The official BackerKit for The World of Alessia Kickstarter.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
TL/DR: I talk about the map and share some world-building. This is a public post.
Hey Alessia Fans!
First, I'd like to take a moment to wish each of you an excellent New Year. 2018 was a stressful year for a lot of folks, but it was also a year of amazing firsts - including Alessia! With that said, we're going to focus on making 2019 and exciting and meaningful year for tabletop roleplaying games! And, before you know, you'll be holding your copy of the World of Alessia Campaign Primer. Soon, you'll be opening 5e PDFs and books with this logo...
Earlier this month, I showed backers a selection of images from the map of Alessia on which I've been working (in between working on the primer); those images accompanied the discussion that we'd be bridging Alessia to Rhune.
I've been thinking a lot about how Rhune and Alessia scale and intersect. While some of my energy has been directed at developing the content that bridges the two worlds on a physical level, I've also been contemplating how they intersect in terms of themes and the overall narrative. The following is a short list for fans of both worlds to consider:
1 ) The Runes - The runes are central to both Rhune: Dawn of Twilight and Alessia. In Rhune, the runes are divided into three categories: God Runes, Heart Runes, and World Runes. These runes are hidden throughout Yggdrasil, for heroes to discover and employ during Ragnarök. In Alessia, the runes have similar meanings to Rhune's primary runic alphabet (which is based wholly on the Elder Futhark), but these runes are revealed and illuminated by the Light.
2) The Whispering Darkness - Although Alessia and Rhune handle its manifestation (and the ramifications of that manifestation) very differently, both settings have single, monumental events that connect them, suggesting a larger, ill-timed and misaligned world. In Rhune, this event is known as The Dark Whisper (occurring in 712 YUR on that timeline) matches - almost perfectly - a period of seven years preceding Alessia's Fourth Age. In both instances, the darkness used its power to try and create agents in the world.
In Rhune's timeline, this included the introduction of sorcery and familiar bloodlines. That darkness also created the Thrall Lords and their children, the Jötunfolk. While those same children still suffer under their curse, the Æssinyr offer them hope and redemption.
In Alessia's timeline, this included the introduction of the Shadelings and the Un'Seelia, two distinct species who were "touched" by this darkness and who, subsequently, were saved by the Light.
3) Celestial Influences - Both Alessia and Rhune have celestial allies with whom they must work against a number of otherworldly foes.
Alessia has two foes who exist, primarily, off-world. These are the Orgothii (seen below and mentioned in a previous update) and the Shadows of Venn. Although each has different goals (and plans for the world), both stand unified in their hate of the light. Worse, both of these factions have established operations on Alessia - silently operating from the shadows.
On Rhune, you see similar threats. Although they bide their time until Ragnarök, the Thrall Lords are constantly plotting and planning, readying themselves for the war that will end all wars. As Ragnarök occurs and the planes converge, countless lesser powers will pick sides, pulling their terrestrial allies in alongside them.
There are, of course, the usual connections as well - both the Jötunfolks and the dwarves of Alessia will bear some similarities to their counterparts in Rhune, although with variations that will account for their ancestral evolution on Alessia.
This leads us to our next topic.
Back in May, I started working on a map for the world of Alessia. I started this map largely so I had the best possible understanding of how Alessia's geography, its ley lines, and its expansive history might impact the nations (and societies) we'd be placing on it.
While this map isn't complete (I need to add details, cities, borders, and major travel routes), I'm starting to get close. Which is fun, because I'm often illustrating around the same areas I'm also describing while writing.
Here, you can see some of the massive forests that span the southern coast of Shiran. I've also included major rivers and some of the mountains.
Geography plays a big role in how societies interact; it dictates the availability of resources and can weigh heavily on how societies develop. So, while you won't necessarily see it on this image (above), my plans are to show you as much about Alessia as possible with the map - my goal is to make sure it's the perfect companion to the primer.
So, in a number of ways, an introduction to Alessia is also an introduction to Rhune. With that in mind, we'll be developing a number of actual bridge points (essentially planar gates) that connect Yggdrasil to places around Alessia, and its associated satellites.
While I've mentioned this previously to backers (who will start getting preview material soon), I think it's important to talk about in public, as I'll be exporting the Species Synergies (and similar rules changes) to Rhune's 5e update. The goal is simple compatibility so that players and GMs will have fewer issues with portability between the two campaign worlds.
Moreover, as we start to explore events in both worlds, players may discover ways to utilize assets from one world to impact the other; stolen technology from Alessia might be used on a battlefield on Midgard whereas powerful artifacts (like the Ghoul Stone mentioned above) might be taken to Alessia to resurrect a powerful, dark god...
I suppose it goes without saying that I'm excited about the prospect of connecting these two worlds and what it will mean for both.
So, backers, what do you think? Are you excited about the connection? Will you use it? Or will this be something you consider later?
Cheers,
Jaye
Note: Backers are getting a second post following this shortly.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.