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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Turgenev" data-source="post: 341407" data-attributes="member: 6733">[PLAIN][b]The Astárian Chronicles[/b][/PLAIN]On looking back, I would say my entry was pretty derivative (can you say shades of Dragonlance <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> ). But I'll probably use some of the ideas (some listed below & some not) in other ventures.1. The Astárian Chronicles is a fantasy world populated with arcane secret societies, ancient rival kingdoms, both human and non-human, and a mystical draconic legacy; the perfect opportunity for heroes searching for adventure.2. First and formost, the world's heroes are the Player Characters, but they are not alone in their struggles against the forces of evil. Here are a few examples:The Vardan Magocracy(Kingdom, AL LN, N, LG, NG)A society of Mages, descended from the first humans, who learned magic from the Metallic Dragons in the Old Times. They use their skills to keep a vigilant eye on the world, occasionally intervening to maintain their own superiority. Their home is located in a secret mystical valley deep within the Crown of Sarpedon, the ring of mountains that surround the northern pole of Astár. It is accessible only by teleportation and is also home to many Metallic Dragons.Bodahdo Dragonwing  (Human Male Monk/Wizard 5/14; AL LG)A member of the Celestial Brotherhood of the Dragon society that is dedicated to Bahamut and the secrets of Magic. His pale, wiry body is covered with many colored tattoos of Metallic Dragons. He has pledged his magics and his life against the machinations of the Great Deceiver (Tiamat).3. While the world of Astár seems a wondrous place, evil always lurks in the shadows. Here are a few examples of such malevolence:The Great Deceiver Sect(The Cult of Tiamat, AL LE, NE, CE)A cult dedicated to Tiamat, a dragon who believes Bahamut should not have shared the secrets of magic with the lesser species. In her eyes only those with dragon blood have the right to use magic.  As a result her cult wishes to destroy any arcane magic-user who is not of dragon blood.Ustov d'Angée(Human Male Rogue/Sorcerer/Assassin 3/6/6; AL LE)Member of the Brotherhood of Vengeance, a renegade Vardan who serves as Chief Assassin of the Theocracy of Thul (a society twisted by religious fervor for their god of death and mummification). 4. A long time ago, when the world was new, Dragons came to Astár. The Dragons bestowed two gifts with their arrival - the first was magic (Bahamut) and the second was evil (Tiamat). The dragons quickly spread across the globe as their influence in Astárian affairs expanded. Enlightened Astárian realms, guided by the Metallic Dragons, appeared, while camps of torment grew under the domination of the Chromatic Dragons. The enslaved Astárians learned the arcane arts from their enlightened cousins and were able to overthrow their draconic overlords, sending them into the shadows where they dwell to this day. Magic is very much an intregal part of the world of Astár now.5. ¤ An original Pantheon with dualistic Dragon worship at the center of it (Bahamut and Tiamat are slightly different from their standard D&D counterparts). ¤ Aarakocran Diplomats (potential Prestige Class) who have Embassies in every nation. ¤ A Lizardfolk Empire (Imperial Centurian Prestige Class) that eyes the northern realms for conquest.¤ A Dwarven clan who travel Astár, plying their master skills as gem merchants (Crimson Merchant Prestige Class). ¤ The Guild of Prestigious Gentlemen who control various illegal rackets from their ancient headquarters in the old district of the City of Lamara.Cheers,Tim<a href="http://www.paratime.ca/d20/pulp/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.paratime.ca/d20/pulp/index.html</a></blockquote>

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