Hey guys, so below is going to be the opening monolog for my second campaign that is starting in 3 weeks (we are finishing the current campaign this week). Please tell me what you think, and feel free to give me feed back. If you are confused about something let me know as my players may also be confused at the start too and im wanting to make sure that the game starts out with a bang.
Cheers!
Within the realm of Kokoro, long after the battles of old, and the war of the stars, within the year of XX5-104 lies the starry isles. The Starry Isles, is a bright and colorful place full of all sorts of countries, towns and peoples. The Starry isles is that of an Origin Place as the world has been given a breath of fresh air and been born anew as the fog that had been surrounding these small islands for an entire Era, has started to recede. It is almost as if new magic is starting to re-enter the land and filling its denizens with a new found hope that was long forgotten, of times sense past. These changes have guided people toward wanting to explore and see more of what the world has to offer since the days of the Greeks reign. The Stars at night shine brightly down upon the world within this time of strange chaos; however, the people of the world are taking it gracefully, and not taking it to panic as their gods have started to wane and fade away. Within the new found lands, people have discovered forgotten lands and kingdoms lost to the wakes of time and perhaps some of the Greek interactions helped to further that decay. An area of land that is known as the Northern Expanse has come to a new life, and all of its people and creatures remain intact, as the fog that had plagues the area lifts its grasp from the countries that reside there. Everything and everyone within the Northern Expanses lands have been returned to the world, almost as if nothing happened to them an Era ago. As well, the fog has started to lift itself upon the Bloodmoon Isles, here was the homeland of the Dragons. The Peoples of the Starry Isles are stepping cautiously into these new realms, but with a grace so elegant that one must not stop their approach.
Due to the release of the Bloodmoon isles, Dragons have been seen more actively, in various group sizes ranging from perhaps 1, to what appears to be a squadron of upwards of 100 dragons reigning over their domain. These dragons all appear to be in search of something or someone, as they scan the surface of the people laden earth, the roaring tides of the ocean, exploring the highest peaks, lowest caverns, and most frightening of storms. While minimal in their reporting efforts, some individuals have even come forth witnessing fights between Colored Chromatic Dragons, beaming vibrant colors of Red, Blue, Green, White, and Black; and those of the Brightly shining Metallic Dragons, donning the colors of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Copper, and Brass. These fights appear to have been reported from large metropolis like cities such as Inlyu, or Ame; to the smallest of towns such as Bugjjog or Kult. The skirmishes have even started to cause mild damage not just to homes and the people living there, but the ecosystems and wildlife that inhabit the area of the battle. However all of this seems to be something of fairytale, as they seem so far away to be able to effect the happenings of towns distant away. Even the news of new lands and peoples lost to time appear to be strange, and certainly nothing that a commoner would need to worry themselves with.
The world seems to become a newer place, with new ideas spawning, and newer things being discovered about the old world. Those who lived within the starry isles see this as a fun and new time, while those from within the fog continue their lives as if nothing happened. Knowing nothing about the War of the Stars except for a minor few who may study arcane shifts in energy, or something similar. Within the starry isles, there are many things being done both large scale and small. With the lead governments deciding to form the treaty of stars, which allows for the peoples of the Talgim Empire, Aswanin Empire, and the Golden Federation to freely access all other country's within the treaty. This was a much needed course of action as dragons start to ravage the countryside located within the starry isles. Everything from destruction of towns to just plan death at the wake of these great beasts. The current era has many adventurers doing everything that they can do aid the people of their area but none of these are great hero's. Even those within the military while having great might don’t match those of legendary hero's of the past. That is what is needed within this time of War, is a hero to slay the Dragon Plague that haunts the lands and bring true peace back over the material plane.
It is here that our, more importantly your, journeys begin as a strangeness in the air starts to bring a mood to the sprawling town of Ritherhithe. A small port-land town that finds itself nestled into the southern reaches of the Talgim Empire. Just north of plain open southern seas that border the receding fog, and far enough south that all of the news of new northern lands and old kingdoms seems like something out of a fantasy. It is within this town, an adventurerer would find everything they would need to equip themselves properly to take up arms and start their mighty quest toward whatever their heart desired. However more recently, the Talgim Empire has started to conscript able bodied peoples in assistance to defending their homelands from dragonish invaders. Recently, this conscription has opened to start taking just about anyone that is able to move as terror begins to grow within the empire. Conscription is mandatory for almost everyone with the exception to those under the age of human 18, or whatever that maybe for a given race, and those over the age threshold to be of use on a battlefield. Within Ritherhithe, almost everyone in the town has been forced to take up arms against local threats that aim to destroy perhaps the first full town. These threats are those of dragons, no one knows their intent or goals, nor do they care to learn as most people wish for them to leave so they can return to their peaceful life styles. It is here where your quest begins, indirectly with little to no friends near you fighting along side strangers in protection of the town of Ritherhithe….
I find that background events that don’t directly impact the players, right then, are better left as optional reading. Put that stuff in a google doc and put the address for it in the discord channel, let the players look over it on their own time.
You have around 1,000 words here? Something like that, anyways, for each 1,000 words you read to someone it takes about eight minutes to do. Average speaking speed is 130 wpm, and during this time you’ll have the normal things that always happen at game time, someone won’t be paying attention, someone will ask a question, and someone might even wander off onto their phone. Thats not a comment on the quality of your writing or your ideas, those are all great. It’s just people don’t often sit and listen for extended periods of time very often.
I’d trim it down to about two minutes, at most, and get into the action. Players like the stabbing fun part more than a history lesson, in my experience. Either way, good luck!
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Hey guys, so below is going to be the opening monolog for my second campaign that is starting in 3 weeks (we are finishing the current campaign this week). Please tell me what you think, and feel free to give me feed back. If you are confused about something let me know as my players may also be confused at the start too and im wanting to make sure that the game starts out with a bang.
Cheers!
Within the realm of Kokoro, long after the battles of old, and the war of the stars, within the year of XX5-104 lies the starry isles. The Starry Isles, is a bright and colorful place full of all sorts of countries, towns and peoples. The Starry isles is that of an Origin Place as the world has been given a breath of fresh air and been born anew as the fog that had been surrounding these small islands for an entire Era, has started to recede. It is almost as if new magic is starting to re-enter the land and filling its denizens with a new found hope that was long forgotten, of times sense past. These changes have guided people toward wanting to explore and see more of what the world has to offer since the days of the Greeks reign. The Stars at night shine brightly down upon the world within this time of strange chaos; however, the people of the world are taking it gracefully, and not taking it to panic as their gods have started to wane and fade away. Within the new found lands, people have discovered forgotten lands and kingdoms lost to the wakes of time and perhaps some of the Greek interactions helped to further that decay. An area of land that is known as the Northern Expanse has come to a new life, and all of its people and creatures remain intact, as the fog that had plagues the area lifts its grasp from the countries that reside there. Everything and everyone within the Northern Expanses lands have been returned to the world, almost as if nothing happened to them an Era ago. As well, the fog has started to lift itself upon the Bloodmoon Isles, here was the homeland of the Dragons. The Peoples of the Starry Isles are stepping cautiously into these new realms, but with a grace so elegant that one must not stop their approach.
Due to the release of the Bloodmoon isles, Dragons have been seen more actively, in various group sizes ranging from perhaps 1, to what appears to be a squadron of upwards of 100 dragons reigning over their domain. These dragons all appear to be in search of something or someone, as they scan the surface of the people laden earth, the roaring tides of the ocean, exploring the highest peaks, lowest caverns, and most frightening of storms. While minimal in their reporting efforts, some individuals have even come forth witnessing fights between Colored Chromatic Dragons, beaming vibrant colors of Red, Blue, Green, White, and Black; and those of the Brightly shining Metallic Dragons, donning the colors of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Copper, and Brass. These fights appear to have been reported from large metropolis like cities such as Inlyu, or Ame; to the smallest of towns such as Bugjjog or Kult. The skirmishes have even started to cause mild damage not just to homes and the people living there, but the ecosystems and wildlife that inhabit the area of the battle. However all of this seems to be something of fairytale, as they seem so far away to be able to effect the happenings of towns distant away. Even the news of new lands and peoples lost to time appear to be strange, and certainly nothing that a commoner would need to worry themselves with.
The world seems to become a newer place, with new ideas spawning, and newer things being discovered about the old world. Those who lived within the starry isles see this as a fun and new time, while those from within the fog continue their lives as if nothing happened. Knowing nothing about the War of the Stars except for a minor few who may study arcane shifts in energy, or something similar. Within the starry isles, there are many things being done both large scale and small. With the lead governments deciding to form the treaty of stars, which allows for the peoples of the Talgim Empire, Aswanin Empire, and the Golden Federation to freely access all other country's within the treaty. This was a much needed course of action as dragons start to ravage the countryside located within the starry isles. Everything from destruction of towns to just plan death at the wake of these great beasts. The current era has many adventurers doing everything that they can do aid the people of their area but none of these are great hero's. Even those within the military while having great might don’t match those of legendary hero's of the past. That is what is needed within this time of War, is a hero to slay the Dragon Plague that haunts the lands and bring true peace back over the material plane.
It is here that our, more importantly your, journeys begin as a strangeness in the air starts to bring a mood to the sprawling town of Ritherhithe. A small port-land town that finds itself nestled into the southern reaches of the Talgim Empire. Just north of plain open southern seas that border the receding fog, and far enough south that all of the news of new northern lands and old kingdoms seems like something out of a fantasy. It is within this town, an adventurerer would find everything they would need to equip themselves properly to take up arms and start their mighty quest toward whatever their heart desired. However more recently, the Talgim Empire has started to conscript able bodied peoples in assistance to defending their homelands from dragonish invaders. Recently, this conscription has opened to start taking just about anyone that is able to move as terror begins to grow within the empire. Conscription is mandatory for almost everyone with the exception to those under the age of human 18, or whatever that maybe for a given race, and those over the age threshold to be of use on a battlefield. Within Ritherhithe, almost everyone in the town has been forced to take up arms against local threats that aim to destroy perhaps the first full town. These threats are those of dragons, no one knows their intent or goals, nor do they care to learn as most people wish for them to leave so they can return to their peaceful life styles. It is here where your quest begins, indirectly with little to no friends near you fighting along side strangers in protection of the town of Ritherhithe….
Everyone please roll initiative
That is one seriously long monologue.
I find that background events that don’t directly impact the players, right then, are better left as optional reading. Put that stuff in a google doc and put the address for it in the discord channel, let the players look over it on their own time.
You have around 1,000 words here? Something like that, anyways, for each 1,000 words you read to someone it takes about eight minutes to do. Average speaking speed is 130 wpm, and during this time you’ll have the normal things that always happen at game time, someone won’t be paying attention, someone will ask a question, and someone might even wander off onto their phone. Thats not a comment on the quality of your writing or your ideas, those are all great. It’s just people don’t often sit and listen for extended periods of time very often.
I’d trim it down to about two minutes, at most, and get into the action. Players like the stabbing fun part more than a history lesson, in my experience. Either way, good luck!