ancient tombs of Mars, the ruined cities of Mercury, the strange miniature island worlds of the asteroids, and the tundras and tiagias of the moons of Jupiter. Titan, the icy mystery moon of Saturn, also seems to be filled with secrets and perils.

More later

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

Once, the moon was white and dead as ash. It was March 14th, 1519 that the moon turned to fire. Records say that on its eastern limb, a great maw opened, and a flash of brilliant light shone. A fire crept across its face like an ember fallen upon lace, and ever after it has glowed upon a changed world. A cataclysm followed; it is said that the earth shook for three days and nights without pause, that the seas rose and swallowed entire cities, that spring and summer were as winter, that there was a rain of blood-red stones, that crops failed and turned to rot overnight, and that women and beasts begat twisted monsters.

Wherever the bruise-light of the moon falls, the air is laden with potential. Day or night, if the moon can be seen, words have more power and the supernatural awakens. Demons emerge from the ground, beasts spoken of only in ancient tales walk again, and werewolves and vampires take their true form. Witches and sorcerers are at their strongest, and they work twisted magic.

The old kingdoms could not survive. The cities became as charnel houses. Some said it was the end of times, but no trumpets rang out; no riders went forth. Though most perished, many survived, bolted behind strong stone walls, or else guided by providence in the chaotic wilderness.

In time, the cataclysm subsided, and a new spring has come. This year is Anno 1526, and much has been learned about the nature of this new-created world. Travel is still virtually impossible for most, and only slowly have survivors emerged from their keeps to resettle the ruined world. They face beasts long thought to be legends, mortals who have learned to harness the strange powers of the moonstones, and a world reshaped but hauntingly familiar.

For a world map, start with this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...uropa_1519.JPG

Then draw a circle a few pixels wide around each major fort or city. Everything outside of those is unknown wilderness.

In game terms, the world is normal mana by default, and high when the moon is visible. Moonstones -- the crimson meteorites, not hecatolite -- are naturally occurring manastones worth a few points each and recharged when in moonlight. It is up to you what creatures are resurrected magical beings from a previous era of magic, which ones were once human beings twisted by magical radiation, and which are merely illusions or rumor, but it is clear that SOMETHING is still at large and can destroy entire settlements in hours.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

I'm also getting Torg: Possibility Wars and Laundry Files vibes.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

It's the same idea of playing with reality for desperate stakes. I've more ideas on the setting. I need to get them in order.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

The world from before the present reality bubble still exists. The Mages call it Backstage. Paradox has collapsed here and almost all of humanity has been taken to the new reality.

Most of Backstage is uninhabitable because of the influence of the Outer Ones. Basically, nothing can dream in the Backstage. This means that most mammals and birds are dead in the Backstage. Mages, who build protected places in the Backstage don't have to worry about that. Nor do those living in the Backstage in protected areas. Mages, Changelings, Garou and other Fera, can create protected areas.

Zombies roam the Backstage. Being mindless undead, Zombies don't dream nor do they need to.
Not all Zombies were human. Zombie bulls, dogs, mountain lions, bears, and others are serious threats.

The greatest advantage to traveling in the Backstage is getting were you're going quickly and undetectably.

More later.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

Instead of Undead... those who cannot dream* are very susceptible to the Dreamless. This is an entity of the Outer Ones, it slips in and replaces a creatures need for dreams by supplying them... something similar, but differently horrendous, ever-waking madness.


You can also have undead zombies. I mean, things will only manage to survive for so long in a state of eternal wakefulness, seemingly rabid creatures will begin suffering breakdown and will eventually die from never getting sufficient rest, thus supplying the Ever-Hungry with bodies for the zombie hordes.

However, the Dreamless might survive long enough to breed. And with strange aeons, new creatures evolve that can survive the constant mad motion, that survive longer and even semi-thrive in this mad new world of theirs...


* Some people even flirt with "temporarily" letting the Dreamless in... at first it keeps them active when exhaustion would collapse them, and if they can keep themselves together enough to rest, sleep, and (most importantly) occasionally dream, they stave off the worst of the madness. Embracing some Dreamlessness gives them abilities and insights mortals and mages do not have access to... but the (hidden cost and) risk is great, and many do not trust any who bear the stigma of the Dreamless, the sunken cheeks, the heavy bags of exhaustion under the eyes, the manic gleam of energy in their pupils, the stutters, the shakes, the lack of focus, the need to keep moving and the signs of constant hunger...

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

This is brilliant, it also allows me to make the Kindren and the Cathayans threats with serious power bases in the Backstage. The Vampires could be excluded from the reality bubble were Changelings, Garou and Fera were vital allies to maintain it. And Wraiths weren't excludable.

It gives the campaign new sources of danger.

Re: New Fantasy Setting Seeds.
 

How's the geography work - is the science fiction world only in small bubbles and the Backstage is outside, or is it the whole world and the Backstage is a different layer?

It seems like, this is inspired (and Cold Comfort Farm is even technically set in the future in the background, so it even makes sense), but any particular reason besides the fact that OOC it would be fun?