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View Full Version : The kickoff to my campaign



Zakama
2007-09-27, 04:17 PM
I wanted to get your opinions on the story I will tell the PC's at the first session to kickoff the campaign. Here goes:

The colony country of Norwalk is ruled by the Trondian Empire. The people’s parents and grandparents came over in colony ships from the empire 50 years ago, as scouts reported large amounts of resources, and plenty of areas to settle. One thing the scouts did not see the first time was the Inhabitants of Utara Island. That is the home of the Forest Gnomes. The Forest Gnomes are a sentient race that the empire is afraid of, as when the first military ships came to clear out the areas where the villages, they tried to clear “monsters” out an area of Utara Island. This area happened to be a farm just outside of their city, Laydon, and they rely on their farms for most of their food. These “monsters” are the equivalent of sheep or goats, and must be allowed to roam in the area for the plants to grow. Because of this, the Gnomes were forced to attack and kill the soldiers. Other than that, they are a peaceful race, unless provoked, as with the farm. The Empire has cut off all contact except for a few scholars sent to study them. The Empire is afraid. They haven’t forgotten the seemingly unprovoked attack. The Forest Gnomes are reaching a critical point in there society in that their farms are no longer enough to sustain them. The scholars, and hence the empire know this, and are not intervening. Some of the scholars are loyal to the empire and do not say anything. However, some of the scholars are disgusted that the empire is keeping this hushed up so as to kill of a sentient race, while keeping a good political face. Some of them have quit, but a few have taken more drastic measures. The area to the north of Norwalk was not colonized, as an oceanic current brings cold water down from farther north and into the lake there, making the area below freezing most of the year. However, some dwarves who were with the rebellious scholars discovered that the area underground is somewhat volcanic, and lava is flowing underground there. This has allowed the creation of the Jovan Pact, unknown to the empire. The cities there use geothermal heat for water and hot air. There is also a tunnel network under the city to avoid walking outside, and greenhouses to grow food.

Here is a map: http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2945/mapfk9.png

Oh, and ever read "Xenocide" by Orson Scott Card? Mmm-hm.

What do you think?