Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Aug 2004 to 12 Aug 2004 (#2004-164) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 13/08/2004, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 33 messages totalling 2808 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch (4) 2. Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to not be a racist in speech) (3) 3. Hello all & Poll (2) 4. Holy Swords of the Known World (9) 5. Hello back at you (2) 6. Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... 7. Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... (4) 8. Christopher Columbus did not discoveranything...(or,how to not be a racist in speech) 9. Moving back to topic ( was: Christopher Columbus...) (2) 10. No Flames intended , Was : Christopher Columbus did not discover anything. 11. Example Wiki 12. Mystara's Legendary Wizards 13. No Flames intended...apology accepted. 14. Oooooooold capaign and Wiki (was: Hello all) ******************************************************************** 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: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 11:13:47 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?la=20Volpe?= Subject: Re: (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch > Other interesting guys worthy of research: Pedro > Alvares Cabral > (Portuguese, discovered Brazil), Cristovao Colombo > (I'd like to know how > the ITALIAN call him), Americo Vespucio, Pizarro, > Montezuma... Cristoforo Colombo Amerigo Vespucci Sebastiano Caboto 8-) Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail: gratis 100 MB per i messaggi e allegati da 10 MB http://mail.yahoo.it ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 03:50:53 -0700 From: Thibault Sarlat Subject: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to not be a racist in speech) I would like to point out something that is insulting to natives of non-occidental countries. And there is no reason to be since they have not done us any harm. It is very wrong (in many ways) to say that Christopher Columbus (or anyone else by the way)discovered any part of America since it was not void of any human population at the time. It is a lack of respect for those who were living there to deprive them of their humanity by saying this in such an awkward (if not racist) way (at the time they were not considered human, but now...we know better right?) It would fair to say that the first European to reach America was him (or anyone else..). It does not cost us a lot to think and speak right. No one would use the "n" word because it is offensive and carries a lot of racist issues with it, so why not watching more carefully what we say. Let's speak right. Thibault Sarlat Mystara Cartographer (living with a French Western Indies woman for 8 years) PS: I learned this during a trip in the western Indies where the locals taught me this. ===== Thibault SARLAT a.k.a Clenarius www.mystara.fr.st ICQ 16622177 MSN Messenger: clenarius@hotmail.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:02:16 +0200 From: Bertrand Lhoyez Subject: Hello all & Poll (We actually had a poll about early Mystara-converts. > Someone had started in very early 80's without significant stops. Anyone?) -------------- Where are the poll results located ? i've began playing OD&D around 1984, until somewhere around 1994. the group i was broke around this period. 2 years ago, my DM made a come back in my area, so we took back the game with another PC. My oldest PC, a level 20 fighter, having disapeared i Norwold, my DM allowed me to someway backtrack him with a new PC. It makes a kind of slow subquest in other scenarii. In fact that's because we loose notes and forgot more or less we're we stop :-). So until we found enough time to build and play the comeback of my old fighter, we play Woti. The timeline has a bit changed too, as we play in + / - 1050. Between 1994 and 2002, my DM and i kept in touch, so from times to times, we discuss of mystara new product / evolution. In our actual game, we manage to include new player, but from the 4 newcomer, only 2 continue playing with us. And on those 2, only one (my DM girlfriend) find Mystara really interesting (i think). I think it was hard for them to play with me and my DM, because we were knowing the world very well (names, people, place of interest, who's doing what, ...), and they we're just discovering it. So we we're playing very differently. At the beginning, they saw mystara just as another fantasy settings (which it is, indeed). Now the two remaining agrees that this is another one but a rich one fantasy settings. Last (but not least) we still uses original rules, with some arrangement and AD&D 2ed addition (spells for instance). ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:14:19 +0200 From: "Alleblas, Bart" Subject: Re: (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch RE: [MYSTARA] (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and = Dutch

Hi,

I'm from a little place called 's-Gravenzande in the = utmost southern point of the province of South Holland. 
And Sylver is my screen-name, my real name is = Bart.

I'm not much of an active follower of the = discussions, since most of them are not about the savage coast, though = I read them all.

My main interests are with the Herathian magiocraty, = a large country populated by the mysterious spiderfolk Araneas. Several = of my quests

are situated in this marvelous piece of fantasy = country, mainly based upon the Arabic culture.

The Dutch indeed have a tumultuous history as it was = always a seafaring country with many connections to eastern and African = countries.

Though not something to be proud of, we were one of = the main colonial powers at the time of the dutch 'golden age', trading = all kind of exotic 'goods'.

During this time many exploration were done and the = dutch 'discovered many new lands', Abel Tasman for example found the = Tasman Islands (west of

Australia) and Polyponesia (East of Australia), but = somehow managed to miss Australia completely :-).

Right now I'm playing as a pc in the Savage Baronies = part of the Ssavage Coast, based (roughly) on the Spanish and = Portuguese colonies, though

with a combination of 'dark' and 'black' inhabitants. =

Time to get some work done,

Regards,
Bart

 -----Original Message-----
From:   Vinicius R. de Moraes [mailto:vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR= ]
Sent:   Wednesday, August 11, 2004 = 17:11
To:     = MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
Subject:        = Re: [MYSTARA] (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch

COOL!
Where from?

Is Sylver your PC's name?

I was wondering why no Dutch participated on the = thread about a Dutch
kingdom in Mystara. Around middle-May this year, = remember?

BTW that was one of the MOST amazing threads on this = list ever - and that
is saying a lot! How cultured and creative are the = guys on this list!

For the guys who like the XVI century as much as I = do*: Maurice de Nassau's
birthday was exactly 400 years ago. He changed many = things on that century
by himself. Today we have many descendents of Dutch = in NE Brazil, Bahamas'
capital city is clled Nassau and Aruba (and of = course Dutch Antillas) is to
this day Dutch possessions. Suriname not anymore. = ABN/AMRO is having a big
exposition about it him in Brazil (maybe in Holland = as well).

* And the Iberic, Dutch, English navigations and = discoveries etc. If you,
Sylver, are a SC DM you love it to! I do because it = is the beginning of my
country as we know it.

Other interesting guys worthy of research: Pedro = Alvares Cabral
(Portuguese, discovered Brazil), Cristovao Colombo = (I'd like to know how
the ITALIAN call him), Americo Vespucio, Pizarro, = Montezuma...

Yours,
vini


At 11:09 11/08/2004, you wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>At least one Dutch on the list, long-term Savage = Coast player and DM.
>
>Regards,
>Sylver
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>From:   Vinicius R. de Moraes
>[<mailto:vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR= >mailto:vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR= ]
>Sent:   Wednesday, August 11, 2004 = 16:01
>To:     = MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM
>Subject:        = [MYSTARA] (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch
>
>At 09:34 11/08/2004, you wrote:
> >Okay, the other Chris is not from France, = he is from NZ?
>
>  From Wellington. But I would better let = him speak for himself, such a nice
>guy!
>
>Actually this is an interesting apect of the = world (and this list): see,
>once I bought materrial from Leroy and tried = with all my strength to
>convince him he was not Yankee but DUTCH (any = Dutch on the list BTW?). How
>DARES he? "Leroy Van Camp III"... come = on! Now he is going to tell me that
>Van Halen is American?   :-P
>
> >No wonder we can't vote in Florida = ;-)
>
>Of course you can! You voted for "the other = guy" (the one who really won,
>hehehe).
>
> >Its a good thing we are not trying to tell = if your British or NZ by the
> >accents.  Yall might think I am from = the South.
>
>Well, I'm Brazilian - not Portuguese.
>("But if I was, there would be nothing = wrong with that!!!" -  Jerry
>Seinfeld, about not being gay)   = :-p
>
>Regards,
>vini

***************************************************************= *****
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: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 20:22:51 +0800 From: Francisco Navarro Subject: Holy Swords of the Known World --Apple-Mail-1-189537809 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed Hail Mystarans! Here's an article that took a long time writing (including my recent 6=20= months in China), but I've finally gotten around to finishing it. Well,=20= at least, enough to share it with the rest of the Mystarans. It was inspired by an old article in Dragon Magazine #243 "Holy Swords=20= of the Realms." Yes, nice idea about paladin's holy avenger swords--how=20= these swords seem ordinary, or at least, not too powerful, until they=20 come to be in the hands of a paladin--except it's set in the Forgotten=20= Realms. So here's my own version of it, with a distinct Mystaran=20 flavor. One major change in the article is that these holy swords do not=20 display their special ability just by being wielded by a paladin. These=20= weapons are sacred to a specific Immortal, so only if a devotee of the=20= right Immortal comes along, do these magic weapons get amped! So with no further ado, I present the Holy Swords of the Known World! Mystaran Mythologer and Arcanist Kit Navarro P.S. Feedback is welcome, as are suggestions for the blanks I've left=20 behind. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Holy Swords of the Known World Sun Sword of Glory Even to ordinary mortals, this weapon appears formidable and venerable.=20= At first, it seems to be a sun blade, in itself a rare and awesome=20 weapon. Its pommel is gilt with gold leaf and emblazoned with a radiant=20= sun of an ancient Thyatian style, but the blade and the handle show no=20= sign of aging, wear, or tarnish. In the hands of a follower of the=20 Immortal Solarios (Ixion the Sun-Prince), the weapon reveals its true=20 powers. First, its bonus is increased to +3. Second, it grants the=20 following spells to be cast: magic circle against chaos and evil=20 (3x/day), sunbeam (2x/day), sunburst (1x/day) and splendor (as the=20 first power of a rod of splendor, 1x/day). The first known sun sword of glory belonged to an ancient Thyatian=20 named Justinian _______ in the first century BC. He was a paladin of=20 Solarios and he swore the service of his sun blade to King Lucinius I=20 of Thyatis in liberating his country from the Alphatian oppressors.=20 Through many deeds of heroism and good, his sword became blessed by his=20= patron Immortal to become a sun sword of glory. What become of=20 Justinian and his sword after King Lucinius was killed in unsure. Holy Persuader This sword always appears as a handsome blade, made of the finest=20 steel, perpetually shiny and sharp, and seemingly enchanted to be=20 impervious to even the smallest scratch. Indeed, such a blade will=20 readily reveal its magic of being a merciful short sword +1. But the holy persuader is a weapon sacred to the Immoral Valerias,=20 Patroness of Passion and Romance and the Girder-On of Weapons. In the=20 hands of one devoted to Valerias, the holy persuader transforms into an=20= even more magnificent weapon. In appearance, it begins to glow a=20 crimson radiance, equivalent to the 0-level light spell. (Some also=20 claim that when the sword is swung it exudes a heady fragrance of=20 roses.) The sword gains a +2 bonus, and any opponent defeated by the=20 holy persuader (reduced to 0 hit points) must make a DC 20 Will save=20= or else be charmed by the wielder. The most celebrated holy persuader in the Known World is perhaps the=20 one wielded by Margala the Magnificent, the famed Alphatian heroine and=20= a passionately devoted paladin of Valerias. The most famous of her=20 battles was during the Thyatian-Alphatian Wars in the first century BC,=20= defending Alphatian innocents and their territories on the Isle of=20 Dawn. Many historical accounts narrate that Margala lead the Alphatian=20= troops against the Thyatian invaders, but she subdued one Thyatian=20 warrior after another with her holy persuader, her opponents were=20 magically converted to fight on her side. Eventually, the tide of=20 battle turned, the Thyatians became outnumbered, and Margala found=20 herself face to face with the Thyatian commander Justinian ______. In=20 the final duel, the two paladins found themselves equally matched and=20 agreed to a truce. Though the holy persuader figures in many legends, epic poems and=20 romantic dramas, very few have been known to actually exist=20 historically. In recent years however, particularly during the Wrath of=20= the Immortals War, there have been numerous accounts of paladins and=20 defenders of Valerias wielding such wondrous holy weapons. Girding Embrace Legends say a master Thothian weapon-smith, Nefermehu of Ekto,=20 witnessed Margala the Magnificent battle against the Thyatians on the=20 Isle of Dawn. The burly old smith was greatly awed by the power and=20 magnificence of the holy persuader (as well as the paladin who wielded=20= it!) and was equally dismayed at Margala=92s lackluster sword sheath. = Out=20 of passionate adoration, Nefermehu was inspired to forge a special=20 scabbard more befitting of Margala=92s sword, which he offered to the=20 Alphatian clerics of Valerias to bless and deliver to his muse. The girding embrace is so named after the Girder-On of Weapons, an=20 epithet of the Immortal Valerias. The scabbard is designed for a short=20= sword and is made of fine gilded steel. Upon its length are carved the=20= long stems of roses with sharp thorns, entwining the body of a=20 beautiful woman. The opening of the scabbard depicts the woman=92s arms=20= in a tight embrace, and the roses are filigreed with a red metal alloy. The scabbard blesses the weapon that it stores, granting it a +1 bonus=20= for the first 1d4 rounds it is drawn. The girding embrace also has a=20 special girding ability: the scabbard and the sword it holds can=20 instantly teleport to its owner=92s side in the time of need, as long as=20= they are on the same plane of existence. It is also rumored that in the=20= hands of a paladin of Valerias, the girding embrace can transform into=20= a second weapon, a +2 short sword of defending, and that the paladin=20 can instinctively wield this sacred weapon without needing any=20 two-handed skill. Historians remain unsure whether Margala actually used or even received=20= the girding embrace. (Indeed some stories say the Alphatian clerics=20 threw out the Thothian heathen and his token of affection, while some=20 say Margala herself personally rejected his scabbard.) But the girding=20= embrace has been heard of in the accounts of wars, romantic duels, and=20= other affairs of passion. During the Alexander Day Massacre of AC 1017 in Glantri City, it was=20 officially reported that the pilgrims and devotees of the Immortal=20 Valerias were about to be arrested by the Glantrian Constabulary, one=20 unarmed man suddenly brandished a sword from a scabbard that magically=20= appeared in his hands, and in the next instant, the selfsame scabbard=20 transformed into a second sword, with which he proceeded to attack the=20= constables. The documents stated that particular follower of Valerias=20 died in the massacre, but what became of the girding embrace was not=20 recorded Thieving Caress The story of Nefermehu does not end with the girding embrace. In an=20 Alphatian apocrypha, Nefermehu became dejected and heartbroken about=20 Margala, until mysterious stranger appeared at his doorstep. She was an=20= Alphatian of common lineage but of uncommon beauty, and introduced=20 herself to be the squire of Margala. The woman claimed that the clerics=20= of Valerias had intercepted his gift, and that Margala wanted another=20 scabbard borne out of Nefermehu=92s labor and love. The blacksmith = became=20 obsessed with his craft and his muse, who he was constantly reminded of=20= by the enigmatic visitor, who in turn seemed to appear more and more=20 like Margala everyday. With the completion of the masterpiece,=20 Nefermehu gave in to temptation and consummated his passions with the=20 squire. And one day, the strange woman simply disappeared along with=20 the scabbard. Nefermehu is left, obsessed and on the brink of insanity.=20= He never works again and is left in the care of his poor wife=85 The mysterious woman is believed to be the Immortal Talitha (=93She Who=20= Steals Artifacts and The Most Crucial of Treasures to Sabotage the=20 Grandest of Schemes and Brings Ruin the Greatest of Beings=94 is one of=20= her Alphatian titles.) and the scabbard (if it truly exists) is=20 believed to be cursed with the most treacherous form of magic. Referred=20= to in legend as a thieving caress, it has the same physical appearance=20= as a girding embrace, and similarly grants the sword it sheaths a=20 magical bonus for the first 1d4 rounds it is drawn; normally, the bonus=20= is +1, but against lawful or good enemies, the bonus is increased to=20 +2. The thieving caress also has a similar girding ability as its twin. However, at the most critical points of a venture, the true treachery=20 of the thieving caress will reveal itself. The scabbard and the sword=20 it holds will disappear from its wielder=92s side, and appear in the=20 hands of the opponent or the nearest evil or chaotic non-allied thief.=20= Moreover, a cleric or follower of the Immortal Talitha will=20 instinctively be able to sense the thieving caress from within 100=20 yards away, and will be able to summon it to her own person at will.=20 The dark magic of scabbard allows the devotee of Talitha to handle the=20= sword safely without any ill effects while the sword is sheathed and up=20= to 1d4+1 rounds after unsheathing it. Sword of Fealty A sword of fealty is a fine weapon for any noble and honorable warrior.=20= It is an axiomatic long sword +2, forged of gray tempered steel that=20 shines with a luster of two hues, one silvery-white, one raven-black.=20 In the hands of a paladin or crusader of the Immortal Tarastia,=20 Patroness of Justice and Revenge, the sword of fealty has its bonus=20 enhanced to +3, and radiates a constant zone of truth and calm=20 emotions. The wielder can cast a greater command thrice a day,=20 atonement once a day, and can confer a quest in the service of=20 Tarastia twice a day, for as long as no more than two such sacred oaths=20= are in effect at a time. It is believed that the first sword of fealty was crafted by the=20 Thyatian Empress Valentia in the first century AC. In her lifelong=20 mission to institute judicial reforms and enforce imperial laws,=20 Valentia the Justiciar awarded her most righteous and loyal senators,=20 soldiers, priests, and defenders of the empire each with a sword of=20 fealty. At least twenty such holy swords were said to have been forged,=20= and at least five of them are in the possession of the Churches of=20 Tarastia throughout Thyatis. Emperor Gabrionus V was said to have owned=20= a sword of fealty as an imperial heirloom (in spite of the fact that=20 the have been no clerics or paladins of Tarastia on the imperial throne=20= for centuries), but this sword was lost when the Alphatians looted the=20= imperial palace and slew the emperor. Holly Avenger This sword first appears to be nothing more than a carved wooden=20 practice sword, and rather crude on at that. The wood is knotted and=20 threatens to crack upon strong impact. The blade is short for a long=20 sword, too long for a short sword, and not entirely straight and flat.=20= Only the pommel seems to have been crafted with care, showcasing vines=20= of ivy and clusters of holly berries, twisted around a pinecone.=20 Wielding the sword is quite awkward, imposing a non-magical penalty of=20= =961 to both attacks and damage. Despite this, the true nature of such=20= swords is a famous secret amongst the forest races. When a follower of the Immortal Ordana first lays hand upon a holly=20 avenger, the sword undergoes an amazing transformation. The blade is=20 transmuted into ironwood=97sturdy, straight, and sharp as steel=97and=20 effectively becomes a +3 short sword, with an extra 2d6 points of=20 damage against evil and undead creatures. It can be wielded by a=20 cleric, druid, or ranger with equal ease and no weapon penalties, so=20 long as they are devoted to the Forest Mother. With a touch of the blade, the wielder can transmute metal to wood at=20 will and can reverse the transformation with a second touch, but it=20 cannot transmute wood to metal. The berries on the pommel can be=20 plucked off to produce the following magical effects: goodberry=20 (3x/day), plant growth (2x/day), and fire seeds (1x/day, but with no=20 fire damage to any plant life). Similarly, the thorny vines can also be=20= untwined to cast spike growth (2x/day) or wall of thorns (1x/day). The legendary centaur sage and prophetess Olyrrhoe tells of at least=20 three holly avengers on the Known World. One is in the hands of the=20 elven druids on Minrothad, who still follow the ancient dainrouw (=93the=20= forest way.=94) of Ordana. A second is in the hands of a Thyatian=20 Forester, who has been on a lifelong quest for a cleric of Ordana to=20 bless him, and thus awaken the powers of the sword. A third holly=20 avenger was jealously being guarded by elven clerics of Terra until the=20= fall of Alfheim, whereupon the sacred groves were destroyed and all its=20= treasures lost. And if the dryads, fauns, and other woodland denizens=20 are to be believed, there are many other holly avengers to be found in=20= a druidic kingdom called Robrenn in the Savage Coast. Tyche=92s Unluck Many daring tales of derring-do tell of a kind of magical sword that at=20= first seems cursed, but reveal many wondrous powers if wielded by a=20 worshipper of Tyche or the rakish Immortals like Asterius and Korotiku=20= the Trickster. Many rogues who have heard this tale have thus purposely=20= sought cursed swords on the rare chance that it would turn out to be an=20= unluck blade, a sword of mixed fortunes, rapier of randomness, or as it=20= is most popularly called, Tyche=92s unluck. Whatever its fanciful name is, this cutlass (scimitar) initially has a=20= =961 penalty and radiates an aura of misfortune. This magical effect = will=20 spell catastrophe to many a swashbuckler or thief who makes any=20 audacious attempts, such as throwing odd objects, swinging on ropes,=20 jumping over furniture, or scaling great heights. However, when the sword is wielded by one favored by the Immortal Tyche=20= or one of her wily cohorts, all these penalties are negated and the=20 weapon becomes a +2 cutlass of dancing and throwing. It also grants a=20 +1 luck bonus on all saving throws. The infamous Darokinian pirate Jack Bluebeard (whose magical son, John=20= Bluebeard, joined the ranks of Glantrian nobility, thanks to the family=20= fortune of plunder) had once acquired such a weapon and found his many=20= undertakings duly botched. On one particularly blighted venture,=20 Captain Jack was captured by a crew of hin pirates. The halfling=20 captain, who just so happened to be a devout petitioner of the Immortal=20= Sinbad, took his sword and thus unleashed its wondrous powers. And as=20 Tyche=92s unluck switched hands, so did Tyche=92s wheel seem to turn for=20= the cursed human pirate. The astonished halflings let their captive go,=20= and Jack Bluebeard sailed free to pursue his fate and infamy. Beast Stalker Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the beast=20= stalker is intended for a ranger or forester instead. At first glance,=20= this weapon appears to be an ordinary hunting blade. Closer examination=20= will reveal that it is actually made of cold forged iron, and magical=20 divination will reveal a +1 bonus. Engravings on the blade in old Traldar script will reveal a sacred=20 connection between the weapon and the Immortal Zirchev. When=20 deciphered, the writings allude to a Traladaran myth of the mighty=20 hunter Kassiphon, who was given a blade by the Immortal Huntsman in=20 order to hunt down the =93beasts who walk like men.=94 Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will=20= find it blessed with the ability to detect beastweres once a day, and=20 that it works as a bane of beastweres (+2 attack bonus and extra 2d6=20 damage against beastweres). Because of its significance to the Immortal Zirchev, the Church of=20 Traladara in Karameikos meticulously investigates any and all reports=20 of finding a beast stalker sword. The clergy has never officially=20 revealed how many beast stalkers they have confirmed to be real, but it=20= is widely known that at least two of them are not in their possession.=20= One is in the hands of an adventuring Northman ranger who has joined=20 the cult of Vuller in Vestland. Another lies unused in the reliquary of=20= the Saimpts M=E2tin and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin=20 nation of Renardy. =20= --Apple-Mail-1-189537809 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=WINDOWS-1252 Times New RomanHail Mystarans! Here's an article that took a long time writing (including my recent 6 months in China), but I've finally gotten around to finishing it. Well, at least, enough to share it with the rest of the Mystarans. It was inspired by an old article in Dragon Magazine #243 "Holy Swords of the Realms." Yes, nice idea about paladin's holy avenger swords--how these swords seem ordinary, or at least, not too powerful, until they come to be in the hands of a paladin--except it's set in the Forgotten Realms. So here's my own version of it, with a distinct Mystaran flavor. One major change in the article is that these holy swords do not display their special ability just by being wielded by a paladin. These weapons are sacred to a specific Immortal, so only if a devotee of the right Immortal comes along, do these magic weapons get amped! So with no further ado, I present the Holy Swords of the Known World! Mystaran Mythologer and Arcanist Kit Navarro P.S. Feedback is welcome, as are suggestions for the blanks I've left behind. =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Times New RomanHoly Swords of the Known World
Times New RomanSun Sword of Glory Even to ordinary mortals, this weapon appears formidable and venerable. At first, it seems to be a sun blade, in itself a rare and awesome weapon. Its pommel is gilt with gold leaf and emblazoned with a radiant sun of an ancient Thyatian style, but the blade and the handle show no sign of aging, wear, or tarnish. In the hands of a follower of the Immortal Solarios (Ixion the Sun-Prince), the weapon reveals its true powers. First, its bonus is increased to +3. Second, it grants the following spells to be cast: magic circle against chaos and evil (3x/day), sunbeam (2x/day), sunburst (1x/day) and splendor (as the first power of a rod of splendor, 1x/day). The first known sun sword of glory belonged to an ancient Thyatian named Justinian _______ in the first century BC. He was a paladin of Solarios and he swore the service of his sun blade to King Lucinius I of Thyatis in liberating his country from the Alphatian oppressors. Through many deeds of heroism and good, his sword became blessed by his patron Immortal to become a sun sword of glory. What become of Justinian and his sword after King Lucinius was killed in unsure. Holy Persuader This sword always appears as a handsome blade, made of the finest steel, perpetually shiny and sharp, and seemingly enchanted to be impervious to even the smallest scratch. Indeed, such a blade will readily reveal its magic of being a merciful short sword +1. =20 But the holy persuader is a weapon sacred to the Immoral Valerias, Patroness of Passion and Romance and the Girder-On of Weapons. In the hands of one devoted to Valerias, the holy persuader transforms into an even more magnificent weapon. In appearance, it begins to glow a crimson radiance, equivalent to the 0-level light spell. (Some also claim that when the sword is swung it exudes a heady fragrance of roses.) The sword gains a +2 bonus, and any opponent defeated by the holy persuader (reduced to 0 hit points) must make a DC 20 Will save or else be charmed by the wielder. The most celebrated holy persuader in the Known World is perhaps the one wielded by Margala the Magnificent, the famed Alphatian heroine and a passionately devoted paladin of Valerias. The most famous of her battles was during the Thyatian-Alphatian Wars in the first century BC, defending Alphatian innocents and their territories on the Isle of Dawn. Many historical accounts narrate that Margala lead the Alphatian troops against the Thyatian invaders, but she subdued one Thyatian warrior after another with her holy persuader, her opponents were magically converted to fight on her side. Eventually, the tide of battle turned, the Thyatians became outnumbered, and Margala found herself face to face with the Thyatian commander Justinian ______. In the final duel, the two paladins found themselves equally matched and agreed to a truce. Though the holy persuader figures in many legends, epic poems and romantic dramas, very few have been known to actually exist historically. In recent years however, particularly during the Wrath of the Immortals War, there have been numerous accounts of paladins and defenders of Valerias wielding such wondrous holy weapons.=20 Girding Embrace=20 Legends say a master Thothian weapon-smith, Nefermehu of Ekto, witnessed Margala the Magnificent battle against the Thyatians on the Isle of Dawn. The burly old smith was greatly awed by the power and magnificence of the holy persuader (as well as the paladin who wielded it!) and was equally dismayed at Margala=92s lackluster sword sheath. Out of passionate adoration, Nefermehu was inspired to forge a special scabbard more befitting of Margala=92s sword, which he offered to the Alphatian clerics of Valerias to bless and deliver to his muse. The girding embrace is so named after the Girder-On of Weapons, an epithet of the Immortal Valerias. The scabbard is designed for a short sword and is made of fine gilded steel. Upon its length are carved the long stems of roses with sharp thorns, entwining the body of a beautiful woman. The opening of the scabbard depicts the woman=92s arms in a tight embrace, and the roses are filigreed with a red metal alloy. The scabbard blesses the weapon that it stores, granting it a +1 bonus for the first 1d4 rounds it is drawn. The girding embrace also has a special girding ability: the scabbard and the sword it holds can instantly teleport to its owner=92s side in the time of need, as long as they are on the same plane of existence. It is also rumored that in the hands of a paladin of Valerias, the girding embrace can transform into a second weapon, a +2 short sword of defending, and that the paladin can instinctively wield this sacred weapon without needing any two-handed skill. Historians remain unsure whether Margala actually used or even received the girding embrace. (Indeed some stories say the Alphatian clerics threw out the Thothian heathen and his token of affection, while some say Margala herself personally rejected his scabbard.) But the girding embrace has been heard of in the accounts of wars, romantic duels, and other affairs of passion. During the Alexander Day Massacre of AC 1017 in Glantri City, it was officially reported that the pilgrims and devotees of the Immortal Valerias were about to be arrested by the Glantrian Constabulary, one unarmed man suddenly brandished a sword from a scabbard that magically appeared in his hands, and in the next instant, the selfsame scabbard transformed into a second sword, with which he proceeded to attack the constables. The documents stated that particular follower of Valerias died in the massacre, but what became of the girding embrace was not recorded Thieving Caress The story of Nefermehu does not end with the girding embrace. In an Alphatian apocrypha, Nefermehu became dejected and heartbroken about Margala, until mysterious stranger appeared at his doorstep. She was an Alphatian of common lineage but of uncommon beauty, and introduced herself to be the squire of Margala. The woman claimed that the clerics of Valerias had intercepted his gift, and that Margala wanted another scabbard borne out of Nefermehu=92s labor and love. The blacksmith became obsessed with his craft and his muse, who he was constantly reminded of by the enigmatic visitor, who in turn seemed to appear more and more like Margala everyday. With the completion of the masterpiece, Nefermehu gave in to temptation and consummated his passions with the squire. And one day, the strange woman simply disappeared along with the scabbard. Nefermehu is left, obsessed and on the brink of insanity. He never works again and is left in the care of his poor wife=85 The mysterious woman is believed to be the Immortal Talitha (=93She Who Steals Artifacts and The Most Crucial of Treasures to Sabotage the Grandest of Schemes and Brings Ruin the Greatest of Beings=94 is one of her Alphatian titles.) and the scabbard (if it truly exists) is believed to be cursed with the most treacherous form of magic. Referred to in legend as a thieving caress, it has the same physical appearance as a girding embrace, and similarly grants the sword it sheaths a magical bonus for the first 1d4 rounds it is drawn; normally, the bonus is +1, but against lawful or good enemies, the bonus is increased to +2. The thieving caress also has a similar girding ability as its twin. However, at the most critical points of a venture, the true treachery of the thieving caress will reveal itself. The scabbard and the sword it holds will disappear from its wielder=92s side, and appear in the hands of the opponent or the nearest evil or chaotic non-allied thief. Moreover, a cleric or follower of the Immortal Talitha will instinctively be able to sense the thieving caress from within 100 yards away, and will be able to summon it to her own person at will. The dark magic of scabbard allows the devotee of Talitha to handle the sword safely without any ill effects while the sword is sheathed and up to 1d4+1 rounds after unsheathing it. Sword of Fealty=20 A sword of fealty is a fine weapon for any noble and honorable warrior. It is an axiomatic long sword +2, forged of gray tempered steel that shines with a luster of two hues, one silvery-white, one raven-black. In the hands of a paladin or crusader of the Immortal Tarastia, Patroness of Justice and Revenge, the sword of fealty has its bonus enhanced to +3, and radiates a constant zone of truth and calm emotions. The wielder can cast a greater command thrice a day, atonement once a day, and can confer a quest in the service of Tarastia twice a day, for as long as no more than two such sacred oaths are in effect at a time. It is believed that the first sword of fealty was crafted by the Thyatian Empress Valentia in the first century AC. In her lifelong mission to institute judicial reforms and enforce imperial laws, Valentia the Justiciar awarded her most righteous and loyal senators, soldiers, priests, and defenders of the empire each with a sword of fealty. At least twenty such holy swords were said to have been forged, and at least five of them are in the possession of the Churches of Tarastia throughout Thyatis. Emperor Gabrionus V was said to have owned a sword of fealty as an imperial heirloom (in spite of the fact that the have been no clerics or paladins of Tarastia on the imperial throne for centuries), but this sword was lost when the Alphatians looted the imperial palace and slew the emperor. Holly Avenger This sword first appears to be nothing more than a carved wooden practice sword, and rather crude on at that. The wood is knotted and threatens to crack upon strong impact. The blade is short for a long sword, too long for a short sword, and not entirely straight and flat. Only the pommel seems to have been crafted with care, showcasing vines of ivy and clusters of holly berries, twisted around a pinecone. Wielding the sword is quite awkward, imposing a non-magical penalty of =961 to both attacks and damage. Despite this, the true nature of such swords is a famous secret amongst the forest races. When a follower of the Immortal Ordana first lays hand upon a holly avenger, the sword undergoes an amazing transformation. The blade is transmuted into ironwood=97sturdy, straight, and sharp as steel=97and effectively becomes a +3 short sword, with an extra 2d6 points of damage against evil and undead creatures. It can be wielded by a cleric, druid, or ranger with equal ease and no weapon penalties, so long as they are devoted to the Forest Mother. With a touch of the blade, the wielder can transmute metal to wood at will and can reverse the transformation with a second touch, but it cannot transmute wood to metal. The berries on the pommel can be plucked off to produce the following magical effects: goodberry (3x/day), plant growth (2x/day), and fire seeds (1x/day, but with no fire damage to any plant life). Similarly, the thorny vines can also be untwined to cast spike growth (2x/day) or wall of thorns (1x/day).=20 The legendary centaur sage and prophetess Olyrrhoe tells of at least three holly avengers on the Known World. One is in the hands of the elven druids on Minrothad, who still follow the ancient dainrouw (=93the forest way.=94) of Ordana. A second is in the hands of a Thyatian Forester, who has been on a lifelong quest for a cleric of Ordana to bless him, and thus awaken the powers of the sword. A third holly avenger was jealously being guarded by elven clerics of Terra until the fall of Alfheim, whereupon the sacred groves were destroyed and all its treasures lost. And if the dryads, fauns, and other woodland denizens are to be believed, there are many other holly avengers to be found in a druidic kingdom called Robrenn in the Savage Coast. Tyche=92s Unluck Many daring tales of derring-do tell of a kind of magical sword that at first seems cursed, but reveal many wondrous powers if wielded by a worshipper of Tyche or the rakish Immortals like Asterius and Korotiku the Trickster. Many rogues who have heard this tale have thus purposely sought cursed swords on the rare chance that it would turn out to be an unluck blade, a sword of mixed fortunes, rapier of randomness, or as it is most popularly called, Tyche=92s unluck. Whatever its fanciful name is, this cutlass (scimitar) initially has a =961 penalty and radiates an aura of misfortune. This magical effect will spell catastrophe to many a swashbuckler or thief who makes any audacious attempts, such as throwing odd objects, swinging on ropes, jumping over furniture, or scaling great heights.=20 However, when the sword is wielded by one favored by the Immortal Tyche or one of her wily cohorts, all these penalties are negated and the weapon becomes a +2 cutlass of dancing and throwing. It also grants a +1 luck bonus on all saving throws.=20 The infamous Darokinian pirate Jack Bluebeard (whose magical son, John Bluebeard, joined the ranks of Glantrian nobility, thanks to the family fortune of plunder) had once acquired such a weapon and found his many undertakings duly botched. On one particularly blighted venture, Captain Jack was captured by a crew of hin pirates. The halfling captain, who just so happened to be a devout petitioner of the Immortal Sinbad, took his sword and thus unleashed its wondrous powers. And as Tyche=92s unluck switched hands, so did Tyche=92s wheel seem to turn for the cursed human pirate. The astonished halflings let their captive go, and Jack Bluebeard sailed free to pursue his fate and infamy. Beast Stalker Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the beast stalker is intended for a ranger or forester instead. At first glance, this weapon appears to be an ordinary hunting blade. Closer examination will reveal that it is actually made of cold forged iron, and magical divination will reveal a +1 bonus.=20 Engravings on the blade in old Traldar script will reveal a sacred connection between the weapon and the Immortal Zirchev. When deciphered, the writings allude to a Traladaran myth of the mighty hunter Kassiphon, who was given a blade by the Immortal Huntsman in order to hunt down the =93beasts who walk like men.=94 Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will find it blessed with the ability to detect beastweres once a day, and that it works as a bane of beastweres (+2 attack bonus and extra 2d6 damage against beastweres).=20 Because of its significance to the Immortal Zirchev, the Church of Traladara in Karameikos meticulously investigates any and all reports of finding a beast stalker sword. The clergy has never officially revealed how many beast stalkers they have confirmed to be real, but it is widely known that at least two of them are not in their possession. One is in the hands of an adventuring Northman ranger who has joined the cult of Vuller in Vestland. Another lies unused in the reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin nation of Renardy. =20= --Apple-Mail-1-189537809-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:48:33 -0400 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Hello all & Poll Let's see... I started playing Chainmail in '78 or '79, it’s been a while. In '82 I started as DM, I had to make my own campaign world, no Gazetteers back then, but everything was a dungeon crawl. I started a campaign in Texas around ’84. I fit in a bunch of modules from the B series and Dungeon adventures in my own world. In ’86, I was living in Florida and started campaigns in the Gazetteer series. Theses campaigns went off and on between two states, Florida and Pennsylvania (where I was attending college). In ’91 we retired the Pennsylvania group, where 1 character attained immortality, and the other 3 trying were tricked (one became a vampire, another ended up as a death knight, and the third retired to the broken lands and randomly kills any passers by, very disgruntled, but extremely powerful). Since then I have played out smaller weekly campaigns back in Florida, but also in places I have worked as a chef in North Carolina, New York, and California. I only started to drop the OD&D in place of 3ed around 2001, so I could attract a youn ger crowd to Mystara. As a rule, when I was DM, we used Mystara and OD&D. This way when I was running a character in another campaign, I would still be surprised as I did not know the world or material. Sadly, this rule has left me to have never played a character in Mystara 8-( ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 14:09:52 +0100 From: "N. M." Subject: Hello back at you Welcome to the MML! << Tell us a bit about your specific interests in Mystara. I mean, which game do you play (OD&D, AD&D, 3e)? Which time period do you prefer (the AC 1000 time of the gazetteers, the time after WOTI (Wrath of the Immortals) in the PWAs (Poor Wizard's Almanacs)? Do you actually play in or run (as GM) a Mystara campaign, and if yes, what is happening in it? >> I never answered these questions myself, when I joined the MML. I run an annual Mystara game. I use D&D 3E. The game started in the Fort Runnels, on the Republic of Darokin border with the Broken Lands. It was originally set in 981 AC, at the time of the goblin army invasion. That original adventure was based on X11 - Saga of the Shadow Lord. This was followed up by an adventure based on Atlas Games' Thicker Than Blood for Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.! That adventure was set in a private school for the Night City's social elite. I converted it so it was set at the Great School of Magic in Glantri City. Both adventures were tied into each other, with the second adventure being a direct sequel to the first. If anyone's interested in a summary of the storyline, let me know. Cheers, Neil ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 09:23:24 EDT From: Lorenzo Ruia Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... In a message dated 8/12/2004 7:12:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time, clenariusfr@YAHOO.FR writes: It is very wrong (in many ways) to say that Christopher Columbus (or anyone else by the way)discovered any part of America since it was not void of any human population at the time. Thibault, You are very right. But you can't blame people as much as you should be blaming the school system that ingrained this way of thinking in our heads. I still refer to Columbus in that manner even knowing that this land was already occupied and that the Vikings had been here about a thousand years before him. It does not cost us a lot to think and speak right. No one would use the "n" word because it is offensive and carries a lot of racist issues with it, so why not watching more carefully what we say. Let's speak right. You have a good point As much as I would like to see it happen in my future, I believe that it will be many generations in the future before all types of racism all truly buried. Lorenzo Ruia Western NY ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 08:58:07 -0500 From: Web Warlock Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Very cool. I have some stuff for a holy avenger named "Demonbane" but it is very connected to my "Holy Lands of Glantri" alternate campaign. Speaking of which I have recently retconed all my old Mystara adventures and I am running them using Eden's Unisystem rules (WitchCraft and such) and it has been great fun. Eden's page is here http://www.edenstudios.net Tim -----Original Message----- From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On Behalf Of Francisco Navarro Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 7:23 AM To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Subject: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known World Hail Mystarans! Here's an article that took a long time writing (including my recent 6 months in China), but I've finally gotten around to finishing it. Well, at least, enough to share it with the rest of the Mystarans. It was inspired by an old article in Dragon Magazine #243 "Holy Swords of the Realms." Yes, nice idea about paladin's holy avenger swords--how these swords seem ordinary, or at least, not too powerful, until they come to be in the hands of a paladin--except it's set in the Forgotten Realms. So here's my own version of it, with a distinct Mystaran flavor. One major change in the article is that these holy swords do not display their special ability just by being wielded by a paladin. These weapons are sacred to a specific Immortal, so only if a devotee of the right Immortal comes along, do these magic weapons get amped! So with no further ado, I present the Holy Swords of the Known World! Mystaran Mythologer and Arcanist Kit Navarro P.S. Feedback is welcome, as are suggestions for the blanks I've left behind. <> ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 10:31:35 -0400 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... Unfortunately, history is recorded by the victors. I guess we don’t mention that the Vikings “discovered” the Americas, because none of them lived very long along America’s shores. Too bad, I am sure that the advanced metal working and shipbuilding of the Vikings could have been taught to the Iroquois and would have changed history forever. Christopher Columbus would have been known for opening the door for invasion of a democratic society from the Algonquin Confederacy. Even before Leaf’s journey, the Welsh were to have ventured by sea. The only proof we have is the rapid rise and fall of the Mound Builders (possibly attributed by new diseases from Europe), and the Mandan’s “discovered” by Louis and Clark, were reported that some had blue eyes and the language had some words that sounded like Welsh. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 17:06:50 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World --- Web Warlock wrote: > Speaking of which I have recently retconed all my > old Mystara adventures and > I am running them using Eden's Unisystem rules > (WitchCraft and such) and it > has been great fun. Eden's page is here > http://www.edenstudios.net Very interesting! I really like Eden's games, though I prefer the unisystem variant used in Buffy/Angel (cinematic) over the one used in WitchCraft. Feel free to share your conversions with the rest of us.... :) Havard ===== *** Håvard R. Faanes www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa ______________________________________________________ Få den nye Yahoo! Messenger på http://no.messenger.yahoo.com/ Nye ikoner og bakgrunner, webkamera med superkvalitet og dobbelt så morsom ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 10:32:01 -0500 From: Web Warlock Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Sure. I was one of the authors of Buffy so I have been eyeball deep in Unisystem for years now. I managed (so far) only to convert some of my characters and a couple of NPCs. Here is Ravenloft's Strahd, http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/strahd_uni.php For those that have been on this list a long time might recall that I decided that Ravenloft's Barovia was originally part of Mystara, maybe even Glantri. I did have a battle that took place in Glantri's past make an appearance via flashbacks/time-travel in my latest Buffy game. The battle is a minor thing in the Unisystem game, but in my D&D game it was a very pivotal battle in Glantri's history. Here is the adventure, The Dragon and the Phoenix: Episode 5, Heaven Bleeds http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/dap_ep05.php Currently I am working on d20 to Unisystem conversions, if they get published (it is for something in particular that I can't talk about) then I'll let know the book they are in. If not, maybe I can post them. Tim > -----Original Message----- > From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On > Behalf Of Havard Faanes > Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 10:07 AM > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known World > > > --- Web Warlock wrote: > > Speaking of which I have recently retconed all my > > old Mystara adventures and > > I am running them using Eden's Unisystem rules > > (WitchCraft and such) and it > > has been great fun. Eden's page is here > > http://www.edenstudios.net > > Very interesting! I really like Eden's games, though I > prefer the unisystem variant used in Buffy/Angel > (cinematic) over the one used in WitchCraft. Feel free > to share your conversions with the rest of us.... :) > > Havard > > > ===== > *** > Håvard R. Faanes > www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 19:08:41 +0200 From: Bertrand Lhoyez Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... hmm, why are you suddenly talking of this. I mean, even if i do not read entirely everything, i've not seen words of racism here ? If you want some interesting thoughts on history and victors, have a look at 1984, from George Orwell (the book, or the movie, your choice) Also, there are many, many discoveries (in all domains) which were attributed to others (for political, economical, industrial, ..., reasons). Being rather curious, i often watch cultural tv documentary (for instance). That's impressive how many discoveries are not exactly what we believe (from basic learning). Everyone who is a bit curious, quickly learn the "subtlety" about the discovery of America. The discovery of America, as Thibaut says, is relative to the people(s) who send the explorer(s). For those curious about strange exploration discoveries, on America subject, the Kon-Tiki aventure (Polynesian are just a kind of (meso/south)americans), present a way to see "history" from another point of view. Look at the pdf on this url : http://www.museumsnett.no/kon-tiki/ (many languages available) And please, viking or indians (native north americans) were not angels too. I'm not historian, but as far as i've seen, every nation in every culture has, at a moment or another in his history, bullied one or more of his neighbors. Even if this is not something with which i agree, this is not something you can negate. -----Original Message----- From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On Behalf Of Chris Cherrington Sent: jeudi 12 août 2004 16:32 To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... Unfortunately, history is recorded by the victors. I guess we don’t mention that the Vikings “discovered” the Americas, because none of them lived very long along America’s shores. Too bad, I am sure that the advanced metal working and shipbuilding of the Vikings could have been taught to the Iroquois and would have changed history forever. Christopher Columbus would have been known for opening the door for invasion of a democratic society from the Algonquin Confederacy. Even before Leaf’s journey, the Welsh were to have ventured by sea. The only proof we have is the rapid rise and fall of the Mound Builders (possibly attributed by new diseases from Europe), and the Mandan’s “discovered” by Louis and Clark, were reported that some had blue eyes and the language had some words that sounded like Welsh. ******************************************************************** 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: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:34:34 -0500 From: Eric Anondson Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to not be a racist in speech) On Aug 12, 2004, at 5:50 AM, Thibault Sarlat wrote: > It does not cost us a lot to think and speak right. No one would use > the "n" word because it is offensive and > carries a lot of racist issues with it, so why not watching more > carefully what we say. Let's speak right. Cut some slack when someone choses the shorthand way to refer to someone's accomplishments. You don't need to go in to some berating about the explosive subject of racism. There isn't an iota of racism when someone refers to one of Europe's explorers of the 15th-16th centuries as "discoverers" . It's shorthand for what the person did. Throw out "racist!" and you instantly get everyone on the defensive and the conversation takes a turn for the ugly. You could have simply have offered a gentle correction. And I speak from having a half-African-American/half-Dakota uncle (who for that matter tosses out the "n"-word so often that my norwegian-descended family cringe and hide). So charges of what's racist are a daily exercise for me, it would be nice not to have it on a fantasy world's discussion list. I've had so many discussions with him about "racism"; he even insists that anyone even saying the name "Christopher Columbus" around an African-American or Amerindian is being racist (unless the person who speaks the name is also African-American or Amerindian). So now what's the right way to "think or speak"? Is someone who speaks of Christopher Columbus being the first to "arrive" at the New World (D'oh! Can't even say or think _that_! It's just as new or old as the rest of the planet) being anti-norwegian? Can we even call the Known World, the "Known" World? Aren't there inhabitants in the rest of the planet of Mystara? Aren't they "known" to themselves? How racist! ... er... or speciesist? Call the thought police, a whole fantasy setting is perpetuating racism. There *was* a really interesting subject in that post that was just blown by before the club of "racism" was swung about. Why no M-Dutch nations in setting? Or where should one be found? Regards, Eric Anondson ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 15:14:33 -0400 From: Donald Eric Kesler Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World http://www.geocities.com/heroclixleagueofathens/ Hello, This is a nice collection of swords, Francisco. Thanks for sharing your efforts with the rest of us. I am sure that at least one or two will make an appearance in my campaign. There is a problem with the background story for Beast Stalker. It seems pretty clear to me that Zirchev is actually kindly disposed toward Lycanthropes. At least, that's not the way he appears in PC4 Night Howlers. I like the sword, but a different Immortal patron would work far better. Regards and Best Wishes, Donald Eric Kesler > Beast Stalker > Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the beast > stalker is intended for a ranger or forester instead. At first glance, this > weapon appears to be an ordinary hunting blade. Closer examination will > reveal that it is actually made of cold forged iron, and magical divination > will reveal a +1 bonus. > Engravings on the blade in old Traldar script will reveal a sacred > connection between the weapon and the Immortal Zirchev. When deciphered, > the writings allude to a Traladaran myth of the mighty hunter Kassiphon, > who was given a blade by the Immortal Huntsman in order to hunt down the > “beasts who walk like men.” > Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will > find it blessed with the ability to detect beastweres once a day, and that > it works as a bane of beastweres (+2 attack bonus and extra 2d6 damage > against beastweres). > Because of its significance to the Immortal Zirchev, the Church of > Traladara in Karameikos meticulously investigates any and all reports of > finding a beast stalker sword. The clergy has never officially revealed how > many beast stalkers they have confirmed to be real, but it is widely known > that at least two of them are not in their possession. One is in the hands > of an adventuring Northman ranger who has joined the cult of Vuller in > Vestland. Another lies unused in the reliquary of the Saimpts Mâtin and > Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin nation of Renardy. > _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 12:30:50 -0700 From: Joe Kelly Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discoveranything...(or,how to not be a racist in speech) By the way, I am native american, or you could say native indian. But in = actual fact if you want to get down to it, North America is as diverse as = Europe is. Each Aboriginal nation Iroquois, Cree, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, = Apache, are as different from each other as the French are to the Spanish = as are to the English. If you are Haida, you don't speak the same tongue = as the Tswassen who don't speak the same language as the Cree who are = totally different from the Apache. Each was a seperate nation. If anyone = is interested, National Geographic has a historical map of every native = nation there was in N. America.=20 Oh and one more note: The Americas were named by Amerigos a portugese = explorer. He was a good friend of Christopher Columbus if I recall.=20 Joe Kelly >>> xen@VISI.COM 08/12/04 11:34AM >>> On Aug 12, 2004, at 5:50 AM, Thibault Sarlat wrote: > It does not cost us a lot to think and speak right. No one would use > the "n" word because it is offensive and > carries a lot of racist issues with it, so why not watching more > carefully what we say. Let's speak right. Cut some slack when someone choses the shorthand way to refer to someone's accomplishments. You don't need to go in to some berating about the explosive subject of racism. There isn't an iota of racism when someone refers to one of Europe's explorers of the 15th-16th centuries as "discoverers" . It's shorthand for what the person did. Throw out "racist!" and you instantly get everyone on the defensive and the conversation takes a turn for the ugly. You could have simply have offered a gentle correction. And I speak from having a half-African-American/half-Dakota uncle (who for that matter tosses out the "n"-word so often that my norwegian-descended family cringe and hide). So charges of what's racist are a daily exercise for me, it would be nice not to have it on a fantasy world's discussion list. I've had so many discussions with him about "racism"; he even insists that anyone even saying the name "Christopher Columbus" around an African-American or Amerindian is being racist (unless the person who speaks the name is also African-American or Amerindian). So now what's the right way to "think or speak"? Is someone who speaks of Christopher Columbus being the first to "arrive" at the New World (D'oh! Can't even say or think _that_! It's just as new or old as the rest of the planet) being anti-norwegian? Can we even call the Known World, the "Known" World? Aren't there inhabitants in the rest of the planet of Mystara? Aren't they "known" to themselves? How racist! ... er... or speciesist? Call the thought police, a whole fantasy setting is perpetuating racism. There *was* a really interesting subject in that post that was just blown by before the club of "racism" was swung about. Why no M-Dutch nations in setting? Or where should one be found? Regards, Eric Anondson ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp=20 The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/=20 To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM=20 with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 22:41:24 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Moving back to topic ( was: Christopher Columbus...) --- Eric Anondson wrote: > There *was* a really interesting subject in that > post that was just > blown by before the club of "racism" was swung > about. Why no M-Dutch > nations in setting? Or where should one be found? Yeah, lets get the list back on topic before this escalates to a full blown flame war. Dutch inspired cultures can be found on Oostdok in the Hollow World, the Flaems of Glantri, and in Darokin, though Darokin is based on the 13 colonies, I believe their culture was quite quite heavily influenced by the Dutch back in those days. Hmmm... putting more emphasis on the Dutch elements of Daroking might be interesting IMO, perhaps with stuff from Dutch or US/Dutch legends as found in the works of Washington Irving; Ie Rip Van Vinkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Recently made into an excellent Tim Burton Movie) etc. What do you think? If we wanted to add a fully Dutch inspired culture in Mystara, where would it be located? I'm not sure. IMO it would have to be near the more "civilized" (another problematic word there) areas, like The Known World region, the Alphatian Sea, or near the Savage Coast. Ofcourse, the Hollow World is also a possibility, maybe near the Merry Pirate lands? Havard, definately not anti-Norwegian ;) ===== *** Håvard R. Faanes www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa ______________________________________________________ Få den nye Yahoo! Messenger på http://no.messenger.yahoo.com/ Nye ikoner og bakgrunner, webkamera med superkvalitet og dobbelt så morsom ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 22:57:03 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... --- Bertrand Lhoyez : > For those curious about strange exploration > discoveries, on America subject, > the Kon-Tiki aventure (Polynesian are just a kind of > (meso/south)americans), > present a way to see "history" from another point of > view. Look at the pdf > on this url : http://www.museumsnett.no/kon-tiki/ > (many languages available) Wow! I certainly didn't expect this top come up here. The Kon-Tiki exploration, undetaken by Thor Heyerdahl, Norways last real explorer/hero who sailed across the atlantic on a ship made of straw. Pretty crazy. :) Havard ===== *** Håvard R. Faanes www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa ______________________________________________________ Få den nye Yahoo! Messenger på http://no.messenger.yahoo.com/ Nye ikoner og bakgrunner, webkamera med superkvalitet og dobbelt så morsom ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 23:14:11 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Wow, Tim Brenning is it? :) *Lol* here I am trying to tell you about a system you've been working on yourself *embarrassed* :) Anyways, great to have you on this list! I am a big fan of edens rpgs. I own Buffy, Angel and WitchCraft so far. I have also played All Flesh, but haven't got around to buying it, yet. I am eagerly waiting for Dungeons And Zombies if it ever comes out. (Your secret project wouldn't have anything to do with that would it?) I would definately be interested in seeing more of your D20/Mystara conversions for unisystem, and let us know if your project gets published. I did download an unofficial Unisystem Fantasy by Jason Vey, which was quite useful for running fantasy campaigns with Buffy, though I havent gotten around to playing it in Mystara. Havard --- Web Warlock skrev: > Sure. > > I was one of the authors of Buffy so I have been > eyeball deep in Unisystem > for years now. > I managed (so far) only to convert some of my > characters and a couple of > NPCs. > > Here is Ravenloft's Strahd, > http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/strahd_uni.php > For those that have been on this list a long time > might recall that I > decided that Ravenloft's Barovia was originally part > of Mystara, maybe even > Glantri. > > I did have a battle that took place in Glantri's > past make an appearance via > flashbacks/time-travel in my latest Buffy game. > The battle is a minor thing in the Unisystem game, > but in my D&D game it was > a very pivotal battle in Glantri's history. > Here is the adventure, > The Dragon and the Phoenix: Episode 5, Heaven Bleeds > http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/dap_ep05.php > > Currently I am working on d20 to Unisystem > conversions, if they get > published (it is for something in particular that I > can't talk about) then > I'll let know the book they are in. If not, maybe I > can post them. > > Tim > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Mystara RPG Discussion > [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On > > Behalf Of Havard Faanes > > Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 10:07 AM > > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known > World > > > > > > --- Web Warlock wrote: > > > Speaking of which I have recently retconed all > my > > > old Mystara adventures and > > > I am running them using Eden's Unisystem rules > > > (WitchCraft and such) and it > > > has been great fun. Eden's page is here > > > http://www.edenstudios.net > > > > Very interesting! I really like Eden's games, > though I > > prefer the unisystem variant used in Buffy/Angel > > (cinematic) over the one used in WitchCraft. Feel > free > > to share your conversions with the rest of us.... > :) > > > > Havard > > > > > > ===== > > *** > > Håvard R. Faanes > > www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa > > > > > > ******************************************************************** > 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. > > ===== *** Håvard R. Faanes www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa ______________________________________________________ Få den nye Yahoo! Messenger på http://no.messenger.yahoo.com/ Nye ikoner og bakgrunner, webkamera med superkvalitet og dobbelt så morsom ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 00:23:50 +0200 From: Thibault Sarlat Subject: No Flames intended , Was : Christopher Columbus did not discover anything. I think my post was misinterpreted. And i apologized if i wasn't crystal clear. I was working on my Heldannic Empire Gazetteer , and I was trying to figure out a way to present several points of view of the same historic facts (the conquest of a region for instance). It was done on the back covers of many gazetteer remember? And when I read the first posts, I couldn't resist to notice the possible unconscious biased views. I am not saying this was a nonsense post (we are all affected with our cultural biases, me included of course), in fact it was very rich of content and i'll probably borrow several aspects of it. It's just that it did not seem fair to carry on saying things the wrong way just because it was true at one time or because it was the opinion and way of speaking of the victors. Wrong is wrong. period. I can understand when a big Mystara expert explain me that my views or my propositions for Mystara future imply other historical or military or ethical conscequences, and propose to correct me by showing me why i was not completely right in my first thoughts (they were first thoughts after all). I just hope to be corrected the same polite and intelligent way with my other thoughts. Many aspects of our lives are framed or affected by the way we express ourselves. And English is far from being my mothertongue so i often think french first then translate. If their was just one person in the list who was not aware of the facts I exposed then my post was not for nothing. For all the other intelligent and already aware persons of the list, i apologize if my post was taken as condescending or judgemental or even as off subject. Indeed the way we are taught these things at school could deserve a bit of update for this is a crime against intelligence. As for the "racist" word it was carefully used since it is exactely what it was: promoting or simply conveying the idea that one "race" is above the others (which was the case here) Real racism is both scientifically stupid and ethicaly wrong. The only racism that makes sense and that i can deal with is saying that rabbits are better than guiney pigs...yet in the world of Mystara, I have no problem with dealing with racist cultures. It just doesn't affect anyone real. For the rest it is only lack of vocabulary, and thus lack of thinking. Recents events showed us where these lacks could lead the world (sorry I could not help it!! it had to slip out) Thanks to those who gave us interesting URL to enrich our personal culture. As for me, no harm or flame was intended. If people still want to lazily speak or think wrong. that's fine by me. I just pity them. Don't you think that every step we can make toward what seems Fair to most people on this planet (Earth, not Mystara) is worth doing some effort. Prove me that I am wrong thinking this, I'll shut up for good. Language is what makes us "above" other races (or species). What a shame to not use such tool to think. I have always seen this list (and I'll keep seing it that way) as a pleasant place where different people with different views and different cultures could share and affect others for the common good. I don't want to think it is not so since i've met so many interesting people so far on the list and exchanged so many new ideas with them (both regarding Mystara, and the RW), that it would mean I have lost quite some valuable time with Mystara or with you, and I don't want to think this. I will never think this. I sincerely like you all equally; i hope you were not offended. Now back to Mystara. (PS: I'll try to lazily stick to the subject next time, i promise) (PPS: for those with recently boosted anti-French feelings, I am happy to fuel one more time your hatred with what you probably took as classical French condescending never-ending lesson-giving attitude. At your service...) Thibault Sarlat. ICQ 16622177. Personal homepage http://www.mystara.fr.st thibault-sarlat@wanadoo.fr clenariusfr@yahoo.fr ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 15:28:31 -0700 From: Keene Hammond Subject: Example Wiki Risking exposure as a huge nerd, I put forth these two urls as an example of what a wiki is. First the wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page One of my favorite web resources and a great example of a successful and useful wiki iimplementation. Second an sample wiki I created on a free wiki service. http://www.seedwiki.com/page.cfm?wikiid=5901&doc=Mystara Feel free to play around with it, it is intended as an example. I submit these examples to the group in the hopes that perhaps that the webmaster for the Offical Mystara site is on this list and might consider adding a wiki there. Allowing the creation of a great cross-reference to all of the awesome content hosted there, and also allowing all of the talented authors to weave a tale of mystara together. -Keene __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 17:10:00 -0700 From: Ray Allen Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to no... Yeah. That was crazy....but he did make it. I vaguely remember that he had to try twice though as the the ship became so water logged that it fell apart within a few hundred miles of South America. :) --Ray. --- Havard Faanes wrote: > Wow! I certainly didn't expect this top come up here. > The Kon-Tiki exploration, undetaken by Thor Heyerdahl, > Norways last real explorer/hero who sailed across the > atlantic on a ship made of straw. Pretty crazy. :) ===== If you have to choose between books and computers, there's no doubt which you should choose. You should choose books. --Bill Gates of Microsoft ---------------------------------------------- Geek Code: GLS$ d- s:+ a C++ UL++++ P? L++ E---- W++ N+ o-- K- w--- O? M- V-- PS+++ PE Y PGP- t+ 5-- X+++ R++ tv-- b++ DI- D---- G-- e+++ h--- r+++ y+++ ---------------------------------------------- Don't tell me the RIAA are a bunch of hypocritical, dishonest bastards! Now I have nothing left to believe in. (www.slashdot.org) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 17:17:01 -0700 From: Dave Keyser Subject: Re: Mystara's Legendary Wizards On Sat, 7 Aug 2004 02:09:00 -0700, Andrew Theisen wrote: . > > From BSolo: Ghost of Lion Castle > > Sargon- "... the greatest magic-user of all time..." > Built Lion Castle in the Ethengar Plains, about six > days from the village of Sarsdell along the river > Streel, and two days north. (Of course, where Sarsdell > is is unknown. I'd suggest either somewhere in Darokin > or perhaps in southern Ethengar, along the border with > the Broken Lands.) > I actually traced this from the verbal description in Lion Castle, using the gazeteer maps from Darokin, the Broken Lands, and, most importantly, Ethengar. If you follow the directions, a traveller leaving Corunglain will reach a hakomon site designated on the Ethengar map in the specified time. Sarsdell is really Corunglain, before Corunglain was created and put on the Darokin maps. Which I believe was in X10? It wasn't on the X1 Isle of Dread maps. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 17:42:22 -0700 From: Ray Allen Subject: Re: No Flames intended...apology accepted. Hi Thibault, I didn't flame you but you really should have left us know what you were talking about in your post. You didn't have any Mystara content in it at all so we didn't know what it was in reference too. In any event, apology accepted. Now we can all get back to Mystara. :) --Ray. --- Thibault Sarlat wrote: > I think my post was misinterpreted. And i apologized if > i wasn't crystal > clear. > I was working on my Heldannic Empire Gazetteer ===== If you have to choose between books and computers, there's no doubt which you should choose. You should choose books. --Bill Gates of Microsoft ---------------------------------------------- Geek Code: GLS$ d- s:+ a C++ UL++++ P? L++ E---- W++ N+ o-- K- w--- O? M- V-- PS+++ PE Y PGP- t+ 5-- X+++ R++ tv-- b++ DI- D---- G-- e+++ h--- r+++ y+++ ---------------------------------------------- Don't tell me the RIAA are a bunch of hypocritical, dishonest bastards! Now I have nothing left to believe in. (www.slashdot.org) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 08:54:32 +0800 From: Francisco Navarro Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Hail Mystarans! The confusion with the Beast Stalker is understandable and partly=20 intended. The purpose of the sword is to be used against beast-weres, not=20 were-beasts. But this point does raise some issues (which I was hoping=20= to get feedback from the MML about): 1. Are there beast-weres in Mystara (knowing we have tons of=20 were-beasts running all over the place)? 2. Is there a significant difference between the two (i.e. were-beasts=20= can be ok, but beast-weres are inherently evil, and must be killed)? 3. Would Zirchev be favorably disposed to one (were-beasts) and opposed=20= to the other (beast-weres)? If the answer to all of these are yes, then the Beast Stalker has its=20 place. I actually had another concept for this sword. Its main magical feature=20= would be to polymorph the opponents into harmless creatures that will=20 just skitter or fly away--just like in the Dungeons & Dragons arcade=20 game "Polymorph Other" spell. This would make the sword weaker, but it=20= does avoid the beast-were/were-beast issue. I hope to get feedback and ideas from the rest of you regarding this,=20 to improve this sword. Kit Navarro On 13 Aug, 2004, at 3:14 AM, Donald Eric Kesler wrote: > > There is a problem with the background story for Beast Stalker. It=20 > seems > pretty clear to me that Zirchev is actually kindly disposed toward > Lycanthropes. At least, that's not the way he appears in PC4 Night=20 > Howlers. > I like the sword, but a different Immortal patron would work far=20 > better. > > Regards and Best Wishes, > > Donald Eric Kesler > >> Beast Stalker >> Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the = beast >> stalker is intended for a ranger or forester instead. At first=20 >> glance, this >> weapon appears to be an ordinary hunting blade. Closer examination=20 >> will >> reveal that it is actually made of cold forged iron, and magical=20 >> divination >> will reveal a +1 bonus. >> Engravings on the blade in old Traldar script will reveal a sacred >> connection between the weapon and the Immortal Zirchev. When=20 >> deciphered, >> the writings allude to a Traladaran myth of the mighty hunter=20 >> Kassiphon, >> who was given a blade by the Immortal Huntsman in order to hunt down=20= >> the >> =93beasts who walk like men.=94 >> Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1=20 >> will >> find it blessed with the ability to detect beastweres once a day, and=20= >> that >> it works as a bane of beastweres (+2 attack bonus and extra 2d6=20 >> damage >> against beastweres). >> Because of its significance to the Immortal Zirchev, the Church of >> Traladara in Karameikos meticulously investigates any and all reports=20= >> of >> finding a beast stalker sword. The clergy has never officially=20 >> revealed how >> many beast stalkers they have confirmed to be real, but it is widely=20= >> known >> that at least two of them are not in their possession. One is in the=20= >> hands >> of an adventuring Northman ranger who has joined the cult of Vuller = in >> Vestland. Another lies unused in the reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin=20= >> and >> Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin nation of Renardy. >> > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:43:57 +0000 From: Web Warlock Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Brannan, but yeah. I have been here years, just not as active of late, usually under the "Web Warlock" pseudonym, but as far back as 92 if I remember right. (BTW why is it that of ALL the D&D lists I am on, this is the most active one?) Eh. Don't feel bad, it was a job. A fun one at the time to be sure, but Buffy got way stupid fast. But I am psyched about my current Eden project (not a d20 one, a Victorian Unisystem one). Don't worry I blab about here and talk about how it relates to my Mystara campaign that began in 82! ;) Course I did the Netbook of Witches both for 2nd Edition AD&D and now for D20. D20: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/libermysterium.php AD&D: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/downloads.php The AD&D version has Mystara content, the D20 version obviously can’t. I have taken all my old Mystara characters and updated them to play in a modern age using Eden's Armageddon game. The Immortals from Mystara would so fit that game as Inheritors or Avatars. If you like All Flesh, D&D and Jason Vey's work then you HAVE to get "Dungeons and Zombies" when it comes out. There will be a little bit about it at Gen Con Indy this year, but it won't be out till later. Jason wrote that and I have very high expectations. Actually I would suggest anyone here check it out. I'd love to do more Mystara in Unisystem stuff. Time is a factor of course. Plus *my* Mystara took a very different turn. I never picked up War of the Immortals till much after so mine is quite different in many respects, some that might even seem sacrilegious! (For example I do consider Immortals to be Gods, all that other stuff was propaganda spread by the Magocracy in Glantri to keep the religious freedom fighters down.) And I freely (maybe too freely) mix in portions of Greyhawk and Ravenloft to my “Known World”. But coming here is like reading about home when moved away and I really like that. Of course if there is anything anyone would like to see, I’ll give a shot. Especially if it were a Modern Mystara idea. Anyone try that with any ruleset? That I would really like to see. Tim -------------- Original message -------------- > Wow, Tim Brenning is it? :) > > *Lol* here I am trying to tell you about a system > you've been working on yourself *embarrassed* :) > > Anyways, great to have you on this list! I am a big > fan of edens rpgs. I own Buffy, Angel and WitchCraft > so far. I have also played All Flesh, but haven't got > around to buying it, yet. I am eagerly waiting for > Dungeons And Zombies if it ever comes out. (Your > secret project wouldn't have anything to do with that > would it?) > > I would definately be interested in seeing more of > your D20/Mystara conversions for unisystem, and let us > know if your project gets published. > > I did download an unofficial Unisystem Fantasy by > Jason Vey, which was quite useful for running fantasy > campaigns with Buffy, though I havent gotten around to > playing it in Mystara. > > Havard > > > --- Web Warlock skrev: > > Sure. > > > > I was one of the authors of Buffy so I have been > > eyeball deep in Unisystem > > for years now. > > I managed (so far) only to convert some of my > > characters and a couple of > > NPCs. > > > > Here is Ravenloft's Strahd, > > > http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/strahd_uni.php > > For those that have been on this list a long time > > might recall that I > > decided that Ravenloft's Barovia was originally part > > of Mystara, maybe even > > Glantri. > > > > I did have a battle that took place in Glantri's > > past make an appearance via > > flashbacks/time-travel in my latest Buffy game. > > The battle is a minor thing in the Unisystem game, > > but in my D&D game it was > > a very pivotal battle in Glantri's history. > > Here is the adventure, > > The Dragon and the Phoenix: Episode 5, Heaven Bleeds > > > http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/dap_ep05.php > > > > Currently I am working on d20 to Unisystem > > conversions, if they get > > published (it is for something in particular that I > > can't talk about) then > > I'll let know the book they are in. If not, maybe I > > can post them. > > > > Tim > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Mystara RPG Discussion > > [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On > > > Behalf Of Havard Faanes > > > Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2004 10:07 AM > > > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > > > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known > > World > > > > > > > > > --- Web Warlock wrote: > > > > Speaking of which I have recently retconed all > > my > > > > old Mystara adventures and > > > > I am running them using Eden's Unisystem rules > > > > (WitchCraft and such) and it > > > > has been great fun. Eden's page is here > > > > http://www.edenstudios.net > > > > > > Very interesting! I really like Eden's games, > > though I > > > prefer the unisystem variant used in Buffy/Angel > > > (cinematic) over the one used in WitchCraft. Feel > > free > > > to share your conversions with the rest of us.... > > :) > > > > > > Havard > > > > > > > > > ===== > > > *** > > > Håvard R. Faanes > > > www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************************** > > 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. > > > > > > ===== > *** > Håvard R. Faanes > www.stud.ntnu.no/~havardfa > > ______________________________________________________ > Få den nye Yahoo! Messenger på http://no.messenger.yahoo.com/ > Nye ikoner og bakgrunner, webkamera med superkvalitet og dobbelt så morsom > > ******************************************************************** > 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: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 23:41:46 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Oooooooold capaign and Wiki (was: Hello all) At 01:39 12/08/2004, you wrote: > (We actually had a poll about early Mystara-converts. > > Someone had started in very early 80's without significant stops. Anyone?) > > That would be me. > Campaign started in 1984. Man, I admire you! Serious. I'll say one day "Campaign started in 1995" and people will say "WOW! 50 years ago!". (snip) > I have the Next Gen campaign totally documented in a chronicle/log format. > I've meant to post it hear before, but never pulled the trigger. I will do > so, soon, segment by segment, but I'll need to write a background 1st, to > put everything in context. The overall campaign log is more like notes with > some significant gaps. The HW is pretty well documented, but only on paper, > and there is nothing at all for the last stretch of games. So, look for the > 1st of this series by the end of the month. See, if it's only YOU writing, maybe a plain site would be a way to go i.e. it would be good enough, therefore no Wiki would be required. > And btw, just what the hell *is* a WIKI? > > Dan Hey, Dan, I could explain for dozens of lines, but just go to http://scg.levels.unisa.edu.au/src/pmwiki.php and see for yourself. Please note that there are many modes: "view", "history" and "edit" for instance, which are: - view: the default... just read/browse - history: modifications/edit history - edit: edit pages (after you edit, you click "save" and it saves and automaticaly goes to "view" mode). I have just received a msg from Peter (the guy from Adelaide who is writing the book with me). Its first lines read: "Vini, I have changed the group name and page title on the top line of each page so that they are no longer (useless) links." See? We send msgs to each other telling what we have changed lately. What do you guys think? Develop material using such a tool would be a big leap for us. When considered done, materail could be sent to Vaults as usual. We (Peter and myself), OTOH, are doing something more like "The Wiki *IS* VoP" i.e. we are not sending the material anywhere, the Wiki is the virtual book itself. Maybe after it is considered finished, we publish it on paper. Regards, vini ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:33:29 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Re: (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch At 06:13 12/08/2004, you wrote: > > Other interesting guys worthy of research: Pedro > > Alvares Cabral > > (Portuguese, discovered Brazil), Cristovao Colombo > > (I'd like to know how > > the ITALIAN call him), Americo Vespucio, Pizarro, > > Montezuma... > > Cristoforo Colombo Grazie. > Amerigo Vespucci Thanks. > Sebastiano Caboto Whooooo? > 8-) > > Iulius Sergius Scaevola > Captain of the XXth Cohort > Port Lucinius, Thyatis TIA, vini ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:47:15 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Re: Christopher Columbus did not discover anything...(or, how to not be a racist in speech) I liked your msg, Thibault. Pls read more below. At 07:50 12/08/2004, you wrote: > I would like to point out something that is insulting > to natives of non-occidental countries. And there is > no reason to be since they have not done us any harm. On the contrary. > It is very wrong (in many ways) to say that > Christopher Columbus (or anyone else by the > way)discovered any part of America since it was not > void of any human population at the time. Did you know that when the first Portuguese came to colonise Brazil in 1530= =20 the Indian (Amerindian, Braziliandian, whatever) chief was called=20 "Tibiri=E7=E1" ("Tibirissah" for you who can't read accented chars) and that= =20 such man was my=20 grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-gran= d-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-father?=20 Serious. I'm "Brazilian to the last drop" I might say. That means I'm indian,=20 Portuguese, Italian, Black - and God knows what else. All that COOL mixture= =20 and people always ask me if I'm Arabian overseas. Darned Mendel! > It is a lack of respect for those who were living > there to deprive them of their humanity by saying this > in such an awkward (if not racist) way (at the time > they were not considered human, but now...we know > better right?) Thanks Holy Mother Church. > It would fair to say that the first European to reach > America was him (or anyone else..). And it was not anyway. Same thing about Pedro Alvares Cabral ("discored"=20 Brazil in 1500). More to the point of "Invaded". Funny thing is that when=20 the Dutch came some 150 years later (Maurice de Nassau), the Portuguese=20 used that strong, terrible word... Dutch *invaders*. Go reckon... > It does not cost us a lot to think and speak right. No > one would use the "n" word because it is offensive and > carries a lot of racist issues with it, so why not > watching more carefully what we say. Let's speak > right. > > > Thibault Sarlat > Mystara Cartographer > (living with a French Western Indies woman for 8 > years) The only "Western Indies" I know is Dutch "Western Indies Company" (Nassau= =20 once again...). We do not use that expression in Portuguese. Is it the same= =20 as "Amerindian"? > PS: I learned this during a trip in the western Indies where the locals=20 > taught me this. Did they told you about Anhanguera, who "set the Brazilian rivers afire"?=20 What about Pizarro? What about Brazil killing 95% of the male population of= =20 Paraguai in a pointless war? Too bad there was no Michael Moore then... = :-/ Thibault, do you live in French Guyana? All the best, vini ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 01:59:27 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Re: (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch At 09:14 12/08/2004, you wrote: > Hi, > > I'm from a little place called 's-Gravenzande in the utmost southern point > of the province of South Holland. 's-Gravenzande ? > And Sylver is my screen-name, my real name is Bart. > > I'm not much of an active follower of the discussions, since most of them > are not about the savage coast, though I read them all. > > My main interests are with the Herathian magiocraty, a large country > populated by the mysterious spiderfolk Araneas. Several of my quests > > are situated in this marvelous piece of fantasy country, mainly based upon > the Arabic culture. In portuguese, spider is "aranha". > The Dutch indeed have a tumultuous history as it was always a seafaring > country with many connections to eastern and African countries. > > Though not something to be proud of, we were one of the main colonial > powers at the time of the dutch 'golden age', trading all kind of exotic > 'goods'. Well, at least they were much more of a trading than a warring people. They sort of waited for the Portuguese to find the land and then put an outpost there to trade stuff. If they traded slaves, yes, of course it was bad. Did you guys know that the Portuguese tried to enslave the Brazilindians (XVII century) before bringing people from Africa? Up to theses days our culture has a lot of things from African culture: cults, music (e.g. samba) etc. > During this time many exploration were done and the dutch 'discovered many > new lands', Abel Tasman for example found the Tasman Islands (west of > > Australia) and Polyponesia (East of Australia), but somehow managed to > miss Australia completely :-). > > Right now I'm playing as a pc in the Savage Baronies part of the Ssavage > Coast, based (roughly) on the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, > though with a combination of 'dark' and 'black' inhabitants. Well, I live in a former Portuguese colony and I know I have a lot to help you with. Please feel free to contact me on vini@usp.br BTW who first introduced the "gaucho" people? It is VERY Argentinian and south-Brazilian! Weird to see it ni a RPG setting! Using bolas, pocket handkerchief aruond the neck, moustaches, eating BBQs made in big holes in the ground etc... I once spoke a bit about that folk here - at the old list, actually. > Time to get some work done, Come on, man! First things first! RPG, of course... > Regards, > Bart Best wishes, Bart and people. vini > -----Original Message----- > From: Vinicius R. de Moraes > [mailto:vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR] > Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 17:11 > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch > > COOL! > Where from? > > Is Sylver your PC's name? > > I was wondering why no Dutch participated on the thread about a Dutch > kingdom in Mystara. Around middle-May this year, remember? > > BTW that was one of the MOST amazing threads on this list ever - and that > is saying a lot! How cultured and creative are the guys on this list! > > For the guys who like the XVI century as much as I do*: Maurice de Nassau's > birthday was exactly 400 years ago. He changed many things on that century > by himself. Today we have many descendents of Dutch in NE Brazil, Bahamas' > capital city is clled Nassau and Aruba (and of course Dutch Antillas) is to > this day Dutch possessions. Suriname not anymore. ABN/AMRO is having a big > exposition about it him in Brazil (maybe in Holland as well). > > * And the Iberic, Dutch, English navigations and discoveries etc. If you, > Sylver, are a SC DM you love it to! I do because it is the beginning of my > country as we know it. > > Other interesting guys worthy of research: Pedro Alvares Cabral > (Portuguese, discovered Brazil), Cristovao Colombo (I'd like to know how > the ITALIAN call him), Americo Vespucio, Pizarro, Montezuma... > > Yours, > vini > > At 11:09 11/08/2004, you wrote: > > >Hi there, > > > >At least one Dutch on the list, long-term Savage Coast player and DM. > > > >Regards, > >Sylver > > > > -----Original Message----- > >From: Vinicius R. de Moraes > >[<mailto:vinimagus@TERRA.COM.BR>mailto:vin > imagus@TERRA.COM.BR] > >Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 16:01 > >To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > >Subject: [MYSTARA] (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch > > > >At 09:34 11/08/2004, you wrote: > > >Okay, the other Chris is not from France, he is from NZ? > > > > From Wellington. But I would better let him speak for himself, such a > nice > >guy! > > > >Actually this is an interesting apect of the world (and this list): see, > >once I bought materrial from Leroy and tried with all my strength to > >convince him he was not Yankee but DUTCH (any Dutch on the list BTW?). How > >DARES he? "Leroy Van Camp III"... come on! Now he is going to tell me that > >Van Halen is American? :-P > > > > >No wonder we can't vote in Florida ;-) > > > >Of course you can! You voted for "the other guy" (the one who really won, > >hehehe). > > > > >Its a good thing we are not trying to tell if your British or NZ by the > > >accents. Yall might think I am from the South. > > > >Well, I'm Brazilian - not Portuguese. > >("But if I was, there would be nothing wrong with that!!!" - Jerry > >Seinfeld, about not being gay) :-p > > > >Regards, > >vini ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 02:08:04 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Re: Hello back at you At 10:09 12/08/2004, you wrote: > Welcome to the MML! > > << Tell us a bit about your specific interests in Mystara. I mean, which > game do you play (OD&D, AD&D, 3e)? Which time period do you prefer (the AC > 1000 time of the gazetteers, the time after WOTI (Wrath of the Immortals) in > the PWAs (Poor Wizard's Almanacs)? Do you actually play in or run (as GM) a > Mystara campaign, and if yes, what is happening in it? >> > > I never answered these questions myself, when I joined the MML. > > I run an annual Mystara game. I use D&D 3E. > > The game started in the Fort Runnels, on the Republic of Darokin border with > the Broken Lands. It was originally set in 981 AC, at the time of the goblin > army invasion. > > That original adventure was based on X11 - Saga of the Shadow Lord. This was > followed up by an adventure based on Atlas Games' Thicker Than Blood for > Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.! That adventure was set in a private school for the Night > City's social elite. I converted it so it was set at the Great School of > Magic in Glantri City. How? > Both adventures were tied into each other, with the > second adventure being a direct sequel to the first. Did YOU make the link? BTW did you know that Dave Arneson made an adventure for Shadowrun? > If anyone's interested in a summary of the storyline, let me know. Send it, man! > Cheers, > > Neil Regards, vini ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 02:25:25 -0300 From: "Vinicius R. de Moraes" Subject: Re: Moving back to topic ( was: Christopher Columbus...) At 17:41 12/08/2004, you wrote: > --- Eric Anondson wrote: > > There *was* a really interesting subject in that > > post that was just > > blown by before the club of "racism" was swung > > about. Why no M-Dutch > > nations in setting? Or where should one be found? Does it mean "Medieval Dutch"? Anyway was there a "Medieval Dutch"? I mean recently - last decades - you can find NL on the globe/world map. But centuries earlier (and remember that Europe's map changes almost yearly!) was there a place calle NL or HOL? Maurice de Nassau (who should be called "Maurice VAN Nassau" instead, but anyway...) was born exactly 400 years ago and is called "Dutch". Maybe the Dutch guy can helpus out here... > Yeah, lets get the list back on topic before this > escalates to a full blown flame war. > > Dutch inspired cultures can be found on Oostdok in the > Hollow World, the Flaems of Glantri, and in Darokin, > though Darokin is based on the 13 colonies, I believe > their culture was quite quite heavily influenced by > the Dutch back in those days. Hmmm... putting more > emphasis on the Dutch elements of Daroking might be > interesting IMO, perhaps with stuff from Dutch or > US/Dutch legends as found in the works of Washington > Irving; Ie Rip Van Vinkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow > (Recently made into an excellent Tim Burton Movie) > etc. What do you think? > > If we wanted to add a fully Dutch inspired culture in > Mystara, where would it be located? I'm not sure. IMO > it would have to be near the more "civilized" (another > problematic word there) areas, like The Known World > region, the Alphatian Sea, or near the Savage Coast. > Ofcourse, the Hollow World is also a possibility, > maybe near the Merry Pirate lands? Hey, Havard! Hadn't you proposed that back in May? I remember the discussion back then was pretty good with good thoughts about if being Dutch is "using weird shoes", "being fond of the sea commerce", "having peaceful life and windmills" etc. There was even someone stating that the SHIRES were sort of Dutch (because of the latter). > Havard, > definately not anti-Norwegian ;) vini, Amerindian, African and European. ;-P ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 22:48:06 -0700 From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World --- Francisco Navarro wrote: > 1. Are there beast-weres in Mystara (knowing we have > tons of > were-beasts running all over the place)? Technically, the Mystaran Wererat would be a Beast-Were (the "original" wererat was a rat that could take human form. PC4 introduced the "Greater Wererat" that was a human inflicted with rat lycanthropy.) Aside from that, there haven't been any others mentioned. > 2. Is there a significant difference between the two > (i.e. were-beasts > can be ok, but beast-weres are inherently evil, and > must be killed)? Don't think so. I'd just say the main difference is that the beast-were is, at core, an intelligent animal, and thus probably more prone to carnal/instinctual behavior and less "deep thought." Of course, the same can be said for many humans. :) > 3. Would Zirchev be favorably disposed to one > (were-beasts) and opposed > to the other (beast-weres)? Good question. Actually, I could argue it either way. A) He favors beast-weres because they are closer to the "animal" world, and he loves the animals. B) He favors the were-beasts because they are humans who are becoming more like the animal world (by taking on the traits of animals) and are thus "bettering" themselves. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 11 Aug 2004 to 12 Aug 2004 (#2004-164) ****************************************************************