The Foundation of Tessalia

Scope

What is your motivation for building this world?

I want to create an enjoyable, living, breathing world in which I can live out my passion for fantasy with classical magic but also steampunk elements.

What are you hoping to get out of it?

I am hoping to give my players the experience of a wide and varied world with many possibilities of adventure to be found in.

What is the Hook or Unique Selling Point of your world? What makes it unique or different?

While fairly standard Medieval Fantasy in many parts, my world has a high level of magic, with simple magic being available to almost if not all creatures living on the planet. In many nations mage academies and adventuring guilds play an important role due to regulating more powerful spellcasters.

Theme

What’s the Genre of your World?

My world is high magic fantasy, with elements of Steampunk and a technology level equally influenced by both of those.

How does the world feel (player experience)?

My world feels large and exciting, with many dangers lurking out in the wild to be dealt with.

What is the tone of your world

The tone of my world is serious, with lighthearted tones. There are places that feel darker but those are often followed by more lighthearted places.

What is the character agency level like?

Characters will be able to effect a great deal of change in the world, depending on their choices. That change might be good, but it can also be bad. Either way, the players' actions have consequences.

What are the recurring themes which reinforce the genre, tone and feel of your world? (Give three examples)

1. Remnants of ages long past still influencing the world today
2. Nature and Elemental Spirits appearing in times of need to preserve the balance of the world
3. Hidden Secrets, things not being as they seem at first

Meta:

• Technology. Combining magic and steampunk technology creates new exciting items, some of which mostly for comfort, others which could surely be used as weapons. The different nations all try to further the development of these advancements, not wanting to get left behind.
• Class Relations. Despite magic being inherent in almost all creatures, only those that can afford proper education will usually grow old enough to become powerful spellcasters. As such the highborn and rich are often seen to be standing above the lowborn in terms of magical capability.
• Religious Influence. With the reappearing of many old artifacts, cults form around the old believes and wish to further the search for more artifacts. Not all cults are simply interested in history though, and many might wish to use the artifacts for their own goals.
• Race Relations. The last great war between the elven homeland and the orc tribes of the north has been centuries ago. The orcs begin thursting for elven blood, while the once united elven nation has been split into a multitude of varied nations, not all of which are still predominantly elven.
• Military Influence. The Dragarean Empire is almost in complete control of its homeland continent and begins their expansion to other lands. With their advanced military technology and well trained mage corps there aren't many nations that could withstand them.

Drama:

1. Two years ago another continent beneath the ocean was discovered. In a depth of around 2,000 m it isn't easy to reach, but many mercantile nations, as well as many others are preparing a dive into the depths to claim the riches of that unknown world for themselves.
2. The Ley Lines have been more active in recent years, now culmilating in extreme weather and random spots of elemental energy. If the Ley Lines aren't calmed soon the effects on the world could be catastrophic. The already more arid regions of the world have recently began suffering even greater droughts and starvation has became a daily occurence.
3. A relatively new cult has been hunting and destroying Elemental Shards, releasing massive amounts of elemental energy into the atmosphere. They are preparing for the return of their master Sareth, who will - upon returning - feast upon any and all magic - including that within the creatures of this world.
4. The Orc Tribes of the far north have recently claimed that a new Orc Lord has arrived. With his arrival it won't belong until the hordes will fall into the lands further south and decimate any other population.
5. While the Dragarean Empire has began its expansion, rebel factions have begun appearing in their homeland and have caused many troubles to them. The troups motivation is high but the rebels seem to always know when and where to attack.