Umbra
First Post
In our very low tech past, news travelled only as fast as the fastest form of transportation, could be intercepted or interrupted or destroyed during transit, came from only a few sources and was 'colored' by every person it passed through.
Part of the reason for the success of the larger empires was efficient communication (those Roman roads didn't speed just troups across the countryside). Being first with the news (sometimes by months) gave those with the knowledge tremendous advantages in war, trade and 'politicking'. The major component of spying is gathering information and getting that information to the employer secretly, as fast as possible and intact.
In the mold of the excellent A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe I want your input on what are the ramifications of DnD magic in relation to communication as it relates to various groups like commoners, governments, guilds, churches, merchants, etc and some sample adventure hooks.
To get the ball rolling I was considering a specialist couriers guild. Top of the range in a high culture/high wealth campaign is the very expensive use of sorcerors with teleport-without-error able to move information, verbal or in a hardcopy format whether it be scrolls or messengers, throughout a network within a few minutes on demand. Who would control such a guild? Would it be circumscribed or encouraged by government, a mage guild, a god of knowledge or deceit? Would a government ban the use of a guild based in a neighboring state (friend, neutral, foe)? If the guild became invaluable/a monopoly, could they become THE most influential power like the Spice Guild in Dune.
The couriers would be very knowledgable about various locations throughout a world and the guild would send couriers by land, sea, the planes or air to any new place to gain a foothold. Once one became familiar with a place s/he could bring others via spell and within a short period of time every guild member would have the new knowledge.
Hooks: PC's could be employed to escort a courier to a new frontier location.
A sorceror decides to leave the guild and the guild want him hunted down (how do you catch a teleporting specialist?!). The PC's use the guild to travel but when the sorcerors that moved them are found dead, the guild would like to ask the PC's a few questions.
The guild could also have scry specialists, or magical mounts, etc.
Instead of a guild you could have a group of religious zealots, secret police, singing telegrams (okay, maybe not the last one).
Enough...What stands out in your mind when you think about the flow of information and magic?
Part of the reason for the success of the larger empires was efficient communication (those Roman roads didn't speed just troups across the countryside). Being first with the news (sometimes by months) gave those with the knowledge tremendous advantages in war, trade and 'politicking'. The major component of spying is gathering information and getting that information to the employer secretly, as fast as possible and intact.
In the mold of the excellent A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe I want your input on what are the ramifications of DnD magic in relation to communication as it relates to various groups like commoners, governments, guilds, churches, merchants, etc and some sample adventure hooks.
To get the ball rolling I was considering a specialist couriers guild. Top of the range in a high culture/high wealth campaign is the very expensive use of sorcerors with teleport-without-error able to move information, verbal or in a hardcopy format whether it be scrolls or messengers, throughout a network within a few minutes on demand. Who would control such a guild? Would it be circumscribed or encouraged by government, a mage guild, a god of knowledge or deceit? Would a government ban the use of a guild based in a neighboring state (friend, neutral, foe)? If the guild became invaluable/a monopoly, could they become THE most influential power like the Spice Guild in Dune.
The couriers would be very knowledgable about various locations throughout a world and the guild would send couriers by land, sea, the planes or air to any new place to gain a foothold. Once one became familiar with a place s/he could bring others via spell and within a short period of time every guild member would have the new knowledge.
Hooks: PC's could be employed to escort a courier to a new frontier location.
A sorceror decides to leave the guild and the guild want him hunted down (how do you catch a teleporting specialist?!). The PC's use the guild to travel but when the sorcerors that moved them are found dead, the guild would like to ask the PC's a few questions.
The guild could also have scry specialists, or magical mounts, etc.
Instead of a guild you could have a group of religious zealots, secret police, singing telegrams (okay, maybe not the last one).
Enough...What stands out in your mind when you think about the flow of information and magic?
