Over the next week, I am going to work on a series of location descriptions - of the eight Steadings of the Greywater Jarls (Storm King Barbarians). These are the strongholds/capitals of the various land holdings of the eight powerful barbarian tribes in the valley around the Greywater and Terrapin rivers.
These are the seats of power for these powerful Storm King barbarian rulers. In some cases they represent the sort of palisade-surrounded towns that are common in medieval Scandinavia, on Earth. In others they represent actual castles, made of a variety of materials.
Where appropriate, the surrounding elements of the region (named, but hardly described, in the posting River Jarls of the Greywater (Map)) are also enclosed.
These will be done in numerical order (1-8) as per the numbered key to the map.
Jun 5, 2012
River Jarls of the Greywater (Map)
- Icewall
- Seawyrm
- Bright Iron Fastness
- Hearthhome of the White Wolf
- Rookroost - Daughters of the River Raven
- Clearwater
- Mead Hall
- Northwind Steading
- Furlingga Tribes (Gnolls)
- Rockhome Kingdom (Dwarves)
- Marsh Trolls
- Orc Clans
- Great Bear Kingdom
B. Ice Lake
C. Witches Three
D. Stonehouses
E. Plain of Fire
F. The Sword People
G. Tower of Belue Gorm
H. The Great Tree
May 23, 2012
Storm King Barbarians
Before the three Goddesses were worshiped by the Westroners. Before even the Westroners came into the valley, the northern peoples (all those north of the Great River) knew and worshiped Bronc, the Storm King. He is an old deity, who was even known by the Old Ones, but the details of the relationship are not known these days.
The peoples who, since long ago, have remained true to the Storm King culture are divided up into tribes. There are an unknown number of tribes across the northern frontier of the Destriel Mountains, however there is a concentration of various powerful tribes in and around the lands between the Great Owl Forest and the Shadow Woods. This includes along the shores of the Greywater River, and also the Terrapin River. The tribesmen are found throughout the region, however, due to the strong emphasis placed in the culture to go a-viking (raids for booty and adventure).
The tribes in the regions around the Greywater are in some ways rivals of the Westron Baronies, at least how they existed hundreds of years ago, when they were first formed. There are a variety of the tribes in this area strong enough and numerous enough to have formed (small) cities. These cities are walled wooden structures, usually with a deep moat around the outer wall. Many of the Jarls who rule these cities are wealthy enough that they can field sizable fleets of dragon ships along the Greywater and Terrapin rivers.
Because of the concentration of tribesmen that settle in and around these cities, there is actually a reasonably well defined economy, with all variety of specialty craftsmen. Because of this, the military technology available to not only the huscarls and fyrdmen, but also to freebooters and adventurers nearly rivals that of the Westron Baronies. Storm King barbarians disdain, as a whole, armor heavier than chainmail, and also the use of the pike and of the crossbow. Preferred weapons are the sling, javelin and bow for ranged combat, and the broadsword and battleaxe for hand-to-hand combat.
In addition to the cities of the more powerful tribes, there are numerous smaller villages dotting the region. Many of these are peopled primarily by a single tribe, to also include those that marry in (either by arrangement, or as the result of viking raids). These tribes are also protected wooden affairs, with wooden buildings, and occasionally (when built along either a main river, or a navigable tributary) with slips for dragon ships, and other craft. Many of these villages (almost all) are direct fiefdom holdings of the more powerful Jarls, and so owe fyrdmen - feudal warriors - to the Jarl whenever he has a need for them. When they are NOT enfiefed to the Jarl the fyrdmen either take care of their own small land holdings (animals and crops) or are out on viking raids.
While animals are used for labor and muscle power (both in transport, and agriculture), there is not a strong horse riding culture among the Storm King barbarians. Other animals are domesticated, and occasionally ridden, and these include giant rams, wooly rhinos, bison, great bears, and even (occasionally) giant snowy owls from the Great Owl Forest.
The peoples who, since long ago, have remained true to the Storm King culture are divided up into tribes. There are an unknown number of tribes across the northern frontier of the Destriel Mountains, however there is a concentration of various powerful tribes in and around the lands between the Great Owl Forest and the Shadow Woods. This includes along the shores of the Greywater River, and also the Terrapin River. The tribesmen are found throughout the region, however, due to the strong emphasis placed in the culture to go a-viking (raids for booty and adventure).
The tribes in the regions around the Greywater are in some ways rivals of the Westron Baronies, at least how they existed hundreds of years ago, when they were first formed. There are a variety of the tribes in this area strong enough and numerous enough to have formed (small) cities. These cities are walled wooden structures, usually with a deep moat around the outer wall. Many of the Jarls who rule these cities are wealthy enough that they can field sizable fleets of dragon ships along the Greywater and Terrapin rivers.
In addition to the cities of the more powerful tribes, there are numerous smaller villages dotting the region. Many of these are peopled primarily by a single tribe, to also include those that marry in (either by arrangement, or as the result of viking raids). These tribes are also protected wooden affairs, with wooden buildings, and occasionally (when built along either a main river, or a navigable tributary) with slips for dragon ships, and other craft. Many of these villages (almost all) are direct fiefdom holdings of the more powerful Jarls, and so owe fyrdmen - feudal warriors - to the Jarl whenever he has a need for them. When they are NOT enfiefed to the Jarl the fyrdmen either take care of their own small land holdings (animals and crops) or are out on viking raids.
May 17, 2012
Blood Stars
These dangerous parasites live in the Cliffs of Cloud caves near the home of the Sky Snails. They were first mentioned in the write up on Amberstone mining.
Num Appearing: 2d6 in a nest, rarely encountered alone
Alignment: neutral
Movement: 10' (when crawling), see below for jet propulsion
Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: 1
Damage: 1d4+1
Save: F2
Morale: 7
Special: The Blood Star, when full grown, looks like a large star fish, approximately 14 inches across, and it is blood red. They dwell in caves and along cliffs and trees inhabited by other animals that they parasitically draw blood from (such as sky snails).
If they sense a living being within 30' they will attack, their attack amounting to a jet propulsion attack from their roost. If they hit scores, they strike their victim on an exposed fleshy part, where they can do damage, and attempt to insert their blood tentacle (see below). If they miss, then roll 1d6 - on a 1-3, they have struck the victim somewhere (armor, clothes, thich hair) where they cannot reach susceptible skin. On a 4-6, they have landed on the ground in a random direction, some 1d6 feet from the feet of the intended victim.
Once an attack scores damage, there is a chance that the blood star will attach a tentacle into it's victim (save vs. petrification to avoid). If that occurs, it will draw blood each turn (1d6 points of damage). On any turn when the blood star scores 6 points of damage, it has drawn enough energy from its victim to launch a brood of young blood stars. These cannot move, but will use jet propulsion to attack victims within 30'. There will be 1d6 young, from each launching (it happens every time a blood star rolls a '6' for blood damage). The young only have 1hd, and only do 1d2 damage from their initial attack, but once they start drawing blood, they quickly grow to life size, and have the nodules on their back to begin launching their own broods as soon as they roll a '6' for blood damage.
Num Appearing: 2d6 in a nest, rarely encountered alone
Alignment: neutral
Movement: 10' (when crawling), see below for jet propulsion
Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 2
Attacks: 1
Damage: 1d4+1
Save: F2
Morale: 7
Special: The Blood Star, when full grown, looks like a large star fish, approximately 14 inches across, and it is blood red. They dwell in caves and along cliffs and trees inhabited by other animals that they parasitically draw blood from (such as sky snails).
If they sense a living being within 30' they will attack, their attack amounting to a jet propulsion attack from their roost. If they hit scores, they strike their victim on an exposed fleshy part, where they can do damage, and attempt to insert their blood tentacle (see below). If they miss, then roll 1d6 - on a 1-3, they have struck the victim somewhere (armor, clothes, thich hair) where they cannot reach susceptible skin. On a 4-6, they have landed on the ground in a random direction, some 1d6 feet from the feet of the intended victim.
Once an attack scores damage, there is a chance that the blood star will attach a tentacle into it's victim (save vs. petrification to avoid). If that occurs, it will draw blood each turn (1d6 points of damage). On any turn when the blood star scores 6 points of damage, it has drawn enough energy from its victim to launch a brood of young blood stars. These cannot move, but will use jet propulsion to attack victims within 30'. There will be 1d6 young, from each launching (it happens every time a blood star rolls a '6' for blood damage). The young only have 1hd, and only do 1d2 damage from their initial attack, but once they start drawing blood, they quickly grow to life size, and have the nodules on their back to begin launching their own broods as soon as they roll a '6' for blood damage.
Sky Snails
Sky snails are key to the mining operation of Amberstone described here. In addition to the role they play in transporting the large multi-ton blocks of Amberstone out of the mountains, and down to the city of Khomaes, and beyond, the snails are fascinating creature in their own right.
Num Appearing: either 2 (mated pair), or 2d12 (colony)
Alignment: neutral good
Movement: 30' (unless enraged, then it becomes 120')/ fly 30'
Armor Class: 2
Hit Dice: 12 (fully grown)
Num Attacks: 1 (unless enraged, then 3) - this is always 1 acid shot (range 30', and when enraged will also get feeler flails
Damage: acid shot 2d6 (save v. poison or take an additional 1d6 for 1d4 rounds); feeler flails are 2d8
Save: F12 (matching hd)
Morale: 9
Special: Extra attacks (feeler flails) and extra speed only are available when the Sky Snail is enraged, conditions for being enraged described below.
Description: Sky snails are a peculiar breed of giant snail that dwell in and around the crevices and caves of the Cliffs of Cloud. Their most peculiar visible features are (1) their size (they can get up to 10' across the shell, and perhaps another 4' of extended head, and 4' of extended tail), and (2) their amazing bright color. It is an intense, and brilliant cobalt blue (in the shell) when fully grown, and a slightly lighter shade for the flesh of the body. As newly hatched younglings, they are actually white, with shells of only the slightest tint of blue.
In addition to their size and appearance, however, there is another feature of the sky snails that is remarkable. Their shells have a natural ability to not only levitate, but also to support a vast amount of weight. These shells retain this ability once the snails are dead, for a period of time (1d6+6 months). If it were not levitating, the empty shell of a fully grown sky snail would weigh nearly 1000 pounds, but have a weight of nothing because of the magical levitation characteristic. A fully grown snail shell can also lift a further weight of 2 tons (4000 pounds).
The snails are fairly sedate and lethargic. They will only attack, unless attacked, in two different circumstances (both of these "enrage" the snails, which raises their movement value to 120'). First, if the young (1hd, AC 6) of a mated pair of sky snails (they mate for life, sharing what wizards describe as a "mild telepathic bond") are threatened in any way, both parents will attack with a fury. Second, whenever the metals Electrum or Platinum are brought within 100' of a snail, they will attack the source, and seek to voraciously consume the metal. They do this with their corrosive, acidic body juices.
In addition to being able to move by their normal snail foot motion, the snails can release and from their surface, and fly. They have an organ that allows them to direct their levitation, allowing them to fly at a 30' rate. There is not a known limit to how high they can levitate above the surface. It has been surmised that they could possible reach the moons.
Num Appearing: either 2 (mated pair), or 2d12 (colony)
Alignment: neutral good
Movement: 30' (unless enraged, then it becomes 120')/ fly 30'
Armor Class: 2
Hit Dice: 12 (fully grown)
Num Attacks: 1 (unless enraged, then 3) - this is always 1 acid shot (range 30', and when enraged will also get feeler flails
Damage: acid shot 2d6 (save v. poison or take an additional 1d6 for 1d4 rounds); feeler flails are 2d8
Save: F12 (matching hd)
Morale: 9
Special: Extra attacks (feeler flails) and extra speed only are available when the Sky Snail is enraged, conditions for being enraged described below.
Description: Sky snails are a peculiar breed of giant snail that dwell in and around the crevices and caves of the Cliffs of Cloud. Their most peculiar visible features are (1) their size (they can get up to 10' across the shell, and perhaps another 4' of extended head, and 4' of extended tail), and (2) their amazing bright color. It is an intense, and brilliant cobalt blue (in the shell) when fully grown, and a slightly lighter shade for the flesh of the body. As newly hatched younglings, they are actually white, with shells of only the slightest tint of blue.
In addition to their size and appearance, however, there is another feature of the sky snails that is remarkable. Their shells have a natural ability to not only levitate, but also to support a vast amount of weight. These shells retain this ability once the snails are dead, for a period of time (1d6+6 months). If it were not levitating, the empty shell of a fully grown sky snail would weigh nearly 1000 pounds, but have a weight of nothing because of the magical levitation characteristic. A fully grown snail shell can also lift a further weight of 2 tons (4000 pounds).
The snails are fairly sedate and lethargic. They will only attack, unless attacked, in two different circumstances (both of these "enrage" the snails, which raises their movement value to 120'). First, if the young (1hd, AC 6) of a mated pair of sky snails (they mate for life, sharing what wizards describe as a "mild telepathic bond") are threatened in any way, both parents will attack with a fury. Second, whenever the metals Electrum or Platinum are brought within 100' of a snail, they will attack the source, and seek to voraciously consume the metal. They do this with their corrosive, acidic body juices.
In addition to being able to move by their normal snail foot motion, the snails can release and from their surface, and fly. They have an organ that allows them to direct their levitation, allowing them to fly at a 30' rate. There is not a known limit to how high they can levitate above the surface. It has been surmised that they could possible reach the moons.
 | |
| Sky Snail, feeding and protecting its nest near the Nightwash River. |
Apr 28, 2012
Sky mining for Amberstone
As mentioned, briefly, in the posting on the Darkearth Plains, the Nightwash River comes out of the Destriel Mountains, and flows over a great cliff wall at the edge of the mountains (the Nightwash Falls). That cliff wall is part of a curious formation called the Cliffs of Cloud. Soaring over 3000 feet in the air, above the plains below, this formidable edge of the Destriel Mountains extends some miles in either direction of the Nightwash Falls, and does not get noticeably easier to navigate anywhere in the region. And still - there have been numerous attempts at carving trails and walkways criss-crossing their way up to the heights to get at interesting features in the cliff wall.
One of the features that exists, and has a precarious donkey path carved into the rock wall, crossing it's way back and forth some 1600 feet into the air, is the famous Amberstone mine. Once the 3 feet wide trail is climbed up to the cliff face, it opens up into a rift in the cliff wall, with a large shelf, approximately a mile from west to east. This is just east of the falls, so the western edge of the rift is quite close to the falls, and the rift is constantly wet with spray from the mighty waterfall. The shelf cuts back several hundred yards into the cliff face, and most of the open rift has a ceiling some 50-60 feet high. It is as if a gigantic finger scooped a mile long blister out of the rocky cliff wall.
Within this rift, known simply as the Amber Cave, there is a curious rocky tower built, from bottom to top of the rift, near where the small trail rises up to the rift opening. That tower is the monastery home for a group of hermetic dwarves that protect and guide the miners working in the mines. The whole western end of the cave (shown above, in an overhead sketch, along with images of a blue Sky Snail, and the outside and inside of an Amberstone mine) is home to the Sky Snails.
The shells of the Snails retain their ability to float. One thing that the snails can do, when they detach from something and start floating on air, is to use some internal organ or magical ability to steer and direct themselves up and down and left and right. Although the shells can give a person this ability (a single shell from an expired adult snail, if worn as a backpack, extending from a human sized wearer's knees, to up above his head, and extending far to the rear) to float quite readily - but directional movement has to be accomplished some other way.
The sky miners use the snails by luring them onto the great blocks of Amberstone with a food/potion mixture that the Dwarfs make (theirs is called the "Order of a Reflective Sky" - a curious theme and name for a Dwarven mystic order). A block rider will then climb onto the top of the floating block, and use the Sky Snail potion to lure the snails from one side of the block to the other, giving a crude sort of steering mechanism.
The temple monastery is old - much older than the Dwarfs, or even than Westroner culture in the valley. It was probably built by servants of the Old Ones. The Amberstone that is mined today comes out of thinner veins than what evidently originally existed. Vast blocks of the stuff were used to build the great canal of the Lost Mare river as it runs under the King's Highway.
Today, most of the mined blocks of Amberstone "float" their way down to Khomaes. There is a great market there, not only among the great public works of the City Proctor, but also among the many noble houses, and their decadent villa. None, however, has as hungry an appetite for Amberstone as the faculty and staff of the wizardry school of enchantment and charm in Khomaes - the Glamor Hall for Bewitchment and Entrancement. The Queen of Enchantment (Queen Mellisonde) is a great customer of the guild of miners working Amber Cave. Because of this, she (and the enchanters and enchantresses of her school) is very supportive of and protective of the Reflective Sky order.
The miners, other than raids by bandits, have to contend with possibly opening up the wrong tunnel or cave trail, to the many hived pockets of evil humanoids from the Unseely Court that dwell within the Destriel mountains in general, and within the Cliffs of Cloud specifically. When herding and harvesting sky snails, however, two other menaces present themselves. The first are the Blood Stars, radial parasites that have a limited flight (actually, sort of a jetted propulsion through the air, as part of a surprise attack to attach to a victim), but whom begin viciously sucking blood out of mammals. There is a strange feature of Sky Snail blood that keeps the Stars from draining it quite so quickly, but not so Humans and Dwarves (death could come within minutes of a full sized star striking an unprepared victim). The second are the Cliff Monsters. These are hard shelled worms, capable of burrowing through hard rock, that are attracted to vibrations caused by movement, and also heat caused by fires or too many people in one area. Once they emerge from the rock walls, they tend to go after the closest warm body.
Writeups (with specifics, and stat blocks) on the Sky Snails, Blood Stars and Cliff Monsters are available as their own articles.
One of the features that exists, and has a precarious donkey path carved into the rock wall, crossing it's way back and forth some 1600 feet into the air, is the famous Amberstone mine. Once the 3 feet wide trail is climbed up to the cliff face, it opens up into a rift in the cliff wall, with a large shelf, approximately a mile from west to east. This is just east of the falls, so the western edge of the rift is quite close to the falls, and the rift is constantly wet with spray from the mighty waterfall. The shelf cuts back several hundred yards into the cliff face, and most of the open rift has a ceiling some 50-60 feet high. It is as if a gigantic finger scooped a mile long blister out of the rocky cliff wall.
 |
| Overhead view of Amber Cave (top), image of Blue Sky Snail (lower left), outside of Amberstone mine (lower center), and looking out from Amberstone mine, even seeing the green valley down below (lower right). |
The shells of the Snails retain their ability to float. One thing that the snails can do, when they detach from something and start floating on air, is to use some internal organ or magical ability to steer and direct themselves up and down and left and right. Although the shells can give a person this ability (a single shell from an expired adult snail, if worn as a backpack, extending from a human sized wearer's knees, to up above his head, and extending far to the rear) to float quite readily - but directional movement has to be accomplished some other way.
The sky miners use the snails by luring them onto the great blocks of Amberstone with a food/potion mixture that the Dwarfs make (theirs is called the "Order of a Reflective Sky" - a curious theme and name for a Dwarven mystic order). A block rider will then climb onto the top of the floating block, and use the Sky Snail potion to lure the snails from one side of the block to the other, giving a crude sort of steering mechanism.
The temple monastery is old - much older than the Dwarfs, or even than Westroner culture in the valley. It was probably built by servants of the Old Ones. The Amberstone that is mined today comes out of thinner veins than what evidently originally existed. Vast blocks of the stuff were used to build the great canal of the Lost Mare river as it runs under the King's Highway.
Today, most of the mined blocks of Amberstone "float" their way down to Khomaes. There is a great market there, not only among the great public works of the City Proctor, but also among the many noble houses, and their decadent villa. None, however, has as hungry an appetite for Amberstone as the faculty and staff of the wizardry school of enchantment and charm in Khomaes - the Glamor Hall for Bewitchment and Entrancement. The Queen of Enchantment (Queen Mellisonde) is a great customer of the guild of miners working Amber Cave. Because of this, she (and the enchanters and enchantresses of her school) is very supportive of and protective of the Reflective Sky order.
The miners, other than raids by bandits, have to contend with possibly opening up the wrong tunnel or cave trail, to the many hived pockets of evil humanoids from the Unseely Court that dwell within the Destriel mountains in general, and within the Cliffs of Cloud specifically. When herding and harvesting sky snails, however, two other menaces present themselves. The first are the Blood Stars, radial parasites that have a limited flight (actually, sort of a jetted propulsion through the air, as part of a surprise attack to attach to a victim), but whom begin viciously sucking blood out of mammals. There is a strange feature of Sky Snail blood that keeps the Stars from draining it quite so quickly, but not so Humans and Dwarves (death could come within minutes of a full sized star striking an unprepared victim). The second are the Cliff Monsters. These are hard shelled worms, capable of burrowing through hard rock, that are attracted to vibrations caused by movement, and also heat caused by fires or too many people in one area. Once they emerge from the rock walls, they tend to go after the closest warm body.
Writeups (with specifics, and stat blocks) on the Sky Snails, Blood Stars and Cliff Monsters are available as their own articles.
Apr 27, 2012
Darkearth Plains Map
First map of the Darkearth Plains. This is lifted from the most detailed overall valley map (done in autorealm). I am also thinking of doing a version of this in hexographer, and they populating it as a sort of sandbox area, just for giggles.
Not all of the sites mentioned in the previous writeup (which was an intro sketch to the area, just collating what I already knew about it, and had captured elsewhere), but it is a good start - more coming.
Not all of the sites mentioned in the previous writeup (which was an intro sketch to the area, just collating what I already knew about it, and had captured elsewhere), but it is a good start - more coming.
Regions of the Valley (3) - Darkearth Plains
The Darkearth Plains is a region in the northern part of the valley, slightly west of the central point. It is bordered on the north, by the Destriel Mountains, and along the southern edge by the Great River. The western boundary for the region is the Lost Mare river, and along the east edge the boundary is the Greywater River. The other major waterways in the region are the Nightwash River, and the Terrapin River.
The region takes its name from the rich, dark black soil that is common throughout the region, with the exception of two areas - the Great Owl Forest (the ground of which is covered by thick, thick layers of decaying leaves, over a more generally sandy loam undersurface), and the Aghanz Hills, which feature a dry dusty and sandy soil, very rocky.
I am working up maps now, using Hexographer, and Autorealm, and should release some very soon.
The peoples of Darkearth include three cities of Westron humans (Khomaes, Werms and Huygen). There are, in addition, a number of tribes of Storm King barbarians in the region, especially in the north east, up along the very broad Greywater River, and in and around the Riven Moor, on both sides of the Terrapin River.
There are several portals that frequently appear to the Seely Court in the Great Owl Forest, and also in the Harp Woods. This means that Wood Elves, as well as other Faery races, are not uncommon.
The Aghanz Hills are home to both the Star Tower (seat of power and learning for the Silver order of druids), as well as the gnome stronghold at Flintgate. These areas are both well patrolled and guarded by their own interests, but much of the rest of the Aghanz remains rough, open, hilly and rocky country. There is a presence, of a curious group of tribes of large, primitive men that do not have a spoken language, and do not work with or use metal of any sort. They are called, simply, the hillmen by the druids of Star Tower, and the shagmen by the gnomes of Flintgate. It is reported that they are vicious cannibals.
Dwarves have some strongholds throughout the Destriel mountains. In some of the deeper delvings and cave systems, there are permanent portals to the Unseely Realms (mostly goblins and their related filth, as usual).
Roaming the region to the west, near the Lost Mare River, are the intelligent horses of the Great Herd. A single herd in name only, roaming groups of these very large, very intelligent horses do all seem to answer to the leadership of the Great Khan of All Horses.
Splitting the region, from west to east, is the King's Highway, as always providing a huge barrier between the north and south part of the Darkearth Plains. The Lost Mare river flows under the highway, in a broad and fabulous lock system, built by the Old Ones, and lined in marble. That part of the highway is patrolled by, and made safe by, companies of spearmen from Khomaes. Further east, however, especially as the highway draws near to the Great Owl Forest, the area just north of the highway is known as the Horned Run. It is home to tribes of broo, known as the Horned Ones. Wicked, unsociable creatures, they have a heartless and sadistic culture, and seek to prey on all who wander into the region.
The point where the Nightwash River leaves the Destriel Mountains, down into the plains (just west of the Aghanz Hills), there is a cliffwall at the edge of the mountains, the Nightwash forming a mighty waterfall (Nightwash Falls). Along that cliff edge, a curious and very valuable marble-like stone is found, called Amberstone. A group of human and dwarven miners operate a mining operation here, cutting out huge blocks of Amberstone. It is then floated south to various trading concerns south of the King's Highway, by air travel. The air travel is accomplished by having a curious breed of giant snail that lives on the cliff face near the Nightwash Falls. Called the great blue skysnail, this creature has a shell with magical (levitating) properties. The miners have methods of luring the snails to cover a block of amberstone, and a "blockrider" will ride the floating block of stone south, towards the various destinations.
Where the Nightwash (a broad and fast flowing river) finally reaches the Lost Mare River (in the middle of the grazing lands of the Great Herd), there are vast openings into the earth, along the edge of the Nightwash. Splinter flows of the vast river flow down into those openings, and form free-fall waterfalls down into the underearth. Deep, deep below the water falls into the vast underearth sea that is home to the Dark Elf buccaneer kingdoms. The openings are watched after by warrior horses of the Great Khan.
Along the southern end of the Lost Mare River, as it broadens to eventually join the Great River, it opens up into a flooded basin, known as the Arriott Bottom swamp. Curious tribes of lizard men, and other related saurial races, are found here.
Apr 20, 2012
Return to the Valley
So, my PhD is finished. I will soon be a Doctor. (I wonder if that means I get a Gallifreyan accent, and a second heart?) In addition to finishing my education, a lot of changes happened over the year since I signed off (last March). I was on track to finish my PhD in the autumn semester of 2011, when I found out that my old job at the research center was being de-funded. So I had to spend much of the fall months looking for a new job (and also going through a bit of depression...) needless to say, I wasn't focusing on my PhD. Luckily, however, I got a new (great) job, and I finished up in the spring semester. Glad to be done!
I can, now with a clear conscience, return to working on the Valley in my spare time.
My plans for the next few months will be in completing and collating the various regional descriptions, along with the descriptions of the professions (class descriptions), religion, and races. Putting this all into a combined gazetteer (or player's handbook), and producing it as a PDF here on the website.
Step one will be in completing the regional descriptions of the regions of the valley. The first two already have some introductory material, but maps and keyed descriptions are also necessary.
Moving from west to east, north of the Great River, the next region will be the Darkearth Plains, named for the curiously dark, nearly black soil common to the area between the Lost Mare and Greywater rivers. While not as big as some of the other regions, there is a lot going on here, so it should be an interesting writeup. Have I mentioned the intelligent horses? How about the horned ones?
Located in Darkearth, of course, is the Hermitage of the Beast-Duke. The adventure, Horror at the Hermitage is already underway, and might be released here on the blog, as well. I hope to run it at a convention later on this year.
I can, now with a clear conscience, return to working on the Valley in my spare time.
My plans for the next few months will be in completing and collating the various regional descriptions, along with the descriptions of the professions (class descriptions), religion, and races. Putting this all into a combined gazetteer (or player's handbook), and producing it as a PDF here on the website.
Step one will be in completing the regional descriptions of the regions of the valley. The first two already have some introductory material, but maps and keyed descriptions are also necessary.
Moving from west to east, north of the Great River, the next region will be the Darkearth Plains, named for the curiously dark, nearly black soil common to the area between the Lost Mare and Greywater rivers. While not as big as some of the other regions, there is a lot going on here, so it should be an interesting writeup. Have I mentioned the intelligent horses? How about the horned ones?
Feb 27, 2012
PhD almost finished, new adventures coming soon
With my PhD coming to a finish (I hope), I just might be able to return to writing on the happenings and locations of the Valley of the Old Ones in the near future.
As a teaser, here is an image of the Hermitage of the Beast-Duke. Something foul has transpired there, and only the stout of heart dare venture to see what it was, and possible set things right.
Look for the adventure (Horror at the Hermitage) posted here, soon...
Look for the adventure (Horror at the Hermitage) posted here, soon...
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