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NightElf
Seeker
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United Kingdom
97 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Sep 2003 : 17:37:51
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A few years ago, before I started spending all of my time on the native Fellaren-Krae Project I was in the process of developing a world of my own called Land of the Draqon Kings.
Since I only have a small amount of time to continue this endeavour I would like to ask anyone if they can post any suggestions as to Landsmarks, Cities and famous NPCs I can use in the realm.
Anything is welcome, but please remember that the world in which I am placing these suggestions is completely covered in snow and ice, which leads me to tell you that Auril is one of the key deities in the world
Thanks for the help
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"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front" |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2003 : 12:50:39
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This is certainly an interesting idea. I have some interesting material (mostly Dragon, and lizardman-based) that was originally supposed to be used for the fan-created War of the Darklance setting for Dragonlance. It dealt with an alternate timeline in which the world of Krynn underwent vast climatic changes resulting in a world perpetually covered in ice. Understandably, most of the flora and fauna would have to eventually adapt to this new environment, which was left up to the fans to develop.
I never actually used most of the material that I wrote up, instead it sits in two notebooks. I am willing to have a look through them to see whether there is anything that I can bring to this project.
I'll let you know.
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Vallandar
Acolyte
United Kingdom
46 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2003 : 21:28:27
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A race of halflings inhabiting a frozen world are detailed in the 2nd edition guide to gnomes and halflings; you may find these appropriate to your campaign.
If I were to DM such a campaign then the first things that I would want to decide on would be:
Food supplies: farming frozen earth is ineffective, do your races hunt for food [which would probably lead to small mobile bands following the game- i.e. no towns], do they farm [presumably due to some form of magic climate control] or have they found some other food source? [If your world is forested then you may wish to research Scandinavia during the middle ages, if it has tundra then you could base its inhabitants upon the Siberians and if not then you could research the nomadic inhabitants of Greenland or the Eskimos].
How far has civilization developed in this world: if farming is unproductive then your world may be quite barbaric.
Are metals mined: if not then what materials will your players' weapons and armour be made of. If mining does take place then how are the miners supported [unless farming takes place].
Are humans still the dominant species [or has another race found it easier to adjust to the climate] if so then have they evolved differently to protect themselves from the cold?
Was you world always frozen: if not then what caused the change? [If it was not always frozen then your players may stumble across the remains of previous civilizations [which could presumably develop beyond the comprehension of the PCs due to the more favourable climate]. If not then how do the different cultures and religions view the climate change [followers of Auril may see it as a "great flood" to purge the wicked and return the world to its natural, icy state].
What odd customs would your frozen world have: the leaders of groups/ shamans could call themselves "torch-bearers". Fire-using mages could be executed [by exposure to the cold?] for their witchcraft [i.e. by followers of Auril] or have some special spiritual significance. Would people greet each other with "may your fire burn strong and bright for many moons to come" or curse with "may the ice embrace you"?
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Bookwyrm
Great Reader
USA
4740 Posts |
Posted - 23 Sep 2003 : 07:23:52
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Wow, Vallandar, you took the words right out of my mouth. Er, keyboard.
I can't think of much to follow up on that -- Vallandar took most of what was going through my mind when I was reading this and then some. One thing I still have left, though, is that no world -- except for a world being reformed by Auril into an iceball -- would be able to support complicated life forms on the surface, at least without resorting to something like the aliens of Robert L. Forward's Ocean Under the Ice. And I certainly think you're not going to be using such a . . . well, bizzare lifeform for your dominant species.
Then again, Alan Dean Foster wrote about a world that went in regular cycles from below zero in most places to tropical every few thousand years. The civilization he created out of that was quite interesting.
And anyway, if it is being reformed into an iceball, then what would be good, perhaps, is an ever-shrinking equatorial region that still can support large civilizations, but is slowly being pushed back.
Imagine a world like ours. Plenty of cold regions -- hey, about forty-five degrees of latitude out of the whole 180 has at least a full day's worth of darkness at once a year. With that much, you're bound to have a lot of cold cultures. But that leaves others in more temperate, and even tropical, regions that don't live with the cold every day.
But then the ice all starts creeping toward the equator. Slowly, perhaps a few feet per year. After a while, people notice. There's no longer enough time for crops to grow enough to harvest, and many have to leaver their homes or stay and risk starvation.
Those that stay turn to the only ones who seem able to help -- the goddess of ice and winter, Auril. A harsh mistress, but under her rule at least some level of life can be made. The Aurilite clerics can help out with some protection spells, though never anything that would make heat. And if the clerics were right, if Auril wants to cleanse the world so it can be born anew -- at the 'right' temperature -- then it makes more sense just to give in. Better than dying of exposure.
I'm not sure how they would cook food, but maybe that's an exception? You can make small fires for food, but extinguish them once the meat is sterilized and safe, and don't revel in the warmth? (Sounds like a Puritan's attitude to carnal relations, doesn't it?)
Or there could be a special type of plant that grows almost like a weed on the ice, soaking up sunlight for food. It would have to be very unusual -- probably developed with magic. It would need very strong roots to spread through the ice. This plant would be edible to people -- probably not very tasty, but you could survive if you ate enough. And the plant could have other uses -- you'd be likely to find game there, and maybe you could use the thick stalk to build things. Extra support for igloos, or tent poles (the tents being made of skin). Weave them into snowshoes. Or maybe even make a crude sort of ice-sailing boat with a hide sail and stone-carved runners. (That would certainly be using Foster's Icerigger.)
Technological levels would be very low. You would need to make things out of ice, animal parts, and perhaps stone, if the ice is thin enough to quarry (plus the plant, if you use it). Metal would be highly prized, and even more so if it was in a usable shape. The Aurilites would come in handy then -- I'm sure that they would have a spell like a druid's ironwood, and these weapons and tools would be like 'gifts of the goddess.'
Closer to the equator, things are better, but even they are feeling the wrath of Auril. Storms come more often, the air is cooling, and there is an ever-increasing strain on resources as refugees keep moving to the warm lands. Something obviously has to be done. (Adventuring hook, anyone?)
Many, especially dwarves if they exist here, will have also retreated underground. There, the temperature's usually pretty constant. No fear of storms and such. But there would be drawbacks. What sort of food could they have? How much room is there? As they dig deeper, do they find other creatures? Also, remember that these places will likely be cut off -- the ice will have gotten too thick and sealed up the entrances.
Okay, that's about the extent of my ideas for this. Let me know if it helps. |
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Cult_Leader
Learned Scribe
USA
337 Posts |
Posted - 25 Sep 2003 : 13:51:02
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| Just to let you know you might not want to call it Land of the Dragon kings. Since Darksun is sometimes called that bya few people. Do to mages turning into dragons to gain more power etc. Get where im going with that I hope? |
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NightElf
Seeker
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United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2003 : 15:00:30
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The background behind the "Land of the Dragon Kings" was named after the rulers of the land. As a tradition, kings were gifted with a newborn white dragon as a symbol of their power, which they brought up as a sort of guardian.
Just thought I should add that.
Some great stuff coming through, I can tell that I am dealing with some experienced Dungeon Masters here, hopefully I will one day arrive at that level
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"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front" |
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NightElf
Seeker
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United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2003 : 15:02:49
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| By the way Sage of Perth, everything is more than welcome. Your Great Glacier things would be very welcome |
"Those who watch their backs meet death from the front" |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
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Land of the Dragon Kings
