For those of you who do not know what (or should I say WHERE) I'm talking about, Zyxl is off of the tip of Skothar, to the east of the Tangor Peninsula. If you sailed west off of the Immortals Arm, chances are you are going to hit Zyxl before Skothar.
For my two-cents, I've always dreamed this a land of Psionicist, maybe the only location for Psionics in Mystara (in my world). That would probably explain why it has been ignored! Wake up! You are under the control of the Zyxlists! :D
--Ray.
(one more post toward the domination of Ravenloft!)
Back when the MOrient team was at least a little active, we had identified Zyxl as a Mystaran analogue of Japanese culture, IIRC. If your campaign has Skothar as an Asia-inspired setting, then Zyxl would definitely make sense in this light. Nothing much ever ended up happening with the project, though, as I recall.
I remember a little of that project. Too bad it just disintegrated. I had saved a map from that project and it had Zyxl as the Mystara Japan.
In my world, even though the PCs are not interested/motivated/approached in going in that part of the world, I was making it a homeland for Mind Flayers. This was the only real stronghold for Psionics in the Mystara world, according to Me. It was in Zyxl that the Illithid had portals from where-ever they came from.
Zyxl turned into one of those places that I created a background and structure, but never in a million years will it ever be used. Of course if I did not prepare that part of the world, the PCs would be raring to get there! Sometimes you just can't win.
I think Zyxl should be a candidate for the best named country in the Mystara world. I appreciate any name that incorporates X, Y, and Z, let alone grouped together like that. A funny story, when I was fist getting my drivers licence (way back when dinosaurs walked) I had filled out as place of birth as Zyxl, NY. The DMV lady never looked twice and placed that in my records. So in PA, The DMV has me born in Zyxl! Not bad.
Also bear in mind that Skothar was the seat of the ancient Blackmoorian and Thonia empires (two distinct Caucasian cultures), and no trace of Far-East bloodlines have ever appeared there. :P
Finally, the area known as Tangor is now very much similar to Vulcania, according to PWAs, ripe with volcanoes and barren and jagged mountains. Zyxl shares the same condition, so it's highly unlikely it supports common civilizations (remember that even Tanagoro moved from that area to the more hospitable western region of Skothar after the GRoF). :embarrass
That said, putting them a small isolated culture of whatever race you wish may not be a bad idea, provided you flesh out well their history and ecology, given the scarcity of foodstuff in the area. ;)
Thonia
This is actually where the last ruins of the Blackmoor civilization may be found. It can be populated by any kind of creature these days, but the region practically screams for using elements like Blackmoor technology of even some of the cultures of the Blackmoor Era. Who knows if Skandaharians, Froglin, Afridhi and others may have survived among the ruins though magical or other means...
Bay of Thorin
The name Thorin does suggest Dwarves doesn't it? I always envisioned this place to be populated by Sea-going dwarves, perhaps not unlike the Cliff-side Dwarves detailed in the Stromwrack sourcebook.
Steppes of Jen
This is the home of the descendants of the Jennite. They are probably also related to the ancient Peshwa, like the Ethengar. This is probably the most like area to have an asian flavour. They may also have influenced nearby cultures giving them a more asian feel. I considered moving the Empire of the Great Khan here rather than on Brun as the Master's Map suggested.
Tangor
Descendants of the Tanogoro. Having an MEtheopia culture here sounds like a good idea.
Minean Coast
The Mineans were described by Bruce Heard as Sea-going Picts....
Håvard
Tangor
Descendants of the Tanogoro. Having an MEtheopia culture here sounds like a good idea.
There are also the Tanagoro half-ogres to consider: these people live in Gombar and Suma'a on the Arm of the Immortal, but originally came from the Tangor peninsula.
IIRC, in the Dragon Magazine article that describes Suma'a and Gombar there is also a line on Zyxl.
As for the Bay of Thorin, wasn't it the capital of Thonia -- or is this from the MA?
Finally, there are several major Rakasta breeds that live mostly or only on Skothar, including the Sherkasta (Tagh, Harimau-Belang), Cloud Pardasta, Snow Pardasta and Lynxmen, with cultures ranging from Indonesian to Tibetan (at least).
I have nothing against having some asian cultures on Skothar, but I feel that the MOrient Project ignored some of the things that were hinted at in Canon:
Thonia
This is actually where the last ruins of the Blackmoor civilization may be found. It can be populated by any kind of creature these days, but the region practically screams for using elements like Blackmoor technology of even some of the cultures of the Blackmoor Era. Who knows if Skandaharians, Froglin, Afridhi and others may have survived among the ruins though magical or other means...
Ahem... actually BLackmoor's ruins are gone, since Blackmoor was once where the current North Polar Opening is now. And modern days Thonia is not the old Thonian Empire, despite being founded by survivors of that kingdom.
New Thonia as shown by the map in the Master set has nothing to do with Ancient Thonia. I quote from DA1, the only source of info on modern Thonia together with M2 and IM3: "it does not bear and never bore the least resemblance to the waking dream of elder Thonia - the Golden Empire".
Also, the region occupied by New Thonia is the same area where the ancient Afridhi Empire stood, so there should really be no trace left of Blackmoor here.
Bay of Thorin
The name Thorin does suggest Dwarves doesn't it? I always envisioned this place to be populated by Sea-going dwarves, perhaps not unlike the Cliff-side Dwarves detailed in the Stromwrack sourcebook.
Is it the bay on the western coasts of Nentsun, right? No idea what's there, but if there be dwarves, they must be Rockborn dwarves. Nentsun is famous for his "cruel people who built longships", so similar to Antalians... prolly the descendants of Skandaharians.
Steppes of Jen
This is the home of the descendants of the Jennite. They are probably also related to the ancient Peshwa, like the Ethengar. This is probably the most like area to have an asian flavour. They may also have influenced nearby cultures giving them a more asian feel. I considered moving the Empire of the Great Khan here rather than on Brun as the Master's Map suggested.
I still consider the rakasta the only true example of Japanese culture on Mystara, while Ochaleans are their Chinese counterparts. Jennites seem more like Scythians. We know for sure that Jennites are Oltec descendants (so they're Oltecs), and Oltecs came to Skothar only in BC 3000, so the Jennites cannot possibly be the Peshwa.
However, my theory is that when the Oltecs came, some of them mingled with the local Peshwa and from them they took the horsemanship and love for nomadic culture. Do not forget that PWA says that the Oltecs who moved to Skothar soon divided into 2 groups: the sedentary colonies of the coast, and the nomadic herders of the inland. It is very likely these inland herders met the Peshwa and the two cultures got mixed.
Tangor
Descendants of the Tanogoro. Having an MEtheopia culture here sounds like a good idea.
Agreed.
Minean Coast
The Mineans were described by Bruce Heard as Sea-going Picts....
Uh? Sea-going Picts?? Minaeans are descendants of the Milenians, and it is evident also from their bio in PWA3 and the names of their cities that they are Greek in style... where does this Picts thing come from?? From what I know, the only Picts we have in Mystara may be the Thratians of Davania or the Caerdwiccans.
Ahem... actually BLackmoor's ruins are gone, since Blackmoor was once where the current North Polar Opening is now. And modern days Thonia is not the old Thonian Empire, despite being founded by survivors of that kingdom.
New Thonia as shown by the map in the Master set has nothing to do with Ancient Thonia. I quote from DA1, the only source of info on modern Thonia together with M2 and IM3: "it does not bear and never bore the least resemblance to the waking dream of elder Thonia - the Golden Empire".
Also, the region occupied by New Thonia is the same area where the ancient Afridhi Empire stood, so there should really be no trace left of Blackmoor here.
This depends alot on where you place Ancient Blackmoor, and which model you use for the rotation of Mystara after the GRoF. Canon contradicts itself all over on this issue, which makes it all confusing. Which is great
I didnt know M2 and IM3 were so specific about Thonia, but it does say it was founded by the Thonians, so there is no harm in borrowing things from Blackmoor age Thonian society to develop them. Ofcourse, not much has been written about the original Thonia, but perhaps ZGG will release more on them in the future, which we can steal if we want
Is it the bay on the western coasts of Nentsun, right? No idea what's there, but if there be dwarves, they must be Rockborn dwarves. Nentsun is famous for his "cruel people who built longships", so similar to Antalians... prolly the descendants of Skandaharians.
They could be Rockborn dwarves, though they may not be anything like the guys in Rockhome after centuries of adaptions to the local environment.
Good call on the Nentsun Skandaharians though.
I still consider the rakasta the only true example of Japanese culture on Mystara, while Ochaleans are their Chinese counterparts. Jennites seem more like Scythians. We know for sure that Jennites are Oltec descendants (so they're Oltecs), and Oltecs came to Skothar only in BC 3000, so the Jennites cannot possibly be the Peshwa.
However, my theory is that when the Oltecs came, some of them mingled with the local Peshwa and from them they took the horsemanship and love for nomadic culture. Do not forget that PWA says that the Oltecs who moved to Skothar soon divided into 2 groups: the sedentary colonies of the coast, and the nomadic herders of the inland. It is very likely these inland herders met the Peshwa and the two cultures got mixed.
Good points. I like the idea of the Jennites being an Oltec/Peshwa mix. The Peshwa I guess were also more Scythian-like as you describe the Jennites, but since the Peshwa are also the ancestors of the Ethengars they could also have developed an asianesque culture on Skothar if we want them to
Uh? Sea-going Picts?? Minaeans are descendants of the Milenians, and it is evident also from their bio in PWA3 and the names of their cities that they are Greek in style... where does this Picts thing come from?? From what I know, the only Picts we have in Mystara may be the Thratians of Davania or the Caerdwiccans.
It all came from Bruce Heard so we gotta deal with it ;)
Anyways, he specified them as Conan-style Picts rather than historical ones, so that may help
Håvard
They could be Rockborn dwarves, though they may not be anything like the guys in Rockhome after centuries of adaptions to the local environment.
Well, I'm not sure if it's in the Vaults or not, but I did do a timeline of sorts, years ago, detailling a period when Northman explorers discovered the Bay of Thorin, and found it was very much inhabited by dwarves, who weren't keen on giving away their treasure. Much mayhem ensued, with the end result being that the dwarves kicked the Northmen around for a bit before booting them back to the coast. If it's nowhere to be found in the Vaults, I'm sure I can dig it up...
Geoff