Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 12 Aug 2004 to 13 Aug 2004 (#2004-165) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 14/08/2004, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 16 messages totalling 1293 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Daily Digest, word wrap and HTML 2. Moving back to topic ( was: Christopher Columbus...) 3. Hello back at you 4. Mystara Dutch 5. Holy Swords of the Known World (5) 6. (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch 7. Modern Mystara (was: Holy Swords) 8. Blackmoor Preview on Silven Crossroads 9. Petran Shield 10. Hurricane 11. Forgotten Migrations? (was: Re: [MYSTARA] Columbus did not discover anything...) 12. 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: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 13:27:27 +0100 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Neil=20Marsden?= Subject: Daily Digest, word wrap and HTML Hey, Mystarans, Is it just me, or did yesterday's daily digest have a drop in format cohesion? Partly to blame myself, since I posted using Outlook Express (wraps at 76 characters). However, some Mystarans even posted using HTML instead of plain text. For the sake of us getting the daily digest, could we all try to take these things into consideration? Try and avoid word wrap and HTML. Thanks, Neil PS: Sorry if it seems I'm being an ass, but yesterday's daily digest was unreadable for a large part. ===== N. M. n.e.marsden@btinternet.com Backup 101563.52@talk21.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 15:29:30 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Moving back to topic ( was: Christopher Columbus...) --- "Vinicius R. de Moraes" wrote: > Does it mean "Medieval Dutch"? M-Dutch would probably mean Mystara 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". I'm no expert on Dutch history, but I think Holland has been around at least since the 1500s, right? Before that you had Flanders, which tended to change between British and French dominance. Anyways, I generally associate with the Dutch would be in existance in the 1500s-1700s, a long enough period to place some of it into Mystara. Wooden shoes, Wind Mills, tulips, religious and political tolerance, trade oriented, sailing etc are all clicheic traits I associate with the Dutch (This is not a flame bait, just random generalization of my own prejudice;). > 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). Vinnie, yeah I seem to recall pariticipating in such a discussion not that long ago. Cant remember exactly what I said back then, I think I was more sceptical then, but I find myself warming up to the idea now ;P 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: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 15:31:29 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Hello back at you --- "Vinicius R. de Moraes" wrote: > BTW did you know that Dave Arneson made an adventure > for Shadowrun? Care to provide some details on this one? :) 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: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 10:20:02 -0400 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Mystara Dutch Viewing these posts, I am warming up to the idea as well. Perhaps not putting a new M-Dutch country in, but seeing one of the current nations turning into the M-Dutch. The Five Shires is a prime candidate. Regions close to the Shires would be good for areas like a M-Flanders (around Southern Darokin) and a M-Belgium (the new Western Karameikos, with Von Hendricks gone). ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:27:13 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Brannan, sorry :) Looking forward to seeing your Victorian Unisystem book too. I've always been fascinated with that era. And I will definately pick up Dungeons & Zombies, I have been waiting for that one for a long while. I thought Vey's Sword & Sorcery pdf was good, so since youre telling me he is doing D&Z for All Flesh, I'm expecting the wait to be worth it :) I didn't mention it but I also own Armageddon. I hadn't though about using it for modelling Mystaras Immortals, but now I'll look into it. Don't worry too much about your Mystara being different. IMO there is no one true version of Mystara, each interpretation (with fiddling) can be very interesting and used to enrich the campaigns of the rest of us. I remember the Netbook of Witches for AD&D, but never got around to reading it since I never used those rules. I'll check it out now though aswell as the D20 version which will be even more interesting. Your idea of a modern Mystara is interesting. What would that setting be like? I remember Dragon Magazine doing a Modern Greyhawk a couple of years ago. I think unisystem or d20 Modern would probably be the best systems to try and model such a setting. Havard --- Web Warlock skrev: > 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. > > > > ******************************************************************** > 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 17:25:38 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?la=20Volpe?= Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World By the way, Donald, your "Sword of Halav" has already made an appearance in my campaign...when I have a bit more time I'll explain it to you and to the list, if someone wishes!!! Giulio aka Iulius Sergius Scaevola Captain of the XXth Cohort Port Lucinius, Thyatis ____________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Companion - Scarica gratis la toolbar di Ricerca di Yahoo! http://companion.yahoo.it ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 15:35:46 +0800 From: Francisco Navarro Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World --Apple-Mail-1-258712763 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed Hail Mystarans! I've rethought the concept of the last sword, the Beast Stalker (the=20 holy sword associated to Zirchev). I also remembered that the point of=20= this article is to have a distinct Mystara flavor, so instead of trying=20= to fit in/force the issue of beast-weres and were-beast into Mystara=20 setting, I decided to be true to Mystara flavor: What is the Immortal=20 Zirchev all about? How would a holy sword dedicated to him work for his=20= cause? Thus here is the new version of the holy sword linked with Zirchev: Beast-heart Tamer Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the=20 beast-heart tamer is intended for a ranger or forester instead. At=20 first glance, this weapon appears to be an ordinary hunting blade.=20 Closer examination will reveal that it is actually made of cold forged=20= iron, and magical 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 great hero=20= Kassiphon, a skilled hunter who became a protector of animals and=20 wildlife, especially against human aggression. According the legend,=20 the Immortal Huntsman gave Kassiphon a blade that could =93tame the=20 beasts in the hearts of men.=94 Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will=20= find that it can detect evil against animals at will, and it can cast=20= baleful polymorph (3x/day) against such evildoers. Also, an opponent=20 defeated with a beast-heart tamer will be polymorphed into an animal=20 befitting his personality or his misdeeds against wildlife. This lasts=20= until a service to Zirchev and his creatures is performed by the=20 evildoer and atonement can be cast from the sword. 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-heart tamer sword. The clergy has never officially=20 revealed how many beast-heart tamer they have confirmed to be real, but=20= it is widely known that at least two of them are not in their=20 possession. One is in the hands of an adventuring Northman ranger who=20 has joined the cult of Vuller in Vestland. Another lies in a forbidden=20= reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in=20= the lupin nation of Renardy. On 12 Aug, 2004, at 8:22 PM, Francisco Navarro wrote: [Original article snipped to keep just the part under discussion] > 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=20 > examination will reveal that it is actually made of cold forged iron,=20= > and magical 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=20 > will find it blessed with the ability to detect beastweres once a day,=20= > and that it works as a bane of beastweres (+2 attack bonus and extra=20= > 2d6 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=20= > it is widely known that at least two of them are not in their=20 > possession. One is in the hands of an adventuring Northman ranger who=20= > has joined the cult of Vuller in Vestland. Another lies unused in the=20= > reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, = in=20 > the lupin nation of Renardy. > =20= --Apple-Mail-1-258712763 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=WINDOWS-1252 ArialHail Mystarans! I've rethought the concept of the last sword, the Beast Stalker (the holy sword associated to Zirchev). I also remembered that the point of this article is to have a distinct Mystara flavor, so instead of trying to fit in/force the issue of beast-weres and were-beast into Mystara setting, I decided to be true to Mystara flavor: What is the Immortal Zirchev all about? How would a holy sword dedicated to him work for his cause? Thus here is the new version of the holy sword linked with Zirchev: Beast-heart Tamer Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the beast-heart tamer 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 great hero Kassiphon, a skilled hunter who became a protector of animals and wildlife, especially against human aggression. According the legend, the Immortal Huntsman gave Kassiphon a blade that could =93tame the beasts in the hearts of men.=94 Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will find that it can detect evil against animals at will, and it can cast baleful polymorph (3x/day) against such evildoers. Also, an opponent defeated with a beast-heart tamer will be polymorphed into an animal befitting his personality or his misdeeds against wildlife. This lasts until a service to Zirchev and his creatures is performed by the evildoer and atonement can be cast from the sword.=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-heart tamer sword. The clergy has never officially revealed how many beast-heart tamer 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 in a forbidden reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin nation of Renardy. On 12 Aug, 2004, at 8:22 PM, Francisco Navarro wrote: [Original article snipped to keep just the part under discussion] 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. = --Apple-Mail-1-258712763-- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 17:41:02 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?la=20Volpe?= Subject: Re: (Re: Re: [MYSTARA] Kiwis and Aussies) and Dutch > >Sebastiano Caboto > > Whooooo? He and his father Giovanni (from Venezia) were the first european explorers to arrive in Terranova and Labrador; Sebastiano was the first one to "discover" Hudson Bay, and one of the first to "explore" Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. To Joe Kelly: Amerigo Vespucci was not portuguese but italian, hailed from Firenze. Giulio ____________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Companion - Scarica gratis la toolbar di Ricerca di Yahoo! http://companion.yahoo.it ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 10:46:13 -0500 From: Web Warlock Subject: Modern Mystara (was: Holy Swords) Sorry that last email was a mess. I was at work. I seem to remember there was a post here around the time that that Modern Greyhawk Dragon came out (I still have that one, great ideas) about someone's take on a Modern Mystara. I don't know about the rest of you, but my Modern Mystara would have flying cars. Imagine a world where magic and tech could grow together (but maybe not always work together) and let in simmer for a 1000 years. I'd be really interested in hear some other ideas and speculations. Tim > -----Original Message----- > From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM]On > Behalf Of Havard Faanes > Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 9:27 AM > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known World > > > Brannan, sorry :) > > Looking forward to seeing your Victorian Unisystem > book too. I've always been fascinated with that era. > And I will definately pick up Dungeons & Zombies, I > have been waiting for that one for a long while. I > thought Vey's Sword & Sorcery pdf was good, so since > youre telling me he is doing D&Z for All Flesh, I'm > expecting the wait to be worth it :) > > I didn't mention it but I also own Armageddon. I > hadn't though about using it for modelling Mystaras > Immortals, but now I'll look into it. > > Don't worry too much about your Mystara being > different. IMO there is no one true version of > Mystara, each interpretation (with fiddling) can be > very interesting and used to enrich the campaigns of > the rest of us. > > I remember the Netbook of Witches for AD&D, but never > got around to reading it since I never used those > rules. I'll check it out now though aswell as the D20 > version which will be even more interesting. > > Your idea of a modern Mystara is interesting. What > would that setting be like? I remember Dragon Magazine > doing a Modern Greyhawk a couple of years ago. I think > unisystem or d20 Modern would probably be the best > systems to try and model such a setting. > > Havard > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 11:53:43 -0400 From: Dustin Clingman Subject: Blackmoor Preview on Silven Crossroads Hi Folks!=20 =20 Blackmoor is back and in hand. How many Mystarans are going to be at = GenCon? =20 Also, we just got an email about the first Preview of the book over on Silven Crossroads. Check it out: = http://www.silven.com/adnd.asp?case=3Dshow &id=3D395 =20 Dustin=20 -- Dustin Clingman Zeitgeist Games =20 =20 _____ =20 From: Mystara RPG Discussion [mailto:MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM] On = Behalf Of Francisco Navarro Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 3:36 AM To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known World =20 Hail Mystarans! I've rethought the concept of the last sword, the Beast Stalker (the = holy sword associated to Zirchev). I also remembered that the point of this article is to have a distinct Mystara flavor, so instead of trying to = fit in/force the issue of beast-weres and were-beast into Mystara setting, I decided to be true to Mystara flavor: What is the Immortal Zirchev all about? How would a holy sword dedicated to him work for his cause? Thus here is the new version of the holy sword linked with Zirchev: Beast-heart Tamer Most sacred swords are meant to be wielded by a paladin, but the = beast-heart tamer 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 great hero Kassiphon, a = skilled hunter who became a protector of animals and wildlife, especially = against human aggression. According the legend, the Immortal Huntsman gave = Kassiphon a blade that could =93tame the beasts in the hearts of men.=94 Thus a follower of Zirchev who wields this cold iron long sword +1 will = find that it can detect evil against animals at will, and it can cast baleful polymorph (3x/day) against such evildoers. Also, an opponent defeated = with a beast-heart tamer will be polymorphed into an animal befitting his personality or his misdeeds against wildlife. This lasts until a service = to Zirchev and his creatures is performed by the evildoer and atonement can = be cast from the sword.=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-heart tamer sword. The clergy has never officially revealed how = many beast-heart tamer 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 in a forbidden reliquary of the Saimpts M=E2tin = and Malinois Cathedral in Rochefort, in the lupin nation of Renardy. On 12 Aug, 2004, at 8:22 PM, Francisco Navarro wrote: [Original article snipped to keep just the part under discussion] 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. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 13:08:45 -0400 From: Donald Eric Kesler Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Hello, You know I want to hear about it. Please share. On a related note, I finally got around to buying a copy of Hail the Heroes. All and all, I was disappointed. The dungeon itself was fine; however, I have never cared for the CDs. I would have preferred more paper handouts. Also, why does the adventure center around the Shield of Halav? In my opinion it should either be the Sword of Halav or the Shield of Petra. After all, Petra's symbol is a round shield with a heavy central boss. In my campaign, I worked up the OD&D weapon mastery chart for the Petran Shield. Basically, it is a shield weapon that is blunt instead of bladed and is the favored weapon of the clerics of Petra. I'll share the details in another post. I also did not care for the tie in to the Dragonlord of Mystara novel. It makes for an odd fit if you ask me. I also don't like how the adventure just ends after the party recovers the Shield of Halav. This is where the adventure really should get started, with all the various factions in Karameikos attempting to get their hands on the item. There was one important possability that the adventure failed cover. What if the party decides that it would be in the best interests of everyone concerned to present the shield to Duke Stephen Karameikos? I really don't see where one has to be a follower of the Cult of Halav in order to arrive at this conclusion. Also, I can easily see Duke Stephen placing the item on permanent loan to the Church of Traladar. This would allow him to win even greater support amongst the Traladarans without loosing any of the support that he has amongst the Thyatian segment of the population. Back to the Sword of Halav. A funny thing happened in my current campaign. I modified B10 a wee bit. Instead of the Iron Ring simply being out to loot the riches of the Lost Valley, they were on a quest to recover the Sword of Halav that was located in the Temple of Pflarr. By the way, this really worked well. Shortly after the party recovered the sword, a huge debate broke out over what to do with the sword. It was great. All the players really got into it. This debate was all forgotten when one of the PCs decided to do a bit of magical experimentation. She placed a bag of holding into a bag of devouring. I ruled that this resulted in a rip in time and space. The entire party was sucked into this hole and deposited in X2 Castle Amber. I do ramble. Regards and Best Wishes, Donald Eric Kesler http://www.geocities.com/heroclixleagueofathens/ > From: la Volpe > Reply-To: Mystara RPG Discussion > To: MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Holy Swords of the Known World > Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 17:25:38 +0200 > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Received: from mc4-f27.hotmail.com ([65.54.190.163]) by mc4-s19.hotmail.com > with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6824); Fri, 13 Aug 2004 08:44:11 -0700 > Received: from oracle.wizards.com ([209.221.142.150]) by > mc4-f27.hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.0.2195.6824); Fri, 13 Aug 2004 > 08:44:00 -0700 > Received: from lotus (10.12.8.13) by oracle.wizards.com (LSMTP for Windows > NT v1.1b) with SMTP id <0.012F1466@oracle.wizards.com>; Fri, 13 Aug 2004 > 8:43:13 -0700 > Received: from ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM by ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM (LISTSERV-TCP/IP > release 1.8d) with spool id 39713341 for > MYSTARA-L@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM; Fri, 13 Aug 2004 08:25:38 -0700 > Received: from web41010.mail.yahoo.com (66.218.93.9) by oracle.wizards.com > (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1b) with SMTP id > <0.012F1447@oracle.wizards.com>; Fri, 13 Aug 2004 8:25:38 -0700 > Received: from [82.105.207.211] by web41010.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Fri, > 13 Aug 2004 17:25:38 CEST > X-Message-Info: 820stLNiepRQF67a1MOfRvq+4Gg0KRyAzBYeR7GyMTU= > Message-ID: <20040813152538.27481.qmail@web41010.mail.yahoo.com> > In-Reply-To: > Return-Path: owner-mystara-l@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM > X-OriginalArrivalTime: 13 Aug 2004 15:44:00.0766 (UTC) > FILETIME=[5A6AC1E0:01C4814C] > > By the way, Donald, your "Sword of Halav" has already > made an appearance in my campaign...when I have a bit > more time I'll explain it to you and to the list, if > someone wishes!!! > > Giulio > aka > Iulius Sergius Scaevola > Captain of the XXth Cohort > Port Lucinius, Thyatis > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > Yahoo! Companion - Scarica gratis la toolbar di Ricerca di Yahoo! > http://companion.yahoo.it > > ******************************************************************** > 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. > _________________________________________________________________ Check out Election 2004 for up-to-date election news, plus voter tools and more! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 14:39:03 -0400 From: Donald Eric Kesler Subject: Petran Shield Hello All, As promised, here is the OD&D information that I use in my campaign for the Petran Shield. I am also working on a legend that explains why the Clerics of Zirchev use a bow while the Clerics of Petra do not. According to the Song of Halav, Petra is the creator of the bow. Why are her cleric not allowed to use this weapon? Why do the clerics of Zirchev use a bow? The truth (or legend) will be revealed in a future post. PETRAN SHIELD This weapon appears very similiar to a typical round shield. Closer inspection will reveal that it features an unusually heavy steel rim and boss. (Antique versions of this weapon feature these same components fashioned out of bronze.) Both of these elements, the heavy boss and rim, add an additional five pounds to the weight of this shield (Encumbrance: 150 coin). Typically, the flat wooden surface of this shield weapon is covered in a thin layer of bronze. Quite often this area is etched with images inspired by the Song of Halav. The Traldar stopping the Beast-Men invasion at the Volaga river is the most popular image. Both the bronze and steel portions of this weapon are polished to a mirror like brilliance. Shield, Petran Cost: 50 gp Encumbrance: 150 cn [P=A] Level Damage Defense Special Effects BS 1D4 A: -1AC - SK 1D6 A: -1AC Second Attack EX 2D4 A: -2AC Second Attack MS P=3D4 A: -3AC Second Attack + Deflect (1) S=2D4+1 GM P=4D4 A:-4 AC Second Attack + Deflect (2) S=3d4 The Petran Shield is a medium sized, one-haned melee weapon. It is never thrown in battle. Generally, it is carried in the off-hand, and allows a cleric of Petra to make a second attack in melee combat. Unlike other shield weapons, the Petran shield is a very sturdy weapon and there is no need to check for breakage. Also unlike other shield weapons, the off hand penalty is not negated until the wielder attains skilled or greater level of weapon mastery. Both the weapon itself and the training required to effectively employ this weapon are not readily available. Knowledge of the mastery skills required to use this weapon are considered sacred by the followers of Petra and would never be shared with those outside of the clergy. Some Paladins of Petra have acquired the skills, but these are rare. At any point after a cleric of Petra attains third level, he or she may ask a Patriarch or Matriarch of the faith to perform the ceremony of the Priest or Priestess. This ceremony serves two functions. First, it it recognizes that the cleric is no longer a Novice of the faith and bestows upon him or her the rights and duties that accompnaies being a Priest or Priestess of the Church of Traladara. Secondly, the newly ordained Priest or Priestess magically gains a basic level of mastery with the Petran shield. This free level of mastery does not count against the normal number of weapon mastery choices available. It is possible that the Novice is considered unworthy to receive this ceremony. This happens when a cleric has comitted acts that raise questions about his or her dedication to either Petra or the Church of Traladara. Naturally, it might be possible to trick the mortals involved, but Petra herself would not be so easily deceived. During these rare instances, the Novice will be instructed to perform some sort of quest of atonement in order to prove his or her worthiness to receive this gift from the Immortals. Higher levels of weapon mastery with the Petran Shield may only be learned from higher level Clerics of Petra. Naturally, anyone who has fallen out of Petra's good graces will not be able to attain higher levels of mastery. In extreme cases, the offending Cleric may be stripped of the weapon mastery levels he or she has already attained. Some enchanted version of this shield are present in Karameikos; however, these are very rare. Low level parties might be asked to go on quests to recover lost Petran Shields that bear an enchantment. Clerics of Petra would not wish to see such a weapon in the hands of the unfaithful and would seek to recover such items for the Church of Traladara. Regards and Best Wishes, Donald Eric Kesler http://www.geocities.com/heroclixleagueofathens/ _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! hthttp://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 15:03:40 -0400 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Hurricane See you guys next week, just got my orders to evacuate, due to hurricane Charlie. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 12:17:00 -0700 From: Derek Adam Subject: Forgotten Migrations? (was: Re: [MYSTARA] Columbus did not discover anything...) [snip] > The discovery of America, as Thibaut says, > is relative to the people(s) who send the explorer(s). How true. > 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) Here's another: I've heard the Chinese may have circumnavigated the globe as early as the 1420's. See: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/006054094X/qid=1092422026/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-4339687-0258350?v=glance&s=books Menzies suggests that the Europeans were using Chinese maps when they went to the Americas. Interestingly, all official record of this exploration was expunged by the new Chinese Emperor immediately afterward as a complete policy reversal to isolationism. Still the way Chinese calculated longitude is pretty compelling. Anyway ... To relate this back to Mystara, has anyone considered what unknown human migrations and unrecorded explorations may have done to the course of History as the Immortals Know It ... and what it means to your campaigns? Adventurers often go delving into what would be archaeological sites ... . Some example "forgotten" human migrations from published sources: Nithians to Traladara, Minrothad, Isle of Dawn, etc. The megalithic artisans in the Hollow World (cf. HW adventure modules). Come to think of it ... where did the human population of Isle of Dread come from? What other "forgotten" migrations are in published sources? Anyone make up their own? Anything fun you've dropped into the "Known World" as a result? :) Auld Skald ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 14:20:35 -0700 From: Derek Adam Subject: Re: Hello All > From: The Stalker > > On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 00:11:12 -0300, Vinicius R. de Moraes > wrote: > > >At 22:25 10/08/2004, you wrote: > >>On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 16:19:30 -0700, Keene Hammond > >>wrote: > (snip) > > > >Not bad, but not very informative... if one is used to Gaz info, FRealms > >books etc you just can't take books whose level of info is shallow. > > > [snip] > > > >> >I now have a game here in western New York where I am > >> >the DM. > >> > >>Cool. I'm a DM in my own campaign too, though it's going to end before > >>too long. > > > >WHY? Pls do not tell me that you are stopping! > > > >(Chicken, McFly?) > > > > Tsk, tsk - "Meddle not in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and > quick to anger", as Frodo would say. Frodo? Wasn't that actually the Technomage in Babylon 5? ;) > Still, my reasons for considering a > stop is that the characters are all fairly high-level. When all characters > are around level 15, it becomes difficult to challenge them without > straining campaign credibility (I mean, orcs suddenly don't disappear from > Mystara because the characters can plow through 100+ of them, right?). > Besides, my campaign has been running without stop for eight years > straight now, so I'm beginning to have my fill of Mystara as a DM, in > which case I find it best to take a break from it before I begin a new > campaign with new characters on level 1. In the meantime I'm considering > playing some classic Call of Cthulhu, but I'm just quitting Mystara - I'll > still be here on list, adding stuff here and there, and probably doing > stuff for the Mystaran Almanacs as well. That level of play can still be interesting, though for the characters to be challenged it needs to move into a different realm -- politics, the planes, etc. I've read an amazing example of how interesting a campaign can be (story-wise) that keeps characters challenged right up to and beyond Epic level ... Jenni M. or Rich D., can you remind me where to find that campaign story that starts with Eadric the Paladin sparing a succubus? Auld Skald ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:31:51 -0700 From: Derek Adam Subject: Re: Holy Swords of the Known World Loved this article Francisco! A question, though about the Beast Stalker ... > 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. Zirchev is known to favour human lycanthropes. Is this weapon strictly for finding and destroying animals that have taken on human characteristics b/c of lycanthropy? -Auld Skald ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 12 Aug 2004 to 13 Aug 2004 (#2004-165) ****************************************************************