Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ignis_thewanderingflame_dup Mar 17, 2006 14:29:52	Hello. I'm just recently picking up the third edition versions of Dark Sun from the Athas site, and had a few of the older books as well. Some of my friends were interested in the setting, and one of them talked me into DMing it. The problem is that I have not touched the setting since I was about six or so, and even then I only knew some of the more basic parts of the story and what was revealed through some of the novels. Now then, my question is: What is the culture like for the City States other than Draj, Tyr, and Urik? I know those three, and I know their Sorcerer Kings. Or lack of them, in two cases. However, I do not really know that much about the other City States. I only have passing knowledge of Nibenay in that Dregoth has that lovely mirror that he is ever so careful with and so forth. I do not know the personalities of the Sorcerer Kings of those regions. For instance, the books I have found tell nothing of the Oba. Can someone help me with this?
#2 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Mar 17, 2006 14:55:17	Hello. I'm just recently picking up the third edition versions of Dark Sun from the Athas site, and had a few of the older books as well. Some of my friends were interested in the setting, and one of them talked me into DMing it. The problem is that I have not touched the setting since I was about six or so, and even then I only knew some of the more basic parts of the story and what was revealed through some of the novels. Now then, my question is: What is the culture like for the City States other than Draj, Tyr, and Urik? I know those three, and I know their Sorcerer Kings. Or lack of them, in two cases. However, I do not really know that much about the other City States. I only have passing knowledge of Nibenay in that Dregoth has that lovely mirror that he is ever so careful with and so forth. I do not know the personalities of the Sorcerer Kings of those regions. For instance, the books I have found tell nothing of the Oba. Can someone help me with this? Well let's see.... first, Dregoth isn't in Nibenay, he's in New Giustenal. Completely different place. Umm.... quick rundown... Gulg Sorcerer-Queen: Lalai-Puy (the Oba). Cultural reference: I forget exactly, but I believe akin to Zulu tribes. Gulg is south of the Crescent Forest, the people worship their Sorcerer-Queen, generally are viewed as being sort of "environmentalists" of a sort. They have waged a war with Nibenay for centures. Note: Gulg is outlined in the book, The Ivory Triangle Nibenay Sorcerer-King: Nibenay (the Shadow King). Cultural reference: I want to say Indian. Nibenay is north of the Crescent Forest, known for their trading of wood harvested from the forest. Nibenay's sorcerer-king, for which the city is named, tends to be rather secretive, being found almost exclusively within the confines of the inner city known as the Naggarakum. Nibenay has fought a war for centuries with its southern neighbor, Gulg, mainly due to Nibenay's harvesting of the wood in the Crescent Forest. Note: Nibenay is outlined in the book, The Ivory Triangle Balic Sorcerer-King: Andropinis (the Dictator; after Prism Pentad, imprisoned in 'The Black'). Cultural reference: Ancient Greecian, if memory serves. Balic is a coastal city, with the largest known navy that travels through the Silt Sea. After the events of the Prism Pentad, this city-state has been without a Sorcerer-King, and the three main Merchant Houses of the city-state have taken over and divided Balic between them. Raam Sorcerer-Queen: Abalach-Re (the Grand Vizier; died during the events of the Prism Pentad). Cultural reference: Egyptian or Persian? The city-state with the largest population, after the events of the Prism Pentad and the death of Abalach-Re, Raam's quality of life has gone from bad to worse to abyssmal. Anarchy has taken over this city-state, with armed camps fighting over control of the city-state. Kurn "Sorcerer-King": Oronis (the Avangion, has separate himself from the government and holds no real office) Cultural reference: ? One of the "lost city-states", and home to the greatest secret across the Tablelands. Oronis and the citizens of Kurn put up a charade of appearing like a normal city-state in what they refer to as "Old Kurn", while their new, secret settlement deep within nearby woods known as "New Kurn" is where the city-state truly resides. As an Avangion, and arguably the only known still-surviving Avangion (and arguably the most powerful of the Avangions), as well as a former Dragon & Sorcerer-King, Oronis holds a very unique role in the world... Eldaarich Sorcerer-King: Daskinor (the Mad) Cultural reference: ? Eldaarich makes Raam look like a spring day in the park. Ruled by a completely insane Sorcerer-King, the state of this "lost city-state" is troublesome at best. Little is known of this city-state, as many who find it never return. New Giustenal Sorcerer-King: Dregoth (the Undead Dragon-King) Cultural reference: ? The underground city-state that resudes under the ruins of Giustenal, this city-state is populated by Dray who worship Dregoth as their creator (with good reason). This city-state is unknown to almost anyone as Dregoth does much to conceal it. Note: New Giustenal is described in the book City by the Silt Sea.
#3 the_peacebringer Mar 17, 2006 15:02:58	Shoot, Xlor beat me to it! Well anyways: Hey, Ignis. I suggest you go through a few of the most recent posts about the city-state cultures and what they look like. Other than that, I would suggest you get yourself a Dark Sun boxed set either downloaded (RPGNow) or used at a hobby store cause there's probably too much information to relate here. I'll still take a shot so you get an overview. Gulg :D -Primitive city surrounded by the Crescent Forest ruled by Lalali-Puy (the Oba). Hunting for slaves on the Red Moon Night, lots of stealthy Judagas (headhunters) in the forests and nobles are reverred hunters with no love of politics (check out the fly threads for Gulg in my sig :D ). Nibenay-Hated loggers of Lalali-Puy's forest. Other than that, they're pretty good dancers and architectural decorators. Nibenay rules this place from the Nagamarakam (sp?), his reclusive inner city, where he and thousands of slave-scribes research ancient mysteries. His templars are his wives and the less they're dressed, the higher up they are in the hierarchy. Balic-Coastal greek-style city ruled (or was) by Andropinis. Lots of silt storms and the illusion of democracy reigns. Now though, its being ruled by three merchant houses. Raam-Chaotic city filled with a paranoid sorcerer-queen who says she's the voice of Badna; her false god, which nobody believes in anyway. Of course, now that she's gone, its utter chaos until Dregoth comes to save the day (check out Dregoth Ascending adventures). Eldaarich-Crazy and paranoid Daskinor rules his equally crazy and paranoid subjects within a quasi-like prison city. Kurn-The only city ruled by an Avangion (Athas' first), Oronis. People there live pretty good lives and can even smile once in a while. There is a city that serves as a front and one that remains hidden for its citizens safety. Ur-Draxa-City of the now-deceased Boris. Used to be a very military oriented culture. The city was surrounded by a great pool of lava and was in the middle of the silt sea. What happened to it after Rajaat came to visit is anyone's guest. Saragar-City where you have to be happy or you finish your days in a slave orb. The city is next to the Last Sea and awesome surfer druid dudes hit the best waves on all of Athas, like totally. The rulers are three obsidian orbs... well the minds of ancient psionicists who decided to immortalize themselves as such. Hope this helps! PB
#4 ignis_thewanderingflame_dup Mar 17, 2006 15:12:44	Oops. See, I think I always mistook the Shadow King for Dregoth. Thank you for clearing that up, and thanks alot for posting that little summary. It will help me quite a bit. *Looks at the next post* Thanks! Very nice... ah, so that's who the Mind Lords are. Quick responses, too. Thanks.
#5 Sysane Mar 17, 2006 15:47:33	Urik was missed, so I guess I'll chime in with some of its details. Urik-Militant city-state ruled by a self stylized warlord called Humanu. Cultrual influance is Babylonian if I'm not mistaken. Urik tried to attack and take over the city-state of Tyr not long after its ruler's (Kalak) death.
#6 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Mar 17, 2006 16:11:19	Urik was missed, so I guess I'll chime in with some of its details. Urik-Militant city-state ruled by a self stylized warlord called Humanu. Cultrual influance is Babylonian if I'm not mistaken. Urik tried to attack and take over the city-state of Tyr not long after its ruler's (Kalak) death. It was intentionally missed. Because he said he knew Urik, Tyr, and Draj. I listed the ones I could think of that weren't one of those three.
#7 ignis_thewanderingflame_dup Mar 17, 2006 16:16:19	Yep, I knew those ones so only requested the others. Hamanu, by the way. :P Always liked him.
#8 Sysane Mar 17, 2006 17:56:53	Yep, I knew those ones so only requested the others. . Thats what I get for glancing at posts from work. :P Hamanu, by the way. :P Always liked him Hamanu is over rated. I'm a Nibenay man myself
#9 ignis_thewanderingflame_dup Mar 18, 2006 3:15:01	Question: Anyone know the Code of Hamanu, word for word? Also, I read that the Lords of the Mind sealed the Last Sea off from everywhere else. What is meant by that? *Read on Squark passage in Terrors of Athas*
#10 jon_oracle_of_athas Mar 18, 2006 3:18:11	Dark Sun veteran Argantyr and myself have compiled the Code of Hamanu based on the Code of Hammurabi. You can find it on my website. http://www.sederqvist.com/ao
#11 balican_gigolo Mar 18, 2006 7:38:24	Hamanu is over rated. I'm a Nibenay man myself So am I. Although Hamanu is a close second. Contrary to the opinions above about Nibenay(the city and its people, not the SK), I always pictured it as chinese. I don't know. the description in the Ivory triangle in regards to the peoples' social views remind me of China. As a non chinese living in China, I felt like it did anyway. -if you ignore the topless templars.
#12 xlorepdarkhelm_dup Mar 18, 2006 12:35:25	So am I. Although Hamanu is a close second. Contrary to the opinions above about Nibenay(the city and its people, not the SK), I always pictured it as chinese. I don't know. the description in the Ivory triangle in regards to the peoples' social views remind me of China. As a non chinese living in China, I felt like it did anyway. -if you ignore the topless templars. It could be drawn from there. That's why I left a question-mark. The ones I set with question marks, I'm not really certain about. For me, I like Dregoth, Hamanu, and Daskinor. Nibenay is cool, but I've just never been able to "feel" him, y'know? Lalai-Puy is interesting and manipulative. Oronis is sort of in a category of his own. And that's generally how I personally prefer each of the remaining SK's. Other than Andropinis, which I still don't know what I'm going to do with him in my campaigns, so I just leave him on the sidelines.
#13 master_ivan Mar 20, 2006 7:04:43	Thats what I get for glancing at posts from work. :P Hamanu is over rated. I'm a Nibenay man myself HAMANU, THE LION OF URIK RULES :evillaugh
#14 dirk00001 Mar 20, 2006 9:53:50	I'm an Andropinis man myself - the fact that out of all the S-K's he's probably the only one that took control through manipulation the populace (getting the "dictator for life" vote) as opposed to simply using a show of force and demanding control, is just too cool.
#15 kalthandrix Mar 20, 2006 10:19:07	No no no no- all of you have it all wrong. Dregoth is the man, er....Dragon to support. He is the coolest DK out there and IMO even tops Borys- though only because Borys went down kinda like a punk when he was not able to kill those so called Heros of Tyr!
#16 the_peacebringer Mar 20, 2006 10:24:07	Guess what city-state I like! :P
#17 kalthandrix Mar 20, 2006 10:35:54	Guess what city-state I like! :P Frecken Tree Huggers :P Hug this
#18 ruhl-than_sage Mar 20, 2006 14:52:23	Go Daskinor! :coolcthul
#19 the_peacebringer Mar 20, 2006 14:58:01	Grumble, grumble... double post.
#20 the_peacebringer Mar 20, 2006 15:02:36	Frecken Tree Huggers :P Hug this Sticks and muls may break my bones but words can never hurt me, unless their spoken by a mage or a templar or a Sorcerer-King... And also, I got more trees than you do if I ever want to throw one back at ya... +2 caster level.