Backford Aeolian Campaign

[Erol of Backford]

I like the term Storm Walkers versus Night Jumpers!

[David Scott]

52 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

I like the term Storm Walkers versus Night Jumpers!

They are both nascent Sartar Magical Union members, per The Glorantha Sourcebook, SMU 211.

[Erol of Backford]

2 hours ago, David Scott said:

The Glorantha Sourcebook, SMU 211.

I hadn't read the last few chapters... I am thinking the Night Jumpers' shrine to be atop Vorda Hill but was happy to see the Strom Walkers' shrine is at the Old Wind Temple. Thank you Mr. Scott.

[Erol of Backford]

From Jaja, better in this Thread:

The head would be stone. But could have copper skull/jaws/teeth within...

Don't forget patrols from the Stone Wood guarding its borders. Anything with a Movement Rune is likely considered a disruption to the powers of Stasis within. (Also, in my vision of Heortland, as you get closer to the Stone Wood, and definitely within, Time changes and slows. What feels like minutes is hours, days, or even weeks - hence one of the reasons Chaos can't easily come spewing down the Syphon valley. It affects anyone venturing in from the other side too.)

Gargoyles are a definite presence. Earth creatures that can turn one into stone may also be present (though likely within the wood itself). But if you encounter stone statues... (gargoyles? humans transformed???). 😉 

I would fully expect that Dwarfs do not touch (and may also oppose) intervention in the Stone Woods as it: 1) is a "living" part of Stone, Mostal's brother; 2) is one of the few places that has retained the true nature of Stone; 3) it keeps Chaos at bay. 

This is great stuff, add a few Chaos tunneling crabs and the mining fun begins!

Edited August 17, 2023 by Erol of Backford

[Erol of Backford]

Looking to set the scenario Beast of Gren Dahl Moor from TT 01 p.36, thinking it'd be either near the Blackwind Marsh or possibly Bottomland Marsh. Substituting moors with marsh...

Spoiler

I love the beast has a broo and troll head so it fits for us near the Shadow Plateau.

Does anyone know of a map that has some of the smaller towns southwest of Smithstone on them west of Karse?

Easy enough to make something up but if it's out there already it would be nice to know.

Also is the black dot with the arrow near it Grotto Exit, is that the Styx Grotto exit?

Are there any existing sceneries related to the Shadow Plateau out there? 

  

[jajagappa]

4 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Does anyone know of a map that has some of the smaller towns southwest of Smithstone on them west of Karse?

Well, yes, I do know of a map. 😉 (But it has not been published yet, so can't share that.)

However, I will note the three villages you have circled (proceeding from Smithstone downriver towards Karse): Fishborn, Enk's Ferry, and Enfrewstead.

Fishborn: The Fishscale clan earns a living harvesting plentiful fish from the river.  The local inn is an important rest stop for caravans on the climb to Smithstone, and the fish stew is favored, though it is said the clan has an ill-favored look.

Enk's Ferry: No one knows or remembers who Enk was - not even the records of the Derensev Temple! - but as long as anyone recalls there has been a ferry here across the fast-flowing river.  Occasionally an ambitious merchant thinks to cut out trade through Karse by sailing up the Marzeel and unloading directly here, but unlike the ferry which easily crosses the river, boats attempting to anchor at the village are always pulled away by the river current and dashed upon rocks downstream.

Enfrewstead: Situated at the north end of the Suchara Vale, it sits astride the trade road from Karse. Enfrew was a leader of refugees during the Second Age. The Hendriki king gave Enfrew these lands, provided they gave fealty to his tribe and swore oaths to fight the Dragon Empire. The Enfrewli clan has survived by honoring the river gods and paying tribute to whichever tribe is most dominant.

4 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Also is the black dot with the arrow near it Grotto Exit, is that the Styx Grotto exit?

Yes, and yes. 

4 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Are there any existing sceneries related to the Shadow Plateau out there?

I think A Lamp for Esrola is one. (You could likely use some places from Trollpak like the Redstone Caverns and not have too many issues.)

[Erol of Backford]

3 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Redstone Caverns

If we add a river flowing through the Redstone Caverns then you'd have, wait for it...

Spoiler

So the trailer IIRC had them in some boat underground running through caverns where they went to another dimension, kind of like going down into Hell vis the Styx?

I see the trollkin named Chaka but who are the green guys? Slarges?

  

All kidding aside the Redstone Caverns (Troll Pack p.41) with an integrated river would be quite the fit. We'll need to figure out how the river runs through, maybe at the lower levels but it might add an interesting twist to run it a bit higher through the complex? We'll need some cross sections...

Thanks Jaja!

[Erol of Backford]

Are there any references to dinosaurs being on or near the Heortland Plateau?

Are dinosaurs somewhat common almost anywhere in Dragon Pass?

Was thinking the Flying Trollkin scenario from Into Troll Realms could be somewhere on the borders of Troll Woods?

Maybe the woods on the eastern shore of Zatern Lake?

[Joerg]

1 minute ago, Erol of Backford said:

Are there any references to dinosaurs being on or near the Heortland Plateau?

Are dinosaurs somewhat common almost anywhere in Dragon Pass?

Was thinking the Flying Trollkin scenario from Into Troll Realms could be somewhere on the borders of Troll Woods?

Maybe the woods on the eastern shore of Zatern Lake?

The Dragon Pass board game has 12 spots as "dinosaur lairs" distributed across the map. It has one near or at Pegasus Plateau (northeast of Famegrave).
There is no reason why herds of dinosaurs should not roam further south than that, but there is neither proof of a somewhat reliable presence of dinosaurs further south. If you think they will enrich your game there, by all means have some.

If you want them to be rare or extinct, blame anti-EWF sentiments by the Slontan conquerors of Heortland, or the traditionalists of the Kingdom of Night. if you want more, associate them with the Nightdragon Society among trolls and Kitori who raised the Leaden Bones Serpent to defend against Belintar.

[Erol of Backford]

1 minute ago, Joerg said:

If you think they will enrich your game there, by all means have some.

We just didn't want it to be so much out of place. IIRC and now that you mention it there were some notes regarding dinosaurs as potential encounters near the Ruins on the Stream. I see the dinosaur lair mark on the game map, not far from the where Greyrock is on the Northern Sartar map. I keep forgetting look at all the sources before posting...

Thank you.

[jajagappa]

59 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

Are there any references to dinosaurs being on or near the Heortland Plateau?

Not dinosaurs, but there are titanotheres in the hills flanking the Stormwalk Mountains between the Jab Hills and the Uncertain Woods.

1 hour ago, Erol of Backford said:

Was thinking the Flying Trollkin scenario from Into Troll Realms could be somewhere on the borders of Troll Woods?

I'd lean towards the marshes and swamps north of the Shadow Plateau west of the Lead Hills.

1 hour ago, Erol of Backford said:

Maybe the woods on the eastern shore of Zatern Lake?

If a dinosaur wandered into the Troll Woods, it would likely be completely eaten.

 

[Erol of Backford]

Just now, jajagappa said:

If a dinosaur wandered into the Troll Woods, it would likely be completely eaten.

I think with the scenario, its being eaten is in progress!?

2 minutes ago, jajagappa said:

titanotheres in the hills flanking the Stormwalk Mountains

sounds appropriate, called “titanothere,” its name means “thunder beast,” referring to how a traveling herd of massive brontotheres may have sounded long ago, thundering through ancient environments...

4 minutes ago, jajagappa said:

marshes and swamps north of the Shadow Plateau west of the Lead Hills

perfect...

[mfbrandi]

10 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

Are dinosaurs somewhat common almost anywhere in Dragon Pass?

Well, there is this (GtG, p. 168):

• Several species of dinosaurs, including trachodons, brontosaurs, triceratops, and pteranosaurs [sic], are native to Dragon Pass. The local Orlanthi call them Quake Beasts and believe them to be corrupted members of the draconic races. They may be found anywhere in Dragon Pass, but they gather in greatest profusion at the shores around the Upland Marsh.

But I say, what about the dromaeosaurs? We know they are among Maran Gor’s pets (CoR Prosopaedia, p. 82). I would have the little buggers get everywhere. Although it might not be strictly accurate — or not accurate, at all! — it would probably have the least mental overhead to have them fill ecological niches like those of crows, foxes, coyotes, and wolves (according to size), with Tricksterish behaviour where appropriate. Veliciraptors going through your bins?

And while some pterosaurs would have been found in wetlands, lakes, and at sea (e.g. Rhamphorynchidae have been described as “seagull-like” and pteranodontians as “oceanic soarers extraordinaire”), Dimorphodon macronyx would have been happy in trees, Anurognathids were small and may have been bat equivalents eating insects, Istiodactylus latidens you can probably treat as a vulture, tapejarids may have been omnivores of the scrublands (Prax?), and then there is this (Pterosaurs, Mark Witton, p. 244–258):

• Many azhdarchids were as tall as giraffes … but they probably weighed no more than a moderately sized domestic pig. They are predicted to have cruised the skies at speeds warranting speeding tickets on most roads, and probably thought little of flying from one side of Earth to the other. There is some evidence that they roamed Cretaceous prairies in large flocks in pursuit of food, devouring fox-sized dinosaurs and other small prey … In short, if azhdarchids fail to stir your palaeontological loins, you may want to see a doctor.
  
  [L]ong limbs … ideal for efficiently striding through vegetated settings … some species may have been socially tolerant and foraged in flocks … Interestingly, the latest terrestrial Cretaceous communities containing the largest azhdarchids were devoid of midsized dinosaur predators … A speculative, but nonetheless intriguing proposal is that the giant azhdarchids may have at least partially filled the rôles of midsized predators in these ecosystems

How is that for a “wandering monster”? Surely, there is a pterosaur for any environment in which you need one to pop up. And this guy casually munching on baby sauropods should put the wind up PCs, especially if she brought friends along:

 

Idle thoughts:

• Are dragonewts truly going extinct, or are they (with magical assistance) evolving into birds, so that they will still have a niche in the 4th Age, after the genocides in the wake of Argrath?
   
• We all know horses were sky creatures, once. Is the Feathered Horse Queen — now or in the near future — really the Feathered Theropod Queen? Are the elements fighting over the “phyla,” and will the reptiles all soon return to their natural home of Fire? Is it only the heat of Lodril that has held them close to Earth so long?
   
• Is the Crimson Bat really a bat? If it is not a giant beetle, then maybe …

[Erol of Backford]

4 hours ago, mfbrandi said:

Well, there is this (GtG, p. 168):

One of these days I'll actually read the whole thing!

These could be in or near Stonewood, Petrified Forest and or the Foulblood Forest with interesting twists on size, chaos taint, etc.

Good scenario stuff out of quasi Jurassic Park?

Thank you yet again.

[jajagappa]

3 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

These could be in or near Stonewood, Petrified Forest and or the Foulblood Forest with interesting twists on size, chaos taint, etc.

Stonewood is its own peculiar place, largely with beings seemingly made of stone. It's not a place that has food that would support a dinosaur.

As for the Foulblood Forest, unless they enter via the Stonewood, they're basically falling over a very high cliff. Keep in mind that the Syphon valley is not that far above sea level, whereas the plateau above starts at 300m and is rising towards the Storm Mountains. A dinosaur going over the edge is just going to be gorp jelly at the bottom.

Now perhaps a dinosaur falling in and going splat yields chaotic dinosaur spawn afterwards, but at the point: they can't climb out; the Stonewood transforms/destroys Chaos to keep it from oozing out; and there are many very hungry scorpionmen and carnivorous plants in the Footprint ready to eat anything they can.

[mfbrandi]

3 hours ago, Erol of Backford said:

One of these days I'll actually read the whole thing!

I don’t suppose I ever will — I will just keep dipping into it when I need to look something up.

[Erol of Backford]

3 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Stonewood is its own peculiar place, largely with beings seemingly made of stone.

All those beautiful creatures could be in Stone Wood, should be there, have a right to be in Stone Wood.

Birds with stone skins, that can still fly... will need to work on that but like the idea...

4 hours ago, jajagappa said:

A dinosaur going over the edge is just going to be gorp jelly at the bottom.

But if they fly... then we'd have chaos tainted flying dinos... what fun. Though grop dinos with skeleton dino heads might be interesting as well.

Lots of options here.

[jajagappa]

12 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

But if they fly...

And hence why the Hendriki clans on the heights surrounding the Footprint maintain watches with archers and Storm Bulls to keep such horrors in check. Of course, the recent demise (1620+) of clans in the Jab Hills means that there's fewer and fewer folk to do the watching.

I always thought the 13th Age Glorantha scenario, the Horn of Snakepipe Hollow, really belonged on the edge of the Footprint (not to mention the whole campaign against Gagix).

[Erol of Backford]

1 hour ago, jajagappa said:

I always thought the 13th Age Glorantha scenario, the Horn of Snakepipe Hollow, really belonged on the edge of the Footprint (not to mention the whole campaign against Gagix).

Easy enough to make modifications to that scenario. We've decided to keep Bullpen, trying to figure out a way to kill the Biyatch... maybe a dragon will come and burn her two-tailed carcass to cinders?!

That would be 20 or more years into the campaign so there is some time to figure it out. If the PC's could figure out how to kill a few of the opposing queens before being eaten by 2-barb... she'd not be as powerful.

[jajagappa]

57 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

If the PC's could figure out how to kill a few of the opposing queens before being eaten by 2-barb... she'd not be as powerful.

But why spoil an opportunity for a hero-level villain??? Makes a great story driver.

59 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

maybe a dragon will come and burn her two-tailed carcass to cinders?!

If called and ridden by a hero, yes, could be quite dramatic. Off-screen? same comment as above.

[mfbrandi]

14 hours ago, jajagappa said:

But why spoil an opportunity for a hero-level villain??? Makes a great story driver.

Yeah, but doing the tour of Gagix’s potential rivals/meals to make the boss fight manageable/victory possible is a story driver, too. And that doesn’t seem like arbitrary collection of plot coupons: there is in-world logic to it, and there is not only one way it could turn out — you are racing Gagix, and there is a sliding scale of difficulty for the end game (not a simple binary).

Be sneaky/smart, work hard over an extended period, and render the coup de grâce relatively simple. Sounds satisfying to me.

Should we just throw armies at the walls of Ilium, or should we look for a “back door”? Should I fight the serpent or put it to sleep to steal the fleece?

Edited September 11, 2023 by mfbrandi
deleted comma

[Erol of Backford]

22 hours ago, jajagappa said:

If called and ridden by a hero, yes, could be quite dramatic.

I suppose it could be a follow up to the Company of the Dragon and Seven Tailed Wolf... cleaning the mess wrought by the Lunars.

[Erol of Backford]

GtG: Once king, Rikard defeated a rebellion by the Uroxi Bullmen of the Footprint and he and Broyan fought a series of indecisive skirmishes.

For those that didn't go with Broyan I am guessing they go over Storm Walk to Exile Stead.

The likely path is at the lowest pass over the mountain taking them about where the red line is in the clip below taking them up to about 6,500' to cross over which isn't too bad some blizzards likely in winter and so there is probably a steading with an inn somewhere along the way. It's about 60 miles from Backford to Exile Stead.

They will progress up the south side of the Bullflood as the Jab Hills would be too dangerous especially when they migrated out en masse?

What shrines would likely be at Exile Stead? Possibly Odayla due to the woods to the north, Orlanth, Ernalda, maybe Elmal or Yemalio?

Storm Bull for sure.

 

[jajagappa]

44 minutes ago, Erol of Backford said:

The likely path is at the lowest pass over the mountain

The path through the Storm Mountains by Stormwalk is actually south of the great mountain. There's a shrine to Storm Bull at the point where the path intersects the spiral trail up and around Stormwalk. 

Once you're over the range, you're in Prax, so expect Exile Stead will have Storm Bull, Waha, maybe Foundchild (not Odayla), Eiritha, Orlanth Adventurous. Probably some shamans hanging around.

Also expect some Gagarthi bandits, but likely their shrine is at Outlaw Peak at the southern end of the Storm Mountains.

Edited September 15, 2023 by jajagappa

[Erol of Backford]

6 hours ago, jajagappa said:

Gagarthi bandits

Don't like them, who does and Morcanth as well.

6 hours ago, jajagappa said:

south of the great mountain

Seems like the long way but avoids scorpionmen I suppose... in yellow.

Following the path upslope along the Minthus reminds me of what might be some streams/rivers flowing down from Long's Peak in the Rockies... but only up to 9-10,000' rather than a 14er.