MotC Background v1

Meido of the Colossus / Meido's Souls	-	Revision 1
(It's a working title. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?)

*Intro*

"A single maiden", the soothsayers teach.

It was 17 Daughters ago that the Old Gods, twisted into vengeful abominations, began their march of destruction. None know for sure why they turned and left their sacred lands to attack mankind. Some say that it was their plan all along; after the Old Gods exiled man from paradise, they waited for the day they would strike. A few wise-men suggest that immortals are still ultimately defined by mortality, and, isolated from that which gave them meaning, the Old Gods fell into madness. Certain religious sects insist that the evils of man were the cause -- that their sin permeated the barrier between the lands of men and gods, and corrupted those within.

However, all agree on one detail: that after a futile war for survival, "a single maiden, pure of soul and spirit, chosen by the one, true Guardian of humankind" stood before the coming storm... and turned it back from whence it came. Now the Old Gods sleep. The land that was once their home became their eternal resting place. The soothsayers call it "The Sacred Grave".

But this peace is not costless. As the years pass, the seals placed on the Old Gods weaken. And so, when the soothsayers predict it, a successor to the Chosen Maiden is named, and taken in by the Guardian's Order. And so, when the soothsayers predict it, she is to venture into The Sacred Grave -- to where The Guardian is said to reside, holding the Old Gods in check. It is there that she is destined to commune with The Guardian, and perform a ritual to renew the enchantment, never to return.

It was 17 Daughters ago that the first of the Chosen Maidens lulled the Old Gods to slumber. And it is time now for the 18th to make her journey, and insure that the world survives to see the next...


*Background Info For Players*

-The Chosen Maiden is traditionally accompanied by a small party. They are to take her to the temple where The Guardian dwells. The Chosen alone enters the temple, and her companions return unharmed. The timing is crucial; the Chosen must be delivered to perform the ritual within three days of departure. Only then is the time right for the ritual to be completed, and only then is the barrier able to be crossed. However, the trip generally takes little more than a day, and another for the return.

-As only the "pure" are capable of entering The Sacred Grave, the Chosen's entourage is often predominantly (if not completely) female.

-The task is arguably little more than a formality, rather than for protection or comfort. Potentials must approved/selected by a soothsayer and OKed by The Order (lest the precious Chosen Maiden be harmed before fulfilling her duty.) Although few satisfy both these requirements, in theory, anyone can accompany the Chosen Maiden. They say a minstrel went with the eighth, wrote a poem about her final moments, then made a killing off of it.

-The Chosen Maidens are essentially royalty of the highest echelon, though blood is not a factor. A pauper could be discovered as the next maiden, and treated as a queen... at least, until it is her time...

-There is no set pattern to the appearance of Chosen Maidens. Two have existed at the same time in the past, as was the case with the present maiden, before the elder went on her journey.


*Rules for Character Creation*

There are two restrictions:

1)	The setting is Dark/Mythic Fantasy. Try to keep it that way.

2)	Regardless of what your character is, their abilities must be "human-ish". No magic, excessive physical prowess, and so on. Elves, Demons, and the like are fine, as long as they adhere to this rule.

You get "GM Likes You" tickets (or perhaps regular favor) if you come up with a fancy backstory. Just run it by me before you implement it in-character.


*Other Rules*

You may spend favor for a hint on how to win a fight. The cost is variable, and depends on the specific instance it is used for.

More to come. Maybe.