Sailors on the River of Worlds- Update

[Psion]

I see no particular reason to stuff the Plane of Agony into the Ten Hells. I am pretty much using an open cosmology (well sort of -- I am using the great wheel, but not all heavens and hells are obligated to be on it... the plane of shadow and the spirit world extend to the lower and upper planes respectively, and you can hang other heavens and hells off of that.) With an open cosmology, there is no reason to stuff things where they don't fit.

I am sort of adopting an idea someone brought up on the Planescape boards at the Pits, and also similar to the way I handled heavens in my own game. Basically, I make planes that intesect each others. For example, the Ten Hells really intersect the 9 hells, the abyss, and a variety of other planes.

I really had no intention (and having just jotted down all the planes I plan to visit, ROOM) to add the plane of agony. However, one villain I was planning was a raveller (from Arsenal: Spiked Chain) who would be a priest or priestess of a god(dess) of pain, so there might be an indirect tie-in.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Will you be using Mind Flayers at all? It sounds like they would be in opposition to the plans of the Chaos Spawn. If you're read Hellhound book by Paradigm, it has Mind Flayers coming from the original universe, much like you've mentioned here.

It could lead to all sorts of interesting twists as psionics and chaositech class with the players caught in the middle.

How about some mercenary rivalry? In Dragon they have a mercenary company (think they're called the Forgotten)that's from the planes that is similiar to the one you mentioned. Could be some interesting bits if players are on both sides of the conflict at first before they get seperated and have to start back.

 

[Psion]

Will you be using Mind Flayers at all? It sounds like they would be in opposition to the plans of the Chaos Spawn. If you're read Hellhound book by Paradigm, it has Mind Flayers coming from the original universe, much like you've mentioned here.

Yup. I thought long and hard about why the mind flayers seems to be different from the rest of the chaos spawn type creatures, and what I have is this:

The mind flayers are essentially refugees from the Far Realm/Time Before. They have no intention of going back. They want to rule in this realm. In the far realm, their ordered ways left them outcasts with relatively little power. Here, they are powerful, and intend to keep their new stomping grounds viable for the domination.

Does this mean that Mind Flayers will act against Chaos? Yes, yes it does.

How about some mercenary rivalry? In Dragon they have a mercenary company (think they're called the Forgotten)that's from the planes that is similiar to the one you mentioned. Could be some interesting bits if players are on both sides of the conflict at first before they get seperated and have to start back.

Whereabouts was that? Issue #, etc. I seem to remember something like that in the murky recesses of my mind.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Couldn't help with the issue number off the top of my head I'm afraid. I know that the cover talks about Mercenaries leading you to think that it's a special about mercenaries as opposed to a specific group. Article was written by Mike Mearls and has some unique exotic weapons and other goods to it. Wayne Reynolds cover maybe? Ah, senility, how hard you strike at me...

Anyway, with the Mind Flayers, are you going to be using Beholders or anything like that in your game? I've always felt that due to their odd nature, there would be some type of rivalry between these two aberrant races. Only room for one at the top of the food chain and all that.

 

[Psion]

Couldn't help with the issue number off the top of my head I'm afraid. I know that the cover talks about Mercenaries leading you to think that it's a special about mercenaries as opposed to a specific group. Article was written by Mike Mearls and has some unique exotic weapons and other goods to it. Wayne Reynolds cover maybe?

Matt Cavotta, maybe?
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showmagazine&magazineid=396
http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showarticle&articleid=2867

Hmmm... it seems like there are some thematic overlaps here. If I use the nameless legions, I might need to explain common origins in the group. Which I am already doing with other groups (diamond knights and diamond warriors).

Anyway, with the Mind Flayers, are you going to be using Beholders or anything like that in your game?

Not as a featured villain, no. If the players return to their homeworld, they might come up because they play a role near one of the cahracter's homelands.

 

[Nightfall]

Well you can always add a small tributary for room I guess. But I guess I just like the idea of Hellraiser Hell meeting the rest of the D&D type Hells.


And yes I believe it was 304 that had the Faceless Legion. Course I've already had my own "infinite" army conquering plane after plane for the Dark One. But that's not D&D based as much as something I just write about for fun.

In any event Psion, been looking more closely at Liber Mortis...and I think maybe another aspect might be an entropic source helping the Galthull(sp). Perhaps an atropal? Just one idea.

 

[Psion]

In any event Psion, been looking more closely at Liber Mortis...and I think maybe another aspect might be an entropic source helping the Galthull(sp).

Galchutt

(At least you finally gor Slarecian down. )

Perhaps an atropal? Just one idea.

Hmmm... I think I'll resist for now/pocket that for later. Undead is my normal big baddie. Chaos might make a nice break.

What I think I may do is insert a few undead as lesser or even whimsical villains or neutrals in the campaign.

Hmmm... perhaps a trip to Hallowfaust is in order...

 

[Psion]

You find inspiration in the strangest places.

Wouldn't this make the most wonderful set of Agent Provacatuers for Chaos in the Jeweled City:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040909b

Edit: And this would be great for the Lizard Kingdoms:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20040614x

 

[Nightfall]

Psion

Yeah well spelling and myself are near mortal foes at times. In any case you knew what I meant.

If you DO go to Hollowfaust, probably a good idea to look up the head priest of Nemorga there. After all he and his god ALWAYS know who is gonna bite the big one first. (And they don't do too shabby death/transistion prophieces either.)

 

[JoeGKushner]

In terms of the mercenaries having common origins (Faceless and Forgotten), have you read the Black Company novels, especially those in the latter end of the series? It's been a while for me, but basically werent' they originally designed to like destroy the multiverse and kind of just became mercenaries as they went along and their spirals of dimensional skipping portals were destroyed or damaged? (Books of the South I'm thinking)

And yeah, it was #304. After mentioning this, I went out and picked up Mongoose's Book of the Planes. Not bad at all.

And yes, Chaos, in it's current form, does make a nice change of pace.

Are you going to be using the Far Realm from WoTC in any way? Perhaps an Alienists or aspiring one could help lead the party into all sorts of trouble. Reaper has a new mini that looks like a miniature Cthulhu that could come in handy for those things. Any use of d20 Call of Cthulhu? Not quite Chaos, but they do have all sorts of 'weird' science going on.