Okay, this is what Chaos Turtle and I have come up with so far. Please keep in mind that this is a very rough outline, and that we'd like to write it up as a story later, once the set gets finalized and things settle down a bit.
Let's start with a general background on the various races in our little section of Dominaria. The first group is the Dwarvish race, the Durdan. They are typical dwarvish types, (ie. cantankerous, taciturn, rowdy, somewhat xenophobic) who have for years fought with each other in clannish disputes in their stronghold, a mining city named Forom D'Urdan. This incessant internecine warfare has caused one clan to exile themselves to a nearby mountain range, where they've set up another stronghold, Forom D'Arr.
This group chose to establish ties with the outside world, and they are the focal point for the story.
The next group are the Frizan. They rule in the port city of Rizan, and are clearly the most powerful mages around. They are also merchants, and they control all the trade through the port. Lately they've been using their wealth to fund the constant border wars with the Mandari and the Bhodivans by hiring Malfurgan Mercenaries.
Their ultimate goal is to rule the entire region.
The Malfurgan are a race of soldiers, necromancers, and demon worshippers. Their homeland is a dark, swampy place several miles to the south of Rizan, but their dark gods have placed such a high demand on them to spill blood (especially the blood of innocents) that they are constantly hiring themselves out as Mercs. They have a deep and abiding hatred for all the other races, but especially for the Mandari. They'll go miles out of their way to appease their gods and slay Mandari, and by allying themselves with the Frizans they get to do that a lot.
The Mandari are a peaceful, high plains-dwelling folk, who've found themselves the object of this oppression. The Frizan's expansion of their borders eastward has put them at odds with the Mandari, and the Mandari have reacted by forting up, and training their warrior caste in the use of swords, and armor. They've done surprisingly well in this training, and are holding their own in this border war. They are also allied with the Bhodivans, with whom they trade extensively.
The Bhodivans are an elvish race, but they aren't very typical of elves. They've built large cities in the forest, for one thing, and they've centers of higher learning. They're very intelligent - enlightened, actually - and they have a very co-operative society. They like nothing better than to spend their days perched in their treetop domiciles reading books.
They can, however, fight like demons when pressed, and the forest itself will fight to defend them.
Hmmm. It's late, and I've got to get to bed. I'll take this up again tomorrow, and get into the plotline then.
Let's start with a general background on the various races in our little section of Dominaria. The first group is the Dwarvish race, the Durdan. They are typical dwarvish types, (ie. cantankerous, taciturn, rowdy, somewhat xenophobic) who have for years fought with each other in clannish disputes in their stronghold, a mining city named Forom D'Urdan. This incessant internecine warfare has caused one clan to exile themselves to a nearby mountain range, where they've set up another stronghold, Forom D'Arr.
This group chose to establish ties with the outside world, and they are the focal point for the story.
The next group are the Frizan. They rule in the port city of Rizan, and are clearly the most powerful mages around. They are also merchants, and they control all the trade through the port. Lately they've been using their wealth to fund the constant border wars with the Mandari and the Bhodivans by hiring Malfurgan Mercenaries.
Their ultimate goal is to rule the entire region.
The Malfurgan are a race of soldiers, necromancers, and demon worshippers. Their homeland is a dark, swampy place several miles to the south of Rizan, but their dark gods have placed such a high demand on them to spill blood (especially the blood of innocents) that they are constantly hiring themselves out as Mercs. They have a deep and abiding hatred for all the other races, but especially for the Mandari. They'll go miles out of their way to appease their gods and slay Mandari, and by allying themselves with the Frizans they get to do that a lot.
The Mandari are a peaceful, high plains-dwelling folk, who've found themselves the object of this oppression. The Frizan's expansion of their borders eastward has put them at odds with the Mandari, and the Mandari have reacted by forting up, and training their warrior caste in the use of swords, and armor. They've done surprisingly well in this training, and are holding their own in this border war. They are also allied with the Bhodivans, with whom they trade extensively.
The Bhodivans are an elvish race, but they aren't very typical of elves. They've built large cities in the forest, for one thing, and they've centers of higher learning. They're very intelligent - enlightened, actually - and they have a very co-operative society. They like nothing better than to spend their days perched in their treetop domiciles reading books.
They can, however, fight like demons when pressed, and the forest itself will fight to defend them.
Hmmm. It's late, and I've got to get to bed. I'll take this up again tomorrow, and get into the plotline then.