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what is a fort?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Nov 14, 2003 2:32:57 Hi,
what is a fort? for what purpose the machant houses place them? what are they contain?

(i don't feel like buying "dune traders" just for understanding what is a fort)

thanks.
#2
Kamelion
Nov 14, 2003 4:08:57 A "fort" is a short form of "fortress", which is, umm, a building (or collection of buildings) defended by strong walls, armed warriors and usually located in a place that makes it difficult to overcome. Forts are used by the merchant houses to store trade goods, warriors and other resources. They are located outside the city states so that they are protected from the inhabitatants of the cities (rulers, templars, thieves, other merchants etc). They are also important to the merchants because they are safe places for the merchants to stay and refresh when travelling from one market to another.

Does this help?
#3
zombiegleemax
Nov 14, 2003 21:41:41 Most forts offer protection from the wastes (though a few may kill on sight anyone who comes across them, Athas is always a gamble like that). For those not involved in a merchant caravan, a fort is a place to stock up on food and water and maybe replace that broken bone sword. Of course, prices out in the wastes are likely to be consideraly higher (I use a factor of 5 per 150 miles from the nearest city that a fort is located).

To those involved with the merchant houses, a fort is a stopping point between trade routes. Often times, a merchant house has only a few caravans out on the road at any one time. One caravan may make a few quick trips out to a particular location to trade, dropping off the goods at an allied fort for brief storage, then haul the whole lot into the city for sale. Others may use more secure and hidden forts to store rare goods and slowly meek them out to keep demand (and hence prices) as high as they can.
#4
zombiegleemax
Nov 15, 2003 5:50:18 the forts are the most important point for travelers in the wastes. they are the places where you can find information on the sorrounding lands, buy exotic wares, and gather supplies for the journey.

they are also points where the sorcerer kings hold no power, so many interesting characters can be found there.

offtopic
are you the sandchicken that write in the phorums in the Israely roleplay org?
#5
Grummore
Nov 15, 2003 9:17:43 Well well well! As you can all see here, the Merchant Houses and the trader community is a BIG part of the athasian society. It's why having a Trader Class or at least a trader PrC is essential.
#6
zombiegleemax
Nov 15, 2003 13:46:49 thanks alot

eyal - yes, i am. are you the one writing as inix? if you are, may you please send me some of the adventures you DMed to your players?
#7
zombiegleemax
Nov 15, 2003 15:44:35 hi sand chicken!
I used to write as inix, but I stopped as I have better things to do in my time than write in that awful phorum...

to other subjects:
I have some of my adventures written as doc files, and others not.

I have two journals in english where I wrote almost every thing that happened to the two groups I DMed and DMing.

the problem is that I am not following the official timeline at all, and the current party is continuing a three years long campaign - we play ten years after the end of the last one - where abalach re was crushed and Raam freed.

I dont have any other record of the former campaign, and written its journal out of my memory, so the adventures preluding the current campaign are gone.

so Im afriad the adventures won't help you at all, as they are all connected and interwoven into the history and events that took place in my version of athas.

but:

is you need advice, or help me develope this world, we can talk outside this phorum, just send my a private message to:

[email]talish80@hotmail.com[/email]

I DMed in dark sun on and off for almost 12 years (from the time I saw the adds in dragon magazine).

yours, eyal.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Nov 14, 2003 2:32:57	Hi, what is a fort? for what purpose the machant houses place them? what are they contain? (i don't feel like buying "dune traders" just for understanding what is a fort) thanks.
#2 Kamelion Nov 14, 2003 4:08:57	A "fort" is a short form of "fortress", which is, umm, a building (or collection of buildings) defended by strong walls, armed warriors and usually located in a place that makes it difficult to overcome. Forts are used by the merchant houses to store trade goods, warriors and other resources. They are located outside the city states so that they are protected from the inhabitatants of the cities (rulers, templars, thieves, other merchants etc). They are also important to the merchants because they are safe places for the merchants to stay and refresh when travelling from one market to another. Does this help?
#3 zombiegleemax Nov 14, 2003 21:41:41	Most forts offer protection from the wastes (though a few may kill on sight anyone who comes across them, Athas is always a gamble like that). For those not involved in a merchant caravan, a fort is a place to stock up on food and water and maybe replace that broken bone sword. Of course, prices out in the wastes are likely to be consideraly higher (I use a factor of 5 per 150 miles from the nearest city that a fort is located). To those involved with the merchant houses, a fort is a stopping point between trade routes. Often times, a merchant house has only a few caravans out on the road at any one time. One caravan may make a few quick trips out to a particular location to trade, dropping off the goods at an allied fort for brief storage, then haul the whole lot into the city for sale. Others may use more secure and hidden forts to store rare goods and slowly meek them out to keep demand (and hence prices) as high as they can.
#4 zombiegleemax Nov 15, 2003 5:50:18	the forts are the most important point for travelers in the wastes. they are the places where you can find information on the sorrounding lands, buy exotic wares, and gather supplies for the journey. they are also points where the sorcerer kings hold no power, so many interesting characters can be found there. offtopic are you the sandchicken that write in the phorums in the Israely roleplay org?
#5 Grummore Nov 15, 2003 9:17:43	Well well well! As you can all see here, the Merchant Houses and the trader community is a BIG part of the athasian society. It's why having a Trader Class or at least a trader PrC is essential.
#6 zombiegleemax Nov 15, 2003 13:46:49	thanks alot eyal - yes, i am. are you the one writing as inix? if you are, may you please send me some of the adventures you DMed to your players?
#7 zombiegleemax Nov 15, 2003 15:44:35	hi sand chicken! I used to write as inix, but I stopped as I have better things to do in my time than write in that awful phorum... to other subjects: I have some of my adventures written as doc files, and others not. I have two journals in english where I wrote almost every thing that happened to the two groups I DMed and DMing. the problem is that I am not following the official timeline at all, and the current party is continuing a three years long campaign - we play ten years after the end of the last one - where abalach re was crushed and Raam freed. I dont have any other record of the former campaign, and written its journal out of my memory, so the adventures preluding the current campaign are gone. so Im afriad the adventures won't help you at all, as they are all connected and interwoven into the history and events that took place in my version of athas. but: is you need advice, or help me develope this world, we can talk outside this phorum, just send my a private message to: [email]talish80@hotmail.com[/email] I DMed in dark sun on and off for almost 12 years (from the time I saw the adds in dragon magazine). yours, eyal.