Answering Jeff Rients' Twenty Questions
Jul 14, 2017 2:45:43 GMT -5
Admin Pete, Necromancer, and 1 more like this
Post by Von on Jul 14, 2017 2:45:43 GMT -5
It is said that answering all of these ensures you have done the kind of worldbuilding that is actually important for play.
Thus:
What is the deal with my cleric’s religion?
Your Cleric is almost certainly a member of the Orthodox or Schismatic Church of Ancestors. If Orthdox, they are of Chaotic alignment; if Schismatic, they are Lawful. If Schismatic, they are matriarchal ancestor-worshippers who request aid from the spirits of the dead and are occasionally graced with manifestations. If Orthodox, they are patriarchal ancestor-worshippers who coerce the spirits of the dead to aid them.
Where can we go to buy standard equipment?
Most of the cities have one or two large central markets; commonplace goods and sundries can be bought from stallholders, specialised equipment from more permanent retailers with their own premises around the edges. In Sinlap, Menvra or Ksa one asks where the crafters are, as the sprawling shanty cities don’t really have a sane layout and people move around a lot. In Selk, you visit the Street of Shame.
Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?
You’re sure it has a stable physical structure? OK, fine; monster armour can be had in the Maculae, or in Selk, with relative ease. Elsewhere you’re best off asking a goblin; their warrens usually run around the lower slopes of a city’s mountain.
Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?
The Hierarch of the Vel (level 15 or so). I notice you didn’t ask for the mightiest caster – the Black Pontiff of the Orthodox Church casts as a cleric of the 18th level and has an array of formidable magic abilities which resemble wizard spells.
Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
It’s debatable, but Roget of Ksa is probably in the running, as are any of the Knights Palatine. (They have a bit of an advantage, though.)
Who is the richest person in the land?
Discounting the Black Pontiff, who owns an entire city-state, it’s probably the Visgoth of Vis Facula.
Where can we go to get some magical healing?
There’s a decent-sized temple to the Ancestors in every Facula or Macula – Chaotic characters can also ask the Assassin Household, very nicely. Barbarian states tend to have a few competent druids around the place – you’ll find them near the centre of what passes for the city.
Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?
Cure for undeath? I think not: you have been blessed and you'll just have to live with it. Alignment change you are likewise stuck with. Polymorphs and lycanthropy are tricky but the Vel have people working on the appropriate counter-spells. Poisons and diseases are the hallmark of the Assassins, although a decent barber-surgeon or alchemist could have a go. Level drains, curses and death are the Church’s responsibility. Druids will address most of these things in barbarian cities, but they don’t do resurrection or cure lycanthropy (why would they, you lucky sod?), and their ‘cure’ for undeath is death.
Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?
Unless they’re Vel, nope; they’re part of an informal network of masters and apprentices. If they’re Vel they’re part of the Hierarchy and probably have research and development responsibilities (as well as debts accumulated in their favour, with which they can acquire the products of others’ labour).
Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
The best alchemists are all goblins; the best sages are in the employ of the Church or the courts of petty warlords in Selk and Nath.
Where can I hire mercenaries?
In a barbarian city, you stand on a rock and shout. In the Maculae, you don’t – you petition the Church if you know what’s good for you. In the Faculae, the Navigators’ League maintains a list of approved local sellswords in each city, or you can head down into the warrens and go black market.
Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Eir Macula, and to a lesser extent Onacatl Macula and Elpis Macula, are absolute theocracies in which anything you don’t have the Church’s permission to do is an offence. Selk doesn’t exactly have a ban on merchants, but mercantile activity is restricted to the Street of Shame, as it lacks warrior virtue. In Nath, it is the custom to disarm when crossing between districts, as a show of good faith and respect to the district’s governing warlord. In Veles, there is an elaborate code governing duels between citizens, and members of the Hierarchy have precedent in most if not all disputes.
Which way to the nearest tavern?
Head for the nearest aqueduct; it’ll probably be inside one of the pillars.
What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?
West of Xanadu, there is a de facto bounty on the scalps of barbarians, issued by Sotra and Coats Faculae. East of Xanadu, there’s a myconid problem around most cities, especially Selk. And anyone who manages a land crossing of Xanadu will be canonised on the spot.
Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
Anyone who manages a land crossing of Xanadu will start a world war if the Black Pontiff hears about it. Menrvra, Ksa and Sinlap are permanently at war with one another and the surrounding cities. Selk is permanently at war with the landscape and the local myconid tribes. Nath is permanently at war with itself.
How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
That’s 'the legal process’ in Nath, the Malice of Thousands in Elpis Macula, or the Flying Ring that works its way from Facula to Facula on the eastern side of Xanadu. You could also start Shoot in Veles and see if you win the resulting duel…
Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
If you’re Chaotic and a half-orc the Assassins will be glad to have you; if you’re a Chaotic cleric, you’re already in the Orthodox Church.
What is there to eat around here?
Glad you asked. Street cuisine is mostly mushrooms, rooftop fruits, and Gobla – viciously spicy goblin dishes.
Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
The wreck of the Huygens is supposedly laden down with the accumulated wealth and – more importantly – sorcerous insight of Kergeulen Facula, not to mention a bunch of savage degenerate Vel.
Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?
Unless you feel like freaking with the Black Pontiff, it is suggested that you direct your attention far, far to the north of Xanadu. It is said that ancient creatures wrought of living metal dwell there, in a flying city called Ara Fluctus. Of course, the problem with a flying city is that it probably floats about…
Thus:
What is the deal with my cleric’s religion?
Your Cleric is almost certainly a member of the Orthodox or Schismatic Church of Ancestors. If Orthdox, they are of Chaotic alignment; if Schismatic, they are Lawful. If Schismatic, they are matriarchal ancestor-worshippers who request aid from the spirits of the dead and are occasionally graced with manifestations. If Orthodox, they are patriarchal ancestor-worshippers who coerce the spirits of the dead to aid them.
Where can we go to buy standard equipment?
Most of the cities have one or two large central markets; commonplace goods and sundries can be bought from stallholders, specialised equipment from more permanent retailers with their own premises around the edges. In Sinlap, Menvra or Ksa one asks where the crafters are, as the sprawling shanty cities don’t really have a sane layout and people move around a lot. In Selk, you visit the Street of Shame.
Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?
You’re sure it has a stable physical structure? OK, fine; monster armour can be had in the Maculae, or in Selk, with relative ease. Elsewhere you’re best off asking a goblin; their warrens usually run around the lower slopes of a city’s mountain.
Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?
The Hierarch of the Vel (level 15 or so). I notice you didn’t ask for the mightiest caster – the Black Pontiff of the Orthodox Church casts as a cleric of the 18th level and has an array of formidable magic abilities which resemble wizard spells.
Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
It’s debatable, but Roget of Ksa is probably in the running, as are any of the Knights Palatine. (They have a bit of an advantage, though.)
Who is the richest person in the land?
Discounting the Black Pontiff, who owns an entire city-state, it’s probably the Visgoth of Vis Facula.
Where can we go to get some magical healing?
There’s a decent-sized temple to the Ancestors in every Facula or Macula – Chaotic characters can also ask the Assassin Household, very nicely. Barbarian states tend to have a few competent druids around the place – you’ll find them near the centre of what passes for the city.
Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?
Cure for undeath? I think not: you have been blessed and you'll just have to live with it. Alignment change you are likewise stuck with. Polymorphs and lycanthropy are tricky but the Vel have people working on the appropriate counter-spells. Poisons and diseases are the hallmark of the Assassins, although a decent barber-surgeon or alchemist could have a go. Level drains, curses and death are the Church’s responsibility. Druids will address most of these things in barbarian cities, but they don’t do resurrection or cure lycanthropy (why would they, you lucky sod?), and their ‘cure’ for undeath is death.
Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?
Unless they’re Vel, nope; they’re part of an informal network of masters and apprentices. If they’re Vel they’re part of the Hierarchy and probably have research and development responsibilities (as well as debts accumulated in their favour, with which they can acquire the products of others’ labour).
Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
The best alchemists are all goblins; the best sages are in the employ of the Church or the courts of petty warlords in Selk and Nath.
Where can I hire mercenaries?
In a barbarian city, you stand on a rock and shout. In the Maculae, you don’t – you petition the Church if you know what’s good for you. In the Faculae, the Navigators’ League maintains a list of approved local sellswords in each city, or you can head down into the warrens and go black market.
Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Eir Macula, and to a lesser extent Onacatl Macula and Elpis Macula, are absolute theocracies in which anything you don’t have the Church’s permission to do is an offence. Selk doesn’t exactly have a ban on merchants, but mercantile activity is restricted to the Street of Shame, as it lacks warrior virtue. In Nath, it is the custom to disarm when crossing between districts, as a show of good faith and respect to the district’s governing warlord. In Veles, there is an elaborate code governing duels between citizens, and members of the Hierarchy have precedent in most if not all disputes.
Which way to the nearest tavern?
Head for the nearest aqueduct; it’ll probably be inside one of the pillars.
What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?
West of Xanadu, there is a de facto bounty on the scalps of barbarians, issued by Sotra and Coats Faculae. East of Xanadu, there’s a myconid problem around most cities, especially Selk. And anyone who manages a land crossing of Xanadu will be canonised on the spot.
Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
Anyone who manages a land crossing of Xanadu will start a world war if the Black Pontiff hears about it. Menrvra, Ksa and Sinlap are permanently at war with one another and the surrounding cities. Selk is permanently at war with the landscape and the local myconid tribes. Nath is permanently at war with itself.
How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
That’s 'the legal process’ in Nath, the Malice of Thousands in Elpis Macula, or the Flying Ring that works its way from Facula to Facula on the eastern side of Xanadu. You could also start Shoot in Veles and see if you win the resulting duel…
Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
If you’re Chaotic and a half-orc the Assassins will be glad to have you; if you’re a Chaotic cleric, you’re already in the Orthodox Church.
What is there to eat around here?
Glad you asked. Street cuisine is mostly mushrooms, rooftop fruits, and Gobla – viciously spicy goblin dishes.
Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
The wreck of the Huygens is supposedly laden down with the accumulated wealth and – more importantly – sorcerous insight of Kergeulen Facula, not to mention a bunch of savage degenerate Vel.
Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?
Unless you feel like freaking with the Black Pontiff, it is suggested that you direct your attention far, far to the north of Xanadu. It is said that ancient creatures wrought of living metal dwell there, in a flying city called Ara Fluctus. Of course, the problem with a flying city is that it probably floats about…