Though our sacrifice has been great, Kinopea is ours once again!  We shall not lose her like Lustar, giving her to barbarians who think themselves our equals.  We shall learn what this Change, the Empowerment, has brought to us.  Our artificers and scholars work tirelessly to build knowledge about our new strengths and limitations.  As Lustaria has always, we will rise from the ashes again.

While the time for the title Despot has passed, I have returned it to the Senate.  I know, citizens, I know!  Indulge my voice but moments longer.  The military has given me the Civic and Grass Crowns for recapturing the city and insist I accept the title of Autokrator.  Along with it, I have accepted the ancient Lustarai title, Princeps Senatus, as offered by our—your—Senate.  Henceforth, I shall be styled Basileus Alexianos I Xemnos, your Emperor.  Ever shall Lustaria stand upon the greatest hills.

Excerpted from the speech of Basileus Alexianos I at the Kinopean Forum.

The following days were among the darkest Lustaria, and Kinopea, ever knew.  The Change had turned everyone various shades of Imperial purple and given everyone a distinct hunger for magic.  Within months, many of the oldest and most powerful Aetheres (magical devices) and Grimoire (magical texts) were lost as people devoured their aether to keep from falling into madness.  Packs of Rivenoi roamed the streets, mad from the Sickness.  Then, as fate would have it, those ghouls lead us to the answer we needed—the Change had affected the fig trees. 

We were saved; or so we thought. 

Countless outsiders came to Kinopea for protection, hoping to access the Cura Cerealis (the food ration).  These Peregrinoi were reminded they first must earn their rights. 

Alexianos extended more rights to the Proletaroi (landless poor), who comprise most of the city’s population, by allowing them to serve in the military. 

All this empowered the wealthy landowners (Phyloi) and the powerful noble clans (Genoi), who earn profit off renting homes, selling aetherfigs and wine, and the other basic needs of life.

While you were born after the Change, you must navigate a world wholly different than your forebears.

What is it?

KINOPEA is a new urban tabletop roleplaying game from Creative Spheres Studios, written by C. Scott Smallwood with art done by Michelle Smallwood.  It is an examination of life within a fantasy Roman/Byzantine-style city through cooperative old-school style roleplay.  KINOPEA allows you to play out a variety of styles, including picaresque, heist, political intrigue, and mysteries. 

The Game

Players step into citizens of Kinopea, forming parties to navigate the labyrinthine lifestyle of the city.

Using a rules-light version of The Matter of Elbe, Kinopea uses a d20 roll-under system with four stats: Vigor, Insight, Agility, and Charisma.  The character creation system allows players to quickly produce PCs uniquely tied to the setting.  Our goal is to make the game centered on the narrative emerging from your decisions at the table.  

Vicoi

Vicoi (neighborhoods) serve as adventure sites for the players.  To assist the narrator with generating novel sites for play, tables and other information is provided in their portion of the zine.  Additionally, this book includes ten common NPCs that might be encountered during play.

A sample neighborhood is provided to facilitate ease of play.

Horseracing & the Cura

Bread and circuses!  The Cura Cerealis is a monthly grain, aetherfig, and olive oil dole that occurs, primarily, at the main forum in Kinopea.  During this type, powerful political factions not only fund the Cura, they also put on extravagant horseracing events in the hippodrome.  PCs can bet on these races or even ride in them.  Rules are included in the Narrator’s portion of this zine for how to address horseracing.

Of course, as with sporting events and politics in the real world, hooliganry is commonplace, and violence might erupt at any time.