I'm going to start the adventure path series from Dungeon Magazine and wanted to place it on Oerth. Has anyone found a good location for the city of Cauldron?
The Crystalmist Mountains come to mind, especially the mid to southern northern end of the chain where it meets the Hellfurnaces, where the volcanic activity diminishes. This area puts Cauldron near the Yeomanry and Sterich. But then, how could Cauldron have survived amongst the Giant tribes and other monsters in the mountains?
What about the Lortmil Mountains? The Temple of All Consumption, from Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil fame (© 2000 WotC) is in the northen Lortmils, and it is built around a dormant volcano. So, the Temple of All Consumption sets a good precedent for that region.
The list can go on. I mention two, with the second being most plausible and lucrative to me. But look at a World of Greyhawk map and scout the mountain and hill regions out. And of course, consider the theme and focus of your campaign. Let us know what you decide, DarkRanger.
...................Omote
Originally posted by Greyson
Cauldorn is built the rim of a dormant volcano - so, all you need to consider is where such a geological venue exists in your personal concept of the Flanaess.
Originally posted by DarkRanger65
Those are good suggestions but the mountain range Cauldron is in is surrounded by jungles. I need to find a location with at least a forest to the west.
If you need a dormant volcano with nearby jungles, the southern Hellfurnaces seem ideal, along their border with the Amedio jungle. Of course this would make the likely inhabitants of the city either Olman or Amedi, but on the other hand it would then be easy to insert some Scarlet Brotherhood plothooks into the campaign to stir things up.
On a side note, I think Dungeon's Adventue Path has been great. I like the theme, plot and story. And, I think Vhalantru and his "minions" are a challenging lot. Good series. I hope the Adventure Path continues somewhere else when events in Cauldron are finally settled.
But, isn't that what the SB does? Aren't they the ever-present mystery? Aren't they the ones lurking in the tavern's corner eavesdropping, and whispering sedition in the ruler's ear? Aren't they the ones stalking the unwary in the alley's shadows, waiting to strike in the dark? Aren't they the uncertain, yet undoubtedly feared, sinister x-factor that adds dread and suspicion to an otherwise straight-forward scenario?
The Scarlet Brotherhood - one of "Wheels within wheels" in the World of Greyhawk. I'm sure, the Brotherhood is interested in Cauldron if it is near the Amedio Jungle.
I'm not trying to flame you, Greyson, in fact I agree with you. The SB SHOULD be a secretive organization. It's just hard to keep them a secret when you're stumbling over a red robed monk every time you turn around. :D
-wn
The city still stands there though - at least in my campaign.
Originally posted by WightNight
I'm not trying to flame you, Greyson, in fact I agree with you. The SB SHOULD be a secretive organization. It's just hard to keep them a secret when you're stumbling over a red robed monk every time you turn around. :D
-wn
Tell me about it. In my old campaign I never used the SB, yet anytime there was a red robed NPC, my players would attack them. Even after they spent several times in jail for attacking innocents, they still would invariably attack anyone wearing red.
They couldn't get it through their heads that if a secret society was known for wearing red, then they darn well wouldn't be wearing any red in public.
Halber
But now my players want to play in the Forgotten Realms! I am trying to steer them away from Magic items R Us but I may have to place Cauldron on Faerun.
Consider starting them in GH just let them know that your using the D&D pantheon because it is an integral part of the adventure setting you have been working on. Heck if you want tell them your premise for the adventure is too start them off in a little known region of the realms and eventually incorporate them into the world as they progress the storyline.
Yes the Sb are in many places but they don't have to be used every where. After all what makes Cauldron unique is that it has it's own makeup of plots and herrings that make it a refreshing story that does not rely on what has been done so often in the past.
The Hellfurnaces/Amedio Jungle just seemed to remote not to mention the desolate Sea of Dust to the west.
The biggest thing for me was that it had jungles. I've really tried to bring out the fact that the PC's are not adventuring in the typical northern woodland forest. There have been some sidetreks that I've sent them on that have been attempts by me to showcase the area, and also to give the poor Ranger and Druid something to do.... (I've yet to find ANYTHING for a Ranger to track in the adventure series).
Originally posted by Max_Writer
Dragon Magazine put it in the mountains on the south side of the Jeklea Bay (Hellfurnaces area) if I remember correctly. The city has stayed out of local politics (i.e. Scarlet Brotherhood).
Dungeon 109 lists as a suggested location for Cauldron the south side of Jeklea Bay, in the Hellfurnaces. It even lists the hex number from the LGG map. However, it took me a while to find it last night because I kept looking through the most recent adventure. It's actually a response to one of the letters printed at the beginning of the issue.
The suggested history is that Cauldron was established 150 years ago by Sea Princes-aligned merchants, but that connection was broken 20 years ago when the expansion of the Keoish navy checked the Sea Princes' expansion.
Following the battle of Jetsom Island in 464 CY the Sea Princes turned to trade rather than piracy as their primary occupation.
What did happen 20 years ago was Prince Jeon coming to the throne and trying to end slavery.
Originally posted by Samwise
The expansion of the Sea Princes was ended 20 years after it began, not 20 years ago in the history.
You're right; my mistake. I was working from memory. Now that I look again, it was 20 years later, not 20 years ago.
For anyone who's interested, the LGG map hex suggested for Cauldron is 77-U1. As noted, that puts it in the Hellfurnaces on the southern coast of Jeklea Bay.
Originally posted by Max_Writer
In my own campaign, I placed the city of Scuttlecove (from Dungeon ?? - a "sealed" adventure using lots of Book of Vile Darkness info) on the north side of the Jeklea Bay. My PCs were supposed to go to the place at one point but totally blindsided me and headed for Westkeep instead.
The city still stands there though - at least in my campaign.
It's from Dungeon #95, the only reason I know that is I just finished rereading that particular adventure. What is very eerie is that I picked the exact same location for the city as you.
It's from Dungeon #95, the only reason I know that is I just finished rereading that particular adventure. What is very eerie is that I picked the exact same location for the city as you.
Great minds and all that. I think it's cool myself.
It makes sense after all. I drew on 'The Gauntlet' and 'The Sentinel' for the idea. I had expanded the littorals of baronies over the mountains from the Duchy of Berghof and formed them into one-time small countries. Though the Sea Princes wiped them out when they were first formed, I imagine that there were ruins. The Ur-Priests (or whatever they’re called in the adventure) built on one of the old ruined cities.
I never went too much into the history of the area. Would have if my PCs had gone where they were supposed to.
"Players wishing to set Shackled City Adventure Path in the World of Greyhawk might consider placing Cauldron near the northwest border of Hex 77-U1 on the LIVING GREYHAWK Gazetteer map. With this placement, Cauldron (and the nearby city of Sasserine) would have been established as a secure trade outpost by Sea Princes-aligned merchants about 150 years ago. When the expansion of the Keoish navy checked the ambitions of the Sea Princes 20 years later, the Cauldron/Sasserine colony was forced to survive in a hostile, isolated clime. In the ensuing years, they freed their slaves and abandoned their connection to their former patrons, embracing a culture and political identity all of their own."
Hope this helps but if you are running it then Dungeon 109 covers it. Obviously you need the map for it to make sense though
