What good is Kalidnay? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What good is Kalidnay?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 11, 2004 16:44:24 I really want to do something Kalidnay, But I don't have any idea whatsoever what good it is, I'm actually a bit confused what's it doing in Ravenloft.

Anyone have any suggestions or have used it in past campaigns to any extent whatsoever?
#2
hida_jiremi
Oct 12, 2004 7:42:55 My suggestion is that if you want to maintain the flavor of the Ravenloft setting, don't include Kalidnay at all. Even though I'm a big fan of Dark Sun, Kalidnay's inclusion in Ravenloft was the result of a marketing decision to attempt to make the campaign setting more popular in the same way that comics often draw the attention of previous fans of other lines: crossovers. Do yourself a favor and don't use it; it's completely against the flavor and theme of the setting.

Hida Jiremi
(Jeremy Puckett)
#3
zombiegleemax
Oct 12, 2004 7:58:29 Ravenloft is about 80% gothic.There is a 20% that is not(though it can be made to be).This can be actually a good thing for a longterm campaign. At some time,your pcs could get fed up with the setting's mood and want a refreshing change,a plot twist in a more exotic background,(even surreal or prehestoric) is sometimes a great intermission for a return to the core.Not to mention that the mere knowledge of the fact that some ancient,uncivilized,barren lands are somewhere out there to be found adds flavour to your story and it could hold a whole plot for some knowledge-hungry or wanderlust hero of yours. Remember there are explorers and scientists in the world,think of Spanish and Portuguese expenditions in medieval Europe.Races for sponsorships and crusades(for money and fame) to lands where information comes only from some crazy-old man's diaries and mythological tomes.(also,Har'rakir is excellent for archaelogists).Sure it doesn't seem quite ravenloftish to start in the Kalidnay Arena at once but such breaks can become very interesting
#4
burningspear
Oct 12, 2004 9:22:06 i think Calidnay is fun if used correctly in ravenloft, i myself r a huge fan of Dark Sun so i would not mind..

i myself r a witch in the ravenloft setting and i want to be a sunmage from the athas setting, so the link is good for me anyway...

any ideas on this kind of thread?

i am using the witch class from quintessential handbook and i want to be more of a "sunwitch", thats why i wantt o go to the halflings from the pristine tower....(i hope)

and i love the smilies hehehe
#5
rotipher
Oct 12, 2004 10:29:40 For that matter, a trip to Kalidnay could be couched as a kind of "Victorian adventure novel" side-trip, a bit like Professor Challenger's trip to "The Lost World" or various Burroughs heroes' journeys to Pellucidar or Mars. Imagine a Lamordian research expedition that boldly sets out into the Mists, headed for someplace like the Wildlands, only to find itself stuck in the D&D equivalent of John Carter's Martian wastes! Even if it's not very Ravenloft-ish, it'd be a way to stretch the bounds of the literary era that *inspired* Ravenloft, and let PCs enjoy a refreshing straight-up adventure story, without any spooky overtones. Most gamers like a change of pace once in a while, plus you can mess with their heads as the players search in vain for the (absent) vampires and zombies.

(Yes, I realize Borroughs wrote later than that; however, most of his heroes were from the Victorian era, themselves.)
#6
zombiegleemax
Oct 12, 2004 20:44:25 As mentioned by other posters Kalidinay works best as an exotic local that PCs have to struggle to get to. IMO though it has Darksun roots its really not all that different from the other places in the Amber Wastes.

How about this. There is a somewhat reliable mistway from the Amber Wastes to Kalidnay. At some point one of the recurring villians flees there as a result of being hunted - perhaps by the PCs or perhaps by the NPCs bosses who are no doubt upset by their minions lack of success against the interference of the PCs. The PCs might choose to pursue and perhaps buttonhole their adversary (this could include several running battles like the last section of stokers Dracula) or the PCs might need information about the NPCs superiors (in which case they're racing assassins the ends of the Earth).

Once in Kalidnay play up the differences of the natives who live their and their (seemingly) bizarre beliefs. Then use an intrigue based plot where factions of the templars want to use the PCs as catspaws to further their own advancement. A trip to kalidnay isn't complete without a long desert journey with sandstorms and desert raiders. Alien bug men like the thri-kreen might make a suitable menace if they're built up more like the critters from aliens than an alternative PC race.

Hope that helps.

-Eric Gorman
#7
thegreengriffon
Oct 12, 2004 21:29:27 I loved when I saw they had a Darksun realm in Ravenloft. I DMed Darksun but never got to play which was a dissapointment since I loved the idea and my players had so much fun playing it. I didnt think it was a misplaced domain at all since it was an island or pocket (cant remember which) domain. It allowed you to use Darksun manuals to roll up your character.

I rolled up an awesome Mul Gladiator and scored some awesome teleportation and Temp Banishment psionic powers. He was a gentle giant who marveled at the other realms, nearly passing out when he saw a sea for the first time and drooling at all the fine steel weapons available anywhere.

The DM made some good stories to include in the campiagn that had my char in mind and it was a great campaign.

as for Ideas, thats a tough one, I never actually played in Kalidnay, my character was from there but if memory serves the dark lord is sleeping or in a coma or imprisoned or something and the replacement dark lord is trying to bring him back I believe, may wanna make something out of that since the former Darklord is an Athas Dragon, not a good thing.
#8
hida_jiremi
Oct 13, 2004 6:13:21
For that matter, a trip to Kalidnay could be couched as a kind of "Victorian adventure novel" side-trip, a bit like Professor Challenger's trip to "The Lost World" or various Burroughs heroes' journeys to Pellucidar or Mars.

Crap. I never even considered that, which is doubly blind of me considering that I love Burroughs. I just suppose it goes to show that even an old dog can learn new tricks. Hmm... I may have to consider the possibilities of Kalidnay in my own game now...

Hida Jiremi
(Jeremy Puckett)
#9
zombiegleemax
Oct 13, 2004 23:33:00 I always treated it as a decadent Mesopotamia... Hey, they even eliminated the Thri-Kreen... which means everything else can sorta fit, if you're of a mind to do so...
#10
zombiegleemax
Oct 14, 2004 13:09:46
I always treated it as a decadent Mesopotamia...

Amen. I wrote down a few things, that I use in my personal campaign but most of the stuff isn't finished yet. But I made up a language primer based on one of the ancient mesopotamic languages a la the Gazetter's primers:

Language Primer Kalidnay
Begone! - Barra!
Help! – Ressussun!
Goodday – Nuru Ma Mu (Light and Water)
Goodbye – Mu Ma Nuru
Yes - Lala
No – La !
Water - Mu
Sun – Utu
Moon - Nanna
Lord - Belum
Lady – Beleti
Templar - Zikkura
Citizens - Mare Ali
Concubines - Sinnis
Slave - Wardum
Witch - Kashshaptu
Sorcery - Kishpu
Demon - Idimmu
Curse - Ezeru
Darkness, Night - Asbu
Light , Day - Nuru
Female Singer – Sinnisnartu
Anzillu - Abomination, Caliban

Appearance
The folk of Kalidnay are light-skinned, with hair colors ranging from reddish-blond to black. Calibans, who are called Anzillu, are quite common in Kalidnay: half-dwarves, half-giants,men with lizard- or insectlike-features, etc. The fact that the caliban of Kalidnay can be divided into groups who share certain characteristicas lends crecedence to the believe that the anzillu are possesed by the spirits of the extincted races of the past.
#11
tykus
Nov 10, 2004 12:02:04 It's nice to see Kalidnay still causing controversy all these years later. :D

At least I'm no longer this smily

While many of the unique undead of Dark Sun had obvious parallels with undead of "normal" worlds, it is the living monsters that can really do Kalidnay justice in Ravenloft. One monster that comes to mind is the pakubrazi, a shapeshifting, insect-like aberration that can infect others with insectile traits.
#12
burningspear
Nov 10, 2004 12:26:04 where can i find this insectile monster? :bounce: :D :D :D
#13
zombiegleemax
Nov 11, 2004 3:03:57 I think it would be a great place to send somoe of those ultra powerful DL slayers from other worlds to teach them some humility.
#14
tykus
Nov 12, 2004 15:30:08
where can i find this insectile monster? :bounce: :D :D :D

Well, in 2nd ed., it was in the Terrors of Athas Monstrous Compendium. A 3.5 ed. update is atwww.athas.org.

You will have to download all the monsters but it should be worth it. There are quite a few Ravenloftish monsters in it. :invasion:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 11, 2004 16:44:24	I really want to do something Kalidnay, But I don't have any idea whatsoever what good it is, I'm actually a bit confused what's it doing in Ravenloft. Anyone have any suggestions or have used it in past campaigns to any extent whatsoever?
#2 hida_jiremi Oct 12, 2004 7:42:55	My suggestion is that if you want to maintain the flavor of the Ravenloft setting, don't include Kalidnay at all. Even though I'm a big fan of Dark Sun, Kalidnay's inclusion in Ravenloft was the result of a marketing decision to attempt to make the campaign setting more popular in the same way that comics often draw the attention of previous fans of other lines: crossovers. Do yourself a favor and don't use it; it's completely against the flavor and theme of the setting. Hida Jiremi (Jeremy Puckett)
#3 zombiegleemax Oct 12, 2004 7:58:29	Ravenloft is about 80% gothic.There is a 20% that is not(though it can be made to be).This can be actually a good thing for a longterm campaign. At some time,your pcs could get fed up with the setting's mood and want a refreshing change,a plot twist in a more exotic background,(even surreal or prehestoric) is sometimes a great intermission for a return to the core.Not to mention that the mere knowledge of the fact that some ancient,uncivilized,barren lands are somewhere out there to be found adds flavour to your story and it could hold a whole plot for some knowledge-hungry or wanderlust hero of yours. Remember there are explorers and scientists in the world,think of Spanish and Portuguese expenditions in medieval Europe.Races for sponsorships and crusades(for money and fame) to lands where information comes only from some crazy-old man's diaries and mythological tomes.(also,Har'rakir is excellent for archaelogists).Sure it doesn't seem quite ravenloftish to start in the Kalidnay Arena at once but such breaks can become very interesting
#4 burningspear Oct 12, 2004 9:22:06	i think Calidnay is fun if used correctly in ravenloft, i myself r a huge fan of Dark Sun so i would not mind.. i myself r a witch in the ravenloft setting and i want to be a sunmage from the athas setting, so the link is good for me anyway... any ideas on this kind of thread? i am using the witch class from quintessential handbook and i want to be more of a "sunwitch", thats why i wantt o go to the halflings from the pristine tower....(i hope) and i love the smilies hehehe
#5 rotipher Oct 12, 2004 10:29:40	For that matter, a trip to Kalidnay could be couched as a kind of "Victorian adventure novel" side-trip, a bit like Professor Challenger's trip to "The Lost World" or various Burroughs heroes' journeys to Pellucidar or Mars. Imagine a Lamordian research expedition that boldly sets out into the Mists, headed for someplace like the Wildlands, only to find itself stuck in the D&D equivalent of John Carter's Martian wastes! Even if it's not very Ravenloft-ish, it'd be a way to stretch the bounds of the literary era that inspired Ravenloft, and let PCs enjoy a refreshing straight-up adventure story, without any spooky overtones. Most gamers like a change of pace once in a while, plus you can mess with their heads as the players search in vain for the (absent) vampires and zombies. (Yes, I realize Borroughs wrote later than that; however, most of his heroes were from the Victorian era, themselves.)
#6 zombiegleemax Oct 12, 2004 20:44:25	As mentioned by other posters Kalidinay works best as an exotic local that PCs have to struggle to get to. IMO though it has Darksun roots its really not all that different from the other places in the Amber Wastes. How about this. There is a somewhat reliable mistway from the Amber Wastes to Kalidnay. At some point one of the recurring villians flees there as a result of being hunted - perhaps by the PCs or perhaps by the NPCs bosses who are no doubt upset by their minions lack of success against the interference of the PCs. The PCs might choose to pursue and perhaps buttonhole their adversary (this could include several running battles like the last section of stokers Dracula) or the PCs might need information about the NPCs superiors (in which case they're racing assassins the ends of the Earth). Once in Kalidnay play up the differences of the natives who live their and their (seemingly) bizarre beliefs. Then use an intrigue based plot where factions of the templars want to use the PCs as catspaws to further their own advancement. A trip to kalidnay isn't complete without a long desert journey with sandstorms and desert raiders. Alien bug men like the thri-kreen might make a suitable menace if they're built up more like the critters from aliens than an alternative PC race. Hope that helps. -Eric Gorman
#7 thegreengriffon Oct 12, 2004 21:29:27	I loved when I saw they had a Darksun realm in Ravenloft. I DMed Darksun but never got to play which was a dissapointment since I loved the idea and my players had so much fun playing it. I didnt think it was a misplaced domain at all since it was an island or pocket (cant remember which) domain. It allowed you to use Darksun manuals to roll up your character. I rolled up an awesome Mul Gladiator and scored some awesome teleportation and Temp Banishment psionic powers. He was a gentle giant who marveled at the other realms, nearly passing out when he saw a sea for the first time and drooling at all the fine steel weapons available anywhere. The DM made some good stories to include in the campiagn that had my char in mind and it was a great campaign. as for Ideas, thats a tough one, I never actually played in Kalidnay, my character was from there but if memory serves the dark lord is sleeping or in a coma or imprisoned or something and the replacement dark lord is trying to bring him back I believe, may wanna make something out of that since the former Darklord is an Athas Dragon, not a good thing.
#8 hida_jiremi Oct 13, 2004 6:13:21	For that matter, a trip to Kalidnay could be couched as a kind of "Victorian adventure novel" side-trip, a bit like Professor Challenger's trip to "The Lost World" or various Burroughs heroes' journeys to Pellucidar or Mars. Crap. I never even considered that, which is doubly blind of me considering that I love Burroughs. I just suppose it goes to show that even an old dog can learn new tricks. Hmm... I may have to consider the possibilities of Kalidnay in my own game now... Hida Jiremi (Jeremy Puckett)
#9 zombiegleemax Oct 13, 2004 23:33:00	I always treated it as a decadent Mesopotamia... Hey, they even eliminated the Thri-Kreen... which means everything else can sorta fit, if you're of a mind to do so...
#10 zombiegleemax Oct 14, 2004 13:09:46	I always treated it as a decadent Mesopotamia... Amen. I wrote down a few things, that I use in my personal campaign but most of the stuff isn't finished yet. But I made up a language primer based on one of the ancient mesopotamic languages a la the Gazetter's primers: Language Primer Kalidnay Begone! - Barra! Help! – Ressussun! Goodday – Nuru Ma Mu (Light and Water) Goodbye – Mu Ma Nuru Yes - Lala No – La ! Water - Mu Sun – Utu Moon - Nanna Lord - Belum Lady – Beleti Templar - Zikkura Citizens - Mare Ali Concubines - Sinnis Slave - Wardum Witch - Kashshaptu Sorcery - Kishpu Demon - Idimmu Curse - Ezeru Darkness, Night - Asbu Light , Day - Nuru Female Singer – Sinnisnartu Anzillu - Abomination, Caliban Appearance The folk of Kalidnay are light-skinned, with hair colors ranging from reddish-blond to black. Calibans, who are called Anzillu, are quite common in Kalidnay: half-dwarves, half-giants,men with lizard- or insectlike-features, etc. The fact that the caliban of Kalidnay can be divided into groups who share certain characteristicas lends crecedence to the believe that the anzillu are possesed by the spirits of the extincted races of the past.
#11 tykus Nov 10, 2004 12:02:04	It's nice to see Kalidnay still causing controversy all these years later. :D At least I'm no longer this smily While many of the unique undead of Dark Sun had obvious parallels with undead of "normal" worlds, it is the living monsters that can really do Kalidnay justice in Ravenloft. One monster that comes to mind is the pakubrazi, a shapeshifting, insect-like aberration that can infect others with insectile traits.
#12 burningspear Nov 10, 2004 12:26:04	where can i find this insectile monster? :bounce: :D :D :D
#13 zombiegleemax Nov 11, 2004 3:03:57	I think it would be a great place to send somoe of those ultra powerful DL slayers from other worlds to teach them some humility.
#14 tykus Nov 12, 2004 15:30:08	where can i find this insectile monster? :bounce: :D :D :D Well, in 2nd ed., it was in the Terrors of Athas Monstrous Compendium. A 3.5 ed. update is atwww.athas.org. You will have to download all the monsters but it should be worth it. There are quite a few Ravenloftish monsters in it. :invasion: