Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 28 Apr 2003 to 30 Apr 2003 (#2003-113) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 01/05/2003, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 5 messages totalling 200 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? (5) ******************************************************************** 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: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 10:24:57 -0400 From: Andy Morrow Subject: Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? I've been thinking about a Glantrian campaign set during WotI. A party somehow attached to the Glantrian diplomatic corps would have a perfect opportunity to visit many of the 'hot-spots' during WotI. Unfortunately, sources of information on Glantri are frustratingly vague. Any ideas you have about how the Glantrian foreign service might be structured would be extremely helpful. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 11:31:41 -0700 From: John Calvin Subject: Re: Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? >> I've been thinking about a Glantrian campaign set during WotI. A party somehow attached to the Glantrian diplomatic corps would have a perfect opportunity to visit many of the 'hot-spots' during WotI. Unfortunately, sources of information on Glantri are frustratingly vague. Any ideas you have about how the Glantrian foreign service might be structured would be extremely helpful. << I'm no expert on Glantri, although I've had thoughts about campaigns similar to this, so I'll chime in. 1) There is plenty of information on the DDC (Darokin Diplomatic Corps) in Gaz 11. Since Glantri and Darokin are geographically so close (and allies to boot), then I would suggest modelling the Glantrian corps after the Darokin corps. Perhaps the two groups even work closely together. 2) When in doubt about a Glantrian institution, add red tape. Lots of it. No... that's not enough, you need more. More still... Ok, that's better. Now what were we talking about? I can't see the discussion through all of the red... Anyway, you get the idea. 3) Intrigue. There are 7 (or more) princes in Glantri, which one are you working for? Or better question yet, which one has given your boss the largest bribe? Which one of the princes will your mission benifit the most? Jagger, McGreggor, or Morphail? Yikes. I hope your PCs know what they are doing... My campaign idea, although similar, had a slightly different twist to it. I wanted an Indiana Jones kind of feel, so The plan was to have the PCs be agents of the Glantrian Library (or the GSoM). The PCs would basically go around the world searching for artifacts that the curators of the Library had some interest in. Along the way they would start running into their Alphatian counterparts. Pretty soon, no matter where the PCs went, the Alphatians would either already be there or would be close behind them. Then the war breaks out. Now the artifact searches take on a whole new meaning as the PCs realize that both countries have been searching for ways to help their war efforts. The artifacts that the PCs are looking for are not just some academic curiosities, but potential super weapons. Anyway, hope this sparks some ideas. -John ===== Rule #85. I will not use any plan in which the final step is horribly complicated, e.g. "Align the 12 Stones of Power on the sacred altar then activate the medallion at the moment of total eclipse." Instead it will be more along the lines of "Push the button." from "A Guide to Becoming an Evil Overlord" by Peter Anspach __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:14:08 -0700 From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? Andy Morrow wrote: I've been thinking about a Glantrian campaign set during WotI. A party somehow attached to the Glantrian diplomatic corps would have a perfect opportunity to visit many of the 'hot-spots' during WotI. Unfortunately, sources of information on Glantri are frustratingly vague. Any ideas you have about how the Glantrian foreign service might be structured would be extremely helpful. Any agents of the Glantrian Foreign Service should probably fall under the jurisdiction of the Chancellory of the Princes. In AC 1000-1006, this means Volospin Aendyr; in 1010-later, Urmahid Krinagar (not quite sure who was the Chancellor in between, though you can doubtless find out in many of the websites- the Glantrian Personnel Division would be a good start). Not exactly sure how extensive and organized such an entity would be, though given Glantri's political and social structure, and its interest in world events, it would probably be pretty substantial. As another poster suggested, in Glantrian fashion, it would probably be very bureaucratic, with many different departments, sometimes not even aware of what one another is up to (could create an interesting situation when PCs are members of different departments). Also, as he noted, politics would play *very* strongly in the Foreign Service (which lends a lot of intrigue to players, particularly at higher levels, provi ! ding them with more reason and opportunity to be contacted and hobnob with the nobility than your 'standard' adventurer). I'd suggest that under Volospin, the Foreign Service would tend to be more or less Alphatia-focused; less attention paid to their activities in other countries (much to the chagrin of many of the servicemen) than Alphatia and things Alphatia related. Most high-ranking officials would be Alphatian expatriates and those who hewed to an anti-Alphatia political line. Under Krinagar, the spectrum would broaden (and not just because Alphatia sank under the sea!), due to the Prince's own former service with the department (recall, he was one of Glantri's top spies). Ethengarian activities would be a focus, though I don't think nearly as conspicuously as Aendyr's Alphatian interests. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 08:52:00 +0800 From: "Francisco V. Navarro V" Subject: Re: Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? Hail Mystarans! Glantrian Foreign Service? Bah! No such thing! At least, not in the same sense as the Darokinian Diplomatic Corps. What Glantri does have is spies! And emigres who have left Glantri (often by force) to save their life! But here are some facts and ideas that might prove helpful... Pre-Wrath of the Immortals The Chancellor of Princes (charged with representing the Council of Princes in foreign lands) is Prince Volospin Aendyr of Blackhill, the Principality of those treacherous Alphatians. On one hand, Prince Volospin is a man of strict protocol and etiquette (Should you mispronounce of his many titles, you may find yourself duly sanctioned with some minor magical punishment.).On the other, many of the Princes believe he still has ties and loyalties to Alphatia; the former is true, the latter is equivocal as he also wants to rule his own state independent of the Empire. Prince Volospin probably works closely with the Ambassadors and Ministers Solidarity, a privileged group of high-ranking government officials who enjoy diplomatic immunity throughout the principalities. Though not explicitly stated, the Ambassadors and Ministers Solidarity probably work closely with the D.C.C. and other diplomats. Among Prince Volopsin's allies is Duchess Margaret Hillsbury of Fenswick (secretly his lover), who is known as the only Glantrian noble who can understand the Glantrian bureaucracy. Her father, Duke Edward began his political career working with the Hall of Magistrates, and Lady Margaret still retains ties with these magistrates and the ministers. Another of Volospin's allies is the Viscountess Arbana Jerbat of Redstone. She is an Alphatian spy keeping an eye on Volospin. Doña Esmeralda de Belcadiz y Erewan is a double agent working for both elven Princesses of Glantri. She also has ties with the elven ambassador from Alfheim, Sire Galladin. Certain d'Ambrevilles have foreign connections: Dame Catharine is the Ambassador to Thyatis; Sire Jean-Louis and his elven wife Tariana smuggle clerics in and out of Glantri; Dame Magdalene was an adventurer once and Pere Simon, as a cleric, prefers to wander the Known World, rather than stay with this crazy relatives. One of the most influential spies in Glantri would be Urmahid Krinagar, Count of Skullhorn Pass. He works many in the Ethengar Khanates, but his network probably extends to Darokin and Wendar. So if the PCs were to be official representatives of Glantri, they would probably be working with Chancellor Volospin and the Ambassadors and Ministers Solidarity, which is not to say, they are not connected with the spies of Glantri--or that they are not spies hired by individual princes with particular interests (such as Prince Innocenti of Caurenze and Thyatis, or Princess Carlotina and Alfheim.) Post-Wrath of the Immortals Urmahid Krinagar is now a Prince and the Chancellor of Princes, meaning espionage and diplomacy are much more intimately related. Doña Esmeralda now works with the shadow elves of Aengmor, and thus has double-, triple-, nay, quadruple-dealings with elves of Belcadiz, Erewan, Alfheim (refugees), and Aengmor. Lady Margaret is dead and has been replaced by Princess Dolores Hillsbury of Fenswick (secretly Synn, Queen of the Night Dragons), who has made Glantri a much darker, xenophobic place after the Wrath of the Immortals. (Her main opponent in this is political matter is Chamberlain of the Land, Princess Isidore d'Ambreville, whose projects are to improve Glantrian standards of life, promote influx of travelers, tourists, and economy.) Sir Lathan Aendyr, Volospin's son and Dolores (alleged) half-brother, is exporting zzonga to Darokin, using the skyships of Urbaal & Montgolfière, Ltd., which has opened two routes: Glantri City-Darokin City and Leenz-Corunglain--a business that will get sticky in AC 1019. So I hope this will be of use. For more information, check out http://www.geoticies.com/principalities_of_glantri Kit Navarro Glantrian Expert ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 08:58:45 +0800 From: "Francisco V. Navarro V" Subject: Re: Calling Glantri Experts - Glantrian Foreign Service? Hail Mystarans and Glantrians! One more thing: In AC 1017, the Council of Princes established a new title of Merchant-Mage, responsible for overseeing Glantrian foreign trade (leaving the Chancellor of Princes free to focus on other foreign and diplomatic matters.) The Merchant-Mage will likely work closely with the Chancellor of Princes by definiton, and also by circumstances, since the title was awarded to Prince Ralindi Viryana, Chancellor Urmahid's nephew of sorts, and Urmahid's money-minded mundaner brother, Khahak Krinagar, will be working closely with the younger prince. Kit Navarro ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 28 Apr 2003 to 30 Apr 2003 (#2003-113) ****************************************************************