Ardus Introduction (Read This First)

Subject: Ardus Introduction (Read This First) Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:30 pm

Introduction

Subject: Introduction to Ardus Wed Jan 28, 2009 7:54 pm

An Excerpt From Ianthil's Commentary On Ardus, Spectra, The Planes, And The Mysteries Therein

The world we know as Ardus is a marriage; a mixture; an overlap, if you will, of two realities. And these realities are simultaneously separate and joined. They exist independently, and yet they flow and mingle openly with the other.

The common man is most familiar with that reality that we call the Physical Plane. Here, the common man has his five sense; sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The man moves, breathes, does work, and lives his life. He can see trees, fields, seas, and cities. It is here, in this Physical Plane, that we, the mortal folk, reside. It is here that our kingdoms rule, and we pursue fullfillment and happiness.

The other plane; the one of which most are less aware, is called the Spectral Plane. This is the home of the immortals; whom we call the gods. They, and the plane in which they reside, is built of an energy, called Spectra. The Spectral Plane, as said, is linked to the Physical Plane. Its energies flow through this world, called Ardus. Some of these energies are easily seen; manifesting themselves in the Physical Plane openly. Spectra itself can be tapped into by those who are trained to manipulate it. They can draw from the unseen streams of energy, creating manifestations of their own. These ones are called wizards.

The gods who reside on the Spectral Plane also make themselves known unto us. They imbue their followers and clerics with Spectra of their own, and in times of great need or distress, they may manifest themselves physically in our Plane. It was the gods who created us, along with our Physical Plain. In legends past, the gods have strived for dominance over the denizens of the world, and over one another. Great wars, and legends of heroes and demigods have laced our history since the First Days, when only the ancient patriarchs of the Elder Elves walked the surface of the world.

Ardus is a world of mysteries. The Spectral Plane fluctuates in relation to the Physical Plane, and this creates many places where the physical realities are warped and twisted. Certain beasts possess unnatural and amazing abilites, some even believed to shift between the two planes. The heavenly bodes, in particular, react strongly to the presence of Spectra. The stars have been known to shift positions; for some to disappear, and new ones to reappear in reaction to different events beyond most mortal comprehenson. The five blue moons of Ardus stay stable; and they are used to mark and measure the passing of time. There have been times, though, when the positions and phasing of the moons themselves have changed.

In the following notes, I have attempted to compile a review of my knowledge of these mysteries. I hope that, perhaps, in some way, these writings may be of use to those who wish to learn of the magic surrounding our world...

Subject: Re: Ardus Introduction (Read This First) Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:30 pm

Welcome!

Welcome to Ardus! Within these threads and posts you will find created a full-fledged fantasy realm. It is 'classic' fantasy, in the sense of elves, dwarves, and orcs; but it has several important features that make it distinct from otehr such fantasy worlds. These distinctions include the races themselves (different human, dwarven, and halfling races), the nature of magic (based on two overlapping planes of existence), and the history of the world.

The introduction above gives you a general sense of what the world is like, but to get a true grasp on the way things work, you'll have to delve into a few of the other threads that exist here.

Getting Started
Here's a brief step-by-step guide to getting started in Ardus.

1. First place you wanna go is the Races thread. Read through this information, and begin thinking of a character who is a member of one of those races. The descriptions are fairly loosely-defined to give some creative leeway in creating your character.

2. Go take a look at the Maps thread; there are several maps of the world of Ardus, and you can reference this against the Realms entry in each race's description to get a sense of where your character may have came from.

3. Once you pick out where your character is from, head over to the Lands of Ardus thread; where there are some more detailed descriptions of each place on the map. This can be of even further help in giving you ideas for your character.

4. If your character doesn't use magical abilities (Spectra), doesn't have any religious beliefs to speak of, and is kind of a loner, you know enough to begin creating your character! Head over to the Character Profiles thread; make sure you check the first page to get the character template format, and begin detailing your character. If you'd like to add even more dimentions to your character, continue with the next steps!

5. You can check out the Groups and Societies thread to find a group, caste, cult, noble house, brotherhood, order, or family to belong to.

6. If you would like your character to be a magic user; whether in a subtle or evocative way, read The Nature of Spectra thread for some insight on what Spectra is and how it works.

7. If you've read the Beliefs and Customs entry in your race's description, take a peek at the Gods and Deities thread, which defines all of Ardus' deities and religious systems. Once again, these can help enrich your character.

8. Now, you know probably everything you're going to need to know about what you want your character to be like. Go make that profile! However, we include two additional steps for your own enlightenment and entertainment.

9. If you're interested in seeing some tales about how Ardus was created, and by whom, and how it all played out, visit the Histories thread to see how it all ties together.

10. Finally; the players of Ardus have created some memorable characters; and some memorable stories about those characters. These writings are recorded in the Anthologies thread. Go see this for some interesting and exciting tales about Ardus characters past and present. Also contributed by players, and found around the Net are some images that nicely represent Ardus and its characters. You'll find these in the Art and Images thread.

So, there you have it! 10 steps to get rolling in Ardus. While following these steps, we also have a few ground rules for you. These are things that make the game more streamlined and easier for the GMs to handle.

Ground Rules
1. All the rules in the Player's Manual, and Site Rules apply here.

2. Special emphasis on NO GOD-MODING. This persistent world gives you considerable freedom in designing your character, and playing that character. But anything all-powerful, impervious, or unrealistically perfect is absolutely no fun at all; and your character can and will be removed if he or she is deemed such. Weaknesses and conflict make for fun writing; and are the stuff of decent fantasy.

3. Please stick to the playable races detailed in the Races thread. In the past, we've not had or enforced this rule, and it has the potential to create pretty serious game imbalances; not to mention the difficulty of the GM deciding what's okay, what's not, and on what basis. Keep it confined to what's given.

4. Additions, suggestions, and feedback are all welcome. As are contributions to the unfinished portions of the game. However, PLEASE do not simply post whatever you feel should go somewhere. PM the GM (Teele) first with any additions or ideas you might have for approval.

That's pretty well it! Now go get that character started and have fun!

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