Church-Sanctioned Fantasy Moster Hunters (w/MAP)

[Tensen01]

So I'm working on a fantasy setting right now where the PCs are members of the Holy Order of Hunters, a fairly recently created branch of the Cealish Church in the Empire of Taene (In the land of Aard). They are sworn to three primary duties:

1. To find and send back to the Church those who are worthy of becoming Hunters
2. To vanquish any and all Unholy Creatures who threaten the citizens of the Empire or its allies
3. To bring back to the Church any news or rumors about the source of the Unholy Incursion so that their voracity may be investigated

In the simplest of terms they are Monster Hunters.

Each member of the order is chosen either from the Church or the populace of the Empire. For non-church members the only requirement for consideration is the verifiable killing of one of the Unholy Creatures either through direct action or through actions that lead to the death of the Creature. Basically if you killed it yourself or organized a group and lead them in killing it you can be accepted for formal training with the Church.

Right now I have the general concepts of the Church and the Empire (As well as a list of rulers going back several hundred years), and I'm working on a map. I will post this info if anyone's interested.

I do not currently have an idea about the Incursion beyond the general concept that, before about 100 years ago there were no monsters, Humans being the only intelligent race and the rest of the world's fauna being generic earth-like creatures, then something happened. Monsters now seem to infest every dark corner of the world with no seeming source. The Church has made it its duty to rid the world of their threat.

At its core this idea basically allows a fairly typical Dungeon-Crawl type game, but with a purpose and a focus. It gives me a little bit more control over where it goes since I can send the PCs on Mission without it seeming railroady or having to come up with odd situations to get them involved.

Let me know what you think conceptually or if you want to see what I have so far about the Church and the Empire

[Steerpike]

Seems like a solid premise. Reminds me of Warhammer Witch hunters.

What sort of rough technology level are you thinking? Are you imagining the monster-infestation as widespread and omnipresent, like a sort of monster-apocalypse where monsters are lurking outside every village, or more low-key?

[Tensen01]

I know next to nothing about Warhammer so I'll take your word for it. But I do know enough to say my Church is significantly less Fanatical.

Technology level is pretty low-tech Medieval. No guns or anything. The Empire is only about 1000 years old, and before that the world was only just out of the Bronze age. The first Emperor was a Pagan Warlord.

The infestation is widespread, but far from Omnipresent. There are certainly areas that haven't seen hide nor hair of a Monster and have only heard about them from travelers from far away.

[Steerpike]

1000 years old is pretty long for an empire! Even a very generous interpretation of the Roman Empire that counts the Byzantine Empire only makes it a few centuries older. Not that you shouldn't have a 1000 year old empire, I just think that's pretty decent length of time for an empire to have been around.

[LD]

>>The Empire is only about 1000 years old, and before that the world was only just out of the Bronze age. The first Emperor was a Pagan Warlord

You mention a list of rulers...I actually am interested in it. I am only interested in the list however if the list has more information related to: So how do your dynasties work? Are these all the same family? What about coups, people who do not have children, people who have too many children who want land, etc., ages/death dates, causes of death, reign-names, famous events-e.g. so and so reigned when Rome burned, or the Picts invaded, etc. How has the ruling family held on?

What challenges has the empire faced and how has it been able to withstand them. It must have a great deal of lore tied to battles etc.?

What are its relations with neighbors? are all its neighbors as long-lived? How much has it grown and shrunk? Even Egypt grew large and small over time. Rome's borders certainly changed.

What about history? Writing? Technological advancement? You mention the level- but how has it changed from 1000 years ago- not just quantitatively but qualitatively- is it a world that values advancement/learning or dislikes the same. If so, why does it dislike the same?

Admittedly, the above questions are more directed towards world building than the dungeon crawl quests... OR IS IT? I think the answers to the above can provide some excellent Lore to be discovered and texture to any dungeons... Emperor Adrius II built this tomb for his father Emperor Adrius I, but forces of the next Emperor who was his second cousin, defiled it and left ____ ____ in it. You can see bas reliefs that are defaced of Adrius' family, smashed pottery, coins dropped from the next Emperor's forces, etc.  OR you find some lost heretical technology; heretical because ___ ____. etc.

[Tensen01]

I am still working a bit on the rules of Inheritance. I do know that they were passed down by the First Emperor (Who is now worshiped as a god by the Church) alongside the holy rites, rituals and prayers that created the world's Holy Magic. The fact that the Rules are looked at as Holy Writ by the Church is the greatest part of what has kept the Empire in power all these centuries as the Church is sworn to protect and uphold the Empire as it was built by Cear I. Notice I said Empire, not Emperor.

As to how it works I'm not sure. I do know that it doesn't necessarily have to be hereditary. Right now I'm looking at it almost more like the choosing of the Pope, where the leaders in the Church pick from among the Nobles a suitable candidate (Though there have been a few non-noble Emperors). There was also a string of Emperors fairly early on who attempted to seize the crown through deceit and force and it did not work out well for them. No one has attempted it since. There have also been a small handful of Empresses crowned. Some people whisper about how it seems that those Emperors who are Devout to the church always tend to have longer reigns. But the Church is much loved by the common people so no one whispers too hard.

Many of the previous Emperors are also worshiped as Valaar (Or Saints) by the common folk. This is not something that was started or sanctioned by the Church, but by an early, much beloved, Emperor who, on his deathbed, claimed that Cear was coming to take him into the heavens to sit on his right hand. The Church did its best to quash this, but word got out. Since then numerous Emperors have made such declarations and have been added to the pantheons, but the Church does not officially recognize any of them as Valaar (Meaning Right-Hand in the old tongue) as they feel the Church is the Valaar of the God.

There have been numerous revolts and attempts to overthrow the Church, not the Empire, the Church, since most of these revolts were started by spurned Nobles who wanted the Empire for themselves. None of these attempts ended well for them.

As for relations with Neighbors, their only real neighbors are the Southern Empire of Jarletia, which has, over the centuries passed though many hands, names, and governmental systems. For a long time they were at war with each other, but Jarletia's inhospitable climate and general difficulty to get to (it was once part of the same landmass but was separated before human memory by rising waters and is now a large island, made open warfare difficult. Within the last several Emperors relations have become more formalized and treaties signed as Jarletia's government has settled into its current form, which is also its longest form. There are also the Northern tribes, descendants of those tribes who refused Ceal's rule in the beginning. The Empire cares little except when the tribes attack, since the North is a frozen waste no one really wants.

At the moment I'm not really dealing with the concepts of Heresy simply because I don't want that to be what game or world is about. learning and technological advancement is supported by the Church, but being that Arcane Magic is fairly common technology has not advanced as it did on Earth. I'm thinking of it similarly to the tech level in the Kingkiller Chronicles. They have technology, but it's all powered by magic and fairly expensive.

[LD]

>>Right now I'm looking at it almost more like the choosing of the Pope, where the leaders in the Church pick from among the Nobles a suitable candidate (Though there have been a few non-noble Emperors). There was also a string of Emperors fairly early on who attempted to seize the crown through deceit and force and it did not work out well for them. No one has attempted it since.

Interesting. A bit surprising that it hasn't happened recently though. After about 100 years all the ones who remember the terrible time of the last "civil war" would be dead. Are there any notable civil wars, or time of Three Caesars... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Triumvirate AND https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Triumvirate

RE: "
As for relations with Neighbors, their only real neighbors are the Southern Empire of Jarletia, which has, over the centuries passed though many hands, names, and governmental systems. "

With no enemy from the outside, how does the empire deal with famines, overpopulation (nowhere to send people off to war?)... How often do people revolt/break off/stop paying taxes? If the empire is large, some on the outskirts must feel fleeced as in the empire is not defending them against the northern raiders... or they intermarry with the northern tribes.

>>At the moment I'm not really dealing with the concepts of Heresy simply because I don't want that to be what game or world is about.

Ok!

>>the Kingkiller Chronicles.
By which author? Sorry; I am not familiar with the name.

Best wishes

[Tensen01]

When it comes right down to it, the answers to most of your questions end up becoming "Thanks to the Church."

After the Time of Turmoil the Church put a much tighter rein on the Emperor, and while there have been Coup attempts since they have been viciously dealt with and suppressed by the Church and news of them has been carefully weeded out of History.

I'm also working on the idea that there was a great Empire before this one that broke into fractured Kingdoms and became so utterly terrible for the common man that most hailed the Barbarian Invaders as welcome liberators. And stories of those times are still told, with much exaggeration by the Church.

That being said not all are happy for sure. And the Church is ruthless against revolt and the like, but they do so many other good works, and especially now with the Monster Invasion people who hadn't seen church agents in Centuries are now seeing them ride into their towns as heroes, most people are fairly content.

I am thinking about adding another "Empire" or Kingdom to the map to act as an enemy force for just such a reason as you suggest, since the Northern tribes, or as the call themselves "The True Taenic", are fairly standoffish. There are raids and such but they're not that common. Maybe they'll be the remnants of a few of the Particularly Savvy Kings who saw the writing on the wall and Banded together in a mutual defense pact. They managed to push back the Invaders and keep their lands, partly because their Kingdoms were more difficult to get to, requiring much travel through the Mountains. So while there hasn't been much open conflict recently, there is still a standing army watching the Border. because of this I may actually change the Timetable a bit, making the Current Empire much younger. Since they took over a previous empire they don't need to have created as much themselves since towns and cities were already built and while much was sacked and burnt moch survived.

I think Jarletia also does quite a bit of informal raiding up and down the Southern Coast

Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear)

WiP Map

[LD]

I'm also working on the idea that there was a great Empire before this one that broke into fractured Kingdoms and became so utterly terrible for the common man that most hailed the Barbarian Invaders as welcome liberators. And stories of those times are still told, with much exaggeration by the Church.

That is interesting.

That being said not all are happy for sure. And the Church is ruthless against revolt and the like, but they do so many other good works, and especially now with the Monster Invasion people who hadn't seen church agents in Centuries are now seeing them ride into their towns as heroes, most people are fairly content.

I am thinking about adding another "Empire" or Kingdom to the map to act as an enemy force for just such a reason as you suggest, since the Northern tribes, or as the call themselves "The True Taenic", are fairly standoffish. There are raids and such but they're not that common. Maybe they'll be the remnants of a few of the Particularly Savvy Kings who saw the writing on the wall and Banded together in a mutual defense pact.They managed to push back the Invaders and keep their lands, partly because their Kingdoms were more difficult to get to, requiring much travel through the Mountains.

I like that idea.

So while there hasn't been much open conflict recently, there is still a standing army watching the Border. because of this I may actually change the Timetable a bit, making the Current Empire much younger. Since they took over a previous empire they don't need to have created as much themselves since towns and cities were already built and while much was sacked and burnt moch survived.

That also sounds workable!

Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss (Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear)

The map certainly helps conceptualize matters.
Ah- Rothfuss' series- I did read the first book in that series- did not notice too much worldbuilding related to tech level though-- I mainly recall the city and the university and the main character kvetching.

Fair enough regarding the Church as a stabilizing force, although that begs the question of why the church is stable (or whether it really is). The Medieval Church had much upheaval with a number of antipopes.

Other questions:
- Ethnicities. Is everyone the same ethnic group? If not, then what geographical or political factors have permitted the development of specific ethnicities? E.g. if there is not much intermarriage between groups, certain segregated groups can shift toward one becoming more light, one's facial structures being a certain way, etc. Otherwise, everyone should look generally similar (e.g. like people from each continent in the real world all look generally similar, along a continuum.)
- Languages. How much has language/dialects drifted. China is vast and in addition to Mandarin and Cantonese, there are a number of dialects, like Shanghaiese, which are different. Similarly, in the US- someone from Boston or NY sounds different than someone from the Deep South who sounds different again from a Creole Louisianan speaker and a Texan. Are some parts of the country the places where "hicks" come from, or are certain accents those that the "cultured people" speak?  (Once again, this may be getting a bit too particular but I can imagine amusement from players- "I want to play a snob." Ok. Then you're either from CAPITAL or you have relatives from there or you were tutored to one or you have studied on a phonograph how to speak this way. It could possibly help with character generation and it can help with giving you a quick reference into how certain people will be treated by other groups of people.. e.g. "Oh. It's a NORTHERN Church representative- they're always arrogant, and they even SOUND arrogant."
- Diseases. Did something like the Black Plague ever require large amounts of people to move around? What sort of upheavals did this cause?

[Tensen01]

Let's say the Church "Appears" to be extremely stable because they let no word of the Instability filter to those outside the church. As a Spoiler I'm actually toying with the concept that it's the church which unleashed the monsters on the world because they knew their power was waning and needed something more than the various "conflicts" to continue to have the support of the people. before this there were rumors of the 'Puppet Emperor" and the decadence of the church and "Going the way of the Fractured Kingdoms", but now "The Church is here! They'll Save us!"

Everyone is basically the same Ethnic group, hiving split long before the previous Empire collapsed, and now having rejoined after the current Empire has risen.

When it comes to language the "High Imperial" is actually the Barbarian language, and the "Low Imperial" is the language that was spoken in the previous Empire, but with much Barbarian mixed in. Now, since they both came from the same root there is much overlap. But they are very different dialects with both different pronunciation and word usage. But most of the Heroes at least are bilingual in this respect since many of them came from the small towns and villages but were then further schooled and trained by the Church in the Capital.

That's basically a long-winded way of saying "It doesn't really matter for the game"

UPDATED MAP with Capitals and heraldry
http://i.imgur.com/81ZBCe5.jpg

[LD]

Understood regarding the ethnic groups and languages.

It is nice to see where the Capitals are located now that you have uploaded the updated map.

[Tensen01]

New map... Haven't really added any new labeling, but upgraded the textures and colors, chose a new typeface, and added a legend.

http://i.imgur.com/QqaMYwn.jpg

[Tensen01]

Been tinkering a bit with the Coats of Arms of the various Factions.

[Rose-of-Vellum]

How are you creating these graphics?

[Tensen01]

How are you creating these graphics?

Photoshop primarily. I'm a trained Illustrator and Graphic Designer