Skies Revision: Elevator Pitch
Hey, folks! It's been a while since I dropped a post! Hope everyone had a great summer! Summer has never been a super creative time for me—it's too dang hot. But recently, I have been inspired by many of the creations coming out of the Draw Steel community, and decided I wanted to take a crack at developing the Skies of Mor-ladron (SoM) to a point where I could sell it or at least share it in a more professional-looking format).
So, I am revisiting SoM and making some revisions to the world in preparation. The plan is to focus first on the region of what was previously Stormspire and the worldstorm. This is the most fleshed-out part of the world and I want to create something specific that people can play with, instead of something that people can play all types of games in. We'll visit other places in the world down the road. Instead of writing it all in one large document, I'm imagining many smaller ones, like a gazette or supplements, that I will try to release on a regular basis. Right now, I want to focus on the writing but I hope to bring someone on for formatting (or learn to do it myself) and commission art as well. As per usual, the blog is a space to share drafts of what I hope to use and get your input!
First up is the primer, which I regard as the elevator pitch to get people excited about Skies of Mor-ladron. Give it a read and let me know what you think! Does it get you excited to play in this world? Does it work as a one page info-dump? I think I'm hitting all the important information and vibe of the world, but let me know if you feel like something is missing. (For example, more info on ancestries will come later, but drop a comment if you think that is important to have in the primer.)
The World is Shattered.
Over 150 years ago, the world shattered completely, breaking into pieces and drastically weakening the barrier between realms. Islands of dirt and stone float in the skies, where the descendants of the survivors have lived in closed-off cities. It is only in the past two decades that the sky-dwellers began exploring, discovering, and trading with other floating cities. Rifts frequently tear into the mortal realm, creating short-lived but potentially dangerous links to other realms, and many strange creatures have found their way through. They, too, now make their homes in the skies.
The Gods are Silent
After the Shattering, the gods either refused or were unable to respond to their followers' prayers. The divine realms, if they ever existed at all, have been sealed off from the mortal realm. These days, many turn to powerful yet mortal beings (like the Duchess Tristessa, worshipped as a sort of god-queen on the islands of Hilean), join a storm cult, or choose not to put their faith in anything at all.
A Sky of Stone and Steel
Airships of stone and steel soar through the skies, carrying goods and peoples between city-states. City-backed mercenaries skirmish over resources are and pirates prey on wealthy merchants. The Elvish Lumber Barons have a monopoly on wood, making it a luxury item. The floating islands have made access to stone and metals easy, and these are now the most common building materials.
An Age of Runepower
Airships have started outfitting their ships with runic cannons and rune-powered propellers, while guards, mercs, and pirates wield runelock pistols, arquebuses, and hand cannons. The Empyrean runesmiths have only just begun tapping into runic potential, and who knows what new wonders they may create next?
The Storm-Wracked Isles
The storm-wracked isles sing a siren song to those seeking a life of freedom, adventure, or just escape. Ruins of the old world scatter these many islands,offering up shelter alongside unknown dangers. Together with the regular storms that sweep the region, the maze of islands and hiding places has made it impossible to bring the region under the control of any of the major cities. It has become a haven to pirates, smugglers, and others who don't wish to dwell under the oppressive shadow of the cities.
A Broken World Calls for Broken Heroes
You've heard of the heroes of ages gone, shining and perfect, holding back the hordes of evil, saving kingdoms and realms. Well, it doesn't seem like they succeeded in the end. And you aren't a hero. You have a debt to pay, a family to feed, or maybe you are just too old for this shit. You can't afford to risk your life helping someone else when you don't have your own life in order. Or that's what you tell yourself, anyway. Let's put that to the test. Sometimes, the only choice left is to rise to the occasion.