The year is 2015, thanks to centuries of persecution, wide-spread practice of magic had gradually ceased until 300-some years ago when it seemed to stop altogether. Since that time, human advancement has been made purely from science. The discovery of electricity and the artificial ways to generate it have allowed the world to make leaps in development in only a few short centuries than in the millennia ruled by superstition. Now we possess vehicles of various sizes, that not only lack a horse for movement, but can travel much faster than an equine can travel. We have gained not only the ability to fly, but can pierce the heavens and leave the planet altogether. We have small devices that let us control most aspects of our lives by touching a glass panel, to connect to other people to listen to recorded music or watch 'videos' about magic, because today it's considered no more than fiction, right..right?
WRONG! Magic still exists modern world; scattered about are small groups of people who still practice the mystic arts in secret. Whether it be to uphold tradition or maintain the balance of the Universe. Mystical items have also been rumored to appear from time to time such as Wands, Rings of Power, a Pyramid-shaped puzzle that compels it's owner to play cards...? And of course Tomes.
A young man purchased a black bound book featuring 2 connected green 'X' patterns on the front cover and a single one on the back, off of the internet. For his next game night, the youth brought his friends to a nearby cave for a special LARP session. To kick off the evening the GM stood within a crudely drawn circle among many disfigured rubber and plush animals. He read a passage from the book; the group began to converse among themselves as the temperature suddenly went cold, but their friend continued to read on... Suddenly their lights went out! The DM realized something was wrong as pages rapidly turned on their own and the book began to glow. It emitted small beams of light, the first penetrating the DM's skull, forcing him to the ground. The players scrambled out of the cave, The Fighter was struck by a beam and knocked into a wall. The Wizard was struck with another and fell on top of the plush rabbit. Finally energy surged within the circle and fired off one massive beam of light though the mouth of the cave, causing it to collapse and into the sky...
Many who gazed into the heavens that night, claimed to see something like roots of a giant tree, but the image vanished in a flash and it was written off as a hoax by the authorities. However, only a few days after; strange things began to happen. Reports of people suddenly uncovering deep holes which a highly toxic gas emerges from. Those that have escaped the mist claim to hear animal noises and harsh whispers; that creatures just 'materialized' from the fog, but haven't been seen anywhere else, and so they're written off as hallucinations from the gas. claims of seeing sections of wall suddenly vanish, and when looking through the holes, they're looking at a forest or seeing cities with giant rights of light floating above... Then the wall just 'reseals itself' and on the other side is the same building that's always been there. Soon after THOSE reports, people in strange clothing and/or with really elaborate cosmetic surgery...and carrying around medieval weapons, have been seen wandering around not far from the 'holes in the wall'. Among other things...
But what happened to those left in the cave? When the local authorities unsealed it, they discovered the Fighter fused to the rock wall, and trying to dig himself out with the plastic sword. The Wizard was on all-fours, now with 2 large furry paddled feet. It's head was that of a rabbit, but missing a right eye with torn stitches and what looked like stuffing pouring out and was pecking at the head wound of the deceased DM. And amidst all of this, the book that started it all was nowhere to be seen...
WRONG! Magic still exists modern world; scattered about are small groups of people who still practice the mystic arts in secret. Whether it be to uphold tradition or maintain the balance of the Universe. Mystical items have also been rumored to appear from time to time such as Wands, Rings of Power, a Pyramid-shaped puzzle that compels it's owner to play cards...? And of course Tomes.
A young man purchased a black bound book featuring 2 connected green 'X' patterns on the front cover and a single one on the back, off of the internet. For his next game night, the youth brought his friends to a nearby cave for a special LARP session. To kick off the evening the GM stood within a crudely drawn circle among many disfigured rubber and plush animals. He read a passage from the book; the group began to converse among themselves as the temperature suddenly went cold, but their friend continued to read on... Suddenly their lights went out! The DM realized something was wrong as pages rapidly turned on their own and the book began to glow. It emitted small beams of light, the first penetrating the DM's skull, forcing him to the ground. The players scrambled out of the cave, The Fighter was struck by a beam and knocked into a wall. The Wizard was struck with another and fell on top of the plush rabbit. Finally energy surged within the circle and fired off one massive beam of light though the mouth of the cave, causing it to collapse and into the sky...
Many who gazed into the heavens that night, claimed to see something like roots of a giant tree, but the image vanished in a flash and it was written off as a hoax by the authorities. However, only a few days after; strange things began to happen. Reports of people suddenly uncovering deep holes which a highly toxic gas emerges from. Those that have escaped the mist claim to hear animal noises and harsh whispers; that creatures just 'materialized' from the fog, but haven't been seen anywhere else, and so they're written off as hallucinations from the gas. claims of seeing sections of wall suddenly vanish, and when looking through the holes, they're looking at a forest or seeing cities with giant rights of light floating above... Then the wall just 'reseals itself' and on the other side is the same building that's always been there. Soon after THOSE reports, people in strange clothing and/or with really elaborate cosmetic surgery...and carrying around medieval weapons, have been seen wandering around not far from the 'holes in the wall'. Among other things...
But what happened to those left in the cave? When the local authorities unsealed it, they discovered the Fighter fused to the rock wall, and trying to dig himself out with the plastic sword. The Wizard was on all-fours, now with 2 large furry paddled feet. It's head was that of a rabbit, but missing a right eye with torn stitches and what looked like stuffing pouring out and was pecking at the head wound of the deceased DM. And amidst all of this, the book that started it all was nowhere to be seen...
