Tall, snowy mountains with tempered giants; wide, wind-swept plains with fierce nomads; hidden, forested valleys with fair elves; and storm-filled, terrifying oceans with brave sailors are said to exist there...
The forces of this place are in motion; in mortal combat with the strength of the sword arm and the wit of the strategic mind...
Welcome traveler. And remember: There are far more valuable things than gold...
- Arveta uses a "Play By Mail" style narrative to suggest tips, tricks, and techniques of creativity. It specifically sets a tone of traditional RPGing, and harkens back to a storyline eschewing gratuitous horror and gore in favor of epic fantasy in the vein of a CS Lewis or JRR Tolkien. The ideas can be adapted to a variety of situations and systems. But better that Abram explains:
You have probably heard of C. S. Lewis, the writer of the Chronicles of Narnia series. To be abrupt, I am a miniature version. Although C. S. Lewis was a professor and I am a pulp and paper chemist, we both chose writing as one of our hobbies. I still don't think I'll ever be able to devote all the time to writing that he did in his day.
Briefly, this "play by mail game" evolved out of the desire to keep in touch with my old college buddy and some of my new friends in far away towns with similar interests. I started telling a story about ARVETA, a mythical place of adventure, and we were off and running. I guess you could say "Nobody here, so let's try writing!"
If you were to ask me, "What is this all about?" I would tell you that ARVETA is an ongoing story about a continent in a great struggle between good and evil, in which the good forces are trying to restore peace and freedom.
It has all the elements of a story like the Chronicles of Narnia: A King betrayed. The Prince fighting to regroup the forces of Goodness. A terrible Dictator. Knights, Monks of Medicine, Soldiers Good and Bad; Majestic mountains, Tall pines, and Swift-running streams; A lost continent; People yearning for freedom. Each of the participants pretends to be a "Good and Valiant Knight" in that struggle, and by submitting supplementary stories of their own, participate in the creation of the narrative: with the Good Deeds described.
Finally, I want to point out that just as C. S. Lewis wrote about his characters with a specific Principle or Character in mind, my writing reflects this also. In fact, most of the situations presented contain a purpose, and in all the games that I supervise, including this one, the participants are expected to conduct themselves with honor.
- The narrative, with all its twists, turns, subplots, and visions starts with a quartet: Rollvag, Cher, Longsilver, and Kuros.--RL
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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