Core Setting: Nerath Empire

[catsclaw227]

I was reading through Races and Classes again and I noticed a tidbit about the Human empire of Nerath. So in teh core setting here is what we know about human history...

Humans claim many vast empires. Each empire exalted in its own unique set of virtues. Some were realms governed by a caste of fearless warriors, some were rigid theocracies, some were sorcerous tyrannies, ans some were far-flung mercantile empires tethered together by silk, steel, and gold. In truth, the story of humankind is the tale of the successive rise of great empires.

And each rise preceded a subsequent, seemingly inevitable fall.

Even Nerath, which persisted until a mere century ago, was finally overthrown by hordes of orcs, goblins, demons, and -- some say -- a secret curse.

Now Nerath's ruins, too, litter the murkey world; only adventurers are brave enough to pierce the shadows that lie between what isolated outposts remain. Human civilization exists as widely seperated points of light in a world of untamed, mysterious darkness.

So, what else do we know about Nerath? Was it a theocracy? A military empire? Where are all the hordes of orcs, goblins and demons? What was the secret?

Also, is this a good thing, to provide some core setting history? I think I like the idea, but I want to see it well executed. Will there be a core setting campaign guide? I can't imagine the core setting be OGL allowing third parties to write adventures there, that could create too much conflicting canon.

What are your thoughts about this? What flavor does the initial (limited) fluff about Nerath evoke, so far?

What other empires do we know about so far?

 

[Glyfair]

I suspect this empire will be referenced in one of the upcoming D&D adventures. Maybe you have to explore their ruins in Keep on the Shadowfell for example.

 

[Lackhand]

So, what else do we know about Nerath? Was it a theocracy? A military empire? Where are all the hordes of orcs, goblins and demons? What was the secret?

Also, is this a good thing, to provide some core setting history? I think I like the idea, but I want to see it well executed. Will there be a core setting campaign guide? I can't imagine the core setting be OGL allowing third parties to write adventures there, that could create too much conflicting canon.

What are your thoughts about this? What flavor does the initial (limited) fluff about Nerath evoke, so far?

What other empires do we know about so far?

We don't know much else about Nerath, other than that it was cosmopolitan, putting elves and dwarves shoulder to shoulder with humans (and knee-to-shoulder with halflings).

The humanoid hordes are still in the ruins of the Nerathine empire, obviously; they lurk, playing dice while waiting for adventurers to kill them and take their stuff

I feel like it's a good thing, and don't want a real setting guide, and seems sexy to me.

The Tiefling empire of Bael Turath and the Dragonborn Arkosia (either might be misspelled or misremembered!) were also in the book. Bael Turath was a human empire until the noble houses turned to the Dark Side of the force, slew the opposing houses, and pledged their allegiance to the hells, graving their oaths on iron shrines in flaming runes. That's where Tieflings were born.
The dragon-kings of Arkosia oversaw their humanoid servitors, until the armies of Bael Turath scored a pyrrhic victory, destroying both empires.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Perhaps the designers took a note on places like the old Russian Empire, Qing/Yuan China and especially the Ottoman Empire?

Multiethnic places, united by a faith, an army and a nobility....

 

[megamania]

The world seems kinda dark and where humans are as much prey as adventurers. Could be good.

Lets see what else is revealed as time goes.

 

[Nyaricus]

(and knee-to-shoulder with halflings).

Ah, but you forget: in 4e, halflings are now shoulder to lower-thigh with humans; they got that height boost, remember?

cheers,
--N

 

[Southern Oracle]

Was any information ever revealed about the two runners-up for the setting contest? I know the names of the three finalists were announced, but only Eberron was developed and released as a campaign setting. Could one of the two remaining settings be the implied setting we're getting glimpses of now?

 

[I'm A Banana]

Also, is this a good thing, to provide some core setting history? I think I like the idea, but I want to see it well executed. Will there be a core setting campaign guide? I can't imagine the core setting be OGL allowing third parties to write adventures there, that could create too much conflicting canon.

What are your thoughts about this? What flavor does the initial (limited) fluff about Nerath evoke, so far?

For me, it evokes WoW or FR. And that's not necessarily a bad thing -- an ancient collapsed empire is very much in the mold of fantasy medieval roleplaying (what with the real-world collapse of the Romans to parallel). So far, the touch is light enough that it creates more potential than it destroys, since it's not well-defined.

That said, it won't work for every campaign, so I hope they continue with the "light touch," keeping the flavor of Nerath largely out of the rules of the game. Or else homebrewers will have a lot more work to do to rid themselves of it.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

I have in my always in work idea for a setting a Roman Empire... but it survived, pulling a Byzance and evolving into medieval age. As if the Western Empire survived.

One of the main gods there will be a slightly more severe Saint Cuthbert - Siant Justus or something liike thus.

(I decided to take inspirations from less common sources, less used and known parts of history and cultures)

 

[JohnSnow]

For what it's worth, the other two setting search semi-finalists were Rich "Order of the Stick" Burlew and P. Nathan Toomey (who worked on Monster Manual III).

Both designers are still under ironclad NDAs. There was speculation when they were held back that they might be planning to use them for 4e.