Mada, the jewel of the cosmos, has always been a world rich in destiny and magic. Here, on this wonder of the universe, were great deeds done by great heroes, mighty kingdoms rose and fell, and watchful gods ruled with fair and even hand. No limit stood upon a man or woman’s fate – the treasures of the world were endless. As each age of mortal kind flared to life and gave way, new wonders abounded. But always were the gods of Mada, its strange and mysterious lords, there to provide the even hand that shaped that fate. From the moment mortals were brought into the world until after their souls departed it, the gods were always there to offer the chance of greatness to those who would stand to take it. But as the fourth age of Mada waned and the gods began once more to sleep, to allow themselves and the world to dream of a new destiny, something changed.
In the darkness between those ages, there was stirring.
Three Queens, each impassioned, each bold, and each powerful, did not pass on as did most mortals in the long icy times between ages. Their lives prolonged by dark magic, they found one another – and plotted. The Sovereign in Shadow, whose veins ran with poison and whose vanity knew no boundary, was eager to hatch the plot, gathering armies in the cold and telling the others the plan. It was the Golden Empress, whose magic was so powerful that she could see as the gods saw through her jeweled eyes, that found what they needed, and prepared the rituals to allow them their chance at dominion. And it was the Crimson Queen, ruler of the Scarlet Seas, that did the actual deed – that stole Mada from the gods, and stole destiny from the hands of mortals.
The Queens had discovered the centerpiece of the world; the magical nexus by which Mada was linked to the realms of the slumbering gods. Few legends even spoke of it, and mortal eyes had never been laid upon it, but they found it – and stole it. With this item, whatever it may be, stolen from its rightful place, the gods are sealed off from the world, the Three Queens firmly in charge. When the Fifth Age of Mada dawned, the gods awoke and began their work – but they were cut off. An ambush by the Three Queens defeated the gods, stole much of their power, and left their unfinished work to be usurped by the three greatest villains in Mada’s storied history.
Centuries have passed. The world is held in dominion by tyrants. The Three Queens grow more powerful every day, as each new dawn they grow more accustomed to their divine powers. The world is a dark, horrible place. All knowledge of the ways of the past are mere legend, never spoken except in the most secret of circles. The names of gods and kingdoms past, the secrets of magic and sword, are not even a dream for most, who toil as slaves under the Monarchy. But there are a few, a rare few, who fight back.
The mortal spirit is not so easily quenched, and some Orders have formed to preserve the old ways and give the like-minded a chance to work together. Whatever opportunity presents itself, these brave few are willing to face anything before they’ll become slaves.
THE ISLE OF THE WIZARD SUPREME
On a distant Isle in the farthest reaches of Mada’s great oceans, there once existed a mighty race of wizards, somehow protected from the tyranny of the Three Queens. Though they never ventured off of their island, they were never attacked – their civilization progressed as it might have in any other age. Which means it was full of wonder and power, great deeds and heroic tales. But as ancient civilizations sometimes do, the race of Wizards are dying out. In fact, there is but one left; the most powerful of them all, the Wizard Supreme. As the last of his kind, only he remains to protect what was once his homeland from the Queens. He does not wish to see such beauty and such power fall into their hands, and so as his own age threatens to take him, he has created a Contest.
Using all his magic, he has contacted the leaders of the Orders that fight against the Queen, offering them the arrangement. Anyone who wishes from these Orders may travel to his Isle and take part in his contest. He has left the parameters of the contest purposely vague, but the prize is crystal clear – whoever wins will inherit all of his power and total dominion over the Isle. The Wizards were content to leave the world alone and exist in peace, but the power they held would be enough for anyone to wage war against the Queens themselves. Naturally, the Orders accepted, and now any member that wishes need simply speak the wish aloud to find him- or herself transported to the Isle of the Wizard Supreme.
Though the methods of victory are, in themselves, a riddle – clues will abound – the rules of the contest are plain. This is to be a contest of strength, valor, guile and intrigue; NOT a battle royale. The Wizard Supreme has no desire to see great minds and spirits killing one another for his power, so he places upon all who enter the contest the Wizard’s Mark. This mark protects any who wear it from harming, or being harmed by, anyone else who bears one. And, even those who do not win may gain benefit – the Wizard supreme offers much power simply for participating in the contest, and those that take part find their minds sharpening, their strength increasing, or their spirit soaring as they become more than mere mortal.
The Isle is a mysterious place – and not all are friendly. Though the Wizard Supreme is the last of his kind, there are many other beings on the Isle, and not all wish to help! Dark things lurk in ancient corners where magic has laid hand, and strange adventure may await those brave enough to face such dangers! Will you rise to become a legendary figure in a dark, heroless time? Will your Order be the one to put forth the victor, claiming the power of the Isle for itself? For that matter, will the victor be you?
Welcome to the Isle of the Wizard Supreme.
THE GAME
The Isle of the Wizard Supreme is the first campaign set in the Fifth Age setting. Fifth Age is both the name of the game itself, and the setting in which it is set, but “Isle of the Wizard Supreme” is a campaign. It has a story, it has characters – you – and it will have an ending. After all, someday the contest will be over, and someone will be named the new Supreme Ruler of the Isle and its powers. When that day comes, this campaign will be over – but the game will not be. Next event, we’ll start the new campaign, with a new story and new characters (perhaps related to or even including some of the old), and new challenges to be overcome.
In the Isle of the Wizard Supreme, you play a member of one of the Orders trying to survive in a dark world. You’ve run and hid your entire life, and now the opportunity presents itself to become everything your destiny says you could and more! So you’ve come to the Isle to forge your fate. Even if you don’t win, the promises of the Wizard Supreme are true – just a few short hours on the Isle and already there is wonder like there never was in the rest of the world. Magical power flares to life, turning a few charms and old rituals into spells of power. Arms that could barely lift a sword become mighty enough to cleave enemies in twain with it. Some are coming just to become the heroes they’ve always wanted to be – but truly, most are here to win.
Isle of the Wizard Supreme will be a non PVP campaign. While there will be occasional exceptions, PCs are not allowed to use any abilities on, nor harm, their fellow PCs. The mark of the Wizard Supreme prevents it. The mark has all of the intellect of the Wizard that made it, too – you can’t sneak around it. If you put poison down and someone with the mark drinks it, they won’t be harmed. There are some exceptions – there is an Arena where grudges can be settled; the mark is weakened here. PCs can use any abilities they want as long as they willingly entered the Arena, but they must stop short of killing. Also, there are some powerful magics that can subvert the mark for a short time – usually along with the mind of the person bearing it! If you’re magically controlled by an enemy and forced to attack a team mate, the mark is suppressed. But other than these exceptions (which will always be noted in the game) PCs are immune to everything another PC does – if they want to be (you can be healed and such, of course).
As a game of sword and sorcery epic adventure, the main focus of the game is going to be the action. A lot of the “behind the scenes” things are toned down to background level, to allow the majority of the game to focus on the high adventure. Rather than bother with a complicated money system, there is simply a “Wealth” ability that all characters have. It’s only used when dealing with NPCs – PCs can just haggle, trade and barter with one another for what they need. Money doesn’t really work with a total circulation of under a hundred people, anyway.