In movies, television, and
novels there are often story elements or plot points of which
the main characters are not aware. But, these plot points add
depth, interest, description, and even irony to the story.
They are a necessary part of storytelling, in most
cases.
Role-Playing Games tend to focus on the story
immediately surrounding the main characters...the player
characters. But, for a truly dramatic and interesting
story, sometimes you have to know about the
movements, emotions, goals, and adventures of characters other
than the main characters.
These stories do not
directly affect or involve the main characters, but the
events and characters depicted in these side-stories will play
a role in the overall storyline. They contain
player-knowledge and not
character-knowledge.
For Story Depth...
"The Duty of a Black Gorger"
About 10
Years Ago…
The underground Halls of the
Gorgoron were 1000’s of years old. They had survived the birth of
the first Man and three ages of Man. The Gorgoron were one of the
First Races, and their blood had remained pure for all these many
millennia. The black/gray stone walls were ornately carved with
symbols so old, that few of the Gorgoron still knew their meaning.
The clever devices that brought water to each hive-home, and carried away
trash and waste, were beyond the understanding of the Gorgoron living
there today. And yet these clever devices still
worked.
A 1,000 feet beneath the surface world, the Gorgoron
race lived and thrived. Its knowledge of the technology of the past
may have faded, but its culture and civilization had evolved and advanced
with the many years that had passed by since its founding. Prose and
poetry were a high form among their race. Drawing, painting, and
carving were incredibly advanced arts. Their dance and song was
intricate and clever, though they would appear completely foreign to a
surface dweller. Even the skill of weapon-making had become an exalted
artform.
Extending outwards from the Halls of Gorgoron were
ancient underground forests inhabited by strange creatures, no surface
dweller would recognize. Their sailors traveled on vast underground
oceans, encouraging trade between various Gorgoron settlements and
villages on the far side of these dark seas. Their world was a world
within the world...and it was their world.
The Gorgoron kept
to themselves. It had been the key to their survival. The key
to their civilization’s longevity. The sages among them spoke of the
fallen races...the orcs and goblins...having a common ancestor among some
Gorgoron that had left the Halls and wandered the world infected by men
and elves. They looked down upon the fallen races...and the surface
dwellers. They were all seen as primitive and new, for they were not
among the First Races.
Dorgerel served in the army of Black
Gorgers. He had trained from childhood to be a warrior, and protect
the Halls of Gororon versus any threat that may come. Black Gorgers
were more than warriors. They were artists, sages, writers, and were
taught to be the best of their Race. Dorgerel excelled in a number
of arts, including the art of killing, and had risen to the position of
Captain among his men. This afforded him certain privillages,
including a very nice hive-home near the training caverns. This home
was kept by his prospective mate, Merrelle...a tall beautiful woman among
the Gorgoron. His was a happy home, and a successful career among
his people.
The army of Black Gorgers had a grand
purpose...the protection of an underground realm that rarely required
protection. They existed against a hypothetical threat that would
never come. Then one day, the hypothetical threat came
knocking.
SHE appeared to the King of the Gorgoron with a
threat...nay a promise. SHE would kill every last Gorgoron,
extinguish their light from the underworld, and turn their civilization to
nothing but cobwebs and vague echoes….unless the King would make her a
simple deal. SHE required an army. SHE required the Black
Gorgers. The King protested. He negotiated. He
refused. But, in the end, SHE got her way. In return for the
service of the Black Gorgers, SHE would protect their realm. SHE
would leave them be in their underground realm, and life would go on much
as usual. SHE insisted the price was cheap, and in the end...the
King agreed.
Dorgerel received the news from General Zo
himself. The Black Gorgers were to pack up their gear, and get ready
to leave for destinations unknown. They had prepared to fight to
defend their realm, but in the end...they would serve another in order to
defend their realm. Weaker creatures, without the sense of duty that
a Black Gorger held at their very core, would have questioned the wisdom
of their King. Would have resisted such an order. But, the
Black Gorgers knew their duty...and they were loyal to their King and the
People. If they must serve SHE to protect their Race...then they
would serve.
Dorgerel delivered the news to his prospective
mate, Merrelle. She protested. “Why must you leave me,
Dorgerel? This makes no sense. SHE is evil...SHE will bring
ruin to the Black Gorgers...and ruin to our people.”
Dorgerel
would hear nothing of it. “Our King has made the decision, and
General Zo has given the order. Leave I must. I will serve
SHE, and when this service is complete...I will come to
you.”
Merrelle was distraught. “Nothing good will come
of this.”
Dorgerel stroked her black face. “I will
return to you...we will be together.”
“No, Dorgerel. We
will not. You have your duty...and I have my duty to my race to have
children. I respect your duty, but you must respect mine. I
will take another mate...and I when and if you return, I will not be
waiting for you.”
Dorgerel pulled away from Merrelle.
“I may just be gone a few months….don’t do this.”
Merrelle
shook her head. “Or you might be gone for years. You don’t
know. Duty, Dorgerel. I know you understand duty.
Respect the duty I have to our people. It is more important than my
duty to you.”
Dorgerel regained his composure, and stood
tall. He moved closer to Merrelle and took her in his arms. “I
release you, Merrelle. I know you don’t require my release.
But, I release you. We must both follow our duty. If I return,
I will be an uncle to your children. I release
you.”
The next day, the Black Gorgers gathered in ranks upon
their training field. They stood at attention with General Zo at
their front. SHE appeared before them in all her dark glory.
“Black Gorgers...you have an important part to play in the history of the
World of Kempin. Yours is a proud race...a First Race. And it
is time the world knew your might. Our road will be a long one...but
I promise you that the Race of Gorgoron will play a role in ruling the
surface world, as it once proudly did. You will serve me, and I will
bring the Gorgoron Race back to its former glory! All will bow
before the duty and pride of the Black Gorgers!”
And the
Black Gorgers and SHE were gone, before the echoes of her last words had
faded.
----------------------------------------
Remember, these stories are to add depth to the storyline. They represent player-knowledge, not character-knowledge. This story was written to add depth to the Crimson Coast campain.
