Rod of Seven Parts in Dark Sun

[darkbard]

Dark Sun afficionados: I'm thinking of reflavoring the famous artifact The Rod of Seven Parts, an artifact that spans heroic through epic tiers in its reassembly, for a Dark Sun game. Initial thoughts: rather than having goals of reestablishing divine rule of law in the world and cosmos and desroying Miska the World-Spider, the Rod might seek to reestablish primal spirits and healing on Athas and to destroy the Dragon as the most powerful obstacle in that goal.

My questions to you:

What might be some interesting locales (particularly within The Tablelands, at least for Heroic tier) in which to locate the parts?

How might you retool the rod's powers to fit my above goals?

Thanks!

 

[darkbard]

Dag. 150+ views over two days and no one has any cool ideas to contribute? Huh.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Someone posted this elsewhere:
http://thecampaign20xx.blogspot.com/2015/08/dungeons-dragons-guide-to-rod-of-seven.html

A useful reminder that may help those hoping to help you!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'd say a RoSP type artifact in Athas might be reflavored to be connected to nature, and that if completed, would be able to make Athas more habitable, greener.

Kind of like that plot line in Dune (the movie).

 

[pemerton]

I don't know Dark Sun well enough to suggest locations (I've GMed a few sessions of a 4e DS game).

As far as powers are concerned, assuming you're using the 4e version I would suggest Tide of the First Storm (an invoker power, I think from Divine Power) in lieu of Gust of Wind. It fits with the repleneshing the water of Athas theme.

 

[amerigoV]

I am a distant fan of Dark Sun - so this probably does not work with canon at all (esp since didn't one of the kings fall in 4e?). But this is epic so I'll throw it out there.

Seven Cities, Seven Sorcerer Kings, Seven Parts...

The Rod was the Source of Life that in the mists of time transformed a desert world into a paradise. All was great for many millennia. Breaking the Rod by the original Defilers resulted in Athas slowing transforming back to its original state - there was still some magic left in each piece to slow the decay. The seven Defilers that controlled the Parts eventually became the Sorcerer Kings - the Parts sustains and amplifies their power. Reclaiming the pieces and reassembling them restores Athas to its reputed paradise state.

If one King has been overthrown, maybe the PCs have come across that Part in all the chaos (ie, they come across it as part of some of other adventure - they destroy a Sorcerer King wanna-be). This kicks off the storyline. Each additional recovered Part has a positive visible effect on the lands and provides boons to heroes (its not its primary power - but it replaces the normal magic items the group might get - increases magic, strength, vitality, empowers weapons, armor, etc).

Of course there is the little matter that these are in the hands of the Sorcerer Kings...and that kind of power leads to temptations to replace them.

Also, an evil GM would have something horrible happen when all the parts are back together - either it was a lie or that breaking the Rod tainted or changed the magic - but you are not an evil GM, are you?

 

[amerigoV]

I'd say a RoSP type artifact in Athas might be reflavored to be connected to nature, and that if completed, would be able to make Athas more habitable, greener.

Kind of like that plot line in Dune (the movie).

I did not even see your post when I wrote up mine

 

[darkbard]

I'd say a RoSP type artifact in Athas might be reflavored to be connected to nature, and that if completed, would be able to make Athas more habitable, greener.

Kind of like that plot line in Dune (the movie).

This is actually quite in keeping with my initial thoughts. Though I'm a huge fan of Herbert, it's been a long time since I saw the Dune film. I don't recall the plot to make the desert planet green again in the movie. Perhaps if you jog my memory with a few details that will bring it back....

(I've GMed a few sessions of a 4e DS game).

Oh, I know! And I'm eagerly awaiting to peruse your next report of that "actual play"! And mining it for ideas, of course.

I am a distant fan of Dark Sun - so this probably does not work with canon at all (esp since didn't one of the kings fall in 4e?). But this is epic so I'll throw it out there.

Seven Cities, Seven Sorcerer Kings, Seven Parts...

The Rod was the Source of Life that in the mists of time transformed a desert world into a paradise. All was great for many millennia. Breaking the Rod by the original Defilers resulted in Athas slowing transforming back to its original state - there was still some magic left in each piece to slow the decay. The seven Defilers that controlled the Parts eventually became the Sorcerer Kings - the Parts sustains and amplifies their power. Reclaiming the pieces and reassembling them restores Athas to its reputed paradise state.

If one King has been overthrown, maybe the PCs have come across that Part in all the chaos (ie, they come across it as part of some of other adventure - they destroy a Sorcerer King wanna-be). This kicks off the storyline. Each additional recovered Part has a positive visible effect on the lands and provides boons to heroes (its not its primary power - but it replaces the normal magic items the group might get - increases magic, strength, vitality, empowers weapons, armor, etc).

Of course there is the little matter that these are in the hands of the Sorcerer Kings...and that kind of power leads to temptations to replace them.

Also, an evil GM would have something horrible happen when all the parts are back together - either it was a lie or that breaking the Rod tainted or changed the magic - but you are not an evil GM, are you?

The coincidence of seven parts and seven sorcerer-kings had not escaped me. In fact, the campaign is set to kick off in one of the city-states just after one of the sorcerer-kings has been deposed (slain, to the best of everyone's knowledge). However, all the sorcerer-kings are Epic level, and the artifact (and my campaign idea) span Heroic through Epic, so this introduces a problem of challenge level.

Thanks for the input thus far, folks! This is of great help!

 

[darkbard]

As far as powers are concerned, assuming you're using the 4e version I would suggest Tide of the First Storm (an invoker power, I think from Divine Power) in lieu of Gust of Wind. It fits with the repleneshing the water of Athas theme.

Most definitely 4E. Your suggestion of TotFS is in place of the Satisfied concordance rating additional power, right? Are you suggesting replacing both the encounter and daily powers with TotFS? As it stands, when Satisfied, the staff bestows an encounter fly speed move action and a daily close blast attack power. Does swapping both of those for an encounter area attack power (and TotFS is arguably somewhat weaker in effect than the daily) seem well balanced?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

It isn't so much a plot, per se, as it is a cinematic was to show Paul coming into his powers.

After his duel with Feyd, and his sister stabs the Baron, Paul literally makes it rain on Arrakis.