As promised, we are going to talk about the history of my imaginary Steampunk / Fantasy / Indian Jones world. Please understand, that some of the mystery of the world is going to be exposed by this post, so be warned: Spoilers!
In ancient times, uncounted years ago, Vampires roamed the world with impunity, the undisputed rulers of the land, bringing all of the daylight races under their thumbs. But theirs was a troubled rule. The living did not wear the yolk of the dead willingly. The undead lords tried many things, with great workings of magic in an attempt to either bring the unwilling forever into their flocks, or create slave race that followed them willingly.
Finally, they asked their dark gods for help, and they were answered by the delivery of a race from beyond time, the feathered snakes that walk like men. But the gods of the daylight interceded in the arrival of the servants, and a great disaster fell from the heavens onto the Vampire Lords and their empire was brought low, and the snakes that walk found no dark masters waiting to lead them.
The races of the light retreated north of the devastation, leaving the broken and shattered lands to the south to the snakes that walk, and soon the works of the Vampires fell into legend, on then from memory, only remembered in tales to frighten children. Some vampires still walk, but they are pale shadows of what the race formerly was. The snakes that walk flourished int he south, and the races of the light grew strong in the north.
Ages passed, wars were fought, kingdoms in the north rose and fell,. Fitful trade with the south came and went with the demand for exotic foods and materials found only in the south, traded for those things only found in the north.
Sages great and small began to see that magics, once easy as breathing, became more difficult, and priests began to have increasing difficulties communing with the Lords of Light. Few were worried. Magic still worked, if a little more work was required, and prayers were answered, if with slightly less frequency.
Centuries passed, and magic became more and more difficult, and the answers to prayers became infrequent to non-existent. Mankind turned to mastering the physical world. Steam engines were created, gunpowder-like substances found. The first locomotive was created. Cannons fired.
Then the snakes that walk tried to invade through the mountain passes. They had the element of surprise. They had muskets. They loss of life as the defenders in the passes tried to hold against the tide was horrendous. Wen all looked lost, mankind came back with the airship and rained cannon fire from above and laid waste to the invaders from a safe distance above.
The snakes that walk were driven back through the passes and into their jungle homes. On the surface, the victory was complete. In reality, the Empire was unable to pursue it to the heart of the jungle and the war simply petered out on both sides. A state of tension exists now. Envoys from each side live and and work in each kingdom. Both openly spy on the other.
Everyone in the kingdom expects the snakes that walk to invade again. THe snakes that walk try to gain the upper hand by any means so that they can escape the jungles they call home. Into this messy, tense time we throw our characters ...
In ancient times, uncounted years ago, Vampires roamed the world with impunity, the undisputed rulers of the land, bringing all of the daylight races under their thumbs. But theirs was a troubled rule. The living did not wear the yolk of the dead willingly. The undead lords tried many things, with great workings of magic in an attempt to either bring the unwilling forever into their flocks, or create slave race that followed them willingly.
Finally, they asked their dark gods for help, and they were answered by the delivery of a race from beyond time, the feathered snakes that walk like men. But the gods of the daylight interceded in the arrival of the servants, and a great disaster fell from the heavens onto the Vampire Lords and their empire was brought low, and the snakes that walk found no dark masters waiting to lead them.
The races of the light retreated north of the devastation, leaving the broken and shattered lands to the south to the snakes that walk, and soon the works of the Vampires fell into legend, on then from memory, only remembered in tales to frighten children. Some vampires still walk, but they are pale shadows of what the race formerly was. The snakes that walk flourished int he south, and the races of the light grew strong in the north.
Ages passed, wars were fought, kingdoms in the north rose and fell,. Fitful trade with the south came and went with the demand for exotic foods and materials found only in the south, traded for those things only found in the north.
Sages great and small began to see that magics, once easy as breathing, became more difficult, and priests began to have increasing difficulties communing with the Lords of Light. Few were worried. Magic still worked, if a little more work was required, and prayers were answered, if with slightly less frequency.
Centuries passed, and magic became more and more difficult, and the answers to prayers became infrequent to non-existent. Mankind turned to mastering the physical world. Steam engines were created, gunpowder-like substances found. The first locomotive was created. Cannons fired.
Then the snakes that walk tried to invade through the mountain passes. They had the element of surprise. They had muskets. They loss of life as the defenders in the passes tried to hold against the tide was horrendous. Wen all looked lost, mankind came back with the airship and rained cannon fire from above and laid waste to the invaders from a safe distance above.
The snakes that walk were driven back through the passes and into their jungle homes. On the surface, the victory was complete. In reality, the Empire was unable to pursue it to the heart of the jungle and the war simply petered out on both sides. A state of tension exists now. Envoys from each side live and and work in each kingdom. Both openly spy on the other.
Everyone in the kingdom expects the snakes that walk to invade again. THe snakes that walk try to gain the upper hand by any means so that they can escape the jungles they call home. Into this messy, tense time we throw our characters ...