Journeys on Athas - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Journeys on Athas

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
judicator_shekar
Nov 10, 2006 16:35:54 Just a general question, I guess. Aside from the standard Elven Raiders, Slavers, and random beasts, what sort of dangers would a caravan travelling from Tyr to Balic encounter along the way? In addition to general problems, I'm also referring to potential encounters specific to the particular regions that separate the two cities. I'd also like to extend the question to another potential journey, this time the one between Tyr and the Halfling settlements of the Jagged Cliffs. Between the Ringing Mountains, the Forest Ridge, and the Hinterlands, there's bound to be extreme danger in traversing these lands. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, and would much appreciate if someone helped me out with this.

Thanks in advance.
#2
Pennarin
Nov 10, 2006 18:39:16 I think a DM is supposed to use his imagination to come up with appropriate monster encounters for specific terrain. There are no encounter lists, and I'm not sure there should be any. But that's me. Not strong on the list monkeying. :D

Maybe if someone wrote a great program that never fails, this I could use. Print up the results before play and you,re good to go. Otherwise I'll just make a list on paper.
#3
thebrax
Nov 10, 2006 20:12:22 Use imagination to remember which of hundreds of monsters is native to mountains? That's a feat of memory, not of imagination. Not everyone has mastered the material to that extent.
#4
cnahumck
Nov 10, 2006 23:51:49 Balic has a pretty big issue with Giants. They were attacked by Giants, during the PP era.
#5
Pennarin
Nov 11, 2006 9:32:03
Use imagination to remember which of hundreds of monsters is native to mountains? That's a feat of memory, not of imagination. Not everyone has mastered the material to that extent.

I sure haven't. :D I'm probably speaking out of my hat since I don't game and haven't done so in years. Skip the first part of my previous reply please.
#6
pringles
Nov 11, 2006 17:43:50 Use the terrain

- Sandstorm, PC must try there best not to get lost.
- Sinking sand that entrap the wagon. He begin to sink, PC must pull it out.
- Rock that break the wagon wheel, pc must replace it but then, they get attacked by random beast
- Narrow ledge on the side on the mountain with a cliff, you cant see what below. Pc must be carefull not to slip and fall down. They soon get attacked by avian creature.
- In the forest ridge, swarm of pesky little mosquito that prevent meditating, praying or even casting spell or psionic, unless you cover yourself with mud or reppelent grease.
#7
Kamelion
Nov 11, 2006 21:52:40 The boys from Brazil worked out some very cool terrain-specific encounter tables that were to be included in the next revision of ToA. I passed their work over when I headed for the hills, so all things being good, the tables should see publication with the revised ToA. It's great work and covers all the bases, broken down by terrain and CR.
#8
brun01
Nov 13, 2006 7:28:57 These "boys from Brazil" sure seem to be very cool! ;)

A question for the guys on the monster bureau: will the revised ToA come out in the new stat format? It sure does save a lot of time for us DMs...
#9
dirk00001
Nov 13, 2006 10:01:41 For Tyr to Balic:

- Altaruk is a huge trading fort, with more full-time "employees" than most settlements other than the city-states, and is constantly full of transients. There are all sorts of interesting people to be met, mini-adventures to be had, and trade house intrigue to be dragged in to there.

- IIRC Grak's Pool is along the route; look up the notes on it, it's an interesting little place that could result in an encounter of some kind.

- South Ledopolis makes for an interesting stop since it's a dwarven town and thus has it's own unique feel. Plus there's the huge stone bridge they've been building towards Ledo island, and the giants on said island that think the dwarves are building the bridge so they can steal from their flint mines. A caravan could arrive during one of these "border skirmishes" between the two groups.

- Wavir's Fort Glamis is just east of the crossroads west of Balic; it's decent size and the only settlement during several days of travel between S. Ledopolis and Balic. Various things could occur here just like they do at Altaruk, albeit on a smaller scale.

- ...and as cnahumck pointed out, Balic has fairly frequent issues with giants from the Forked Tongue Estuary.
#10
pringles
Nov 13, 2006 16:47:37 There also a lot of variety of terrain.

Badland on the outskirt of Tyr.

Alluvial sand waste, big sand dune.

Then, when you pass Altaruk, its rocky land all the way, with a salt flat south of the road.
#11
ltlconf
Nov 14, 2006 2:31:25 Hello Folks,

First post, so be gentle.

Well Judicator, everyone has the monster angle down pretty good. I think your looking for something else so I'll go the other route.
One consideration are just plain critters. Everynight the pack and riding animals will be sought after by the local pack and single predators. Then don't forget the blood-sucking flies, scorpions in bedrolls and boots and the spiders in the same. Experience in Somalia also showed snakes to be a pain in the butt. From small to large, poisonous to non they could be anywhere at anytime. How common these are will depend on terrain, but scrub and rocky terrain seemed to have the most. This is a matter of region and species however, so feel free to adjust while still being consistant.
Animal attrition will be constant and thus the players will struggle to keep it below a acceptable level. Every caravan carries extra livestock but only so much. After a point the caravan is going to start to dump unimportant items. These will be DAILY problems.

Living in the desert in any manner short of modern just SUCKS.

Next is the wonderfully frighting experience of having a vital well going dry or poisonous. While the caravan should have just enough on hand (if anyone thought of it, though realisticly any native to the desert would have), this is only enough to get there if nothing goes wrong...Once water runs low the animals will start dying as the people keep the water for themselves. After a further point all non-essential items will be dumped to keep things going. It's pretty grim by this point. Mind you, if another water source is found they'll likely be willing to just take it if the asking price is too high. Another danger is finding a caravansari abandoned, overrun, or just plain buried under the advancing desert.
This is NOT far-fetched. In the Sahara, Namib, Gobi, Arabian and Australian deserts the dunes can swallow whole towns in a few days after a bad storm. Traveling through the desert one can actually fall through a second or even third story roof covered totally. Dunes can be several hundred or even (in the Empty Quarter) over a thousand feet tall and cover everything. For good reason the dune-filled desert has long been the realm of lost civilizations.
By the way, putting a several hundred pound wood and iron (or whatever) wagon wheel on a large, heavy wagon with no jack, no breaks and a jumpy train of animals in front is VERY dangerous. As it was done with pure human muscle power it was one of the most common ways for someone to die on a wagon train was doing this very thing. If something went wrong while putting the wheel on the wagon, either the wagon or the wheel could easily crush or cripple one or several men. This was always a dangerous act and should be treated as such. In diaries and accounts those men who could single-handedly lift a wagon-wheel onto an axle were widely respected! Replacing a cracked axle...Well with some of the freakin HUGE wagons replacing a wheel or axle will be a huge operation likely to take all day and invite attack. Sure as heck someone (preferably a slave) is going to get crippled or killed on the trip doing this.
My two cents.
#12
dracochapel
Nov 14, 2006 3:12:12
Just a general question, I guess. Aside from the standard Elven Raiders, Slavers, and random beasts, what sort of dangers would a caravan travelling from Tyr to Balic encounter along the way? In addition to general problems, I'm also referring to potential encounters specific to the particular regions that separate the two cities. I'd also like to extend the question to another potential journey, this time the one between Tyr and the Halfling settlements of the Jagged Cliffs. Between the Ringing Mountains, the Forest Ridge, and the Hinterlands, there's bound to be extreme danger in traversing these lands. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, and would much appreciate if someone helped me out with this.

Thanks in advance.

I ran an adventure where the PC's had to travel from Tyr to a new outpost on the edge of the forest ridge where a trading camp was been set up.
The first part was traveling through the ringing mountains - making sure they took the right route; keeping an eye on the weather; and avoiding or fighting wild creatures like Kirre or Rocs.
To mix it up a bit they explored an undeground area that had some undead protecting (something?). There were also some ex-slaves hiding out who didnt want any witnesses to their existence.
When they reached the camp they found most of the guards had been killed or kidnapped (probably taken off to be eaten) by halflings. They had to first beat the halflings that would attack, then travel to the halfling camp - complete some quests to show their worth - and then that tribe of halflings would leave them alone (giving the trading camp a breather). Of course there were lots of threats in the forest ridge - the halflings; most sort of plants; and a variety of creatures (especially the Athasian Sloth)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 judicator_shekar Nov 10, 2006 16:35:54	Just a general question, I guess. Aside from the standard Elven Raiders, Slavers, and random beasts, what sort of dangers would a caravan travelling from Tyr to Balic encounter along the way? In addition to general problems, I'm also referring to potential encounters specific to the particular regions that separate the two cities. I'd also like to extend the question to another potential journey, this time the one between Tyr and the Halfling settlements of the Jagged Cliffs. Between the Ringing Mountains, the Forest Ridge, and the Hinterlands, there's bound to be extreme danger in traversing these lands. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, and would much appreciate if someone helped me out with this. Thanks in advance.
#2 Pennarin Nov 10, 2006 18:39:16	I think a DM is supposed to use his imagination to come up with appropriate monster encounters for specific terrain. There are no encounter lists, and I'm not sure there should be any. But that's me. Not strong on the list monkeying. :D Maybe if someone wrote a great program that never fails, this I could use. Print up the results before play and you,re good to go. Otherwise I'll just make a list on paper.
#3 thebrax Nov 10, 2006 20:12:22	Use imagination to remember which of hundreds of monsters is native to mountains? That's a feat of memory, not of imagination. Not everyone has mastered the material to that extent.
#4 cnahumck Nov 10, 2006 23:51:49	Balic has a pretty big issue with Giants. They were attacked by Giants, during the PP era.
#5 Pennarin Nov 11, 2006 9:32:03	Use imagination to remember which of hundreds of monsters is native to mountains? That's a feat of memory, not of imagination. Not everyone has mastered the material to that extent. I sure haven't. :D I'm probably speaking out of my hat since I don't game and haven't done so in years. Skip the first part of my previous reply please.
#6 pringles Nov 11, 2006 17:43:50	Use the terrain - Sandstorm, PC must try there best not to get lost. - Sinking sand that entrap the wagon. He begin to sink, PC must pull it out. - Rock that break the wagon wheel, pc must replace it but then, they get attacked by random beast - Narrow ledge on the side on the mountain with a cliff, you cant see what below. Pc must be carefull not to slip and fall down. They soon get attacked by avian creature. - In the forest ridge, swarm of pesky little mosquito that prevent meditating, praying or even casting spell or psionic, unless you cover yourself with mud or reppelent grease.
#7 Kamelion Nov 11, 2006 21:52:40	The boys from Brazil worked out some very cool terrain-specific encounter tables that were to be included in the next revision of ToA. I passed their work over when I headed for the hills, so all things being good, the tables should see publication with the revised ToA. It's great work and covers all the bases, broken down by terrain and CR.
#8 brun01 Nov 13, 2006 7:28:57	These "boys from Brazil" sure seem to be very cool! ;) A question for the guys on the monster bureau: will the revised ToA come out in the new stat format? It sure does save a lot of time for us DMs...
#9 dirk00001 Nov 13, 2006 10:01:41	For Tyr to Balic: - Altaruk is a huge trading fort, with more full-time "employees" than most settlements other than the city-states, and is constantly full of transients. There are all sorts of interesting people to be met, mini-adventures to be had, and trade house intrigue to be dragged in to there. - IIRC Grak's Pool is along the route; look up the notes on it, it's an interesting little place that could result in an encounter of some kind. - South Ledopolis makes for an interesting stop since it's a dwarven town and thus has it's own unique feel. Plus there's the huge stone bridge they've been building towards Ledo island, and the giants on said island that think the dwarves are building the bridge so they can steal from their flint mines. A caravan could arrive during one of these "border skirmishes" between the two groups. - Wavir's Fort Glamis is just east of the crossroads west of Balic; it's decent size and the only settlement during several days of travel between S. Ledopolis and Balic. Various things could occur here just like they do at Altaruk, albeit on a smaller scale. - ...and as cnahumck pointed out, Balic has fairly frequent issues with giants from the Forked Tongue Estuary.
#10 pringles Nov 13, 2006 16:47:37	There also a lot of variety of terrain. Badland on the outskirt of Tyr. Alluvial sand waste, big sand dune. Then, when you pass Altaruk, its rocky land all the way, with a salt flat south of the road.
#11 ltlconf Nov 14, 2006 2:31:25	Hello Folks, First post, so be gentle. Well Judicator, everyone has the monster angle down pretty good. I think your looking for something else so I'll go the other route. One consideration are just plain critters. Everynight the pack and riding animals will be sought after by the local pack and single predators. Then don't forget the blood-sucking flies, scorpions in bedrolls and boots and the spiders in the same. Experience in Somalia also showed snakes to be a pain in the butt. From small to large, poisonous to non they could be anywhere at anytime. How common these are will depend on terrain, but scrub and rocky terrain seemed to have the most. This is a matter of region and species however, so feel free to adjust while still being consistant. Animal attrition will be constant and thus the players will struggle to keep it below a acceptable level. Every caravan carries extra livestock but only so much. After a point the caravan is going to start to dump unimportant items. These will be DAILY problems. Living in the desert in any manner short of modern just SUCKS. Next is the wonderfully frighting experience of having a vital well going dry or poisonous. While the caravan should have just enough on hand (if anyone thought of it, though realisticly any native to the desert would have), this is only enough to get there if nothing goes wrong...Once water runs low the animals will start dying as the people keep the water for themselves. After a further point all non-essential items will be dumped to keep things going. It's pretty grim by this point. Mind you, if another water source is found they'll likely be willing to just take it if the asking price is too high. Another danger is finding a caravansari abandoned, overrun, or just plain buried under the advancing desert. This is NOT far-fetched. In the Sahara, Namib, Gobi, Arabian and Australian deserts the dunes can swallow whole towns in a few days after a bad storm. Traveling through the desert one can actually fall through a second or even third story roof covered totally. Dunes can be several hundred or even (in the Empty Quarter) over a thousand feet tall and cover everything. For good reason the dune-filled desert has long been the realm of lost civilizations. By the way, putting a several hundred pound wood and iron (or whatever) wagon wheel on a large, heavy wagon with no jack, no breaks and a jumpy train of animals in front is VERY dangerous. As it was done with pure human muscle power it was one of the most common ways for someone to die on a wagon train was doing this very thing. If something went wrong while putting the wheel on the wagon, either the wagon or the wheel could easily crush or cripple one or several men. This was always a dangerous act and should be treated as such. In diaries and accounts those men who could single-handedly lift a wagon-wheel onto an axle were widely respected! Replacing a cracked axle...Well with some of the freakin HUGE wagons replacing a wheel or axle will be a huge operation likely to take all day and invite attack. Sure as heck someone (preferably a slave) is going to get crippled or killed on the trip doing this. My two cents.
#12 dracochapel Nov 14, 2006 3:12:12	Just a general question, I guess. Aside from the standard Elven Raiders, Slavers, and random beasts, what sort of dangers would a caravan travelling from Tyr to Balic encounter along the way? In addition to general problems, I'm also referring to potential encounters specific to the particular regions that separate the two cities. I'd also like to extend the question to another potential journey, this time the one between Tyr and the Halfling settlements of the Jagged Cliffs. Between the Ringing Mountains, the Forest Ridge, and the Hinterlands, there's bound to be extreme danger in traversing these lands. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is, and would much appreciate if someone helped me out with this. Thanks in advance. I ran an adventure where the PC's had to travel from Tyr to a new outpost on the edge of the forest ridge where a trading camp was been set up. The first part was traveling through the ringing mountains - making sure they took the right route; keeping an eye on the weather; and avoiding or fighting wild creatures like Kirre or Rocs. To mix it up a bit they explored an undeground area that had some undead protecting (something?). There were also some ex-slaves hiding out who didnt want any witnesses to their existence. When they reached the camp they found most of the guards had been killed or kidnapped (probably taken off to be eaten) by halflings. They had to first beat the halflings that would attack, then travel to the halfling camp - complete some quests to show their worth - and then that tribe of halflings would leave them alone (giving the trading camp a breather). Of course there were lots of threats in the forest ridge - the halflings; most sort of plants; and a variety of creatures (especially the Athasian Sloth)