Sel-Kai Tales

Game Idea/Background

The story is set in the city of Sel-Kai, with some movement into the floating city. The game will be split into two major parts. The first part will involve a number of short stories. A few start from a rumour for the characters to follow up on. Otherwise they will be asked to do things for people, possibly for little reward. These may involve investigating some minor crime.

The short tales will forge better links between the characters, as well as to the NPCs in the game. Additionally there will be a few minor links to the later story, a few pieces to larger puzzle so to speak. The shorter tales will each run between half a session and two sessions each.

The second part of the game will involve the characters in larger story. The exact specifics I'm still figuring out. However it involves quite a few of the characters in the first session. The results of the previous adventures will influence the characters, and indirectly even the major story.

Character backgrounds

Generally the characters will be from Sel-Kai, although other backgrounds are possible. However characters are expected have some ties to the low and middle class Sel-Kai. Many of the adventures will tie into shop owners and professional people within the city.

Individual character weath is such that the characters currently do not have vast amount of money, but they can have had access to reasoanble sums to explain traning and similiar backgrounds.

There is the possiblity of a high class character, who has a servered ties with that part of the family, either through choice, or just through association with the wrong people. A number of backgrounds are possible from this.

Other PCs: The PCs will know, and be friends with each other. Specifically they are expected to be socially together, frequenting similar taverns and eating houses. Thus they should feel a bond of friendship towards each other, and be willing to help each other out for non-mercenary reasons. Foreign characters may use this link to meet others in Sel-Kai.

Alignment: The characters are required to be generally good, and motivated to do things to prevent evil. Having said that some of the stories may require, or at least strongly suggest non-legal actions (break and enter for instance). The characters should thus not be too concerned about the stongest strictures of the law.

Temperament: Characters will have a desire to get involved in events going on around them. This can be for moral or ethical reasons (see Alignment), a desire for excitement or adventure, oe even a sense of curiosity. Alternatively a willingness to pitch in to help friends (the other characters) or other associates (NPCs in the setting).

Race Selection: Human of any sort, most Elven races, Dwarven races are all acceptable. Other races may be allowed, so long as they can exist happily in an urban environment. Sel-Kai is fairly cosmopolitan, so unless the characters are particularly unusual there should be no problems.

Professions: Once again fiarly open. A mix of non-spell and spell users would probably be nice. The setting is mostly city and local wilderness. Outdoor survival is not necessary. Thus rangers, animists and similar style characters will not be good choices (but not banned). Additionally the game is fairly social so classes who can work well with others, rather then loners are also a good choice. Pure offensive characters are also out of place. Additionally I prefer the characters to have a skill focus, rather then a jack-of-all-trades type character.

It is important to note that the setting allows a wide variety of spell casters, even hybrids and semi spell users. Arcane casters are rare in Kulthea, and generate both fear and respect. Highly specialised professions in general are thus avialable.

Resources

An overview of the twin city of Sel-Kai and Eidolon: files/eidolon.pdf (140k)

Some of the people and places within the city: files/eidolon-places.pdf (72k)

A short history of Emer: files/emer-history.pdf (97k)

A map of emer: files/emer1.jpg (967k)

Regional overview of Emer: files/region-emer.pdf (69k)

Kulthean info and background notes. Also includes dieties and major powers: files/info.pdf (107k)