What happens when I arrive?
Hi, and welcome to the revision of the fifth in our series of Development Diaries. The Dev Diaries, which will be posted once every five days until the start of game, and then sporadically as new metaplot information is revealed, are intended to clearly explain gameplay, rules, and parts of the world of Rowan, beyond the summaries that are already posted.
~*~
First, setting the scene.
Wherever your character was in their world, no matter how out-of-place it is, a tree appears. A large, dead rowan tree. Regardless of the character’s reaction, whether it’s to back away, go towards it, whether it’s curiosity or fear or surprise, the tree literally sucks them in. They are pulled through the bark of the tree and spat out in Rowan.
Once in Rowan, your character lands in the dirt on the other side completely off-balance. If your character wields magic, it is no longer accessible (see Dev Diary #4: Magic and You). An important note: travel through the gate is extremely disorienting and weakening. Even if your character is an extremely good fighter, they will feel exhausted and dizzy, and will not be able to fight at full capacity.
Now that they have arrived, the Demons step up.
There are between fifteen and twenty Demons arrayed around the gate. One of the attendant demons drapes a cloak around your character’s shoulders. As he or she does so, another one explains what has just happened.
He or she tells your character that they are in Rowan. This tree is a gate between realities; it has taken your character and brought them here, against their will. Unfortunately, the tree is also really weird and no one has any idea why you're here or how to get you back.
Ideally, your character listens, decides to trust the demons, and follows them into Rowan.
Of course, we all know that that would never happen.
So here is what happens if it doesn’t go according to plan.
1) Your character screams and runs away.
Fear is a perfectly valid reaction. There are forests all around, and they probably look pretty tempting to go and hide in.
If your character is ordinary, they're stopped physically. If your character is Sonic the Hedgehog and/or can run at insane speeds, they are not restrained physically, they are stopped by magic.
No, they can’t tell where it came from, but it hits them like a ton of bricks, and when they wake up, they’re in a room in Jhelbor. Alone.
If you take this track, please tell the Narrators.
2) Your character gets angry and attacks the Demons.
They will lose.
They might take out one or two by surprise, but when it comes down to it, the Demons are prepared and armed, and your character is naked, weak and disoriented.
If your character is a superbadass and could beat up on four professional warriors while in a drunken haze, then they probably get fairly far. However, the Demons do win. And if they don’t win physically, then same as above - your character gets knocked out by some unknown magic.
They wake up in Jhelbor, alone.
3) Your character freaks out and attacks the tree.
The tree resists all attempts at damage by some sort of invisible forcefield around the bark.
The Demons know this, and they don't particularly care about the tree. So they chill and wait until your character is done, and then they’ll come in and talk rationally and slowly until your character listens.
4) Your character is numb and shocked.
The Demons don't really care. They lead you off to the city and give you a room and leave.
5) Your character has a hysterical panic attack.
The Demons will chill and wait until they're done.
6) Your character arrives deeply injured/wounds themselves on arrival.
They grumble about it, haul you into the city, and dump you on a healer's table.
7) Your character is a tottering old geezer that was about to die of old age.
Your character feels remarkably healthy upon arrival, and is cured of whatever specific ailments led to their demise.
8) Your character thinks that this is all a hilarious acid trip.
The Demons think that your character about as awesome as a hilarious acid trip and mess with you for a while before taking you to Jhelbor.
~*~
Once you're in the city, the Demons show you to an apartment of your own. It's small, but functional, though we define 'functional' here as 'medieval-level technology' (plus running water in the sink), so keep that one in mind.
They also give you a diary and instruct you on how to use it.
Address any further questions about arrival to this post, or to our FAQ.
~*~
First, setting the scene.
Wherever your character was in their world, no matter how out-of-place it is, a tree appears. A large, dead rowan tree. Regardless of the character’s reaction, whether it’s to back away, go towards it, whether it’s curiosity or fear or surprise, the tree literally sucks them in. They are pulled through the bark of the tree and spat out in Rowan.
Once in Rowan, your character lands in the dirt on the other side completely off-balance. If your character wields magic, it is no longer accessible (see Dev Diary #4: Magic and You). An important note: travel through the gate is extremely disorienting and weakening. Even if your character is an extremely good fighter, they will feel exhausted and dizzy, and will not be able to fight at full capacity.
Now that they have arrived, the Demons step up.
There are between fifteen and twenty Demons arrayed around the gate. One of the attendant demons drapes a cloak around your character’s shoulders. As he or she does so, another one explains what has just happened.
He or she tells your character that they are in Rowan. This tree is a gate between realities; it has taken your character and brought them here, against their will. Unfortunately, the tree is also really weird and no one has any idea why you're here or how to get you back.
Ideally, your character listens, decides to trust the demons, and follows them into Rowan.
Of course, we all know that that would never happen.
So here is what happens if it doesn’t go according to plan.
1) Your character screams and runs away.
Fear is a perfectly valid reaction. There are forests all around, and they probably look pretty tempting to go and hide in.
If your character is ordinary, they're stopped physically. If your character is Sonic the Hedgehog and/or can run at insane speeds, they are not restrained physically, they are stopped by magic.
No, they can’t tell where it came from, but it hits them like a ton of bricks, and when they wake up, they’re in a room in Jhelbor. Alone.
If you take this track, please tell the Narrators.
2) Your character gets angry and attacks the Demons.
They will lose.
They might take out one or two by surprise, but when it comes down to it, the Demons are prepared and armed, and your character is naked, weak and disoriented.
If your character is a superbadass and could beat up on four professional warriors while in a drunken haze, then they probably get fairly far. However, the Demons do win. And if they don’t win physically, then same as above - your character gets knocked out by some unknown magic.
They wake up in Jhelbor, alone.
3) Your character freaks out and attacks the tree.
The tree resists all attempts at damage by some sort of invisible forcefield around the bark.
The Demons know this, and they don't particularly care about the tree. So they chill and wait until your character is done, and then they’ll come in and talk rationally and slowly until your character listens.
4) Your character is numb and shocked.
The Demons don't really care. They lead you off to the city and give you a room and leave.
5) Your character has a hysterical panic attack.
The Demons will chill and wait until they're done.
6) Your character arrives deeply injured/wounds themselves on arrival.
They grumble about it, haul you into the city, and dump you on a healer's table.
7) Your character is a tottering old geezer that was about to die of old age.
Your character feels remarkably healthy upon arrival, and is cured of whatever specific ailments led to their demise.
8) Your character thinks that this is all a hilarious acid trip.
The Demons think that your character about as awesome as a hilarious acid trip and mess with you for a while before taking you to Jhelbor.
~*~
Once you're in the city, the Demons show you to an apartment of your own. It's small, but functional, though we define 'functional' here as 'medieval-level technology' (plus running water in the sink), so keep that one in mind.
They also give you a diary and instruct you on how to use it.
Address any further questions about arrival to this post, or to our FAQ.