Children of the Sun is a game of epic adventure set in the Second Age of Mankind. We will be using White Wolf's Exalted rules system, although players should not necessarily expect anything in the game to match the background given for the world of Creation as described in the WW source books. It isn't necessary for the players to own any of the books.
The important thing to know is that this is a world of magic and fantasy, and that the PCs are heroes granted powers greater than mortal by their patron deity, the Unconquered Sun. This exaltation to demigod status will happen in the game, however, and won’t be a part of character creation.
The characters, to begin, will be merely mortal, although already clearly of heroic status, far greater than average humans. The first session or two of the game will be concerned with character creation, which I want to do as a communal process. PCs will be starting out in the small village of Godsrest, and I’m assuming that they have all known each other for a long time before the game begins.
PCs should be someone who either grew up in or has some reason to live in or near the village, or to travel there on a frequent basis. They have already become noted among their neighbors, and are clearly marked out as greater than normal in one or more ways. Master hunters, stealthy trackers, talented smiths, seekers of ancient wisdom, exiles seeking to hide from bounty hunters, all of these and more are possible. The Unconquered Sun has multiple aspects, and many different types of heroes can be chosen as His own.
The World of the Second Age is a large place, and the villagers care little for what goes on beyond their village. It is said that the world was created out of primal chaos by the Celestials, who pinned it into place in the great Void with the five poles (North, South, East, West, and Center). The Celestials fought against the Primordials, with the aid of Gaea, who assisted them in creating the World and loved it, and refused to allow her fellow Primordials to destroy it. Once the Celestials had triumphed they established the Celestial Empire upon the World, ruled by the Exalted Ones who were granted a touch of their divine powers.
The ancient myths say that for an uncounted age the Celestial Empire flourished, and life was peace and glory. But slowly the Exalted turned to evil, tainted by a curse of the Primordials. And finally the Five Great Dragons rose against them, and led their children in a war against the Celestial Empire. Unimaginable powers were released in this war, the wards that protected the World against Chaos were broken, and the Fair Folk struck at mankind from the endless insanity that surrounds reality. The First Age ended in fire, blood and madness.
Now, over a thousand years later, there are whispers of a second empire, led by the Children of the Dragon. But such travelers’ tales are of little concern to the folk of Godsrest. They are more concerned with the immediate business of growing food, raising children, and defending themselves from wild beasts and savage bandits.