Far Shore: Crossover RPG idea

[Pure Sabacc]

I posted this, in a slightly different form, over at the Omniverse Zero forums a while back, to limited interest. I thought I might try my luck here, or at least try and get some suggestions on how best to continue:

First, let it be known I have very little experience with RPGs in any form, although my involvement in the construction of a "Kingdom-building" game elsewhere (PM me about it if your interested) has made me somewhat curious. Naturally, such curiousity, combined with too much spare time, and a love of crossovers has compelled me to formulate a rough RPG concept.

In essence, the concept is similar to that of the Riverworld books; beings of different place and time winding up in a wild and unknown land through unexplianed forces. However, while those books confine themselves to Humankind and Earth, my idea would involve characters (and more importantly, species) of numerous universes and genres, both fantasy and Scifi. Hundreds upon thousands of civilians, heroes, and soldiers all dumped into resource rich and untamed wilderness, armed with only the weapons and equipment on them (if that).

Fastforward a few hundred years, and you have numerous states and hamlets, roughly medevil in general tech and culture, scattered across the the vast and exotic landscape, some peaceful places of trade and study, others domains of dark lords and conquerors. These groups perpetually via against the wildlife, much of it as alien as them, for territory, and over the perodic groups of beings that are deposited at points across the region, bearing precious bits of technology and new skills. In this place, our adventure begins...

Far Shore: Role Playing Game


The first group was the largest. Thousands upon thousands woke as if from a deep sleep, and found themselves in a strange and unknown land, without comrade or semblance of familiarity in sight. However, this confusion was not allowed to persist for long; though many of those who had found themselves adrift in an alien wilderness, surrounded by multitudes of creatures that they could barely imagine were content to wallow in their own puzzlement or fear, some lashed out, perhaps in panic, perhaps out of reflex, perhaps out of simple spite for the unknown. Whatever the reason, the chaos of battle soon swept the massive field, those beings that still carried weapons on them or could rend flesh with their bodies alone fell upon each other without cause or aim, save to survive. Those who had no defense, and there were many, fled; few survived the perilous race to the safety of the dense forest all around.

When at last the battle came to an inevitable end, nearly half the original number lay dead, among them many of the mightiest combatants, overwhelmed by the chaotic flood of bodies and deadly fire of all sorts. The remnant heaved themselves from the corpse-strewn crater and sought refuge in the deep forest, where the weaponless looked on in fear. And yet, strife was not confined to the terrible arena; beasts of fantastic size and form, finding themselves in this strange place by similar means, ran riot though the tall growths, devastating many more of the new arrivals before at last they too retreated into the seemingly endless jungle.

Terrified and alone, those who remained alive then were set to the task of finding nourishment and shelter in the untamed waste, but to their relief, found that clean water was in abundance; the strange native fruits largely edible; the very air itself capable of sustaining even the most exotic of needs. As they marveled at this unexpected good fortune, a new wave of arrivals came in the very same clearing, with the corpses of the slain still upon the ground, and as they looked on, very much the same scene repeated itself, and much blood was spilt again.

This time, however, some of the first group decided that they might aid the survivors, and in so doing at last began to congregate, and marvel at their differences, and similarities. Over a hundred rough campfires, beings discovered that some among the survivors were indeed those they knew, while others were vastly alien to them, unable to even communicate in an easy manner. Some died of grievous injuries, some fought each other anew over misunderstanding, some were devoured by the endless forest and the things that now lurked in its depths. But many more forged bonds of fellowship, unions born of the necessity of survival, despite all differences.

When it became clear there was no way to return to the varied places they had once dwelt, these groups spread into the unknown, exploring uncharted glades and valleys, rivers and caverns. They found no sign of native peoples save primitive, illusive beings of small intellect and stature, or remnant of ancient design, no clue as to what had brought them to the wilderness, but they did not despair; not all at least. Groups of weary explorers and scavengers coalesced and pooled their skills and resources, and with them, they began to build shelters of wood and stone, aided by the technology and magic of uncounted realms.

From these first footholds, bastions of civilization began to spring, and social order necessary for survival began to take shape; leaders were chosen, through vote and talent, bravado and bloodshed; skills and intellect pooled and directed; equipment inventoried and put to new purpose.

And as these new collectives took shape, still more arrivals came, smaller and smaller with each event, less likely to fall to irrational slaughter, and they found homes among the various groups, gravitating towards those who shared beings of similar form or mindset. At last, the flow dwindled to the occasional sprouting of a handful of souls, and the embryonic societies could begin to take stock of themselves.

In the months and years that followed, as the new citizens of this lost land came to terms with their new lives and became accustomed to its workings, each group began down an inevitable path, a way its inhabitants deigned best to survive. Many of the smaller amalgamations were satisfied to move into the fertile hills and river valleys beyond the vast forest, and try a life many of whose ancestors had not lived for millennia. Others still clung to the hope that there might be some way to escape the new realm, and sought to quest for it down the mighty rivers and in cavernous depths. Still more knew only war and conquest, and opted to live that way, fighting amongst themselves, hunting for food, and bending the primitive native peoples to meet their own ends.

And so it was that life as it is known now began; thousands of the displaced against the waste, and themselves. For even as the more peaceful of the peoples established some semblance of normalcy, the more aggressive arrivals began to prey upon them, seizing what technology they had left, what food they had grown or salvaged, even their bodies for labor if nothing else could be thieved. Anarchy returned, and would have engulfed all of the survivors had it not been for a few great beings, experienced leaders and generals of circumstance, who stepped forward to marshal veritable strangers together to protect what little they had salvaged from the encroaching dark.

The strife was long and terrible; many of the leaders fell, much of what had been saved was destroyed, but in the end, the enemy horde was defeated, its remnant harried until it disappear into the depths of the forest, out of sight and mind. Peace at last achieved, the victors began to drift back into old groups, but a bond of camaraderie remained amongst most, and although there would be conflict still, it was not like the terror had been seen before.

Years, the decades, then centuries passed. The searchers returned, finding nothing but more exotic and dangerous wilderness, and then a vast and stormy sea which stretched from horizon to horizon. Cultures and peoples melded, the native creatures, beast and plant, were cultivated and tamed, the primitive peoples who had been in the place before adopted and developed; after four hundred of the place’s years, little of the first one’s old ways still remained among their descendants, just myths and legends; ancient arts that had taken lives of their own. The land was at peace, and saw prosperity at last.

But still there was darkness. Not all of the old foes had been destroyed or engulfed by the wilds; and there were sightings again, rumors that the fiends of legend still walked the deep forest, and were conspiring against the free peoples once again. It was about this time that the arrivals began again, still uncommon and few in number, but occurring nonetheless. Not even the most ancient of the elders knew why such things were happening again, but prophets did speak of clouds upon the horizon in their meditations. Great events were in motion, but whether they meant good or ill was in doubt…
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So, that's about as much as I have now; an intro, a rough map of the area, a list of potential races and franchises to adapt, and a single concept sketch of a character (which I will post if the need presents itself). So, my question is threefold: first, what format is this best workable? As I noted, I am highly unfamiliar with RPGs of any form. Second, does anyone have any suggestions as to the creation of the universe, criticism, whatever? Third, is anyone interested in the idea, were it to come to fruition?