Bloody Thunder
by 1970I've been thinking about a plot point in the Palladium Fantasy RPG and thought I could port some of it over to a more playable system (Old School Essentials/Rules Cyclopedia) and apply it to Thunder Rift. Here goes.
There was a great war between the elves and dwarves, which I'm calling the War of Stone Roses, that saw several other races conscripted (with or without their consent) into fighting for either or both sides. Ancient magics of mass destruction were implemented, and a good portion of the known world was turned into a nigh uninhabitable wasteland. What's left of this world that's still left fighting for is Thunder Rift. Both elves and dwarves are too weakened from the centuries of war to completely claim the land, much less their conscripted proxies, who have broken free of their masters and have tamed this last vestige of the world for their own. A cold war still rages between these elder races, unseen by the general populace of the Rift. There has been the illusion of peace for a long time (like, hundreds of years), but as time passes and the elves and dwarves recover their depleted populations, a hot war could spring up once more in the near future (that statement being relative for creatures who measure their lives in centuries). Meanwhile you have the other races fighting over the remains over the War of Stone Roses, with humans and halflings siding with one another and the subhuman mutants warped by strange magics (humanoids) fighting amongst themselves and their fairer counterparts.
Is this feasible? I know Thunder Rift is a very small place, which suits me fine considering the circumstances, but I'm kind of afraid it's too small. Any thoughts, suggestions, or critiques are, of course, welcome.