Age of Wonders 4 is a wonderful fantasy grand strategy 4x game. “4x” stands for eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. Think of the venerable Civilization series for reference.
Inspired by the events in the game so far, I have written up setting information about Bunnicula’s world as if it was a tabletop roleplaying game setting to be explored. I might actually use it as such. Here are the races, locations and potential backgrounds that characters could come from in this snapshot of the game at Turn 55.
Setting Races
Overlord Leporids (Primary) – These bunny-peoples are athletic, have quick reflexes and are light footed to outmaneuver their foes. Ruled by the Elder Vampire Bunnicula Balloch they have adopted the Dark culture, the Cult of Death. They are Prolific Swarmers and have a Vision of Destiny as they pursue the magic of Shadow.
Moonrock Dwarves (Secondary) – These dwarven folk are tough, adapted to the underground and practice defensive tactics. The ones in the Empire of Bunnicula are either conquered peoples from Omenhallow or refugees from Fangir, their Wizard King’s other wars. They have adopted the Mystic culture, focusing on Summoning. They are Great Builders and Runesmiths, so they often carry enchantments.
Monolilthic Humans (Tertiary) – Either slaves of their Eldritch Sovereign, Elgoroth the Hedonist, or zealots of him; these humans recuperate quickly, are adaptable and practice defensive tactics. They are Architects of Chaos, follow a racial Cult of Personality and are Bannerlords. Their Cult of Personality means they look up to Heroes of all stripes.
Galetoads (Tertiary) – Citizens of the Storm Giant King Singaith Sky-Shatter, the frog-people the Galetoads are now in a defensive alliance with the vampiric Overlord Leporids. Both evil empires, Galetoads are adapted to the swamp, resilient, hardy and are known for their sharp eyes which aid in scouting. A Mystic culture, they focused on Attunement to magic. They are Scions of Evil and live in Hermit Kingdoms.
Locations
Nilzahdum- Founding settlement of the Vampire Bunnies. Now a full fledged City (13 population) this industrial heart of the empire is located on a juncture of sprawling Ashlands bordered by the East and the North by lava seas. The Eastern Lava Sea is called the “Crusader Sea” as beyond the lava sea is where the Celestial Crusaders originate from.
a. Features 3 gold mines, 3 quarries and 3 foresters. One of the gold mines is located off the coast in lava, ie a Smelter Mine. One of the Foresters is a Ritual Pyre founded by Abboth the Strong a Champion hero who wanted to impress his Elder Vampire sire, Bunnicula Balloch.
b. City’s garrison is a unit of Death Guard (pikemen who self heal)
c. City can produce Inferno Puppies which are puppies constructed from elemental fire.
d. Possible Backgrounds:
Ashland Stickpicker Settlers – Settlers who eke out a meager life from the border lands in huts.
Mining Thralls – either stone or gold miners, their exposure to the Ashlands and Lava seas has reduced their constitution but made them accustomed to the sweltering heat and harsh conditions of the worst of the land.
Blood Thralls – Primarily Overlord Leporids, Blood Thralls of all races aspire to become full-fledged vampires or orbit in those elite social circles.
Death Guard Pikemen – Either mustered to patrol the City or sent south to Gnolmoch to the battle zones, these citizens are elite troops who practice together in disciplined formation.
Inferno Puppies Beast Masters – Constantly singed and burned, these hardy citizens are very familiar with handling fire beasts.
Gnolmoch- Center of War and Research. Now a Town (7 population). Governed by Horras the Uncanny the Scholarly Governor. Located embedded into the northern face of a mountain, this Town sprawls East towards a Celestial Crusader Incursion and West towards the former battleground lands of Omenhallow, now pacified.
a. 2 Research posts. Eastern Research Post investigates the problem of the Celestial Crusaders. Western Research Post was forcibly taken over from Omenhallow in the war and reorganized by Horras himself (+5 Research Points). Now it studies the latest magical theories of the Empire, specifically how to destroy enemy morale.
b. The Town had fallen in Turn 33 to the marauding Celestial Crusaders to the East after a defensive battle in the Town center. The Town did not have walls and so it was a pitched battle in the streets.
c. The Walled Waterworks Ancient Wonder was explored and conquered around Turn 40 and converted into a Hidden Wellspring after Turn 43 (cost 500 mana for this conversion).
d. Possible Backgrounds:
Scavengers of Celestial Remnants – The fall of Gnolmoch to the rampaging Celestial Crusaders has left remnants all over the town and its provinces. These remnants are important experimental materials for the Eastern Research Post and some citizens specialize in gathering them.
Diplomats to the Fae Courts of the Seasons – The infrastructure conversion of the Walled Waterworks to the Fae-friendly Hidden Wellspring has brought Fae of three Season Courts to Gnolmoch. These diplomat citizens interact with the Fae warriors, keep them happy and make them useful to the empire.
Dark Magic Researcher – At the cutting edge of the empire’s Dark Magic research, these citizens report to Horras the Uncanny himself and labor on reducing the morale of their opponents.
Enlisted Citizen – With the wars with the Moonrock Dwarves, the Celestial Crusaders and more on the horizon, military minded citizens of any stripe can be found hailing from Gnolmoch.
Anti-Celestial Researcher – Firmly focused on ensuring that Gnolmoch never falls again, these zealous researchers interrogate, experiment on and theorize against the Celestials. They are particularly wary of the Dawn of the Lodestar event and it’s bolstering effect on the Celestials.
Omenhallow – Suzerain of Conquest. Recently (Turn 55) integrated Moonrock Dwarf Town (8 population) rested from the grasp of Fangir (Moonrock Dwarf Wizard King). The transition of the city from Fangir to Overlord Leporid hands has not diminished the populations’ morale (+20 currently). Many attribute this to the excellent Dwarven infrastructure and indoor plumbing.
a. 3 Quarries, 2 research posts
b. No Overlord Leporid Governor yet
c. Half the Provinces are Sunless from Gnolmoch’s influence.
d. Possible Backgrounds:
Omenhallow Bureaucrat – Given the lack of an official Overlord Leporid Governor, these citizens are often Leporids who are looking to make a name for themselves in the expected new administration. Devious maneuvers and powerplays are common.
Leporid Secret Police – Given this is the first conquered settlement by the Vampire Bunnies, the Overlord Leporids are leaving nothing to chance. Ferreting out civil corruption, as well as Moonrock Dwarf partisans, these citizens are the mailed fist of the Bunnicula empire.
Moonrock Dwarf Lightning Researcher – Citizens of the Fangir Wizard King rule, these researchers have previously focused on bending electricity and lightning to all forms of industrial and martial ends.
Moonrock Dwarf Stonecutter – Moonrock Dwarves are as Tough as they come and the ones that work in the quarry are more robust still. Alternatively, some are fine stone craftsmen with a delicate touch and artisan’s eye.
Omenhallow Criminal Underground – Government upheaval, invading Leporid armies in the streets and half the Town blighted by Sunless terrain creates opportunities. These citizens were mostly once Omenhallow defenders, sometimes partisans and all of them full-time opportunists. Contraband flows freely through these individuals’ hands.
Dominance- The Bucolic Wonder. Ironically named by the Vampire Leporid Prospecting Governor Keryn the Friendly, this Village (6 Population) aspires to be a manufacturing and gold mining center of the empire. It is not that. Not yet.
a. Located on Sunless forests and fertile planes with one entrance to the underground for Province growth, Dominance is overall a nice settlement to be from.
b. 2 Farms, 1 gold mine. The gold mine is particularlly rich, (+5 gold) because of the Prospecting Governor.
c. Unscouted lands to the West.
d. Possible Backgrounds:
Dominance Farmer – Oddly bucolic despite proximity to lava seas to the North and the East, farmers from Dominance are none the less hardy folk with their head on a swivel, constantly alert to monster attacks from the frontier.
Government Spelunker – The Governor has made it a mandate to expand into the lands under the earth. A surveyor, caver and adventurer; a government funded Spelunker is a jack of all trades.
Dominance Tradesman – a frontier Tradesman and sometimes laborer, these citizens work in the vendor or workshop halls. They remember erecting Dominance’s palisade walls as a group effort and are social because of that.
Dominance Monster Hunter – Being on the frontier means being under threat from wandering monsters and bandits. Monster Hunters focus on the Iron deposits West of Dominance that are occupied by Celestial marauders that threaten Dominance miners.
Ruins Adventurer – East of Dominance is a temple where Archons once worshiped the Allfather. The Altar of Devoration is still and quiet now, but rumors persist that cults and sinister entities have taken up residence. These citizens scourer the area for artifacts and bits of magic that will earn them a quick bag of coins, while staying away from mad cultist’s blades.
Afterword
Even a simple game of Age of Wonders 4 easily creates a rich environment for a tabletop RPG setting. Granted, I used a lot of creative liberties with the possible backgrounds of the settlements of the setting, but the core origins of the Age of Wonders 4 Vampire Bunnies game are there. I hope this bout of creative writing illustrates how enjoyable the game is and inspires others, whether they use Vampire Bunnies as a set piece or not.
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