SC: M-XVI America! [Archive] - Wizards Community

SC: M-XVI America! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Wilhelm_
04-04-08, 02:09 AM Quote:
For example, if I want a more standard "New World" feel for a SC campaign, probably I'd describe the nimmurian ziggurats as step piramyds (pehaps with orcs and other humanoids being sacrificed). And then the M-Babylonia/M-Assyria gives place to a M-"Aztequesque" culture

That is a sweet idea actually...

I think many of us have this impression that the SC is the M-America, while the KW is the M-Europe (or, at least, most of it). I'm included in this list, but I'm quite aware that at the same time the SC have many elements for a great "New World" campaign, many others were left out, or we have others that don't fit that well with this idea.
Basically, reading carefully the VotPA, we can see that it may not be the original idea of Bruce Heard to make the SC a M-"New World". Or, at least, not a tradicional one. While the Baronial region (except for, IMHO, Cimarron), Renardy, Bellayne and Dunwick (LB) fits perfectly with this idea, and the City-States, Hule and Yavdlom fits at least with the same timeframe, even if not the same place, others don't fit at all at first sight: Robrenn, Eusdria, Herath and Nimmur.
Honestly, I think that Robrenn and Eusdria appeared at the SC because Bruce wanted to use the same idea he used for M-Spain for the Baronies, that are historical variations of the same culture. So, we have celtic Galia (Robrenn), Carolingian Empire (Eusdria) and modern France (Renardy). I'm not sure about Herath and Nimmur.
OTOH, they could indeed fit perfectly the setting. The only thing we would need to do is look then and imagine something else. We don't need to change nothing (or almost nothing) that's canon for that, just use the imagination.
For example, the idea I gave for Nimmur at the other thread. One thing abscent from the setting that would be quite interesting is a M-Mesoamerica or M-Andean native "civilized" (sedentary, city biolder and rich) civilization. We have none in 1000 AC (we had some, but they were destroyed long ago), only ruins that can be explored.
Well, we can "change" Nimmur in order to become our own M-Aztec civilization. They're agressive. They're bloodthristy. They have ziggurats (that could be described as step pyramids). They worship Atzanteotl and once did worship Ixion. And thy live on a tropical zone. All those traits matches another civilization we know well, Azca (the M-Aztecs)!
So, the only thing we need to do is describe Nimmur in a proper way, and our players will imagine it as a mesoameric civilization. Even their names sound exotic, if they're no Babylon/Assyria experts, they might not even perceive the difference, believing it to be any non-nahuatl amerindian language.
If one is willing to go a step further, he could give aztec weapons and equipment for the manscorpions, give nahuatl names for the cities of Nimmur (and rename it as Azca!) and Eshu and pehaps change the winged minotaurs for winged intelligent serpents (or use the Krolli). But that's not necessary at all, that's my point ;)
Robrenn may be a little more difficult, especially if you're also using the RW. We have many celtic civilizations at the IoD that could, otherwise, be used for Robrenn (BTW, RS books were already doing exactly this; two pregens are descendents from Robrenn, and they have irish names!). But if you're using it, you could just make it "celts with renascence equipment and clothes" and thy would made it just fine as well. Pehaps you could make the elven (Alfheim styled) influence at there even stronger. That would made them natural swashbucklers! :)
Also if you're playing a historical campaign at the SC, c. 500 AC, you could make them as a "generic" M-Picts, which means, basically, semi-nomadic amerindians wearing basically nothing (and sometimes, nothing at all). Their diffeente to oltec peoples would then be their fair skin and blond hair! :)
Wilhelm_
04-04-08, 02:51 AM For Herath and Eusdria, I'm going a little beyond that, adding some non-canon info in addtion to the already well-known canon info, making them somewhat different and better adapted to the XV-XVI feel of the rest of the SC (especially the baronies, Renardy and Bellayne; and yes, please, ignore the japanese things of Bellayne ;)):

EUSDRIA:

This idea make it mainly M-Austria (there are some elements that points to it: its name (Eusdria sounds just like Austria), the heraldic black eagle, the description as a "holy empire", the germanic culture, etc), but with a difference; instead of the Hattian M-High Germanic, it will use a M-Low Germanic. One common Low Germanic name is Sigismund, the monarch of Eusdria, with is a good thing. The other rulers, OTOH, don't make good matches. But they could be used nevertheless, or be used at the eusdrian past. That's because my idea is to make it indeed the M-Carolingian Empire, but c. 650 AC.
This was a quite isolate region before 500 AC. It was inhabited by dwarves and elves, but the local SC power by that time, the Lawful Brotherhood, largery ignored ans was ignored by the locals. That changed by c. 500 AC, when a antalian tribe, allied with the LB, arrived at thar region and estabilished two kingdoms, Eusdria and Savaria. The elves and dwarves also had their own kingdoms (elven Mohesia and Frisonnia and dwarven Harstal), that reacted. The LB finally arrived, however, bringing peace among those followers of lawful Immortals and joining them against common enemies, the goblinoids of the Yazak.
The LB, however, wasn't the same cohese and powerful religion it once was, and it didn't take long for the locals form their own church, using their tradicional names for the Immortals instead of the generic one (their church, however, still bears a strong resemblance to the LB). The royal families also start to forge permanent alliances between them, eventually resulting with the strong House of Eusdria (yes, the M-Habsburgs :)). And, as we know, it triggered their neigbour states of Robrenn to band together as a confederated nation.

Eusdria is famous for its military orders. Despite being treated as the same thing, they're actually quite different from one another, except for the fact that they're at the service of it's nation and/or its Immortals (they're not mercenaries available to other nations for hire). These orders are: Order of the Immortals (composed by many tradicional, heavy armoured, courassiers, many being Defenders); Order of the Unicorn (also courassiers, many humans and elves); Knights of Niedegard (again human courassiers, but with many dwarven crossbowmen on heavy war wagons (http://ageofempires.wikia.com/wiki/War_Wagon)). The other orders are mainly composed by infantrymen: the Servants of Eusdria (the largest order, its name in eusdrian is "Launt Kjnajcht" (in Hattian, it would be Landsknecht ;) ); humans, known for their halberds [ok, this one is a departure from canon; it was originally the knights of Eusdria, honourbounds that use axes]); Company of the Wolf (lupin mercenaries from Renardy, especially before it acquire it's M-French culture; they're famous for carring always a sword sword named Katzbalger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katzbalger), since it was usually used against their enemies rakastas); and the Company of the Bear(dwarven Landsknecht with halberds).
The last order, the Warriors of the Sea, is actually a group of privateers that works for Eusdria. It's still a small group (when compared to those working with Vilaverde, Texeiras, the Lb and Renardy), but it will, someday, allow Eusdria to also have it's place at the Western Sea.

My motivation for giving Eusdria a more modern appearence is that because RS simply can't decide about what to do with it; at the same time that it changed VotPA original idea of a M-Frankish kingdom, making it much more viking-like, also made it clear hat it was actually modernisint itself quite quickly (it even have it's own fencing school, the Verdegild)!
Wilhelm_
04-04-08, 08:21 PM My idea for Herath is assume that canon info about it is incomplete. They disguse themselves as another races and cultures (many of aranea pics shown them dressed with baronial clothes), but, at the same time, Herath has it's own culture. My idea is that was is shown about it is the truth, that only araneas know; non-araneas, however, see something else quite different...

HERATH:

While Herath is a magocratic kingdom, foreigns believe it to be a magocratic confederation, much like Glantri. Also just like Glantri, each of it's Cantons have distinctive cultures and even races (but, despite this differences, there is no known form of discrimination or rivalties between different cultures or races; that's something that can only be seen at there). The official name of this nation is usually written in (old) thyatian, since there are so many languages within it's borders: Confoederatio Herathica
There are 6 Cantons and 2 Condominia, the later being the Wildwoods and Western Herath. The Cantons are:

-Canton of Magus Rex: Capitol: Belphemon
Main Immortals: Herathian pantheon
The oldest settled canton of Herath, it's basically a dark and eerie forest. This place has the last remains of older cultures that once existed at this part of the OHP (or, in fact, cultures that the araneas mimicked), having it's own step pyramids (ziggurats) and other peculiar architecture. It's also the only place where herathian is used freely (elsewhere, it's used only by araneas while in their natural form).

-Canton of Freguesia: Capitol: Porto Pacífico [herathian: Viscountcy of Hethzya, Shahav (capitol)]
Main Immortals: The Ambassador (Masauwu), Valérias
Possibly the oldest canton to be inhabited by foreign cultures, such as the Otzil, Taymora and Nithia (most of the times, this was only araneas mimicking powerful cultures), and ruins of ancient step pyramids with very different designs can be seen here. It's capitol was founded more than a thousand years ago by the first LB missionaries to reach this far west. The name of their outpost, Peaceful Outpost, still survives at the modern city that grew around it (Porto Pacífico means Peaceful Port in verdan). This cosmopolitan canton had representants from many different cultures, including traladarans (after c. 450 AC). After c. 950 AC, it's population became predominantly verdan.

-Canton of Blackingham: Capitol: Amion [herathian: Viscountcy of Berevrom]
This canton was mostly uninhabited before a large number of traladaran colonists settled in Bellayne. Shortly before, however, a deadly plague wiped then out (sages believe that it was the Red Curse; if so, it's possible that the araneas released it over Bellayne for some reason; pehaps these traladarans discovered their secret). The LB outpost that was the centre of the traladaran colony in Bellayne, now known as the Malburn Castle, still lies in ruins.
Not long after that, rakastas entered Bellayne, absorving the LB culture and language. They also entered this canton, bringing the LB culture with them. This canton also have a significant elven population, as Bellayne.

-Canton of Valdorado: Capitol: Soledo [herathian: Duchy of Ensheya, Sorodh (capitol)]
This canton, just like Magus Rex (and different from Freguesia), retained the culture the first colonists brought to Herath longer. Step pyramids and other examples of ancient architecture can be seen at the villages far from Venon River. The modern site of Soledo was first a LB camp, erected close to a important gold mine (c. 500 AC). The LBs were expelled not long after, however, as a powerful wizard claimed this region as his own dominion (that later would become a herathian canton). But the legend of a rich gold mine survived, being taken to other LB outposts and traladarans settlements east of there. When the ispans arrived at the region (c. 900 AC), they heard these legends and sought for this legendary "Valdorado", the Golden Valley. The ispans were successful taking the city of Soledo (corrupted form of the name Sorodh), reorganizing this canton with a ispan culture (actually, after the inicial surprise, the araneas began get rid of each of the conquerors, replacing them with araneas (using apropriate spells for that); it took only a few months for that, and soon after they simply stopped mimickind some of them (but still using their names as fathers and mothers for new araneas that was appointed to mimic ispans), except for the most prohemint ones (and even those had, actually, quite premature deaths, but not before having (aranea) children)). Valdorado also have a large elven population, related with the belcadizian elves that arrived here with the ispan conquerors (I'm using here this theory (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=988208)).

-Canton of Enomania: Capitol: Negreb [herathian: County of Enom, Nezhev (capitol)]
This canton was largely ignored by the first stellers of ancient civilizations, having only a few ruins nowadays. Most of it's population arrived by the same time they did at Bellayne, leaving Slagovich because of internal problems. Many dwarves, natives of that region, also followed them here. These dwarves soon adopted the traladaran culture, much as the city-states dwarves did.

-Canton of Nouvelle Ylourgne: Port-au-Loup [Herathian: Shavraim (capitol)]
Main Immortals: Saimpt Renard (Korotiku)
This is the youngest of the herathians cantons, receiving it's first inhabitans only after c. 900 AC, after Clébard de Clairvault arrived at the SC with his lupin followers from Glantri. After Clébard defeated the ispans and pistoleros lupins that defended the Baronía de Sandoval, forming the Baronie de Marmandie and joined the kingdom of Renardy, Clébard had a meteoric ascention within that nation, gaining many rivals while that, including his wizard lupin followers from Glantri. Becoming the new king of the Royaume de Renardie, he expelled these wizard rivals, that were invited by the herathian mages to settle at there. The founded Port-au-Loup, which reflects the old, ispan, name of Mons-en-Plécy (that was Puerto del Lobo) and joined the confederation. These colonists were later joined by native herathians, many of them lupins (araneas disguising as lupins, in order to steal the glantrian magical secrets).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Wilhelm_ 04-04-08, 02:09 AM	Quote: For example, if I want a more standard "New World" feel for a SC campaign, probably I'd describe the nimmurian ziggurats as step piramyds (pehaps with orcs and other humanoids being sacrificed). And then the M-Babylonia/M-Assyria gives place to a M-"Aztequesque" culture That is a sweet idea actually... I think many of us have this impression that the SC is the M-America, while the KW is the M-Europe (or, at least, most of it). I'm included in this list, but I'm quite aware that at the same time the SC have many elements for a great "New World" campaign, many others were left out, or we have others that don't fit that well with this idea. Basically, reading carefully the VotPA, we can see that it may not be the original idea of Bruce Heard to make the SC a M-"New World". Or, at least, not a tradicional one. While the Baronial region (except for, IMHO, Cimarron), Renardy, Bellayne and Dunwick (LB) fits perfectly with this idea, and the City-States, Hule and Yavdlom fits at least with the same timeframe, even if not the same place, others don't fit at all at first sight: Robrenn, Eusdria, Herath and Nimmur. Honestly, I think that Robrenn and Eusdria appeared at the SC because Bruce wanted to use the same idea he used for M-Spain for the Baronies, that are historical variations of the same culture. So, we have celtic Galia (Robrenn), Carolingian Empire (Eusdria) and modern France (Renardy). I'm not sure about Herath and Nimmur. OTOH, they could indeed fit perfectly the setting. The only thing we would need to do is look then and imagine something else. We don't need to change nothing (or almost nothing) that's canon for that, just use the imagination. For example, the idea I gave for Nimmur at the other thread. One thing abscent from the setting that would be quite interesting is a M-Mesoamerica or M-Andean native "civilized" (sedentary, city biolder and rich) civilization. We have none in 1000 AC (we had some, but they were destroyed long ago), only ruins that can be explored. Well, we can "change" Nimmur in order to become our own M-Aztec civilization. They're agressive. They're bloodthristy. They have ziggurats (that could be described as step pyramids). They worship Atzanteotl and once did worship Ixion. And thy live on a tropical zone. All those traits matches another civilization we know well, Azca (the M-Aztecs)! So, the only thing we need to do is describe Nimmur in a proper way, and our players will imagine it as a mesoameric civilization. Even their names sound exotic, if they're no Babylon/Assyria experts, they might not even perceive the difference, believing it to be any non-nahuatl amerindian language. If one is willing to go a step further, he could give aztec weapons and equipment for the manscorpions, give nahuatl names for the cities of Nimmur (and rename it as Azca!) and Eshu and pehaps change the winged minotaurs for winged intelligent serpents (or use the Krolli). But that's not necessary at all, that's my point ;) Robrenn may be a little more difficult, especially if you're also using the RW. We have many celtic civilizations at the IoD that could, otherwise, be used for Robrenn (BTW, RS books were already doing exactly this; two pregens are descendents from Robrenn, and they have irish names!). But if you're using it, you could just make it "celts with renascence equipment and clothes" and thy would made it just fine as well. Pehaps you could make the elven (Alfheim styled) influence at there even stronger. That would made them natural swashbucklers! :) Also if you're playing a historical campaign at the SC, c. 500 AC, you could make them as a "generic" M-Picts, which means, basically, semi-nomadic amerindians wearing basically nothing (and sometimes, nothing at all). Their diffeente to oltec peoples would then be their fair skin and blond hair! :)
Wilhelm_ 04-04-08, 02:51 AM	For Herath and Eusdria, I'm going a little beyond that, adding some non-canon info in addtion to the already well-known canon info, making them somewhat different and better adapted to the XV-XVI feel of the rest of the SC (especially the baronies, Renardy and Bellayne; and yes, please, ignore the japanese things of Bellayne ;)): EUSDRIA: This idea make it mainly M-Austria (there are some elements that points to it: its name (Eusdria sounds just like Austria), the heraldic black eagle, the description as a "holy empire", the germanic culture, etc), but with a difference; instead of the Hattian M-High Germanic, it will use a M-Low Germanic. One common Low Germanic name is Sigismund, the monarch of Eusdria, with is a good thing. The other rulers, OTOH, don't make good matches. But they could be used nevertheless, or be used at the eusdrian past. That's because my idea is to make it indeed the M-Carolingian Empire, but c. 650 AC. This was a quite isolate region before 500 AC. It was inhabited by dwarves and elves, but the local SC power by that time, the Lawful Brotherhood, largery ignored ans was ignored by the locals. That changed by c. 500 AC, when a antalian tribe, allied with the LB, arrived at thar region and estabilished two kingdoms, Eusdria and Savaria. The elves and dwarves also had their own kingdoms (elven Mohesia and Frisonnia and dwarven Harstal), that reacted. The LB finally arrived, however, bringing peace among those followers of lawful Immortals and joining them against common enemies, the goblinoids of the Yazak. The LB, however, wasn't the same cohese and powerful religion it once was, and it didn't take long for the locals form their own church, using their tradicional names for the Immortals instead of the generic one (their church, however, still bears a strong resemblance to the LB). The royal families also start to forge permanent alliances between them, eventually resulting with the strong House of Eusdria (yes, the M-Habsburgs :)). And, as we know, it triggered their neigbour states of Robrenn to band together as a confederated nation. Eusdria is famous for its military orders. Despite being treated as the same thing, they're actually quite different from one another, except for the fact that they're at the service of it's nation and/or its Immortals (they're not mercenaries available to other nations for hire). These orders are: Order of the Immortals (composed by many tradicional, heavy armoured, courassiers, many being Defenders); Order of the Unicorn (also courassiers, many humans and elves); Knights of Niedegard (again human courassiers, but with many dwarven crossbowmen on heavy war wagons (http://ageofempires.wikia.com/wiki/War_Wagon)). The other orders are mainly composed by infantrymen: the Servants of Eusdria (the largest order, its name in eusdrian is "Launt Kjnajcht" (in Hattian, it would be Landsknecht ;) ); humans, known for their halberds [ok, this one is a departure from canon; it was originally the knights of Eusdria, honourbounds that use axes]); Company of the Wolf (lupin mercenaries from Renardy, especially before it acquire it's M-French culture; they're famous for carring always a sword sword named Katzbalger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katzbalger), since it was usually used against their enemies rakastas); and the Company of the Bear(dwarven Landsknecht with halberds). The last order, the Warriors of the Sea, is actually a group of privateers that works for Eusdria. It's still a small group (when compared to those working with Vilaverde, Texeiras, the Lb and Renardy), but it will, someday, allow Eusdria to also have it's place at the Western Sea. My motivation for giving Eusdria a more modern appearence is that because RS simply can't decide about what to do with it; at the same time that it changed VotPA original idea of a M-Frankish kingdom, making it much more viking-like, also made it clear hat it was actually modernisint itself quite quickly (it even have it's own fencing school, the Verdegild)!
Wilhelm_ 04-04-08, 08:21 PM	My idea for Herath is assume that canon info about it is incomplete. They disguse themselves as another races and cultures (many of aranea pics shown them dressed with baronial clothes), but, at the same time, Herath has it's own culture. My idea is that was is shown about it is the truth, that only araneas know; non-araneas, however, see something else quite different... HERATH: While Herath is a magocratic kingdom, foreigns believe it to be a magocratic confederation, much like Glantri. Also just like Glantri, each of it's Cantons have distinctive cultures and even races (but, despite this differences, there is no known form of discrimination or rivalties between different cultures or races; that's something that can only be seen at there). The official name of this nation is usually written in (old) thyatian, since there are so many languages within it's borders: Confoederatio Herathica There are 6 Cantons and 2 Condominia, the later being the Wildwoods and Western Herath. The Cantons are: -Canton of Magus Rex: Capitol: Belphemon Main Immortals: Herathian pantheon The oldest settled canton of Herath, it's basically a dark and eerie forest. This place has the last remains of older cultures that once existed at this part of the OHP (or, in fact, cultures that the araneas mimicked), having it's own step pyramids (ziggurats) and other peculiar architecture. It's also the only place where herathian is used freely (elsewhere, it's used only by araneas while in their natural form). -Canton of Freguesia: Capitol: Porto Pacífico [herathian: Viscountcy of Hethzya, Shahav (capitol)] Main Immortals: The Ambassador (Masauwu), Valérias Possibly the oldest canton to be inhabited by foreign cultures, such as the Otzil, Taymora and Nithia (most of the times, this was only araneas mimicking powerful cultures), and ruins of ancient step pyramids with very different designs can be seen here. It's capitol was founded more than a thousand years ago by the first LB missionaries to reach this far west. The name of their outpost, Peaceful Outpost, still survives at the modern city that grew around it (Porto Pacífico means Peaceful Port in verdan). This cosmopolitan canton had representants from many different cultures, including traladarans (after c. 450 AC). After c. 950 AC, it's population became predominantly verdan. -Canton of Blackingham: Capitol: Amion [herathian: Viscountcy of Berevrom] This canton was mostly uninhabited before a large number of traladaran colonists settled in Bellayne. Shortly before, however, a deadly plague wiped then out (sages believe that it was the Red Curse; if so, it's possible that the araneas released it over Bellayne for some reason; pehaps these traladarans discovered their secret). The LB outpost that was the centre of the traladaran colony in Bellayne, now known as the Malburn Castle, still lies in ruins. Not long after that, rakastas entered Bellayne, absorving the LB culture and language. They also entered this canton, bringing the LB culture with them. This canton also have a significant elven population, as Bellayne. -Canton of Valdorado: Capitol: Soledo [herathian: Duchy of Ensheya, Sorodh (capitol)] This canton, just like Magus Rex (and different from Freguesia), retained the culture the first colonists brought to Herath longer. Step pyramids and other examples of ancient architecture can be seen at the villages far from Venon River. The modern site of Soledo was first a LB camp, erected close to a important gold mine (c. 500 AC). The LBs were expelled not long after, however, as a powerful wizard claimed this region as his own dominion (that later would become a herathian canton). But the legend of a rich gold mine survived, being taken to other LB outposts and traladarans settlements east of there. When the ispans arrived at the region (c. 900 AC), they heard these legends and sought for this legendary "Valdorado", the Golden Valley. The ispans were successful taking the city of Soledo (corrupted form of the name Sorodh), reorganizing this canton with a ispan culture (actually, after the inicial surprise, the araneas began get rid of each of the conquerors, replacing them with araneas (using apropriate spells for that); it took only a few months for that, and soon after they simply stopped mimickind some of them (but still using their names as fathers and mothers for new araneas that was appointed to mimic ispans), except for the most prohemint ones (and even those had, actually, quite premature deaths, but not before having (aranea) children)). Valdorado also have a large elven population, related with the belcadizian elves that arrived here with the ispan conquerors (I'm using here this theory (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=988208)). -Canton of Enomania: Capitol: Negreb [herathian: County of Enom, Nezhev (capitol)] This canton was largely ignored by the first stellers of ancient civilizations, having only a few ruins nowadays. Most of it's population arrived by the same time they did at Bellayne, leaving Slagovich because of internal problems. Many dwarves, natives of that region, also followed them here. These dwarves soon adopted the traladaran culture, much as the city-states dwarves did. -Canton of Nouvelle Ylourgne: Port-au-Loup [Herathian: Shavraim (capitol)] Main Immortals: Saimpt Renard (Korotiku) This is the youngest of the herathians cantons, receiving it's first inhabitans only after c. 900 AC, after Clébard de Clairvault arrived at the SC with his lupin followers from Glantri. After Clébard defeated the ispans and pistoleros lupins that defended the Baronía de Sandoval, forming the Baronie de Marmandie and joined the kingdom of Renardy, Clébard had a meteoric ascention within that nation, gaining many rivals while that, including his wizard lupin followers from Glantri. Becoming the new king of the Royaume de Renardie, he expelled these wizard rivals, that were invited by the herathian mages to settle at there. The founded Port-au-Loup, which reflects the old, ispan, name of Mons-en-Plécy (that was Puerto del Lobo) and joined the confederation. These colonists were later joined by native herathians, many of them lupins (araneas disguising as lupins, in order to steal the glantrian magical secrets).