I've been scouring the many roleplays that fill this forum and have come to the conclusion that there are a lot. I only joined today mind you so maybe it's that new member feel I have going on. Regardless I prefer playing with less people because I find it easier to coordinate, and frankly I don't see anything really fitting the bill. Of course that doesn't mean I want a two person roleplay and nothing else, but I think four people would be the upper limit. We could have more characters certainly, but I like relying on fewer people.
Now for the story:
Two fiefdoms, whom I've yet to name, have been embroiled in a bloody war over inheritance for the past three years. The bloodshed has been fierce and immeasurable within those three years and both armies clash together with purpose and intent. Both are similar in culture, wealth, and religion, but long lasting feuds brought them to war after the King pledged to marry his only daughter to one of them, de facto making them inheritors to the throne. With the overruling kingdom stripped of military might due to external conflict the internal feud was left to sort itself out and the victor would be given the princess's hand in marriage. Dubbed the Wedding War by silver tongued poets both sides vied for strategical gains over the other employing spies, hiring bandits and all sorts of underhanded tricks.
Reports were regularly sent back to both sides until suddenly on a spring day the fronts were quiet. What stories came back sounded of wives tales as they told of an all encompassing mist swallowing up both armies. Any that ventured in were lost forever and both sides were forced to retreat and regroup. The fiefdoms unsure of what to do about the stalemate decided on a shaky truce. Neither would claim the kings daughter until the present threat of the mist was dealt with. For this they employed only the bravest of men, or in lack of, the dimmest, to venture into the mist and bring back answers.
So that's the gist of it. The story would involve a group of people brave enough or stupid enough to venture into this unknown phenomena and bring back answers. As far as a more in depth explanation of the setting goes, I don't really have much at the time. Names of places and people I'll have to write up, however presume that the Kingdom reflects France during the medieval era. This goes for technology and society as well. Yes that means that women are considered lesser, but that being said I don't intend to refuse female characters because I believe the conflict it would generate would suit the roleplay. As far as magic goes it might have (spoiler) something to do with the mist, and so until exactly what's going on is discovered there won't be any magic available to characters.
I'm not sure how you folks decide what's casual and the like, but I like a couple of paragraphs minimum so place that where you will in your skill-o-meter.