[PBEM News] A Return to the Basics - Old School Game II From: btharvey@shaw-dot-ca.no-spam.invalid (DMHarv) Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 03:55:25 +0000 Centuries ago, they were three separate cities. They sat along the eastern coast of the continent, beacons at the gateway to an untamed wilderness. Countless times, they had come to each others' aid. When the giant hordes from the north swept along the coast, the trio of trading posts joined forces and repelled them. During the legendary Dark Decade, they stood as one again to endure the sahuagin hordes lead by the abyssal kraken, Grothka. All the while, heroes would come to heed the call of these cities. Most came from the civilized southern islands, while others appeared from the wilderness. Regardless, they came and made names for themselves. And as their heroic deeds grew, so too did the three cities. Eventually, they became Trieste, an elfish word loosely translated as "three shields", stemming from one of their many myths. Now, this megalopolis became a kingdom in and of itself. The city had grown so enormous, it required a king to rule over it. And then, there is the Festival of Heroes. Once a year, usually during the first week of Summer, the million citizens of Trieste honor those who made a difference during the cities long and arduous history. From all over the land, mercenaries, wanderers, the displaced, the desperate, and the courageous come to Trieste, not only to be honored, but to begin their careers as Adventurers. The focal point of these festivities happen in a section of Trieste known as Hubbton. A huge marketplace crowds this open square, but the main attraction is the Hub. This circular, stone slab is 100 feet across, and 10 feet high. Along its circumfrence, ancient, iron rings can be seen. Before the time of the three coastal cities, this was the site of a slave city. The Hub is theorized to be a giant millstone of sorts, where hundreds of slaves would be chained and forced to turn the monstrous stone. The first of the coastal cities was build upon the ruins of this ancient slave town, and it is rumoured that there are numerous entrances into the abandoned slave pits below Trieste. Now, the Hub is used for something very different. During the Festival of Heroes, it is a place where those without hope my find it. Those in need of heroes may find them. Official summons, scraps of parchment, or fanciful cuts of velum call for heroes to come to the aid of an outlying outpost, or to accompany expeditions into the Wilderlands, or to break new trails through hostile territory. Mayors, messengers, apprentices, merchants, all stand atop the Hub, along its edges shouting out to heroes who walk past, entreating them to listen to their tales, to take up their cause. To a newcomer, the Festival of Heroes in Hubbton would seem nothing more than a chaotic rabble of desperate people, willing to pay anything to anybody. But, to those who seek the life of an adventurer, Hubbton is the starting point. West of Trieste lay pockets of civilization, surrounded by deadly threats. It is a vast continent....one in desperate need of heroes. ******************************************************* Remember the old days of table-top gaming - a motley crew of adventurers taking on missions for the pure thrill of treasure, combat, puzzle solving, and fame? I hope to capture some of that magic. I already have an Old School game running and I am thoroughly enjoying it. So much so, that I decided to start another one. Join the eGroups site (http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldschool2/?yguid=123484757) and check out the Files section for game info and character gen rules. I am looking for a devoted group of 4-6 players. Or, if you have any immediate questions, post them here. Later -- posted from PBEM News - PBEM listings and announcements Reply to this post at http://www.pbemnews.org Up