Soterion
2010-01-09, 11:00 PM
Here's a setting I've been working on for a little while. I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether you'd be interested in playing this setting. I hope you like it; let me know if you don't. If I get some good feedback, I may post some starter characters I've created for this setting.
From the diary of Godebard Gunsmiter, Dwarven Cleric:
“Common Year 1132: Once again I find myself in the city-state of Nuova Aerilisia, where the aether runs through the streets like water, the guilds war for dominance against a weakened prince and against each other, and the common folk are merely staying alive. Staying alive.
Hark to my tale of thaumological marvels, of dancing the night away in the city’s salons, of dragondust dealers on every corner, of how we finally stuck it to the Man…”
The city of Nuova Aerilisia is a booming city-state on the Western Oerik* coast. Five decades after the end of the great Mage Wars, during the 1080s, the city has fully recovered from its wounds, and is now a haven for thaumological progress. This is aided by its access to the deep Dwarven aether mines of the Humpsaddle Mountains to the east. Millions of tonnes of aether are pumped from the mines through Nuova Aerilisia every year, although recent minor wars between Nouva Aerilisia and various Dwarven nations, as well as N.A.’s support of the break-away Elvish island of Guongdinao has resulted in the Dwarven Most Secret Brotherhood of the Sons of Moradin* (MSBSM) imposing a blockade on the city, and aether prices have skyrocketed. Huge aether pipelines crisscross the city, running from the mountainous foothills surrounding N.A. to the Empyrean Gasworks at the mouth of Luminiferox Bay where huge canvas dirigibles are pumped full of the magic-bearing aether, to sail across the ocean for trade among the nations surrounding the Oceanum Titanicum*.
Politically, the city is a principality ruled by the High Prince and his ministers. However, the misrule of Prince Septimus Aquilences the Paranoid has resulted in a general mistrust of government on the part of the big guilds, the noble merchant houses, and the ordinary folk. This has not been helped by the appointment of Prince Leobardus Pios the Rabbit to the post of High Prince, for Pios is a weak, cowardly, and self-righteous man who hides behind a smokescreen of folksy wisdom and devotion to Heward*, god of thaumology. He is widely disliked.
Most power is in the hands of the guilds, such as the Left-Handed Sparrow Guild, the Most Serene Guild of Strategists and Courtesans, and the Guild of Water, Wheat, and Wintergreen. These guilds have largely left behind the days of open warfare in the streets, instead preferring a lifestyle of intrigue and Byzantine political sniping.
Many young people, tired of the city’s endless wars with the other nations of the Western Oerik* coast, have become followers of the cult of Ehlonna*, which emphasizes oneness with nature, free love, and pacifism. These young people wear their hair long, rarely bathe, and enjoy smoking pipeweed, all of which causes much consternation among their elders. Protests on the part of the Ehlonnans* often results in municipal gridlock, as governmental ministers barricade themselves in their palaces to avoid crowds of riotous youth.
The retreat of the guilds from the streets has left ample space for the streetgangs to flourish, especially with the increased trade in dragondust brought overseas by kobold immigrants. Dragondust, which causes hallucinations, feelings of euphoria, and reckless overconfidence, is becoming a serious problem, as addicts are becoming increasingly numerous and dangerous to ordinary citizens.
Mages have produced many marvels of thaumological advancement, and ordinary Aerilisians can now spend an evening at one of the city’s many magic lantern shows, or listen to one of the new portable “vox magi” devices, which allow people to listen to bards or town-criers wherever they go. Many popular bards have made residence in the city, and the new style of “menestrello” brings crowds of eager adolescents to the city’s salons to “line-dance” the night away.
Menestrello isn’t universally popular, of course. Roving bands of leather-clad young toughs, calling themselves by the ironic name “catamites”, prefer the screeching, arrhythmic sound of the bards trained at the Academy of Olidammara* and often brawl with menestrellons in the streets.
Popular fashion for men includes long trousers, waistcoats, and frock coats. The new feelings of casualness mean that cravats are no longer considered mandatory among young people. Denim trousers and tight shirts are also acceptable. Most men still wear boots, although cobbled shoes are becoming increasingly popular, as are rubber-soled “rogues”, although many men see them as women’s wear.
Popular fashion for women includes sundresses, loose gowns, and robes. Young women are scandalizing their elders by wearing pantaloons, especially tight trousers and “short pants” that religious and public officials declare are contributing to the decline of city morality. Tight shirts printed with slogans are also becoming fashionable. Many young women wear knee-high stockings and rubber-soled “rogues”. Wheeled boots are also popular for young women on the go.
Enchanted “horseless carriages” clog the city’s cobbled streets, as do velocipedes and rickshaws. Young women on wheeled boots zip in and out of traffic, occasionally causing accidents. The new-fangled “firearms” aren’t allowed in the city, although some are still smuggled in. Most bravos rely instead on the old standbys of sword, axe, or bow, and a knife is always handy.
Mages visiting the city can find shelter at one of the various temples or monasteries, or can visit the University of Aulde Aerilisia to confer with wizards and sorcerers there. The Library is said to be one of the world’s largest, especially on matters to do with aether-flow and aethercraft.
Foreign relations, particularly with the Flan* in the east, have always been fraught in Nuova Aerilisia, but Southern influences on N.A.’s youth culture are increasing, and the “Southern sound” among menestrello bards as well as “chop-socky” magic lantern shows has become very popular. Just mind the ninjas.
Adventuresome individuals can find action in the Old Necropolis, which houses Nuova Aerilisia. Like many other parts of the city, the Necropolis has become overrun by gangs; however, these hoodlums count liches and vampires among their number, and the unwary often save the undertakers the cost of transporting their corpses to their final rest by walking there themselves.
The various guilds always have opportunities for sharp young men and women to advance themselves, either through combat or guile. Geryon, exiled Duke of Abaddon, loves interplanar intrigue, and for those adventurers more experienced and better armed, a visit to his elegant palazzo along the Via Angelica offers the chance at missions of high risk and high reward.
For our heroes, then, Nuova Aerilisia offers a kaleidoscope of adventure, from Elvish counterculture to Southern kung-fu monks, from warring menestrellons and catamites to dragondust druglords. Visit scenic Nuova Aerilisia, where adventure awaits!
All starred (*) words or concepts are from the World of Greyhawk (r) and have been developed by TSR, Inc., Wizards of the Coast, Gary Gygax, or affiliated persons. This post gives full credit for their development to the above, and acknowledges no ownership of same. The purpose of this posting is for non-commercial education; the writer has received and shall receive no monetary or non-monetary compensation for the use of concepts, characters, or words trademarked, registered or copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast and its subsidiaries. The writer retains the rights to all concepts and characters developed solely by him. Note that this disclaimer does not constitute a legally binding document on the part of Wizards of the Coast or the writer, but exists solely to acknowledge the rights and privileges of Wizards of the Coast.
From the diary of Godebard Gunsmiter, Dwarven Cleric:
“Common Year 1132: Once again I find myself in the city-state of Nuova Aerilisia, where the aether runs through the streets like water, the guilds war for dominance against a weakened prince and against each other, and the common folk are merely staying alive. Staying alive.
Hark to my tale of thaumological marvels, of dancing the night away in the city’s salons, of dragondust dealers on every corner, of how we finally stuck it to the Man…”
The city of Nuova Aerilisia is a booming city-state on the Western Oerik* coast. Five decades after the end of the great Mage Wars, during the 1080s, the city has fully recovered from its wounds, and is now a haven for thaumological progress. This is aided by its access to the deep Dwarven aether mines of the Humpsaddle Mountains to the east. Millions of tonnes of aether are pumped from the mines through Nuova Aerilisia every year, although recent minor wars between Nouva Aerilisia and various Dwarven nations, as well as N.A.’s support of the break-away Elvish island of Guongdinao has resulted in the Dwarven Most Secret Brotherhood of the Sons of Moradin* (MSBSM) imposing a blockade on the city, and aether prices have skyrocketed. Huge aether pipelines crisscross the city, running from the mountainous foothills surrounding N.A. to the Empyrean Gasworks at the mouth of Luminiferox Bay where huge canvas dirigibles are pumped full of the magic-bearing aether, to sail across the ocean for trade among the nations surrounding the Oceanum Titanicum*.
Politically, the city is a principality ruled by the High Prince and his ministers. However, the misrule of Prince Septimus Aquilences the Paranoid has resulted in a general mistrust of government on the part of the big guilds, the noble merchant houses, and the ordinary folk. This has not been helped by the appointment of Prince Leobardus Pios the Rabbit to the post of High Prince, for Pios is a weak, cowardly, and self-righteous man who hides behind a smokescreen of folksy wisdom and devotion to Heward*, god of thaumology. He is widely disliked.
Most power is in the hands of the guilds, such as the Left-Handed Sparrow Guild, the Most Serene Guild of Strategists and Courtesans, and the Guild of Water, Wheat, and Wintergreen. These guilds have largely left behind the days of open warfare in the streets, instead preferring a lifestyle of intrigue and Byzantine political sniping.
Many young people, tired of the city’s endless wars with the other nations of the Western Oerik* coast, have become followers of the cult of Ehlonna*, which emphasizes oneness with nature, free love, and pacifism. These young people wear their hair long, rarely bathe, and enjoy smoking pipeweed, all of which causes much consternation among their elders. Protests on the part of the Ehlonnans* often results in municipal gridlock, as governmental ministers barricade themselves in their palaces to avoid crowds of riotous youth.
The retreat of the guilds from the streets has left ample space for the streetgangs to flourish, especially with the increased trade in dragondust brought overseas by kobold immigrants. Dragondust, which causes hallucinations, feelings of euphoria, and reckless overconfidence, is becoming a serious problem, as addicts are becoming increasingly numerous and dangerous to ordinary citizens.
Mages have produced many marvels of thaumological advancement, and ordinary Aerilisians can now spend an evening at one of the city’s many magic lantern shows, or listen to one of the new portable “vox magi” devices, which allow people to listen to bards or town-criers wherever they go. Many popular bards have made residence in the city, and the new style of “menestrello” brings crowds of eager adolescents to the city’s salons to “line-dance” the night away.
Menestrello isn’t universally popular, of course. Roving bands of leather-clad young toughs, calling themselves by the ironic name “catamites”, prefer the screeching, arrhythmic sound of the bards trained at the Academy of Olidammara* and often brawl with menestrellons in the streets.
Popular fashion for men includes long trousers, waistcoats, and frock coats. The new feelings of casualness mean that cravats are no longer considered mandatory among young people. Denim trousers and tight shirts are also acceptable. Most men still wear boots, although cobbled shoes are becoming increasingly popular, as are rubber-soled “rogues”, although many men see them as women’s wear.
Popular fashion for women includes sundresses, loose gowns, and robes. Young women are scandalizing their elders by wearing pantaloons, especially tight trousers and “short pants” that religious and public officials declare are contributing to the decline of city morality. Tight shirts printed with slogans are also becoming fashionable. Many young women wear knee-high stockings and rubber-soled “rogues”. Wheeled boots are also popular for young women on the go.
Enchanted “horseless carriages” clog the city’s cobbled streets, as do velocipedes and rickshaws. Young women on wheeled boots zip in and out of traffic, occasionally causing accidents. The new-fangled “firearms” aren’t allowed in the city, although some are still smuggled in. Most bravos rely instead on the old standbys of sword, axe, or bow, and a knife is always handy.
Mages visiting the city can find shelter at one of the various temples or monasteries, or can visit the University of Aulde Aerilisia to confer with wizards and sorcerers there. The Library is said to be one of the world’s largest, especially on matters to do with aether-flow and aethercraft.
Foreign relations, particularly with the Flan* in the east, have always been fraught in Nuova Aerilisia, but Southern influences on N.A.’s youth culture are increasing, and the “Southern sound” among menestrello bards as well as “chop-socky” magic lantern shows has become very popular. Just mind the ninjas.
Adventuresome individuals can find action in the Old Necropolis, which houses Nuova Aerilisia. Like many other parts of the city, the Necropolis has become overrun by gangs; however, these hoodlums count liches and vampires among their number, and the unwary often save the undertakers the cost of transporting their corpses to their final rest by walking there themselves.
The various guilds always have opportunities for sharp young men and women to advance themselves, either through combat or guile. Geryon, exiled Duke of Abaddon, loves interplanar intrigue, and for those adventurers more experienced and better armed, a visit to his elegant palazzo along the Via Angelica offers the chance at missions of high risk and high reward.
For our heroes, then, Nuova Aerilisia offers a kaleidoscope of adventure, from Elvish counterculture to Southern kung-fu monks, from warring menestrellons and catamites to dragondust druglords. Visit scenic Nuova Aerilisia, where adventure awaits!
All starred (*) words or concepts are from the World of Greyhawk (r) and have been developed by TSR, Inc., Wizards of the Coast, Gary Gygax, or affiliated persons. This post gives full credit for their development to the above, and acknowledges no ownership of same. The purpose of this posting is for non-commercial education; the writer has received and shall receive no monetary or non-monetary compensation for the use of concepts, characters, or words trademarked, registered or copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast and its subsidiaries. The writer retains the rights to all concepts and characters developed solely by him. Note that this disclaimer does not constitute a legally binding document on the part of Wizards of the Coast or the writer, but exists solely to acknowledge the rights and privileges of Wizards of the Coast.