Summerhill Hounds is another First Quest novel, by J. Robert King (who also write Rogues to Riches). The novel is not set on Mystara, but not set in any other official setting either. With a few modifications, it can easily be moved to Mystara should one wish so:
Plot:
Summerhill Hounds relates the story of a group of dogs (and a cat) of extraordinary intelligence and abilities who live in Castle Dunkirk. When the Castle is attacked by Orcs and their human masters are captured, the animals set out on a quest to free their masters. After meeting fairies they are given magical collars that can turn dogs into humans or humans into dogs. They now discover that the orcs have sold the humans off to a pirate named Captain Klay who intends to take them to the New World where he can sell them off as slaves. The dogs and some newfound human allies set after Captain Klay’s ship and eventually defeat the Captain and rescue their master. Finally the dogs and their masters, now both able to take both human an dog form settle in the New World where they found a settlement named New Summerhill.
Adapting to Mystara:
The best location for Castle Dunkirk and the Summerhill is the Isle of Dawn. The culture of the humans is quite close to that of Redstone of Caerdwicca. I suggest that the Sumerhill is located within West Portage. Other locations featured on the map include the Solway River and a settlement (Town) named Carnic on the western coast. This also provides some interesting ideas about the Fey of the Isle of Dawn. Not far from the Summerhill is a Fey Mound and the gateway to a Fey City (New Concept?) called Ardulla. On their way to the New World, the animals stop at the Isle of Orcus. This could be a small island anywhere between the Isle of Dawn and the Known World, or possibly south east of Thyatis.
The dogs and Cat are likely Pookas, though for some reason these Pookas have been enstranged to other Fey. Captain Klay has a pistol of some kind. This could be a smoke powder weapon from the Savage Coast. The New World could simply be the Known World. Klay would likely be interested in selling slaves to Thyatis. The area the dogs eventually settle in is home to a race of proud red-skinned humans, most likely the Athruagin Clans.
Interesting details:
* St. James: The patron of Sailors
* The Silver Dog: An Immortal worshipped by Dogs, whose symbol is the moon. It could be another name for Asterius.
*Aglion: A Gigantic Fey, protector of Ardulla.
*Ardulla: The smallest of Seven Fey Cities.
* Goldie, one of the dogs (a cocker spaniel) learns the powers of divine magic either becoming a druid or Cleric during the course of the novels. Assuming she is a Pooka, Druid is probably the best interpretation.
* Slav, another dog has the ability to breathe fire. It is suggested that he gained this ability due to having a Wizard owner.
Havard
Another thing:
The novel speaks of the Old World and the New World. I suggest that the New World is replaced with the Known World. Interestingly, the Hounds could have learned that name from the Alphatians, as to them that would be a new world...
Thoughts?
Havard
It'd be so neat to see a new unified hex map of Mystara (for 4e?) that included all the generic OD&D locales such as Summerhill, Ghyr, Karawenn, Fazzlewood, and so on.
Travis
I think this thread (and the related Unicorn Hunt) is interesting. Unfortunately, the map isn't downloading. Is it just my computer?
Thanks!
The map works for me. If you're still having trouble with it today I could email it to you...
It'd be so neat to see a new unified hex map of Mystara (for 4e?) that included all the generic OD&D locales such as Summerhill, Ghyr, Karawenn, Fazzlewood, and so on.
It would be hard to place all of these on a hex map as they are so far apart. Ghyr and Karawenn being in Norwold (or thereabout), Summerhill taking place on the Isle of Dawn and Athruagin and the Fazzlewood (and perhaps Baylor) being found in Alphatia...
Havard
What is the Isle of Orcus in the books? How/if does it relate to Orcus, and what sorts of creatures inhabit it?
IIRC it is a small island used by (human) slavers and smugglers as a way station between the Old World (Isle of Dawn) and the New World (Known World). Other than the name, there is no mention of Orcus, though I could easily imagine Captain Klay and the other slavers and sugglers as Orcus worshippers.
Havard
Thanks!
The map works for me. If you're still having trouble with it today I could email it to you...
Nuts, it still won't download. Would you mind emailing it to TraverseTravis at Yahoo dot com?
Travis
Nuts, it still won't download. Would you mind emailing it to TraverseTravis at Yahoo dot com?
Sent
Havard
Nuts, it still won't download. Would you mind emailing it to TraverseTravis at Yahoo dot com?
Travis
Strange, it appears for me. Just gotta love technology sometimes, eh? :D
I see. I was wondering if it might be one of the Kara-kara islands, but it doesn't sound like it. A pirate isle out there would work fine, though.
Yeah, Orcus Island has at least some rudimentary harbour. My impression is that the Kara-Kara island(s?) were more wild. Although I wouldn't neccessarily rule out some kind of Kara-Kara presence on the island.
Havard