[Just Curious] Darksun greatest villian

[Alzrius]

He was manipulated (along with ALL of the heroes of Tyr) by Tithian and Rajaat to kill Borys thus freeing Rajaat from his prison- the Hollow. The sword Rikus used was an extension of Rajaat (the black ooze).

Based on Rise and Fall of a Dragon King Ur Draxa is a swampy foggy ruin where it rains 24/7 (or should I say 24/6?). NO ONE has survived within the city which is now deserted.

Would make an excellent high level adventure....hmmmm

To be perfectly clear, it wasn't Borys's death alone that freed Rajaat. It was just that then he couldn't guard the place where he was imprisoned (and that he wouldn't be able to cast the annual spell to renew the prison either).

The sword Rikus used (the Scourge) was NOT a direct extension of Rajaat. It was just forged by him. Exactly why it oozed shadow-substance (that connected with the Black) when broken is unknown.

 

[megamania]

I always assumed the ooze was somehow a part of him. Seemed to make sense at the time.

 

[Azure Trance]

The storm I referred to was the Ash Storm surrounding / protecting / hiding UrDraxa. No stats for Rajaat? What was he, a Mul as well? Unless I'm missing any other history regarding the history of UrDraxa, then it seems to me it just existed (in the storyline) for Rajaat to kick butt.

 

[Azure Trance]

And, um, I should probably read some DS novels now because other then a few accessories I own and recognition of key names I haven't a clue as to who/what you guys are referring to.

 

[Alzrius]

...and from these storms lives the now Storm-elemtal Tithian.


Seems you have a good feel for the world. What types of villians did you/your DM use besides the SK?

Tithian isn't exactly a storm-elemental (for many reasons, not the least of which is that there is no such creature in any D&D product I've ever read, and certainly not on Athas, which only uses the four basic elements: Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, and their own take on the paraelements: Magma, Rain, Silt, and Sun). Rather, as near as we know, he's somehow trapped inside the Dark Lens, and can only manifest weakly in the Cerulean Storm, which seems to be using the Lens as a battery for its limitless and unending energy (the exact nature of the Cerulean Storm isn't understood yet).

Thanks for the compliment. I bought a lot of Dark Sun products, but was never able to get a group together long enough to use them (I had a group, but we used the other stuff I brought...there is only so much gaming you can do with the same people). Hence, I never had a chance to make up any villains of my own. Sorry I can't give you any additional input.

 

[Alzrius]

The storm I referred to was the Ash Storm surrounding / protecting / hiding UrDraxa. No stats for Rajaat? What was he, a Mul as well? Unless I'm missing any other history regarding the history of UrDraxa, then it seems to me it just existed (in the storyline) for Rajaat to kick butt.

And, um, I should probably read some DS novels now because other then a few accessories I own and recognition of key names I haven't a clue as to who/what you guys are referring to.

Rajaat is a very ancient pyreen. His command of psionics and sorcery is unparalleled, even by the sorcerer-kings.

I don't recall the storm around Ur Draxa (are you sure you aren't thinking of the Cerulean Storm) but its doubtlessly been eclipsed by the raging fury of the Cerulean Storm, if it even still exists.

And yes, reading the novels would be a good idea. Go read the Prism Pentad series (The Verdant Passage, The Crimson Legion, The Amber Enchantress, The Obsidian Oracle, and The Cerulean Storm, all by Troy Denning). The remaining two series (The Tribe of One trilogy by Simon Hawke and the open-ended Chronicles of Athas series by various authors) tend to break the rules of the setting more than follow them, and thus (to me) aren't as good.

 

[Azure Trance]

No, really. It was called The Ash Storm, and a large lava river encircled UrDraxa. I can't remember exactly but I think it was due to a volcano (as the cover did have a dragon basking in one).

By the way, 'moof' is said by a cog (cow/dog). My friend told me that last week, and your sig reminded me of it.

 

[Alzrius]

No, really. It was called The Ash Storm, and a large lava river encircled UrDraxa. I can't remember exactly but I think it was due to a volcano (as the cover did have a dragon basking in one).

Huh, I don't recall that. I need to go reread Valley of Dust and Fire again. Either way though, the sheer magnitude of the Cerulean Storm has probably overridden the Great Ash Storm.

By the way, 'moof' is said by a cog (cow/dog). My friend told me that last week, and your sig reminded me of it.

Thanks for the info!

 

[megamania]

When Borys ran the island, he had several protective barriers placed. One included a constant and nasty "Ash storm" High winds would pick up and abrasively sunder things (PCs included) with defiler ash and ash from the molten lava eating at the world.

Too bad you didn't get to play it more. It is my primary world of choice and I have expanded on it considerably since WOTC basically gave up on it. I am looking to run a game on these boards using the new "official" conversion.

The way I have expanded on the world and it's history follows closer to Rise and Fall then the Prism Pentad. One of the things I liked about Rise and Fall is it seemed a little less hopeless.

I like the edgy feel of the world but sometimes it does seem too bleak. The character development of Pavek and Manu showed some hope for the future.

 

[Alzrius]

I am looking to run a game on these boards using the new "official" conversion.

I like the edgy feel of the world but sometimes it does seem too bleak.

Is it possible/allowed to run a game here on these message boards?

By the new "official" conversion, you mean the beta-playtest stuff and the new official products released over at www.athas.org ?

As for being bleak, I personally like that. The greatest heroes emerge when times are the worst, in my opinion. Since its been definately said that the entire world is slowly dying, it doesn't get much bleaker than that!