The Omen of Fire
Most unexpectedly, an omen of fire appears in the sky, bright in the darkness, visible during the day, panic ensues...
A comet, a rogue ball of methane ice and dust is passing close enough to be seen clearly with the naked eye. Astrologers claim that the end is come, that the sign of the elder and evil gods is riding high in the sky, repent or forever be cast into damnation.
Riding on the coattails of the uproar, banditry has skyrocketed, as commoners lay down their tools and farming equipment, cast aside their bonds to the land and their lords to go afield. In a short time, many cult cells form around charismatic apocalyptic preachers. Some preach ritual suicide to gain spiritual blessings from the the omen of fire, others promote other religious extremes.
Bonfires roar as questionable literature is burned, hermits and magi are hunted down as harbingers of absolute doom, and chaos ensues. The church is rocked as heretics become as common as locusts, preaching their own interpretation of the holy scriptures.
Along for the Ride - The PCs are swept away with the tide of madness, pillaging and looting as these are their last days.
Against the Tide - The PCs have to stand and defend their stronghold against the tide of madness. This could be a personal holding that has been targeted by Bonfire of the vanities fanatics, a chuch against agnostic berzerkers, or the walls of a palace against rioting commoners. The theme would be survival against massive odds.
The Final Days - Perhaps the comet is an omen and the gates of the nether realms are cast open, and the characters have to strive to survive the apocalypse.
We over-reacted - after a few days of mayhem and carnage, the omen of fire passes and vanishes from the sky. The end doesnt come, and after alot of hard, often violent work, everything is brought back into line. The PCs are rewarded for bravery, or called to account for their actions.
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? Responses (12)
Ah Destroying the World, or nearly destroying the world, is a GM's favorite past time. In this case, the GM really does not have to, as the mere appearance of the Omen, will allow the society to radically change.
This is a great way to revamp your game world some, if it has become tired during play.
There is a related topic here
http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=908
I like the idea of it-an orginal slant on an unorginal theme. 5/5
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
AND THE WORLD SHALL BE BATHED IN THE CRUCIBLE OF FLAMES!
4/5.
Great idea, and I do like it as is!
Why leave the PC's earthbound with a modern interpretation of a comet? Let it be Zrgnax' Chariot of Doom or whatever, and let the mayhem begin. Then send the PC's off to deal with it as the first part of the plot - good transitory change of venue, wierd physical distortions, bizarre magical effects, etc, for a few sessions.
Ah, and so They Save The World! Or do they?
The threat in the sky may be gone, but it will be a long time before it's forgotten, and now the PC's must deal with a new social order. How did their fief, friends and fortunes fare? Some did well (or made out well by doing ill?), some did ill (or suffered ill for doing right?)? Surprising alliances, and unexplained enmities? Some gone missing, and none will say where? Let them discover the rippling after-effects of the social upheaval, which happened despite (because of?) their Grand Adventure. How different the world they return to is, of course, enough to drive a whole campaign.
Could they ever 'return it to normal', if they wanted to?
Recently watched the iChronicles of Riddick/i in which a comet is the harbinger of the world killing Necromongers. There is some nice work done as the necromongers become a dominating topic among street speakers and conversationalists. The name is spoken with trepidation, disbelief and fear.
A question to anyone else who saw the movie, why were the necromongers the only people with capital ships?
Becuase it is demoralizing to those they have come to conquer. The others were given much smaller ships to keep with the idea that most of these places are growing colonies that have not been established long enough to build little more than hodge-podge transports cannibalized from the ships that originally brought them there.
My question is, where is New Mecca?(sp?) The place they were originally heading in the first movie.
Now, what if the comet was a recurring event - returning since its first appearance regularly, and the malevolent effects - not only people being mad, but also magical fallout and the like - it brings becoming more severe with every return?
If it happens often, it would have less impact each time as the states would be able to prepare for it better.
on one hand, they could in theory be better prepared each time the comet comes round. On the other, each passage could be a horribly disruptive event. Records are destroyed, oral traditions disrupted and so forth. THe only way that the the regular timing of the comet of ill omen could be found would be through the examination of gaps in historical record.
IE - the Kingdom of Tammuz existed for 150 years, followed by 50 years of Ghazi occupation. Then, the records cease to exist for thrity to fifty years. Following that, the Arbela dynasty rose and lasted 200 some odd years before vanishing, leaving behind sketchy recounts of an omen in the sky and panic and confusion.
It has been nearly 250 years since the fall of the Arbela Dynasty. Do the PCs get nervous?
Seems like the prefect thing to Bump in honor of the Quest.
Apparently, this just happened to the site :)