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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Randomling's Dungeoncraft Diary (my players out!!)
- Thread starter randomling
- Start date
I have to tell you randomling, this idea of the Hundred Isles is too good not to steal. I think I'll have to put a similar area into my own world 
. Personally I'd go for the cthulu type evil thing. It's manipulating the isles, causing them to rise and fall but doesn't know that it's doing it. Nor would it care.
The idea of the world as a channel between Ysgard and Ravenloft is pretty cool as well.
. Personally I'd go for the cthulu type evil thing. It's manipulating the isles, causing them to rise and fall but doesn't know that it's doing it. Nor would it care. The idea of the world as a channel between Ysgard and Ravenloft is pretty cool as well.
randomling
First Post
Interesting cosmology suggestion there Nifft, if a bit... alarming. 
It has lots of potential, certainly! I don't know if I'd be using Ravenloft or Ysgard wholesale (pirates in Ravenloft?) but couple that with the idea of the 7th sea itself... an ethereal sea that moves around... and of course the Bermuda Triangle...
I wonder if there's a kind of a... second place. It's always there, a bit like, say, the plane of Shadow. It's very like home, but it's darker, mistier, colder, and the inhabitants slightly different: evil or not, they're certainly scarier.
There is, I think, a fixed number of islands. Some big, some small; some permanently in the "shadow" realm and some permanently in the home realm. Most, though, phase between the two realms on an irregular basis. I'm not quite sure how or why, but I think that there's also strange disappearances caused by moving portals to the "shadow" realm. I guess all this comes under "bizarre cosmic setup".
Islands probably take a while (a few years, maybe up to a couple of decades) to phase. During this time, the island slowly gets colder... the weather gets mistier and darker... it is visited less, talked of less... the people get nastier and more hostile... and eventually, the island just vanishes into the shadow realm as if it had never been.
Next post: religion and stuff. Likely to be sketchy, 'cause my ideas on this are ill-formed.
It has lots of potential, certainly! I don't know if I'd be using Ravenloft or Ysgard wholesale (pirates in Ravenloft?) but couple that with the idea of the 7th sea itself... an ethereal sea that moves around... and of course the Bermuda Triangle...I wonder if there's a kind of a... second place. It's always there, a bit like, say, the plane of Shadow. It's very like home, but it's darker, mistier, colder, and the inhabitants slightly different: evil or not, they're certainly scarier.
There is, I think, a fixed number of islands. Some big, some small; some permanently in the "shadow" realm and some permanently in the home realm. Most, though, phase between the two realms on an irregular basis. I'm not quite sure how or why, but I think that there's also strange disappearances caused by moving portals to the "shadow" realm. I guess all this comes under "bizarre cosmic setup".
Islands probably take a while (a few years, maybe up to a couple of decades) to phase. During this time, the island slowly gets colder... the weather gets mistier and darker... it is visited less, talked of less... the people get nastier and more hostile... and eventually, the island just vanishes into the shadow realm as if it had never been.
Next post: religion and stuff. Likely to be sketchy, 'cause my ideas on this are ill-formed.
Nifft
Penguin Herder
"The stones stand taller on some islands, we know that. Some are even grounded in the surf, half hidden at high tide. There are captains who've run aground on 'reefs' made of standing stones, as well. We know that menhirs encircle entire islands -- some made up as giant heads, some as great poles of totemic animals, some as stylized hero-statues -- but it's alarming that there are some submerged circles. It hints at eldrich forces at work, in the past -- or below the surface."
The Hundred Islands were hills on a vast plain before the Great Flood. The Faerie-Circles and Ley Lines have not moved, as the menhirs which anchored them remain standing -- even if some are submerged. Just like any standard faerie circle, the submerged ones can shunt you off into the Plane of Faerie. In fact, whole islands can -- and have -- been sent to Faerie. Of course, time passes differently there...
The idea behind this one is that Faerie is a plane of Chaos, playful but utterly unsympathetic to human concerns. Give the fey seafaring tools: fey horses that can run across water, bows & arrows that work underwater, etc. There are good & evil rulers in Faerie (Seelie & Unseelie work just fine), and they're Chaotic Good & Chaotic Evil respectively.
For sinister plots: perhaps the underwater races (if you have such) have discovered these faerie circles, and are trying to divert ley-lines to either shunt all the larger islands to Faerie, or to start shunting people & islands to the Abyss instead.
-- N
The Hundred Islands were hills on a vast plain before the Great Flood. The Faerie-Circles and Ley Lines have not moved, as the menhirs which anchored them remain standing -- even if some are submerged. Just like any standard faerie circle, the submerged ones can shunt you off into the Plane of Faerie. In fact, whole islands can -- and have -- been sent to Faerie. Of course, time passes differently there...
The idea behind this one is that Faerie is a plane of Chaos, playful but utterly unsympathetic to human concerns. Give the fey seafaring tools: fey horses that can run across water, bows & arrows that work underwater, etc. There are good & evil rulers in Faerie (Seelie & Unseelie work just fine), and they're Chaotic Good & Chaotic Evil respectively.
For sinister plots: perhaps the underwater races (if you have such) have discovered these faerie circles, and are trying to divert ley-lines to either shunt all the larger islands to Faerie, or to start shunting people & islands to the Abyss instead.
-- N
randomling
First Post
All right, religion is going to be very sketchy, 'cause the link to the articles doesn't seem to be working today. 
I have images of a monotheistic faith that is loosely (very loosely) based on Christianity. The faith worships a single (probably neutral) god, but there are sects ranging from LG to CE and everything in between. Clerics of this deity choose one domain based on their alignment, but have free choice for their second domain. Neutral clerics have free choice for both domains. (I might restrict some domains by alignment - no evil clerics with Healing, no good clerics with Destruction, something like that).
I think there are... five mainstream sects which are followed widely throughout the Hundred Isles. They're all either good or neutral morally speaking, and ethics wise I think there is probably only one chaotic one.
I can't think of any names.
Neutral Good sect - this sect advocates philanthropy and charitable deeds as the primary method of worship. Practitioners from this sect tend to be altruists who give money to the poor, volunteer their time to care for the sick, or take in orphans. Hospitals, orphanages and poorhouses tend to be run by this sect. At its worst, the sect has a reputation for wishy-washiness.
Lawful Neutral sect - "give away your money" is the primary doctrine of this sect, for according to them, you can't worship properly in luxury. Clerics of this sect take vows of poverty, and devout followers are encouraged to tithe large portions of their income to the church (which is then often passed on to charitable foundations). This sect is highly puritan too; unlike most other sects, it calls consumption of alcohol a sin and discourages plays, dancing and music. Services and ceremonies are drab and dull as a result.
Lawful Good sect - this lot are fairly militant. This is the sect that trains and employs paladins, and often joins up with the Queen's Guard to root out pirates, criminals and other "ne'er-do-wells". Followers of this sect are advised to "take up arms against sin", rigidly controlling their own behaviour and confronting sinful acts whenever they take place. At its worst, this sect has a reputation for inspiring vigilantism in its followers.
Neutral sect - members of this sect tend to keep themselves to themselves, and its doctrines focus on establishing a personal communion with God. Religious practises are centred on meditation and silent worship. Services are held regularly, but this sect also makes a point of keep its buildings open day and night for impromptu services and counselling (junior priests tend to get lumbered with the graveyard shift). Unlike some other sects, this sect keeps well out of local and national politics, simply making a point to tend to any injured or troubled who knock on their door.
Chaotic Good sect - I'm almost tempted to take Wicca's "an it harm none, do as thou wilt" as a doctrine for these guys, but it doesn't quite fit. This is a freedom-loving and politically active sect who tend to be at odds with a generally lawful government. Currently, slavery and indentured service are legal, but this sect is campaigning to have what it calls "barbaric practises" abolished. The sect advocates fighting for your beliefs and the freedom of others as the purest form of praising God. Occasionally, the sect publishes incendiary leaflets and papers - most of which get burned by the government.
Would it be cool or a cliche to call the first three the Altruists, the Puritans and the Knights? And how about the other two, what should I call them?
I have images of a monotheistic faith that is loosely (very loosely) based on Christianity. The faith worships a single (probably neutral) god, but there are sects ranging from LG to CE and everything in between. Clerics of this deity choose one domain based on their alignment, but have free choice for their second domain. Neutral clerics have free choice for both domains. (I might restrict some domains by alignment - no evil clerics with Healing, no good clerics with Destruction, something like that).
I think there are... five mainstream sects which are followed widely throughout the Hundred Isles. They're all either good or neutral morally speaking, and ethics wise I think there is probably only one chaotic one.
I can't think of any names.
Neutral Good sect - this sect advocates philanthropy and charitable deeds as the primary method of worship. Practitioners from this sect tend to be altruists who give money to the poor, volunteer their time to care for the sick, or take in orphans. Hospitals, orphanages and poorhouses tend to be run by this sect. At its worst, the sect has a reputation for wishy-washiness.
Lawful Neutral sect - "give away your money" is the primary doctrine of this sect, for according to them, you can't worship properly in luxury. Clerics of this sect take vows of poverty, and devout followers are encouraged to tithe large portions of their income to the church (which is then often passed on to charitable foundations). This sect is highly puritan too; unlike most other sects, it calls consumption of alcohol a sin and discourages plays, dancing and music. Services and ceremonies are drab and dull as a result.
Lawful Good sect - this lot are fairly militant. This is the sect that trains and employs paladins, and often joins up with the Queen's Guard to root out pirates, criminals and other "ne'er-do-wells". Followers of this sect are advised to "take up arms against sin", rigidly controlling their own behaviour and confronting sinful acts whenever they take place. At its worst, this sect has a reputation for inspiring vigilantism in its followers.
Neutral sect - members of this sect tend to keep themselves to themselves, and its doctrines focus on establishing a personal communion with God. Religious practises are centred on meditation and silent worship. Services are held regularly, but this sect also makes a point of keep its buildings open day and night for impromptu services and counselling (junior priests tend to get lumbered with the graveyard shift). Unlike some other sects, this sect keeps well out of local and national politics, simply making a point to tend to any injured or troubled who knock on their door.
Chaotic Good sect - I'm almost tempted to take Wicca's "an it harm none, do as thou wilt" as a doctrine for these guys, but it doesn't quite fit. This is a freedom-loving and politically active sect who tend to be at odds with a generally lawful government. Currently, slavery and indentured service are legal, but this sect is campaigning to have what it calls "barbaric practises" abolished. The sect advocates fighting for your beliefs and the freedom of others as the purest form of praising God. Occasionally, the sect publishes incendiary leaflets and papers - most of which get burned by the government.
Would it be cool or a cliche to call the first three the Altruists, the Puritans and the Knights? And how about the other two, what should I call them?
randomling
First Post
It certainly makes sense that the "other place" could be Faerie, but somehow it doesn't quite sit right with me. It feels like kind of a cross between Faerie and Ravenloft, if that makes sense?
I think I'm going to make it a plane of Shadow style thing: a dark version of our world, but of course the maps are different. They'll be called the Grey Lands (as opposed to the Green Lands of the Prime).
I need a secret regarding religion, don't I? I think there's a powerful evil (probably LE) sect that knows about the Grey Lands and is trying to use nasty magic (voodoo maybe) to manipulate things to its advantage. I'm not sure what the LE sect wants yet, but the Grey Lands are instrumental in its plans...
I think I'm going to make it a plane of Shadow style thing: a dark version of our world, but of course the maps are different. They'll be called the Grey Lands (as opposed to the Green Lands of the Prime).
I need a secret regarding religion, don't I? I think there's a powerful evil (probably LE) sect that knows about the Grey Lands and is trying to use nasty magic (voodoo maybe) to manipulate things to its advantage. I'm not sure what the LE sect wants yet, but the Grey Lands are instrumental in its plans...
Since I'm stealing from your world, I'll offer you a bit of mine.
In one of my kingdoms I did monotheism roughly based on Christianity as well. There are two secrets for this one. The god himself is Auros the Mighty, who is the parton of his isle, represented by the sun, healer, and foe to demons and devils. All other gods are either aspects of Auros or (usually) considered to be demons. Secret #1 is that Auros darn well knows he's not the only god. The isle used to have a full pantheon, but in a conflict for faiths long ago Auros won. He's now worshiped as the only god, and he likes to keep it that way.
For sects and to provide choice for PC clerics, I came up with several saints. These are historical figures who represent different aspects of Auros. The LG sect follows the King and the divine right of his line to rule the isle. The CG aspect is named for a hero who rose up in resistance when part of the isle had been conquered by her enemies. At one point, the LG and CG sects were at each others throat, on the brink of splitting the kingdom into civil war. A monk found some ancient manuscripts that settled the matter and forbid any such rifts. Here's secret #2 - the manuscripts are not the Word of Auros. The monk, who is now the LN patron saint of scholars and knowledge, forged them in order to bring peace. If this were ever revealed, it would likely lead to chaos.
It worked rather well.
In one of my kingdoms I did monotheism roughly based on Christianity as well. There are two secrets for this one. The god himself is Auros the Mighty, who is the parton of his isle, represented by the sun, healer, and foe to demons and devils. All other gods are either aspects of Auros or (usually) considered to be demons. Secret #1 is that Auros darn well knows he's not the only god. The isle used to have a full pantheon, but in a conflict for faiths long ago Auros won. He's now worshiped as the only god, and he likes to keep it that way.
For sects and to provide choice for PC clerics, I came up with several saints. These are historical figures who represent different aspects of Auros. The LG sect follows the King and the divine right of his line to rule the isle. The CG aspect is named for a hero who rose up in resistance when part of the isle had been conquered by her enemies. At one point, the LG and CG sects were at each others throat, on the brink of splitting the kingdom into civil war. A monk found some ancient manuscripts that settled the matter and forbid any such rifts. Here's secret #2 - the manuscripts are not the Word of Auros. The monk, who is now the LN patron saint of scholars and knowledge, forged them in order to bring peace. If this were ever revealed, it would likely lead to chaos.
It worked rather well.
randomling
First Post
Maddman - nicking the name and some of the ideas wholesale! Thanks! Auros the Mighty really works for me, and I can picture there being a whole pantheon, some deities of which are still worshipped on outlying islands. On other continents, of course, the religious situation might be quite different... however, other continents are a bit out of my remit at the moment.
I like the idea of the different saints, too. Sects could be Church of St... whatever. Of course, some saints will be evil. They're the lesser-known saints, I guess.
St Helen: founded the Helenites or Altruists (my NG sect; formal name Church of St Helen).
St John: founded the Neutral sect, who are simply known as the Church of St John.
St Remy de Lucca: founded the CG sect, the Church of St Remy, also known as the Remites.
St Alain Le Chevalier: founded the Knights, Chevaliers, or Church of St Alain (LG sect).
St Mark: founded the Puritans or Church of St Mark.
Of course there are evil saints. But the Hundred Isle's dirtiest secret, I think, is the Church of St Alexander. There's little record outside of the upper echelons of the Alexandrite church, now, that St Alexander himself was a debauched serial killer as well as the great scholar he is remembered as. The Alexandrite church's public face is LN and Alexandrite churches provide a great deal of education for the masses. They also keep libraries and records like no one outside of the royal family. Thus, they have pretty much all the information that exists anywhere on the Grey Lands... and they're working towards using it for their own purposes. The Alexandrites, or Scholars, also call themselves (in secret) the Devourers. They're LE, and they want the Hundred Islands for themselves...
I like the idea of the different saints, too. Sects could be Church of St... whatever. Of course, some saints will be evil. They're the lesser-known saints, I guess.
St Helen: founded the Helenites or Altruists (my NG sect; formal name Church of St Helen).
St John: founded the Neutral sect, who are simply known as the Church of St John.
St Remy de Lucca: founded the CG sect, the Church of St Remy, also known as the Remites.
St Alain Le Chevalier: founded the Knights, Chevaliers, or Church of St Alain (LG sect).
St Mark: founded the Puritans or Church of St Mark.
Of course there are evil saints. But the Hundred Isle's dirtiest secret, I think, is the Church of St Alexander. There's little record outside of the upper echelons of the Alexandrite church, now, that St Alexander himself was a debauched serial killer as well as the great scholar he is remembered as. The Alexandrite church's public face is LN and Alexandrite churches provide a great deal of education for the masses. They also keep libraries and records like no one outside of the royal family. Thus, they have pretty much all the information that exists anywhere on the Grey Lands... and they're working towards using it for their own purposes. The Alexandrites, or Scholars, also call themselves (in secret) the Devourers. They're LE, and they want the Hundred Islands for themselves...
randomling
First Post
The last thing I have to do on this is create two myths. I'm utterly at a loss...
...I guess I'll have a think and come back to it tomorrow.
...I guess I'll have a think and come back to it tomorrow.
