Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Sep 2005 to 6 Sep 2005 (#2005-177) From: Automatic digest processor Date: 07/09/2005, 17:00 To: Recipients of MYSTARA-L digests Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion There are 4 messages totalling 652 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Winter War still? 2. Two Silver Palaces 3. Thunder Rift Timeline 4. (Mystara) Ist campaign ******************************************************************** The Other Worlds Homepage: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/OtherWorlds.asp The Mystara Homepage: http://www.pandius.com To unsubscribe, send email to LISTSERV@ORACLE.WIZARDS.COM with UNSUB MYSTARA-L in the body of the message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 09:19:36 +0200 From: Knud Gentz Subject: Re: Winter War still? first off, sorry for not responding for so long - I had a diploma exam yesterday and needed time to prepare. Ville, I quite like your ideas but wouldn't the darokinians use the winter for mobilization so come spring the Nomads will have to fight the entire Darokinian Army instead of only the standing Troops plus any Armies of allies secured during the winter? Of course, the capture of two towns and the corresponding shortfall in supplies, especially if the nomads are able to destroy crops on the streel plains would hamper their mobilization efforts. Plus mobilization during harvest time could prove dfficult, too. I'll give it some more thought and thanks for all your advice on the matter. Knud ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 13:30:49 +0200 From: Havard Faanes Subject: Two Silver Palaces The Two Silver Palaces The Silver Palace of Haven Haven was the capital created by Traldar, he who lead his people from Nithia into the Traladara region, a people who later took his name becoming the Traldar. The great Traldar in his wisdom, knew that his people would be tormented by plague and famine and eventually revert into a primitive state. This, the Wizard-Priest had forseen in his dreams. But he also hoped that his people would again rise from this misery and barbarism and become a greater civilization at the end of their trials. To ensure this Destiny, Traldar constructed Haven, and within it the Silver Palace to be a fortress of wisdom and knowledge for future generations. During the Gnoll invasions of Traladara, Halav rediscovered the Silver Palace in Traladara, and offered the posession of it to Oberon, King of Faerie, in return for aid in the battle against the Gnolls. The Second Silver Palace remained unaffected by this. The Silver Palace of Gulluvia At this time, a second Silver Palace appeared in a distant land on a Great Plateau to the Northwest of Traladara. The Immortal Chardastes, believed by some to be none other than Traldar himself, is attributed with the creation of the Second Silver Palace. It is believed that this was to replace the first one that was lost to the Traladarans to ensure that his true purpose of the Silver Palaces would not be lost; that to be the Key to future Traladaran Greatness. Some believe that Traldar was offended by Halav’s trading away of the Haven Palace which would explain why Chardastes is not affiliated with the Traladaran Three. Others believe that the Second Silver Palace has a different purpose. They believe that the second Silver Palace is not for the people of Traladara but for their cousin Boldavians of Glantri. The Boldavians currently live under Undead Tyranny, but perhaps they have not been forgotten by Traldar, the ruler of their ancestors. The official rulers of the Silver Palaces and the lands surrounding them, Haven and Gulluvia have always been the Silver Princesses. This title was given to the rulers of the Palaces by Traldar himself. The current rulers of the Silver Palaces are Pricess Argenta of Haven and Princess Silwia of Gulluvia (though Gulluvia is no longer in Princess Silwia’s posession). The Keys to the Future What are these Keys to the Future that the Palaces are supposed to hold? Within the Silver Palaces are found the most complete collections of Traldaran History and knowledge back to the days when they were a Tribe affiliated with Nithia. Thus, the Palaces may also hold forbidden knowledge of that mystical Empire. The Palace was also home of many powerful Traldar artifacts, the Eyes of Traldar among others. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 13:31:48 +0200 From: Havard Faanes Subject: Thunder Rift Timeline Thunder Rift Timeline BC ca 4000: Rise of Blackmoor On Skothar, the Kingdom of Blackmoor begins its meteoric rise in power. The colony of New Thonia is founded in what will become The Known World. One Blackmoorian city is founded near what will become the Canolbarth Forest. This city explores the connections with the Plane of Water, and brings in creatures who are at ease with the aquatic element, such as Froglin as slaves. (See CM6 Legacy of Blood and DAB: Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor). Some Froglin escape and make their way into Thunder Rift. They eventually evolve into Newts (Knight of Newts). BC ca 3000: The Great Rain of Fire The Blackmoor Civilization is destroyed in a Cataclysmic event. BC 1500: Hutaakan Era. The Immortal Pflarr creates the Hutaakans and places them in mountainious regions of the Known World. (HW Boxed Set) Some Hutaakans settle in Thunder Rift. They soon establish contact with the Hutaakans of Traladara, opening a Magical Gate in the northern mountains of Thunder Rift leading to those lands (near the modern day village of Bywater in Karameikos). (Escape from Thunder Rift) Hutaakan Clerics pull Ashai Monolith from the sky. The monolith is a holy artifact from the lands of Ashai on the moon of Patera. Centuries later, Rakasta from Ashai will come looking for the Monolith. The Hutaakans use the inherent invisibility magic found in the rock to create a protective spell around the valley, keeping it hidden from outsiders. Unfortunately, it is too late. One group of invaders have already located the valley... (Extrapolated from Rage of Rakasta). BC 1000: Gnoll Invasions Gnolls enter the valley destroying the Hutaakan civilization in the valley. Failing to find a way out of the valley, the Gnolls then turn upon themselves, leaving only scattered Gnoll settlements of Gnolls alive. (Extrapolation) Dwarves are plagued by the Humanoid Tribal movements around this time. (Rockhome Gaz). The dwarves of Rockhome send out groups of explorers in search for new fortifications to push the humanoid invaders off. BC 900: Enter the Dwarves. The dwarven explorers find their way into Thunder Rift These Dwarves, lead by King Farolas (“Wreck-gravel”) were a minor family of miners from the Syrklist Clan. They settle in the northern hills which they name after their king. (Thunder Rift). BC 850: Humanoids Orcs, Goblins and Kobolds enter the valley. They are relatively small of number, but grow slowly. (Thunder Rift) 811-803 BC: Halflings arrive Clanstrife of Shaerdon in the Five Shires. A group of Halfling refugees fleeing the civil war travel north onto the plains of Darokin. (Five Shires Gaz) Some settle in the Emerlas region in what will become the northern Canolbarth Forest (O2, Blade of Vengance, Gaz 5). Others find their way into Thunder Rift Valley. (Thunder Rift.) BC 800: Elves Arrive Mealiden’s elven migration enters the Known World and settle on the steppes of Darokin. (Gaz 5). Some elves break off from the main group and discover the valley of Thunder Rift where they settle. (Thunder Rift). The leading Clan of the Elves are the Silvercrests, their leader wielding the Silver Sword, a gift from the magical Faedorne and their Silver Warriors. (Extrapolation from Quest for the Silver Sword and AC 9 Creature Catalogue). BC 800 By now, Elves, dwarves and Halflings have entered the valley. Elves and dwarves keep to themselves and distrust between the races grows. (Thunder Rift) BC 790: Rift Wars Rift Wars: Bloody wars rage between elves and dwarves, lasting probably for a century. Orcs and goblins raid both sides, blaming it on the other races. (Thunder Rift) BC 690: Wars’ End Rift wars come to an end when elves and dwarves unite against Orc and Goblin forces. Orcs are driven back into the Burning Hills. Dwarves now retreat to their settlements in the Farolas Hills and the elves in the southern Gauntlin Forest. The two races have suffered heavy losses and actively avoid contact with each other. (Thunder Rift) BC 670 The Traladaran Witch-lord Aristicles, constructs his Red Granite Tower, south of modern day Penhaligon. Nearby he discovers the ancient Hutaakan Gate leading to Thunder Rift. He takes over the Hutaakan underground chambers surrounding the Gate, using his magic to protect this area from invaders. As dwarves enter the mountains, the Witch-lord begins terrorizing the newcomers with help from mercenaries brought in from Traladara. (Escape from Thunder Rift) BC 680 The dwarves establish Hearth Home. King Farolas goes in search of Aristicles, exploring the deepest mountain caverns, eventually discovering the Hutaakan Gate. Aristicles flees through the gate with Farolas in pursuit. Farolas catches Aristicles in his Red Granite Tower and the two kill each other in the battle which follows. On the Thunder Rift side, the dwarves of Hearth Home obey Farolas’ last order that the doors leading to the chamber containing the gate, never be opened again. (Escape from Thunder Rift) BC 500: Humans arrive. In the east, the Nithian Empire is destroyed by the immortals. People surviving the destruction of that empire begin looking for new lands. Humans enter Thunder Rift. They build castles and towns, taking over large portions of the valley. (Thunder Rift) BC 502 Humans encounter the other races of the valley. Tensions between elves, dwarves and men again threaten to cause war, but this is avoided as goblins and orcs return forcing the three races to unite against these races. Humans earn the respect and friendship of the two other races, but distrust between elves and dwarves continue. (Thunder Rift) AC 0 A strange plague spreads to Thunder Rift, but affects only the good races. Eventually the most powerful human clerics manage to turn the plague away, and the humans manage to fight off another wave of humanoid attacks. (Thunder Rift) Elsewhere, the first Emperor of Thyatis is crowned. (DotE among others). AC 50 (AQ 0) Rise of the Quadrial: The historic Council of Isle is founded with representatives of all races. The council founds the Quadrivial, a group of heroes containing one representative from each race. Representing the Dwarves was Thragat Orc’s-blood. The elves sent the legendary Wizard Archeress Thessandria Starshine. From the Humans came Father Patrius Timoris the Cleric and Gray Raven the Thief. From the Halflings came the twin warriors Korian and Dorian. (Thunder Rift) This is the beginning of the Thunder Rift timeline AQ, After Quadrial. AC 70 The dragon known as Ash the Red attacks Torlynn. It is defeated and slain by the heroes of the Quadrial, but only after slaying Korian the Halfling and Gray Raven. (ThunderRift) AC 100 Thragat and Thessandria, former heroes of the first Quadrial announce their marriage. The two are killed before the pregnant Thessandria can give birth to her Elf-Dwarf child. An Elf-Dwarf consipiracy is suspected. Since then, all hostilities between the races have ceased. (Thunder Rift) AC 100-200 The human community grows. Sir Jameson the Defender establishes a fighter’s academy south of the Farolas hills. Mages establish their sanctuary in the Upper Grasslands in what will be known as Wizardspire. Temples are built in Melinir, and Thieves’ Guilds are established in Melinir and Torlynn (though only the one in Melnir would survive). (Thunder Rift) The Wizards of Wizardspire give the Scepter of Truth to the Town’s Coucil of Kleine. (Assault on Raven’s Ruin, extrapolation). AC 200 Barrik’s Keep, near Torlynn is attacked by Goblin hordes. The Keep would have been destroyed had it not been transported into the future relocated in the Hollow World. (Warriors of the Eternal Sun) Barrik’s descendants take over his lands. Horned Hills are overrun by Goblins. To fend against this, humans begin the construction of Castle Kraal. (Knight of Newts) AC 200 The Goblin Wars The Castle of Barrik, near Torlynn is attacked by Goblin hordes. (Knight of Newts) The Baron of Barrik and his men are believed to have been killed and only ruins are left of the Castle. However, in fact the Castle and its inhabitants are brought into the Hollow World by the Immortal Ka, appearing there 800 years later. (Warriors of the Eternal Sun) Barrik’s descendants take over his lands. (Knight of Newts) Horned Hills are also overrun by Goblins. To fend against this, humans begin the construction of Castle Kraal. (Knight of Newts) AC 300 Henrik van Decken joins the Hattian rebellion against the Thyatians. (Phantom Ship) AC 302 Castle Kraal has served dutifully for a century, but now rumors of decadence among Kraal’s warriors begins to spread. (Knight of Newts) AC 309 A new commander is placed in charge of Castle Kraal. She begins turning things around, but before she has a chance to set things right, the Castle is destroyed. A traitor among the warriors’ ranks uses the artifact known as the Orb of Kraal to sink the castle, killing most of the inhabitants. The rest are killed by encroaching Newts. The Orb of Kraal is lost in the swamp, and though it is said to have lost its magic, it may still hold the key to raising the Castle from the swamps. (Knight of Newts). Rumours of magic being used against the warriors creates tension and distrust been Academy Warriors and Wizards. This is the seed of terrible things to happen between Warriors and Wizards centuries later. AC 313 Hattian rebellion against the Thyatians crushed. Henrik van Decken flees to Minrothad, where he obtains a ship of his own and becomes a successful merchant seaman. (Phantom Ship) AC 320 Henrik van Decken and his crew attempt to make a treacherous crossing around the Serpent Peninsula (in the “teeth” between Yavdlom and the Serpent Peninsula). They fail and are cursed to repeat their journey for eternity. (Phantom Ship) AC 350 The King of Melinir and his sons travel to meet the eldest son’s betrothed in Kleine. However, the King’s Barge is destroyed after sailing too close to the Plunging Catatract and is lost on the bottom of Lake Ostrel. Since then, elected Mayors have been the official rulers of Melinir (Thunder Rift). AC 400 Wizards in Thunder Rift, working with dimensional magicks beyond their control, inadvertedly summon van Decken’s ghost ship to Thunder Rift. (Phantom Ship) AC 900 Elladin becomes lord of the Silvercrest Clan. AC 970 Sword vs. Wand: The warriors of Jameson’s Academy have never forgotten the incident of Castle Kraal, remembered now as “the pride of the Academy”, and they have always since blamed the mages of Wizardspire for what happened. After centuries of hatred between the two groups, the mages of Wizardspire go to war against the warriors of Sir Jameson’s Academy. The mages unleash devastating magic that turn their enemies land into what will be known as the Gloomfens. The Wizard believed to be mainly responsible for this dreaded spell is known as the Mad Mage. (Thunder Rift) Soon after, Sir Jameson’s spirit rises as a Specter and takes control over parts of the Academy Ruins. Sir Mathew, Sir Jameson’s second in command also becomes a walking dead. (Haunted Tower) AC 971 One year later, a group of warriors infiltrate the Wizardspire and kill every last Wizard there. (Thunder Rift). The group is lead by a warrior known as the Black Knight. He flees into the swamps where he forms the Assasins’ Academy. The Mad Mage is believed to have survived this attack, however. (Sword and Shield) AC 975 A vampire named Lord Ursus Longmane moves into the Tower of the old Fighter’s Academy Ruins. (Haunted Tower) AC 980 The Wizard of Barrik, last of the Wizards of Wizardspire dies. He is a descendant of Baron Barrik who was spirited into the Hollow World centuries earlier, and the Wizard’s Tower has been built on the ruins of his ancestor’s keep, near Torlynn. Upon his death, the tower is left empty. (Quest for the Silver Sword). AC 981 Argyl, son of the Black Knight, is born. He is the last scion of the Fighters’ Academy. (Sword and Shield) AC 990 The Wizard Chambrin of Karameikos studies the ancient scrolls of the Witch-lord Aristicles, retrieved at Aristicles Red Granite Tower. He learns about the gate leading to Thunder Rift and discovers the gate itself, but finds that he lacks the means to activate it. Chambrin has for a long time been considered an enemy of the Callarii elves, and while examining the gate, he is attacked by a group of elves lead by Ezrathanawel “Ezra” the Elf-lord. The magic of Chambrin and Ezra interfere with the magic of the Gate, accidentally teleporting Chambrin to an unknown location in Thunder Rift. Chambrin begins looking for the Thunder Rift side of the gate and his activities soon earn him the enmity of the Dwarves of Thunder Rift. (Escape from Thunder Rift). AC 993 Baur joins the Kleine Town Council. (Assault on Raven’s Ruin, extrapolation) AC 995 On the invisible moon of Patera, the Shoguns of Ashai have long been advocates of a return to Myoshiman isolationism, and have often found themselves at odds with the expansionist tendencies of the ruling Kitamuran emperors. Recently the confict broke into all-out war when the Kitamuran elisted their dragon allies to put pressure on the Ashai Shogunate. Many Ashai were forced to flee their province. Drawn by the moon-rock of the Monolith, they discover Thunder Rift and settle down on the Wailing Plateau in the Gauntlin Forest. (Rage of Rakasta). AC 997 The Wererat Keshute comes to Thunder Rift from parts unknown. He discovers the abandoned tower of the Wizard Barrik. Lights spotted in Barrik’s Tower. (Quest for the Silver Sword) AC 998 The infamous Thief, known as Raven, commissions goblin servants to build him a new keep. Raven is believed to be a descendant of the Quadrial hero known as Gray Raven. Once the keep is complete, he drives them off into the hills once more. (Raven’s Ruin) The Burgomaster of Torlynn dispatches mercenaries to investigate the situation in Barrik’s tower. They never return. A mysterious (and unreasonable) winter begins to set around Torlynn. (Quest for the Silver Sword) Raven disappears from Thunder Rift. Most people are not too disappointed to see him vanish, save that his keep becomes overrun with goblins who raid nearby villages. Niloc the Hobgoblin gains leadership of the goblins. (Raven’s Ruin) The Wizard known as Pickman the Sage, begins investigating the Castle Kraal disaster in the service of the Mayor of Melinir (Knight of Newts) AC 1000 The Thunder Rift Modules are set around this time. Gazetteer Era. The D&D gazetteers are set around this time. The Castle of Barrik that was believed to have been destroyed in the Goblin Wars, appears in the Valley of the Eternal Sun in the Hollow World. There, the Baron of Barrik and his men learn that they have been brought to that world by the Immortal Ka to save the Hollow World from a terrible danger. (Warriors of the Eternal Sun). AC 1001 Elsewhere, in Karameikos, Penhaligon is made a Barony. The legendary Thief, Raven, returns to Thunder Rift, much to the disappointment of the people of Kleine. (Assault on Raven’s Ruins). AC 1002 Dwarves of Farolas capture the wizard Chambrin. He manages to escape, fleeing deeper into their mountains until he discovers what he was looking for all along: The Hutaakan Gate. He uses it to escape to Karameikos. (Escape from Thunder Rift.) The events of Escape from Thunder Rift are recommended to be set only days after this event. AC 1002 The Tainted Sword Abelaats appear in Penhaligon. The dragon Verdilith wrecks havoc on Bywater, also destroying Artisticles’ Red Granite Tower on the way. With the help of Johauna Menhir, Sir Fain Flinn regains his honor at the Penhaligon court and sets out to kill his nemesis, the green dragon Verdilith. (Detailed in novel The Tainted Sword, effects can also be seen in Escape from Thunder Rift.) Some Abelaats find their way into Thunder Rift. (non-canon). AC 1003-1009 Wrath of the Immortals Wrath of the Immortals: Conflicts between the Immortals sets the Known World in turmoil, changing its face forever. Thunder Rift seems unaffected by these events. AC 1003 The Dragon’s Tomb Johauna Menhir learns more about the Abelaats who plague Karameikos. Johauna slays Verdilith. Fain Flinn is ressurrected and embarks on the path to Immortality with the aid of Braddock, the dwarf. A gate is opened to the Abelaat homeworld into Karameikan Armstead. Karameikan Armstead destroyed. (Detailed in the novel the Dragons Tomb) AC 1004 The Fall of Magic Massive Abelaat invasions of Karameikos. Penhaligon destroyed. Baroness Arteris barely escapes. With the help of the Immortal Flinn, Johauna Menhir stops the invasions. (Detailed in the novel The Fall of Magic.) AC 1005 Johauna Menhir discovers the gate to Thunder Rift and enters the Valley, believing all her friends back in Karameikos to be dead. She takes up hunting down the Abelaat who made their way into the valley, and spreads the faith of the Immortal Flinn and the code of Chivalry to Thunder Rift’s inhabitants. (non-canon.) Reconstruction of Penhaligon begins. (Extrapolation from The Fall of Magic and K:KoA.) AC 1009 Reconstruction of Penhaligon is completed, but it loses its baronial status, and is now once again only considered an estate. (Extrapolation from Penhaligon Trilogy and K:KoA). AC1010 The present ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 13:29:31 -0500 From: Pat Taylor Subject: (Mystara) Ist campaign sorry off so long....between school and now this hurricane things are a wreck here..makes me wonder if this storm affected the US here so bad, what would happen in Mystara with a natral distater like this...humm....but i will start by posting some of my groups adventures and see what you think this group started back in 1986 and went through 1994. Original 3 characters Ist Mer Kell- Minotuar fighter from minean forest. was slave in traveling circus, minotaur pirate, slave again, now seeking his way across the land. Estabon Valar- Thyatian ex gladiator wise cracker- and bit of show off. Majo- Tangor mage The thre adventures meet running into each other in a small forest community of Elantra in Skothar. The minotaur is one of the "dreaded horned ones" wild minotaur tribes that prey on villages to the south....that one has not been up in those parts is not recognized by the populace. Majo and Estabon agree to take the "dangerous" monster to the athorities only to help him. as the three leave town they discover the true evil is soldiers in disguse. The Black dragon society has a lt. in the area to round up some of the villiager as slaves. That is what has happened to the villiagers who's gone missing. Now they plan to take over the villiage. The trio organize some resistance with locals and attack Virgo and his henchmen only to find Giant spiders in the stable, pets of Virgo. after a brief fight. Virgo runs off vowing revenge. The three set off with a hero's sendoff from Elantra, before the regular Alphatian troops arive to clean up Virgo's men. As the three are on the trail from Elantra to the north, following Majo's intution they are ambushed by a group of orks. after making quick work of the orcs the trio come upon a slave gang led by alphatians (i called the group of slaves Teoc, but i wil use Jenn, i didn't have any info on Skothar at the time) This started the Teoc Saga (Jenn Saga). Majo, Estabon, and Ist all hated slavery so they attacked (plus they hated alphatians too). They rescue a mage named Markest and a Jenn princess named Aleia. Aleia and Estabon began a relationship as the trio agree to help free her people. Markest and Majo form a bond also. after freeing aleia's brother- Alender, the six begin raiding alphatian slave gangs, freeing the Jenn. Their trek takes them to the Silver mines, where a major strike ruins the mines and kills many alphatians. The freedom fighting has swollen the ranks of the group's "army" and garnered the attention of the Alphatians who send in a death squad. After a violent fight with the 5 MU 8, the party survives with many dead Jenn including Aleia and Markest. Estabon is furious but no match for the fury of Alendar. Alendar leads a raid with the survivors and wipe out a small alphatian town. The trio realize revenge is not the answer, plus Majo feels a pull to return to his homeland, so they leave the movement. more to come....any comments would be appreciated thanks ------------------------------ End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 5 Sep 2005 to 6 Sep 2005 (#2005-177) **************************************************************