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Ka the Preserver

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
swampskin
Jan 23, 2008 19:13:19 One thing that has always bothered me is the depiction of the Immortal Ka in Mystaran canon. On the one hand, he is described as a Hierarch in the Sphere of Matter, very involved in the creation of the Hollow World, and a major player in the alliances of the Wrath of the Immortals. However, to the best of my knowledge, he has no major following at all in the Known World! If I recall the WOTI rules correctly, isn't an Immortal's power tied to their base of followers? How can Ka maintain his standing without any significant place in the pantheon of the world's major human cultures?

Granted I don't have all of my Mystara materials on me at the moment, so I could be missing something. I do believe he has followers in the Hollow World as well as the Savage Coast under a different name.

Has anyone tried to develop Ka further in their campaigns beyond what is in the canon materials? Ka will always have a special place in my heart because one of my players used him as their Immortal in an earlier campaign. We didn't have a lot of the Mystara specific material at the time, so I just opened the Immortals book and said pick one who fits your character's interests and beliefs. A bit haphazard to be sure, but it worked...

I haven't really set anything into stone, but I believe Ka could be used as an Immortal for a fantasy "environmental group", Mystara Greenpeace!? Maybe a sect of rangers or druids working to preserve a rare animal species hunted for its magical properties? Any opinions or thoughts?
#2
eldersphinx
Jan 23, 2008 21:19:23 Immortals aren't dependent on mortal worshippers for their power base. It's all about Personal Power, experience and individual ability. The use of mortal followers to an Immortal's power base is more indirect - mortals can assist with Plots, find Artifacts for the Immortal to use, and provide candidates for new Immortal status to be sponsored.

Ka's lack of followers within the Known World thus isn't much of a hindrance - he's active elsewhere, gets solid opportunities at furthering his goals and promoting his Sphere along the Savage Coast and in the Hollow World, and doesn't have to butt heads with other Immortals active in the Known World region. If he wanted to develop a following within the Known World (for whatever reason) he could probably do so - he'd get the benefits of having 'boots on the ground', but the drawback of having to look after his followers. Trade-offs are fair, but not central to the Immortal essence.
#3
agathokles
Jan 24, 2008 3:31:47 Ka does have some canon following, but not in the KW. The following societies worship Ka:
The Simbasta of the Aryptian Savannah
Other Davanian Rakasta
The Shazak (as Ka'ar)
The Tortles (as Father Earth)
The Wallara (as Genjoo the Crocodile Spirit)
#4
wilhelm_
Jan 24, 2008 8:58:24 Ka may also be worshipped by some small lizardmen at the KW, but I don't know if any canon info support this. And if needed, he would have the support of the Atruaghin clans, but they don't directly worships him.
#5
agathokles
Jan 24, 2008 11:15:32
Ka may also be worshipped by some small lizardmen at the KW, but I don't know if any canon info support this. And if needed, he would have the support of the Atruaghin clans, but they don't directly worships him.

Indeed, the HW Malpheggi and Oltec civilizations also worship Ka -- unfortunately, neither is in great shape in the Outer World, but it is likely that KW lizardfolk do worship him.

GP
#6
wilhelm_
Jan 24, 2008 12:16:53 Oops, I meant "some small lizarmen tribes"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 swampskin Jan 23, 2008 19:13:19	One thing that has always bothered me is the depiction of the Immortal Ka in Mystaran canon. On the one hand, he is described as a Hierarch in the Sphere of Matter, very involved in the creation of the Hollow World, and a major player in the alliances of the Wrath of the Immortals. However, to the best of my knowledge, he has no major following at all in the Known World! If I recall the WOTI rules correctly, isn't an Immortal's power tied to their base of followers? How can Ka maintain his standing without any significant place in the pantheon of the world's major human cultures? Granted I don't have all of my Mystara materials on me at the moment, so I could be missing something. I do believe he has followers in the Hollow World as well as the Savage Coast under a different name. Has anyone tried to develop Ka further in their campaigns beyond what is in the canon materials? Ka will always have a special place in my heart because one of my players used him as their Immortal in an earlier campaign. We didn't have a lot of the Mystara specific material at the time, so I just opened the Immortals book and said pick one who fits your character's interests and beliefs. A bit haphazard to be sure, but it worked... I haven't really set anything into stone, but I believe Ka could be used as an Immortal for a fantasy "environmental group", Mystara Greenpeace!? Maybe a sect of rangers or druids working to preserve a rare animal species hunted for its magical properties? Any opinions or thoughts?
#2 eldersphinx Jan 23, 2008 21:19:23	Immortals aren't dependent on mortal worshippers for their power base. It's all about Personal Power, experience and individual ability. The use of mortal followers to an Immortal's power base is more indirect - mortals can assist with Plots, find Artifacts for the Immortal to use, and provide candidates for new Immortal status to be sponsored. Ka's lack of followers within the Known World thus isn't much of a hindrance - he's active elsewhere, gets solid opportunities at furthering his goals and promoting his Sphere along the Savage Coast and in the Hollow World, and doesn't have to butt heads with other Immortals active in the Known World region. If he wanted to develop a following within the Known World (for whatever reason) he could probably do so - he'd get the benefits of having 'boots on the ground', but the drawback of having to look after his followers. Trade-offs are fair, but not central to the Immortal essence.
#3 agathokles Jan 24, 2008 3:31:47	Ka does have some canon following, but not in the KW. The following societies worship Ka: The Simbasta of the Aryptian Savannah Other Davanian Rakasta The Shazak (as Ka'ar) The Tortles (as Father Earth) The Wallara (as Genjoo the Crocodile Spirit)
#4 wilhelm_ Jan 24, 2008 8:58:24	Ka may also be worshipped by some small lizardmen at the KW, but I don't know if any canon info support this. And if needed, he would have the support of the Atruaghin clans, but they don't directly worships him.
#5 agathokles Jan 24, 2008 11:15:32	Ka may also be worshipped by some small lizardmen at the KW, but I don't know if any canon info support this. And if needed, he would have the support of the Atruaghin clans, but they don't directly worships him. Indeed, the HW Malpheggi and Oltec civilizations also worship Ka -- unfortunately, neither is in great shape in the Outer World, but it is likely that KW lizardfolk do worship him. GP
#6 wilhelm_ Jan 24, 2008 12:16:53	Oops, I meant "some small lizarmen tribes"