Dreaming Out Loud: Episode 3, What Are We Doing Here?

What Are We Doing Here, Anyways?

“Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean; who is neither tarnished nor afraid.”—Raymond Chandler, The Simple Art of Murder

I wanted to write this next column about dragons. I really did. I wanted to tell you my thoughts and feelings about them and why they are so important to my vision for Alyria. Alas, that column just is not coming together. So, that topic will have to wait, which is actually a boon to me, because, instead of talking about Setting, I’d like to talk a little about my Premise.

By now, you have a little idea of where I’m going with Alyria. Certainly there are still many things that I want to share with you in later columns, but now I would like to answer the question that is probably arising in some of your heads. “So what? This is an interesting setting and all, but what do you do in it? This is supposed to be a roleplaying game, not just a public exercise in world building, right? All the setting in the world is not going to help me put together an interesting chronicle or story.” If you are thinking along these lines, you are not alone. For a long time, I struggled to figure out what kinds of stories I envision in Alyria. I knew that I could not ignore this world that was forming, but I also know that, without sufficient care, the building of this world could get out of hand and become useless for roleplaying purposes. I definitely did not want people looking at Alyria and saying, “Neat world, but I can’t imagine playing in it.”

Then, one day, it struck me, and its simplicity was wonderful. When all is said and done, Alyria is a classic epic fantasy. Epic fantasy is the realm of the big. Good and evil collide in massive battles. Nations wage war upon each other. Signs in the heavens prophesy doom and destruction. The fate of a world balances on a knife’s edge. And, into this situation, this time of dire need, come heroes, who have the power to save the world&or damn it. I love this kind of story. When all is said and done, that’s what drives me back to fantasy. That’s why I’ve reread Lord of the Rings more times than I can even remember. That’s why I am reading George R.R. Martin’s new series, A Song of Ice and Fire. I love big stories. Stories where the world shakes. Stories with heroes.

I can hear some of you yawning. No, I’m serious. You are shaking your head right now and thinking to yourself, “Seth must have started roleplaying with Vampire or something. Hasn’t he ever heard of AD&D? Doesn’t he know that we’ve done the heroic thing to death?” No, I’m not out of my mind. Well, at least not for that reason. Hear me out.

What is a hero, anyways? In most people’s minds, a hero is someone larger than life with larger than life abilities who fights for the good guys. So, for instance, Hercules was a hero, because he was stronger and mightier than anyone else. Any of Ah-nold’s action movie characters qualify (except for the Terminator). Neo in The Matrix was a hero, because he could dodge bullets. Well, now we are getting into the “superhero” category, where “larger than life” takes on entirely new meanings. But is that really what “hero” has always meant to you?

Think back to when you were younger. Was there anyone who you respected? Not idolized, mind you, but respected. Was there a teacher who inspired you? A parent who sacrificed for you? Is there anyone who you respect now? Why? Is it because that person could heft an M-60 machine gun under each arm and blow away anything that moved? Is it because that person could perform near-impossible feats of agility? Of course not. What was it, then, that earned your respect?

I remember one of my teachers in high school whom I respected greatly. One of the defining moments for me was when I was at the school at 6:30 in the morning to leave for a convention. I was still groggy and bleary-eyed from getting up so early and then, in the door walked Mr. B! At that moment my respect for him increased ten-fold. I already knew that he was at the school very late after classes, making preparations for the next day of school. I knew that he would often go home and collapse for a while so that he could return to work those late hours. And here he was, in the school building early. In that moment I comprehended something of the sacrifices that he made for me. In that moment he earned my respect. In that moment, he became one of my heroes.

Of the original Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite. Perhaps it’s my melancholic nature reasserting itself. Anyways, my favorite part of the movie is the ground battle on Hoth. Remember that? Outmanned and outgunned, surrounded on every side, facing armored walkers far more powerful than anything that they have, the Rebels fight a desperate battle, hoping against all hope that they can delay the Imperial forces long enough to let their comrades-in-arms escape. Many of the Rebels die on that frozen plain, sacrificing their all for their friends. Heroes, every one of them.

In The Lord of the Rings, the most agonizing part for me is the crossing of the plain of Gorgoroth by Frodo and Sam. Frodo’s spiritual suffering increases as he grows closer to Sauron’s stronghold, and Sam suffers much in keeping his master alive. As their journey draws to a close, they are forced to crawl up the side of Mount Doom, as their strength is too spent to walk. Sam finally carries his master up the mountain. Frodo is wounded in body and soul, and what makes the pain all the worse (at least for me) is that he is not given the recognition that he deserves. Others receive the acclaim and honor. Such a poor reward for a hero.

In The Crystal Shard, R.A. Salvatore created one of the more interesting characters to come out of the TSR game worlds in the person of Drizzt Do’Urden, a drow elf who has turned his back on his evil people and lives as an outcast in the surface world, protecting those who mock him and mistreat him. But there are other heroes in this book. One who sticks in my mind is one of the speakers of Ten-Towns. As the goblin army approaches the one walled city in the region, a band of refugees is still trying to make it to the city. The speaker sees that they will not arrive in time, so he gathers his men and rides out to protect the refugees, hoping to delay the oncoming army long enough for the refugees to reach the safety of the city. And, as he takes up his battle formation, he turns and salutes the city walls. The refugees arrive safely. Neither the speaker nor any of his men return. Instead, they died heroes’ deaths.

I should hope that the point is obvious by now. Being a hero is so much more than having the highest Strength score or wielding the Flaming Popsicle of Death or being able to level buildings with the power of your mind. You could do all these things and more and still not be a hero. Being a hero is a matter of morality, a matter of virtue. Being a hero means being the kind of person who would struggle and fight and even die&for someone else, without hope of reward or thanks. Being a hero means doing what is right, even when it costs you. That is the kind of hero that I want to see in Alyria.

Think about it. Isn’t this the kind of hero that is usually glorified in epic fantasy? Why does Aragorn win battles? Is it because he’s toting Narsil, his magic sword, or is it because he is noble of spirit? Why does Frodo succeed in crossing the plains of Gorgoroth? Is it because he has a high Constitution score, or is it because his sense of duty prevails even over his agony of body and soul? For that matter, why does Luke Skywalker finally defeat the Emperor? It’s not because of his lightsaber skills; it’s because of his moral decision to embrace good instead of evil.

It is these sorts of heroes that I want to see loose in the world of Alyria. I don’t care if they are just farmers’ sons protecting their village from a marauding dragon or a High Lord who has dedicated himself to the service of his people. These are the kinds of people that will change the world, so why shouldn’t my game focus on them?

So, as you see Alyria unfold in this column, remember the Premise. There will be heroes loose in this world, working in their own nooks and crannies of the world to fight for change. Some will be in positions of power. Others will be nobodies. But together, their actions will change the world.