Welcome to “Steel and Flame”, a play-by-post campaign set in the world of Anne McCaffrey’s “Dragonriders of Pern”.
Introduction
The year is 1,250 AC. Life is flourishing in the lands of Pern. The Lord Holders Conclave agreed to let bold men and women travel to the frontier, claiming Charter Stake acres for themselves. New cotholds have sprung up along the rivers, roads, and coastlines. Each Turnover celebration seems larger and more prosperous than the last.
Thread, the deadly terror that once rained from the sky, is no more. The dragonriders destroyed the last of it 443 years ago. Most of the dragon Weyrs were sensible enough to make themselves useful in other ways, assisting Craftmasters, Lords, and Ladies with various tasks. The last gold dragon at Ista Weyr only rises to mate once a decade, so few families are forced to choose between honoring tradition and sending their child off for apprenticeship.
Once again, the Red Star has begun to twinkle in the night sky. When it becomes bright and dances over the Star Stones in eight years time, there will be another Grand Gathering to celebrate freedom from Thread.
Meanwhile, three youths beholden to Ista come of age, ready to adventure and seek their futures on Pern…
This campaign will be narrated with the following style:
- Genre: Low Fantasy – Supernatural powers, events, and creatures are uncommon.
- Examples: “Dragonslayer”, “Ladyhawke”, and “The Princess Bride”.
- Tone: Adventure/Drama – Optimistic, courageous, emotional, and thoughtful, with in-depth character development. The story isn’t about gathering treasure.
- Examples: “The 13th Warrior”, “I Robot”, and “The Lord of the Rings”.
- Realism: Believable – Uninteresting details are overlooked and a few impossible things are possible, but it’s easy to suspend disbelief.
- Examples: “Star Wars”, “The Last Samurai”, and “How To Train Your Dragon”.