Questions About the Draeden [Archive] - Wizards Community

Questions About the Draeden [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ornum
08-10-07, 03:12 PM So I know that there is mention of the draeden in FC1 (where the 92nd layer is actually not a layer, but a draeden named the Ulgurshek that is supposedly older than the Great Wheel that was trapped during the formation of the Abyss and is also connnected to the Demonweb Pits...). According to a Wiki article, it says that there are two other sources that mention them. The old Immortal Rules set (I don't have it) and the Planescape sourcebook The Inner Planes (though I don't think they were specifically named). Are there any other sources, either "official" or otherwise out there to read?

Also, with the description given as "a cluster of 20 tubular strands arranged symmetrically around a central node", would it be false to assume that each such strands could end in an oriface similar to that found in the Demonweb Pits, and thus Ulgurshek could also be connected to other Abyssal layers?
420
08-10-07, 04:17 PM I'm currently working on a story where the draeden are the main focus. I'll post here when I start posting it to the planewalker boards.

-420
ripvanwormer
08-10-07, 04:32 PM According to a Wiki article, it says that there are two other sources that mention them. The old Immortal Rules set (I don't have it) and the Planescape sourcebook The Inner Planes (though I don't think they were specifically named). Are there any other sources, either "official" or otherwise out there to read?

According to the Planewalker entry (http://planewalker.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.php?intEntryID=3236) (which I wrote), the other sources are IM3 The Best of Intentions (which introduced the demiplane of draedenden) and Dragon #158 (which postulated a connection between draedens and dragons).

You could get the Immortals rules for four bucks at Paizo (http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/classicDAndD/rulebooks/v5748btpy7mvo), by the way.

Also, with the description given as "a cluster of 20 tubular strands arranged symmetrically around a central node", would it be false to assume that each such strands could end in an orifice similar to that found in the Demonweb Pits, and thus Ulgurshek could also be connected to other Abyssal layers?

That sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Shemeska the Marauder
08-10-07, 04:44 PM I wouldn't assume much overlap between the original basic D&D draedens and 3.x material, because the original material was from a different game, with a different cosmology, and no intended connection to AD&D.

How Draedens fit into the history and cosmology of the Great Wheel is an open question. You might selectively include some basic D&D concepts, but much of it seems unusable without handy rewriting.

I tend to assume that the draedens mentioned in the Fiendish Codex I (and I mentioned draedenden in Dragon 353 as a nod to FC:I) existed in the void prior to the manifestation of physical incarnations of the Outer Planes. They might be representatives of nothingness that existed at once with the pre-incarnate Alignments, or they might be leftovers from an earlier iteration of a cyclic Great Wheel, or perhaps they're primordial refugees from a different multiverse now trapped by the reality of the Great Wheel. I'm for not digging too deeply into the issue (because I don't treasure having to reconcile 30ish years of AD&D canon with some ancient bits of basic D&D).
Ornum
08-11-07, 12:20 PM In my mind, I see Ulgurshek reaching into Shadowsea and is a possible source of Dagon's knowledge of the Abyss, especially considering the fact that he is described as having an isolationist nature (of course, being one of the few surviving obyrith lords could also account for that knowledge). Also, I'd find it interesting if either Graz'zt, Orcus, or Demogorgon had some sort of access. Another such possible location is the Wells of Darkness. I think that Ulgurshek would also extend into the Grand Abyss.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ornum 08-10-07, 03:12 PM	So I know that there is mention of the draeden in FC1 (where the 92nd layer is actually not a layer, but a draeden named the Ulgurshek that is supposedly older than the Great Wheel that was trapped during the formation of the Abyss and is also connnected to the Demonweb Pits...). According to a Wiki article, it says that there are two other sources that mention them. The old Immortal Rules set (I don't have it) and the Planescape sourcebook The Inner Planes (though I don't think they were specifically named). Are there any other sources, either "official" or otherwise out there to read? Also, with the description given as "a cluster of 20 tubular strands arranged symmetrically around a central node", would it be false to assume that each such strands could end in an oriface similar to that found in the Demonweb Pits, and thus Ulgurshek could also be connected to other Abyssal layers?
420 08-10-07, 04:17 PM	I'm currently working on a story where the draeden are the main focus. I'll post here when I start posting it to the planewalker boards. -420
ripvanwormer 08-10-07, 04:32 PM	According to a Wiki article, it says that there are two other sources that mention them. The old Immortal Rules set (I don't have it) and the Planescape sourcebook The Inner Planes (though I don't think they were specifically named). Are there any other sources, either "official" or otherwise out there to read? According to the Planewalker entry (http://planewalker.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.php?intEntryID=3236) (which I wrote), the other sources are IM3 The Best of Intentions (which introduced the demiplane of draedenden) and Dragon #158 (which postulated a connection between draedens and dragons). You could get the Immortals rules for four bucks at Paizo (http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/classicDAndD/rulebooks/v5748btpy7mvo), by the way. Also, with the description given as "a cluster of 20 tubular strands arranged symmetrically around a central node", would it be false to assume that each such strands could end in an orifice similar to that found in the Demonweb Pits, and thus Ulgurshek could also be connected to other Abyssal layers? That sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
Shemeska the Marauder 08-10-07, 04:44 PM	I wouldn't assume much overlap between the original basic D&D draedens and 3.x material, because the original material was from a different game, with a different cosmology, and no intended connection to AD&D. How Draedens fit into the history and cosmology of the Great Wheel is an open question. You might selectively include some basic D&D concepts, but much of it seems unusable without handy rewriting. I tend to assume that the draedens mentioned in the Fiendish Codex I (and I mentioned draedenden in Dragon 353 as a nod to FC:I) existed in the void prior to the manifestation of physical incarnations of the Outer Planes. They might be representatives of nothingness that existed at once with the pre-incarnate Alignments, or they might be leftovers from an earlier iteration of a cyclic Great Wheel, or perhaps they're primordial refugees from a different multiverse now trapped by the reality of the Great Wheel. I'm for not digging too deeply into the issue (because I don't treasure having to reconcile 30ish years of AD&D canon with some ancient bits of basic D&D).
Ornum 08-11-07, 12:20 PM	In my mind, I see Ulgurshek reaching into Shadowsea and is a possible source of Dagon's knowledge of the Abyss, especially considering the fact that he is described as having an isolationist nature (of course, being one of the few surviving obyrith lords could also account for that knowledge). Also, I'd find it interesting if either Graz'zt, Orcus, or Demogorgon had some sort of access. Another such possible location is the Wells of Darkness. I think that Ulgurshek would also extend into the Grand Abyss.