Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Jul 2002 to 12 Jul 2002 (#2002-179) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 13/07/2002, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 10 messages totalling 741 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. The Daemon adventure IV 2. Epic News (6) 3. Mystaran Almanac: AC1018 Events (a short review) (3) ******************************************************************** 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: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 10:47:02 +0300 From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Ville_V_L=E4hde?= Subject: The Daemon adventure IV THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE The adventurers may get involved in the events in many ways. Perhaps they are guardsmen of a caravan that is transporting goods to Luminius. A Wendarian or Thyatian noble might hire them to help the settlers in taming the wild country. Or perhaps they have reached the borderlands in their other adventures (helping the local elves, settling Wendarian-Glantrian logging disputes in the southern mountains, hunting the monsters of the Megul range…) and hear of the settlers' plight. In any case they arrive in the village after the second visit of "the daemon". DAY 1 The Governor greets the PCs gratefully, as the settlers aren't used to encountering supernatural phenomena. He is perplexed and is willing to give them full authority to solve the problem. They can live free of charge in the Inn until the problem is solved. The governor asks the PCs to guard the village at nights, as until now the daemon hasn't been seen in daylight. (This is only natural: since the villagers are more active during the day, Gumhenel doesn't dare to approach the village. Otherwise sunlight doesn't pose any problems to it.) The PCs learn of the brief history of the village and the details of the trouble this far. The guardsmen, who are still a bit rattled, give them a sketchy description of the daemon. The cleric is convinced that it is a daemon sent by the god Thanatos, who doesn't want "civilisation and order" to spread any wider in the Known World. It is clear that the Governor is amused by such ideas and thinks that this is just some previously unknown breed of Monsters. The mage, shy as he is, won't comment at this stage: "Well, I'm not worthy to guess about such matters, I only dry and ground some herbs, and know only a few petty spells…" If the PCs talk with the villagers, they get varied but also irrelevant answers. However, if they are diligent, they notice that the daemon attacked from the west both times and restricted itself to the western part of the village. During the first night nothing of consequence happens. In the evening a few drunken loggers come to talk to the PCs and offer them drinks, though. They are anxious to have some "men's talk" with the armed and dangerous strangers: "The daemon is sure to pee in its pants now! If you need some help, just give a holler and me and the lads are sure to come with our axes." (Of course they won't do that in a tight spot.) DAY 2 This day is fairly uneventful. The PCs should be resting anyway for their nightly guard duty. They can get acquainted with the village and the services it has to offer. Ish-Jaillah and his quaint way of doing business (lots of coffee and haggling) is a novelty at least. During the night the daemon makes another attempt to penetrate the village. It arrives via the Well alley and tries to reach the Rock of Asterius. It depends of the PCs how fast they can drive it away. If the deamon manages to reach the stone, the priest and his novices arrive, sprinkling holy water and uttering chants of excorcism. In the end the daemon will flee the village - if it did reach the stone, it should know that the gateway is closed. The PCs may learn more about it, especially its attempts to reach the Stone of Asterius. The most important thing is how they performed during the night. If they seemed to drive away the daemon, they are hailed as heroes. If the priest did it, they have much less authority in the future. DAY 3 In the morning, just before they are retiring to rest for the next night, the PCs have a visitor. A fisherman's wife brings her mentally retarded child Alia to them. During the breakfast Alia had carved a picture on the tabletop, resembling the daemon somewhat. She is not very approachable, but some information may be weened from her. Threats and loud voices will cause her to close up, but if the PCs manage to make her happy with tricks, petty magic (illusions), singing, treats etc, she will say "Kummel want home". If more effort is made, she might point to the central clearing. It is of course possible that the PCs will disregard the girl's words, in which case the mage may point out that "the simple ones often have shortcuts to truth". If the daemon managed to reach the Stone of Asterius last night, it won't make another attempt this night. If it didn't it will "attack" the village again, even more desterate than before. This battle should finally prove that the PCs are unable to hurt the being and that it wants to reach the Stone. Depending on their magical capabilities and creativity they might also find out something else. Unless they manage to make contact with Gumhenel, this attack ends when it flees the village. DAY 4 If the last night was uneventful, the Governor comes to greet the PCs. He assumes that the last "defeat" has depressed the monster, and that it won't come again. It is up to the PCs whether they want to bask in glory (that is, if they "drove away" the daemon), or to correct this faulty assumption. But if the daemon attacked last night, the Governor's reactions depend on the results of the 2nd night attack. If the PCs were "heroes", he is discontent - it is obvious that their efforts haven't affected the beast. If the priest was seen to be successful, the Governor is just generally unhappy - it is obvious that nobody can drive it away for good. When the PCs are sleeping, Gumhenel tries to contact them. The connection made with Alia wasn't clearly enough. (But only if it has found out that the rift is closed! Otherwise it will continue the nightly raids until it reaches the Stone.) The PC with the highest WISDOM score has a strange dream. The dreamer sees Gumhenel walking in a mist, but now without the distortions. It is crying and howling the words of an unknown language. In the mist phantoms of similar beings can be seen (mate and children), but every time Gumhenel seems to reach them, they fade away. The last vision the dreamer has is a black stone, which is pulsing with an inner light. Upon awakening the PC notices that she/he is crying. CONTACTING GUMHENEL The next task is to establish a contact with Gumhenel. This might take long, depending on their luck, creativity and resources. If they try to call it "Kummel", Gumhenel will recognise the name. As mentioned, the symbolic system of Gumhenel and humans is close enough to make using pictograms one possible venue of communication. However, the pictures drawn by Gumhenel will be distorted, so any pictures drawn for it must be intentionally distorted as well. But things are not that simple. If the PCs try to explain the villagers that the daemon is quite benevolent and just wants to go home, they will think this is rubbish. The mage would be one ally here, but this requires breaking his shy shell. Especially the priest will forbid such an abomination to touch "the holy stone". Solving this problem may even require violence. And if Gumhenel is allowed to try and go home, it won't of course succeed. If the priest, mage or the Governor search the Stone, they can notice that one piece has been chipped away. Yipee. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 14:23:38 +0200 From: DM Subject: Re: Epic News At Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:26:43 -0500, Eric Anondson wrote: > Just grabbed Epic Level Handbook, I just noticed they put in some > Mystaran beasties. > > The Neh-thalggu (brain collector) is put in as a CR 26 incorporeal > creature. Interesting take on it as well. Mentions that they might > even come from the "Nightmare Dimension". Incorporeal creature??? CR 26??? It had 10 HD in old D&D and was very much corporeal... maybe they fused the brain collector and the soul eater into a single new monster? > Another beastie is the Blackball, (aka Umbral Blot). A CR 32 construct, > said to be created by "the Old Ones". Umbral Blot?? What the heck does it mean?... Only these two? I had hoped they would put in at least the drolem! pity... anyway, I don't think I'll buy Epic Levels, judging from the rumors I've heard from the people who read it... too freaking weirdo munchkin IMHO (swim up a waterfall??? bah!) DM Senior Editor of the Mystaran Almanac Lt. Cmdr. of U.S.S. Unicorn "You don't stop playing because you grow old: you grow old because you stop playing!" Visit Marco's Mystara Homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/2967 And Mystara Italian Homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/9940 Join the Mystara Webring at: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/2967/mystring.html Join the Starfleet Academy at: http://gioco.net/startrek (Italian RPG PBEM) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 15:27:51 +0200 From: DM Subject: Mystaran Almanac: AC1018 Events (a short review) Well, I finished reading the almanac events yesterday, and let me give u my first impressions.

First of all, I must make two brief notes:
1. I am part of the Almanac Team, so I may be biased. I won't comment on the events I wrote (coz I obviously liked em), just on everything else ;p
2. There are some events I just skipped coz they cover areas I am not familiar with nor interested in (Zuyevo mainly)

Overall impressions

I downloaded the less bulky version of events, that's to say RTF document, and it came out smooth and well edited, so my praise to the Editors as usual (kudos to Herv=E9 and Geoff ;)).
I liked the fact that many events were kept brief and not too extensive, coz this facilitates the reading process and doesn't bore the reader. I also liked the fact that the big events were interspersed with less important and flavor events, which just make the setting more real and living, IMHO (like the deeds of the Darokinian thief "Shadow" or the hin voyages -I expect much from the hin pilgrimage to Davania next year!- or the Thyatian scandals here and there).

Specific Good Points

Merry Pirates
Of the many events, I must say I was incredibly amazed by those describing the Merry Pirates. I enjoyed all of them, and can't really wait to read more. I feel this kind of adventures are really refreshing and extremely funny to read and to play, and yet nobody ever used the "pirate campaign" theme on Mystara so far (in the almanacs). In the Old World, the area near the Minrothad Guilds, Five Shires and Ierendi is surely appropriate for this, and yet never exploited (even if GAZ9 and GAZ8 have extensive rules and flavour text for using pirates). The Savage COast seem even more fit for this swashbuckling campaign, but again nobody wrote anything, preferring to remain attached to the "fantasy" themes.
So kudos to the author of these events, which I found incredibly original (despite being a well established theme in literature and movies) and were appropriate (I never imagined the Merry Pirate Seas could be so funny and intriguing). Keep em coming! ;)

Thyatian Southern Expedition
Another of my fave series of events is the Thyatian expedition in Davania, which led to encounters with the Thratians, the Manacapuru, the Yasuko and the Oceanians (or were they Cestians?.. :p). Despite being very similar to The Voyages of the Princess Ark, it is still a good reading, maybe because I like this kind of theme. The difference lies in a less magic influenced ship and crew, which obviously conveys the reader the real hardships of such a deed and creates a situation in which we (as readers) don't really know what the fate of these brave souls will be. I hope these Thyatian explorers will unveil more secrets in the so far most secrets-filled continent of Mystara. ;)

Evil Lizardmen in Davania
Well, I know what's behind this and I know who are the Evil guys and what they're gonna do, but yet Geoff has managed to write such good events that build up tension and mystery, that I couldn't pass this on. Very well done, Geoff, very intriguing, and I am eagerly waiting for the new events and discoveries in the next almanacs, for I know that this is just the beginning of a well articulated and far reaching campaign... ;)

Aquadon
I liked the idea of the Alphatian Artifacts and the events are just developing nicely, with the great secret behind the Aquadon and the Phylactery of Agmas yet to be revealed, but enthralling enough to keep the reader hooked (well, me at least ;p)

Modrigswerg
Good take on the moulder dwarves. I have noticed that the dwarves have not yet had any important role in the online almanacs, so these series of events come nicely to fill the gap. It is not clear if the Modrigswerg are using magic properly or just building magic items and traps, and so far this is best handled this way (also referring to the Modrigswerg discussion on the list ;)). Personally I think they could be entitled to be the only dwarven wizards of Mystara (and believe me I am the last person to want a dwarf wizard class on Mystara), mainly due to the nature of their magic, learnt from the Svartalven (DArk Elves) who corrupted them so many centuries ago... (I make u note that Alf/Elf is a term often associated to elves properly and to dwarves too, in the old Norse mythos... could it be that Dark Elves were planar dwarves??).

Glantrian events (spoiler)
Nice take on the Glantrian conspiracies. I liked everything, especially the new evil taint that the Radiance seems to have gotten, with voices speaking into the minds of its users, and the comeback of Volospin. I did like the ending of the "von Hendriks' affaire" so to speak, and its return to Karameikos. The events have been chaotic enough to be defined "glantrian" yet clear enough to make sense to the reader ;)


Somewhere in the middle

Heldannic Civil War (spoiler)
Well, the events are detailed and well thought, but I still stand a bit doubtful of Wulf's end at the end of the year... I never got the impression he got so low support from his troops to be sieged in his own city and actually meet such a puny demise. Ok, I agree it's "novelization license" so to speak, but we're still speaking of a 36th level character... oh well, anyway I am eager to read what happens next. ;)
Btw, I think that with this turn of events, the heldannic nation will be scaled down a lot in power in the next future... which leaves Thyatis the biggest player in the world geopolitical scenario in the years to come!

Thyatian events (spoiler)
Some were definitely good and interesting, others were simply average (mainly burocratic events told). I was a bit surprised by Eusebius's declaration at the end of the year, especially since he should have noticed the problems that NAYCE and the Heldannics are having, and so it should have been clear this was the right moment to exploit Thyatis' seemingly better situation to gain new ground in the Old WOrld (which is mainly what they are doing in norwold, I reckon.. but why stopping if you have a lucky hand? ;))

Esterhold and Nayce events
The war is getting more and more complicated with each passing month and there seems to be no easy solution out of it. I like this, because it is realistic. I also liked the fact NAYCE members keep bickering among them and that many of them are on the verge of bankruptcy and have very difficult political and civil problems. It makes them so much more real.
On the other hand, maybe there were too many events about the same topics and they were just too lenghty and wordy, so it made reading the Esterhold and NAYCE events a bit frustrating and tiresome in the end.

Five Shires and Karameikos
Nice ideas for the hins and I expect much more for the next year, to bring the hins out of their seemingly obscure corner in the Mystaran Almanac.
Nice adaptation of the Dark Knight of Karameikos beginning this year, and definitely funny the use of the Highforge gnomes. Terari is acting a bit too erratically for my tastes, so better let him go and give the Karameikan School of Magecraft to Karameikan mages (I am sure they will be competent enough) ;)


Specific Bad Points

Glantrian Skyships
Ok, I must say I have never liked the idea of Glantri producing SO MANY skyships in SO LITTLE TIME! IT is just impossible and too costly! And giving a couple to Darokin to appease them is IMHO ridiculous, especially if there's a real risk of them being stolen once outside Glantri! Please, even the Alphatians have slowed down the manufacturing of skyships, and the Heldannics don't have the Warbirds anymore (for now): be assured to limit the aerial power of Glantri and any other nation in the world, or we'll soon start playing Dragon(my)star(a) ;)
Oh, and another thing about Glantrian events I didn't like one bit: Oards in GLANTRI??? WHY?? How did they manage to get here?? Aelos is on another solar system and IIRC oards didn't have skyships and didnt use magic, merely technology, and they could travel throughout time yes, but nothing more... please have a second thought... ;p

Hule, Sind and the Savage Coast
So, where are they?? Nothing, Nada, Zero events on these nations, how is it possible?? I mean, there are a couple for Hule interacting with Zuyevo, but no more. No Hulean moves on the Old World or the Savage coast?? Only minor events for Savage Coast (revolving around lizardkin of the Bayou)... is there anybody in charge of this area?

Alphatian events
OTOH, we have more than our fair share of events involving the floating continent of Alphatia... and they are long, too long, especially given the fact I don't think they were so important (personal opinion). The fact I have no current interest in Alphatia is not the reason that makes me judge them this way: i have no interest at all in the Merry Pirate Seas, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the events, and they are both set in the Hollow World...
The reality is that these events are IMO useless. Who cares if they want to build canals in the lake region? Ok, let's em do it, but don't write 10+ pages detailing how long it takes to dig the canals and who's in charge and updating us with every detail in its building. I couldn't care less. I am sure Thyatis manufactures canals or acqueducts as well, but we don't read pages and pages of lenghty events describing this. ;p
Also,I have not understood what's the problem behind the war between Stonewall, Randel,and other nations in Alphatia. I just couldn't get hooked or interested, so I skimmed them. And they took a good chunk of the almanac.

Too many words
I am inclined to believe that some events' descriptions are simply too long to be easily read and enjoyed. Keep em shorter. It's a matter that was raised a couple of years ago regarding events in general. Some have respected the rule, but some other events not, so please, don't be too verbous in the future ;)


Ok, that's everything I had to say about MA Events AC 1018. I really enjoyed them, as usual, and maybe I enjoyed this particular format (Events in one book and Atlas in another) better than the previous one (AC1017 was too big to be bearable! :p). From the prognostications, I also expect to see uncovered some very large area of Esterhold in next issue of the Mystaran Almanac. I look forward to it :)

So, I hope everyone will like this year's almanac............ or at least don't bash us too hard ;p

DM
Senior Editor of the Mystaran Almanac
Lt. Cmdr. of U.S.S. Unicorn

"You don't stop playing because you grow old:
you grow old because you stop playing!"

Visit Marco's Mystara Homepage at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/2967 And Mystara Italian Homepage at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/9940
Join the Mystara Webring at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/2967/mystri= ng.html
Join the Starfleet Academy at:
http://gioco.net/startrek (Italian RPG PBEM)

------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 12:07:21 -0400 From: SteelAngel Subject: Re: Epic News On Thu, 11 Jul 2002, DM wrote: > anyway, I don't think I'll buy Epic Levels, judging from the rumors I've > heard from the people who read it... too freaking weirdo munchkin IMHO > (swim up a waterfall??? bah!) I tend to agree, having bought the guide, that it stinks of the uber munchkinism that plagued a lot of AD&D suplements. It's almost as if the designers said "Oh, lets toss out balance and come up with cool stuff!". I realize that it is supposed to support characters up to gazillionth level, but I was expecting more like the Master set. Ethan -- Kinard 210 Linux Guru Webmaster www.steelangel.com ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2002 03:53:23 +1000 From: Alfred O'Meagher Subject: Re: Epic News > I realize that it is supposed to support characters up to gazillionth level, but I was expecting more like the Master set. I agree. I also have a copy and it isn't very good. Once again, way too much like an unimaginative computer game and too wetpants grabby munchkinish. DMO High Level Campaigns is the way they should have gone. But didn't. Time for new blood in the D&D design Borg Cube. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 13:21:06 -0500 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: Epic News > DMO High Level Campaigns is the way they should have gone. But didn't. > Time for new blood in the D&D design Borg Cube. Don't forget, that WotC is in a unique position as the author of the SRD. There is huge demand for beyond level 20 d20 rules. WotC wants to be there first, and everyone else in the market knows that a WotC product is bound to be viewed by customers as the "official" anything. WotC knows this, and that's _one_ reason why there was such massive hype regarding Epic... to dissuade other publishers from trying their hand at over-20 rules. Word is the WotC hired an intern to help them run through rules that are waiting to be added to the OGL SRD. Epic rules is near the top of the list. I predict a revision of the OGL and d20 license to include references to having to own the Epic Level Handbook in order to use the SRD's epic rules, just as there was when the psionic rules came out. D20 Superhero designers are among of the loudest niche groups banging for Epic rules. Just something to consider, that WotC didn't publish this book _just_ for the D&D gamers, but for the entire d20 market. That is probably reflected in the content. Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 15:17:17 -0400 From: SteelAngel Subject: Re: Epic News On Fri, 12 Jul 2002, Eric Anondson wrote: > D20 Superhero designers are among of the loudest niche groups banging > for Epic rules. In which case, they got EXACTLY what they wanted. Ethan -- Kinard 210 Linux Guru Webmaster www.steelangel.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 22:22:30 +0200 From: Marco Fossati Subject: Mystaran Almanac: AC1018 Events (a short review) Terari is acting a bit too erratically for my tastes, so better let = him go and give the Karameikan School of Magecraft to Karameikan mages = (I am sure they will be competent enough) ;) IMO Terari is just trying to keep alive the NAYCE since it seems to me = that its rulers are too deeply concerned about their personal agenda = instead of ruling.... Alphatian events OTOH, we have more than our fair share of events involving the = floating continent of Alphatia... and they are long, too long, = especially given the fact I don't think they were so important (personal = opinion). The fact I have no current interest in Alphatia is not the = reason that makes me judge them this way: i have no interest at all in = the Merry Pirate Seas, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the = events, and they are both set in the Hollow World... The reality is that these events are IMO useless. Who cares if they = want to build canals in the lake region? Ok, let's em do it, but don't = write 10+ pages detailing how long it takes to dig the canals and who's = in charge and updating us with every detail in its building. I couldn't = care less. I am sure Thyatis manufactures canals or acqueducts as well, = but we don't read pages and pages of lenghty events describing this. ;p Also,I have not understood what's the problem behind the war between = Stonewall, Randel,and other nations in Alphatia. I just couldn't get = hooked or interested, so I skimmed them. And they took a good chunk of = the almanac. I totally agree with the canals related events which are boring and = really useless IMO, but I think that a clever DM might keep out some = interesting ideas from them. But I disagree with the wars among a lot of = alphatian nations. They're interesting and useful and I like to see how = a nation like Alphatia (I love Alphatia in fact) will react to these = problems. But there're a few points I didn't understand...Why Empress = Eriadna hasn't do anything yet? (and the war stars in AC 1017) Yea I = know that Alphatian laws conteplate the chance of war between some of = its nations but I think in this moment, still recovering from the Great = War, Alphatia needs the help of every its men and nations. and second = why I fell hardly to believe that Stonewall decided to attack a kingdom = not bordered with it since it's very difficulti to supply an army very = far from its homeland and don't forget Stonewall has already its own = great problems with food. (It stardted war for this purpose) Too many words I am inclined to believe that some events' descriptions are simply too = long to be easily read and enjoyed. Keep em shorter. It's a matter that = was raised a couple of years ago regarding events in general. Some have = respected the rule, but some other events not, so please, don't be too = verbous in the future ;) Yea....I think they're too long sometimes but I can only be thankful = to these guys. Cheers, Marco Fossati ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 17:41:16 -0700 From: The Stalker Subject: Re: Mystaran Almanac: AC1018 Events (a short review) On Fri, 12 Jul 2002 22:22:30 +0200, Marco Fossati wrote: > Terari is acting a bit too erratically for my tastes, so better let him go and give the Karameikan School of Magecraft to Karameikan mages (I am sure they will be competent enough) ;) > > IMO Terari is just trying to keep alive the NAYCE since it seems to me that its rulers are too deeply concerned about their personal agenda instead of ruling.... > Those were indeed concerns, but it remains to be seen how this will play out... Even the writers of those events don't know yet. Anyone who wants to influence that should sign up. > > Alphatian events > OTOH, we have more than our fair share of events involving the floating continent of Alphatia... and they are long, too long, especially given the fact I don't think they were so important (personal opinion). The fact I have no current interest in Alphatia is not the reason that makes me judge them this way: i have no interest at all in the Merry Pirate Seas, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying the events, and they are both set in the Hollow World... > The reality is that these events are IMO useless. Who cares if they want to build canals in the lake region? Ok, let's em do it, but don't write 10+ pages detailing how long it takes to dig the canals and who's in charge and updating us with every detail in its building. I couldn't care less. I am sure Thyatis manufactures canals or acqueducts as well, but we don't read pages and pages of lenghty events describing this. ;p > Also,I have not understood what's the problem behind the war between Stonewall, Randel,and other nations in Alphatia. I just couldn't get hooked or interested, so I skimmed them. And they took a good chunk of the almanac. > I'm sorry you felt that way, particularly since I wrote all the Stonewall events, except those that involved the canals... > I totally agree with the canals related events which are boring and really useless IMO, but I think that a clever DM might keep out some interesting ideas from them. But I disagree with the wars among a lot of alphatian nations. They're interesting and useful and I like to see how a nation like Alphatia (I love Alphatia in fact) will react to these problems. But there're a few points I didn't understand...Why Empress Eriadna hasn't do anything yet? (and the war stars in AC 1017) Yea I know that Alphatian laws conteplate the chance of war between some of its nations but I think in this moment, still recovering from the Great War, Alphatia needs the help of every its men and nations. and second why I fell hardly to believe that Stonewall decided to attack a kingdom not bordered with it since it's very difficulti to supply an army very far from its homeland and don't forget Stonewall has already its own great problems with food. (It stardted war for this purpose) > Thanks for the praise. The confusion you mention here is indeed part of the reason why those events are so lengthy as Marco mentioned. However, I may not have succeeded in describing why Eriadna doesn't get involved. For one thing, as you mention, she has no real right to get involved. Alphatian kingdoms are allowed to fight wars among themselves without imperial interference as long as they don't violate the laws. Since FCA is in the HW now and so under the influence of the Spell of Preservation, that would be part of its cultural bias. Yes, Stonewall did attack a far away nation, which is normally crazy, but consider a few things: 1) Stonewall is already starving - the army won't have to worry so much about supply lines because there really isn't enough food in Stonewall to begin with. Instead they were hoping to get enough food by conquest. 2) Stonewall expected to take Arkan easily. They certainly didn't expect Foresthome or Ambur to get involved. Their soldiers may be starving as a result, which is another reason for a 'peaceful' solution. As for why Eriadna doesn't do something? Well, she could, but she would be violating imperial law if she did. It would also be pretty unfair after she turned down Stonewall's plea for help against the famine. She already intervened in the Randel/Bettellyn war last year a bit, so interfering again could be a problem. Besides, the Alphatian imperial court isn't exactly the fastest bureaucracy in the world... But more than that, Stonewall's struggle can cause a lot of other problems. The Grand Council may curse Stonewall's name, but then the wizards there don't think much beyond their own interests... With Bellisaria lost to FCA, the empire has a real food shortage, and Eriadna knows that. And she also knows that Randel and Stonewall are firm allies. Add to that that Stonewall seems to be making a lot of pacts these days (agreements with Stoutfellow, Limn, and Frisland last year, conquest of Arkan and treaties (official or not) with Foresthome and Ambur this year) and a confrontation with Stonewall could be a powderkeg that could explode the FCA into fragments, especially when you consider how desperate the starving people of Stonewall must be by now. Remember that unlike most Alphatian wizards, Eriadna was taught by her father what consequences a ruler's decisions would have for all her people, including those of gentry status or below. She may not care much for such people, but unlike most other wizards she realizes what her decisions may mean for them. She might have been on the verge of doing something, but then Stonewall seems to have settled the Arkan business now... How she will respond the matter in Haven is yet to be seen, though. > Too many words > I am inclined to believe that some events' descriptions are simply too long to be easily read and enjoyed. Keep em shorter. It's a matter that was raised a couple of years ago regarding events in general. Some have respected the rule, but some other events not, so please, don't be too verbous in the future ;) > I'm probably the greatest sinner here. Sorry. It will be less next year, since I expect I will be writing few or no events next year. I wrote entirely too much this year and now I feel all dried up :( - The Stalker ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2002 01:07:37 -0400 From: David Knott Subject: Re: Epic News From: "DM" > At Tue, 9 Jul 2002 13:26:43 -0500, Eric Anondson wrote: > > >Just grabbed Epic Level Handbook, I just noticed they put in some > >Mystaran beasties. > > > >The Neh-thalggu (brain collector) is put in as a CR 26 incorporeal > >creature. Interesting take on it as well. Mentions that they might > >even come from the "Nightmare Dimension". > > Incorporeal creature??? CR 26??? It had 10 HD in old D&D and was very much > corporeal... maybe they fused the brain collector and the soul eater into a > single new monster? It seems that the 10 HD version is a juvenile Neh-Thalggu.... > >Another beastie is the Blackball, (aka Umbral Blot). A CR 32 construct, > >said to be created by "the Old Ones". > > Umbral Blot?? What the heck does it mean?... > > Only these two? I had hoped they would put in at least the drolem! pity... > anyway, I don't think I'll buy Epic Levels, judging from the rumors I've > heard from the people who read it... too freaking weirdo munchkin IMHO > (swim up a waterfall??? bah!) Well, that is a DC 80 task -- and if we assume that mortal Mystarans are generally below level 30, not too many of them will be able to do that. Immortals and advanced sea dragons, on the other hand, just might be able to pull of that stunt. As for other monsters -- the behemoth, colossus, advanced dragon, primal elemental, golems, ruin swarm, and elder treant all resemble some of the tougher Mystaran monsters even if they are not exact matches. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Jul 2002 to 12 Jul 2002 (#2002-179) ****************************************************************