About this project

100 years past, Aruneus experienced an apocalyptic event. Starting in a small village, a family infected by a strange sickness died, only to rise again several days later. Within weeks hordes of undead were roaming the Human empires, ravaging any warm blooded creature that fell in to their grasp. Aruneus was devastated - losing in a few years over 10 million sentient beings.

After 100 years of fending off a complete collapse, the sentient races are rebuilding their societies and for the first time there is hope that the undead menace can be destroyed and life given a chance to flourish again.

I know, pretty cool eh?

I am creating a source book for the world of Aruneus - an RPG Setting. Based in Pathfinder rules, the book would contain professional artwork and editing. It will be available for purchase as either a downloadable PDF or in hard copy. It would give players and game masters instant access to a vibrant and rewarding setting and a series of pre-planned adventures in a high fantasy world that combines all of the elements of fantasy with the horror and survival of an undead apocalypse.

My plan is to create a fully detailed world in which the game will take place. This is the world of Aruneus. In addition to the history, currently political state, geography and racial histories (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Orc) I am also creating a campaign to take a party of characters from 1st to 20th level, along with additional side campaigns, new creatures to inhabit this world and a myriad of other neat stuff.

The game mechanics are based on the D20 OGL license, which gives it a tried and tested mechanical system in which to exists. Further more, it's using the Pathfinder RPG rule set (again, an open standard) which will make this attractive to Pathfinder's large audience. Recently the Aruneus Project became officially compatible with the Pathfinder Role Playing Game universe!

This idea is already being worked out a bit in the public arena via my site Troll in the Corner http://trollitc.com/category/role-playing-games/aruneus/ . That's how I plan to spread the word - that and through social media and specific forums online. I already have a decent audience interested in the development and completion of the Aruneus world.

I've also launched forums and a wiki about the project, which can be found at http://www.trollitc.com/aruneus/tiki-forums.php

I've also created the first several official, published Aruneus supplement!

The World of Aruneus – A Brief History, Clerics & Wizards, The Stone Pony and the Spring Sale on Magical items are now available through DriveThruRPG for free!

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php...

Why do I need funding? I'd like to have an end product that looks good, reads well and plays wonderfully! As such, I'll need to hire someone or several someone's to create original artwork, a professional editor and someone to help maintain a decent looking website and wiki. I'll also have to pay for hosting for the site. Then there's the printing. Lastly, there will be some legal fees to ensure I've complied with the OGL and Piazo's terms and conditions.

A good portion of this money raised will be used to give the illustrators, editors and whatnot who aren't well known and want to break into the fantasy/RPG/comic art and editing world a chance. They'll get paid for their work and get exposure.

I'm not terribly good at creating my own videos but I do have 25 years of experience GMing, a smashing little website, a degree in Medieval History I'd like to finally put to use and a whole lot of love for all things fantastic. Thanks for your support!

Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

The world was a large place. The four races, Humans, Elves, Dwarves and Orcs existed if not in peace, at least able to survive with each other. Empires were formed, lives created and destroyed, magic flourished and for a brief time, Humanity strove to master the world. Then the undead scourge broke the world.

It started with a single child. Then a family. Soon, a whole village succumbed. Within weeks hordes of mindless, always hungry undead swarmed over the Human empires, destroying any creature that was foolish enough or unlucky enough to fall into their path.

Although the disease effected only humans, rendering them first dead and then undead in less than two days, the hungry corpses would eat anything warm blooded that fell into their grasp. Mice, cattle, even the great dragons. none were immune. They were not fast or overly strong but their numbers became massive. Weapons proved to be nearly useless against a horde. Magic and fire could do more but sheer numbers, the undead in the thousands proved too much. Worse, they did not seem to decay or become weaker. Years would pass before even the hint of corruption appeared on their bodies.

One organization, the Order of the White Cloth proved to be a counter to the undead scourge. Able to organize to the point of defending a small but determined group of Human settlements, the clerics proved invaluable. Able to destroy the undead through sheer power of will their protection became vital.

The Order have become the new nobility. Their upper echelons have become the wealthy elite, admitting very few in to their ranks and supplanting kings and emperors as the new, untouchable power. Anger them and their protection can be withdrawn, leaving you and yours to fend for yourself.

The Elves and Dwarves too have been decimated by the undead. Their cities ravaged and their population has plummeted. Fear of Humans is a normal reaction. Any who may have been bitten will turn and in turning they will eat flesh endlessly until put down.

While the Orcs of the north have suffered as well, their frozen country and nomadic ways have gone far to preserve them. For the first time in centuries, a new Orc empire is rising.

Magic users have become something of a rarity, as the practice and study of magic is a luxury not often had when fighting for mere survival. The Order of the White Cloth has all but outlawed the practice of magic unless it is done on their license, in their temples. The lay people see mages as a curiosity and a person to put their hope into. What is left of the old nobility would seek to manipulate them in their secret war against the Clerics. The Order of the White Cloth simply seeks to use their power without them becoming a threat.

There are rumors of a small island containing the last operating wizards collage not under the thumbs of Clerical overlords but at this point, they may just be rumors.

When the undead scourge, some called it the apocalypse, spread through the world it was the grimmest of times. Societies collapsed and Empires fell in the span of a few years. Over ten million sentient beings vanished from Aruneus in a matter of years, many returning as mindless undead. It is only now, one hundred years since that ill fated child destroyed the world that hope can once again be seen in the faces of man, dwarf or elf.

Walled cities are for the first time in a century growing. The undead are finally succumbing to time and literally falling apart. While still out there, beyond the safety of walls, their numbers are slowly dwindling. The invention of lighter than air craft have reintroduce trade and communications.

The Order of the White Cloth, seeing their reign beginning to slip, are tightening their yoke on the human population, quashing rumors and allowing only those communications they see fit to pass through their censors. Still, it is hard to stop a rumor.

A rumor, recently surfaced, hints at a possible cure. A means from keeping a living human infected with the undead Contagion from turning in to one of them. If this were to be true it could be the final answer to the prayers of hundreds of thousands of humans.

The nobility would kill for this and a chance to seize the reins of power from the Order of the White Cloth. The Order would kill to keep this from dwindling their power. Whole cities would become mobs should they learn that the cure was being withheld from them, or was within reach.

Should you be given this power and asked to save all of humanity, what would you do with it? Where would you turn and who would you pick to live or to be condemned to shamble and moan and wander always lost?

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