The word of the Lore
Let’s get in to the lore of Black Powder and Brimstone
Hi there, as you may have noticed I’ve been tweeting the title as I was helpfully informed that despite my initial google search there is indeed an existing TTRPG called Black Powder… bugger.
So I thought adding the Brimstone would add to the more fantasy tone the world has. As such I want to get into discussing the world and the lore of the world in this game.
But first I want to give a warm welcome to all the people who have joined us from the Mordheim facebook page. If you haven’t taken a gander at this corner of the internet it's a fantastically creative and passionate community, keeping alive a game that deserves all the love and dedication that it receives. I got a lot of positive feedback on the project and I want to say thank you to everyone who subscribed as it truly makes me confident that this game is going to be worth pursuing and something that can be amazing.
Anyway, Here is a brief rundown of the terrible world you can have your adventures in.
Our story starts in the war torn hell that is Vater-Land. The seat of the Holy Martian Empire and the second most powerful centre of the Holy Church of light. Worshipers of the God of Light, whose emissary fell from the stars to teach the man now known as The Torn Prophet his wisdom.
However the church’s power is threatened by a devastating schism of Protestant Puritans who reject the corrupt and decadent rituals of what is now the Sanguine Orthodoxy. Decrying the ritualised blood letting of the poor as well as the practice of extorting money for spiritual favers and boons. With high deacons growing fat and corrupt, with the alms for the poor spent on gold encrusted churches and monuments.
However the Puritans have their own extreme way of worshiping the God of light, with fire and penance and the spurning of all but the barest of necessities.
The peasants of towns liberated by the puritan martial forces would often rejoice as the fat tax collectors and landlords were hung and burnt. But their cheers would turn to hushed whispers as the hangings and burnings would not stop. As those tortured would be forced to name other sinners until only the most cowed and most loyal were left.
With both sides declaring the other heretical, open war was inevitable. However, with each side low on fighting men, foreign mercenaries would flock to Väster-Land to fight for coin and glory. These marauding bands of killers bring death and misery to the land, when not joined in bloody battle.
The war is now at a stalemate, and for years victory is seen as impossible, the only ambition of either side is now survival.
As with all war, the heralds of the apocalypse are not far off. Famine, pestilence and mass death and decay are everywhere.
Swarms of rats devour crops, beasts, men and entire towns. Leaving nothing but gnawed bones and stones.
The terrible staggering pox stalks from town to town, spreading their foul gift in tides of rot and destruction.
And worst of all, demons spring forth from sinful places to wreak havoc and slaughter for their own inscrutable purposes. And with demons come demon hunters and the dreaded Inquisition. Powerful agents that answer to none but the high pontiff and themselves. They hunt for sin, and find it everywhere they look.
Some say this is the end of the world, maybe it is? Maybe this is just the beginning.
In this chaotic and blasted land you stand against a tide of blood and fire. Using steel, gunpowder and witchcraft to ply your bloody trade.
For where there is war there is opportunity.
Will you help or hinder the people? Bring justice as a bounty hunter in your own custom war wagon, or search for holy relics in the dreaded Lostmans Mire, or the cursed city of Dreadzden.
Uncover mysteries in the darkest of dungeons, or hunt terrible monsters that stalk the haunted forests.
You may even gain enough gold to raise your own armies of mercenaries, and change the balance of power in your faver.
However, not all is as it seems. There are dark and terrible secrets lurking in the shadows of all the major powers, some so terrible they would upend the world itself.
Stars fall from the sky bringing both riches in star iron, and destruction and terror in the curses and mutations that can blight the land.
In the darkness of the void, minds cold and ruthless watch with greedy and terrible intentions.
Now as I’m sure you can guess there is a lot more that I’m not revealing here as I don't want to literally give the game away, but I will be going over many of these factors as well as the more nitty gritty of my perilous journey into making a rpg book.
This blog will always be free, however paid scbsriptions from just $8 a month are more than welcome.