Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 6 Jan 2004 to 7 Jan 2004 (#2004-8) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 08/01/2004, 19:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 11 messages totalling 241 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. establishing a port facilities in Atruagin and the HK (2) 2. Question about Darokin (2) 3. Where in the world is Rahasia? (3) 4. Darokin's passage to the west (4) ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.dnd.starflung.com/ To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:03:00 -0000 From: Colin Davidson Subject: Re: establishing a port facilities in Atruagin and the HK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thibault Sarlat" To: Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 9:50 PM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] establishing a port facilities in Atruagin and the HK > i really like the way this soup is stirred now.. > as long as i can put my little Knights in the fray..; i am happy. > There's no way they can be kept out of any fray, is there? :) I love the way this is panning out, it fits right in to my campaign... I'll let you know if my players stumble upon this stoyline. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 12:22:20 -0000 From: Colin Davidson Subject: Re: Question about Darokin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Giampaolo Agosta" To: Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 7:40 AM Subject: Re: [MYSTARA] Question about Darokin > Simply because they're not a naval power, and Minrothad, Ierendi and > Thyatis can be very aggressive in defending their monopoly of the Sea of > Dread. > A move in that sense from Darokin would probably trigger a response from > one or all of these three powers, something that Darokin, with its > limited military ability, cannot afford. > Of course, with a massive effort they could, as I said before, build a > sizeable fleet, but the current naval powers would react before Darokin > could close the gap they have in seamanship and experience. > I'm reminded of the Danish fleet during the Napoleonic War. Suppose Darokin builds a strong naval force, and suppose they've invested in shipyards and manpower. Suppose furthermore that they've got a major force nearing completion, or under active construction. Neither Minrothad, Ierendi nor the Shires could let this pass; the risk of Darokin being pressurised into allying with Thyatis, or worse, Thyatis siezing this force, would be more than they could stomach. The risk of the balance of power in the Sea of Dread suddenly shifting towards one of the great imperial powers would be unthinkable. One or all of those nations would logically have to intervene, making this rather like the British taking action against Denmark in 1801, when Denmark wanted nothing more than to remain neutral. If anyone were to choose to play the scenario out this way, that would make for a tremendous adventure with the PC's involved either in a siege of the port or in violent boarding actions, or they could even try to negotiate an uneasy peace. > So yes, they could establish a port somewhere, but it is not in their > best interest, since it would probably mean a war with the sea powers, > something Darokin can hardly accept, if we consider that its borders > require a lot of peacekeeping -- Tiger Clan, Orclands, Broken Lands can > always take advantage of a lowered attention to launch dangerous attacks > on the main cities, and there's always the Master ready to strike. But then again, the temptation for the League nations to sure up their Southern flank against the Master could tip the balance in terms of helping Daroking establish its port (or in favour of someone else trying to get there first). > That said, after WotI everything becomes worse for Darokin, since it > shares a long border with the SE. > In my outline for a "darker" Known World, the major victim was indeed > Darokin, since it has three major regions (central Darokin, the two > southern ports, and Selenica) divided by dangerous areas (the Malpheggi > swamp and the SE-threatened caravan route to Selenica). > These weak spots are bound to give the Darokinian leaders some serious > problems, even in a not so dark future. Agreed. > And we did not even consider the internal politics -- which houses would > benefit from a sea-based expansion? which would not benefit from it? And might one or more of the houses choose to side with the Shadow Elves, Minrothad, etc. to prevent the other houses gaining over them? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 09:21:59 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Question about Darokin Darokin would need to look at the cost associated with claiming unclaimed territories, which they do way too much already, and then building another port in a poorly defendable location, which they do too much of as well. The better question would be, why not buy a port? The DDC would maintain that the Sea of Dread is tapped out, too many very well organized trading houses already, and most goods sold to countries with very good ports already sell a good percent of their goods, so why compete with your best buyers? The Alasian coast would be too expensive and troublesome, the Ylari government changes policy too quickly to be of any good profit. Now there are some ports that could utilize a huge influx of major travel, and major cash, and they would be great allies as a buffer state between Darokin and Hule. Sind is too organized and bribes cost too much and the middle men always demand more, but the city states, they could use more organization that the DDC is trained to give. The city states also have a commonality with Darokin, as I imagine there is a large percentage of Traladaran within Darokin. There may be a very good sense of pride to help out these fellow neighbors, before helping someone from Sind. The biggest players in this union would be Linton, ever trying to get out of second best by increasing their port capacities abroad; Toney, they already dominate a large portion of trade to the west, and they control trade in Akkoros; and lastly Corun, this house is known for weapon and barge manufacturing. Corun has also made great strides in a new type of wagon, the land barge or Corunstoga Wagon (stoga b eing an Autrughin word for river, and the Conestoga Wagon was the American wagon that opened the West in the RW). This wagon was first introduced to other trading houses, but was untested and laughed at because of the disproportionate size and bulky/clumsy look, considered too big and unnecessary. A young journeyman in Toney House quickly saw the potential and secretly purchased 2 wagons to test in a rough trade route between Sayr Ulan and Akkoros. The wagons carried twice the loads and did not need extra horses to pull, and easily traversed muddy roads, broken lands, and soft dry sand, greatly improving time and doubling profits by load. After finishing his test, he reported his finds to the leaders at Toney House, whom immediately began working with Corun house to have them build 50 more Corunstoga Wagons, not in Corrunglain, but to move the builders to Akkoros. Rumor has it; this young journeyman has been invited to marry into the Toney family, and to run his own oper ation out of Akkoros. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 06:35:04 -0800 From: Andrew Theisen Subject: Re: Where in the world is Rahasia? Havard Faanes wrote: Some suggested at that time that it would be better to place it near Sindh as the Eastern Feel of Rahasia is more Indian than Arab. Placing it in Minrothad as you suggest would work too though. Another suggestion that seems (to me) to work somewhat better, is to place it in the eastern woods outside of the Canolbarth forest, near to Selenica. A group of elves that have adopted more Ylari ways (from the Selenicans) yet still maintain some of their elvish heritage (from Alfheim). Just a suggestion. The Sind suggestion is good, too, though, now that I think of it. At some point in the Sindhi timeline it is mentioned that some elements of Ylari culture came to Sind, via Ylari immigrants. So it could probably fit in very well in whatever region was most influenced by the Ylari (IIRC, it was the mumlyket of Sindrastan, but I'm not certain on that point). Hmm... I like that idea more and more, now that I think of it. It would certainly help fill in the seeming lack of elvish culture in Sind. Maybe surviving surface dwelling members of the Sheyallia are the progenitors of the Rahasia elves...? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 12:45:30 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Darokin's passage to the west How the Corun’s created the Corunstoga Wagon. The Corun House is well known for their expertise in making excellent weapons and producers of quality barges. After a young apprentice saw a Glantrian Pagoda float easily by in a canal and up a shallow embankment to traverse land by the use of magic, it gave him an idea. What if he could make a non-magical barge that could easily float on water and be pulled up and cross land to markets further from shore? His first designs were extremely unforgiving, the wheels were to short, and way to bulky, the wheel base needed to be further down and further apart. As time wore on, the young apprentice began work with Corun House as a journeyman barge maker. Most of his ideas had to wait, or worked on in secret at late hours so as to not interfere with his regular demand. At times he would take a break in the cool hours of twilight and he would watch the master weapon smiths hammer out the fine carbon blades from imported Ylari steel . The thin springy blades gave him an excellent idea, instead of bulky wood, to bind two arched pieces of steel and set the axle on the bottom. This new idea also gave way to needing a much larger radius of a wheel. Many experiments past and our journeyman became a master at his craft, and soon he was able to employ his own journeyman to work on his great idea. One of his journeymen was a cooper by trade, working on metal work of the arch’s bindings. This young man thought of a light weight wheel, built of similar style to the barrels he was trained in making. By binding laminated woods and warping them round, he was able to build a large circle of wood that used spokes to an encased hub that they were designing to hold the axle. This new invention became known as the Cooper’s Wheel, and greatly improved the barge’s design, and remedied several of its major flaws. Giving the wheeled barge an almost independent wheel suspension, this allowed the barge to pull heavy loa ds with little stress to the horses in the front. Corun House wasmazed at the new barge, but nobody saw the need for a river barge that could transverse land. Most river markets had adequate dockage, and the barge looked funny and rather awkward compared to the much smaller wagons that traversed land. After only 2 wagons were sold, Corun House decided to market the Cooper’s Wheel for making better siege equipment. Until, Toney House wanted 50 more, and would pay to move the building project teams to Akkoros. Akkoros is known not to have many river routes, and this concept soon intrigued the leaders of Corun House to as what was being planned. Toney House soon revealed their little test, and cut Corun in a deal to create a large fleet to cross the Western Wastes and open new routes with the cost effective design of the Corunstoga Wagon, named from an Autrughin word picked up meaning river, as a river of profit was promised for such a plan. Both parties agreed it would b e very profitable for both, and soon began their secret workshop in Akkoros. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 13:30:25 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Darokin's passage to the west Linton House seeks more profit. Linton House still remained 2nd place after the war. Not losing any profits by their ports and sea merchants, but not gaining more either. Akkoros was needed to be rebuilt, and Linton was more than happy to start a fleet on the Lake Akesoli. To him there where no Minrothad merchants to compete with and with the DDC giving substantial loans to rebuild the western cities, there would be no loss to any investment. He knew Toney House was severely injured with losses from the sack of Akkoros and other western towns, but he needed Toney’s contacts to create the need of a new fleet of ships on Akesoli. Linton merchants quickly acted like RW Wild West Land Barons, and borrowed extensive amounts of cash from the DDC in many of the Toney House merchant’s names. Most of these names were from merchants that died in the Great War, but the DDC had little hope to deny any claims. Toney House survivors quickly became suspicious, but bought into Linto n’s bribes and soon the real Toney’s had enough cash of their own to rebuild, but needed another more stable partner, the Coruns. With the advent of the new Corunstoga Wagons, Linton soon saw the open gateway he really wanted, a port in a sea not served by Minrothad Guilds or harassed by Ierendi pirates. Consolidating his resources, Linton offered Toney House an unbelievable deal, a partnership that merged profits from Linton’s sea base. Toney House would then be able to employ the imposter Toney merchants as their own, and had enough gold to build a real route into the Savage Coast. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 14:17:08 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: establishing a port facilities in Atruagin and the HK > From: "Thibault Sarlat" >> > > i really like the way this soup is stirred now.. > > as long as i can put my little Knights in the fray..; i am happy. > > > Even my "Wild West Land Grab" idea will need a few experienced sherifs to patrol the routes. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 14:28:01 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Where in the world is Rahasia? > > Havard Faanes wrote: Some suggested at that time that it would be better to > place it near Sindh as the Eastern Feel of Rahasia is > more Indian than Arab. Placing it in Minrothad as you > suggest would work too though. > The only connotation I can find to a Sindhi reference is the name of the strange visitor, the Rahib. Everything else remains more Arabic. The wizard too is more Alphatian in nature to the philosophy that he teaches the elves. With known Alphatian wizards and Alphatian monks in Minrothad, and not in Karameikos or Sind, plus nearby Dwarves building temples in a wizards honor, I believe Minrothad is an excellent place. More proof that Glantrian mages are a lot more meaner than the Alphatian ones (for dwarves kicked out of Glantri to pay homage to a mage!) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 11:47:24 -0800 From: Daniel Gioffre Subject: Re: Where in the world is Rahasia? I don't have the module in front of me, but I recall that in the B1-9 redaction the "Rahasia" elves are said to live off of the Duke's Road, somewhere between Penhaligon and Selenica (the PCs are on their way to Selenica when they have to turn off the road to pick up a package or something with the elves...I forget the actual storyline/justification). -Dan > Another suggestion that seems (to me) to work > somewhat better, is to place it in the eastern woods > outside of the Canolbarth forest, near to Selenica. > A group of elves that have adopted more Ylari ways > (from the Selenicans) yet still maintain some of > their elvish heritage (from Alfheim). Just a > suggestion. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/signingbonus ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 15:08:15 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Darokin's passage to the west Heldann gets a piece of Western Pie. The DDC gets wind from the Franich House that Linton may have had some dirty dealings with fraudulent loans. After the DDC investigates, and sees Toney House is paying back the loans makes an incredible ruling “No harm, no foul.” Franich House is greatly incensed, and Corun refuses to sell the newly developed Corunstoga Wagons to the Franich merchants that have trade routes heading to Sind and then to points west. Franich decides to hire bandits from Sind to try and slow the rising profits that they could never catch up to. The DDC calculates the growing profits (and tax base) and see the need to recruit guards in the interest of creating a larger new market heading to the Savage Coast. Ever watchful of the Master in Hule, the DDC asks for aid from the Northern Defense League. Few agree that the need is there, and sees it as it really is, a move to increase the profits of Darokin and leaving little compensation for their efforts. The growing concern over organized ban ditry forming on the developing routes prompts Linton, Toney and Corun Houses to hire mercenaries from the Heldann Freeholds, even offering lands that they claim they purchased from Autrughin chiefs. Little did anyone know that elves from Alfhiem that left the lawful ways of Ilsundal and Mealiden, who had sought shelter in the forests south of Autrughin, learning and teaching crafts with the Tiger Clan. Many Heldann’s called it a “Crusade” to fight back the evil of Hule, and protect their neighbors from the villainy of elves hiding in their rightfully purchased lands. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 15:35:25 -0500 From: Chris Cherrington Subject: Re: Darokin's passage to the west Linton throws a Tea Party. The elves in the forest wishing to take some pressure off the new invaders leak information that there is a very passable tunnel from the Sump to Malpheggi, which has shrunk immensely in the last several years. The elves know too that Linton’s base of operations is in the nearby city of Athenos. After several weeks pass of the information leak, and several adventurers are killed in the Malpheggi trying to prove the tale, the elves disguise themselves as Shadow Elves and launch a raid into Athenos, striking Linton’s ships and sinking his cargo of Sindhi tea to the bottom of the harbor. Linton seeing the potential of two elven threats on his doorstep makes concessions to the new elves and pays them to move into the newly developing Malpheggi Forest. Leaving the western half of South Autrughin for the Heldannic Crusaders, and getting the Heldann’s total attention on protecting the Corunstoga Caravans. ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 6 Jan 2004 to 7 Jan 2004 (#2004-8) ************************************************************