Welcome new players. As I've said earlier I don't plan to have this game ready to go until a bit into August. My current plans are to start the IC up on August 7th. That's dependent on you guys having your characters finalized.
In terms of what I want from you guys. First is of course Character Sheets. The old guard already has that handled, maybe a couple of adjustments here and there, but they should be ready to go. New players I'm not really picky on how you setup your character, I want to look over the sheet mostly for formatting and to make sure stats are correct. PM me your rough draft sheet whenever you want, and if I'm ok with it I'll give you access to your CS screen. I will only be checking sheets from time to time, so I just expect people to be honest. This is mostly a narrative game anyways.
Second I would really, really, REALLY, prefer if you guys got together and came up with how your characters met and when they decided to work together. I will throw in my 2 cents, but I want you guys to come up with something you all agree on.
As for why you guys are here at this point in time, and why you feel the need to work together for this;
- Belrand is primo territory that has been without a Dragon-Lord since the Age of Fire (roughly 1100 years by Dragon reckoning, around 800 years by Mortal reckoning cuz the Faith fucked up the Calendar).
- Unlike the other Regions there isn't an Elder Dragon in the Wyrmtail who would be pissed if you guys took it. The closest one has been MIA for a long time at this point.
- Mortals are just...easy pickings. Yeah they have their Faith and whatnot now, but they can't handle 6 Dragons. Alone there is a possibility that shit could happen, but together you guys are basically playing easy mode (as far as you know). Also you've been hiding amongst them for centuries.
- Once the plan was made, there was a massive fear that another Dragon would try to take it first. It's a pact of protection from any outside forces, as well as protection from one another. You all agreed to split up the spoils, so nobody is gonna backout and try to go it alone, not when the other 5 will turn on you. Think of it as a "I Know What You Did Last Summer" agreement.
Now I'm not saying you guys have to be assholes, and have to exploit the exploitable. Mortals are actually on the weak side on Nastrondir, their Chosen can handle some of the wildlife, but the big stuff...the stuff that's on the same level of the Food Chain as Dragons, they stand no chance. Belrand has gotten lucky, but it's really just one bad Kaiju away from a catastrophe. Think of Nastrondir as Attack on Titan, and the Dragons act as allied Titans.
Also since we're all here now I'm gonna post my ideas for Cultivation Word here so you can all examine what I say you guys want this territory.
GM:
I want the players to gain a Gift from it every 2 levels (2-4-6-8-10). It's not worshipped based, but based around the amount of territory the Dragons control, and the variety of lifeforms that live in there. All creatures that don't have higher thinking such as Dragons, Mortals, or strong Monsters are immediately absorbed by this territory.
So like a Deer that lives in a forest within your territory is automatically a citizen of the territory, and contributes toward the Dominion you get. It's miniscule which is why Dragons constantly want to add more territory. The more you control, the more fuana/flora the bigger the Dominion score you get at the start.
Now with higher intelligence creatures they have to choose to stay. Dragons can't contribute cuz they are already leeching, which is why Dragons will chase off rival Dragons immediately. Mortals contribute, but until they grow used to the Dragon they will feel unease while being in a Dragon's territory. Their sixth sense kicks in and it feels like they are being watched or even hunted. So Mortals will usually not stick around to form communities unless the Dragon can coax them to stay on their land. Mortals contribute more then basic animals, and having a village or city of Mortals within your territory is a big boon. Basically them of them as bonus points to your base score. So lets say your Territory gives 2 Dominion Points per month, and then you create a Elf Village somewhere in it. That would at +2 to the points, and if that Elf Village then transformed into an Elf City it could add +4 per month, netting you 6 Points overall.
Finally I want a semi-pokemon game where unique Flora/Fauna can also add points of their own. Perhaps you find a Yggdrasil Seed and decide to plant it within your territory. This will amplify the power of any Forest it's exists within, and eventually it'll become an Erdtree that grants special benefits to the land, on top of bonus +1 Dominion. Or perhaps Nu is able to convince a Leviathan (Leviathan are Whale like Kaiju in Nastrondir) Pod to take shelter in a Cove within the territory. They are magically enchanted creatures that could protect any ports or sea towns within your territory. Stuff like that.
The Gifts I have in mind are sorta like this:
Level 2 Gift Opens the system to players, you are able to mark a small amount of territory, as well as consecrate an object that will act as the "shrine" of the territory where the Seithr is gathered. It is here that players will actually be able to take the Dominion Points. Dominion Points need to be divided as a group, which will influence players choices on how fast they will capture territory cuz there won't be enough DP to go around at the start of the game. The size of your territory will also naturally increase as you level up (with level 5 and 8 being the big steps cuz the territory will double in size). If we're going by the map scale (in the old material), your Territory at level 8 would encompass almost the entirety of the map at that point.
Level 4 Gift introduces the abilities that allow you to govern your Territory more efficiently, able to see/hear/smell things within the borders without having to be personally present. You will also gain the ability to mark Animals/Plants to empower them to help maintain the territory. This is when the Pokemon stuff comes in, cuz you will be able to gather unique creatuers into your territory. They become like pets/cattle for you in the territory, but dangerous to outsiders.
Level 6 Gift allows you to empower Mortals, in the First Age they were known as Dragon-Blooded and were the foundation of the Mortal aristocracy at the time. In the Second Age most have become diluted, or are still in the service of other Elder Dragons. The Dragon-Blooded you create will be first generation, and thus equal to Heroic Mortals. This can also be applied to Beastmen who lack the taint of divinity, but are not as intelligent as Mortals normally.
Level 8 Gift would allow you to freely terraform the land in your Territory without utilizing Dominion. This will be the last major gift within the story that lets you transform your land to what you desire, being able to change something like the Ash Wastes into a jungle (save for the land beneath the Black Blade).
Level 10 Gift is the birth of an Archdragon. This ability will destroy your Territory absorbing all the Seithr from the land, and transforming you into an Archdragon. This is definitely the Post-Game, fuck it lets go kill God idc anymore move. But I wanted the act of becoming an Archdragon to be a gameplay mechanic with consequences. The main thing that makes an Archdragon different from an Elder Dragon is the ability to absorb Divine Magic, and devouring Gods will allow you to absorb a portion of their powers.