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Kestra

Fen's campaign setting called Kestra, inspired by Europe. Setting blurb is below:

Kestra is a setting inspired by Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, with some blurring with time periods both earlier and later. Though there is ample room for levity and wonder, it is at its core a horror setting. The basics of any horror story require two things, imperfect information and overwhelming odds. You will not understand everything at first, and the cards will seem stacked against you. The goal is not to see you overwhelmed and defeated. Rather, in putting the pieces together and turning the table on overwhelming odds it is possible to tell an even more impactful story.


Kestra exists in the twilight stage between antiquity and modernity. New technologies have emerged at a lightning pace. Trains, gas lights, telegraphs, mass produced goods, newspapers, printed books, and steam powered factories are widespread. Automatons, a race of artificially produced humanoids, emerged only a few years ago. Telephones, motor cars, electric lights exist but are rare, still only affordable by the very wealthy. Airships exist theoretically, and the first commercial airship made its maiden voyage just months ago. Others are in production, capturing the public imagination. 


Stories of floating ships,  harnessing the power of the storms, and the creation of synthetic life make frequent headlines. Some are caught up in this time of seemingly infinite possibility and seek to create a utopia. However widespread poverty, poor working conditions, and an ever growing disparity between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses lead others to fear the emergence of a dystopia.

But while the Empire is undoubtedly in the midst of an age of rationalism and progress, there are dark stirrings beneath the surface. The dead have always been restless in Kestra, and as the population skyrockets and the purposes behind old church rituals are forgotten, there have been increased reports of restless spirits. After generations of steadfast defense, the fey creations of the trickster moon god Eir are considered little more than bedtime stories in the heartlands of the empire. Yet in dark, forgotten corners of the empire’s edges they are very much believed in, and very much feared. Cults to gods both old and new have begun to crop up in ever increasing numbers, from the private parlors of aristocratic elites to the drab basements of forest huts. 


Society has struggled to adapt to technology's rapid march. Once mighty noble houses and privileged Dwarven holds are finding their wealth and influence eroded by an emerging class of factory owners and traders. Strains between isolated rural communities and rapidly developing urban centers have led to a wave of reactionary sentiment. Politics have grown increasingly volatile, and the recent meteoric rise of Chancellor Aymerich Bescond has been seen by many as the first steps in a major power shift. The KCB, having largely sought to moderate its image over the past decades, launched its most audacious attacks in decades during the Obratan riots causing a renewed fear of violence. The church, long a dominant force in the Kestran Empire, has been faced with a series of scandals and has faced accusations of corruption and decadence from both within and without. And in spite of a growing preference for rational scientific explanations, stories are emerging of long dormant occult forces which may be beginning to reawaken, threatening to turn the coming new age into a time of utter chaos.

Created 1 month ago. Last modified 2 weeks ago