"The Wheel of Time turns, and the Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was *a* beginning."
-- Robert Jordan
In a small village somewhere in Andor, a Peddler and his wagon jangle to a stop in the middle of the town square. The villagers eagerly crowd around the tall sided wagon, not so much eager for the peddler's goods as for the news of the outside world he brings.
"What's happening?" "Tell us!" Shout various villagers.
The Peddler, a short Cairhienin with dark lank hair and deep brown eyes, clears his throat and says, "There is much that has happened since I last came to your village. The Dragon is Reborn!"
There are numerous gasps from his audience.
"Well, some say he's one of those false dragons, but the Stone of Tear has fallen."
"The prophesies of the dragon..." murmer some of the villagers. "The dark one will be loose soon!"
"I don't know about that." Responds the Peddler, "But many odd things are going on. Over in Tar Valon, the Amyrlin, Suian Sanche was deposed and executed. Elaida Sedai, the former advisor to Queen Morgase is now Amyrlin. There's also rumors of a split in the tower..."
"The Dragon, an Andorman named Rand, has captured Tear, Cairhien, and Caemlyn, your capital. They say he killed both Gaebril and Morgase. Who knows where Elayne, the Daughter-Heir is. With Cairhien, he holds the Sun Throne. He says he means it for someone, but won't tell who."
"There is rioting in Ghealdan. The prophet stirs up trouble there, making people swear to follow the Dragon. Out west on the Almoth plain, Tarabon and Arad Doman don't have any time to fight eachother. They seem to be too busy chasing groups of Dragonsworn all over the plain."
"The Blight seems to have quieted down a bit up in the Borderlands. Oddly enough, Marshal-General Davram Bashere, Uncle to Queen Tenobia of Saldea has gone missing. He was supposedly hunting for Mazrim Taim, one of those false dragons."
"The most shocking news is the Amnesty. The Lord Dragon has declared an Amnesty for all men who can channel, calling them to join him in Caemlyn...."
The Wheel of Time is an excellent series written by Robert Jordan. Full of intricate plot twists and an amazingly well fleshed out world, it makes a great setting for a roleplaying game. Hopefully, I can capture the feel of the books, if not the plethora of plot twistings. :)
Timeline of the Books: http://www.users.bigpond.com/steven_cooper/wotchron.htm
Wheel of Time Concordance: http://tsos.rarcoa.com/Concordance-TOC.html
Unofficial-Official Errata for WOT: http://www.geocities.com/sheriam_sedai/faq.html