I read a lot of Dragonlance back when I was in high school (’94-’98) and I recently picked up the new campaign setting. I’ve had it for a week and I’ve been toying with some story ideas that may, or may never, see the light day. My main concern here is that what I’m writing is “Dragonlance” enough to meet the tastes of those more familiar with the literature than I am (I never read any of the “Age of Mortals” or “War of Souls” stories).
I’m planning to start things off in the area just north of Ice Mountain Bay (Valens, Swiftwater, Than-kha, Barter, Banfaire, and Wayend). Am I right that this area hasn’t been covered all that well in the novels to date? Reason being is that I want to pick a place that I can mold a little to my ideas and I want a place that’s cold most of the year—I just think cold weather has a lot of personality and I love to use it in storytelling.
My other big issue in writing right now is Tarsis. Its clearly the only “city” in the region and I’d like to use it, but there isn’t much info on the place in the campaign setting--only that it’s a city-state that lost its coastline in the Cataclysm. What’s this place like? Who’s in charge? What’s the culture like? I know of a book called “Murder in Tarsis” but I really can’t afford to do any non-work-related reading right now unless it would really help me move things along. Does the book describe the city in detail? Are there any other books that feature Tarsis in architectural or cultural detail?
Finally, I wanted to ask a couple of questions about a more general Dragonlance element, schools of High Sorcery. The campaign setting mentions that places exist, seemly across Ansalon were one can receive base training in High Sorcery before undergoing the Test at one of the remaining Towers of High Sorcery. How common are these places? Thus far I’ve only put together two in my little starting region:
The larger of the two is in Tarsis, and I’ve made it a place that was recently reopened by three wizards (one of each order) who were guided to it by similar visions. I’ve set it up as a medium-sized Helenistic-style hall with a suitable library, living quarters for about two dozen students, teachers, and caretakers, and a labyrinthine basement with lots of secret chambers and scary magical whatnots. The other “School of High Sorcery” I’ve put together is nothing more than the ancestral home of a blind white-robe from Wayend, who has been in quite a depression since the loss of his magical abilities. With the return of the gods however, he’s found himself invigorated and once again interested in helping others through magic. Do these two concepts seem sufficiently “Dragonlance” to everyone reading this? I’m just worried that I’m looking at the whole nature of magical instruction in Dragonlance the wrong way—as I’m more used to campaign worlds were magic is a master-student situation.
Advice on these matters, or any general advice on campaign writing for Dragonlance, would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
Maglaurus
Originally posted by Maglaurus
Do these two concepts seem sufficiently “Dragonlance” to everyone reading this? I’m just worried that I’m looking at the whole nature of magical instruction in Dragonlance the wrong way—as I’m more used to campaign worlds were magic is a master-student situation.
This sounds like an excellent start to the campaign, Maglaurus. I wouldn't worry about the Dragonlance element in your write-up, since you've more or less hit it on the head. Small, varied and sometimes very quirky schools scattered across Ansalon run by Wizards of High Sorcery is the ticket. Indeed, some of them may find they have to handle older wizards who are returning to the magic, or sorcerers who wish to replace their wild magic with high sorcery.
As for Tarsis, it gets a write-up in the Age of Mortals hardcover. It's quite a significant city, if for no other reason than it's the largest one in the south of Ansalon now that Qualinost has bought the big one (if you don't count Thorbardin, that is.) It's nominally controlled by the Dark Knights, although the Lady of Tarsis is really in control since she's such a clever and cunning politician. Plus, there's this enormous forest that's grown up to the west of the city (thanks to Beryl) which has done wonders for the city's resources.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Maglaurus
Hi Everyone,
I read a lot of Dragonlance back when I was in high school (’94-’98) and I recently picked up the new campaign setting. I’ve had it for a week and I’ve been toying with some story ideas that may, or may never, see the light day. My main concern here is that what I’m writing is “Dragonlance” enough to meet the tastes of those more familiar with the literature than I am (I never read any of the “Age of Mortals” or “War of Souls” stories).
Well, from what I've read it sounds like you have a great start.
I’m planning to start things off in the area just north of Ice Mountain Bay (Valens, Swiftwater, Than-kha, Barter, Banfaire, and Wayend). Am I right that this area hasn’t been covered all that well in the novels to date? Reason being is that I want to pick a place that I can mold a little to my ideas and I want a place that’s cold most of the year—I just think cold weather has a lot of personality and I love to use it in storytelling.
Yup, that area has never been developed much if any that I can think of. At least officially.
My other big issue in writing right now is Tarsis. Its clearly the only “city” in the region and I’d like to use it, but there isn’t much info on the place in the campaign setting--only that it’s a city-state that lost its coastline in the Cataclysm. What’s this place like? Who’s in charge? What’s the culture like? I know of a book called “Murder in Tarsis” but I really can’t afford to do any non-work-related reading right now unless it would really help me move things along. Does the book describe the city in detail? Are there any other books that feature Tarsis in architectural or cultural detail?
Murder in Tarsis will really give you most of the "flavor" of that city to a point. At the time of that book Tarsis was in decline (much as it's described in Chronicles). Now Tarsis has been rejuvinated and is well back on it's way to becoming a rich city, that is if they can get rid of those pesky dark knights. The Age of Mortals gives the population and the ruler and current state of the city along with descriptions of a couple of locations in the city.
Finally, I wanted to ask a couple of questions about a more general Dragonlance element, schools of High Sorcery. The campaign setting mentions that places exist, seemly across Ansalon were one can receive base training in High Sorcery before undergoing the Test at one of the remaining Towers of High Sorcery. How common are these places? Thus far I’ve only put together two in my little starting region:
The larger of the two is in Tarsis, and I’ve made it a place that was recently reopened by three wizards (one of each order) who were guided to it by similar visions. I’ve set it up as a medium-sized Helenistic-style hall with a suitable library, living quarters for about two dozen students, teachers, and caretakers, and a labyrinthine basement with lots of secret chambers and scary magical whatnots. The other “School of High Sorcery” I’ve put together is nothing more than the ancestral home of a blind white-robe from Wayend, who has been in quite a depression since the loss of his magical abilities. With the return of the gods however, he’s found himself invigorated and once again interested in helping others through magic. Do these two concepts seem sufficiently “Dragonlance” to everyone reading this? I’m just worried that I’m looking at the whole nature of magical instruction in Dragonlance the wrong way—as I’m more used to campaign worlds were magic is a master-student situation.
I like both the ideas. on your school in Tarsis I would just mention that the Dark Knights would probably be keeping a close eye on them. If they actually let the school be built perhaps it is a black-robe that is heading it up that has made some sort of deal with the Dark Knights.
I think your second idea is actually more common, I think there will be a lot of old human mages that will be in that same situation. In my Campaign I have a wizard by the name of Hamlin Mooney that is about 80 and it teaching out of a small farming community in Qwermish.
Advice on these matters, or any general advice on campaign writing for Dragonlance, would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
Maglaurus
I think it's all good and if you do write-ups on these areas I would live to read them. Maybe I'll send my players that way. :D
i really should post all that again, somewhere.
As for Tarsian culture, imagine a turkish city during the ottoman empire.
Rosisha, who thinks that would be a fun campaign!
Originally posted by talinthas
i've spent significant time developing the small town of Lantern, next to tarsis, for my campaign, and as the center for sirrionite clergy...
i really should post all that again, somewhere.
As for Tarsian culture, imagine a turkish city during the ottoman empire.
Yes, you should. I'd love to add it to my "collection". heh Now that I am actually running a game I am looking to "borrow"/create as much detailed regional info as I can. ;)
Originally posted by Rosisha
Here's a question, could the School of High Sorcery in Tarsis have all three orders, but the White and Red robes stay out of site, or something, so to the Dark Knights it only looks like a training school for Black Robes? I'm sure the Black Robes would participate in the deception, because to them, the magic is their first loyalty, and if the Dark Knights threaten magic, they threaten the Black Robes (who don't stand for that sort of thing). Also, from what little i've read in this post, wouldn't the Lady of Tarsis (whomever that is) support this sort of thing, because having a number of unidentified White and Red Robed mages could come in handy if she wants to stage a revolt... You know, normal person walks down the street just as it is blocked off by Tarsis City guard, but the Black Knights are like "GRR!" and then suddenly the normal person throws some sand up in the air and the whole patrol passes out. Didn't even know what hit them!
Rosisha, who thinks that would be a fun campaign!
Yes, I think it's quite possibly, the Lady of Tarsis could/would be a huge factor in actually getting the school established in the first place. And I'm sure she would be able to call on a few "favors" from the school when she needed them.
He lived there for several years after his exile and before his test.
He is looking for the Tower at Wayreth which is relativly nearby.
And it is the only major city in the South (For recruiting old/new members of High Sorcery).
Any school of High Sorcery in Tarsis would be under the direct control of Dalamar by my thinking.
Cheers,
Maglaurus
The Hall of High Sorcery at Tarsis
by Stephen Wall, 9/2/03
Among the living wizards and sorcerers from Kharolis the oldest and the wisest is said to be Arviragus the Red. Arviragus was born in Tarsis, under a different name, and discovered his gift for practicing magic at the age thirteen just as the War of the Lance was ending. He had passed the Test of High Sorcery at Wayreth and was on his way to beginning his magical research when Chaos War occurred and brought an end to High Sorcery. Crestfallen, he took up his father’s title and receded into a quiet life of contemplation and feudalism. He was too heartbroken by the loss of his abilities to participate in the resistance against the Dragon Overlords and too stubborn to pursue the art of sorcery. He sat alone in his family’s hall, sulking by the fireside many nights. He never married and he never had any children
Arviragus was praying for death when the War of Souls began, but he felt a sudden invigoration toward its end. The return of the gods meant the return of the wizard’s powers as well. He was one of the first to dawn his robes again and one of the most eager to rebuild the Ansalon that he remembered it. But the time for adventuring was past. Arviragus the Red was too old now, nearly 80. Magic could extend his life, but he would never be the spry young wizard he once was. Falling back into doubt, the wizard had a dream. He was an ancient man, over a hundred years old with white locks in place of his iron gray hair and beard. He sat atop a rock clutching his staff, the sky above him was dark and the moons of Ansalon, even the invisible black moon, shone down upon him. Out of the darkness came children, boys and girls younger than he was when he was an apprentice. They fell at his feet and cried begging him to light their way.
Arviragus awoke from the dream and, that day, shed his father’s title, and went to Tarsis and threw open the sealed doors of the old School of High Sorcery, which had been bound shut since the days of Maddan (another partially constructed story for anyone who wants to hear it). Almost immediately he received a dozen petitioners, not unlike the children from his dream. He could instruct them in the rudimentary arts of magic, but he could not train them all. Help arrived though, in the form of two other wizards from the Age of Despair. Estrildis was a wise old crone, almost as old as Arviragus himself, with a warm face and kind demeanor. She wore the White Robes and she had a way with the children. Arviragus welcomed her with open arms, but the second he was hesitant about. Maine was a tall lean man who spoke in whispers—his voice almost destroyed by the Test of High Sorcery. He brought with him his own apprentice, an older girl named Rhiann. Estrildis was very much opposed to the Black Robe’s presence at the academy, but it soon became clear that Maine shared a dream in common with Arviragus and the Crone and that denying the Whipsering One a place at the academy would deny the balance of magic. All the same, Maine keeps much to himself, practicing his dark arts and swickery in the catacombs beneath the school. He is occasionally assisted by Rhiann, but she spends most of her time learning from the other wizards with the younger children
Characters of the Tarsis Academy
--Arviragus the Red, 4th/3rd/9th Transmuter/Noble/Red Robe, LN
--Estrildis the Crone, 4th/2nd/6th Diviner/Mystic/White Robe, NG
--Maine the Whispering One, 5th/3rd/3rd Enchanter/Rogue/Black Robe, LE
--Rhiann, 3rd/2nd Wizard/Rogue, N