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<blockquote data-quote="Edena_of_Neith" data-source="post: 1302664" data-attributes="member: 2020"><p><strong>(Post 5) Thread One of the 1st IR</strong></p><p></p><p>Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 06:38 PM </p><p></p><p> Wow, a race even cockier than elves. Will wonders never cease.</p><p></p><p> 10 Mind Flayers against a million Humanoids? You'd be crushed. I mean, from above, as you walked into a</p><p> cave and it fell on your head before you could react. </p><p></p><p> Or did your Illithid Rogues (hah!) detect them? </p><p></p><p> Sorry . . your mighty One Charm Person/round (ooh, you charmed a kobold! Wow, he'll help against the</p><p> other fifty beating the crap out of you!) isn't going to cut it. The Mind Blast might, but it's a Cone. And that</p><p> assumes we're all standing in a column in front of you. Which we aren't, because we're letting the traps do</p><p> our crushing. </p><p></p><p> I don't see that happening, squid-face. Our numbers and our traps will crush you. You lazy bastards are</p><p> going to have to be on the front lines to even have the slightest chance to succeed, and that's just not a</p><p> role you're used to. </p><p></p><p> Bye bye. We KNOW what Squid-faces taste like, you know. Calamari.</p><p></p><p> And we *like* calamari. </p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> No Title Required</p><p></p><p> PS Use Levitate to float out of the way?</p><p> Now who has the "8" intelligence? (Our race average is "10", by the way, so pfffthththt.) </p><p></p><p> Yours is apparently actually quite lower.</p><p> Levitate is going to help HOW when the ceiling height is, oh, 5'. Or even 10' or 15' or 50'? We have</p><p> crossbows, numbnuts. Thanks for making it so we can all shoot you at once. </p><p></p><p> Only the idiot Drow like those big-ass caverns with quarter-mile high ceilings. Just goes to show your</p><p> ignorance. Again. </p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Reprisal</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 06:47 PM </p><p></p><p> Buzzard, thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth. The Movement is indebted to you.</p><p></p><p> In any event, I was under the impression that this struggle was expressed not in weeks, but in *years.* I</p><p> would not believe that the elves would resort to stripping the plane of magic in a few mere weeks... Here's</p><p> some assumptions I've been using so far:</p><p></p><p> 1) In order for there to actually *be* an industrial revolution, the following must have occured before:</p><p></p><p> - A new focus on individualism and the rights of said individual. Think Protestant Reformation. Which gives</p><p> way to the proliferation of Classical Liberal thought (the ideology of capitalism). Who's gonna buy into this</p><p> the most out of all the races? The humans, and then the gnomes, and then the halflings. The elves are</p><p> inward looking, and the dwarves are as backward as Tzarist Russia before the Great War. I'll come back to</p><p> this point later.</p><p></p><p> - The Industrial Revolution would only occur if the above point happened, and the Enlightenment</p><p> (Renaissance) occured before it all... Technology didn't get under way until The Enlightenment, because it</p><p> fostered the Scientism and Secularist movements within society as a whole.</p><p></p><p> 2) As a result of point one, some of the human monarchies would have to have fallen and in their place</p><p> would grow some sort of populist regime, be it socialist, liberal or what-have-you. This is where my "liberty"</p><p> standpoint comes from... any ruler standing in its way will meet the guillotine sooner or later.</p><p></p><p> I believe that those aligned with the elves would be of that aristocratic class of humans, who are destined to</p><p> lose. Hobbes, Locke et al are correct in saying that power comes from the people, despite magic and</p><p> religion. If a population wishes to become free, they will, sooner or later. While the coffers of these</p><p> aristocrats dwindles as they pay their mercenary armies; those funding the liberty/technocracy movement,</p><p> the merchant-come-capitalist class, will have ample currency to outbuild, outwage, outwork and outfight the</p><p> aristocrats.</p><p></p><p> If we're working with a reasonable timeframe, like years or even a decade, then the aristocracy allied with</p><p> the elves would not be the powerhouse Sir Jester believes.</p><p></p><p> It would NOT be a 50/50 split on the humanity. There are far too many peasants seeking true liberty and</p><p> equality, and they cannot be denied. Will it be bloody? Yes. Will it be painful? Yes. Is it necessary? Yes.</p><p></p><p> While this Gnomish Combine fights the first few rounds, guess who will be their second wave? The countries</p><p> and nations who have just freed themselves. These states will not only be ready to fight for their lifestyles,</p><p> they will be whole-heartedly nationalistic and full of patriotism. It would be like in the First World War, the</p><p> Triple Alliance would have been fighting the Russians, French and British for so long that they would not</p><p> have the fighting spirits that the Americans would have had.</p><p></p><p> So, there I conclude, until I think of more,</p><p></p><p> Rep.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> "Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity." - Albert Camus</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 06:49 PM </p><p></p><p> Phasmus, you are an idiot. Do you even KNOW how many goblinoids/orcs there are in the underdark?</p><p> mindflayers are powerful, I grant you that, but you would have to punch through BILLIONS of goblins,orcs,</p><p> dwarves, drow, all in less than a month. PLUS they can just seal up the tunnels(if the goblinoids can't, then</p><p> the dwarves or svirfnebli will) I really doubt that you could disintegrate the tens of thousands of miles that is</p><p> the underdark IN A MONTH, plus conquer all that land. Edena, or whoever the updater is, have the illithid</p><p> conquests stricken from the record.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p></p><p> This topic is 16 pages</p><p> long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 </p><p></p><p> All times are Central Time (US)</p><p> This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it!</p><p> Hop to: </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Contact Us | D&D 3rd Edition News </p><p></p><p></p><p> Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only.</p><p> D&D 3rd Edition News Board </p><p> Other Archived Stuff </p><p> What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 6) </p><p></p><p> UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! </p><p></p><p> profile | register | preferences | faq | search </p><p></p><p></p><p> This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 </p><p> This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion</p><p></p><p> Author </p><p> Topic: What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? </p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 07:00 PM </p><p></p><p> In response to reprisal: Jesus, man. You make it sound like all the lords of the realm are evil and</p><p> oppresive. And you think the average person would not align themselves with druids and elves? Think again,</p><p> my friend, the farmers owe quite alot to the druids, and they would not like gigantic machines ripping up</p><p> their forests and homelands. You also apparently have never heard of the peasant revolt where, for a while,</p><p> they did win, but then the nobles retaliated, and they were easily crushed(many ended like that) and in a</p><p> country like thay, or halruaa, where magic is the most common thing in the world, I don't think that peasant</p><p> revolts would work, supposing they even happened. Realize that most peasants LIKE their lives. It's simple,</p><p> and enjoyable(much better living conditions, I might add, than in olde Europe) and those who are</p><p> unsatisfied? Why thats us, my friend. The adventurers.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Reprisal</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 07:37 PM </p><p></p><p> Uh, if you read my post again, I'm assuming that everything is set up for an actual Industrial Revolution.</p><p> You say that farmers would rather align themselves with the elves and druids? I disagree, when a farmer</p><p> realizes he can pull down more gold using even the cotton gin and other early advancements, guess what</p><p> will take precedence?</p><p></p><p> A farmer would have more to gain for himself, his family and his progeny when he uses technological</p><p> devices. For they are more concerned with their own survival and well-being that anything else, when they</p><p> see an opportunity to gain for themselves, guess what's gonna happen? The druids might make it possible</p><p> to stop plant disease and what-not from happening, but can they make it so the farmer can do the work in</p><p> half the time? They could, but they'd have to live on the farm and pretty much do only that... A machine, be</p><p> it a thresher, a cotton gin, or what-have-you, will be there as long as the farmer uses it. It's quite obvious</p><p> that the farmers of the land would choose machinery over magic, for magic is erratic, and there aren't</p><p> enough Druids to go around to be their personal farm-spellslinger.</p><p></p><p> While Lords of the Realm might not be evil, they are still oppressive. No matter how well a Lord treats his</p><p> subjects, they are still subjects. With no power whatsoever. Shackles of gold are still shackles, you know</p><p> what I mean?</p><p></p><p> What do you say about the other half of my post where I state that the only reason an IR would occur was if</p><p> there was a Renaissance, a new focus on individualism (therefore, not the collectivism of your feudal</p><p> conservatism), and the proliferation of capitalist ideals. I concede the fact that without either of these</p><p> points, an IR is destined to be put down. But if the struggle is to continue (and I hope it does, this is one of</p><p> the most intriguing threads on any D&D board I've had the privilege to be a part of) these things must</p><p> happen.</p><p></p><p> Still, I think your throwing the idea of a peasant revolution aside quite arbitrarily. Still yet, who's to say that</p><p> all magicians would be on the side of the aristocracy? How much could a mage-guild make in a capitalist</p><p> system?</p><p></p><p> Once again, I'm off, this is quite enjoyable,</p><p></p><p> Rep.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> "Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity." - Albert Camus</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Reprisal (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Phasmus</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 07:51 PM </p><p></p><p></p><p> quote:</p><p></p><p> Originally posted by TheBalor:</p><p> Phasmus, you are an idiot. Do you even KNOW how many goblinoids/orcs there are in the</p><p> underdark? mindflayers are powerful, I grant you that, but you would have to punch through</p><p> BILLIONS of goblins,orcs, dwarves, drow, all in less than a month. PLUS they can just seal up</p><p> the tunnels(if the goblinoids can't, then the dwarves or svirfnebli will) I really doubt that you</p><p> could disintegrate the tens of thousands of miles that is the underdark IN A MONTH, plus</p><p> conquer all that land. Edena, or whoever the updater is, have the illithid conquests stricken</p><p> from the record.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> -tosses away a red-stained napkin-</p><p></p><p> It seems, Mr. Forrester, that I had some elven heritage ON my tentacles.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Now, Mr. Balor...</p><p></p><p> I state my actions only according to the data I have on hand... which is found in this thread, the 3e core</p><p> rulebooks and the 2e Illithid book.</p><p></p><p> What do the goblinoids & co. see? At best, more MindFlayer activity than usual. Do they regularly oppose the</p><p> activities of the MindFlayers to any such degree? Not so far as I am aware. Are all the different</p><p> humanoid/goblinoid groups capable of working with each other on a global scale to shut down the</p><p> underdark? With little or no apparent motive? Incurring the wrath of the MindFlayers? When the Illithid are</p><p> likely causing them even less grief than usual? When the surface world is broken and ripe for them to</p><p> plunder? To what end, exactly? Such an orderly, concerted effort by groups which I had been led to</p><p> understand weren't on the best of terms even under ideal circumstances seems rather unlikely. Of course,</p><p> not having access to data on FR, I may be unaware of some sort of secret global goblinoid network... and</p><p> the reason why such an institution has never been used to any effect before.</p><p></p><p> The MindFlayers have the element of surprise. By the time anyone discovered their activities it would be too</p><p> late to prevent their forces from reaching the surface. Even assuming that is not the case, the dwarves and</p><p> gnomes [who, I would guess, do not have a monopoly on the caverns leading to the deeper underdark.]</p><p> would already be in crisis... granted perhaps not as severe as some other communities. It would be a simple</p><p> mater to subtly influence their decision-making bodies and have them give minimum priority to the Illithid</p><p> activities. The MindFlayers will avoid direct combat when they can... instead relying on subterfuge as much</p><p> as possible.</p><p></p><p> Your claims against my activities are insufficient.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus & Co.</p><p></p><p> "When in doubt, use duct tape."</p><p></p><p> Riot Gear</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 08:18 PM </p><p></p><p> And again, you can keep a Mind Flayer from reaching anywhere. We can shift in to the ether and reappear in</p><p> the middle of your homes, completely bypassing your traps. If four of us appear back to back, we can nail</p><p> everything within 60 feet instantly. Your traps are irrelevant.</p><p></p><p> I admit, however, that the levitation was foolish. So we won't do that.</p><p></p><p> But tell me - How fast do you think ten illithids could charm 50 stunned Kobolds if we kept stunning them</p><p> again? We'd have all the fodder we'd need....</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!!</p><p> -My character.</p><p></p><p> buzzard</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 08:26 PM </p><p></p><p></p><p> quote:</p><p></p><p> Originally posted by Phasmus:</p><p></p><p> Your claims against my activities are insufficient.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus & Co.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Well I'n rather curious as to how the Illithids, buried deep underground will know when to meander up to the</p><p> surface. OK the magic cuts off. Gee, time to move on up. Do you think a month is a long time for a</p><p> logistical undertaking of this magnitude? I certainly don't think the Illithids will be teleporting to the surface</p><p> en masse- since they've never been there that would be suicidal. </p><p></p><p> They could organize a mass migration, but that would be obvious to every other denizen in the Underdark,</p><p> then you have to deal with the pesky humanoids. If the Illithids had even a portion of the capabilities you</p><p> claim, they'd already own Faerun, having easily conquered the Underdark. </p><p></p><p> Also I re-iterate the objections to a lack of magic trashing all the technology. The descriptions I had heard</p><p> of magic/tech synergy consisted of things like heat sources and pollution control devices, not</p><p> containment/pressure vessels. If these went bye bye, you just stoke up the fire with some coal, and you're</p><p> back to the races. </p><p></p><p> "Oh well the smokestack is belching again. No big deal, the druids didn't like us anyway". </p><p></p><p> If the Elves were dumb enough to destroy magic in the face of technological advance, then you could almost</p><p> forget them since one way or another they'll kill themselves through sheer stupidity. </p><p></p><p> Buzzard</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 08:39 PM </p><p></p><p></p><p> quote:</p><p></p><p> Originally posted by Phasmus:</p><p> -tosses away a red-stained napkin-</p><p></p><p> It seems, Mr. Forrester, that I had some elven heritage ON my tentacles.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Now, Mr. Balor...</p><p></p><p> I state my actions only according to the data I have on hand... which is found in this thread,</p><p> the 3e core rulebooks and the 2e Illithid book.</p><p></p><p> What do the goblinoids & co. see? At best, more MindFlayer activity than usual. Do they</p><p> regularly oppose the activities of the MindFlayers to any such degree? Not so far as I am</p><p> aware. Are all the different humanoid/goblinoid groups capable of working with each other</p><p> on a global scale to shut down the underdark? With little or no apparent motive? Incurring</p><p> the wrath of the MindFlayers? When the Illithid are likely causing them even less grief than</p><p> usual? When the surface world is broken and ripe for them to plunder? To what end, exactly?</p><p> Such an orderly, concerted effort by groups which I had been led to understand weren't on</p><p> the best of terms even under ideal circumstances seems rather unlikely. Of course, not</p><p> having access to data on FR, I may be unaware of some sort of secret global goblinoid</p><p> network... and the reason why such an institution has never been used to any effect before.</p><p></p><p> The MindFlayers have the element of surprise. By the time anyone discovered their activities</p><p> it would be too late to prevent their forces from reaching the surface. Even assuming that is</p><p> not the case, the dwarves and gnomes [who, I would guess, do not have a monopoly on the</p><p> caverns leading to the deeper underdark.] would already be in crisis... granted perhaps not</p><p> as severe as some other communities. It would be a simple mater to subtly influence their</p><p> decision-making bodies and have them give minimum priority to the Illithid activities. The</p><p> MindFlayers will avoid direct combat when they can... instead relying on subterfuge as much</p><p> as possible.</p><p></p><p> Your claims against my activities are insufficient.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus & Co.</p><p></p><p> "When in doubt, use duct tape."</p><p></p><p></p><p> The elf, it is tasty. On that we have agreement.</p><p></p><p> We might even be able to come to more agreements, if you weren't a group of megalomaniacal totalitarian</p><p> slave drivers.</p><p></p><p> Trust me -- if we spot a group of illithids on their way up to the surface, we're going to collapse tunnels, and</p><p> we're going to do in quickly. It isn't as if the Technomancy hasn't filled us in on your little motives. Heck,</p><p> even if they hadn't, it's not like we don't know you like enslaving/eating us. "A little more illithid activity" is</p><p> not a trivial thing when we live friggin' next door to you.</p><p></p><p> And it's not as if Illithids generally cooperate with each other very readily, squid-face. If you're doing it, we</p><p> get to do it as well. </p><p></p><p> And trust me -- there are PLENTY of us. We can kill elves and stop you at the same time. It's that 1000-to-1</p><p> outnumbering thing (with regard to your paltry forces, not with regard to the elves, of course. We merely</p><p> outnumber them 10-to-1 or 20-to-1.)</p><p></p><p> And Riot Gear -- you still haven't explained to me precisely how you are going to FIND our lairs, and know</p><p> where to materialize/teleport in. The Underdark is a 3-D kind of place. How quickly are your paltry forces</p><p> going to search a few billion cubic MILES of rock and earth? And the Rambo-esque tactics you describe</p><p> typically aren't used by the cowardly squid-heads, but I'll let that go given the current situation we're playing</p><p> with. </p><p></p><p> You're just not in a good position to take advantage of the situation within a mere month. So either Edena's</p><p> going to have to change it's duration, or you're going to have to take over the surface some other time.</p><p></p><p> We humanoids, on the other hand, can wreak havok and destruction on the foolish elves within a month,</p><p> easy. EASY.</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> No Title Required </p><p></p><p> Riot Gear</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 08:41 PM </p><p></p><p> You know, maybe we should start this over, as a game...</p><p></p><p> We could take turns, each of us representing a specific organization. Edena could serve as a DM, of sorts.</p><p> Every 'Round' or day, we would all explain what our group was doing. If a new guy wanted to play, he could</p><p> only represent a single person, but he could eventually become an organization.</p><p> At the end of each day, Edena decides what has happened and how long that round lasted. For example,</p><p> depending on how disrupting the actions we undertook were, the next round could take place from 5 days to</p><p> 5 decades later.</p><p> In addition, she could tell us whether or not our actions were successful.</p><p></p><p> That said, the last poster has a hell of a point.... We might scry and see what was going on. And we'd</p><p> certainly do SOMETHING with the Phaerimm.</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 08:58 PM </p><p></p><p> War Update #4</p><p></p><p> The war has expanded into multiple sides:</p><p></p><p> The Faerie Folk (led by Estlor - they are trying to arrange another peace conference, but they are fighting</p><p> fiercely against the illithid)</p><p> The Illithid (led by Phasmus, they have taken and destroyed Waterdeep, enslaved the phaerimm, and</p><p> destroyed a number of major drow cities - and there are a LOT more illithid on Toril than anyone realized -</p><p> there are hundreds of thousands of them!!)</p><p> The Elves (led by Blood Jester, they are fighting a total war, with no quarter given and no quarter asked.</p><p> They are out to win at all costs. The Elven Imperial Navy of Wildspace (Spelljammer) has come in it's full</p><p> strength to support them)</p><p> The Humanoids (led by Forrester, there are millions of these guys, and they are hell bent for glory, guts,</p><p> and battle. Although they form the staple army of the Technomancy, they are not under it's control)</p><p> The Technomancy Alliance (led by several people, this coalition of industrializing countries is coming back</p><p> from the brink of defeat, thanks to the humanoid hordes, and with new technomagic and their old magic</p><p> back are fighting hard)</p><p></p><p> - - -</p><p></p><p> The ferocity of the Posts I have been reading, above, would tend to indicate that:</p><p></p><p> Everyone is ganging up on the illithid. The illithid are losing ground, because they cannot stand against the</p><p> combined strength of everyone else, once the magic returns.</p><p> However, again, there are FAR more illithid than anyone thought - a secret of the illithid the world is now</p><p> learning to it's cost. There are hundreds of thousands of these fell beings, and they have an agenda - and</p><p> you and suppertime are both on it.</p><p></p><p> For some reason, nobody is concentrating on the elves, who have caused serious and irrepairable harm to</p><p> the entire world with their magic.</p><p> This means the elves are now making rapid strides towards total victory (I still need those 5 targets + 5</p><p> targets + 5 targets, Blood Jester.)</p><p> Indeed, if they are not opposed, and opposed soon, Toril will once more see the Supremacy of the Elves, as</p><p> it did for 10,000 years prior to the Crown Wars.</p><p></p><p> Estlor is the voice of reason here, bringing the Seelie Court into the situation, and the Faerie are flocking to</p><p> his banner (the druids are no longer a power, having been decimated in the war, then wiped out during the</p><p> Month of Terror)</p><p> Also, a number of wise old good aligned and neutrally aligned dragons, and a number of neutral nations</p><p> (including devastated Luruar) are going over to his side.</p><p> Estlor now leads a formidable host, rapidly becoming equal in strength to the others.</p><p></p><p> The Technomancy has made a surprising recovery.</p><p> This is partially because the first fury of the Illithid fell on their enemies.</p><p> This is mostly because an enormous horde of humanoids is fighting for them, and behind this protective</p><p> wall of humanoids they are rebuilding their cities, replanting their fields, and putting back up their</p><p> infrastruction.</p><p> It should be worth noting that the Technomancy is ANGRY. They obviously do not like the Illithid, but they</p><p> are FURIOUS at the elves, who have slaughtered hundreds of thousands of their people.</p><p></p><p> The humanoids have been big winners in this war.</p><p> The Month of Terror affected them hardly at all, except to make their opponents weak and easily beaten.</p><p> They have run amok, sacking cities, dragging off enormous numbers of slaves, vast amounts of gold, huge</p><p> amounts of raw material, supplies, and stored food.</p><p></p><p> The gnomes, while technically a part of the Technomancy, have retreated to their underground cities (those</p><p> that are left), and put all their defenses they could up to protect them.</p><p> The gnomes rightfully see that the surface world is no place for them right now, not with armies marching</p><p> this way and that way across it.</p><p></p><p> Estlor continues his arguments for peace. However, it seems nobody is listening. This is too bad, because at</p><p> this point much of Faerun looks like Eastern Europe after the War (or Georgia after Sherman's March to the</p><p> Sea.)</p><p> Cities are reduced to bleak ruins, pieces of buildings sticking into the air like abstract artwork.</p><p> Vast areas of blackened sticks, tapering to shattered tops, branches burned away, represent the remains of</p><p> great forests.</p><p> Croplands lay fallow, slowly going back to the wild. Other croplands lay recently destroyed, the crops hacked</p><p> and burned, the ground torn up by magic or marauding monsters unleashed by the warring sides.</p><p></p><p> All remaining cities are now on their highest alert, new walls and other defenses are built, and more</p><p> defenses are being built.</p><p> All roads are blocked with felled trees, and trapped with caltrops, pits, and worse.</p><p> Sentinels watch everywhere. Paranoia is the rule. People shoot then ask questions afterwards.</p><p></p><p> All trade has ended. All commerce has stopped. Cities and countries relying on it, have seen their ways of</p><p> life simply stop.</p><p></p><p> Not that it would have mattered anyways.</p><p></p><p> All able-bodied people, men and women, have been pressed into the military.</p><p> All shops, all factories, have been pressed into or converted over to wartime use.</p><p></p><p> On the side of the Faerie Folk League</p><p></p><p> --- Estlor</p><p></p><p> On the side of the Elves</p><p></p><p> --- The Balor (the reward on The Balor's head has grown. The Technomancy wants this defector badly.)</p><p> --- Blood Jester</p><p> --- Victim</p><p></p><p> On the side of the Illithid</p><p></p><p> --- Phasmus</p><p> --- Riot Gear</p><p></p><p> On the side of the Technomancy Confederation</p><p></p><p> --- Buzzard</p><p> --- Darwin of Mind</p><p> --- Dr Skull</p><p> --- Elfric</p><p> --- Gez</p><p> --- Icarus</p><p> --- Lannon</p><p> --- Reprisal</p><p></p><p> On the side of the Humanoids</p><p></p><p> --- Forrester</p><p></p><p> Neutral</p><p></p><p> --- Enkhidu</p><p> --- Naya (he got away with his treasure hoard, after all)</p><p> --- Paperboy</p><p> --- Zouron (although he's pretending to be with the Technomancy)</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 09:17 PM </p><p></p><p> Riot Gear, that sounds like a good idea (see Riot Gear's Post about 3 posts up)</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 09:22 PM </p><p></p><p> Edena -- I mentioned in more than one post that while we're making sure to collapse the tunnels to</p><p> slow/stop the Illithids, we're dividing up our Millions to do massive amounts of elf-slaying. </p><p></p><p> As in "We humanoids, on the other hand, can wreak havok and destruction on the foolish elves within a</p><p> month, easy. EASY." from a couple posts back, and "Elves die first, second, and third. We'll work from there.</p><p> And get some kobolds to start tinkering with those machines . . .". </p><p></p><p> So are the elves REALLY that close to taking everything over?</p><p></p><p> I can accept if if you say that we didn't find the Spelljamming ships within that month. But the elves should</p><p> have taken HEAVY casualties during the month that they were de-magicked. </p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p></p><p> I also said this:</p><p> "Oh -- if any of those artifact-ridden places had HUMANOIDS working as lackeys (as they usually do!), count</p><p> on my people being able to loot the places far, FAR more quickly than the dumb humans or elves or illithids</p><p> can. Heh heh heh. "</p><p></p><p> How are all sides doing on artifact collection?</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 09:49 PM </p><p></p><p> I have a large bounty on my head? and it's growing? K3W| d00d!@!??223!! I KNEW killing the lords of</p><p> waterdeep, the council of six, the 4 lords of baldur's gate, and by doing thus sending the technos into chaos</p><p> would bring me a tad of fame.</p><p></p><p> Phasmus</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 09:49 PM </p><p></p><p> Issue #1:</p><p> The MindFlayers had started preparations for their ascent before the spell of Krasus had been cast... The</p><p> temporary removal of magic from the picture was just the icing on the proverbial cake. [Illithid have a</p><p> metaphor that means approximately the same thing... but you don't want to hear it.] Their goals were set</p><p> somewhat higher as a result.</p><p></p><p> Issue #2:</p><p> Their preparations for battle with a still magic-intensive surface world had included the production of</p><p> psionic-technology hybrids that, unlike the surface's technomagic, will function perfectly despite the effects</p><p> of the spell of Krasus. A very distinct advantage.</p><p></p><p> Issue #3:</p><p> There is a definite precedent regarding the Illithid's working together. The interspersed Illithid colonies</p><p> center around elder brains and though the Illithid can not be in direct contact with each other without some</p><p> rather expensive psionic equipment, the elder brains can link to each other directly via a psionic shunt</p><p> through the ethereal plane [see the 2e Illithid book]. Thus, with a great deal of effort, the elder-brains can</p><p> coordinate the world's entire Illithid population. This is not a bunch of ragtag semi-sentient humanoids</p><p> suddenly developing a world-wide concordance. The MindFlayers once shared a plane-spanning empire...</p><p> and they want it back.</p><p></p><p> Issue #4: Regarding the [apparently] larger than expected numbers of Illithid on Toril, the elder brains can</p><p> coordinate the psionic transfer of MindFlayers from other primes. The effort required for such activities, and</p><p> the fact that Illithid from other worlds might not be particularly interested in helping anyway, is why Toril</p><p> hasn't been overrun by the sheer number of MindFlayers before... and won't be now. Nevertheless, the time</p><p> to strike has come, so there will be far more cooperation with each other than has been seen by anyone</p><p> living... and all but the oldest undead for that matter.</p><p></p><p> Issue #5:</p><p> We do not see our activities as atrocities of war... but as the losses inherent in any major shift in power. A</p><p> shift, we might add, which is in the long run for the good of all races... except perhaps the ones we</p><p> eliminate entirely. If we could clam this world as our own without the needless destruction of a single</p><p> wayward thrall... know what we would do so.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus T. Tapefiend</p><p> aka Don'Calamari</p><p></p><p> Lannon</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:13 PM </p><p></p><p> EDENA I URGE YOU TO READ THIS, for that matter everyone else should reread what follows. Posted from</p><p> Buzzards comments:</p><p></p><p> quote:</p><p></p><p> Originally posted by buzzard:</p><p> I've made no claims that magic was necessary for technological prograss. My arguments are</p><p> based on the given premise that:</p><p> Technology is advanced enough for steam power and railroads. </p><p></p><p> This implies a good deal you know. It doesn't just imply that you know that steam expands</p><p> and can drive an engine. It implies that you have the machining abilities to make such an</p><p> engine. It also implies that you are going to make machine tools capable of making more</p><p> than one of those engines. (and rails, etc) That was one of the most immediate</p><p> consequences of the industrial revolution. The mechanization of machine tools is crucial to</p><p> everything. It enables rifles to be mass produced, rather than hand crafted. Also the general</p><p> level of mechanical sophistication is going to be pretty high. A railroad is not a simple thing. </p><p></p><p> Also if we're talking railroads, a certain amount of metallurgy must have been accomplished.</p><p> This means higher quality steel, or you could not make steel rails (you can't roll cast iron into</p><p> the shape). Once you have this better steel, you can make better and cheaper cannons.</p><p> (Sweden was a great power for a while based on tin deposits which allowed them to make</p><p> bronze cannons, since the steel technology in the era was so poor- this was well before</p><p> railroads). I've yet to see what a wizzard is going to do in the face of a cannon shot. </p><p> If I can make really good steel, I can make really good breastplates which will likely stop</p><p> arrows (but not bullets). </p><p></p><p> Also, whoever thinks that civil war era rifles were worse than bows, has a lot of convicing to</p><p> do to make me buy it. I will certainly grant that early firearms were inferior, but by the civil</p><p> war muzzle loading weapons had reached their pinnacle. They shot 50 caliber conical bullets</p><p> at substancial velocities to effective ranges of 700 yards or so. No such bow exists. Rifles are</p><p> also easier to use. Ammo is easier to make, and more lethal (soft lead bullets of the era</p><p> would remove limbs, at best- for the target, or simply kill you). </p><p></p><p> Also Eneda just jumped the gun and implied that nitroglycerin was invented. This implies</p><p> smokeless powder, and thus the possibility of cased ammunition and repeating</p><p> breachloading rifles. Once those hit the scene, there is not a chance that bows are</p><p> comparable. This will also increase effective range and lethality. </p><p></p><p> As for what my character would be doing the whole time, is learning the technology, and</p><p> improving it. You don't need a wizzard to do technology (well actually my last character in</p><p> Faerun was a custom class called a Tinker, who was sort of a medieval engineer- he never</p><p> liked magic much anyway- too illogical). Though the influx of fiends would have him</p><p> concentrating on wiping them out. A nice 8 gauge shotgun with either silver or cold iron shot</p><p> would likely do wonders. Also I'd make sure I'd have a priest of Gond on hand to cast magic</p><p> weapon where necessary. For a reach out and touch someone excersize I'd make the old</p><p> heavy barrelled Sharps rifle- and become the first sharpshooter. That will outrange any spell.</p><p></p><p> Buzzard</p><p></p><p></p><p> This was so well put from buzzard that it really needs to be posted again. I request that Edena read this</p><p> carefully and fully understand what he is suggesting. We were granted several things in Edena's scenerio.</p><p> Magic was not added to "make" the technology. It was simply suggested that it could be used with the</p><p> technology. In no way is it neccessary to have magic. All we need are good minds and arms to carry the</p><p> weapons.</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:14 PM </p><p></p><p> I SHOULD have made it a year, not a month (this person grouses a bit)</p><p> Can't change history now. (more grousing)</p><p></p><p> The elves are not as close to victory, after all.</p><p> They should have been.</p><p> They WOULD have been, had they just been facing the weakened Technomancy alone.</p><p> They would have won against both the Technomancy and the Illithid.</p><p></p><p> However, several million humanoids came up onto the surface, you see.</p><p> Came up, and swarmed over the Elven Spelljammers like ants whenever they set down.</p><p> Came up, and slaughtered the elves whenever and wherever they found them.</p><p></p><p> Furthermore, the elves now have to contend with dragons and faerie who are opposed to what they are</p><p> doing. That isn't helping either.</p><p></p><p> The elves are powerful, and throwing that spell gave them the edge, but now they are having to take on</p><p> EVERYONE at once, and they simply can't do that, not even with the Elven Imperial Navy.</p><p></p><p> The elves are driven back. I assume the elves destroy the 5 targets in question (Blood Jester, name your</p><p> targets).</p><p> But after that, they are driven back.</p><p></p><p> Unless the elves can find an ally among the other powers, they aren't going to win this war anytime soon.</p><p></p><p> The illithids made great progress during the Month of Terror, and sacked and pillaged many surface</p><p> dwellings, and destroyed many underdark areas.</p><p> However, the illithid are now facing a massive counterattack from the faerie folk, from the technomancy,</p><p> from the elves they encounter, and from several million very angry humanoids.</p><p> The illithids, also, are driven back.</p><p></p><p> The phaerimm, however, make a big difference here. </p><p> Since the illithid were wise enough to snatch them while the snatching was good, these immensely powerful</p><p> beings are now serving the illithid.</p><p> And the phaerimm truly ARE terrible foes to face.</p><p> So, although the illithid are halted, they are standing their ground, and giving as badly as they are getting.</p><p></p><p> The phaerimm are making the difference, for they now serve the illithid.</p><p></p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:15 PM </p><p></p><p> But you are STILL not a numerous race. I am convinced that, if as you say, the illithids from other planes</p><p> don't help you, then there can only be about, if you bring ALL of the illithids from ALL over Aber-Toril, then</p><p> you will still only have about 100,000 illithids. First you have to get past the dwarves and svirfnebli. Even if</p><p> the goblinoids don't set up traps and collapse tunnels, the dwarves will. By the time you come up with your</p><p> psychic technology, magic will have returned. And simply scrying? I really doubt that the illithids know</p><p> enough people on the surface or have items that they possesed to start a mass invasion.</p><p> This is taken from the 3E phb:</p><p> Scrying</p><p> Divination</p><p> Lvl:Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4</p><p> Components:V,S,M/DF,F</p><p> Casting Time: 1 hour</p><p> Range:See text</p><p> Effect: Magical Sensor</p><p> Duration:1 minute/level</p><p> Saving Throw: None</p><p> Spell Resistance:No</p><p></p><p> You can see and hear some creature, who may be at any distance. You must succeed at a scry check to do</p><p> so. THe difficulty of the task depends on how well you know the subject and what sort of physical</p><p> connection(if any) you have to that creature. Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, you get a -5</p><p> penalty to the scry check.</p><p></p><p> Knowledge Dc</p><p> None 20(you must have some sort of physical connection to a creature you have no knowledge of)</p><p> Secondhand(you have heard of the subject 15</p><p> Firsthand(you have met him/her) 10</p><p> Familiar(you know the subject well) 5</p><p></p><p> Connection: Scry check bonus</p><p> Likeness or picture +5</p><p> Possesion or garment +8</p><p> Body part, lock of hair +10</p><p> nail clippings, etc. </p><p></p><p> This spell creates a magical sensor located near the subject. Any creature with an intelligence score of 12 or</p><p> higher can notice the sensor by making a scry check(or an intelligence check) against DC 20.</p><p> The following spells can be cast through a scrying spell: comprehend languages, read magic, tongues, and</p><p> darkvision. The following spells have a 5% chance per caster level of operating correctly:detect magic, detect</p><p> chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, and message. </p><p> Arcane material Components: The eye of a hawk, an eagle, or even a roc, and nitric acid, copper, and zinc.</p><p> Wiz/sor/brd focus: a mirror of finely wrought and highly polished silver costing not less than 1000 gp. The</p><p> mirror must be at least 2 by 4 feet.</p><p> Cleric Focus: A holy water font costing not less than 1000 gp.</p><p> Druid focus: A natural pool of water</p><p> And by the time I finish typing this, the subject will have moved on... </p><p></p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:17 PM </p><p></p><p> Lannon, this is well noted.</p><p> And the Technomancy is making a very rapid and surprising recovery. </p><p> The Technomancy is back in the war as a major power, once more achieving victory and driving both the</p><p> elves and the illithid back.</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:19 PM </p><p></p><p> *quivers with joy*</p><p></p><p> Could you talk more about the elves being slaughtered? Please? </p><p></p><p></p><p> Oh -- what's a Phaerimm? The "ae" is scaring me. It sounds cheaty. </p><p></p><p> Finally -- I think it's fair to say, Leaders of the Technomancers, that we humanoids have earned a little</p><p> technological support. You think? (Edena -- no doubt our kobold engineers have managed to get our hands</p><p> on some of the technology for closer inspection. We like the technomancy, but we aren't quite ready to put</p><p> our full trust in *any* surface dwellers. So while we'll ask for technological support and such, we'll make sure</p><p> to check it out to make sure there's no backstabbing going on. And perhaps work on creating our OWN little</p><p> factories.) </p><p></p><p> On the other hand, while we don't have to put full trust in the technomancers, I think it's safe to say that</p><p> they need to put full trust in *us*. </p><p></p><p> We're willing to play nice if they are. Although it wouldn't hurt to address me as "Lord Forrester", Lannon &</p><p> Company . </p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:21 PM </p><p></p><p> DAMMIT!! I JUST MISSED ABOUT A WEEK OF THE WAR WHEN TYPING THAT DAMN SPELL DESCRIPTION!!!</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:27 PM </p><p></p><p> Well, Forrester, the humanoids have discovered that elven Spelljammers don't burn well - they are partially</p><p> alive, you see.</p><p> But they make great kindling, once chopped up.</p><p> For that matter, elves make great kindling too, when they are chopped up.</p><p></p><p> A phaerimm: think of a tornado. </p><p> At the wide top of the tornado is a head with four arms sticking out around it, and one heck of a big mouth.</p><p> If you can see it, there is a body that becomes steadily more slender as it goes back from the head, until it</p><p> tapers to a point.</p><p></p><p> The phaerimm are, in 3E, sorcerers of levels 15 - 20.</p><p> But in 2E, they are wizards of levels 30 to 45 (that is directly from the Ruins of Myth Drannor boxed set)</p><p></p><p> Phaerimm have tremendous spell immunity, in addition to that, being able to bounce spells thrown at them</p><p> straight back at you.</p><p></p><p> Did I mention they also have great bite attacks, tail (sting) attacks, and claw attacks?</p><p></p><p> A single phaerimm could take on a Chosen of Mystra, and have some chance of winning.</p><p> Three phaerimm could take on a Chosen, and win.</p><p> There are several hundred phaerimm that were under the desert of Anauroch, but the illithid (wisely) went</p><p> after them and captured them.</p><p> This was possible because the elves (bless their hearts) ended ALL magic on Toril for a time, and the</p><p> phaerimm were briefly vulnerable, and Phasmus was smart.</p><p></p><p> That is why you have not overwhelmed the illithid and driven them back into the Underdark.</p><p> With the (now fully powered again) phaerimm under their command, the illithid are a force to be reckoned</p><p> with.</p><p></p><p> Even if there are only a few hundred phaerimm, a few hundred are enough (my greatest character is scared</p><p> to death of these monsters)</p><p></p><p></p><p> ((By the way, the phaerimm are going to be VERY, VERY ANGRY when they are freed of the psionic</p><p> compulsion. </p><p> How would you feel if the elves took away your magic, then the illithid enslaved you, and then you were</p><p> forced up onto the surface to fight assorted gnomes, technomancers, humanoids, and Mystra knows what</p><p> else, when all you really wanted to do was study spells??</p><p> There is going to be HADES to pay when the phaerimm break free of their compulsion!!))</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:33 PM </p><p></p><p> Edena -- Can these Phaerimm teleport? If so, can they fit into 5' tall passages/rooms? It sounds like that's</p><p> unlikely . . . </p><p></p><p> In which case, moving production of technomagical weaponry to the Underdark might be a strong call. (Hey,</p><p> it's going to happen anyway, as during the month we were able to examine the technology, and do a little</p><p> looting. But we can speed things up a great deal if we call cooperate, here . . . ) </p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Technomancy's Best Friend</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:47 PM </p><p></p><p> The phaerimm can teleport.</p><p> The phaerimm can Shapechange also.</p><p> Would they care to fit themselves into 5 foot tall passages?</p><p> Not likely.</p><p></p><p> The elven nation of Evereska is now surrounded and besieged.</p><p> If two or more of the other powers declare they are cooperating in attacking it (that is, if the Faerie and</p><p> Technomancy, or the Humanoids and the Technomancy, or the Illithid and the Gnomes, and so on), it is</p><p> taken and destroyed and/or occupied.</p><p></p><p> Phasmus</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:48 PM </p><p></p><p> With the passing of the month of terror, despite their enemies reclamation of magic, the attacks of the</p><p> Illithid only seem to intensify in strength and number, particularly in the areas of Myth Dranor, CandleKeep,</p><p> Nimbral and Halruaa... Then, more quickly than would seem possible, the MindFlayers withdraw from</p><p> combat. Only a few scattered groups of thralls remain... just enough to mask their master's retreat. They</p><p> leave only destruction and woe in their wake. The ransacked centers of population and magical power are</p><p> decimated beyond recognition, and the remains of the original inhabitants are scarce indeed... almost as</p><p> scarce as the items of knowledge and power that were once present.</p><p> For a short time Illithid activity continues in Halruaa, and then nothing. The MindFlayers have withdrawn to</p><p> the deepest deeps of the underdark... and sealed the way behind them. With them, they have taken the</p><p> most powerful artifacts and arcane knowledge to be had in Toril, not to mention a great many of the arcane</p><p> spellcasters themselves. There are some who speculate, and rightly so, that they found what they were</p><p> looking for...</p><p></p><p> The way to the underdark is now closed by tons of solid rock and the enclosed area is warded by the full</p><p> attention of the elder brains. None shall enter, and none shall leave... for a time. The drow cities decimated</p><p> have been sealed as well, along with their enslaved populations. The surface dwellers are free to continue</p><p> their petty squabble... for now the MindFlayers have the phaerimm, they have arcane power unrivaled... and</p><p> they have all the time in the world.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus & Co.</p><p></p><p> "Your will, is our will. Your mind, is our mind. Your money, is our money."</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:57 PM </p><p></p><p> The following nations are out of the war, permanently (and pretty much out of it, period):</p><p></p><p> Halruaa (devastated)</p><p> Luruar (devastated)</p><p> Thay (wiped out)</p><p> Waterdeep (devastated)</p><p></p><p> Nimbral is demanding an immediate ALL OUT attack by EVERYONE against the Illithid, even if they have to</p><p> chase them to the center of the planet.</p><p> Nimbral cites the threat of the phaerimm, the threat from captured spellcasters, and the threat from stolen</p><p> artifacts as reasons (not to mention they are angry at having been attacked themselves.)</p><p> Nimbral is calling on EVERYONE to ally against the Illithid.</p><p></p><p> However, unless the Posts indicate it, this does not happen.</p><p></p><p> The dwarves have been trying to stay out of the war (the only race to do so.)</p><p> However, the dwarves have had enough. Trade is out, food supplies are short, they are attacked whenever</p><p> they set foot outside their mountain homes.</p><p> The dwarves are ready to enter the war. Anyone offering them alliance? And what incentives, if any?</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 10:59 PM </p><p></p><p> See ya, wouldn't want to be ya, Evereska. </p><p></p><p> Them elves are good eatin'.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:00 PM </p><p></p><p> Good. I was thinking you guys would never leave.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p></p><p> This topic is 16 pages</p><p> long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 </p><p></p><p> All times are Central Time (US)</p><p> This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it!</p><p> Hop to: </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> Contact Us | D&D 3rd Edition News </p><p></p><p></p><p> Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only.</p><p> D&D 3rd Edition News Board </p><p> Other Archived Stuff </p><p> What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 7) </p><p></p><p> UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! </p><p></p><p> profile | register | preferences | faq | search </p><p></p><p></p><p> This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 </p><p> This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion</p><p></p><p> Author </p><p> Topic: What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? </p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:02 PM </p><p></p><p> The humanoids are launching an all out assault on Evereska.</p><p> Does anyone else join them?</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:04 PM </p><p></p><p> What's a Nimbral?</p><p></p><p> I'll lead my legions against the Illithids after one little pointy-eared problem is taken care of. Once and for</p><p> all. </p><p></p><p> How do the dwarves feel about spanking their long-hated fellow demi-humans? We humanoids are a</p><p> practical folk, and have always hated elves more than dwarves. </p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:05 PM </p><p></p><p> I myself go as emissary to the dwarven kingdoms. I tell them that the illithids have gone too far. The</p><p> dwarves already have full access to the underdark, and they could be a humongous help. The illithids have</p><p> our best mages, probably a few great engineers, and our greatest magiks. It's time we strike back. COME</p><p> TO ARMS, MY BRETHREN!! TOO LONG HAVE WE LET THE ILLITHIDS DWELL BENEATH THE EARTH, PLOTTING</p><p> AND SCHEMING!! They think they are secure in their victory, and this is the perfect time to strike. I say we</p><p> travel to the vaunted underdark and wipe these squid-faced vermin out ONCE, and for all......</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:07 PM </p><p></p><p> Whoa whoa whoa!!!</p><p></p><p> Let me get confirmation that the Technomancy is coming along with us.</p><p></p><p> We aren't the damn Kurds. </p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:08 PM </p><p></p><p> Dwarves would not.under any circumstances. EVER IN A QUADRILLION YEARS ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH</p><p> GOBLINOIDS!! They would kill any who came near them. There is no way they would ally with goblinoids.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:09 PM </p><p></p><p> Nimbral is an island.</p><p> Home of a powerful, if small, magic-using nation.</p><p> A very wise, and very mysterious (and very powerful) group of mages.</p><p></p><p> The assault on Evereska continues, but the humanoids alone cannot take it. </p><p> Although thousands of humanoids die valiant deaths for the cause, those stubborn elves behind their hill</p><p> fortresses and trees just can't be dislodged!</p><p></p><p> The dwarves are willing to announce a Truce (not an alliance!) with the humanoids IF it means achieving one</p><p> of the following:</p><p></p><p> Bringing peace</p><p> Bringing to justice the elves who cast the spell that brought down magic, and caused the Month of Terror</p><p> Going after the illithid.</p><p></p><p> - - -</p><p></p><p> Balor, the dwarves agree. The dwarves are willing to go after the illithid ...</p><p></p><p> IF, first ...</p><p></p><p> All elves (you speak for them, remember, Balor) who were involved in casting that spell (the one that</p><p> brought down magic) are turned over to the dwarves, to be tried for Crimes Against the Dwarves.</p><p> They will be tried, found guilty, and then drawn and quartered.</p><p> And YES, Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet is ONE of those the dwarves are demanding be turned over.</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> Bran Blackbyrd</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:22 PM </p><p></p><p> Room for one more? I'm just a humble priest of Bacchus, but if I see one more grove trampled, or one</p><p> more vinyard burned by the wicked... I want to join Estlor and the Faerie Folk League in the fight for peace. I</p><p> am fully prepared to help the Faerie Folk and the earth spirits restore balance to nature and organize</p><p> against the desecrators.</p><p> At the risk of involving Outsiders again I could even pull in the help of the Bacchae, Maenads and nature</p><p> folk on the planes.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> Jason "Warlocke" Lewis</p><p> ----------------------</p><p> DM: You see there are orcs camped out in the chasm ahead of you.</p><p> Me: Do they have multiple Orc-Chasms?</p><p> Warlocke's Realm</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:28 PM </p><p></p><p> Aw, goddamnit, ya got me in a fix here. My whole angle with this was to unite the races against the illithids,</p><p> and if we win that part, then everyone will be too exhausted to fight each other anymore, so it'd have been</p><p> a forced truce...DAMMIT, WHY ARE THE DWARVES SO GODDAMNED STUBBORN?!HUH?HUH?!</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:29 PM </p><p></p><p> Bran, I assure you one more druid grove now gets trampled and destroyed.</p><p> What do you think orcs do for a living?</p><p></p><p> You do the summoning you mention. And those you summon, summon others, and thus:</p><p></p><p> The Outsiders are back in the War! On the side of the Faerie Folk.</p><p></p><p> The dwarves ARE stubborn. That's a dwarven trait!</p><p> Besides, they aren't too happy about the elves shutting off the lights. The dwarven ability to see in the dark</p><p> is semi-magical, and it ended with the magic.</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:31 PM </p><p></p><p> *sigh* you win. I agree to the dwarven terms, and after having several dozen permanent spell protections</p><p> placed upon myself, I head into the techno lands to negotiate a temporary alliance until the illithids are</p><p> beaten...*sigh*</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:33 PM </p><p></p><p> Wait a sec...you faeries aren't summoning tana'ri, right?</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Forrester</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:36 PM </p><p></p><p> Edena! Slow it down, until we get a representative of the Technomancy here. I'm sure they would have</p><p> helped me against the damn elves.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Edena_of_Neith</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:39 PM </p><p></p><p></p><p> Ok.</p><p></p><p> Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet, her chief advisors, the Head of the Elven Imperial Navy, and various other</p><p> important elven figures are turned over to the dwarves (forcibly, I might add - they would not go willingly!)</p><p> by their own people.</p><p> The dwarves put all of them on trial, find them guilty of Crimes Against the Dwarves, and imprison them in</p><p> deep prisons, under heavy magical wards. </p><p></p><p> This done, the dwarves march out in their full strength. Untouched by the war so far, they come with all their</p><p> armor, weapons, magic, and the famous fury of their kind.</p><p> By the tens of thousands, the dwarves march to war, to stand beside the elves against the illithid.</p><p> The very ground of Faerun trembles to the thunder of dwarven feet, and the air trembles to the sounds of</p><p> their mighty war chants.</p><p></p><p> Because of the devastation of Waterdeep, the Lord's Alliance is also demanding an assault on the illithid.</p><p></p><p> [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).]</p><p></p><p> TheBalor</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:42 PM </p><p></p><p> Get a technomancer in here. I wanna know how negotiations with them go.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> </p><p></p><p> If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I</p><p> must simply laugh.-The Magus</p><p></p><p> Bran Blackbyrd</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:42 PM </p><p></p><p> No tana'ri, mostly the wild and wooly nature folk, the rabid followers of Bacchus, and maybe the odd</p><p> celestial. Not to mention any druidic types that are planeside and willing to lend a hand.</p><p></p><p> ------------------</p><p> Jason "Warlocke" Lewis</p><p> ----------------------</p><p> DM: You see there are orcs camped out in the chasm ahead of you.</p><p> Me: Do they have multiple Orc-Chasms?</p><p> Warlocke's Realm</p><p></p><p> Phasmus</p><p> Member </p><p> posted 04-09-2001 11:43 PM </p><p></p><p> Blast it all, why can't you vile light-mongers just leave us alone long enough to bring about your utter</p><p> destruction?! Is that too much to ask?</p><p></p><p> -sigh-</p><p></p><p> Well, now I guess I have to mention what we're up to... but we had really wanted it to be a surprise.</p><p></p><p> Currently, the MindFlayers are using the combined magical strength of the phaerimm and the some of</p><p> choicest magical tomes, artifacts and minds from CandleKeep, MythDranor, Halruaa and Nimbral to achieve</p><p> the following goals, given in order of precedence:</p><p></p><p> 1: Protect themselves from the surface forces and any outsiders and deities who may be foolish enough as</p><p> to attempt to oppose their fiendish schemes... not to mention from any possibly dangerous items or beings</p><p> that they may have brought with them. Safety first and all that. This goal includes small forces being sent to</p><p> the surface if possible to do so safely... to spread havoc and mistrust among the surface dwellers.</p><p></p><p> 2: Blot out [at least the light of] the sun on a permanent basis, making magic and geothermal heat the</p><p> sole source of life... And wiping out a large portion of their opposition. This happens to be a major</p><p> component of their next goal...</p><p></p><p> 3: Secure utter domination over every living being, sentient or otherwise, on, in or around the world... and</p><p> destroy any and all undead that may be present.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Their resources are now spread more or less evenly between the three goals... but should there be a</p><p> shortfall [unlikely] or should it be necessary to divert attention to any one, protection will come first, followed</p><p> by darkness... and finally their ultimate goal of world domination. They are being very cautious. They are so</p><p> close to ultimate victory that they can almost taste it... and they do not want any mistakes.</p><p></p><p> I do not have the administrative capacity to determine what comes of their efforts. Edena, I will leave that in</p><p> your hands for the time being.</p><p></p><p> Please note that... aside from the possibility mages looking forward in time and noting that things look</p><p> rather dark... no one has this information except the MindFlayers themselves.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Regards,</p><p></p><p> Phasmus & Co.</p><p></p><p> "DuctTape: It's almost all you need sometimes."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Edena_of_Neith, post: 1302664, member: 2020"] [b](Post 5) Thread One of the 1st IR[/b] Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 06:38 PM Wow, a race even cockier than elves. Will wonders never cease. 10 Mind Flayers against a million Humanoids? You'd be crushed. I mean, from above, as you walked into a cave and it fell on your head before you could react. Or did your Illithid Rogues (hah!) detect them? Sorry . . your mighty One Charm Person/round (ooh, you charmed a kobold! Wow, he'll help against the other fifty beating the crap out of you!) isn't going to cut it. The Mind Blast might, but it's a Cone. And that assumes we're all standing in a column in front of you. Which we aren't, because we're letting the traps do our crushing. I don't see that happening, squid-face. Our numbers and our traps will crush you. You lazy bastards are going to have to be on the front lines to even have the slightest chance to succeed, and that's just not a role you're used to. Bye bye. We KNOW what Squid-faces taste like, you know. Calamari. And we *like* calamari. Forrester No Title Required PS Use Levitate to float out of the way? Now who has the "8" intelligence? (Our race average is "10", by the way, so pfffthththt.) Yours is apparently actually quite lower. Levitate is going to help HOW when the ceiling height is, oh, 5'. Or even 10' or 15' or 50'? We have crossbows, numbnuts. Thanks for making it so we can all shoot you at once. Only the idiot Drow like those big-ass caverns with quarter-mile high ceilings. Just goes to show your ignorance. Again. [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] Reprisal Member posted 04-09-2001 06:47 PM Buzzard, thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth. The Movement is indebted to you. In any event, I was under the impression that this struggle was expressed not in weeks, but in *years.* I would not believe that the elves would resort to stripping the plane of magic in a few mere weeks... Here's some assumptions I've been using so far: 1) In order for there to actually *be* an industrial revolution, the following must have occured before: - A new focus on individualism and the rights of said individual. Think Protestant Reformation. Which gives way to the proliferation of Classical Liberal thought (the ideology of capitalism). Who's gonna buy into this the most out of all the races? The humans, and then the gnomes, and then the halflings. The elves are inward looking, and the dwarves are as backward as Tzarist Russia before the Great War. I'll come back to this point later. - The Industrial Revolution would only occur if the above point happened, and the Enlightenment (Renaissance) occured before it all... Technology didn't get under way until The Enlightenment, because it fostered the Scientism and Secularist movements within society as a whole. 2) As a result of point one, some of the human monarchies would have to have fallen and in their place would grow some sort of populist regime, be it socialist, liberal or what-have-you. This is where my "liberty" standpoint comes from... any ruler standing in its way will meet the guillotine sooner or later. I believe that those aligned with the elves would be of that aristocratic class of humans, who are destined to lose. Hobbes, Locke et al are correct in saying that power comes from the people, despite magic and religion. If a population wishes to become free, they will, sooner or later. While the coffers of these aristocrats dwindles as they pay their mercenary armies; those funding the liberty/technocracy movement, the merchant-come-capitalist class, will have ample currency to outbuild, outwage, outwork and outfight the aristocrats. If we're working with a reasonable timeframe, like years or even a decade, then the aristocracy allied with the elves would not be the powerhouse Sir Jester believes. It would NOT be a 50/50 split on the humanity. There are far too many peasants seeking true liberty and equality, and they cannot be denied. Will it be bloody? Yes. Will it be painful? Yes. Is it necessary? Yes. While this Gnomish Combine fights the first few rounds, guess who will be their second wave? The countries and nations who have just freed themselves. These states will not only be ready to fight for their lifestyles, they will be whole-heartedly nationalistic and full of patriotism. It would be like in the First World War, the Triple Alliance would have been fighting the Russians, French and British for so long that they would not have the fighting spirits that the Americans would have had. So, there I conclude, until I think of more, Rep. ------------------ "Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity." - Albert Camus TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 06:49 PM Phasmus, you are an idiot. Do you even KNOW how many goblinoids/orcs there are in the underdark? mindflayers are powerful, I grant you that, but you would have to punch through BILLIONS of goblins,orcs, dwarves, drow, all in less than a month. PLUS they can just seal up the tunnels(if the goblinoids can't, then the dwarves or svirfnebli will) I really doubt that you could disintegrate the tens of thousands of miles that is the underdark IN A MONTH, plus conquer all that land. Edena, or whoever the updater is, have the illithid conquests stricken from the record. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 All times are Central Time (US) This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it! Hop to: Contact Us | D&D 3rd Edition News Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only. D&D 3rd Edition News Board Other Archived Stuff What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 6) UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! profile | register | preferences | faq | search This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion Author Topic: What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 07:00 PM In response to reprisal: Jesus, man. You make it sound like all the lords of the realm are evil and oppresive. And you think the average person would not align themselves with druids and elves? Think again, my friend, the farmers owe quite alot to the druids, and they would not like gigantic machines ripping up their forests and homelands. You also apparently have never heard of the peasant revolt where, for a while, they did win, but then the nobles retaliated, and they were easily crushed(many ended like that) and in a country like thay, or halruaa, where magic is the most common thing in the world, I don't think that peasant revolts would work, supposing they even happened. Realize that most peasants LIKE their lives. It's simple, and enjoyable(much better living conditions, I might add, than in olde Europe) and those who are unsatisfied? Why thats us, my friend. The adventurers. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Reprisal Member posted 04-09-2001 07:37 PM Uh, if you read my post again, I'm assuming that everything is set up for an actual Industrial Revolution. You say that farmers would rather align themselves with the elves and druids? I disagree, when a farmer realizes he can pull down more gold using even the cotton gin and other early advancements, guess what will take precedence? A farmer would have more to gain for himself, his family and his progeny when he uses technological devices. For they are more concerned with their own survival and well-being that anything else, when they see an opportunity to gain for themselves, guess what's gonna happen? The druids might make it possible to stop plant disease and what-not from happening, but can they make it so the farmer can do the work in half the time? They could, but they'd have to live on the farm and pretty much do only that... A machine, be it a thresher, a cotton gin, or what-have-you, will be there as long as the farmer uses it. It's quite obvious that the farmers of the land would choose machinery over magic, for magic is erratic, and there aren't enough Druids to go around to be their personal farm-spellslinger. While Lords of the Realm might not be evil, they are still oppressive. No matter how well a Lord treats his subjects, they are still subjects. With no power whatsoever. Shackles of gold are still shackles, you know what I mean? What do you say about the other half of my post where I state that the only reason an IR would occur was if there was a Renaissance, a new focus on individualism (therefore, not the collectivism of your feudal conservatism), and the proliferation of capitalist ideals. I concede the fact that without either of these points, an IR is destined to be put down. But if the struggle is to continue (and I hope it does, this is one of the most intriguing threads on any D&D board I've had the privilege to be a part of) these things must happen. Still, I think your throwing the idea of a peasant revolution aside quite arbitrarily. Still yet, who's to say that all magicians would be on the side of the aristocracy? How much could a mage-guild make in a capitalist system? Once again, I'm off, this is quite enjoyable, Rep. ------------------ "Intelligence in chains loses in lucidity what it gains in intensity." - Albert Camus [This message has been edited by Reprisal (edited 04-09-2001).] Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 07:51 PM quote: Originally posted by TheBalor: Phasmus, you are an idiot. Do you even KNOW how many goblinoids/orcs there are in the underdark? mindflayers are powerful, I grant you that, but you would have to punch through BILLIONS of goblins,orcs, dwarves, drow, all in less than a month. PLUS they can just seal up the tunnels(if the goblinoids can't, then the dwarves or svirfnebli will) I really doubt that you could disintegrate the tens of thousands of miles that is the underdark IN A MONTH, plus conquer all that land. Edena, or whoever the updater is, have the illithid conquests stricken from the record. -tosses away a red-stained napkin- It seems, Mr. Forrester, that I had some elven heritage ON my tentacles. Now, Mr. Balor... I state my actions only according to the data I have on hand... which is found in this thread, the 3e core rulebooks and the 2e Illithid book. What do the goblinoids & co. see? At best, more MindFlayer activity than usual. Do they regularly oppose the activities of the MindFlayers to any such degree? Not so far as I am aware. Are all the different humanoid/goblinoid groups capable of working with each other on a global scale to shut down the underdark? With little or no apparent motive? Incurring the wrath of the MindFlayers? When the Illithid are likely causing them even less grief than usual? When the surface world is broken and ripe for them to plunder? To what end, exactly? Such an orderly, concerted effort by groups which I had been led to understand weren't on the best of terms even under ideal circumstances seems rather unlikely. Of course, not having access to data on FR, I may be unaware of some sort of secret global goblinoid network... and the reason why such an institution has never been used to any effect before. The MindFlayers have the element of surprise. By the time anyone discovered their activities it would be too late to prevent their forces from reaching the surface. Even assuming that is not the case, the dwarves and gnomes [who, I would guess, do not have a monopoly on the caverns leading to the deeper underdark.] would already be in crisis... granted perhaps not as severe as some other communities. It would be a simple mater to subtly influence their decision-making bodies and have them give minimum priority to the Illithid activities. The MindFlayers will avoid direct combat when they can... instead relying on subterfuge as much as possible. Your claims against my activities are insufficient. Regards, Phasmus & Co. "When in doubt, use duct tape." Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 08:18 PM And again, you can keep a Mind Flayer from reaching anywhere. We can shift in to the ether and reappear in the middle of your homes, completely bypassing your traps. If four of us appear back to back, we can nail everything within 60 feet instantly. Your traps are irrelevant. I admit, however, that the levitation was foolish. So we won't do that. But tell me - How fast do you think ten illithids could charm 50 stunned Kobolds if we kept stunning them again? We'd have all the fodder we'd need.... ------------------ Grap a mop, there's going to be blood on the ceiling!! -My character. buzzard Member posted 04-09-2001 08:26 PM quote: Originally posted by Phasmus: Your claims against my activities are insufficient. Regards, Phasmus & Co. Well I'n rather curious as to how the Illithids, buried deep underground will know when to meander up to the surface. OK the magic cuts off. Gee, time to move on up. Do you think a month is a long time for a logistical undertaking of this magnitude? I certainly don't think the Illithids will be teleporting to the surface en masse- since they've never been there that would be suicidal. They could organize a mass migration, but that would be obvious to every other denizen in the Underdark, then you have to deal with the pesky humanoids. If the Illithids had even a portion of the capabilities you claim, they'd already own Faerun, having easily conquered the Underdark. Also I re-iterate the objections to a lack of magic trashing all the technology. The descriptions I had heard of magic/tech synergy consisted of things like heat sources and pollution control devices, not containment/pressure vessels. If these went bye bye, you just stoke up the fire with some coal, and you're back to the races. "Oh well the smokestack is belching again. No big deal, the druids didn't like us anyway". If the Elves were dumb enough to destroy magic in the face of technological advance, then you could almost forget them since one way or another they'll kill themselves through sheer stupidity. Buzzard Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 08:39 PM quote: Originally posted by Phasmus: -tosses away a red-stained napkin- It seems, Mr. Forrester, that I had some elven heritage ON my tentacles. Now, Mr. Balor... I state my actions only according to the data I have on hand... which is found in this thread, the 3e core rulebooks and the 2e Illithid book. What do the goblinoids & co. see? At best, more MindFlayer activity than usual. Do they regularly oppose the activities of the MindFlayers to any such degree? Not so far as I am aware. Are all the different humanoid/goblinoid groups capable of working with each other on a global scale to shut down the underdark? With little or no apparent motive? Incurring the wrath of the MindFlayers? When the Illithid are likely causing them even less grief than usual? When the surface world is broken and ripe for them to plunder? To what end, exactly? Such an orderly, concerted effort by groups which I had been led to understand weren't on the best of terms even under ideal circumstances seems rather unlikely. Of course, not having access to data on FR, I may be unaware of some sort of secret global goblinoid network... and the reason why such an institution has never been used to any effect before. The MindFlayers have the element of surprise. By the time anyone discovered their activities it would be too late to prevent their forces from reaching the surface. Even assuming that is not the case, the dwarves and gnomes [who, I would guess, do not have a monopoly on the caverns leading to the deeper underdark.] would already be in crisis... granted perhaps not as severe as some other communities. It would be a simple mater to subtly influence their decision-making bodies and have them give minimum priority to the Illithid activities. The MindFlayers will avoid direct combat when they can... instead relying on subterfuge as much as possible. Your claims against my activities are insufficient. Regards, Phasmus & Co. "When in doubt, use duct tape." The elf, it is tasty. On that we have agreement. We might even be able to come to more agreements, if you weren't a group of megalomaniacal totalitarian slave drivers. Trust me -- if we spot a group of illithids on their way up to the surface, we're going to collapse tunnels, and we're going to do in quickly. It isn't as if the Technomancy hasn't filled us in on your little motives. Heck, even if they hadn't, it's not like we don't know you like enslaving/eating us. "A little more illithid activity" is not a trivial thing when we live friggin' next door to you. And it's not as if Illithids generally cooperate with each other very readily, squid-face. If you're doing it, we get to do it as well. And trust me -- there are PLENTY of us. We can kill elves and stop you at the same time. It's that 1000-to-1 outnumbering thing (with regard to your paltry forces, not with regard to the elves, of course. We merely outnumber them 10-to-1 or 20-to-1.) And Riot Gear -- you still haven't explained to me precisely how you are going to FIND our lairs, and know where to materialize/teleport in. The Underdark is a 3-D kind of place. How quickly are your paltry forces going to search a few billion cubic MILES of rock and earth? And the Rambo-esque tactics you describe typically aren't used by the cowardly squid-heads, but I'll let that go given the current situation we're playing with. You're just not in a good position to take advantage of the situation within a mere month. So either Edena's going to have to change it's duration, or you're going to have to take over the surface some other time. We humanoids, on the other hand, can wreak havok and destruction on the foolish elves within a month, easy. EASY. Forrester No Title Required Riot Gear Member posted 04-09-2001 08:41 PM You know, maybe we should start this over, as a game... We could take turns, each of us representing a specific organization. Edena could serve as a DM, of sorts. Every 'Round' or day, we would all explain what our group was doing. If a new guy wanted to play, he could only represent a single person, but he could eventually become an organization. At the end of each day, Edena decides what has happened and how long that round lasted. For example, depending on how disrupting the actions we undertook were, the next round could take place from 5 days to 5 decades later. In addition, she could tell us whether or not our actions were successful. That said, the last poster has a hell of a point.... We might scry and see what was going on. And we'd certainly do SOMETHING with the Phaerimm. Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 08:58 PM War Update #4 The war has expanded into multiple sides: The Faerie Folk (led by Estlor - they are trying to arrange another peace conference, but they are fighting fiercely against the illithid) The Illithid (led by Phasmus, they have taken and destroyed Waterdeep, enslaved the phaerimm, and destroyed a number of major drow cities - and there are a LOT more illithid on Toril than anyone realized - there are hundreds of thousands of them!!) The Elves (led by Blood Jester, they are fighting a total war, with no quarter given and no quarter asked. They are out to win at all costs. The Elven Imperial Navy of Wildspace (Spelljammer) has come in it's full strength to support them) The Humanoids (led by Forrester, there are millions of these guys, and they are hell bent for glory, guts, and battle. Although they form the staple army of the Technomancy, they are not under it's control) The Technomancy Alliance (led by several people, this coalition of industrializing countries is coming back from the brink of defeat, thanks to the humanoid hordes, and with new technomagic and their old magic back are fighting hard) - - - The ferocity of the Posts I have been reading, above, would tend to indicate that: Everyone is ganging up on the illithid. The illithid are losing ground, because they cannot stand against the combined strength of everyone else, once the magic returns. However, again, there are FAR more illithid than anyone thought - a secret of the illithid the world is now learning to it's cost. There are hundreds of thousands of these fell beings, and they have an agenda - and you and suppertime are both on it. For some reason, nobody is concentrating on the elves, who have caused serious and irrepairable harm to the entire world with their magic. This means the elves are now making rapid strides towards total victory (I still need those 5 targets + 5 targets + 5 targets, Blood Jester.) Indeed, if they are not opposed, and opposed soon, Toril will once more see the Supremacy of the Elves, as it did for 10,000 years prior to the Crown Wars. Estlor is the voice of reason here, bringing the Seelie Court into the situation, and the Faerie are flocking to his banner (the druids are no longer a power, having been decimated in the war, then wiped out during the Month of Terror) Also, a number of wise old good aligned and neutrally aligned dragons, and a number of neutral nations (including devastated Luruar) are going over to his side. Estlor now leads a formidable host, rapidly becoming equal in strength to the others. The Technomancy has made a surprising recovery. This is partially because the first fury of the Illithid fell on their enemies. This is mostly because an enormous horde of humanoids is fighting for them, and behind this protective wall of humanoids they are rebuilding their cities, replanting their fields, and putting back up their infrastruction. It should be worth noting that the Technomancy is ANGRY. They obviously do not like the Illithid, but they are FURIOUS at the elves, who have slaughtered hundreds of thousands of their people. The humanoids have been big winners in this war. The Month of Terror affected them hardly at all, except to make their opponents weak and easily beaten. They have run amok, sacking cities, dragging off enormous numbers of slaves, vast amounts of gold, huge amounts of raw material, supplies, and stored food. The gnomes, while technically a part of the Technomancy, have retreated to their underground cities (those that are left), and put all their defenses they could up to protect them. The gnomes rightfully see that the surface world is no place for them right now, not with armies marching this way and that way across it. Estlor continues his arguments for peace. However, it seems nobody is listening. This is too bad, because at this point much of Faerun looks like Eastern Europe after the War (or Georgia after Sherman's March to the Sea.) Cities are reduced to bleak ruins, pieces of buildings sticking into the air like abstract artwork. Vast areas of blackened sticks, tapering to shattered tops, branches burned away, represent the remains of great forests. Croplands lay fallow, slowly going back to the wild. Other croplands lay recently destroyed, the crops hacked and burned, the ground torn up by magic or marauding monsters unleashed by the warring sides. All remaining cities are now on their highest alert, new walls and other defenses are built, and more defenses are being built. All roads are blocked with felled trees, and trapped with caltrops, pits, and worse. Sentinels watch everywhere. Paranoia is the rule. People shoot then ask questions afterwards. All trade has ended. All commerce has stopped. Cities and countries relying on it, have seen their ways of life simply stop. Not that it would have mattered anyways. All able-bodied people, men and women, have been pressed into the military. All shops, all factories, have been pressed into or converted over to wartime use. On the side of the Faerie Folk League --- Estlor On the side of the Elves --- The Balor (the reward on The Balor's head has grown. The Technomancy wants this defector badly.) --- Blood Jester --- Victim On the side of the Illithid --- Phasmus --- Riot Gear On the side of the Technomancy Confederation --- Buzzard --- Darwin of Mind --- Dr Skull --- Elfric --- Gez --- Icarus --- Lannon --- Reprisal On the side of the Humanoids --- Forrester Neutral --- Enkhidu --- Naya (he got away with his treasure hoard, after all) --- Paperboy --- Zouron (although he's pretending to be with the Technomancy) [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 09:17 PM Riot Gear, that sounds like a good idea (see Riot Gear's Post about 3 posts up) [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 09:22 PM Edena -- I mentioned in more than one post that while we're making sure to collapse the tunnels to slow/stop the Illithids, we're dividing up our Millions to do massive amounts of elf-slaying. As in "We humanoids, on the other hand, can wreak havok and destruction on the foolish elves within a month, easy. EASY." from a couple posts back, and "Elves die first, second, and third. We'll work from there. And get some kobolds to start tinkering with those machines . . .". So are the elves REALLY that close to taking everything over? I can accept if if you say that we didn't find the Spelljamming ships within that month. But the elves should have taken HEAVY casualties during the month that they were de-magicked. Forrester I also said this: "Oh -- if any of those artifact-ridden places had HUMANOIDS working as lackeys (as they usually do!), count on my people being able to loot the places far, FAR more quickly than the dumb humans or elves or illithids can. Heh heh heh. " How are all sides doing on artifact collection? TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 09:49 PM I have a large bounty on my head? and it's growing? K3W| d00d!@!??223!! I KNEW killing the lords of waterdeep, the council of six, the 4 lords of baldur's gate, and by doing thus sending the technos into chaos would bring me a tad of fame. Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 09:49 PM Issue #1: The MindFlayers had started preparations for their ascent before the spell of Krasus had been cast... The temporary removal of magic from the picture was just the icing on the proverbial cake. [Illithid have a metaphor that means approximately the same thing... but you don't want to hear it.] Their goals were set somewhat higher as a result. Issue #2: Their preparations for battle with a still magic-intensive surface world had included the production of psionic-technology hybrids that, unlike the surface's technomagic, will function perfectly despite the effects of the spell of Krasus. A very distinct advantage. Issue #3: There is a definite precedent regarding the Illithid's working together. The interspersed Illithid colonies center around elder brains and though the Illithid can not be in direct contact with each other without some rather expensive psionic equipment, the elder brains can link to each other directly via a psionic shunt through the ethereal plane [see the 2e Illithid book]. Thus, with a great deal of effort, the elder-brains can coordinate the world's entire Illithid population. This is not a bunch of ragtag semi-sentient humanoids suddenly developing a world-wide concordance. The MindFlayers once shared a plane-spanning empire... and they want it back. Issue #4: Regarding the [apparently] larger than expected numbers of Illithid on Toril, the elder brains can coordinate the psionic transfer of MindFlayers from other primes. The effort required for such activities, and the fact that Illithid from other worlds might not be particularly interested in helping anyway, is why Toril hasn't been overrun by the sheer number of MindFlayers before... and won't be now. Nevertheless, the time to strike has come, so there will be far more cooperation with each other than has been seen by anyone living... and all but the oldest undead for that matter. Issue #5: We do not see our activities as atrocities of war... but as the losses inherent in any major shift in power. A shift, we might add, which is in the long run for the good of all races... except perhaps the ones we eliminate entirely. If we could clam this world as our own without the needless destruction of a single wayward thrall... know what we would do so. Regards, Phasmus T. Tapefiend aka Don'Calamari Lannon Member posted 04-09-2001 10:13 PM EDENA I URGE YOU TO READ THIS, for that matter everyone else should reread what follows. Posted from Buzzards comments: quote: Originally posted by buzzard: I've made no claims that magic was necessary for technological prograss. My arguments are based on the given premise that: Technology is advanced enough for steam power and railroads. This implies a good deal you know. It doesn't just imply that you know that steam expands and can drive an engine. It implies that you have the machining abilities to make such an engine. It also implies that you are going to make machine tools capable of making more than one of those engines. (and rails, etc) That was one of the most immediate consequences of the industrial revolution. The mechanization of machine tools is crucial to everything. It enables rifles to be mass produced, rather than hand crafted. Also the general level of mechanical sophistication is going to be pretty high. A railroad is not a simple thing. Also if we're talking railroads, a certain amount of metallurgy must have been accomplished. This means higher quality steel, or you could not make steel rails (you can't roll cast iron into the shape). Once you have this better steel, you can make better and cheaper cannons. (Sweden was a great power for a while based on tin deposits which allowed them to make bronze cannons, since the steel technology in the era was so poor- this was well before railroads). I've yet to see what a wizzard is going to do in the face of a cannon shot. If I can make really good steel, I can make really good breastplates which will likely stop arrows (but not bullets). Also, whoever thinks that civil war era rifles were worse than bows, has a lot of convicing to do to make me buy it. I will certainly grant that early firearms were inferior, but by the civil war muzzle loading weapons had reached their pinnacle. They shot 50 caliber conical bullets at substancial velocities to effective ranges of 700 yards or so. No such bow exists. Rifles are also easier to use. Ammo is easier to make, and more lethal (soft lead bullets of the era would remove limbs, at best- for the target, or simply kill you). Also Eneda just jumped the gun and implied that nitroglycerin was invented. This implies smokeless powder, and thus the possibility of cased ammunition and repeating breachloading rifles. Once those hit the scene, there is not a chance that bows are comparable. This will also increase effective range and lethality. As for what my character would be doing the whole time, is learning the technology, and improving it. You don't need a wizzard to do technology (well actually my last character in Faerun was a custom class called a Tinker, who was sort of a medieval engineer- he never liked magic much anyway- too illogical). Though the influx of fiends would have him concentrating on wiping them out. A nice 8 gauge shotgun with either silver or cold iron shot would likely do wonders. Also I'd make sure I'd have a priest of Gond on hand to cast magic weapon where necessary. For a reach out and touch someone excersize I'd make the old heavy barrelled Sharps rifle- and become the first sharpshooter. That will outrange any spell. Buzzard This was so well put from buzzard that it really needs to be posted again. I request that Edena read this carefully and fully understand what he is suggesting. We were granted several things in Edena's scenerio. Magic was not added to "make" the technology. It was simply suggested that it could be used with the technology. In no way is it neccessary to have magic. All we need are good minds and arms to carry the weapons. Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 10:14 PM I SHOULD have made it a year, not a month (this person grouses a bit) Can't change history now. (more grousing) The elves are not as close to victory, after all. They should have been. They WOULD have been, had they just been facing the weakened Technomancy alone. They would have won against both the Technomancy and the Illithid. However, several million humanoids came up onto the surface, you see. Came up, and swarmed over the Elven Spelljammers like ants whenever they set down. Came up, and slaughtered the elves whenever and wherever they found them. Furthermore, the elves now have to contend with dragons and faerie who are opposed to what they are doing. That isn't helping either. The elves are powerful, and throwing that spell gave them the edge, but now they are having to take on EVERYONE at once, and they simply can't do that, not even with the Elven Imperial Navy. The elves are driven back. I assume the elves destroy the 5 targets in question (Blood Jester, name your targets). But after that, they are driven back. Unless the elves can find an ally among the other powers, they aren't going to win this war anytime soon. The illithids made great progress during the Month of Terror, and sacked and pillaged many surface dwellings, and destroyed many underdark areas. However, the illithid are now facing a massive counterattack from the faerie folk, from the technomancy, from the elves they encounter, and from several million very angry humanoids. The illithids, also, are driven back. The phaerimm, however, make a big difference here. Since the illithid were wise enough to snatch them while the snatching was good, these immensely powerful beings are now serving the illithid. And the phaerimm truly ARE terrible foes to face. So, although the illithid are halted, they are standing their ground, and giving as badly as they are getting. The phaerimm are making the difference, for they now serve the illithid. TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 10:15 PM But you are STILL not a numerous race. I am convinced that, if as you say, the illithids from other planes don't help you, then there can only be about, if you bring ALL of the illithids from ALL over Aber-Toril, then you will still only have about 100,000 illithids. First you have to get past the dwarves and svirfnebli. Even if the goblinoids don't set up traps and collapse tunnels, the dwarves will. By the time you come up with your psychic technology, magic will have returned. And simply scrying? I really doubt that the illithids know enough people on the surface or have items that they possesed to start a mass invasion. This is taken from the 3E phb: Scrying Divination Lvl:Brd 3, Clr 5, Drd 4, Sor/Wiz 4 Components:V,S,M/DF,F Casting Time: 1 hour Range:See text Effect: Magical Sensor Duration:1 minute/level Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance:No You can see and hear some creature, who may be at any distance. You must succeed at a scry check to do so. THe difficulty of the task depends on how well you know the subject and what sort of physical connection(if any) you have to that creature. Furthermore, if the subject is on another plane, you get a -5 penalty to the scry check. Knowledge Dc None 20(you must have some sort of physical connection to a creature you have no knowledge of) Secondhand(you have heard of the subject 15 Firsthand(you have met him/her) 10 Familiar(you know the subject well) 5 Connection: Scry check bonus Likeness or picture +5 Possesion or garment +8 Body part, lock of hair +10 nail clippings, etc. This spell creates a magical sensor located near the subject. Any creature with an intelligence score of 12 or higher can notice the sensor by making a scry check(or an intelligence check) against DC 20. The following spells can be cast through a scrying spell: comprehend languages, read magic, tongues, and darkvision. The following spells have a 5% chance per caster level of operating correctly:detect magic, detect chaos, detect evil, detect good, detect law, and message. Arcane material Components: The eye of a hawk, an eagle, or even a roc, and nitric acid, copper, and zinc. Wiz/sor/brd focus: a mirror of finely wrought and highly polished silver costing not less than 1000 gp. The mirror must be at least 2 by 4 feet. Cleric Focus: A holy water font costing not less than 1000 gp. Druid focus: A natural pool of water And by the time I finish typing this, the subject will have moved on... ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 10:17 PM Lannon, this is well noted. And the Technomancy is making a very rapid and surprising recovery. The Technomancy is back in the war as a major power, once more achieving victory and driving both the elves and the illithid back. Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 10:19 PM *quivers with joy* Could you talk more about the elves being slaughtered? Please? Oh -- what's a Phaerimm? The "ae" is scaring me. It sounds cheaty. Finally -- I think it's fair to say, Leaders of the Technomancers, that we humanoids have earned a little technological support. You think? (Edena -- no doubt our kobold engineers have managed to get our hands on some of the technology for closer inspection. We like the technomancy, but we aren't quite ready to put our full trust in *any* surface dwellers. So while we'll ask for technological support and such, we'll make sure to check it out to make sure there's no backstabbing going on. And perhaps work on creating our OWN little factories.) On the other hand, while we don't have to put full trust in the technomancers, I think it's safe to say that they need to put full trust in *us*. We're willing to play nice if they are. Although it wouldn't hurt to address me as "Lord Forrester", Lannon & Company . [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 10:21 PM DAMMIT!! I JUST MISSED ABOUT A WEEK OF THE WAR WHEN TYPING THAT DAMN SPELL DESCRIPTION!!! ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 10:27 PM Well, Forrester, the humanoids have discovered that elven Spelljammers don't burn well - they are partially alive, you see. But they make great kindling, once chopped up. For that matter, elves make great kindling too, when they are chopped up. A phaerimm: think of a tornado. At the wide top of the tornado is a head with four arms sticking out around it, and one heck of a big mouth. If you can see it, there is a body that becomes steadily more slender as it goes back from the head, until it tapers to a point. The phaerimm are, in 3E, sorcerers of levels 15 - 20. But in 2E, they are wizards of levels 30 to 45 (that is directly from the Ruins of Myth Drannor boxed set) Phaerimm have tremendous spell immunity, in addition to that, being able to bounce spells thrown at them straight back at you. Did I mention they also have great bite attacks, tail (sting) attacks, and claw attacks? A single phaerimm could take on a Chosen of Mystra, and have some chance of winning. Three phaerimm could take on a Chosen, and win. There are several hundred phaerimm that were under the desert of Anauroch, but the illithid (wisely) went after them and captured them. This was possible because the elves (bless their hearts) ended ALL magic on Toril for a time, and the phaerimm were briefly vulnerable, and Phasmus was smart. That is why you have not overwhelmed the illithid and driven them back into the Underdark. With the (now fully powered again) phaerimm under their command, the illithid are a force to be reckoned with. Even if there are only a few hundred phaerimm, a few hundred are enough (my greatest character is scared to death of these monsters) ((By the way, the phaerimm are going to be VERY, VERY ANGRY when they are freed of the psionic compulsion. How would you feel if the elves took away your magic, then the illithid enslaved you, and then you were forced up onto the surface to fight assorted gnomes, technomancers, humanoids, and Mystra knows what else, when all you really wanted to do was study spells?? There is going to be HADES to pay when the phaerimm break free of their compulsion!!)) [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 10:33 PM Edena -- Can these Phaerimm teleport? If so, can they fit into 5' tall passages/rooms? It sounds like that's unlikely . . . In which case, moving production of technomagical weaponry to the Underdark might be a strong call. (Hey, it's going to happen anyway, as during the month we were able to examine the technology, and do a little looting. But we can speed things up a great deal if we call cooperate, here . . . ) Forrester Technomancy's Best Friend Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 10:47 PM The phaerimm can teleport. The phaerimm can Shapechange also. Would they care to fit themselves into 5 foot tall passages? Not likely. The elven nation of Evereska is now surrounded and besieged. If two or more of the other powers declare they are cooperating in attacking it (that is, if the Faerie and Technomancy, or the Humanoids and the Technomancy, or the Illithid and the Gnomes, and so on), it is taken and destroyed and/or occupied. Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 10:48 PM With the passing of the month of terror, despite their enemies reclamation of magic, the attacks of the Illithid only seem to intensify in strength and number, particularly in the areas of Myth Dranor, CandleKeep, Nimbral and Halruaa... Then, more quickly than would seem possible, the MindFlayers withdraw from combat. Only a few scattered groups of thralls remain... just enough to mask their master's retreat. They leave only destruction and woe in their wake. The ransacked centers of population and magical power are decimated beyond recognition, and the remains of the original inhabitants are scarce indeed... almost as scarce as the items of knowledge and power that were once present. For a short time Illithid activity continues in Halruaa, and then nothing. The MindFlayers have withdrawn to the deepest deeps of the underdark... and sealed the way behind them. With them, they have taken the most powerful artifacts and arcane knowledge to be had in Toril, not to mention a great many of the arcane spellcasters themselves. There are some who speculate, and rightly so, that they found what they were looking for... The way to the underdark is now closed by tons of solid rock and the enclosed area is warded by the full attention of the elder brains. None shall enter, and none shall leave... for a time. The drow cities decimated have been sealed as well, along with their enslaved populations. The surface dwellers are free to continue their petty squabble... for now the MindFlayers have the phaerimm, they have arcane power unrivaled... and they have all the time in the world. Regards, Phasmus & Co. "Your will, is our will. Your mind, is our mind. Your money, is our money." Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 10:57 PM The following nations are out of the war, permanently (and pretty much out of it, period): Halruaa (devastated) Luruar (devastated) Thay (wiped out) Waterdeep (devastated) Nimbral is demanding an immediate ALL OUT attack by EVERYONE against the Illithid, even if they have to chase them to the center of the planet. Nimbral cites the threat of the phaerimm, the threat from captured spellcasters, and the threat from stolen artifacts as reasons (not to mention they are angry at having been attacked themselves.) Nimbral is calling on EVERYONE to ally against the Illithid. However, unless the Posts indicate it, this does not happen. The dwarves have been trying to stay out of the war (the only race to do so.) However, the dwarves have had enough. Trade is out, food supplies are short, they are attacked whenever they set foot outside their mountain homes. The dwarves are ready to enter the war. Anyone offering them alliance? And what incentives, if any? Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 10:59 PM See ya, wouldn't want to be ya, Evereska. Them elves are good eatin'. TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:00 PM Good. I was thinking you guys would never leave. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 All times are Central Time (US) This is an ARCHIVED topic. You may not reply to it! Hop to: Contact Us | D&D 3rd Edition News Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47b Note: This is an archived topic. It is read-only. D&D 3rd Edition News Board Other Archived Stuff What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? (Page 7) UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! profile | register | preferences | faq | search This topic is 16 pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 This topic was originally posted in this forum: General RPG Discussion Author Topic: What would your PCs do if gnomes invented the Industrial Revolution? Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 11:02 PM The humanoids are launching an all out assault on Evereska. Does anyone else join them? Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 11:04 PM What's a Nimbral? I'll lead my legions against the Illithids after one little pointy-eared problem is taken care of. Once and for all. How do the dwarves feel about spanking their long-hated fellow demi-humans? We humanoids are a practical folk, and have always hated elves more than dwarves. [This message has been edited by Forrester (edited 04-09-2001).] TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:05 PM I myself go as emissary to the dwarven kingdoms. I tell them that the illithids have gone too far. The dwarves already have full access to the underdark, and they could be a humongous help. The illithids have our best mages, probably a few great engineers, and our greatest magiks. It's time we strike back. COME TO ARMS, MY BRETHREN!! TOO LONG HAVE WE LET THE ILLITHIDS DWELL BENEATH THE EARTH, PLOTTING AND SCHEMING!! They think they are secure in their victory, and this is the perfect time to strike. I say we travel to the vaunted underdark and wipe these squid-faced vermin out ONCE, and for all...... ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 11:07 PM Whoa whoa whoa!!! Let me get confirmation that the Technomancy is coming along with us. We aren't the damn Kurds. TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:08 PM Dwarves would not.under any circumstances. EVER IN A QUADRILLION YEARS ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH GOBLINOIDS!! They would kill any who came near them. There is no way they would ally with goblinoids. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus [This message has been edited by TheBalor (edited 04-09-2001).] Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 11:09 PM Nimbral is an island. Home of a powerful, if small, magic-using nation. A very wise, and very mysterious (and very powerful) group of mages. The assault on Evereska continues, but the humanoids alone cannot take it. Although thousands of humanoids die valiant deaths for the cause, those stubborn elves behind their hill fortresses and trees just can't be dislodged! The dwarves are willing to announce a Truce (not an alliance!) with the humanoids IF it means achieving one of the following: Bringing peace Bringing to justice the elves who cast the spell that brought down magic, and caused the Month of Terror Going after the illithid. - - - Balor, the dwarves agree. The dwarves are willing to go after the illithid ... IF, first ... All elves (you speak for them, remember, Balor) who were involved in casting that spell (the one that brought down magic) are turned over to the dwarves, to be tried for Crimes Against the Dwarves. They will be tried, found guilty, and then drawn and quartered. And YES, Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet is ONE of those the dwarves are demanding be turned over. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] Bran Blackbyrd Member posted 04-09-2001 11:22 PM Room for one more? I'm just a humble priest of Bacchus, but if I see one more grove trampled, or one more vinyard burned by the wicked... I want to join Estlor and the Faerie Folk League in the fight for peace. I am fully prepared to help the Faerie Folk and the earth spirits restore balance to nature and organize against the desecrators. At the risk of involving Outsiders again I could even pull in the help of the Bacchae, Maenads and nature folk on the planes. ------------------ Jason "Warlocke" Lewis ---------------------- DM: You see there are orcs camped out in the chasm ahead of you. Me: Do they have multiple Orc-Chasms? Warlocke's Realm TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:28 PM Aw, goddamnit, ya got me in a fix here. My whole angle with this was to unite the races against the illithids, and if we win that part, then everyone will be too exhausted to fight each other anymore, so it'd have been a forced truce...DAMMIT, WHY ARE THE DWARVES SO GODDAMNED STUBBORN?!HUH?HUH?! ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 11:29 PM Bran, I assure you one more druid grove now gets trampled and destroyed. What do you think orcs do for a living? You do the summoning you mention. And those you summon, summon others, and thus: The Outsiders are back in the War! On the side of the Faerie Folk. The dwarves ARE stubborn. That's a dwarven trait! Besides, they aren't too happy about the elves shutting off the lights. The dwarven ability to see in the dark is semi-magical, and it ended with the magic. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:31 PM *sigh* you win. I agree to the dwarven terms, and after having several dozen permanent spell protections placed upon myself, I head into the techno lands to negotiate a temporary alliance until the illithids are beaten...*sigh* ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:33 PM Wait a sec...you faeries aren't summoning tana'ri, right? ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Forrester Member posted 04-09-2001 11:36 PM Edena! Slow it down, until we get a representative of the Technomancy here. I'm sure they would have helped me against the damn elves. Edena_of_Neith Member posted 04-09-2001 11:39 PM Ok. Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet, her chief advisors, the Head of the Elven Imperial Navy, and various other important elven figures are turned over to the dwarves (forcibly, I might add - they would not go willingly!) by their own people. The dwarves put all of them on trial, find them guilty of Crimes Against the Dwarves, and imprison them in deep prisons, under heavy magical wards. This done, the dwarves march out in their full strength. Untouched by the war so far, they come with all their armor, weapons, magic, and the famous fury of their kind. By the tens of thousands, the dwarves march to war, to stand beside the elves against the illithid. The very ground of Faerun trembles to the thunder of dwarven feet, and the air trembles to the sounds of their mighty war chants. Because of the devastation of Waterdeep, the Lord's Alliance is also demanding an assault on the illithid. [This message has been edited by Edena_of_Neith (edited 04-09-2001).] TheBalor Member posted 04-09-2001 11:42 PM Get a technomancer in here. I wanna know how negotiations with them go. ------------------ If history is to change,let it change. If the world is to be destroyed, so be it. If it is my destiny to die, then I must simply laugh.-The Magus Bran Blackbyrd Member posted 04-09-2001 11:42 PM No tana'ri, mostly the wild and wooly nature folk, the rabid followers of Bacchus, and maybe the odd celestial. Not to mention any druidic types that are planeside and willing to lend a hand. ------------------ Jason "Warlocke" Lewis ---------------------- DM: You see there are orcs camped out in the chasm ahead of you. Me: Do they have multiple Orc-Chasms? Warlocke's Realm Phasmus Member posted 04-09-2001 11:43 PM Blast it all, why can't you vile light-mongers just leave us alone long enough to bring about your utter destruction?! Is that too much to ask? -sigh- Well, now I guess I have to mention what we're up to... but we had really wanted it to be a surprise. Currently, the MindFlayers are using the combined magical strength of the phaerimm and the some of choicest magical tomes, artifacts and minds from CandleKeep, MythDranor, Halruaa and Nimbral to achieve the following goals, given in order of precedence: 1: Protect themselves from the surface forces and any outsiders and deities who may be foolish enough as to attempt to oppose their fiendish schemes... not to mention from any possibly dangerous items or beings that they may have brought with them. Safety first and all that. This goal includes small forces being sent to the surface if possible to do so safely... to spread havoc and mistrust among the surface dwellers. 2: Blot out [at least the light of] the sun on a permanent basis, making magic and geothermal heat the sole source of life... And wiping out a large portion of their opposition. This happens to be a major component of their next goal... 3: Secure utter domination over every living being, sentient or otherwise, on, in or around the world... and destroy any and all undead that may be present. Their resources are now spread more or less evenly between the three goals... but should there be a shortfall [unlikely] or should it be necessary to divert attention to any one, protection will come first, followed by darkness... and finally their ultimate goal of world domination. They are being very cautious. They are so close to ultimate victory that they can almost taste it... and they do not want any mistakes. I do not have the administrative capacity to determine what comes of their efforts. Edena, I will leave that in your hands for the time being. Please note that... aside from the possibility mages looking forward in time and noting that things look rather dark... no one has this information except the MindFlayers themselves. Regards, Phasmus & Co. "DuctTape: It's almost all you need sometimes." [/QUOTE]
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