Anyways, here it is. It's brief, but I tried to recapture (though not completely) two elements that were in the original Dark Sun but seemed to be greatly (in my opinion) attenuated in both the PP and revised DS (I realize that even these later versions don't agree with one another all the time): the mystery and doom-and-gloom hopelessness. At first I just wanted to get rid of Rikus and Sadira, whose presence in the campaign really didn't interest me at all. But then I thought it would be cool if they remained as ominous figures of the past, the ghosts of memory that condemn the present and chide us to better things. If there are technical mistakes, or parts that don't seem to make sense, feel free to correct or advise me. Oh, and other people have their own homebrewed versions of Athas, please post them. I personally would like to see what changes other people made and why.
================
It has been nearly 300 years since Athas last saw the heroes of Tyr, Rikus the gladiator and Sadira the sun wizard. Both disappeared under mysterious circumstances, with Rikus wandering into the west, past the Hinterlands, shortly before the Kreen Invasion of Free Year 15, and Sadira never returning from the city-state of Draj after traveling there to parley with Atzetuk, the young ruler of Draj, in Free Year 31. Atzetuk claimed that the powerful wizard left his city-state unharmed, and what happened to her after that was not his concern.
After the Kreen Invasion, Rkard undertook a quest to find Rikus and bring him back. When he returned from the west several years later, the cleric had become somber and grim, refused to speak of his travels, and appeared to be burdened with some unspeakable knowledge. Years later, when Sadira also vanished, Rkard set off again to find his lost companion. He was denied entry into Draj, and was forced to scour the surrounding countryside for clues as to Sadira’s whereabouts. He found nothing. Though he would continue his investigations over the next few decades, Rkard never managed to discover what happened on that ill-fated day when Sadira entered the agafari hewn and iron bound gates of Draj. Now an ancient mul, kept alive only by the power of his magic, Rkard sits and waits. Surely he does not wait for the return of his old friends, who must have perished long ago of old age, if not murder. But wait he does, and his friends and associates are uneasy at this, for he seems to possess knowledge about the near future that does not bode well for any of us.
Regardless, today Athas seems to have forgotten its short-lived moment of glory and possibility. The sorcerer-kings have consolidated their territories and collective strength. Atzetuk has managed to propel himself over the last several hundred years into the coveted position of a true sorcerer-king. Indeed, it was in Free Year 54 that the Cerulean Storm suddenly dissipated in the east, and Atzetuk’s templars actually began receiving divine spells from their dread sorcerer-king. With the living storm no more, the shattered ruins of Ur Draxa lie in a black sleep, waiting to be explored. Andropinis has returned from the Black and now rules over Balic once again. It is not known how he orchestrated his own release. Dregoth the Undead Dragon King is now the only sorcerer-king to rule over two city-states: Raam and Old Kurn. Oronis’ true avangion nature became revealed in Free Year 274, prompting Dregoth to lay siege to both Old and New Kurn. At the head of a massive army of living and dead alike, Dregoth managed to capture Old Kurn in Free Year 275 and, after years of desperate fighting, burn New Kurn to the ground in Free Year 280. It is believed that Oronis and a few hundred New Kurnians escaped. For the most part, the other sorcerer-kings continue on as they have for centuries, perhaps now a little more cunning, a little more perceptive to subtle changes in the wind, but nevertheless still as ruthless as ever. Rumor has it, however, that trepidation and uncertainty runs through the city-states’ populations, for now it is clear that Dregoth has the wits and strength to match his treacherous designs of conquest.
It is now Free Year 300, and though most Athasians no longer remember the Decade of Heroes, when Athas finally seemed responsive to unselfish acts of noble intent, the Free City of Tyr remains ever vigilant, ever remembering, ever free. Let us hope this vigilance is enough to guard us against the swiftly gathering night.
---Deonesion the Master Scribe of Tyr
.So what happend to Rikus ?
Hamanu is gone withe the cerulean storm, right?
Who rules Urik ?
Did Nibenay, with Siemhouk's rage calming talent, become a full grown Dragon ?
What's up withe the Oba?
BTW I love what you did withe Kurn :D.
I like this
So what happend to Rikus ?
Hamanu is gone withe the cerulean storm, right?
Who rules Urik ?
Did Nibenay, with Siemhouk's rage calming talent, become a full grown Dragon ?
What's up withe the Oba?
BTW I love what you did withe Kurn :D.
Rikus is left open on purpose. I have a general idea of what could have happened to him, but it's up to the DM to decide that. I found that too many questions brought up in the original DS were answered by subsequent novels, modules, and the revised setting, which made it lose much of its appeal to me. Same goes for Sadira, but to a lesser extent.
And as far as Hamanu is concerned, ack! Why would he disappear with the Cerulean Storm, is he tied to its fate somehow? I've only read the first two novels in the prism pentad series (I've relied on Beyond the Prism Pentad to catch me up with the rest, and I just ordered the entire series including a few other DS novels from Ebay, they should arrive in a week). So I'm at a loss to answer your question.
As far Lalali-Puy and Nibenay, it is assumed that they're still gaining in strength, and yes I personally assume that Nibenay is closer to becoming a full grown dragon. Does the rage kick in at the 10th level mark? Isn't it like midway or something? (Sorry about my lack of knowledge, I'm more of a fluff guy than crunch guy).
And destroying Kurn did give me a bit of perverse pleasure. Always hated that place. I don't know what I'll do with the mind lords or bandit states, both of which don't interest me, so I'll probably just say a giant foot squished them and dried the last sea
I think the Kreen Empire is pretty cool though, and it can't be escaped to by PCs the way northern parts can be escaped to, so the integrity of the Tyr Region as the last habitable place on Athas remains solid.[must run. someone else please pick up this silliness where I left it off]
What was the outcome of the Kreen invasion?
Personally, I'm not entirely sure I'd have new SKs pop up, such as Atzetuk at Draj. Although it does perhaps take away from story, from the original boxed set we can see that several cities had either been destroyed or abandoned, and no one took their place. The entire Tablelands region, at the very least, and probably the planet, seems to be dying, and degeneration seems to me to be a good theme.
The secrets of the whole thing seemed locked away with Rajaat in Rkard's sun prison, but that part of the story is at the heart of the whole word's mystery. I am glad that in your story it has not assumed center stage as the sole actor.
Perhaps Troy Denning will tell us what happens before too long, as I feel that Lynn Abbey's book is an unsuitable ending to such a popular campaign setting.
Good thread!
Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread, Jimenez99.
What was the outcome of the Kreen invasion?
Heh, I have no idea. Whatever it is, though, it certainly has to be a moment of such import that it reverberates through history, affecting (in typical Dark Sun mood) most Athasians in a negative way, leading to a dip in the standard of living. This, of course, or at least it is hoped, would heighten the (mostly Tyrian) nostalgia for the Decade of Heroes. I just enjoy formulating open ended campaign threads, and not bothering to close them, because even I lose interest if I answer my own questions! Of course, in an actual campaign with an actual party, many threads would indeed have to be taken to their logical end. But when first conceptualizing a world, I like to feel like I'm just as lost and struck with wanderlust as the PCs.
From what you offered, it sounds pretty cool jimenez. i agree with your sentiment that Dark Sun needs to keep its "mystery" and not answer too many questions. It also needs to keep its dark-and-grim-but-distant-hope flavor... and indeed, New Kurn seems to take away from this. Such great heroes as Rikus and Sadira are difficult to kill or vanish due to "old age...", storywise I mean, and I definately think there is something to your having them disappear... and not have some ridiculous death. They have indeed become iconic personalities in the Dark Sun universe, both inside and outside the game. The SMs themselves surely respect them, and it is always, or should be, a "magic" moment when players in DS campaign actually meet the two.
Personally, I'm not entirely sure I'd have new SKs pop up, such as Atzetuk at Draj. Although it does perhaps take away from story, from the original boxed set we can see that several cities had either been destroyed or abandoned, and no one took their place. The entire Tablelands region, at the very least, and probably the planet, seems to be dying, and degeneration seems to me to be a good theme.
The secrets of the whole thing seemed locked away with Rajaat in Rkard's sun prison, but that part of the story is at the heart of the whole word's mystery. I am glad that in your story it has not assumed center stage as the sole actor.
Perhaps Troy Denning will tell us what happens before too long, as I feel that Lynn Abbey's book is an unsuitable ending to such a popular campaign setting.
Good thread!
Thanks for the great comments, phaaf. In fact, you've convinced me to seriously reconsider Atzetuk's place. The whole dying and degeneration theme would seem to demand it. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. But then that leaves open the problem of getting rid of the Cerulean Storm (without bringing Rajaat back) so that Ur Draxa can be rendered accessible. I was pretty miffed when a great city like Ur Draxa, THE Dragon's city-state, which is open to sooo many RP and adventure opportunities, was removed in favor of a freaking storm. Made Valley of Dust and Fire obsolete. Dark Sun has enough harsh environmental conditions for PCs to contend with, but one can never have too many ruins to explore!
Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread, Jimenez99.
Sigh. I guess you're right. Anyone want to take our version to a new thread?
I was aggravated at the idea of Dregoth somehow striking all the way to Kurn while ignoring the vulnerable cities of weaker SKs who were responsible for Dregoth's death. The geopolitics seems a little ... unlikely. It feels like you just wanted to get rid of a city that you didn't like, and didn't really let geography or politics get in the way. If one was that eager to get rid of Kurn, one could take a more credible approach, by saying that the Messenger fell out of the sky and blotted it up.
Edit: and I'll see if I can find a copy of the this Book of Villains. Sounds eerily similar to FR's Lords of Darkness.
As per the e-published adventure module by Athas.org, perhaps Dregoth could be killed by PCs (heroes) when he attempts his foolish bid for divinity.
Honestly, as far as the future of Athas goes however, it seems that change is rife in the wind. The SMs would almost certainly prefer the Cerulean Storm to remain, so as to feed life giving water to the planet, which would slowly begin to change it a great deal. TSR also seemed to imagine that the Kreen Empire(s) would teem into the Tablelands quite soon, and such a thing might be completely disastrous to the entire region. Only beings of power on par with the SMs could, in my view, really attempt to hold them back, and even the SMs, against 10s of thousands of multi-hit-die kreen, might not be able to hold back such a hoard.
Man, it is difficult to say what might happen in the future.
Perhaps Hamanu can march his armies out to make an attack against the kreen, and make some sort of diplomatic arrangement so that they do not invade the Tablelands and destroy its culture. Perhaps Dregoth can be defeated and lick his wounds somewhere for a very long time, once again, or just simply be destroyed.
Wow, I'm really tired. Good luck with figuring this out though.
And as far as Hamanu is concerned, ack! Why would he disappear with the Cerulean Storm, is he tied to its fate somehow? I've only read the first two novels in the prism pentad series (I've relied on Beyond the Prism Pentad to catch me up with the rest, and I just ordered the entire series including a few other DS novels from Ebay, they should arrive in a week). So I'm at a loss to answer your question.
In Rise and Fall of a Dragon King, Hamanu sacrifice himself to rotect Urik from Tithian and Rajaat.
As far Lalali-Puy and Nibenay, it is assumed that they're still gaining in strength, and yes I personally assume that Nibenay is closer to becoming a full grown dragon. Does the rage kick in at the 10th level mark? Isn't it like midway or something? (Sorry about my lack of knowledge, I'm more of a fluff guy than crunch guy).
It beginns with the 5th stage till the 29th, but he has Siemhouk, his high templar. She has a rare psi talent that can calm the rage of beasts^^.
And destroying Kurn did give me a bit of perverse pleasure. Always hated that place. I don't know what I'll do with the mind lords or bandit states, both of which don't interest me, so I'll probably just say a giant foot squished them and dried the last sea
Yeah, New Kurn is cool, but it seems out of place in DS, too good for my taste^^. Let's forget the Mind Lords, the last sea and the surfing Druids ;) .
Keep New Kurn a secret, and there's no problem. And you don't have to develop it -- just the wards and elaborate secrets that keep everyone away from it. Lots of adventure there.
It's only if the PCs manage to find all the secrets, bypass the wards, or otherwise find their way into the mystery of New Kurn, that you destroy it.
C'mon, storytellers, didn't you learn anything from Korgunard? From Forest Maker?
Rule 1: Hope is the most dangerous thing on Athas.
I've had an enormous hard time convincing new players to give Dark Sun a try, since most people with only a passing knowledge of the setting generally are under the impression that Athas is just a huge boring desert with nothing in it. Only after I extensively explained to them how intricate the city-states are, how the many desert tribes have so wildly different traditions and habits, how Athas features environments so radicaly varied as the Forest Ridge and the Sea of Silt and more, have people decided play the setting.
I find that Kurn, Saragar, the Kreen Empire, the Barrier Wastes, the Dead lands and other locations dissimilar to the Tablelands are essential to DS, not opposed to it.
Contrast is a great tool for gaming and storytelling. Players only truly appreciate how oppressive most places on Athas are when they learn about the few remaining others.
With so many dead villains, it's like they're not the main focus anymore.
In post Pentad DS, the focus shift was quite deliberate. The mysteries and challenges related to the seven SKs had already been revealed and explored, by then: their draconic nature had become common knowledge among the players, their dominion over the Tablelands had been broken by the passing of most of their numbers, and Rajaat - the ultimate menace - had been set free and imprisoned back again. Dregoth, Daskinor, the Kreen Empire (and the Spelljamming Halflings Invasion Plan 9 from Outer Space :evillaugh) were devised to revitalize the setting.
Though I enjoyed those additions wholeheartedly, and though the Pentad is terrific, I nevertheless I agree with you to some extent.
The deaths of four out of seven SKs plus the Dragon annoyed me to no end. I was particularly annoyed at the blinding speed at which they were killed. Within ten game years they had all died at the hands of a small troupe of upstarts (Beyond the Prism Pentad gives stats for Rikus: 15th gladiator!). More importantly, this happened within less than three real years (from 1991 to 1993), and no player could really affect the outcome through gaming.
That was a huge waste of good villains that could be used in a myriad of home campaigns, IMHO.
By the by, The Complete Book of Villains product discusses how to design colourful, interesting antagonists and how to implement them in your campaign. Just fluff: it didn't add any sort of new rules. But it's pretty nice and useful, all in all.
I guess Kurn and other world elements do provide a bit of variety in a world that invites the impression of monotonous homogeneity. I'm willing to admit that maybe it's my own personal idiosyncracies that keep me from enjoying anything that strays too far from the original Dark Sun box set, which, when I bought it, immediately became my favorite campaign setting, and after it was revised seemed to become a little bit more "mainstream". I just love the idea of sorcerer-kings and especially the Dragon, and when I explained Dark Sun to people, it was the sorcerer-kings/Dragon and their city-states that I mentioned first. With so many dead villains, it's like they're not the main focus anymore. I guess I'll either have to shift focus or continue on in my obstinate ways.
While I like the slight change in focus, I must admit that I like the original setting feel as well. I take heart in a few things though. First: Andy is imprisoned, not dead. We will see him soon (at least in my campaigns) and Second: Do you remember the part in the Obsidian Oracle where Tithian puts the Lens into his bag of holding? He meets Kalak there. If his spirit is still around, and can interact with others, then he's not really gone, just changed. Who knows when he will be back. The same thing goes for Tek, as he was just smashed. Ultimately, only the Queen of Raam and Boyrs are truly gone, and then only if you want them to be. They certainly had back up plans. When it comes to the big boys, they never really go away, unless you want them to. Anyway, the point is, you don't have to shift your ways to be open to the new stuff. Just incorparate what you like.
Ultimately, only the Queen of Raam and Boyrs are truly gone, and then only if you want them to be. They certainly had back up plans. When it comes to the big boys, they never really go away, unless you want them to. Anyway, the point is, you don't have to shift your ways to be open to the new stuff. Just incorparate what you like.
Indeed, if Elminster can have an entire set of contingency plans designed to avoid death (have any of you read those? they're insanely complicated and it's no wonder no one in the Realms can kill him) and Manshoon and Karsus possess a dozen or more Netherese magic-inspired clones scattered and hidden across the world for when they do die, then certainly Borys, who easily rivals if not overshadows El's might, can similarly possess contingency plans.
Indeed, if Elminster can have an entire set of contingency plans designed to avoid death (have any of you read those? they're insanely complicated and it's no wonder no one in the Realms can kill him) and Manshoon and Karsus possess a dozen or more Netherese magic-inspired clones scattered and hidden across the world for when they do die, then certainly Borys, who easily rivals if not overshadows El's might, can similarly possess contingency plans.
Which are talked about in the Valley of Dust and Fire book. To quote that book: Killing the Dragon is not so much a question of might or power of the PC's, but rather of campaign direction.
Something to think about: If Boyrs was released from the burden of prison warden, what would he do? Assume he is not dead and a clone or contingency goes into effect, but it is delayed and he is unable to prevent the actions of the CS. He returns and finds things different. What does he do? WWBD? One of the funny things (at least to me) was that in the VoDaF book it talks about Boyrs loosing interest in the world, and not really intereacting much anymore with his city. He's bored because of what he is forced to do. Now that Rajaat has become free, so has Boyrs. What next?
For me that is the story of Athas. More than a land of gritty survival, it has always seemed like a world where the changes are either nothing, or epic. When the sand settles is when the PC's are able to answer the question, What next? The revised setting opened up new avenues for exploration, and allowed there to be threats of such an overwhelming size that the changes to the make up of the Tablelands requires PC's to act. If they answer the question wrong, the What next becomes death, for everyone. But, that's just my thought, take it for what you will. As a DM you have your own What Next to answer.
Andy is imprisoned, not dead. We will see him soon (at least in my campaigns) and Second: Do you remember the part in the Obsidian Oracle where Tithian puts the Lens into his bag of holding? He meets Kalak there. If his spirit is still around, and can interact with others, then he's not really gone, just changed. .
So Andro will come back for sure, even if it takes 1000 years.
Kalak was killed during his transformation, like Kalid-Ma, so his spirit is around, maybe his essence too, in the 5 Orbs he swallowed. Dote Mal Payn, Kalaks chief Necromancer, vanished, maybe he sees Kalaks spirit and Kalak teaches him the way of dragonhood. Once Dote begins the first step, with the 5 orbs of Kalak, his spirit may be replaced by Kalaks^^ (25th lvl Dragon).
Kalid-Ma (27th lvl Dragon) should also come back.
remember, Kali-ma and Kalidnay got sucked into Ravenloft due to one of his templar's actions of sacrificing her family to help power the spell, for she was obsessed with Kali-ma... And Kali-ma is stuck in a coma in a body... The Kali-ma in Athas after that incident was just a rampaging mindless monster if I recall correctly...
Yes, but Psionic Artifacts of Athas claims that Kalid-Ma's essence is still on Athas, tied to the five obsidian orbs he used to empower his transformation. (Hence the coma: his body and his mind are separated. That's my guess, at least.) Should an appropriate host gather all five orbs, Kalid-Ma would be ressurrected in the host's body.
I suppose something similar could happen with Kalak, though the details of his demise are different from Kalid-Ma's. It is uncertain whether Kalak's orbs have preserved his essence or not.
For 300 years the age of Mortals has reigned over Athas. The great heroes of old are gone and hope briefly flickers in the Athasian wastes. Dregoths plot to ascend to godhood failed while Hamanu disappeared replaced by Pavek his high Templar. Ancient rumors speak of the Dragon of Urik and Hamanu battling it out in front of Uriks gates. For over 4 Kings ages Hamanus Templarate ruled Urik before Hamanu returned to Urik. Travelers tales indicate that the Cerulean Storm has ceased.
In Tyr the Sorceror Queen Sadira rules, immortal and ironic she seems able to grant spells to the remains of Kalaks Templars. She has abolished slavery and errected wards to prevent defiling in Tyr. Defilers are gven the death penalty in Tyr while Sadira is advised by a council of preservers. Centuries of ignorance have fallen by the way in Tyr.
Balic. Andropinis has returned from his prison (see Dungeon magazine for details) and has quickly reestablished his rule in the city and is currently recruiting new templars.
In Gulg the former Sorceror Queen has become the Forest Goddess while the Cresent Forest under her guardianship has doubled in size. Preservers are tolerated here and she has formed an Alliance with Sadira of Tyr. Lalali-Puy is now and Avangion after making contact with Oronis in Kurn
Nibenay has become even more reclusive and may have been able to travel back in time to Athas past. His templar wive still command their magic in his name and have been observed working with the Templars of the Forest Goddess to retore Athas perhaps with knowledge Nibenay has dredged up from the past.
Raam. After his quest for god hood failed Dregoth settled for Raam. It would seem he has abandoned his Dray perhaps blaming them for his failure to achieve godhood. Dregoth has managed to restore himself to life although no one is sure what price he had to pay. He is focused on completing the final stage of the Dragon transformation.
Draj. Azetuk completes the transformation to Dragonhood and somehow becomes a Sorceror King in his own right. Basically some epic spell connects him to a dead Sorceror Kings elemental vortex.
Urik was ruled by Pavek in Hamanus absense. He invited Druids intot he surrounding land to help restore Uriks fields. After 50 years of rule he departed into the wastes where using Druidic ways he has prolonged his life and has become the wanderer. Hamanu retutns to Urik after several centuries. Hamanu is now the Dragon of Urik although he keeps that to himself and rarely appears in his true form anywhere in Athas.
The Dragon of Tyr has returned!!!!!! The beast was seen stalking the Sea of Silt after the Cerulean Storm ceased. Now he is a shadow Dragon apparently working for Rajaat. In the old days he would have destroyed the Sorceror Kings but Sadira wields the power of the sun and Hamanu is also a full Dragon.
The focus on the game is the restoration of the planet as opposed to survival and opposing Rajaat. Even the most evil of the SK's has realised in order to thwart Rajaat its in their own best interest to restore Athas (Nibenay, Hamanu, Sadira, Lalali-Puy)or at least not oppose it (Dregoth, Andropinis, Azetuk,). Defilers are even rarer than classic DS as even the SK's have little use for them now. Rajaat and the Dragon are now the BBEG of the campaign and Ur Draxa is being rebuilt. Dragon Shamans start appearing on Athas- basically a Termplar varient for the wilds of Athas not the Dragon Shaman from the PHB2.