Hello all!
I recently finished my first campaign (an all dwarf one, lasting 10 games over 3 months). I had a fun time, and so did my players, so I feel like a second. I’ve been itching to work on a longer term campaign using mythic rules, and I have a group that would be willing for the long haul. I would basically take the next GM rotation in a few months when a game I’m playing in winds down.
So! I’ve started working on a mythic campaign. The main details are spoilered, and followed by a few questions from myself. It’s based in Golarion, because “mythic realms” has some awesome ideas.
Basic gist of the setup:
-The players start as young Shory, an advanced people trapped on their damaged flying city (Yjae), fighting Denizens of Leng & Yeti for the last 5000 years, trying to stay alive.
-They (as all shory) are conscripted into the military after finishing thei “training” (start at level 5). They serve (and follow orders) for about 3 games, until they are faced by a more powerful denizen of leng.
-They get flung into a maelstrom, but are saved at the last moment by the city’s mythic “protector” that teleports them near far-flung Absalom, and gifts them with mythic power. It bids them to gain the power & knowledge to save the city.
-They are found by a member of the pathfinder society, who bids them to join the society if they ever hope to find their lost society.
The first 3-4 sessions (up until they join the pathfinder society) will be pretty railroady. I think it’s justified to get the basic setup. Afterwards, the setup is pretty open. There will be a few over-arching goals:
-Gain power: this is why the protector sent them away from the city; to gain the power to defeat it’s enemies. If they stop striving for power (like retirement), they lose their mythic power. Easiest condition to respect.
-Find Yjae itself. However, the protector will not let them return until he considers them powerful enough (or they are powerful enough to get through his wards).
Optional goal: find a way to repair Yjae; the city is heavily damaged (and they know this) so scouring old shory cities might be worth it.
Optional goal: Yjae once had a store of powerful store of technomagical superweapons. These became inaccessible when the enemies first arrived. The leaders of Yjae have been seeking them ever since. The mythic “protector” however, suggests that the superweapons where stolen by individuals who didn’t want them to fall into the hands of evil. While it might not be easy to regain the superweapons, it might be easier to find an ally in the fight against the Denizens of Leng
(more optional, over-arching goals will pop up when I think of them).
Plot that will happen with or without their consent:
-Denizens of leng: these will HUNT the players. While at first they will be safe (through anonymity), but the more renown they get, the more likely the Denizens will start coming after them. They do not want the city of Yjae to be saved.
-Myth-hunters: As they grow in fame, their mythic power might come to the attention of others. A group called myth-hunters, warriors & assassins specialized in hunting mythic targets will start to hunt them. They believe the use of mythic power (by good or evil) will lead to the end of the world, and want to destroy it. (Note: if SOMEONE already knows an organization like this in Golarion, I would LOVE to know about it).
Now, there are some issues. The players will have a LOT of freedom. I will be using mythic realms (the companion) extensively for inspiration. I’m hoping to use the pathfinder society as their main source of information (at least until they become seekers at level 11). If there are other mythic golarion books I am unaware of I would love to know about them.
So, the main questions:
-Which books provide the best golarion mythic info? I know of mythic realms & mythic origins.
-Which books provide the best pathfinder society info (fluff-wise)? I’ve got the pathfinder society field guide, and the free pathfinder society stuff.
-Which books provide the best info on the “Shory” (the people of Yjae) ? I believe there are a few modules with lost shory cities, but I have found very little beyond mythic realms.
-Managing long term: The first few sessions will see some railroading to set up the premise. Afterwards, I’m afraid it will become TOO sandbox-ish. So I’m looking for ways to adapt; I’m able to improvise, but it will be harder with such powerful characters. (though I am reading up on GM-ing for mythic campaigns).
I would love to hear any ideas you guys might have on the story stuff. Since I have Golarion as a backdrop, I have a chance to focus on characters more this time around, which I might have not done well in my first campaign.
OH! And thinking about stuff, I was trying to think about WHY the Denizens are so intent on Yjae. How about having Yjae serve as a giant sacrificial altar (it took 5000 years to set the whole thing up without the shory noticing). The power would be used to summon a power creature (either a re-fluffed Cthulhu, actual Cthulhu, or maybe some uber Denizen of leng that is their supposed god). The ultimate goal would be pretty traditional: use the monster to enslave the inhabitants of Golarion.
That's pretty cliche. I need to think of something better (or do a cool twist to it, like maybe the Denizens believe the humanoid races are too weak to stop Rovagug from escaping the cage, so they believe it is their duty to take over golarion to act as guards?)
Edit: as a side-note, a theme I have been concentrating on is "Dreams". This could fit with Cthulhu; maybe leng is a reflection of Cthulhu's sleep in the dimension of dreams?
bump