Setting Blurb

In the beginning when the world was new, on it walked the First Race, the chessan duar. In an act that has mystified historians to this day they bestowed the gift of intelligence to the Dragons. Why they chose to grant the dragons the gift of intelligence remains a mystery, but it proved to be the first step in their eventual downfall. Angry at their treatment as servitors and beasts of burden, the dragons rose against the chessan duar, and sought their freedom. While they knew that the dragons were not truly a force that threatened their existence, the chessan duar nonetheless feared what would become of the world should the two races go to war. Instead, they chose to leave this plane of existence, taking all their possessions and knowledge with them.

In the absence of power left by the vanished chessan duar, the fledgling gods saw the opportunity to create their own race, and the giants were born into the world. The giants were not able to compete directly with the dragons, but neither would they back down. The giants weren’t yet powerful enough to go to war with the dragons, but they were growing stronger. The dragons, to cement their position of power, decided to create their own servitor races, and thus were born the industrious dwarves and magic wielding orok. The only other known race at the time was the elves, but they were not numerous enough or willing to involve themselves in the conflicts of others and using the Secret of Magic they hid themselves from the other races.

Being harsh overseers, it wasn’t long before the dragons’ own servant races also rebelled. The dwarves and orok both fled from their dragon masters, though their hatred of one another meant that they would never form an alliance to battle the dragons. Instead the dwarves allied themselves with the elves, which had begun to take a more active role in the events around them.

But Saradanthule (considered the ‘runt’ of the giant pantheon) knew that the dwarves and elves would not be able to stand alone. Seeking revenge upon his brutish brethren, he created humans and placed them upon Kage to battle both the giants and dragons. Following Saradanthule’s creation his evil twin entity populated the world with goblinoids, wielders of a unique magic known as witchery. The humans, elves and dwarves, commonly known as the races of good, joined forces and the greatest conflict Kage has ever seen, the Great Wyrm War, began.

The war lasted for eons and devastated the world. In a bid to protect the creatures of the world, Aris, the Earthmother gave birth to the guardian races, intelligent beings that exemplified the characteristics of a chosen animal and would watch over and protect them. Eventually, the humans and the races of good were victorious and the dragons and giants were pushed into the unwanted regions of the world, where they bided their time, waiting for their chance to return to their former glory.

SketchyLine

Much has changed in the six millennia since the first humans came to Kage. Empires have risen and fallen, alliances have been forged and broken, and new lands have been discovered. In all, the races of good have triumphed and lived comfortably in their many new kingdoms.

But times may once again be changing…

More and more, the evil races are gaining prominence, striking back into lands they once owned. Dragons once again walk among the races of man, hobgoblin legions of the rising Tojar Empire roam far and wide laying waste to civilized lands, fiends walk the land, the serpentine carry out magical experiments on local populations and there are whispers of the Dark God growing restless. Although imprisoned in the center of this world since its defeat at the hand of Saradanthule, it still yearns for the day when it might be freed to exact its vengeance upon Saradanthule and his creations and the very earth itself weeps a dark oozing blood that taints whatever it touches. Most disturbing of all is the recent appearance of the Corruptor. On nights when this moon appears in the sky (seemingly at random) its children, the lycanthropes, terrorize the people of most lands.

SketchyLine

Whether you wish to sail the oceans to explore distant lands, defend your homeland against the enemies of your people, study rare magics, seek magical and ancient treasures, battle against evil religions (including those that seek the return of the Dark God), or hunt for the prized hides of dragons and giants, then adventure awaits you on Cellworld.

The Cellworld Campaign Setting is a fantasy setting where arcane magic fatigues its users. Divine magics are common, as the gods have played an active role in the shaping of the world and its inhabitants. Although there were only five sub-races of the First Humans created by Saradanthule, there are now many others who have been gated to the world by other deities. With them have come many unique and strange cultures, religions and magics.

But of course humans are not Cellworld’s only inhabitants. Elves, dwarves and orcs (descendants of the once magical orok) have dwelt here since the beginning of time. Helfling pirates sail the seas and the numerous guardian races are scattered throughout the lands. Dragons walk amongst the lands of men in disguise and giants remain the hated enemies of the elder races, lurking on the fringes of society. Their numbers remain low however, and the prevalence of other evil races has diminished the hatred of these ancient enemies. Now goblinoids, trolls, orcs, oni, evil guardian races, and evil variants of the good races (such as the drowarthir’rin and stone dwarves) take up most of the good races’ time and resources. As an affront to Aris, lycanthropes are becoming more common and rumours abound that the serpentine are almost ready to begin their conquest of the entire continent. To compound the problems of the good races further the Dark God manages to exert more influence on the lands with each passing year, despite remaining bound in its worldly prison.

Now, more than ever, heroes are needed on Cellworld.