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The theme of Night Reign
is one of gothic horror fantasy. When preparing
for a Night Reign game, it is important to
understand what these themes represent. These
themes will help your game to become fully
immersed in the Night Reign setting.
Gothic
The term "gothic" refers to a style of
literature characterized by a gloomy setting,
grotesque characters, mysterious or violent
events, and an atmosphere of degeneration and
decay.
When running a campaign in the world of Night
Reign, it helps to emphasize the gothic flavor of
the environment surrounding your players’
characters. The world is literally dark: there is
no sunlight during the day, only a faint ambient
glow that is a sickly imitation of true light. The
full moon on a clear night is the brightest light
in Falamar, and even that is tempered by the
persistent chill in the air and the fog that rolls
in near the waters.
Horror
Horror is defined as an intense and pro-found fear
of a person, place, or thing. This is no mundane
fear, but a creeping dread that pervades all
thoughts, gradually becoming the kind of
over-whelming terror that only true heroism or
madness can keep at bay.
Night Reign is not a place only for monsters that
leap out for a quick scare (though they certainly
have their place). There are many things in this
world that can, through small subtleties, create a
larger and more lasting impact. For example, there
is a phenomenon in Falamar known as the Breath. It
is a mindless, malignant force that appears as a
harm-less fog … until the dying starts. Imagine
your adventurers have been traveling through a
waterfront town, when they slowly notice that the
streets have cleared of townfolk. As the fog rolls
in off the water, the adventurers face buildings
covered in heavy, closed shutters and not another
living soul in sight. Horror dawns as they realize
that the fog is not just aimlessly rolling in. It
is hunting.
Fantasy
Fantasy tales are (by definition) generally
serious in tone and epic in scope, dealing with
themes of grand struggle against supernatural
forces of good and evil.
The world of Night Reign is, at its heart, a high
fantasy setting. But it is more than merely swords
and sorcery. The clashing of gods has blanketed
the realms in mythical darkness. Evil rulers grasp
their kingdoms with tyrannical ferocity and
terrible power. Magical creatures become twisted
by the darkness and stalk unwary travelers. Heroes
carry the only light of the world within their
hearts and quest against impossible odds.
Ilius the Betrayer, he who is most steeped in true
evil, reigns over the length and breadth of the
lands of Falamar. Can his power be vanquished and
the Moon fought back to balance the Sun once more?
Will the might of the Ilium Empire prove too
oppressive for the heroes to overcome? These are
the types of struggles that make up the fantasy
theme.
Ultimately, it is up to the players to decide the
fate of the world; to allow evil to continue its
rule or to bring back the light. Can you conquer
the Night Reign?
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