Six deities decide to play a Game of Mortals. They create a demiplane called the Grand Court, consisting of a central hexagon 30 miles across called the Courtyard, surrounded by six hexagons of equal size known as the Outer Domains.
Each domain has its own thematic nature.
The Fire Domain is a volcanic landscape of lava flows, walls of fire, etc, inhabited by fire creatures.
The Water Domain is an aquatic environment of coral reefs inhabited by aquatic creatures.
The Earth Domain is a cavernous labyrinth of tunnels and caves inhabited by subterranean creatures.
The Glacial Domain is an arctic landscape of ice formations and snow inhabited by arctic creatures.
The Wild Domain is a wilderness of jungles, hills, swamps, deserts, and mountains inhabited by all kinds of wild beasts.
The Urban Domain is a sprawling metropolis inhabited by warring factions of humanoids and city dwelling creatures.
Each domain is contested by multiple factions at the start of the Game of Mortals.
At the heart of the central Courtyard lies the Pantheon, a magnificent temple dedicated to the six deities who devised the Game of Mortals: Kwan Yin, Chinese goddess of compassion; Thor, Norse god of thunder; Marduk, Babylonian god of civilization; Bast, Egyptian goddess of cats; Hades, Greek god of the Underworld; and Kali, Hindu goddess of destruction and creation.
Inside this temple, sealed within a permanent prismatic sphere, is an artifact called the Throne of the Gods. Whoever first sits upon it after the prismatic sphere is dispelled is granted divine status and joins the deities as an equal!
The prismatic sphere can only be dispelled by conquering all six of the Outer Domains and installing a single Overlord in each. But only one can sit upon the Throne of the Gods and become a god-king!
The Game of Mortals unfolds in a demiplane within the Ethereal Plane, but the six mortal pawns chosen by their divine patrons to participate in this Game come from Earth in the Material Plane, circa 800 AD.
Each deity has chosen a mortal pawn to spirit away from the familiar world to this wondrous demiplane, The Gameboard. The six mortal pawns go to sleep one night on Earth, and awaken in the Gameboard, within the central Courtyard! Bewildered and full of dread, they soon learn the nature of this new realm they have mysteriously awakened in...
The Courtyard is a great hexagon some ten leagues (30 miles) across, paved with marble flagstones, with a sky overhead. A sun and moon mark the days and nights, equal to Earth days and nights along the Equator, and with a similar tropical climate. At the heart of the Courtyard lies the Pantheon, a magnificent temple dedicated to the six deities playing this Game of Mortals. It towers above the other structures around it like a mighty sentinel of orichalcum and marble, gleaming in the yellow sunlight. A rainbow glow perpetually illuminates the open windows of this great temple from within...
Several lesser yet still grand palaces surround the Pantheon, and a ring-shaped canal encircles the Pantheon and the several palaces, spanned by four great cantilever bridges. At the six corners of the great hexagon lie great edifices of wonder and mystery, awaiting expllration...
A titanic wall with six cyclopean towers and six colossal gates line the borders of the Courtyard, and hedge out the surrounding Outer Domains...
Standing in his goat-drawn chariot with lightning flashing off of his hammer, Mjölnir, Thor, god of thunder and friend of mankind, bellows to the five other deities assembled in the Ethereal Plane around a new Game of Mortals: Hail, ye mighty gods and goddesses! I be right honored to play this Game of Mortals with such as thee!
His magnificent goats stamp and bleat, their eyes burning like embers!
Behold mine favored mortal champion: Sven Shieldbreaker! Known among mortals as Sven the Shieldbearer! Born of the Alpine stone and thunder!
Standing in his goat-drawn chariot with lightning flashing off of his hammer, Mjölnir, Thor, god of thunder and friend of mankind, bellows to the five other deities assembled in the Ethereal Plane around a new Game of Mortals: Hail, ye mighty gods and goddesses! I be right honored to play this Game of Mortals with such as thee!
His magnificent goats stamp and bleat, their eyes burning like embers!
Behold mine favored mortal champion: Sven Shieldbreaker! Known among mortals as Sven the Shieldbearer! Born of the Alpine stone and thunder!
Impressive, Lord Thor... Your pawn seems very durable... Capable of withstanding unimaginable agonies...
Ja! He is strong! He is hard, like stone! He will break the shields of your warriors, gods and goddesses!
Sitting upon a hovering throne of basalt and onyx, the god of death chuckles, a sepulchral rumble...
It is indeed a high honor to play at Mortals with such worthy opponents!
Bast, goddess of cats, reclines upon a floating couch of ebony covered with goosedown-stuffed silken upholstery, purring with delight at the prospect of a new Game of Mortals. She casts her green-eyed gaze throughout the worlds of the Material Plane, seeking just the right mortal pawn to play...
Gentle Kwan Yin, goddess of mercy and compassion, protector of women in childbirth, floats upon an opalescent cloud, her beautiful form radiant with golden light. She gazes into the Material Plane as well, also seeking a suitable mortal champion.
Marduk, Lord of Law and god of Babylon, who captured Tiamat in his magic net, stands in a chariot drawn by giant griffons.
The Gameboard has been set, my fellow deities! A fine board it is! The central Courtyard shall be No Man's Land, neutral ground, where our chosen champions shall awaken in fine palaces stocked with all of their mortal requirements! They shall soon learn the true nature of this new realm they shall find themselves in...
Turning to Thor, Marduk's eyes narrow and his mouth curves in a smirk.
I see that you have already chosen and placed a mortal pawn, Son of Odin! How hasty of you.
Decisive, not hasty, Marduk! Thor retorts with a broad grin.
In the Pantheon, the grand temple dedicated to the six deities playing this Game of Mortals, the Throne of the Gods sits upon a central dais of multicolored quartz. High back wrought of ivory, gold, mithral and cedar interlocked masterfully to form a gleaming, golden Phoenix with wings outspread, the arms carved in the shape of eagle talons gripping azure crystal balls, the feet carved in the shape of gold and ivory lions claws.
Surrounding this potent artifact is a permanent prismatic sphere, a globe of shimmering rainbow lights that glean and glimmer with ominous power. The Throne of the Gods is the only furnishing in the vast cathedral. The bright rainbow lights of its warding sphere illuminate the stained glass windows of this great temple, glowing a multicolored aura throughout day and night.
I have chosen. Mydravos the Harbinger shall be my pawn in this Game of Mortals. My devious, diabolical, ambitious pawn. With noble infernal blood, my young priest shall play the Game with ruthless, Spartan strategy!
Purring with delight, the cat goddess stretches languidly...
My choice is made. Ealsealf Greenleaves shall be my clever, cunning little plaything. A fey creature, with just the right combination of feline curiosity and whimsy to appreciate this Game of Mortals.
Her beautiful dark eyes wet with remorse, Kwan Yin, Mother of Mercy, makes her difficult choice.
No kind, just heart deserves such torment. I cannot bear to subject a merciful creature to this sadistic Game we play, so I have chosen a creature without mercy or scruples... I choose the mortal wizard Essel Theana as my champion in this Game of Mortals.
Disoriented, Essel swings around, "Who? What? Where? How?"
Even in her confusion, she smirks slightly, I suppose 'when' and 'why' also apply here.
She pats her belt, making sure she still has her spell pouch, then pulls out her spellbook and flips through it to make sure everything is still there. Satisfied that nothing but the quill is missing, she gets up off the bed she finds herself sitting on and begins to explore her surroundings.
Disoriented, Essel swings around, "Who? What? Where? How?"
Even in her confusion, she smirks slightly, I suppose 'when' and 'why' also apply here.
She pats her belt, making sure she still has her spell pouch, then pulls out her spellbook and flips through it to make sure everything is still there. Satisfied that nothing but the quill is missing, she gets up off the bed she finds herself sitting on and begins to explore her surroundings.
Sven groggily sat up, groaning. ”I drank how much...?” Seeing the fine silks he bolted upright. Where was he? There was no way he was drunk enough to end up so far from home. Seeing his gear he quickly got dressed, praying to Thor that he hadn’t bedded an elf. Or worse, married one. Must have been drugged. No way I got that drunk. Bah! Someone couldn’t resist the beard. Understandable, but I have to get out of here...
Mydravos awakens no longer surrounded by his followers and no longer sequestered away in the dark. He looks around and sees such a lavish furnishing and stands up, immediately confused yet alert. This is far to comfortable for any of my followers homes so I mustn’t have had a night of sin and drunkenness. Have I been captured by someone who seeks to strike me down in some divine justice.
Sven groggily sat up, groaning. ”I drank how much...?” Seeing the fine silks he bolted upright. Where was he? There was no way he was drunk enough to end up so far from home. Seeing his gear he quickly got dressed, praying to Thor that he hadn’t bedded an elf. Or worse, married one. Must have been drugged. No way I got that drunk. Bah! Someone couldn’t resist the beard. Understandable, but I have to get out of here...
Outside, there is a rumble of thunder... A greeting from Thor, perhaps? The day seems bright and clear outside the windows of the bedchamber. A door opens onto a balcony overlooking a vast courtyard. Another door presumably leads deeper into the palace.
Mydravos awakens no longer surrounded by his followers and no longer sequestered away in the dark. He looks around and sees such a lavish furnishing and stands up, immediately confused yet alert. This is far to comfortable for any of my followers homes so I mustn’t have had a night of sin and drunkenness. Have I been captured by someone who seeks to strike me down in some divine justice.
The chamber is illuminated by a bronze and clear crystal lamp resting on a mahogany side table near the canopy bed. A desk with high backed chair, a full length mirror, a chamberpot, a footlocker and an armoire complete the lavish furnishings.
Figuring that, regardless of where she was, she shouldn't go unarmed, Essel quickly begins her preparation rituals, spending just long enough to prepare her spells and enact her protective power before leaving the room, fingers ready to call arcane power on whoever is a threat.
Mydravos picks up his mace, “Well if this is a trap, then I will enjoy showing them the errors of their plan.” he walks to the door and begins to walk through the halls searching the palace for any signs of who might have brought him here. His steel lined boots methodically rapping against the marble as he walks, his forked tail swaying and snapping back and forth occasionally.
The chosen mortal champions begin to explore their new surroundings. Each of them have been transported into a separate palace within the Courtyard.
Each of the palaces is somewhat different from one another, being customized to their occupant. Sven's palace is Nordic and dwarven in character, with complicated weavework graven into the wooden rafters, and torches guttering in sconces. Murals depict dwarves laboring in caverns mining jewels or forging weapons and armor, or the god Thor racing across a stormy sky in his goat-drawn chariot.
Mydravos' palace is diabolically themed, with gothic architecture and stained glass windows and murals depicting the sadistic torments of Hell.
Ealsealf's palace is green with clinging ivy and moss, and has rose colored windows, and bas reliefs of the Green Man, Robin Goodfellow, and other fey characters. A fountain of rose quartz with a statue of a dryad pours red wine from a cornucopia in the foyer.
Essel's palace is Asian in architecture and furnishings, with sliding ricepaper walls interior, and pine panel floors. There seem to be numerous secret passageways and secret doors.
Each adventurer discovers a pair of clockwork servants in a servants chamber, which introduce themselves and declare obedience to their new master!
Essel pokes her head into a few of the passages, mentally noting them and where they seemed to lead. While the clockworks surprise her at first, she stops herself before she blasts one, and looks on inquisitively as they introduce themselves, "Wait. What? Where am I? What's going on? How long will I be here?" she asks, thoroughly confused.
Sven had come to the realization that he hadn’t seduced an elven princess while drunk. He had seduced a Dwarven one. Much more understandable, but also potentially more dangerous. With a Dwarven princess she’d probably know how to use a hammer.
Tentatively he asked the clockwork servants who the palace belonged to. It was imperative to know what kind of danger he had gotten himself into.
Essel pokes her head into a few of the passages, mentally noting them and where they seemed to lead. While the clockworks surprise her at first, she stops herself before she blasts one, and looks on inquisitively as they introduce themselves, "Wait. What? Where am I? What's going on? How long will I be here?" she asks, thoroughly confused.
The clockwork servants in Essel's palace are crafted of jade and gold, and have porcelain faces painted like lovely Asian maidens. One of them speaks in a chiming, metallic soprano:
Ni hao, honorable Essel Theana! We are Peking Turtle and Cantonese Cat, at your service!
Sven had come to the realization that he hadn’t seduced an elven princess while drunk. He had seduced a Dwarven one. Much more understandable, but also potentially more dangerous. With a Dwarven princess she’d probably know how to use a hammer.
Tentatively he asked the clockwork servants who the palace belonged to. It was imperative to know what kind of danger he had gotten himself into.
Sven's clockwork servants look like dwarven miners. They are squat, about four feet tall, crafted of blackened iron, mithral and oak, with copper wire beards.
Hail, Sven the Shield Bearer! We are Clunker and Clanker, forged by the dwarves of Nidvallr, and we are here to serve you, mighty thrall of Thor!
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The universe couldn't have chosen a worse time. Ealsealf thinks to themselves, looking around with a mischievous smile on their face. Where have they taken us this time time I wonder? they think as they pull back the canopy and begin to explore their new living quarters. They enter the foyer stoop to take a drink from the fountain Well I guess something good came out of this after all.
Sven looked at the automations, and then remembered the thunder he heard. "Ah, so I'm dead then, is it? This is the afterlife?" He wondered how he died. Certainly wasn't heroic, that was for sure, given that his last memory was drinking with the lads. "So. Clunker, cranker. Tell me exactly where I am, why I'm here, who else is here, and what Thor wants of me."
The universe couldn't have chosen a worse time. Ealsealf thinks to themselves, looking around with a mischievous smile on their face. Where have they taken us this time time I wonder? they think as they pull back the canopy and begin to explore their new living quarters. They enter the foyer stoop to take a drink from the fountain Well I guess something good came out of this after all.
The wine is cool and delicious, and imparts a heady flush of euphoria to the fey. A charming, tinkling melody that sounds like chimes or bells echoes from a nearby archway, and a pair of small clockwork servants, shaped like fairies with butterfly-like wings and crafted of balsam, mithral, and opal, fly out of the archway into the foyer and hover before Ealsealf, curtsying in midair.
Merry meet, Ealsealf Greenleaves! We are Jingle and Jangle, at your service!
Sven looked at the automations, and then remembered the thunder he heard. "Ah, so I'm dead then, is it? This is the afterlife?" He wondered how he died. Certainly wasn't heroic, that was for sure, given that his last memory was drinking with the lads. "So. Clunker, cranker. Tell me exactly where I am, why I'm here, who else is here, and what Thor wants of me."
Clanker replies, Ye be in thine palace, sire, in the Courtyard. Ye be here as chosen champion of Thor Odinsson, God of Thunder, who plays at a Game of Mortals! Congratulations, sire!
Clunker adds: There be many others here, but only six chosen champions, including thyself, sire. Thor wants ye to win the Game of Mortals for him, which would make thee a god thyself!
Sven blinked in confusion. This was, to put it mildly, alot to take in. He absentmindedly rubbed his birthmark, which was the holy symbol of Ayrzul, the Fossilized King. Apparently Thor put more stock in his character than he did in his bloodline.
"Aye...if Lord Thor wills it, I will do my best. Don't want to let him down. A god? Huh..." He took a deep breath. "So, tell me how this game works. And about these other champions..."
Mydravos walks along the hallways noticing the dark and demoralizing architecture more and more. “Hmm this is far to dark for some would be saint, few people other than myself enjoy the torments of hell. When he continues walking now relaxed but thoroughly confused he comes upon two automatons. He stops and studies them having never seen something such as this. He walks over to it, “These metal beings seem as if they were created by Forgemaster Hephaestus himself”
Sven blinked in confusion. This was, to put it mildly, alot to take in. He absentmindedly rubbed his birthmark, which was the holy symbol of Ayrzul, the Fossilized King. Apparently Thor put more stock in his character than he did in his bloodline.
"Aye...if Lord Thor wills it, I will do my best. Don't want to let him down. A god? Huh..." He took a deep breath. "So, tell me how this game works. And about these other champions..."
We know not who be the other champions. They will be players as capable and canny as ye. Thou shall have to venture out and meet them to take their measure...
Mydravos walks along the hallways noticing the dark and demoralizing architecture more and more. “Hmm this is far to dark for some would be saint, few people other than myself enjoy the torments of hell. When he continues walking now relaxed but thoroughly confused he comes upon two automatons. He stops and studies them having never seen something such as this. He walks over to it, “These metal beings seem as if they were created by Forgemaster Hephaestus himself”
Indeed, fresh from Hephaistos' forge we be, my lord! And at your service!
"Aye then! So I'll do so." He rolled his shoulders to loosen his muscles and inspected his shield. It was spiked, so that it could be used to both stab and bash. His other hand also had a spiked gauntlet, showing that the oread preferred a form of combat very much like a brawler. He got in close, punching and stabbing until the foe was dead. No flourishes, no dancing around. Just a brutal death. His only experience with fighting came from being down in the mines. Deep down, where one would be lucky to find any light, and where the tunnels were often small even for a dwarf. There was no room for fancy maneuvers. Many a troglodyte had found out the hard way that this is what he excelled in.
"So, what? Shall I go out and kill them now? Jus' tell me Thor's wish and I'll see it done or die trying."
A smile creeps onto his face “my lord? You mean to tell me I am the master of this great estate.” he says looking around his tail swaying vertically like a metronome. “And how has this great fortune been brought to me like a midnight dream”
"Aye then! So I'll do so." He rolled his shoulders to loosen his muscles and inspected his shield. It was spiked, so that it could be used to both stab and bash. His other hand also had a spiked gauntlet, showing that the oread preferred a form of combat very much like a brawler. He got in close, punching and stabbing until the foe was dead. No flourishes, no dancing around. Just a brutal death. His only experience with fighting came from being down in the mines. Deep down, where one would be lucky to find any light, and where the tunnels were often small even for a dwarf. There was no room for fancy maneuvers. Many a troglodyte had found out the hard way that this is what he excelled in.
"So, what? Shall I go out and kill them now? Jus' tell me Thor's wish and I'll see it done or die trying."
Ye might kill them indeed, and win the Game of Mortals for our Jarl Thor, but how, when, and why is for ye to decide, sire!
A smile creeps onto his face “my lord? You mean to tell me I am the master of this great estate.” he says looking around his tail swaying vertically like a metronome. “And how has this great fortune been brought to me like a midnight dream”
Indeed, you be the master of this great estate, and all within it. You have been chosen, naturally, for your uncompromising ethos of conquest and acquisition. You are a perfect instrument for our dark Lord's malevolence.
"Marry meet to you as well my little fellows. You don't happen to know where the rest of my clothes are, do you?" (not that I had many with me at the time)
"Or where we are, for that matter?"
You are in the Courtyard, My Dear! In your very own palace, with we two maids to serve you! You are Bast's toy for the Game of Mortals, you see. We'll help you make the best of it!
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You are in the Courtyard, My Dear! In your very own palace, with we two maids to serve you! You are Bast's toy for the Game of Mortals, you see. We'll help you make the best of it!"Marry meet to you as well my little fellows. You don't happen to know where the rest of my clothes are, do you?" (not that I had many with me at the time)
"Or where we are, for that matter?"
Maids you say? Well then, if you don't mind, I would like you, Jangle, to go and fetch me something to eat, I'm starving, and you, Jingle to lead my to the rest of my outfit.
Oh, and before you go, Jangle, there doesn't happen to be a herbarium in my palace, does there?
“Ah so the lord of darkness has chosen me yet again to be an agent of his power, very well. What is it he asks of me, surly it must be some great deed as rewards such as this are quite extravagant.” as he talks he walks around examining his new found palace, his tail excitedly swings back and forth in an erratic pattern. “And what might you two be called?”
Essel pokes her head into a few of the passages, mentally noting them and where they seemed to lead. While the clockworks surprise her at first, she stops herself before she blasts one, and looks on inquisitively as they introduce themselves, "Wait. What? Where am I? What's going on? How long will I be here?" she asks, thoroughly confused.Ni hao, honorable Essel Theana! We are Peking Turtle and Cantonese Cat, at your service!
"Okay, great... But why am I here? Where is here? How did I get here? Why are you at my service?" Essel persists.
You are in the Courtyard, My Dear! In your very own palace, with we two maids to serve you! You are Bast's toy for the Game of Mortals, you see. We'll help you make the best of it!"Marry meet to you as well my little fellows. You don't happen to know where the rest of my clothes are, do you?" (not that I had many with me at the time)
"Or where we are, for that matter?"
Maids you say? Well then, if you don't mind, I would like you, Jangle, to go and fetch me something to eat, I'm starving, and you, Jingle to lead my to the rest of my outfit.
Oh, and before you go, Jangle, there doesn't happen to be a herbarium in my palace, does there?
There is an herbarium in the garden within the palace courtyard, Your Mischievousness! Skullcap, mugwart, rosemary, thyme, everything you could want, Your Excellency!
The clockwork servants lead Ealsealf Greenleaves to their clothing.