With a population of 40,000 Raam is by far the biggest city in the Tablelands. Visitors to the city are always surprised by both its vast scale and the corresponding amount of chaos to be found there.
People are openly murdered in the streets, open war is waged between the trading houses M'ke and Comis, and the citizens openly mock the Sorceror Queen Abalach-Re. Most people inside and out of Raam believe the city is a volitile pool set to ignite at the slightest spark. In their eyes, it is simply a matter of time before the Sorceror Queen is over-thrown.
They are completely right in one case, but woefully misguided in another. While the entire City is set to explode in a violent outburst, but the Sorceror Queen is far from being overthrown. As is the case with many things in Athas, everything is not what it seems.
Although Abalach-Re can be negligent and incompetent for a Sorceror Queen, she still has the accumulated wisdom of generations. By nature, she is prone to not heed the lessons of her past -however she is intelligent enough to identify problems before they spin out of control, and she is cunning enough to eradicate those problems before they become a threat to her existence. That, combined with her inexiplicable "dumb luck" has helped her maintain power in Athas' most populace city for millenia.
The seed for Raam's current state was planted when Yaramuke fell. After Hammanu obliterated that city, Abalach-Re was striken with fear. For centuries she counted on Yaramuke and its Sorceror Queen to serve as a buffer between her and the Lion King.
She watched in horror as Hammanu razed the city, murdered its queen, and forever blighted the lands. Danger had clearly moved right up to her doorstep. Hammanu and his army were obviously beyond her ability to confront directly. The fate of the Sorceror Queen Sielba also demonstated that Hammanu's wrath and ambition would not be blunted by seduction. The Lion King was impervious to physical tempation -millenia of excess and indulgence had long since rooted out any remanent of sexual desire he might have possessed. With neither her charms, nor her military to defend her, Abalach-Re nervously went about the task of researching her own self preservation.
These efforts took on new meaning approximately 200 years ago when Armies from Urik began amass and invasion seemed imminent. Abalach-Re frantically scrambled to save herself, devoting all of her time to both psionic and magical research. She eventually began ignoring her duties as queen altogether, since she felt that a much greater threat lay before her. As her neglect accumulated, discontent fomented in the city. Rather than eliminate the malaise affecting Raam, Abalach-Re nurtured it. In the Sorceror Queen's mind, this was a prime opportunity to cull the ranks of the Nobles, Merchant Houses, Templars, and even the Kuotagha who had all grown corrupt in her absence.
Years of mismanagement left her Kuotagha secret police force in utter disarray. None of the Kuotagha knew who was in control anymore and they divided into autonomous groups, sometimes even falling into outright conflict (warfare) with other groups of Kuotagha with contradictory goals. Abalach-Re left the atmosphere of confusion intact within the Kuotagha, feigning ignorance about the deteriorating conditions in the city, gleaning information from the leaders of its various factions, and carefully watching the mechanations of each unit.
Thus, Abalach-Re uses members of one group of Kuotagha to eliminate other units whom she deems as a threat. However, she allows less powerful groups to foment rebellion in order to flush out those who would oppose her.
Furthermore, in the midst of chaos and rebelliousness, Abalach-Re has poured her efforts into waging a very visible campaign promoting the Cult of Badna. No one, not even the Priests of Badna himself would deign to the worship of the "God." The cult is a joke in the city, but the Sorceror Queen is still powerful enough to force it's shrines into every aspect of the city. Although mocked, ridiculed, and sometimes openly attacked in public, the Clerics of Badna are everywhere.
In actuality, many of the priests of Badna make up Abalach-Re's most skilled and dangerous Kuotagha assassins. They have thoroughly injected themselves into every crack and crevice in Raam. Their degraded nature makes them prime targets for those disloyal to the Grand Vizer. They wait behind the masks of idiots, bidding their time until they are ordered to murder those who are disloyal to Abalach-Re (and Badna!).
In the meantime, Abalach-Re has relied on pure human greed and lust in order to secure her position with the nobility, merchant houses and the templarate. Whether they are seduced by power or lust, members of each group have willfully betrayed their cohorts in order to get closer to the Sorceror Queen.
Thus, while the City anticipates and orgy of violence, it will be much more calculated than anyone expects. When the actual rebellion begins, the Grand Vizer's agents will fly into action. By the end of it all, the streets will be choked with bodies of the dead (many with either broken spines or crushed larynx's) and Abalach-Re will reassert her authority over the city.
itf
I was hoping that this would stimulate some conversations about Raam. Instead, I have only seemed to stimulate apathy
What does Raam look like in other people's campaigns?
Personally, I found it hard imagine a City State where the SM was completely powerless. It seemed to contradict the whole idea of being an immortal Champion of Rajaat (not to mention a Champion who succeeded in wiping out an entire race!)
I think that this senario would make a rather intriguing adventure. The PC's could get caught up in assisting the rebellion against Abalach-Re only to slowly uncover the truth about Abalach-Re's mechanations. Then it would be a sprint to save the rebellions leaders in time (Nanda Shatri in particular) before the rebellion started.
I think that such an adventure would result in lots of intrigue, with those who weren't warned in time slaughtered and their surviving cohorts forever bearing a grudge against the PC's.
Anyways, I would just like to get some ideas for Raam regardless of the timeline (I operate out of the original boxed set framework...) If anything I hope that Raam develops into an interesting and unique City-state -NOT- "D&D India." (I feel that Draj suffers from this too much.)
itf
I think you've got some good insight into what's going on, but it doesn't quite come together.
Basically I fail to see how letting her city go to sh it would help her defend against Hammanu.
Personally, I'd like to see more information on the various factions of the city. The various elf tribes, the huge thri-kreen tribe, and merchant houses etc. They have a lot more importance in that city than in others even before Alabach-Re is removed. Afterwards the city is broken up into various camps and sections ruled by petty warlords. It would seem to make for a very interesting setting. When I'm done with my current game I was thinking about running a game that starts in Raam in FY10 just after Abalach-Re is killed.
Out of all of the city-states detailed in the revised box set I found Raam the most interesting. If Tyr was supposed to be the default center of the first box set, it seemed like Raam was supposed to be the default center for the second.
Sadira didn't actually kill Aabalach-Re, the opposite actually occured. The SQ faked her death through the use of elaborate magics, psionics, and planning in order to elude Rajaat's wrath and the chaos consuming her city. Now she has decided to take over Tyr, in Sadira's stolen body which is still capable of channeling the power of the sun. Of course, having given up her body for Sadira's, she is no longer a dragon. But, that situation is easily retecified.
Thanks for the input. I am not familiar with the Scarlet Emperess -can you give me a quick run-down?
As far as Raam is concerned, Kalak's Ziggurat is the whole reason why Abalach-Re snapped out of her scramble to overcome Hammanu. Once construction on the Ziggurat began, Hammanu shifted his forward-deployed forces towards Tyr, anticipating another catastrophe like Kalidney. This gave the Sorceror Queen some breathing room, but it also foreshadowed an even graver danger.
While Abalach-Re was re-assessing the situation, it became clear to her tha Raam had slid into near anarchy. The Grand Vizer decided that it would be best for her to shore up her own defenses and let the rest of the Sorceror Kings deal with Kalak.
I too like the idea of beefing up the factions inside of Raam. If folks follow the metaplot, then the Queen and her opposition would have had the best laid plans thrown asunder by a completely unpredictable set of events. The resulting power struggle that would have ensued is intriguing to say the least.
Personally, I think that the major players would be House M'ke, a few noble houses, the templarate, the kuotagha, the Veiled Alliance, and, of course, the seemingly incompetent Clerics of Badna.
IMO, the Elves are too concerned with "the now" to really get involved in any overly complicated plotting. Similarly, Thri-Kreen define their loyalties via "pack," and therefore really wouldn't take much interest in politics that go beyond their immediate, perceptible realm.
What are your thoughts on the various factions in Raam?
itf
Rhul Than,
Thanks for the input. I am not familiar with the Scarlet Emperess -can you give me a quick run-down?
The Scarlet Emperess was the ruler of “the realm” in the "exhalted" role-playing game (white wolf). She controled an empire that was greater then the roman empire at its height. In order to solidify and maintain her power over her vast empire throughout her centuries long rein, she took a succession of husbands and lovers and bore hundreds of children. From these children, formed the various dynastic houses each claiming a succession to the throne and in competition with eachother for favor and influence. She played the houses off of eachother making sure that none ever grew too strong.
What are your thoughts on the various factions in Raam?
The main camp of templars seem doomed to be overthrown. They continue to represent the (now dead) queen and ficticious Badna that the people seem to hate so much. While their administrative abilities and knowledge of the city are very valuable, unless they rethink their strategy they won't mean a thing. If they were to ally themselves with another faction they might be able to hold onto some power and lessen the chaos of the city, but unless they cast off the false worship of Badna I don't see even that going anywhere.
The Noble families, for the most part, seem to be protecting their holdings. Some are surely more ambitious, though I doubt a claim to royal linegage would help much in stacking a claim to the throne of Raam. I see some of the noble families being the most likely allies of the templars. They have the much to lose from the anarchy in the city, or any change of power structure.
The Rouge templars I find most interesting. I could see various rouge templars alling themselves with various other factions: a noble house, the night runners, house m'ke, or even possibly the vieled alliance. Their knowledge of the system and disassociation with the former queen and Badna are both strengths.
I wouldn't discount the elves either, they are expert at playing various groups off of eachother I could see them making a major bid for control of the city with the willing help of a few rouge templars and the unintentional help of the other factions pitted against eachother. As it currently stands, no one is opposing them and many are making deals with them. Paying them trading them secrets and such in return for their services. As masters of espionage, assassination, and distortion (which come naturally to elves anyway) they have perhaps one of the most powerful roles to play in how things unfold in the chaos.
Now the counter balance to the elves of course is the huge kreen popualtion of Raam, Raam-Tek. If the kreen could be motivated to actively hunt the Nightrunners then the elves plans would likely fall apart as they were slaughtered or driven out of town.
No matter what happens, I'm sure that house M'ke will play a major role in the new Raam that is formed. I don't think they have the reasources or ability to gain control of the city, but they will very likely end up as effectively owning much of the city at the end of the day.
Hmmm... the Scarlet Emperess sounds a lot like what I wanted to do with Abalach-Re. Although Abalach-Re didn't have the foresight to prevent chaos from unfolding in her city, I imagine that she has at least enough guile to play different factions against each other.
In regards to the Cult of Badna, I would agree that they seem weak and corrupt to most everyone in Raam. However, I think it is a little bit more intriguing to insert high-powered Kuotagha within their ranks and make them one of the secret centers of power in the city.
But even if you don't like that spin on Badna, there are still enough factions in Raam to keep things as interesting. I do think that the Elves are going to participate in some of the various power-struggles that are going to play out. However, I just don't see them making a bid for power. City administration just doesn't seem to be in their blood. I can imagine them operating more behind the scenes once all the smoke clears. I imagine them trying to leverage their power by allying with whoever they think is going to come out on top. Actually, since they are Elves, they'll probably have no qualms about profiting from work from various, conflicting factions.
I think that House M'ke will position itself to obliterate any and all trading competitors during the upheaval. I imagine them waiting for a winning party to appear, and then quickly allying themselves with that faction.
House Comis will have to make a move before hell breaks loose. Their diminished status will not allow them the luxury of simply waiting until the smoke clears. They need to predict a winner and side with them quick, that they may be rewarded for their loyalty once everything is finished. I can easily imagine various agents of Comis accusing / blaming House M'ke for the deaths of popular figures, or even linking House M'ke with the hugely unpopular establishment.
The noble houses are going to be protecting their own interests as well. For many, a social upheaval will be an opportunity to make moves on rival families. Furthermore, they will also want to ally themselves with "winners" in order to leverage their position. I can see an uprising serving as an opportunity for a Noble house to renew an old blood-feud. It can also serve as an opportunity to grab an opponent's land or damage it. I can imagine private armies disguised as "refugees" looting a rival nobles orchard / fields. In turn, Nobles are going to respond with defensive armies of their own. Look for the least powerful noble houses to make the most drastic moves for power.
Again, while I can see the Kreen playing a role in the uprising, I just don't see them making a bid for power. If the Kreen want to rule over anything, it would be a population of Kreen. I just don't imagine them being interested in administering a City like Raam.
I think that covers most of the major players inside of Raam. Any other factions?
itf
haven't been able to check the boards in a while, but me like :D
I feel Raam has almost become the forgotten city, getting far less attention than it deserves. The opportunities for running a campaign with much intrigue set in and around Raam are endless.
I don't see Abalach-Re as having been so cunning and powerful as to revel in and exploit the anarchy of the city. Raam is the tablelands' largest city and that alone must make it more difficult to rule. Perhaps the populance were already an unruly bunch ever before the SQ came and she got saddled with the last chicken in the shop or the city that all the other SKs didn't want. Abalach-Re probably found Raam difficult to rule from the start. I could see a great tie in here with the ancient history of the city. Perhaps it was one of the last cities to fall to the champions in the cleansing wars, being ruled by a large number of powerful nobles of different races working collectively. Perhaps the great spirit of some race lies beneath the city still.
When I'm done with my current game I was thinking about running a game that starts in Raam in FY10 just after Abalach-Re is killed.
I recently started a campaign set at the time of the death of Abalch-Re. I've managed to include a lot of the characters found in subsequent material to embelish this such as the Templar Avish Thira (villages of the wastes) and the leaders of the various factions. As the players get caught in Raam's descent into chaos and realise the Queen is dead, it's left to them to form an alliance with whatever faction they will which can lead to escape or death.
I see the Thri-kreen as being one of the best alliances. I reckon a good number of the kreen abandon the city as the chaos descends as they neither fully understand it and now regard the wastes are more favourable environs. (Plus the fact that the elves begin to openly hunt kreen within the city). Raam at the time of Abalach-Re death should be hell on Athas.
Anyhow, nice ideas you guys, keep it coming!
At the same time, what do you think of the idea that Nanda Shatri wants to make Raam's Veiled Alliance exclusive to the outcastes of Raam. She could have good intentions (social change) but at the same time it could cause a lot of internal conflict as people from the noble classes are passed up for promotion, while people from the lower classes seem to get "preferential treatment."
itf