Right then.
I am a terrible person. Or am I? Possibly.
The point is. The point is.
...DEMONHOOD. That was a thing. Maybe, someday, it will again be a thing- but, uh, don't get your hopes up.
HOWEVER. I have so much free time (all of the free time), and not enough stuff to do in that free time.
THEREFORE. Let us run an RTD, maybe. Sort of.
Knowledge of the DEMONHOOD universe will not be required. In fact, it is discouraged. On the basis that the characters will have very little knowledge about what threats they face and what wicked schemes are unfolding in the dark, and if the players are similarly ignorant, there will be more... !!FUN!!
ANYWAY. You all know how these things work. Let's get started. Preamble over.
You are a novice wizard. Like, really novice. Like, barely know any magic. You've been studying hard (or at least pretending to study hard) as that you might actually attain a mote of skill, so you haven't really been paying attention to the world outside the tower. You think there's a war on? Certainly there are a lot of soldiers around. Something about anarchists in the east, or something.
Then one day you are summoned to the chamber of the Archmage.
This is completely ridiculous.
Not only the Archmage graces you with his presence- almost every senior wizard you know of, several captains of the army, and even THE KING HIMSELF are in attendance.
There is absolutely no way that this is going to be good news. Beside you are five of your fellow novices; you recognize them, for they are all untalented slobs like yourself. Once the shock of seeing so many important people wears off, you quickly come to the conclusion that the only reason you could have been called here is to be sent of on a suicide mission. Probably not a very important one.
"Good news!", speaketh the Archmage, once you have been seated.
"You fine aspirants to the art of wizardry have been selected to participate in a mission of vital importance to the ongoing war effort."
...Hooray.
"As you probably know, a terrible demon has arisen in the east, and has seized the town of Akataki, and marches on Grantown even as we speak."
You did not know this. Your knowledge of the local geography is... hazy.
"However, we have another issue closer to home. The Monster Hunters, whose skill and knowledge would be invaluable in this situation, have recently adopted a curious policy of seclusion. Visitors to the asylum are seen entering under cover of darkness, sometimes carrying strange objects. Emissaries, both from ourselves, the crown, and the city, are turned away with curt words. There is talk of ghosts and strange beasts in the hills around the Asylum, and now few dare even enter the grounds, let alone step up to its foreboding walls."
The Asylum? You know a little about that place. When you were accepted into the university, they warned you- step out of line, break the rules, even think about talking about necromancy- and it'll be the Asylum for you. Their threats were exaggerated- but not by much. You have seen a fellow wizard or two dragged from their studies, begging to be released, their explanations of their actions falling on the deaf ears of a trio of burly Hunters.
Of course, they don't only deal in wayward wizards. The insane are also confined there, and the worst criminals. And occasionally the hunters will be called to deal with some bogeyman out in the countryside. You've heard rumours that they even have an actual necromancer locked up there, and that the halls are lined with the heads of monstrous creatures- but these rumours do not come from very reliable sources.
...oh, the Archmage is still talking, although he appears to be wrapping up.
"-and therefore, for the good of the Tower, the Crown, and the City, you shall take this equipment and investigate the Asylum. You shall not rest until you have either secured the aid of the Hunters in this war, or have discovered what is going on within their fortress."
You are handed a pile of equipment: studded leather robes, tattered; iron shortsword, rusty; wooden staff, decorative; backpack with supplies, meager.
You are then escorted out of the city, to the foot of the hill 'pon which the Asylum stands, and told to 'get on with it'.
...Well, you had best get on with it, then.
Although you should fill out this form first:
Name: (something sensible)
Gender: (Male/Female)
Speciality: Well, speciality is an exaggeration. But whilst you are all but useless, you did manage to cram enough knowledge about something that you could conceivably succeed at doing that thing. Pick one of the following:
-Offensive Magic: You came to this school to learn to shoot fireballs at things, not learn a bunch of rules and stuff. So you read every book you were allowed to read on the subject of offensive magic, and after a few minor accidents, you managed to master a basic 'blast' of magic. It isn't quite a fireball yet, but it's a start.
-Defensive Magic: You are properly paranoid. There are so many ways for magic to kill you, and yet, so few ways to stop it from doing so. So you made sure to focus your studies on the one reliable defence against magic (and other deadly things like arrows and swords and pumpkins)- Wards. It takes some effort, but you can conjure up a basic ward around yourself, or some small object.
-Hypnosis/Mind Reading: Often considered mere parlour tricks, to you the idea of being able to read peoples minds or get them to do your bidding was just crazy seductive. The spells themselves are easy- problem is that most people's minds are easily capable of defending themselves against these tricks- they have to be distracted or weak-willed for them to work, or you'd have to put a lot more energy into casting them.
-Crafstmanship: Okay, you'll admit it. You are a shitty wizard. There is a good chance that you will be kicked out of the school. To that end, you have spent some time practicing more... civilian trades. Your father was a blacksmith, you helped him around the forge sometimes when you were a kid- you know your way with tools, and could probably pick a lock or two, or fix up an old chair or whatever.
-Magical Creatures: Magical creatures are real. You have always believed this, always said this- and they laughed. They laughed when you would pore over treatises on the nature of such beasts, which others dismissed as mere fables. WHO'S LAUGHING NOW? You know a bit about crazy critters; maybe enough to figure how to fight them, or at least how to avoid them- and hopefully enough that you won't run away screaming the instant you see one.
-Swordsmanship: Studying magic turned out to be hella boring. So in your spare time, you didn't sit around reading books- you headed over to the fencing school, and crossed blades with your mates. Your mates got called off to serve in the army. The recruiter took one look at you and laughed, patted you on the back, and told you to 'keep practising'. Well, at least you know how to use a sword. These other idiots are looking at theirs like they aren't sure which end goes in their hand and which end goes in the enemy.
(Not required, but if you want to a bit of background, put it here)
Author
Topic: Dolnar Asylum. Turn Four. SIR EWAN BONECRUSHER, AT YOUR SERVICE. (Read 6624 times)