Setting
“Legend speaks of the first people falling from the stars to the world, of coming in a ball of flame and wind that scorched the earth. The fire stretched around them and from the ashes the first city rose, more magnificent than any other, made of the very stuff of stars. This was a mythic age; even without the rituals of blood and bone, people were able to do amazing things. To strike people dead at a distance without a bow, to heal any wound. But the longer the first people stayed in the new world, the more these magics faded. The Learned say it is because people were wicked, because they used the rituals of the new world and so the god of the old world took away his blessings. Other say such things are merely a myth, stories told by the church to prove their god’s power.
The Ashen City was the first city, it is fitting that is is now the last. Its metal bones stretching to the sky, a bitter reminder of times long dead. A few relics remain in the care of the church, but it is a hollow victory. There were once many cities, a thriving world. We traded and made war, traveled and built wonders. But then the curse came, blighting what was. No one knows why it happened. It started innocuously enough, people’s sins became more pronounced. Madness seeped in at the corners. They changed, slowly at first, becoming animals. They were strong, stronger than normal people could kill. And who would want to plunge a blade into a loved one even if they had the strength? These monsters killed many, wiped out the world that was. There were rituals said to halt the progression, but the cost was terrible and there was no guarantee they would work. The church decreed such rituals a crime punishable by death, but desperation still drove many to try. Some sold relics that claimed to halt the curse, but if they worked who can say. The Church protects us, they tell us only the sinful change. Any who show signs are dealt with quickly, and the gleaming walls keep out those beyond.
We know however this cannot last. We are dying. It is a slow rot, true, but it cannot be denied. Living only in the walls of the great city, watching more and more of our neighbors disappear. Unless something changes this city will be our tomb.”
The Ashen City is the last bastion of civilisation in a broken world. A massive complex built in the ruins of a spaceship, it has managed to keep out the worst of the cursed. It is ruled by a theocracy, known as the Church of the Ashen City, or simply just the Church. Not everyone supports the church’s rule and there is a thriving black market in rituals, relics and miracle cures. Some secretly worship other gods, and others simply want to bring down the theocracy.
The Church of the Ashen City:
The majority of players will be characters from within the church hierarchy. The church is split into three branches, which are in turn ruled by the high council. The branches are as follows:
The Learned: These are the priests, scholars and politicians of the church. They are the guardians of wisdom, and occupy the highest positions in the church. It is they, and they alone, who are trusted to safeguard and research the rituals of blood and bone, and they who offer guidance to the population of the city as a whole. Most of the learned see violence as distasteful, and they operate separately to the other two arms of the church.
The Templars: These are the warriors of the church. They act as a militia and keep order in the city. It is also they who deal with any cursed found within the city walls. The captain of the Templars sits at the council, but otherwise the order takes all instruction from the Learned.
The Church Mice: Life as a Church Mouse is nasty brutish and short. They are a small unit made up of cursed individuals that are half turned. Very strong, they are highly unpredictable and in the process of losing their humanity. They are always paired with a Templar handler, and when they are deemed too dangerous to be useful they are dealt with.
The Teachings of the Ashen Church:
A virtuous society is one that works together in harmony. The church values community above all things and places an emphasis on doing what is right for the largest number of people.
In regards to the curse, they teach that it is a punishment from God, but that only the sinful fall to the curse. It is a sign of an unclean soul. The five sins must be watched for, and destroyed before they can take root and corrupt you.
The five sins of the Ashen Church:
On the Curse
The curse comes upon people suddenly. They might start acting a bit off, small things, certain unfortunate personality traits becoming more pronounced. Then there is a scaling of the skin, normally starting in small patches. Eventually they will not be recognisably human anymore. Madness sets in, and they start to kill. They are strong, difficult to bring down. They are best avoided.
The Ashen City was the first city, it is fitting that is is now the last. Its metal bones stretching to the sky, a bitter reminder of times long dead. A few relics remain in the care of the church, but it is a hollow victory. There were once many cities, a thriving world. We traded and made war, traveled and built wonders. But then the curse came, blighting what was. No one knows why it happened. It started innocuously enough, people’s sins became more pronounced. Madness seeped in at the corners. They changed, slowly at first, becoming animals. They were strong, stronger than normal people could kill. And who would want to plunge a blade into a loved one even if they had the strength? These monsters killed many, wiped out the world that was. There were rituals said to halt the progression, but the cost was terrible and there was no guarantee they would work. The church decreed such rituals a crime punishable by death, but desperation still drove many to try. Some sold relics that claimed to halt the curse, but if they worked who can say. The Church protects us, they tell us only the sinful change. Any who show signs are dealt with quickly, and the gleaming walls keep out those beyond.
We know however this cannot last. We are dying. It is a slow rot, true, but it cannot be denied. Living only in the walls of the great city, watching more and more of our neighbors disappear. Unless something changes this city will be our tomb.”
The Ashen City is the last bastion of civilisation in a broken world. A massive complex built in the ruins of a spaceship, it has managed to keep out the worst of the cursed. It is ruled by a theocracy, known as the Church of the Ashen City, or simply just the Church. Not everyone supports the church’s rule and there is a thriving black market in rituals, relics and miracle cures. Some secretly worship other gods, and others simply want to bring down the theocracy.
The Church of the Ashen City:
The majority of players will be characters from within the church hierarchy. The church is split into three branches, which are in turn ruled by the high council. The branches are as follows:
The Learned: These are the priests, scholars and politicians of the church. They are the guardians of wisdom, and occupy the highest positions in the church. It is they, and they alone, who are trusted to safeguard and research the rituals of blood and bone, and they who offer guidance to the population of the city as a whole. Most of the learned see violence as distasteful, and they operate separately to the other two arms of the church.
The Templars: These are the warriors of the church. They act as a militia and keep order in the city. It is also they who deal with any cursed found within the city walls. The captain of the Templars sits at the council, but otherwise the order takes all instruction from the Learned.
The Church Mice: Life as a Church Mouse is nasty brutish and short. They are a small unit made up of cursed individuals that are half turned. Very strong, they are highly unpredictable and in the process of losing their humanity. They are always paired with a Templar handler, and when they are deemed too dangerous to be useful they are dealt with.
The Teachings of the Ashen Church:
A virtuous society is one that works together in harmony. The church values community above all things and places an emphasis on doing what is right for the largest number of people.
In regards to the curse, they teach that it is a punishment from God, but that only the sinful fall to the curse. It is a sign of an unclean soul. The five sins must be watched for, and destroyed before they can take root and corrupt you.
The five sins of the Ashen Church:
- Deception → You must be honest in all things. The truth is a light that burns away the darkness in our souls
- Cowardice → You must have the strength to face the darkness, to stand against what is wrong and know that God stands behind you
- Wrath → You must always be in control of your anger. Though it is a flame that burns within you, you must not let it consume what is right and good
- Malice → You must never seek to harm another, either with petty words or deeds. We are strongest together
- Selfishness → A single ember will never burn as bright as a fire. We must share and make each other strong.
On the Curse
The curse comes upon people suddenly. They might start acting a bit off, small things, certain unfortunate personality traits becoming more pronounced. Then there is a scaling of the skin, normally starting in small patches. Eventually they will not be recognisably human anymore. Madness sets in, and they start to kill. They are strong, difficult to bring down. They are best avoided.