Generic ale to drown generic angst
IC: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=391926
Welcome to RPG: The Call to Protagonism. This RP is an RPG with complex game mechanics such as classes, stats, and skills. There are GMs who will direct the story and give the players choices to make. The players build up their characters in their quest to save the generic medievalish land.
The setting is as intentionally generic as possible. The world of Mlurn is inhabited by tropes and repetitive concepts, aping such favorites as Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings, Elder Scrolls, Infinity Blade, and all manner of equally cut and past medieval fantasy stories. The setting is comedic and satirical and definitely doesn't take itself seriously. The inhabitants are aware of things like gold hiding in breakable objects and gear in animals much like we are aware of the laws of physics. They are also aware that you, the protagonists, are here to save them from obvious evil. They can tell from your detailed faces and the fact that you have more than three things to say when interacted with.
The Setting
Long ago in the mythical land of Mlurn, the four races lived in separate kingdoms. There were the regal elfs, the warlike orcs, the industrious dwarves, and the humans who did whatever. That's right only humans were complex individuals. All the elves were regal just because they were elves, and all the orcs were violent just because they were orcs, and all dwarves were industrious just because they were dwarves. Only humans aren't literal racial caricatures. Anyways the four kingdoms lived in peace and harmony, except when they were killing each other. Which was a lot. Eventually the dwarves had the brilliant idea of building a wall around the cities so they wouldn't have to see each other anymore, and they made the orcs pay for it. The wall was successful and there was peace between the four high fantasy stereotypes. Like a deeply abusive relationship however, the races realized they missed each other and they all tore down the wall. They then came together in unity.
They formed the Empire, the first centralized government in Mlurn. The Empire brought prosperity to the land. Before the economy was largely decentralized and feudalistic. The centralization of the Empire allowed resources to be exchanged over a larger area due to a centralized trade network and state built roads. The creation of a universal currency further increased trade while trade laws protected buyers and sellers from abuse. The state funded military provided protection for traders. Increased trade allowed for more advanced economic specialization as more resources became available and they became more abundant. This lead to the creation of mercantilist policies which... wait why am I explaining this to you? You come here to get away from school. Basically the Empire was great for everyone and brought Mlurn out of the middle ages.
At the height of the Empire's popularity however came the rifts. Appearing in the sky across the land, the rifts caused armies of demonic creatures to attack the Empire. They terrorized the land and brought destruction wherever they went. Finally from the rifts emerged Mizerax, the mad god. Mizerax declared that the world of Mlurn had violated the most important rule of any fantasy RPG, that the setting be inexplicably stuck in the middle ages. The economy was too advanced and the serfs were too learned for his tastes. Mizerax waged war on Mlurn, his demonic armies overwhelming the Empire. Things didn't look good.
In the Empire's darkest hour however, multiple brave souls rose against the oppression. These legendary men and women retrieved ancient artifacts of power and used them to form the prophesied legendary armor that would defeat the mad god, the Armor of Plot. With this armor the men and women became the greatest heroes of all, protagonists. They fought against Mizerax and finally defeated the mad god. Though only one hero was alive in the end he drove the demons back into the rifts and saved the land. Unfortunately the Empire collapsed anyways. The economy was shot from all the demon douchery and nation building is harder than punching demons. Ultimately Mlurn went back into feuding kingdoms, but they honored the heroes who saved them. Every ten years they came together for a celebration. People would compete in various challenges, and the winner would be declared a hero. They were able to wear the Armor of Plot until the next celebration.
During one such celebration some two centuries later the rifts reappeared. Once more the demonic armies appeared to wage war on Mlurn. The hero of the celebration heroically fled from the demons, and then heroically lived the rest of his life in the countryside. Heroically. Before doing so however he separated the Armor of Plot back into pieces and hid them so that the demons could never find them.
Though Mizerax never reappeared, the demonic army of the mad god subjugated Mlurn. In the mad god's place is a mysterious figure known only as the God King. The God King demands occasional tribute from the kingdoms but otherwise allows them to be autonomous. Meanwhile the demonic armies scour the land looking for the pieces of the armor, knowing that it is the only thing that can stop them. Though the future of Mlurn doesn't look good, most people are fine with things. 99.99% of the population is happy to pay tribute and live their lives in peace. 99.99% of the population will never know the satisfaction of morally justified violence, or breaking random crap in search of gold, or finding wearable gear in the bodies of dead animals. 99.99% of the population will never try to find the Armor of Plot to defeat the God King. 99.99% of the population will never become protagonists. For the .01% who will rise against the God King, the future of Mlurn depends on you.
The Culture
The people of Mlurn inhabitant a medievalish society that sort of looks like France/England/Spain/Denmark. It's like the middle ages because most RPGs are, but some stuff is different. Women are in the military, people don't all have fifteen kids, people live longer than fifty five, women can own land, etc. Just be glad you live in a society with modern medicine and enlightenment ideals RL.
The four races have intermingled in many cities, but also have cities largely dominated by one race or another. They all have similar architecture and all speak the same language because
Rules
1. No godmodding. Godmodding is here defined as taking actions on behalf of other players without their prior consent, taking massive world changing actions without clearance from myself, and assuming that your attempt to affect another player will automatically succeed.
2. Be nice
3. Keep things PG-13
4. Any player who is absent for more than a week without notice shall meet a horrible fate. Your character will become a generic helper, with generic lines! "Ah an adventurer! Do you wish to buy something?"
