[Wik]

The realm has suffered greatly. Fastheld, long the anti-magical oasis in a desert of vice, first was infiltrated from within by a skeletal dragon, long locked beneath the earth. This dragon destroyed a town and wreaked havok on the realm. The poison-clawed creatures known as Wildlings killed the Empress as they searched desperately for the drake known as 'She Who Protects'. The Imperial Council was forced to unlock this drake from its bonds beneath the earth in a last-ditch hope that the two draconians would destroy each other. Instead, they combined, calling themselves the Instrumentalist, and leaving Fastheld to its fate, sans-Emperor.

A group was sent out to rescue the Emperor, only to find he was unwilling to return to his post, due to fear that his being amidst the Shadow would cause civil unrest amongst the people. A valiant effort was made by the Imperial Council to rule until the 2 year old heir could do so, but when an assassin's arrow took down the regent, a second group was sent into the wilderness to retrieve the Emperor. This time, he agreed to return, and a tenuous peace has begun. But the tension hangs like electricity in the air. Something is afoot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduced in 2002 by the award-winning creator of Otherspace, Wes Platt, Chiaroscuro is an original-theme middle fantasy, featuring three areas.

First and most popular is the city-state of Fastheld. Medieval, with a strong crafter class and a bickering soap opera of a noble class, these magic-fearing people have surrounded their Maryland-sized city-state with a 600-foot wall to keep the Shadow at bay.

Second are the four mountaintop cities of Halagh. These diminuitive folks live in a work-focused socialist democracy, eking out an existance one steampunk-inspired invention at a time.

Lastly are the twelve islands of the Weeping Stones. Tall and caramel-hued, these people focus more on the spiritual than the technological, with a rich polytheistic tradition but a strong xenophobia.

All have had strong reasons to keep to themselves, and thusly, have never met each other. This will change soon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a magnificent crafting system with thousands of craftable items, rp-based experience gain, a friendly staff and a fantastic and diverse playerbase, this is most certainly the game for you. Come visit Chiaroscuro via jointhesaga.com (especially our new Wiki), or come visit us directly at jointhesaga.com:2003! Join the saga today!

[WarHound]

Although I dislike the Mush layout of Brody's games, I've always been interested in Chia. The whole paying thing has put me off, though, so let's clear the air here.

Is it pay to play? Pay for perks? Pay for 'karma classes' to use an Armageddon term, or in other words, pay for high-class characters such as nobles or clergy? I think this last one is it, but it was only vaguelly explained to me, so...?

I might kick Chia around if I'm able to advance to a decent position without paying for it. I don't mind contributing ten bucks a month to a game I feel makes my own life richer, but I dislike the idea of having no choice about it, or being unable to play a noble because I don't have 50$ to **** away at the moment.

?

[Brody]

Pay for perks. To be a noble, you need to get sponsored, however - either by playing a commoner and earning enough XP through roleplaying, writing a really good biography, or getting another player to spend their XP on you if they're looking to expand their family. You can be a noble of the realm without ever spending an RL dime, but you do have to earn it through some sweat equity.