Post-War Reconstruction Period?

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I'm running a campaign that takes place a year after a "world war" that reintroduced the gods to the peoples of the world and left the land largely devastated (it's a Dragonlance, post-War of the Lance campaign; I already have all the DL sourcebooks).

I'm looking for types of things that I can introduce to convey this post-war atmosphere of reconstruction and increased religious activity. For example, the party has witnessed a lot of prisoners of war moving around. But I've found that the world quickly takes on a "regular" atmosphere and I'm looking to change that.

Any ideas? Perhaps from the Eberron setting (since I've heard it takes place after a great war)?

 

[painandgreed]

Ruins.

Lack of manpower. With lots of dead, there is now planety of land to work and few people to work. Manpower goes up in price and pay gets better for the low end peasant. Prices might also increase for certain items because people are doing other things or because verybody needs the item in question. Skilled labor for rebuilding is going to be in espeically high demand, but doesn't matter to the party unless they need to have something built.

With a weakening of the powers fighting the main war, it might create a power vacuum that would allow other factions to step into. e.g. with all there armies on one side of the kingdom fighting, it might allow monsters, humanoids, or rebels in another part to prosper and become at least a local threat. With the lack of manpower and the desire for peace, they might not get taken care of as soon as they normally would. If they do not get taken care of and are allowed to build up, then they might become a new threat on a larger scale.

 

[Starman]

Refugees. Lots of people moving from an area totally devastated to another area that they have heard is faring better.

Con Artists. People taking advantage of others in a bad situation to make their own ends meet.

Infighting. People starting fights by blaming some other race/group for all of the problems.

Starman

 

[Christian Walker]

Disease. Illness will increase because of various factors - tainted food supplies, fouled water, poor shelter, etc. So lots of folks huddled in tumbled down ruins, hacking and feverish.

 

[Tonguez]

As we travelled along the Old Road many were the destitute and homeless that we observed, most scattering to hide in the underbrush before we approached close enough to hail them (or molest them as they most likely feared). Only one man, who claimed himself a former soldier approached us to beg for coin. He stood supported on a crutch with one leg missing, and his face greatly scarred. He warned us that brigands, goblins and some monstrous beast stalked the hills and roads. Continuing on we saw many feilds left bare along the way and the burnt remains of village and farmhouse standing as stark and black perches for the crows.

It was no wonder my dear Elisabeth that we have been called here. For in such a land, with its defenses lost in the war, brigands and beasts will find easy prey and none but us to defend them and rebuild their homes...
~The Journal of Tomas Alban

(perhaps add in something about increased sighting of pilgrims or grim looking priests, even the building of new shrines and templeas to the newly returned gods would reinforce the religious side of your campaign..)