Blackmoor Monsters in Modern Mystara

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

havard

Oct 24, 2005 3:54:31
Now that Traianus is converting the Blackmoor module monsters in the Monster Conversion Thread , does anyone have ideas for how to use these in modern day Mystara campaigns?
#2

spellweaver

Oct 24, 2005 4:48:35
Now that Traianus is converting the Blackmoor module monsters in the Monster Conversion Thread , does anyone have ideas for how to use these in modern day Mystara campaigns?

I am not sure, which ones are from "the Blackmoor module" or what that refers to, but I suppose particularly constructs and undead would have a fair chance of remaining until the modern Mystara era and suddenly appearing in an adventure.

The PCs might stumble across ruins or catacombs dating back to Blackmoor and find that ancient guardians are still active. Or there might be Blackmoor monsters living in the same area as the Blackmoor elves in the Hollow World? It makes sense to me that the immortals would spare some of the animals and monsters living around a culture as well as the culture itself.

:-) Jesper
#3

havard

Oct 24, 2005 5:36:32
I am not sure, which ones are from "the Blackmoor module" or what that refers to, but I suppose particularly constructs and undead would have a fair chance of remaining until the modern Mystara era and suddenly appearing in an adventure.

Check out page 8 and onwards in the above mentioned thread. By Blackmoor module I mean those appearing in the DA module series. Those I've seen converted so far are:
  • Frog, Killer
  • Frogfolk
  • Camarilla
  • Cyborg (Various)
  • Robot (Various)
  • Sandfolk


The PCs might stumble across ruins or catacombs dating back to Blackmoor and find that ancient guardians are still active. Or there might be Blackmoor monsters living in the same area as the Blackmoor elves in the Hollow World? It makes sense to me that the immortals would spare some of the animals and monsters living around a culture as well as the culture itself.

Catacombs or old Blackmoor ruins/cities/Spaceships is certainly a possibility, especially for the Robots. The Blacklore Valley is also a good idea; all of the above mentioned creatures could have been preserved in those lands, even if they arent around anymore...

Other suggestions?

Håvard
#4

Traianus_Decius_Aureus

Oct 24, 2005 8:46:10
I'll add a few of my thoughts on this...
For the robots, I think they could potentially be found in the ruins of Blackmoor and/or crashed ship, in some cases doing the same tasks over and over because their programming never changed. I also like the idea of them being found among the Blackmoor Elves- The HW set indicates they rely on robots and automatons for just about everything and the Blackmoor robots could make that area a little more lively.

The camarilla and sandfolk, as largely nomadic and used to living in inhospitable conditions, could have survived the Great Rain of Fire in small isolated groups and be found in very isolated desert regions in modern Mystara. The key would be finding the most likely areas.

For the frogfolk and killer frogs, I like the idea of someone stumbling onto the knowledge of how to mutate frogs and humanoids into frogfolk and killer frogs, and trying to recreate them for some nefarious purpose.
#5

havard

Oct 24, 2005 9:22:18
I'll add a few of my thoughts on this...
For the robots, I think they could potentially be found in the ruins of Blackmoor and/or crashed ship, in some cases doing the same tasks over and over because their programming never changed. I also like the idea of them being found among the Blackmoor Elves- The HW set indicates they rely on robots and automatons for just about everything and the Blackmoor robots could make that area a little more lively.

Some good ideas here! Using the Blackmoor Robots in the Blacklore valley is an idea I'm beginning to like more and more, and perhaps not only as allies/tools of the elves. Perhaps on occation Automatons/Robots go awry and attack people, or perhaps hide in dungeouns/caves where they collect treasure and attack invaders ;)

Also, what if some escaped Robots have taken over an entire part of the valley. this place, called the City of Steel is run entirely by insane robots and sometimes carry out raids on the rest of the valley. Could be an interesting scenario there...

The camarilla and sandfolk, as largely nomadic and used to living in inhospitable conditions, could have survived the Great Rain of Fire in small isolated groups and be found in very isolated desert regions in modern Mystara. The key would be finding the most likely areas.

If the Sandfolk were used as mercenaries for the Blackmoor civilization, they could have been brought over to all of the OW continents and surviving colonies could be found anywhere, though preferring desert regions obviously.

For the frogfolk and killer frogs, I like the idea of someone stumbling onto the knowledge of how to mutate frogs and humanoids into frogfolk and killer frogs, and trying to recreate them for some nefarious purpose.

I like this idea also. In the Savage Coast material, we know that the Gatormen were created by mages, perhaps under Entropic Guidance, and those were also found in Blackmoor in the past. Perhaps some immortals try to influence others into recreating the froglike creatures as well? Stodos and Demogorgons are likely candidates for such ploys...

Håvard
#6

spellweaver

Oct 24, 2005 9:50:52
Also, what if some escaped Robots have taken over an entire part of the valley. this place, called the City of Steel is run entirely by insane robots and sometimes carry out raids on the rest of the valley. Could be an interesting scenario there...
Håvard

And there is a legend among the elves that some day a leader will be born, who can defeat the machines with his brain waves. And a captain named Morpheus spends his life looking for this savior with his crew... :D

:-) Jesper
#7

havard

Oct 24, 2005 10:23:25
And there is a legend among the elves that some day a leader will be born, who can defeat the machines with his brain waves. And a captain named Morpheus spends his life looking for this savior with his crew... :D

Hehe, yep you cant have Robot cities without getting a bit of the Matix in there. ;)

Also, it would be easy to draw paralells to Terminator, HG Wells Time Machine (Robots being the Morlochs, preying on the dim-witted elves) etc.

If we do decide to go further with the Matrix analogy, how about this:

Most Blacklore Elves do not realize the danger posed by the City of Steel, and even discard it as nonsense, laughing (nervously) whenever it is mentioned, but care little to investigate. There is one exception however, an elf named Dreamer, who explores the valley in his flying ship (Hover Device) along with his loyal crewmen. He has come across a prophecy of a Saviour "who will return the control of the Automatons to the elves". Ever since making that discovery, Dreamer has been searching for this individual, though he is slowly realizing that he might have to leave his valley to find that person.

Adventure Idea: The PCs encounter Dreamer who insists that one (or all) of them is the Chosen One, and asks them to travel with him to the City of Steel. From there they must go on on their own he says.

On the Frogfolk:
In my Thunder Rift timeline, I suggested that Frogmen were brought to Blackmoor's colonies as workers and that some of these escaped, a few even making it into Thunder Rift and becoming the ancestors of the Newts of that valley.

Håvard