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About Azidar - Meta

Motivations and Inspirations

This role-playing game setting is being created as a free resource and is taking place in two separate Ages. Game Masters can choose which age suits them. Read the Histories of Azidar to learn more about each age.

This world represents my desire to see a fantasy setting that portrays humans as a lesser entity from a once great civilization. As most settings go, strife, war, and destruction affect the lands and are framed by a pure evil that ultimately destroys culture and society. In Azidar's First Age, this unleashed evil inevitably drives humans underground, leading to a Second Age dominated by a consortium of thinking creatures.

The Second Age of this realm is a testament to the liberation of role-playing. It invites players to immerse themselves in a world that accepts and celebrates creatures like goblins and lizardfolk society. In this realm, 'monstrous' ancestries are not oddities but simply other creatures. The true joy of RPG worlds lies in our freedom to break out of the norms and become something we are not.

The Goal of this Project

The experience of building my own setting forces me to get out of my comfort zone and tackle a big project. After getting the bug to GM games, creating this realm was a natural next step. My creative side also demands that I put my words down somewhere, and I hope you enjoy Azidar!

Azidar's Unique Offering

As mentioned, I'm passionate about creating a realm ruled by ancestries other than humans. I've always been drawn to playing dragonborn or tortles in 5E games, so it made sense to challenge the anthropomorphic view most settings assume.

Delve into the world of Azidar, and forget what you know about being "human." Thinking about how human-centered our world truly is my way to continue to inspire you to consider how precious all creatures are on the earth. I also firmly believe that we are not alone in the universe. May you be inspired and find unlimited creativity and delight. Enjoy!

• Frey Bugbee

Theme

Genre

This role-playing game setting is being created as a free resource taking place in two separate Ages. Game Masters can choose which age suits them. Read

This world represents my desire to see a fantasy setting that portrays humans as a lesser entity from a once great civilization. As most settings go, strife, war, and destruction affect the lands and are framed by a pure evil that ultimately destroys culture and society. In Azidar, this unleashed evil inevitably drives humans underground and leads to a Second Age dominated by a consortium of thinking creatures.

The Second Age of this realm aims to inspire players to role-play in a world that celebrates creatures like goblins and lizardfolk society. In this realm, 'monstrous' ancestries are not oddities, but simply other creatures. The joy of RPG worlds lies in our freedom to break out of the norms and become something we are not.

Player Experience

Depending on where a player's character comes from, magic and mages may be feared or shunned. As you will find here in the setting, a magic user created a disaster known as the Great Culmination, which unleashed evil creatures from the Shadowdark.

Due to the lingering prevalence of dangerous creatures in the wild, most commoners are prepared to protect themselves while traveling. That being said, those villagers and townsfolk living within the protection of a walled settlement may let their guard down and prefer to rely on the town guard for protection.

Tone

The tone of this world is up to you. Very dark elements and bright stars of heroism can be used. The goal of this world is to offer an alternative to a human-centered outlook. Make your version of Azidar however you, the GM, see fit.

Recurring Themes - Second Age

The remnants of a dangerous human civilization and powerful magic lie hidden in the wilderness and protected by the drâkēn worldwide.
Corruption within those in power is a universal evil and offers those who fight for good to protect the community.
The Shadowdark harbors a darkness connected to an evil sealed off from the surface long ago. Creatures who thirst for power work to unleash this evil...again.

Character Agency

As the high fantasy elements develop, player agency to defeat evil will be a common thread. Protecting the peace or the community's treasures, property, and members will be in high demand.

Focus

Government Presence: The rise of corruption and hoarding of wealth draws the attention of a new league of pirates.

Wealth Distribution: Most cities have been overtaken by wealth-hoarders and power-grabbers. The smaller towns and one city fight to bring prosperity to all.

The Rise of Magic: The stigma of using magic has begun to lift due to the helpful nature it can extend to the common folk. The secret protectors of magic work covertly to prevent evil from destroying the world.

Drama

Rumors are circulating about Cavegard. Only the drâkēn knows the truth about the cave the town once protected. Word has come to Harth that a human has been seen in the Greatmouth cavern, and a group disappeared after an investigation.

The Beast Guild, once an independent, self-governed union of practitioners, is now rife with corruption and cruelty. Those who are interested in reviving the old ways of the Wildlings are gathering in the towns where the Beast Guild began. Missions to rescue all forms of "domesticated" creatures and protect the sanctity of companionship are underway.

The King of Tilan has grown suspicious of his people. Many fear that the king has gone mad after years of isolation. A powerful general has moved in and appears to control more than the army and navy. Those in the city are beginning to suffer as taxes reach an unsustainable level.

The far reaches of Azidar harbor an evil society known as palefolk, the remainder of humankind who fled to the Shadowdark. The drâkēn leaders keep a watchful eye on locations where the Shadowdark humans emerge. Locations like Castlemont near Hihthelm are likely to have encounters with the palefolk.

Ancient lawful dragons, the metallic dragons connected to the outer planes, love Azidar. The enormous quantity of gold, silver, bronze, and copper on Azidar sparked avarice and malevolence. The ancient chromatic dragons regularly tempt those on Azidar who seek metallic wealth.