200 years ago the empire of Gendalia, and the earth were just a normal earth-like planet and a normal earth-like empire. The gendalian empire was a sophisticated empire of scholars, philosophers and tremendous military power and technology that wasn't seen in any other nation on the face of the planet. It was ruled by Emperor Rodais Silverblood, the first foreigner to ever acquire rule of the empire trough conquering it. The empire covered a whole continent, the mountain and forest continent of Xeraut (one continent out of five) it also colonised more than half of the desert continent of Jivhalin, much to the locals anger. (So far, it's not that much different than the setting for Scourge of the Hellgates)
One day however, much was lost. Seemingly from nowhere rocks from the sky hit the earth, one after the other they came in all sizes. After the first few hits the world had been plunged into neverending winter and most of the wildlife had died, and countless Gendalian cities had been wiped out. People prayed to their gods, people prayed to Helm to protect them with no answers, mages prayed to Mystra for a spell to save them, with no answer, they prayed to all sorts of gods and were abandoned. Or simply unheard. In the end, they simply prayed, prayed to whoever would hear them. And something happened, for a few moments the bombardment stopped. The skies cleared of the clouds of dust that covered the atmosphere, revealing the desert-like landscape that was formerly a lush forestland.
A gargantuan being in the form of a black dragon towered above the Ironhorn mountain peaks, it cast it's gaze upon the land and then spoke a few words out of a mind-numbing alien tongue. Suddenly, all light dissapeared for seven seconds. When it returned the countless asteroids that had not yet hit the ground were floating mid-air as if for them time itself had stopped. When the people looked up, the endless silver grey sky of the astral plane greeted them. Here they have lived for 200 years, their planet drifting trough the silver void endlessly.
The being, that the Gendalians came to know as the Dragonlord, after it had saved them he/she/it retreated to the top of the highest peak in the Ironhorn mountains were it turned itself into a huge statue. It's will becoming one with the land, and it's will alone is what keeps the world alive and somewhat normal despite all the weirdness of the Astral plane. Of course, lots of the weirdness still slip trough. As for the dragonlord itself, there is lots of mystery surrounding the being. Some say he was a powerful god who heard the prayers of the Gendalians, some say he was an avatar of something more powerful than gods and some say he was a powerful god, spawned from the prayers of the millions praying for someone to save them. Most agree that they will most likely never know, the fact that his will is keeping them alive is enough for them.
So, how did everyday life change for these people? Well that's the most interesting part, it changed alot. The most obvious thing being the fact that the astral plane is timeless, and thus there can't be any new Gendalians born nor does anyone age or die of age. However, by the will of the Dragonlord, a newborn Gendalian is not born as a Humanoid, but as an animal. What kind of animal a person is born as is a random thing, determined only the fancy of the Dragonlord. When the newborn Gendalian dies in his animal form, he/she assumes his humanoid form, be it human or any other of the countless humanoids. Now, both forms are immortal seeing as time does not exist in the astral plane, so a person can go for an endless ammount of time before becoming humanoid. When the animal dies it assumes it's human shape. When the human dies, it's body eventually becomes stone and circulates the atmosphere along with the countless asteroids that circulate the world.
One day however, much was lost. Seemingly from nowhere rocks from the sky hit the earth, one after the other they came in all sizes. After the first few hits the world had been plunged into neverending winter and most of the wildlife had died, and countless Gendalian cities had been wiped out. People prayed to their gods, people prayed to Helm to protect them with no answers, mages prayed to Mystra for a spell to save them, with no answer, they prayed to all sorts of gods and were abandoned. Or simply unheard. In the end, they simply prayed, prayed to whoever would hear them. And something happened, for a few moments the bombardment stopped. The skies cleared of the clouds of dust that covered the atmosphere, revealing the desert-like landscape that was formerly a lush forestland.
A gargantuan being in the form of a black dragon towered above the Ironhorn mountain peaks, it cast it's gaze upon the land and then spoke a few words out of a mind-numbing alien tongue. Suddenly, all light dissapeared for seven seconds. When it returned the countless asteroids that had not yet hit the ground were floating mid-air as if for them time itself had stopped. When the people looked up, the endless silver grey sky of the astral plane greeted them. Here they have lived for 200 years, their planet drifting trough the silver void endlessly.
The being, that the Gendalians came to know as the Dragonlord, after it had saved them he/she/it retreated to the top of the highest peak in the Ironhorn mountains were it turned itself into a huge statue. It's will becoming one with the land, and it's will alone is what keeps the world alive and somewhat normal despite all the weirdness of the Astral plane. Of course, lots of the weirdness still slip trough. As for the dragonlord itself, there is lots of mystery surrounding the being. Some say he was a powerful god who heard the prayers of the Gendalians, some say he was an avatar of something more powerful than gods and some say he was a powerful god, spawned from the prayers of the millions praying for someone to save them. Most agree that they will most likely never know, the fact that his will is keeping them alive is enough for them.
So, how did everyday life change for these people? Well that's the most interesting part, it changed alot. The most obvious thing being the fact that the astral plane is timeless, and thus there can't be any new Gendalians born nor does anyone age or die of age. However, by the will of the Dragonlord, a newborn Gendalian is not born as a Humanoid, but as an animal. What kind of animal a person is born as is a random thing, determined only the fancy of the Dragonlord. When the newborn Gendalian dies in his animal form, he/she assumes his humanoid form, be it human or any other of the countless humanoids. Now, both forms are immortal seeing as time does not exist in the astral plane, so a person can go for an endless ammount of time before becoming humanoid. When the animal dies it assumes it's human shape. When the human dies, it's body eventually becomes stone and circulates the atmosphere along with the countless asteroids that circulate the world.
From this world...
......and the mind of the Nine....
....comes
......and the mind of the Nine....
....comes
Deserter - Chapter 1
You were a soldier in the service of Gendalia, a champion in the war with the Tizylian empire, the first interplanar war in Gendalian history, there were battlefields in all various planes of existance, from the highest of the upper planes to the deepest layers of the abyss. You fought in them all and you won countless victories in the name of Gendalia. But the conflict went on, some speculated it would become the next most long-standing conflict since the Blood war. Both empires fueled by their arrogance and inability to accept defeat. But it didn't.
In the end both empires had battled each other to a standstill, both had the power to anihilate the other, but none did. The two emperors, Arden Wroon and Rodais Silverblood met up by the statue of the Dragonlord on the top of the highest peak of the ironhorn mountains, and a peace treaty was declared. The people rejoiced.
As for you, the soldiers believed they would finally be allowed to return home to their families, but by the emperors own words "The war has ended, conflict had not." There was still need for soldiers, still need for champions.
So one day, you and your two long-time friend, Marat and Anastria, led a group of 100 Gendalian soldiers away from the clutches of the Gendalian empire, defeating anyone who tried to prevent your escape. It is unclear what your reasonings were, many suspect it was because you were tired of conflict, but many also says it was more than that. Only you can truly know why you acted as you did.
For the last year you and your company of men have been battling Gendalia at every turn while you made your way across the wasteland of Gendalia. Forever hounded by your nemesis, the paladin Porhart Locksley.
Many people have cheered to your successes, thinking you would be the first of many deserters to actually succeed. But deep inside you have known they were wrong, because for every victory you lost fare more men than you killed, for every mile you crossed you lost food like an army of elephants. The end was inevetable.
And now you lay here, face down in the dirt after being thrown into the air by cannonfire, battle echoes around you from what you know is the final stand of the deserters....
Estimated length: 8 hours
Level start: 7
Level end: 8-9
Story: Heavy
Hack n slah: Medium to heavy
Tricks n traps: Not sure yet
Note: The fact that you are a deserter does not limit you to a chaotic alignment, you can dream up all kinds of lawful reasons for deserting.
