Remember the crimson monolith?? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Remember the crimson monolith??

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jihun-nish
Nov 01, 2003 0:07:59 You know! That blood-red stone of unknow origin in the form of a gigantic needle which have no seem, no apparent door nor windows.....

It is said that when the 2 moons are hight in the sky, strange beeings emerge from the monolith to explore the surroundings and that at early dawn they merge back as silently as they came.

What would you like does creatues/beeing to be??

and

Do you like the theory( from the Wand. Chro. ) that they're denizens from an other part of Athas ??

Please stick to the thread and aswer to both question if you do
#2
kilamar
Nov 01, 2003 2:22:05 I think this is more like a portal to another plane that is only activated for short intervalls.
Strange Creatures come through and look around. When they note that they cannot get back to their homeplane with spells, they decide to get back to the portal before it closes.

Kilamar
#3
zombiegleemax
Nov 01, 2003 8:12:57 It's a portal to the Athasian Underdark, of course! ;) The "strange beings" are really just skum, sent to the surface by their aboleth masters, who then flee back to the deep and wet Underdark when the hellish Dark Sun claws its way into the sky....

--I detest planar travel in my Dark Sun campaigns NB
#4
Grummore
Nov 01, 2003 15:54:30
Originally posted by Nero's Boot

--I detest planar travel in my Dark Sun campaigns NB

My hero! I hate planar travel as well in Darksun!
#5
zombiegleemax
Nov 01, 2003 17:42:23
Originally posted by Grummore
My hero! I hate planar travel as well in Darksun!

Don't get me wrong: for settings such as Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, planar travel is a wonderful method for DMs to create thrilling, strange, and epic adventures! What paladin from the Realms wouldn't thrill at the thought of taking on the minions of Graz'zt to rescue his lady love? What Oerik wizard wouldn't love to explore the strangeness of Mechanus, or visit the odd vistas of the Astral?

But when it comes to Dark Sun, the setting is, and always has been, focused entirely on the Material Plane. The only Athasians to really understand the concept of a "multiverse" are the sorcerer-kings and possibly the Order; to everyone else, the realms beyond Athas are strange, ill-defined places that are most likely lumped together into the category of "spirit world."

(Add on to that the fact that the Athasian Outer Planes are so vaguely defined that using them in any official sense is a hopeless task.)

No, for a Dark Sun campaign, the best bet is to avoid planar travel, at least until epic levels, when it becomes an issue; at epic levels, you have dragons, avangions, clerical elementals and such that practically require plane-hopping.

When I run Forgotten Realms, i use the planes; when I run Dark Sun, the Inner Planes are only there for the clerics (as a source of spells), and the Outer Planes might as well not exist.

--fan of traditional DS campaigns NB
#6
zombiegleemax
Nov 03, 2003 11:01:16 I'm with you guys! No place for demons, devils, celestials, and other out-of-style things on Athas! Focus on the Material is the best way to go in DS!

/me starts humming the "Material Girl" from Madonna :D
#7
zombiegleemax
Nov 03, 2003 15:41:33
Originally posted by Nagypapi
I'm with you guys! No place for demons, devils, celestials, and other out-of-style things on Athas! Focus on the Material is the best way to go in DS!

/me starts humming the "Material Girl" from Madonna :D

Don't get me wrong: sometimes having a group of Athasian PCs square off against a vrock can be, and is, remarkably fun. However, it should not be centerstage, at any point, for any reason.

Athas, not the planes, should be the focus of a DS campaign. Who cares about mysterious Outer Planes that'll never be stated out; we have sorcerer-kings to topple! Why be concerned over the Black, when Athas needs healed? Who cares if the elements and paraelements are fighting? Their war is miniscule next to the ecological ravaging of Athas.

--in Dark Sun, the planes are mirrors of Athas, not the other way around NB
#8
jihun-nish
Nov 03, 2003 18:20:46 Ok, so now we know what you dont want to see coming out of the Crimson Monolith.
So what do you think is emerging from it whilst the 2 moons are hight, and also, how do you explain the unique composition of the monolith if it's not out of this world??
#9
zombiegleemax
Nov 03, 2003 18:28:02 ...it could be a portal through time. Let's say it links to the Green Age. Let's say that a band of inquisitive orcs comes through; on their side of the portal, the south is a verdant forest that stretches on as far as the eye can see. They come through the glowing portal, and presto, they see a nearly dead wasteland. They run into something suitably horrific, and run the heck back through the portal.

Or....

....it could be a portal to the Athasian Underdark. Various nasties such as illithids, some psionic variation of beholders, skum serving the aboleth, etc., comes up to the surface to explore, then, when the harsh and unyielding sun appears, they retreat back through.

--who knows, an invasion might be in the works NB
#10
zombiegleemax
Nov 04, 2003 7:02:29
Originally posted by Nero's Boot
Don't get me wrong: sometimes having a group of Athasian PCs square off against a vrock can be, and is, remarkably fun. However, it should not be centerstage, at any point, for any reason.

Well, I think if we declare that Athas is a closed cosmology, and the Gray makes planar travel impossible then stick to that. No exceptions.

But: yes, we can use the vrock or other demon and devil guy by game mechanics and look. The background should be changed, however. For example it comes from the Black, or it is one of Rajaat's experiment held in stasis. It just takes creative description from the DM's part, and even the Monsters Manual reading players won't relize that it is technicaly a vrock. And the monster should kept unique if possible.
#11
zombiegleemax
Nov 04, 2003 7:04:34
Originally posted by Jihun-Nish
Ok, so now we know what you dont want to see coming out of the Crimson Monolith.
So what do you think is emerging from it whilst the 2 moons are hight, and also, how do you explain the unique composition of the monolith if it's not out of this world??

Based on the connection to the moons they can be Moonbeasts. Psurlons can also fit the bill, as well as yuan-tis.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jihun-nish Nov 01, 2003 0:07:59	You know! That blood-red stone of unknow origin in the form of a gigantic needle which have no seem, no apparent door nor windows..... It is said that when the 2 moons are hight in the sky, strange beeings emerge from the monolith to explore the surroundings and that at early dawn they merge back as silently as they came. What would you like does creatues/beeing to be?? and Do you like the theory( from the Wand. Chro. ) that they're denizens from an other part of Athas ?? Please stick to the thread and aswer to both question if you do
#2 kilamar Nov 01, 2003 2:22:05	I think this is more like a portal to another plane that is only activated for short intervalls. Strange Creatures come through and look around. When they note that they cannot get back to their homeplane with spells, they decide to get back to the portal before it closes. Kilamar
#3 zombiegleemax Nov 01, 2003 8:12:57	It's a portal to the Athasian Underdark, of course! ;) The "strange beings" are really just skum, sent to the surface by their aboleth masters, who then flee back to the deep and wet Underdark when the hellish Dark Sun claws its way into the sky.... --I detest planar travel in my Dark Sun campaigns NB
#4 Grummore Nov 01, 2003 15:54:30	Originally posted by Nero's Boot --I detest planar travel in my Dark Sun campaigns NB My hero! I hate planar travel as well in Darksun!
#5 zombiegleemax Nov 01, 2003 17:42:23	Originally posted by Grummore My hero! I hate planar travel as well in Darksun! Don't get me wrong: for settings such as Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, planar travel is a wonderful method for DMs to create thrilling, strange, and epic adventures! What paladin from the Realms wouldn't thrill at the thought of taking on the minions of Graz'zt to rescue his lady love? What Oerik wizard wouldn't love to explore the strangeness of Mechanus, or visit the odd vistas of the Astral? But when it comes to Dark Sun, the setting is, and always has been, focused entirely on the Material Plane. The only Athasians to really understand the concept of a "multiverse" are the sorcerer-kings and possibly the Order; to everyone else, the realms beyond Athas are strange, ill-defined places that are most likely lumped together into the category of "spirit world." (Add on to that the fact that the Athasian Outer Planes are so vaguely defined that using them in any official sense is a hopeless task.) No, for a Dark Sun campaign, the best bet is to avoid planar travel, at least until epic levels, when it becomes an issue; at epic levels, you have dragons, avangions, clerical elementals and such that practically require plane-hopping. When I run Forgotten Realms, i use the planes; when I run Dark Sun, the Inner Planes are only there for the clerics (as a source of spells), and the Outer Planes might as well not exist. --fan of traditional DS campaigns NB
#6 zombiegleemax Nov 03, 2003 11:01:16	I'm with you guys! No place for demons, devils, celestials, and other out-of-style things on Athas! Focus on the Material is the best way to go in DS! /me starts humming the "Material Girl" from Madonna :D
#7 zombiegleemax Nov 03, 2003 15:41:33	Originally posted by Nagypapi I'm with you guys! No place for demons, devils, celestials, and other out-of-style things on Athas! Focus on the Material is the best way to go in DS! /me starts humming the "Material Girl" from Madonna :D Don't get me wrong: sometimes having a group of Athasian PCs square off against a vrock can be, and is, remarkably fun. However, it should not be centerstage, at any point, for any reason. Athas, not the planes, should be the focus of a DS campaign. Who cares about mysterious Outer Planes that'll never be stated out; we have sorcerer-kings to topple! Why be concerned over the Black, when Athas needs healed? Who cares if the elements and paraelements are fighting? Their war is miniscule next to the ecological ravaging of Athas. --in Dark Sun, the planes are mirrors of Athas, not the other way around NB
#8 jihun-nish Nov 03, 2003 18:20:46	Ok, so now we know what you dont want to see coming out of the Crimson Monolith. So what do you think is emerging from it whilst the 2 moons are hight, and also, how do you explain the unique composition of the monolith if it's not out of this world??
#9 zombiegleemax Nov 03, 2003 18:28:02	...it could be a portal through time. Let's say it links to the Green Age. Let's say that a band of inquisitive orcs comes through; on their side of the portal, the south is a verdant forest that stretches on as far as the eye can see. They come through the glowing portal, and presto, they see a nearly dead wasteland. They run into something suitably horrific, and run the heck back through the portal. Or.... ....it could be a portal to the Athasian Underdark. Various nasties such as illithids, some psionic variation of beholders, skum serving the aboleth, etc., comes up to the surface to explore, then, when the harsh and unyielding sun appears, they retreat back through. --who knows, an invasion might be in the works NB
#10 zombiegleemax Nov 04, 2003 7:02:29	Originally posted by Nero's Boot Don't get me wrong: sometimes having a group of Athasian PCs square off against a vrock can be, and is, remarkably fun. However, it should not be centerstage, at any point, for any reason. Well, I think if we declare that Athas is a closed cosmology, and the Gray makes planar travel impossible then stick to that. No exceptions. But: yes, we can use the vrock or other demon and devil guy by game mechanics and look. The background should be changed, however. For example it comes from the Black, or it is one of Rajaat's experiment held in stasis. It just takes creative description from the DM's part, and even the Monsters Manual reading players won't relize that it is technicaly a vrock. And the monster should kept unique if possible.
#11 zombiegleemax Nov 04, 2003 7:04:34	Originally posted by Jihun-Nish Ok, so now we know what you dont want to see coming out of the Crimson Monolith. So what do you think is emerging from it whilst the 2 moons are hight, and also, how do you explain the unique composition of the monolith if it's not out of this world?? Based on the connection to the moons they can be Moonbeasts. Psurlons can also fit the bill, as well as yuan-tis.