In fantasy fiction it’s not unusual for an age of conflict and strife to end with a resolution and new hopeful future. LOTR, WoT and even the predicted Shadow World storyline implies a new age of prosperity. That’s a natural story arc. Unfortunately, conflict is and challenges are a necessary ingredient for roleplaying adventures! A Shadow World reset should be noticeably different from the 3rd Era and established story arcs.
The tone of the 4th Era would obviously rely on the GM’s preferences, but a few angles or ideas to consider:
- Despite the “win” by the forces of light, Kulthea needs to be rebuilt from the ashes of the grand war/battle.
- Will the Lords of Orhan withdraw to let the peoples of Kulthea choose their own future, or will the Gods be more omnipresent in the day to day? ie: will the churches fill any leadership gaps? Could this lead to oppressive religious institutions or a corruption of clergy?
- How could a major disruption of the Essaence Flows impact the Navigators? Would major flow routes and/or Foci changes quarantine off areas of Kulthea?
- How far would civilization fall? Would major cities like Eidolon, Haalkitaine or Danarchis be destroyed?
- Is this a “rebuild” society or post-apocalyptic setting or a “clean up” the residual Unlife/Demons/Dark Gods remnants?
Major Arc Ideas:
- Legacy of the Loremasters. (see, I inverted “Loremaster Legacy” for continuity sake!). The Loremasters took enormous losses during the “Last Battle” and the organization is decimated. Karilon was attacked and perhaps destroyed too!! Andraax has disappeared and assumed killed while the Council were mostly killed. One of the players is a apprentice Loremaster with a latent artifact. Goal is to recover the Loremaster archives, rebuild the organization etc.
- Rise of the Dragonlords. With major cities and governments collapsed, several of the Dragonlords have expanded their empire. The Silver Dragon in northern Emer, The Red Dragon is most of Jaiman, Ulya and Jenkyna is the western lands.
- The Age of Reason. The restoration of the Northern Eye created a “EMP” style Essaence surge. Essaence users were exposed and suffered permanent burnout and loss of casting ability! (to be recovered somehow?). Magic is waning, and the Essaence is weakened by a constriction of the interdimensional rift. (the Lords reduce the aperture further to block the Unlife and mitigate the volatile effects of the Nothern Eye) In this void, the Alliance, Channelers and Mentalists are ascendant powers.
- Lords of the New Pantheon. The Hierarchy of the Lords of Orhan is overturned. Several of the Gods of Charon have reclaimed their position on Orhan and/or have ensconced themselves on Kulthea as true God Kings. New religions, powerful Clerics and theocracies spring up.
- Waterworld. The effects of the last battle have melted much of the polar regions. The sea levels have risen 20′ destroying coastal communities and reducing land mass. Shaal’s followers grow, the Mermen and Shuluri control the sea lanes. Many great cities are submerged (and can be explored!). A plan to re-freeze the poles using the power of the Eye’s is formed by a small group of survivors.
- Technology is the new future. Off-world powers begin to visit and/ or settle Kulthea. Technology is still unreliable or sensitive to Essaence effects. Conflicts between native powers and colonialists ensue.
Just a few ideas to ponder!
This is going to sound silly now, but keep in mind we were just kids in their 20’s back then.
Our end of the 3rd era implied Lorgalis summoned a power from another plane, to draw the magic of the Jewel Wells and in so doing he intended to erase the barrier to the East. This creature was no other than Ungoliant (from MERP fame). Is it so crazy? SW was in MERP at the beginning (Court of Ardor) so why can’t MERP have a little presence in SW?
In the final battle, the party used a reversed version of the ritual Lorgalis used, which called Varda to battle Ungoliant in the sky.
With the final clash completed, both were supposedly gone from the world, although a new star could now be seen day and night.
But also, new cults started forming, worshipping the powerful evil entity, and the first campaign in the 4th era was to prevent them from summoning the wandering spirit of Sauron to SW.