Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Nov 2001 to 6 Nov 2001 (#2001-306) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 07/11/2001, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 2 messages totalling 144 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. The Division of the Five - Part IV 2. A Preview ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 11:39:35 +0200 From: Ville V Lahde Subject: Re: The Division of the Five - Part IV Actually it was very cool to read some D&D-memories. The beginnings of RPG "careers" make good stories and anecdotes, we share them often with our D&D, AD&D and Hârnmaster groups. The sense of wonder one felt when getting the new books is hard to recapture these days. Hey, does anyone remember crayoning the Basic Set dice while playing (reading) the solo adventures in Player's Handbook? It's weird how important that seemed when you were 10-12. I guess I've never been so meticulous since. About the tower of Zirchev: Of course one can still use the idea of lycantropes taking over his old wizard's tower, even if he is an Immortal. In my mind that would be equal to some humanoids raiding a Traladaran monestary, or small church. After attaining immortality Zirchev would have left his wizardly concerns behind, focusing on larger issues. Trouble at his old home wouldn't be so important, as the place isn't "sacred" in any religious sense. And, the idea was that the lycantropes were an unintended result of Zirchev's scientific experiments on polymorphic magic. (See also his helmet in "Traladaran artefacts") In that sense this isn't a hostile occupation. (Did the Karameikos Gazetteer mention Zirchev being a mage, or did I just wing it? I seem to remember that he would have taken the Paragon route, which does favour mages.) > > In my campaign there is an Alexander Penhaligon, a member of the Thyatian > branch of the family... Wow. I actually had another Alexander Pengaligon, and he too was a member of the Thyatian branch! And would you believe, he was a "paladin" of a sorts, from the Church of Tarastia if I remember correctly. This Alexander had a sorry fate. One other PC, Radagast Emry, blasted him to pieces in a battle against Thyatian occupation forces in Hinterlands. Yours, Ville ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 16:21:11 +0200 From: Ville V Lahde Subject: A Preview I started writing down another campaign scheme, this time centering on the Thanegioth Archipelago. Here's a little preview. If you wish to get info on some specific topics on the list, I'm open to suggestions. Yours, Ville ----------------------------------------- THE FIRELORD SAGA A campaign scheme for Mystara Ville Lähde General information: This campaign scheme was originally written for the Twin Campaigns. The events in the campaign take place in the Thanegioth Archipelago some time after 1000 AC, but can be easily adapted to suit many time periods. Also, the historical background sections of the text give ideas for a campaign during the Nithian reign. This, however, will require even more work for the DM. I emphasise the fact that this is a campaign scheme, not a ready-to-run adventure. The important PCs and locations are only vaguely detailed, and will need fleshing out by the DM. I am very sorry for the lack of detailed maps, but I haven't got the skills or the energy to provide hex maps in digital form. However, general maps of the Thanegioth archipelago can be found in the X1 module and some other D&D supplements (Rules Cyclopedia?). In the following sections I'll try to give enough details for the islands, so that detailing the maps won't be an undue burden. Note 1: This campaign scheme assumes that the Thanegioth Archipelago is largely unknown and unexplored, much like the assumptions made in X1. The DM may wish to create partial maps made by long-dead explorers, pirates or sages. But the "wilderness value" of the archipelago is central to the campaign. Thus it is best suited for DMs who haven't established the status of the archipelago in their campaign, and who wish to get some meaningful use for this mysterious corner of Mystara. Note 2: Some details of this campaign can be found in the "Twin Campaigns" entries in the Vaults, under the "Adventures" -heading. The two historical timelines include info on the Firelord Saga. Sections: 1) Metaphysical Background: the Ascension of the Nexus - Notes on the Cult of Rathanos in Mystara - The Legend of the Nexus (or: When the Stars are right) - The Cultists: Fire-Worshipping Mages and Rathanos Clerics 2) Ancient History of the Thanegioth Archipelago - The Era of the first Firelord, or the Fiery Pharaoh - Formation of the Cult of Rathanos - The Rise and Fall of the Firelord Empire, the Lion King Rak'Asta - Key players: the Fiery Pharaoh, the Red Dragons of Thanegioth, the Sea Dragons, the Children of the Swan (elven clan) and the Rakastae of the Isle of Dread 3) The Rise of the Second Firelord - Personal background of Daricus the Firelord: Hatred of the Empires - Re-establishing the Fire Empire - Plans of Daricus: a) Ascension to Nexus b) Revenge to the two Empires: Pirating and Zzonga trade - Military Operations in the Thanegioth Archipelago: Aspiring to Hegemony - Surviving Counter-Forces and Allies of Daricus 4) Fleshing out the Island: Important Locations - The Isle of the Firelord - The Central Archipelago and the Red Dragons - Isle of Dread and the Descent of the Rakastae - The Elven Island: the Children of the Swan - The Northern Firelord Defences and the Route to Thanegioth - The Island of the Witch - The Great Whirlpool and the Sea Dragons 5) Different Ways to Use the Campaign Scheme - Thyatian Agents: Seeking the Mysterious Pirates - Alphatian Agents: Stopping the Zzonga Traffic - Nuari: Insurrection against the Colonisers - Slave Rebellion - Exlorers of Lost Treasures, or "What the hell is THIS?" ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Nov 2001 to 6 Nov 2001 (#2001-306) **************************************************************