The king lived most of his life under the strict rule of his grandfather. The king's father had long given up on the throne and dissapeared. When the king's grandfather finally did die, his funeral was done quickly and the old king was made to be forgotten in the castle, the new king to be was eager. The old king was not a bad king, but he was very superstitious and kept his kingdom under rigid control. The people didn't suffer, but they didn't exactly rejoice either. The same day of the coronation he got rid of some of his grandfather's laws quickly and very publicly. Some were hopeful, others foresaw trouble. For the first decade things were fine. The king got married, had a son and daughter, and sought how to further progress his kingdom without going bankrupt.

Just as dawn came on his tenth year reign, the king set his sights on a borderland. The king had grown to dislike any people that were superstitious or part of a strict religion. The lands that bordered his held a sect of people that called themselves guardians. They wore nothing but loincloths, covered themselves in a dark grey dust, and had spears. He saw them as primitive and had heard of some relic they protected. Determined to prove superstitions were ridiculous he sent his army in and invaded. The Guardians had little chance against the king's warriors. Their armor was made of metal and the sword able to swiftly cut the spears, the people were almost completely wiped out. Some ran away and survived. The king found the relic out of due diligence, it not being easy to find. In his 13th year he finally put his hands on the relic, and it was the beginning of the end. As soon as sunlight hit the relic, it activated. It was a dark stone the size of a man's head that had fallen from the sky. As the sunlight assaulted it, it began to glow and vibrate. The king dropped it, not being able to handle the strange sensation.

At first, just clouds covered the sky. Then the sun stopped shinning, and shortly after creatures of horror and nightmares began to appear. The king watched as his daughter was taken by the strange creatures, his son died trying to defend the people, and his wife killed herself, not wanting to be married to the man who unleashed hell upon the land. The king retreated into his chambers and soon began to stop listening to anyone in court. The castle was abandoned except for those most loyal to the king. The people now do the best they can to survive. It has been twenty years since the king unleashed the relic. The Guardians have hid themselves well into society and blended in. They only protected the relic, they had no idea how to reverse the darkness should the relic ever be activated. Our adventures will follow clues to bring back the sunlight.

What happened to the relic?

The relic sat where the king dropped it for much time until eventually some of those who relished the darkness, came to find it, and put it in their temple to protect and worship. No one really knows if the relic holds power anymore but most people have become very deep in superstitions and see the relic as evil and a danger to be destroyed.

All races and classes are playable!

Races

Humans

Guardians - This clan lived simply and primitively. It was true that they bordered the kingdom Avanyei, but they had no interest in technology. They went into the kingdom from time to time to trade for cooking pots, but that was where their interested ended. They covered themselves in a grey dust. This made the Avan people think they were filthy, but on the contrary, they were a very clean people. They used the dust to hide easily in the night, a symbolic gesture of what they protected. When the king came in and attacked mercilessly they had little defense. Rather then being wiped out, those who could flee, did. After the relic was released, they merged with Avan society in hope of surviving, seeing little options to reverse the darkness. They now look like everyone else and hide their heritage.

They are highly intelligent and up until recently read and wrote their own language. Now that they blended in with society they can read and write both common and their own tongue. Sometimes they marry into Avan families but its not too often because the Avan have such different beliefs and philosophies that they struggle just to get along. The Avan had no idea they had merged in the society with them. Guardians make good bards and thespians because they are so good at pretending. Their style of fighting is no longer taught as a way to blend in, but their tongue is practiced behind closed doors and never written down. When the young are practicing they use chalkboards so they can erase it once they are done.

Avan

Not all Avan people are like their king, this is true of all societies. Some curse the king and miss the old king. He may have been rigid and not always fair, but he protected his kingdom. Those that support him, well, they don't really support him anymore. Instead of trying to do something the king has locked himself in the castle. These people covet technology and science above all things. Even with the darkness and constant threat of nightmares attacking the city, they still manage to trudge on. Anything that acts as a light source is a quick money maker, causing all manners of interesting lights to clutter the main city. Think stereotypical steampunk when you think of these people.

Outlanders

These are people from the countryside who flooded into the main city when the darkness came. They make up gypsies, farmers, miners, and all other types of workmen and clans you wouldn't typically find in the city. For the most part they stick to one area of the city, near the city walls, since they stand out so much. They are the ones who suffer the most.

Dwarves

They once lived in the mountains, but when the darkness came it wasn't long before it affected the underworld. They too had to flee to the city, but soon found that it wasn't for them. They have since built a fortified mini-city just outside the city walls. Highly better then the humans at building fortifications, they suffer less then the humans. Their women are fiercely protected in the heart of the city. No one outside Dwarven society sees the women, it being too dangerous for them to go out now. A lone dwarf here and there adventures out, but for the most part they stick together. A small group still risks venturing into the mountains to fetch gems and ore. Its highly dangerous but dwarves are known to go stir crazy without something to work on. As such, the ore and gems are highly prized and the Avans and Outlanders pay high prices for it.

Gnomes

This is the original race that taught humans technology. They live in the major city now spread out all over. They care not what humans think of them, so they live where they please, not congregating together like the Outlanders. Most of them still work on technology. They enjoy food, and even though its scarce, they manage to make their meals quite tasteful. The gnomes all grow their own gardens and cause much havoc in the city. The gnomes are happy to sell their garden fruit and vegetables, but will not tolerate stealing. Most have placed traps around their garden to prevent theft.

Classes

The darkness has brought out the worst in people. As such, crime and jobs of the night have skyrocketed. There are still some good people. Use your own imagination when thinking of what class or job you want your character to be.

Some sample ideas:

Engineer
Steam-Engineer
Assassin
Thief
Bard
Assassin
Dwarven warrior/battle-rager
Gnome tinkerer
Garden-tenderer
Etc

Worshipers of the Sun - With the sun gone, a religious sect has grown up. At first they experienced trouble with the king, but the king is now a recluse and they no longer experience any prejudice. They blame the darkness on people's lack of faith, allowing such a king to rule. Their temple is the most lit building in the city, never going dark, causing distress for those who live nearby. This temple keeps light engineers working from all the lights being broken. The followers wear golden robes and the women only marry knights. They walk the streets, preaching to have faith the sun will once return. The knights of the order routinely go outside the city walls killing anything that isn't natural. The fatality rate is quite high.

Worshipers of Darkness - These people rejoice the darkness. To say they are all inherently evil is wrong, though they are no do-gooders. Among the followers are criminals of every kind. Assassins, thieves, con artists. The "holy" men of this order wear black robes and tattoo their skin with strange tribal tattoos. They practice extreme hedonism (but for sake of roleplaying, this will be toned down quite a bit). There are no marriages here but also no ill-legitimate children. If a child is conceived upon a night of worship and celebration, it is brought up in the values of darkness. These folk live outside the main city. They are not immune to the creatures that roam the land, but the more intelligent ones have recognized their worship and leave them be, choosing to find truly terrified victims.

Level of Technology

Technology is mostly electrical. There is some steam but clean water is not an endless supply so wasting it is frowned upon. Most inventors stick to light casting inventions. A few gnomes have experimented with non-lethal traps to keep their gardens from being destroyed. Quick release armor is available though highly expensive. All pistols are handmade and have a chance of backfiring on the user.

Landscape

Avanyei

This is the major city. The castle looms over the town dark and gloomy. No one goes in the castle anymore. The only signs of any life is a delivery once a week of food and other necessities. The city is crowded with buildings squeezed in and has strange lights everywhere. Most people have the lights set to dim after supper to help encourage sleep, but some of the light engineers are more afraid and refuse to set dimmers. As such, most people's bedrooms are made to block out any light. Any weapons are strictly forbidden in the city. People just live too cramped together, weapons are just recipes for disasters. If anyone engineers a weapon or has a new one made, they have twenty days to register it at the city gates. There it is held for them with their name, so if for any insane reason they wish to leave, they can have their weapon. Weapons do mysteriously go missing from time to time (most likely a thief). There isn't much room for more people. Some are demanding the city walls expanded, but that requires the king to sign off, and on one can get into see him.

Mithrilshield

This is the Dwarven stronghold. Humans are not welcomed here easily. However, gnomes are. Gnomes and Dwarves have had a long standing good relationship. The women are very protected in the heart of the city and only gnomes have seen the women (other then the dwarves).

Mountains

No one has been here in twenty years. Even twenty years ago not too many people traveled over them. With unpredictable weather, avalanches, and natural predators they were no small feat to cross. If someone was about to die, the dwarves would step in but they were not happy about going out and helping fools. The guardians lived in the shadow of these mountains, the relic hidden just at the base.

RP Note: I will allow 1 character for every 10 characters to be a mysterious person who crossed over the mountains, but it has to be a good character.