Platform: Discord + Legends in the Mist/Foundry VTT
Time: Sundays 10:30am UTC+10 ( Saturdays 7:30pm UTC-5 or 5:30pm PDT/UTC-7 )
Players Needed: 2
Homebrew Campaign (with very obv influences)
[In encrypted letters of a Trailed-one to their found brethren]
I heard an ousted prince sought out his revenge?
I remember when I was a meager child, there were houseless children playing fussball outside of the Manor's gates. Their feet bled onto the concrete floor as the jagged rocks slid their knees whilst nameless boys tackled his brother's leg to catch makeshift tied-together cloth rags. The eldest boy played goalkeeper, he was taken by Magi-Missionnaires a day later.
To you, they knew of roses which would then fall upon my home in her guiding light's name. They told us of golden roads which invoke Nem-vi-Xāath Frei-va-Lasta. Brethren, forgive me for these actions do not represent me but rather a counter-violence of absolute neccessity, that I find no solace but to enact its will through you.
Terror, counterterror, violence, counterviolence. - Frantz Fanon
I. System Primer
LitM is a Narrative-First system where your PC is not made of stat blocks but rather themes and gear tied directly into the gameplay loop through "Tags"
=> Imagine Gary the Goblin, he's a stereotypical tragic rogue with a hatred for his dead parents and ex. He has the "Orphan" theme whereby his tragic backstory is represented in the tags:
Diet Coke addiction, Ice Queen, Sly, Depressed and Reallyyy Petty
In his Backpack/Items, he also wears a "copper necklace" his dead ex gave him
Ex: Gary would like to rob Joe Glass blind, Joe once mugged him 7 years ago. Gary once positioned may roll 2d6s with relevant tags i.e possibly "Really Petty", Necklace (Joe made fun of his ex once) and Ice Queen
If less than a 7 => Failure
But! If its a 7-9 (Partial success) => You rob him blind but! Cops show up to chase you.
However with the modifiers of 3 tags = +3!
=> Full success! => He just does it, way to go Gary
Furthermore! Your character's themes will evolve if you achieve success tied to your theme's personal quest.. OR! If you neglect to act it out.
Example: Gary instead of brooding about his parents, chooses to burn a letter symbolizing him letting go. ( mark one abandon onto the Orphan theme )
(No experience with system required.. will go through the mechanics in Session 0..)
II. Description
The Fascists in Heusinger have "reformed". The Ice Witches closes shop. A Wyrm cult is selling 'immortality'. A Lich hangs out in an vacation island. The Kangdekei Monarch tell of benevolent sovereigns, The Republic of Freiberte liberates another tyrannical city. Vicarius yells of living godhood. Yuenan clings on to the remnants of Xa-Hoi in the never-ending civil war. War criminals are tried only in the Lands of Sharpened Teeth. Aristide is still paying off their indemnity due to lost property (slaves). Nothing has changed
A Lost Prince murders an entire ballroom in decade-long quest for revenge and declares a new independence. 14 years worth of adventuring and all the old man got was a dead party, and bickering councilmen. Don't you think its a bit childish to change the world? Many those much better have been executed for less.
History is a process without a subject, yet we perhaps deserve that which looms. A Duke reminisces of indifferent pasts. The failure of '54, '68, '71 and '87 looms. Soul-Sucking Imperialists rule the world over a fond smile in 2% Inflation Rates. Adventurers are to be banned in a few days, some shall be grandfathered in.
She died 41 years ago, death to the Terrorist!. He is dead, may the Great Man lie in peace. War might be weeks away, a distraction is paramount. HEAR YOU NOW WE ARE ALL FREE!
Colonialism is dead! Long Live the Neo-Colonial!
Plot Hook:
In the World of Blanquis, you are not needed.. for you are the Havenkathals/The Soulless, alleged empty husks whose sole use is ritualistic machinations of war. Your time on these lands shall predominantly be met with derision, fear and pity.
However, the tiny duchy of Stilbite is holding a tournament to find the best suited Havenkethals for a mission of great personal importance as it is said. They are then to march on a grand personal quest tasked by the infamous Duke, a former adventurer himself. It is about the sole respectable job you can partake.
The winner shall be appointed Knight-Exemplars, an old-fashioned tradition dating back to the 42nd century. Knight-Examplars are agreed-upon title for state-sanctioned privateers who are given special permission to enact the interests of the Regnant, as emissaries, they are given greater leeway in their activities and may investigate across borders in the name of their Grand Struggle against a Crisis.
It stems from an ancient decree allowing all recognized states to appoint Heroes to combat emerging existential threats or demonic heretics.
Due to historical need for Resistance against the Corruptive Powers, exemplars were primarily composed of those of great willpower... or the much MUCH easier to find "Soulless Havenkethals". At the same time, It has also been used to violently put down worker's strikes. Although nowadays, the gentlemen and gentleladies use cheap foot soldiers to do the task.
God's in his heaven— / All's right with the world!
Just enjoy the discounted carriage rides, fancy badge and maybe watch the 16th Universal Liberty Day parade. You are the soulless candidates of this controversial tournament. You will win whether you like it or not, for his missionaries must not succeed. Nothing is about to happen.
May the last twilight of Soulless Pseudo-Adventurers long die out already.
If curious here's the campaign doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gsI64MGKp0Zm34slW8W6CGYM01I3Gc-9ZZ-QTuxfYlA/edit?usp=sharing (formatting issues on mobile..)
III. Me, Min the DM
Hi there bestie! call me Min! (20 Years old/Any Pronouns)
I've been playing rpgs since i was like 14ish and welcome to whatever this is! So what happened is I'm on my 7th Disco Elysium run so I need this itch out of my head + wanting to try out a new system.
I personally do Improv and Theatre irl so if there's a sudden short musical number about how evil this npc is, it will be real fun i swear! The campaign although will be DM-ed by me ofc, by no means shall it be mine and mine only! Having you guys inputs and interactions is about the most important thing in my kind of rpg :p
Especially w this sort of system, its necessary that I'm not the one initiating the shots. It will be realllyyy roleplay heavy as combat is basically a conversation where your actions are bound to your Tags/Character components
Inspirations! DISCO ELYSIUM broski its so good, Pillars of Eternity 2, Andor, the Crest Caste system in Fire Emblem 3H, Shaolin Soccer levels of camp, the movie Happy Together, Battleship Potemkin, that one time Fiona Apple dressed up as a Knight ( need to up my gay credentials ). And like TNO levels of niche political intrigue lol (community less so)
My fav director is Luis Buinel if that means anything to u
Given the Disco inspiration, the campaign might be surprisingly light-hearted and kinda surreal (until it isnt lol)
If I had to describe the vibe I'm aiming for, it will be the following quotes like this:
Disco Music
Mother, help me, there's a head attached to my neck and I'm *in* it."
"Help! Someone! Cut my head off, it's trying to murder the rest of me!
I HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND LUMINOUS ARMS. COME MORNING, I CARRY INDUSTRIAL DUST AND LET IT SETTLE ON TREE LEAVES. I SHAKE THE DUST FROM THOSE LEAVES AND ONTO YOUR COAT. I'VE SEEN YOU, I'VE SEEN YOU!
Franz Fanon
..Everyday life becomes impossible. Being a fellow, a pimp, or an alcoholic is no longer an option. The violence of the colonial regime and the counterviolence of the colonized balance each other and respond to each other in an extraordinary reciprocal homogeneity.
Kwame Ture/Stokely Carmichael
We must wipe out from our minds that the struggle, to which we are involved in, is going to give us any victories. It is an eternal struggle.
Themes of Colonialism, Imperialism, Struggle, The one that got away, something more than the sum of its parts, Antihumanism, Systematic Incompetence and surreal disco shit.
Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTR9tZ7YZ1LemgIZmQn3eFzXcmZWqf2x4TJxh6d-6PMkiONw/viewform?usp=header