Introduction

A VICTORIA RULES  (modified 1^st-edition) D&D CAMPAIGN

DM: Keith Piddington

PLAYERS (in order of appearance):

Chad, Holden, Bryony, Alan, Micha, Sarah, Maureen, Jason C, Erin, Dave S, Mitch, Rob

Founded in March 2008

     The world this game takes place on - usually known as Akrayna - is in many mundane ways much like Earth in terms of size, gravity, weather, and so forth; orbiting a single sun-like star once every 360 days - give or take.  There are two known moons: Stabos, the larger, farther, slower one which goes through its phases on an 80-day cycle; and Fieros, which is closer, smaller, and has a cycle of a mere 20 days.  Note that these two moons orbit the world in opposite directions from each other - Stabos behaves much the same as our Earth's moon and moves through the sky in the same direction as the sun, while Fieros appears to go backward; rising in the west and setting in the east.

     The Elvish-designed standard calendar used in the game has 9 months, each of 40 days (two complete cycles of Fieros), with each year beginning on the day after winter solstice.  The months in order are: Hriva, Tuila, Laire, Yavia, Quelle, Coira, Auril, Eolna, and Flaige.  Note that while various other cultures have different names for the months, the Elvish standard of a 9-month year (as opposed to 18, or 4½ if Stabos were to be used as a basis) has become almost universally adopted.

     The game begins and is centered in what is left of the once-great empire of Decast, roughly based on classical Greece.  While tales and records tell of an empire that held everything between the Godswall and the Axenos Sea a mere few centuries ago, Decast today is little more than a collection of often-squabbling city-states separated by ever-growing areas of wilderness and danger, held together only by a common language, history, and pantheon.  The ruler of Praetos, once the empire's capital, still holds and claims the title Emperor though few outside Praetos' lands give it any heed; in fact mention of the Praetean "Empire" in other cities is likely only to draw a scornful laugh.

     The two largest city-states are Praetos in the north of Decast and Spieadeia in the south.  Xania lies just east of Praetos and is in loose alliance with it; Karnos fills much the same role in relation to Spieadeia.  Kapos, further to the east, is almost completely independent and much more warlike, while perhaps the most peaceful part of Decast is Kailos, a loose confederation including most of the many islands off the coast.  There are many more tiny fiefdoms in the land, quasi-independent and often ruled by some petty warlord until overthrown or defeated; and much of the mountainous central region of Decast is now ruled by none, having been lost to monsters and apathy.

     Despite the bickering, the large cities maintain land and sea trade with each other, and maritime trade with other towns and realms across the sea.  Overland foreign trade with Decast is negligible; such routes to the north and south as once existed have long since been blocked by Elves, who don't trade with Humans; or monsters, who don't trade with anyone.  The larger cities are, despite the empire's decline, still centres of great wealth and learning.

     In general, from a once-lawful background Decast has become a mostly chaotic and divided society where people tend to look out for themselves where they can, and all the while predators of all sorts nibble away at its edges.  Any class of adventurer can function here, even including Paladins (though they might find themselves a bit overwhelmed at times!).

     Racially, Decast itself is almost entirely Human, with smatterings of Tegrashi (Part-Orc) and Telaure (Part-Elf) mixed in. Barbarians are slowly becoming more common in a few areas - though "foreigners", they are often considered more desireable than non-Humans by the conservative locals. A few Dwarves and fewer Hobbits can be found in the major coastal towns; as can Elves though in many places they find themselves somewhat less than welcome. Gnomes are almost unheard of in these parts.

     To the north and south there is generally much more racial integration; except that the Elves tend to disallow anyone else from entering their lands - and as these lands are expanding more or less rapidly in many areas this is tending to force some non-Elven societies into closer contact with each other than they might have otherwise preferred.