Setting Themes and Overall Ambitions

Themes

Scars of Risenholm tells the story of a village of amnesiacs trying to discover who they are and what they have lost. It is the story of a people who, despite having the blessing of nigh-immortality, are kept isolated within a dreary and malevolent wilderness that inevitably seems to slowly break down even the most heroic of those who rise from the Well.

This isn't to say that joy and wonder doesn't exist in the village. Most of the newly Risen who rise from the Well for their first time are prone to head out into the world with an almost reckless abandon, heedless of the cynicism that many veteran scar hunters develop over their years. Indeed, the village of Risenholm is more than just a refuge against the physical threats of the wild - it is a beacon against the oppressive loneliness and melancholy Risen experience as they explore the unknown lands around their home. Rotheld's tavern is bustling almost every night with patrons, the market is often abuzz with trade, and Risen strive to maintain a sense of order and governance in their modern institutions.

There are a few themes that we wish to touch upon in most of our storytelling, and players should be keeping these questions and concepts at the front of their minds as they ponder their characters and the setting.

Identity

Who are you now and what does one become when given the key of immortality?

Loss and Stagnation

Reconciling the loss of a self you can't remember. Knowing that even with Power the world always seems to have the edge - knowing that the Well with all its wonders cannot mend a broken spirit.

Mystery and the Metaphysical

Countless wonders and mysteries to solve in an untamed world. A reality that seems literally shaped by the emotional scars of the past - and perhaps present.