The terrains I am currently contemplating follow:
1) A large body of water that is infested with the Brown
Tide of Blue Age fame.
I know the halflings cleansedAthas of the Brown Tide prior to the Rebirth. I think it
would be viable to say that some of it could have
descended into deep places and entered some sort of stasis
eventually evolving into a modern day Brown Tide. This
new lifeform could then resurface and infest whatever body
of water contained it. Since it is voracious, it would
consume all living matter within this sea and then begin
consuming itself. Eventually, it would achieve some sort of
balance in its ecosystem surviving off of its own dead and
wandering creatures who stop in for a drink.
2) Some sort of harmful(?) vegetation that thrives in defiled
land and will not sustain the use of magic. This would not
be an attempt to repopulate Athas with vegetation. It
would be an attempt to add variety to Athas with viable
terrain types and keep true to the harsh environment of the
Dark Sun world. It could be a trap that draws the lifeforce
of spellcasters instead of the other way around. Maybe a
magic nullifier?
3) An unstable terrain that resembles other barren terrains
but collapses when crossed in brittle areas. This terrain
would be an attempt to define, in part , the growth of the
Silt Sea. This terrain type would be seriously defiled land
that is now composed almost entirely of dust underneath a
crust-like surface (to prevent wind erosion and increase
the realism of it retaining its original form). The dust would
be almost identical to silt and unseen pitfalls would abound.
I am also currently thinking of a new region, seperated from other inhabited areas by great distance and dangerous terrain. My idea follows: After the fall of Rajaat some of his armies would have dispersed into the wilderness. One of his warlords (not a Champion) settled his people in a remote yet verdant area. They form some sort of culture and time passes. The warlord (now deceased and entombed in a grand mausoleum) was a zealot of Rajaat likening him to a god. Over time, the truth of Rajaat and his cleansing wars become distorted. The people now worship Rajaat as a water god who sought to free the race of man from the evil(?) races of the world making it solely theirs. This culture believes they are the inheritors of the world by Rajaat the Preserver's
decree. His priests would be either powerless or receive their abilities as elemental clerics of water unknowingly.Any suggestions or complaints?
I am also currently thinking of a new region, seperated from other inhabited areas by great distance and dangerous terrain. My idea follows: After the fall of Rajaat some of his armies would have dispersed into the wilderness. One of his warlords (not a Champion) settled his people in a remote yet verdant area. They form some sort of culture and time passes. The warlord (now deceased and entombed in a grand mausoleum) was a zealot of Rajaat likening him to a god. Over time, the truth of Rajaat and his cleansing wars become distorted. The people now worship Rajaat as a water god who sought to free the race of man from the evil(?) races of the world making it solely theirs. This culture believes they are the inheritors of the world by Rajaat the Preservers decree. His priests would be either powerless or receive their abilities as elemental clerics of water unknowingly.
This is very similar to what I've been doing with my own region. When a few of the SKs were out ravaging the land, they got received a message from Bory's about Rajaat's plans and abandoned their troops in the field to return to the Tablelands and begin their revolt. One of Albeorn's highest generals continued the fight in his master's absence, eradicating the last of the elven people in this area. Nasamire, the general, then set his armies up to create a kingdom for his master to return to. He conqured most of the region, turning the scattered people into a loose Empire. The empire crumbled shortly after the people crowned their first Emperor, but thoughts of creating a new empire flow through most of the now seperate cultures.
Originally posted by Cyrus9a
2) Some sort of harmful(?) vegetation that thrives in defiled
land and will not sustain the use of magic. This would not
be an attempt to repopulate Athas with vegetation. It
would be an attempt to add variety to Athas with viable
terrain types and keep true to the harsh environment of the
Dark Sun world. It could be a trap that draws the lifeforce
of spellcasters instead of the other way around. Maybe a
magic nullifier?
I've been toying this idea, it's what inspired the whole defiled template for plants that is in ToA.
I truly like this idea, and would love to see it implemented. Nice job all around too.
Originally posted by Cyrus9a
Everyone might think I'm crazy to say this but, I don't think Athas is covered by a Silt Sea. If defiled water becomes silt and there was a vast ocean during the Green Age, how did it get defiled? I know there could have been vast naval battles between the races but not enough to defile a planet covering body of water. If my thinking is flawed, tell me and tell me why it is flawed. Now, I'm all for a massive body of silt, just not planet wide.
I personally don't think that silt covers the world - it's not defiled water, it's more f a corrupted element due to conditions on Athas. The ocean that surrounded everything during the Green age was slowly draining throughout the green Age (IMHO), due to what the Rhulisti did when they activated the Pristine Tower to eliminate the brown tide. Rajaat's wars and influence had nothing to do with it. There might be pockets of water left (I believe there is one off the map, north-west of the crimson savannah), in what would have been the oceanic trenches during the green age.
The next types of terrain I have made are mountain glaciers, rivers, streams and Dustlands, which is land covered with wind blown silt, but is only about a foot deep or so.
Ral, thats what Iraq was like, some places a foot or so of fine Silt dust, actually sounds like water when you walk on it, it splashes. mini dust devils also kick it up into a frenzy as well. any more info on these dustlands?