Let's start by summarizing what we know about the setting and then talk about possible story lines. Our GM tells us:
quote:
The duchy of Jolant has many tales and many inhabitants.
It is a dark, twisted world, with monsters everywhere; only these do not lurk in shadows.
Based off a Gothic fantasy series of mine.
Is the fantasy series something we might read?
I like the Duchy -- implies a Duke (and Duchess) as well as other aristocrats. We could actually come up with a court (unless it already exists).
Anyhow -- how about a plot against the Duke that will start to become clear to the Players when they all attend an Event -- a royal Ball sounds good. An event for us all to plan for and then attend -- we can work on plot points as we go along, but I'm thinking that things will happen at the ball:
- A foreign ambassador will make a sudden accusation and then drop dead from a poison air gun dart before he can name the culprit
- The Lady Arielle, only daughter of the Duke, about to turn eighteen, is to be betrothed a Crown Prince from another Balkan nation, but he is a no show at the ball
- Revolutionaries protesting the monarchy explode an Infernal Device in an attempt to assassinate the Grand Duke
Any or all of these could catch up the PC's in a plot. The incentive to get involved will be that somehow the PC looks guilty and must solve the real crime to prove their innocence -- or that of someone close to them.
It's not steam punk, but technology will still be changing fast -- steam engines in factories, locomotives, hot air balloons, Babbage's Difference Engine.
And in the dark corners -- a vampire? A werewolf? Witches for certain.
I'm happy to build all of these, but the game still needs your help (I mean all the other players). Spend a bit more time on your character description. Pictures would be wonderful. Decide three things you would like to have happen to your character in Jolant.
And we'll go from there.
Thank you, dear GM, for entrusting me with your creation. I hope I can breathe life into it. And send along those stories. Sounds like you've already done a lot of the work yourself.