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18:47, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Poll: Story Arc.

Posted by GM ArkrimFor group 0
GM Arkrim
GM, 6569 posts
Game Master
Mon 13 Apr 2020
at 20:13
  • msg #1

Poll: Story Arc

Vote on up to two favorites with a +1 and vote up to two you just can't stand with a -1. Do not try to vote more than this or ALL your votes will be ignored (max two +1s, and two -1s). You can abstain if you like, but I'd really like a vote from everyone going on the adventure.

Post your vote privately to GM.


Beginnings (Classic City Adventure)
Before you were famous gladiators and guild leaders, you were adventurers. You recently arrived in Swordaine and are currently seeking to get your roots. Occasionally, you battle in the arena, but you're avoiding joining any guilds for the time being due to the rules conflicting with your interests. However, on a technicality you've found some unlikely allies and formed a guild party (rather than a guild) which can operate as a guild as long as you remain together on all your quests. Your contract is at least a year, so you'll be getting to know your new unlikely allies. Who knows what your relationship with them will be years from now?...that is, if you all survive.


Origins (Classic Open World Adventure)
As Arena Beginnings but your party was established before even arriving to Swordaine and before you ever even had much interest in the arena. Your backstories will drive the story with the inevitable endgame being arriving in Swordaine for the first time. This will be a short adventure if you want to do this one. Might even explore World Scar but with open-world style rather than dungeon delve.


Secrets (Political Intrigue)
In the arena, you're a gladiator and a guild leader. Behind closed door you're part of an elite illuminati that keep the arena running. Though you are of the lowest ranked of the illuminati, you're still counted among their numbers. You know several other guild leaders, rivals, who serve as your allies in this court. You know things about the arena few others have ever been privy to and must play a dangerous game of cat and mouse outside the arena to grow your strength and influence and to ensure that the dark forces do not destroy the delicate balance of power keeping everything running...


Siege (War Games)
The City of Swordaine is under siege from a great threat. As gladiators and guild leaders, you're conscripted into the war effort. This will be a mix of city-adventures gathering supplies, intel, and troops as well as a battle that will not just end in either the defense or fall of Swordaine, but will also lead to a larger campaign about the world outside of Swordaine.


Fall of Swordaine (Apocalypse scenario)
The City of Swordaine has fallen. The world's most powerful wards and defenses were not enough for the coming storm. Ancient horrors have been unleashed into the world, and you've escaped the chaos just to watch the city burn in the distance. Everything you've built is gone...all you have now are your old rivals, who are now your only hope for survival in a world that seems doomed. However, a fellow traveler reveals to you information that could provide hope to your world...


The World Scar (Classic Dungeon Delve)
The City of Swordaine was built atop a plateau in the mountainside of Mt. Tempest. Beside Mt. Tempest on the opposite side from Swordaine is the infamous valley and crater known as the World Scar. Fissures, caves, cliffs, valleys within valleys, dangerous geysers, and wildlife exist throughout the World Scar. Dangerous magic exists as well. Legend tells the World Scar was the site of a great battle between gods and titans, which destroyed an ancient civilization. Rumors of forbidden treasure and unspeakable dangers lying in wait beneath the shadows of the jungles and cliffs of the World Scar have always been spread among the people. The few who dare to venture out into the World Scar rarely return, and usually only those who did not venture too far. You are in desperate need of some cash and power. You'd do anything to ensure the success of your guild, including finding lost treasure that could alter the course of history...


What you already know about the arena...
The Grand Colosseum was founded nearly a century ago by the infamous warrior known as the Gladiator King. Arenas had become popular in his day and age but he rose up from a slave and earned his freedom as a gladiator and then proceeded to go into the military, rise through the ranks, marry into noble blood, go into politics and eventually earn the title of emperor. However, he is known as the Gladiator King because he founded the Grand Colosseum, the largest most sophisticated arena the world has ever known. He used it to create an unstoppable army and police force that whipped the Empire back into shape from declining ruin. Now, the Empire is thriving with an economic boom centered around the colosseum in Swordaine, more commonly known as the City of Swords or Colosseum City.

The colosseum may be the largest and most sophisticated arena ever seen, but not all gladiators here are criminals who've been enslaved for their crimes. Many have come to compete willingly to test their mettle, earn coin, prove their worth, train and study warfare, or just come to satisfy their own bloodlust...legally. Freely participating gladiators are often found hanging out in one of the taverns and inns that surround the area when not training or competing. One of the most infamous taverns is the Hungry Dragon, a tourist spot renowned for its bar fights, security team and the fact that it is the only tavern known to have hosted a barfight that the Gladiator King himself participated in.

The Grand Colosseum is not purely a place for competitive matches in the arena, but also serves as a military barracks and school for training in the many martial arts. Even mage academies and religious temples send their spellcasters and monks to train here for every purpose from medic to commander. Many areas of the colosseum are split up into various training schools, each with a different art of war to be taught. Some students enroll in multiple schools at a time and oddly enough this is encouraged by most instructors who are just as eager to learn new ways of war as they are to teach them. Many instructors were once gladiators in the arena, although most have retired their gladiatorial days in favor of teaching.

Public violence is not illegal if all involved in it consented (although proving this is difficult and controversial) and all damages are paid for. However, locals are warned not to disrupt tourism and to ensure that they personally know who they're beating senseless before they risk getting themselves arrested (the irony of this matter is not lost on the guards or the local riffraff but it is still enforced). Only the most brutal and sadistic crimes get someone enslaved in the arena, though the arena loves an excuse to take in more gladiators. They even accept prisoners from neighboring cities and countries, offering to take the cost of feeding and housing them off their hands. The people of Swordaine (aka Colosseum City) rarely pay more than menial taxes because the revenue from the arenas, training schools, free trade and confiscated possessions from slaves keeps the entire city wealthy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:36, Mon 20 Apr 2020.
Josep Gavinho
Wizard 838,300, 1714 posts
Human Wizard
Thaumaturgical Alliance
Mon 13 Apr 2020
at 22:32
  • msg #2

Story Arc

Shall we make it a secret ballot? So as not to influence or push people to the infamous “useful” vote?
Ruven
Shaman 20,000, 11 posts
Aasimar-human Shaman
Thu 16 Apr 2020
at 06:26
  • msg #3

Story Arc

In reply to Josep Gavinho (msg # 2):
Jayce the Tamer
Summoner 1,327,500, 771 posts
Human Summoner
Thu 16 Apr 2020
at 07:11
  • msg #4

Story Arc

Fall of Swordaine +1
World Scar +1

Abstain for negative voting
GM Arkrim
GM, 6579 posts
Game Master
Tue 21 Apr 2020
at 13:23
  • msg #5

Story Arc

Well, if that's all the votes we have a winner:

Fall of Swordaine (Apocalypse scenario):
The City of Swordaine has fallen. The world's most powerful wards and defenses were not enough for the coming storm. Ancient horrors have been unleashed into the world, and you've escaped the chaos just to watch the city burn in the distance. Everything you've built is gone...all you have now are your old rivals, who are now your only hope for survival in a world that seems doomed. However, a fellow traveler reveals to you information that could provide hope to your world...


Prepare your characters to take up the story from there. If you want to explain your new level or stats, simply assume you were injured or cursed during the conflict or some artifact you were dependent on was taken from you or whatever explanation you want to explain your current situation.
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