Elasco walked through the work shop, tubes, coils and beakers of many types bubbled buzzed and sparked as they converted raw materials into arcane essences. A gearwerk engine clanked and chugged powering the bellows of the forge as a clockwerk servitor hustled about tasks for the Master of the shop.
A wisp of smoke curled around Elasco's head forming into a tiny winged girl who giggled and flitted back to the man setting at the back of the shop a pipe clenched in his teeth aromatic smoke wafting about his head in small streamers. A scroll on the table before him and a revolver close at hand as he allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation.
"Ah Elasco, please sit and relax, I trust you brought the item." Master Rhaeg asked as he looked up listening to the small sprite chitter and giggle in his ear.
"Of course." Elasco set a small box down and opened it, Inside a small head piece of ivory, mounted on a silken band, small loops and broken chain links indicating it was only a portion of a larger piece. He brushed at a patch of his jacket that was singed and torn. "I had a bit of trouble on the docks, nothing to worry about though."
Boorie sucked in his breath and pushed the lever under his foot. the powerful catapult launched his glider forward. the rough wooden and wound rope structure shuddering as it released. The young boy whooped in a mix of fear and exhilaration as his small slender winged craft was hurtled over the ledge of his island.
Open skies surrounded him, far below the shape of a larger islands appeared in the layers of cloud and mist that separated it from he smaller drifting islands above. Far above the great forge burned warm and steady, and all around him schools of glimmering winged 'fish" swam and darted chasing smaller prey and gathering pollen from the heavy veil of wind drifting mix of spores and pollen.
Boorie twisted his body to shift his weight and yanked hard on the yoke swooping up and back in a tight turn the slender swept wings of his glider bowing and flexing as he angled back around to join the other young men testing their wings on the warm spring tide winds.
A dozen gliders of varied design formed into a loose wedge darting and swooping among a field of drifting boulders and free floating trees. each boy trying to prove he was the most skilled, and bolder pilot.
The Mekot cruiser "Graf Zhandae" cruised surrounded by sleek fast moving escorts. her gray and black hull blending into the overcast expanse of the Storm Reach, on her decks crewmen swabbed the decks, and tended to the huge oil fired steam turbines that powered the ships lifters and props,
Streaking along side a heavily armed single man FiegPanzer kept pace it's ball turrets and narrow pilots windows giving it a powerful lethal appearance. the formation trekked deeper into the Storm Reach searching for pirates plaguing the galleons who plied the routes between the Continent and it's occasional rival and tenuous trading partner Avalon. Her lookouts scanning the skies for hidden boulders, and uncharted drifts of shattered rock that made the voyage risky even without the constant risk of attack by ruthless opportunistic looking for a fat Galleon and it's cargo.
"Contact!"a crewman shouted as the wire needles jumped and moved crossing on the background. it's rate of change faster than a drifting rock.
" Single contact, forty Knots, strong return." a second crewman called.
" Sound to quarters." A deck officer ordered.
" Send the fliegers to inspect the contact."
On the bridge wings lights began to flicker signaling the escorts to break off and move to inspect the unseen ship in the clouds ahead. Three of the craft growled in response their powerful alchemical engines pouring power into their turbines and sending them howling off ahead of the Cruiser. Their pilots tightening their harnesses and gunners swinging their guns as they scanned for unseen enemies.
The Open skies are a place of wonder and danger, islands of stone as large as continents endlessly circling around the burning fire of the great forge, a legendary Machine that gives heat and light to the realms and held the chaotic abyss at bay beyond the great Pale.
Great kingdoms rise after a long dark age caused by a war beyond imagination. a war that destroyed two realms spanning empires and left one continent a barren waste, and the other a sea of shattered stone and drifting ruins. these Empires now reach out into the unsettled reaches of the realms seeking resources, prestige, and a means to ensure they are the dominant power in the realms.
Magic and technology gained from long difficult study of long lost tomes and machines found among the ruins of ancient cities give the folk of the realms the means to travel and tame the far flung pockets of civilization among the open skies.
Even as rumors of coming war grow,armies mass, and Leaders rattle their sabers a growing dread eclipses the fear of conflict. A darkness is coming, to lands where darkness is fleeting a brief.
Once a year the great forge dims to a ruddy red orb in the sky. darkness creeps into every realm and creatures form the eternally darkened reaches far from the forge sweep upward to harass and terrorize the folk of the realms. once every few centuries the forge is extinguished and true darkness descends on the realms for months if not years. the time of the great Dimming grows near, In every quarter tales and whispers of creatures of the lower reaches are told in every tavern and guild hall.
War looms, darkness rises, and adventure for those brave enough to take to the open skies call. Who will answer the call, what adventures riches, and terrors await them. Only time will tell.
This game will be using a classless, and customization friendly D20 (DEBUGGED)system. For basic mechanics and skills. Combat and powers will be using a skill based system that allows full customization of combat styles and powers to suit the players desires without saddling the players with any cumbersome math or arbitrary rules.
In addition
there are no mandatory and arbitrary limits on styles. The the GM and Player will be working together to make each character as unique, and effective, as possible. By setting personal "special effects", limitations, and advantages within the framework of skills, powers and techniques provided, each Player will be able to structure an character who will be both unique and as effective as he wishes to be without being hobbled or saddled with someone else's view of how he should do thing.
No characters are automatically useless in a given situation all characters have an equal chance to excel in a field of their choosing and are fully capable of shining in their area of specialty without running to hide behind their friends, unless the player wants it that way.
Character will begin play at third level. Either as one of the described races or a race they create using a simple system to tailor their own. ( player created races will be subject to GM approval and will be used as NPCs or for flavor in the game by the GM)
Magic, Mechanical Engineering( Mechaniks,) and Technomancy are common and equally powerful in this world, Powers tools and devices will have minor advantages and limitations based on their origin and be commonly available.
The world is a fairly modern, ( pre-World War one to pre-world War Two) with some isolated enclaves of much more advanced tech and magic, and enclaves of medieval culture and advancement.
Magic,Science, and religion are in competition, but not at odds. each group of specialists seeks to advance and improve their own specialization but tend to view other specializations as mere competitors for resources power and prestige not threats to their existence.
New players welcomed. Player attrition has whittled down the number of players lately and I am looking for brave new souls to enjoy this original game world.
Encouraged concepts and roles:
Technomancers
Wizards/sorcerers
Alchemists
Explorers/Archeologists
Priests/healers
Living Constructs
Beast Folk
Fey creatures and races
fairies/sprites/pixies
link to another game
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Sat 14 July 2012.