Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 4 Apr 2004 to 6 Apr 2004 (#2004-79) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 07/04/2004, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 2 messages totalling 155 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Sorcerers in the Known World (2) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 20:07:07 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Havard=20Faanes?= Subject: Sorcerers in the Known World Sorcerers in the Known World I have been thinking about how the Sorcerer Class would fit into Mystara. Sorcerers are treated differently in various countries. Alphatia It is believed that all the original Alphatians were sorcerers. And being born a sorcerer is seen as a sign that you are a pure Alphatian. Sorcerers are along with Wizards, Clerics and Druids seen as the upper echelon of the noble class of the Empire, although other spell casters are also considered part of the gentry. Glantri Surprisingly, there are very few known sorcerers in the Kingdom of Magic. Sorcerers are hunted down in Glantri for research purposes, similarly to dwarves and halflings. The Wizards of Glantri seek to find the truth behind the origin of sorcerers and find ways to use this to their advantage. This has caused most sorcers to stay away from the Principalities. Darokin In Darokin, Sorcerers are viewed with distrust. It is believed that the magic which flows naturally through a sorcerers veins is a result of Demon blood. Sorcerers are rare in Darokin, but if detected they are often burned at the stakes. Karameikos Sorcerers are more common in Karameikos than would be expected. This country has few mages, but among the Traldar, this talent is quite common. Few have developed it begyond the basics however so higher level sorcerers are still rare. After the construction of the School of Magecraft, Terari brough several powerful sorcerers with him from Alphatia. Northern Reaches In the north, magic is distrusted. But as with Wizards, should the Sorcerer prove himself or herself worthy of respect and show that he will not use magic for deception, the Sorcerer may be respected. The so-called Wise Women of the Northern Reaches are believed to be Sorcerers. Ethengar The Hakomons of Ethengar are all Sorcerers. They are a feared, yet respected, though generally not considerer part of society. Many perform magical services in return for food and shelter from the tribes. Alfheim, Wendar and the Shadow Elf Realms Magic is natural to the elves. When a Sorcerer is born, it is met with delight and joy, as it is understood that the child will have a natural affinity for the magic that makes up a part of any elf's life. Sorcerers are common among the elves so it is not seen as so extraordinary as in many other countries. Thyatis Sorcerers are welcome in Thyatis and are treated no differently from wizards. Rockhome and the Five Shires Sorcerers are rare among the Dwarves and Halflings. For the Dwarves it is a source of great shame, and dwarves embracing any form of magic become outcast. Halflings usually welcome a sorcerer, especially if he can produce the much appreciated fireworks most halflings love. Athruagin Sorcerers are rare in Athruagin, but when one of the Clansmen discovers he has sorcerous abilities, it is seen as a gift from the Spirits. 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: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 13:54:53 -0700 From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Sorcerers in the Known World Havard Faanes wrote: > Glantri > Surprisingly, there are very few known sorcerers in > the Kingdom of Magic. Sorcerers are hunted down in > Glantri for research purposes, similarly to dwarves > and halflings. The Wizards of Glantri seek to find the > truth behind the origin of sorcerers and find ways to > use this to their advantage. This has caused most > sorcers to stay away from the Principalities. The only problem I have with this theory is that Glantri was founded by the Flaems (primarily) who are of Alphatian origin, and would likely (IMO) have been largely sorcerers themselves. Not to mention the Blackhill Alphatians and the Aalbanese of Alphatian descent. > Darokin > In Darokin, Sorcerers are viewed with distrust. It is > believed that the magic which flows naturally through > a sorcerers veins is a result of Demon blood. > Sorcerers are rare in Darokin, but if detected they > are often burned at the stakes. That's pretty harsh, especially for Darokin, which is usually a pretty tolerant nation. I could see this sort of behavior more in Karameikos, or maybe the borderland dominions of Darokin, but not quite so much in the Heartlands. > Northern Reaches > In the north, magic is distrusted. But as with > Wizards, should the Sorcerer prove himself or herself > worthy of respect and show that he will not use magic > for deception, the Sorcerer may be respected. The > so-called Wise Women of the Northern Reaches are > believed to be Sorcerers. I like this, in fact, I might even suggest that Sorcerers are more common than Wizards in the Northern Reaches (outside of Norrvik, anyway, with its magic school). Perhaps there is some vestige of elvish blood in the Northerners that accounts for sorcery? (There is one dominion in Vestland especially that is linked closely with elves in the past, and allusions to half-elves are made. Can't recall which one offhand, though.) > Alfheim, Wendar and the Shadow Elf Realms > Magic is natural to the elves. When a Sorcerer is > born, it is met with delight and joy, as it is > understood that the child will have a natural affinity > for the magic that makes up a part of any elf's life. > Sorcerers are common among the elves so it is not seen > as so extraordinary as in many other countries. Frankly, I think all elves should have sorcerer as the preferred class. The description of the elves and the sorcerer description seem more suited to each other than wizard. > Athruagin > Sorcerers are rare in Athruagin, but when one of the > Clansmen discovers he has sorcerous abilities, it is > seen as a gift from the Spirits. I'm almost inclined to view the Shamans as Sorcerers, except that the way the description of the class is in the Gaz, it seems almost more like a druid or a cleric of Atruaghin... ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 4 Apr 2004 to 6 Apr 2004 (#2004-79) *************************************************************