Hello, there, new in these forums. I really like Dark Albion and i would want to tell you how the story has progressed until now. To your knowdlege, we are using dnd5 rules with full magic (my players wanted it in that way, and it was ok for me).
Im not using it as a full sandbox , with full event table generation, but neither railroad. There is several stories ongoing and yes, players have the freedom to continue one storyline or other (war of roses), and do what they like.
It begins in Rochester, 1 year after John Kemp resurrection, and in 3 places of the Kemp county, Rochester, Hastings and Leeds, undead appear. A witches conclave, lead by Gloucester duchess, Eleanor Cobham (i know i know) and a family of witches, the Billingham, curse the land. Players during these first 15 games , make their base in Dover and explore arcadian ruins, kill goblins, and learn about a war between 2 Great Daemon Princes, Suaranthe and Alatelan.
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It seems that witches conclave divided between followers of each Daemon, as the main objective was not properly done : kill John Kemp, but he was touched by the God Sun.
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The second part was the delivery of a letter to north of London, claiming several traitors to the Crown . Several Yorkists try to kill the players, while they find out the curse of the Earl of Bedford, and his brother. A family curse inspired by The Bedford Tales, and his french (frog) grandmother.
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Third part, after first battle of St Albans. The players find out Billingham witches are still alive , and they are trying to resurrect the Shadow of Eleanor of Castile, and making rites in each one of the Eleanor Crosses.
Right now we are going to play our 26th game (they are level 6) , and:
-They have found out that 2 Sun paladins destroyed a witch conclave in Stonny Stratford, capturing one of the Billingham.
-They posess one of the last funerary recipients where Eleanor ashes are, and they wait for the attack of the witches and chaos spawn and daemons.
-They are going to explore an elf funerary temple in the middle of Ruthland forest, because the runes and the magic were used to tie Eleanor inner devil.
-They have been offered money to kill bandits infesting East Midlands region (These bandits were the ones that locate elf villages).
-They have been offered a huge amount of money to go to Buckingham siege and rescue Humphrey (In my world after St Albans battle, the Guard of 5 Ports , Humphrey Stafford has scaped there and now is sieged by Warwick).
Lot of things to offer, lot of things to do. I love Dark Albion