Scarred Lands: Ask the Sage (Going into Triple OT Folk!)

[Nightfall]

Are SL cultures based on Earth-type cultures; eg. European, Asian, Arabic, etc. or are they pretty much unique creations?

Pretty much. It varies from region to region, as Veshians are atypical European in terms they are kind of Renniassance minded individuals. Albadians favor Nordic types, with Darakenee being similiar to England in the Early Middle Ages (IE tribal stuff mixed in with feudalism). There some unique creations, as orcs and half orcs tend to be very tribal no matter the region. Elves vary in terms of Vera-tre being a kind of spiritual haven at war with fixing stuff and of course the Cannibal Druids of Khirdet. (Yes you read that right. They eat people. LOTS of people.) Dwarves, for the most part, favor being mountain dwarves as they most common in Ghelspad. What that means is they are clan based and hold heavily to the traditions handed down by both Corean and Goran. Halflings are, as a whole, a down trodden lot that are often co-opted by the Calastians to keep down rebellions. They are more numerous in the southern region of Ghelspad. Half Orcs, they come from the south (most as slaves) and the Plains of Lede. Ukudruans are desert nomads that live and fight as best they can in the harsh lands and deal with the Sutak, the Asaatthi and the Daywalkers as best they can. This is after of course the heat waves, desert winds, and naturally sand storms.

How do the people of Ghelspad differ in appearance, dress, culture to, say, the people of Termana?

They differ quite a bit. The humans of the region tend to be on the alert and trying hard to eke out a living. While Ghelspad isn't quite a paradise, Termana, by in large, is more of Savage/Lost world type deal. Thus the people there, at least nontitanspawn, are much like the people of Northern Africia in culture and often in appearance. The Sisters of the Sun, and the Calastian ex-partriots are probably the only similiar Ghelspadian influence you could find. That and the fact there were/are possibly still draconic influences thanks to the Forsaken Elves and the Eternal Isle.

Is there a Living SL campaign?

Sadly no. And I doubt there will be plans for it. There's been talk of it several times but to my knowledge, nothing has come of it.

(Just a side note: I'm still a Sage. Thus the title applies. )

 

[Forge]

I am thinking of starting a SL campaign with my group and running the Serpent Amphora cycle starting with the Serpent Amphora adventure from the SL website.

Some questions for those who have ran it or played it.

The Serpent Amphora adventure starts off in the village of Trela. Where is this located exactly? It says on the river between New Venir and Lageni but where at along the river? I would assume its on the river at the nothern most tip of New Venir next to the Blood Steppes. But which side? Is it in New Venir, Lageni, or in the Blood Steppes?

Also the distance between Trela to Lave is what about 500 miles? What route did your party take? What encounters did you run into? Just need some ideas. How long would this trip take?

Thanks

 

[Nightfall]

Forge,

I'd say it's on the border of the Blood Steppes, most likely the New Venir side. (Though it's possible it could be Lageni as they do have remnents from Belsameth lurking around).

The encounter to Lave would probably entail a little encounter with Calastian/Lageni raiding parties. Possibly even Black Dragoons on manueuvers(sp). Another possibly, some titanspawn (your pick) coming down the Keldars. Finally I'd say it would take probably 2-3 days travel, maybe more depending on the weather.

 

[Nightfall]

Bumping along...

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Hollowfaust question:

Caveat: I don't have the book in front of me and I mostly do my D&D reading at 5:30 am while I'm feeding my baby girl. So there is a high probability that I overlooked something obvious.

Hollowfaust makes frequent mention of three sieges of some kind of monster-guys (the Suluk? Sulins? Sulus? An army of George Takei lookalikes sounds fearsome, but I think I have the name wrong). In any case I can't seem to find their stats in the monster section of the book. This strikes me as a rather large oversight either on the book's part or my part. So what's going on?

 

[dreaded_beast]

My Memorial Day SL Adventure

Here is what I decided:

On the way to the Hag Forest, the PCs will encounter a Neutral Asaathi (Fang), who will try to convince the PCs to help him rescue another Neutral Asaathi who has been captured by Pisceans (Green).

The Pisceans captured the other Asaathi to gain the access to a small underwater prison/tomb that the Neutral Asaathi have been guarding. The underwater tomb lies at the bottom of a cliff face next to the ocean. Within the prison/tomb lies a fierce servant of Momo, a Dark Naga. The Pisceans hope to free the Dark Naga and use it for their own ends.

The party does not know that Fang is of Neutral in alignment and Fang does not explain why the Pisceans captured the Neutral Asaathi. As payment Fang offers them information about the island and how to remove a curse that the PCs have been inflicted by.

If the PCs do not agree, they can continue on to the Hag Forest and face the Hags and their minions.

That was the plan.

Instead, the PCs decided to go and investigate the Asaathi ruins instead and explore the Library there. (They do not know it is a Library yet). I was a bit unprepared for that. So while they were travelling in that direction, I presented them with Fang, hoping they would accept.

Luckily they did, so they headed towards the underwater tomb, calling it the Piscean Cave instead, since they do not know it was a tomb. Along the way, they encountered a Bog Mummy (Mummy stats from the MM), which infected a PC, (Cleric of Madriel). The Cleric sustained roughly 10 points of Con and Cha damage. They defeated it and headed towards the location.

They finally arrived there and using a combination of a potion of water breathing and an amulet of water breathing 3/day, they entered the water. There the encountered 5 Pisceans (Green). Underwater combat ensued. 1 Piscean ran away as a result of a "cause fear" spell cast by the Elf Sorceress, 3 ran away due to low hit points, and 1 was killed.

*I think the Green Pisceans are alot harder than CR 2. They would have wiped the floor with PCs, I think, if I didn't make them run away. Plus, I didn't use most of there "special" abilities and I forgot that they were Large creatures.

Finally the found the cave entrance. Next came a "cut-scene" (where I describe other things going on that the PCs don't see, but the player themselves do). The cut-scene was of the fleeing Pisceans looking behind them with a look of terror as they were swallowed whole by a large fanged mouth. That is where the session ended.

*On a side-note, this session was a bit awkward because tonight was the first time I had to make a player lose his turn because he was taking too long to decide what to do. He takes roughly 5 minutes or more deciding what to do on his turn, while everyone else takes roughly 2 minutes at most.

 

[cats_claw]

I am thinking of starting a SL campaign with my group and running the Serpent Amphora cycle starting with the Serpent Amphora adventure from the SL website.

Some questions for those who have ran it or played it.

********* SPOILER ALERT **************

Hey Forge -- I literally started my group on Sat night on the PDF adventure and after a long night, we ended up in Lave. The games were fun, but the adventure took a major spin, because when the party got the amphora from the ranger in the beginning, they shoved it into a backpack and left immediately.

So the asaatthi never got a chance to steal it back.... but we had a GREAT time on the journey up to Lave. There was a Lageni outpost involved, the Storm Hag, and lost of running, fighting and hiding.

Also the distance between Trela to Lave is what about 500 miles? What route did your party take? What encounters did you run into? Just need some ideas. How long would this trip take?

It is far, according to the map (in the Ghelspad hardcover) like 400 miles. So between the river, the blood steppes, and beasties, it was very eventful. More to come later.....

catsclaw

 

[Nightfall]

Hollowfaust question:

Caveat: I don't have the book in front of me and I mostly do my D&D reading at 5:30 am while I'm feeding my baby girl. So there is a high probability that I overlooked something obvious.

Hollowfaust makes frequent mention of three sieges of some kind of monster-guys (the Suluk? Sulins? Sulus? An army of George Takei lookalikes sounds fearsome, but I think I have the name wrong). In any case I can't seem to find their stats in the monster section of the book. This strikes me as a rather large oversight either on the book's part or my part. So what's going on?

It's Sutak. And they aren't George Takei look alikes. They are more like ass/horse faced carnivores. They are in Creature Collection 2.

db, that's some sweet stuff. (And yes Pisceans are stronger than CR 2. I'd say at least a CR 4.)

Cats, I also appreciate the insight.

 

[Psion]

Nightfall, I'm not seeing your PMs as enabled, so I thought I'd drop this by.

There is a fellow on RPGnet looking for a D&D setting who is actually not being pounced on by every Kalamar fan in creation yet. It looks like he is down to choosing between SL or Kalamar. You may want to go over there and put in your sales pitch. Try not to come across too overeager, now, or you could push him away.

Thread at:
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?threadid=126075

 

[Nightfall]

Psion,

Reason for my PMs not working, I'm not a community member. Next time email my friend. Or send me an ICQ message.