Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Masterful_Norg 06-22-04, 06:17 PM	I am in a bit of a connundrum. I'm still waiting for my ECSB and I've already joined an online game schedualed to commence sometime after Sunday. I have character ideas but I'm finding it a bit tricky with all of the information that I don't have to build my character backgrounds. Any help would be appreciated. In the meantime I'll be reading everything on Johnny's website hoping to snag the details that I need.
Slayen 06-22-04, 08:48 PM	what kind of information do you need?
JohnnyONeal 06-22-04, 09:15 PM	Yeah, let us know what kind of character you're interested in playing, and we'll hook you up with a region and organizational affiliations.
Masterful_Norg 06-23-04, 01:12 AM	Absolutely! I need information on Gnomes for a possible Variant Wizard Specialist Evoker. I need to know about the Aerenal. What would be better? A Variant Specialist Wizard Necromancer, a Cloistered Cleric or something else? I need general information on the Kalashtar. I'll probably play a kineticist. I'm leaning towards either the Kalashtar or Aerenal to get some use out of the Quor and Aerenal translators Knight Otu and I made. I have some other ideas but I don't want to overload you. For example, a warforged barbarian by the name of Gigas, reactivated to discover his creator in a mangled lifeless state. He is not sure whether he suffers from PTSS (post traumatic stress syndrome) and is unable to remember commiting the crime, or is the victim of wrongfull accusation. A master inquisitor hunts him down regardless and a group of warforged haters use this as an opportunity to garner support. As it so happens the warforged is suffering from PTSS. Scattered images from the last war are remembered from time to time and only by following the clues can he unlock his complete memory and point the finger at the true culprit. Unfortunately, too many people want to play warforged in the online game.
Masterful_Norg 06-23-04, 12:37 PM	Well. It looks like I can't use any variants from UA. To make it simple I'll just settle on an Aerenal something. What is their favored class?
Slayen 06-24-04, 01:58 AM	Their favored class is wizard.
Singing Urgosh 06-24-04, 05:10 AM	Master Norg, Not wanting to get myself into the bad books with Hellcow or the Wizo Lawyers I will keep the info on Aerenal brief but hopefully informative: # The Aerenal are a warrior like (more milatary than the Xen'drik elves) cast of the elven society. # During the war they were a source of mercinaries and from the CSB look to have a heavy fighter/rogue bent and are definately presented as 'dark' (not evil, just darker than good). # Although they refer to the PHB elves, I would prolly say fighter or rogue for preferred class. # If you wanted to go for a Wizard, then a necro would be good money as they have a high population (19%) undying (good undead), and would be one of the few locales that would prolly endorse its practice as a good thing. I hope that helps for now, if you need anything else just keep asking. Stay sane
Masterful_Norg 06-24-04, 01:08 PM	Yes actually. Here's just a few questions I have. How is the heirarchy of the Undying court structured? Is it possible that a corrupted individual might make his/her way into the undying court? In addition to being a religeous pantheon, is the Undying court also the Aereni governing body? If not which group is? Do the people fear the government or does the government fear the people? In other words, is there tyrrany, liberty, or a ballance between the two? How are the Aereni laws enforced? Which laws and punishments do they have which stand out as being either cruel or intriguing? Where are they geographically located? How and why might an Aereni go from his home to a place such as the city of Sharn? Which groups are the Aereni most affiliated with and which groups would seem to be there enemies? What are the general plots of these groups and any specific plots including or involving the Aereni is some way? Assuming that they are plotting something what are the Aereni elves plotting themselves? How is the Aereni economy right now? What position would a Necromancer be in or be trying to get into? How does one ascend to the Undying court? What is the proceedure for transforming into an entity such as a member of the Undying Court? What does a baboon familiar give? Are Aereni manogamous in the marital relationships? How and where is a young Aereni likely to be trained by his race? With brief descriptions, which countries surround Aerenal? Including countries, people, races, animals and outsiders, who hates or supports the Aereni?
JohnnyONeal 06-24-04, 04:49 PM	Norgie, Urgosh's comments actually mix Valenar and Aerenal descriptions a bit, and mostly apply to the Valenar. The Aerenal tend to be philosophers, more eager to spend time contemplating mysteries and preserving the ancestors they worship. They live in a small continent/island off the southeast of Khorvaire. The Valenar elves are warlike and expansionist, preferring to glorify their ancestors in combat. The description from my FAQ should be helpful for you: Elves are an ancient race who once toiled as slaves for the giants of Xen'drik. Over time, they achieved freedom and left their home, dividing into two nations. The Aerenal elves dominate a large landmass off the coast of Khorvaire. In many ways a nation of philosophers, the Aereni take a measured, careful view of all things. They so prize the wisdom afforded by their long lifespans that they keep their ancestors alive as undying advisors. The Valenar elves are warriors who honor their heroic ancestors with martial exploits. They carved out a nation in the Last War, and continue to indulge their love of battle and horses; they can be found both as mercenaries or ruthless raiders. Still other elves live in their own distinct communities, adapting cultures of younger races. Also, there are a few more useful tidbits in Keith's comments here (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/world.html#aerenal). I don't have the book with me, but allow me to take a stab at some of your simpler questions. Where are they geographically located?I mentioned this above, but you can check it out here (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/eberron-map2.jpg). How and why might an Aereni go from his home to a place such as the city of Sharn?They'd primarily go by sailing ship, like the ambassador in Across Eberron (http://www.coveworld.net/eberron/across-eberron-4.jpg). They might go as ambassadors, traders, or simply curious young adults. Aerenal is a pretty insular, slow-paced, contemplative place, so anyone with an urge to adventure would have a reason to leave. Some Aereni might travel to Khorvaire to meet Valenar relatives (since the two nations are only separated by a few generations in elven terms). Given their reverence for their ancestors, they might travel to Sharn to meet people willing to help them pursue an expedition to their ancestral home of Xen'drik. Aerenal might be of any class, though the likeliest choices (in descending order) are probably wizard, cleric, fighter, bard, rogue, and ranger. Which groups are the Aereni most affiliated with and which groups would seem to be there enemies? What are the general plots of these groups and any specific plots including or involving the Aereni is some way?The Aereni stay out of Khorvaire politics and remained neutral in the Last War. While they practice deathless (positively-charged undead) necromancy, they consider natural undead an abomination. The Order of the Emerald Claw and the closely-related Blood of Vol religion, are necromancy-wielding organizations found throughout Khorvaire that might offend elves, though again, the Aereni distance themselves from Khorvaire. The elves used to be enslaved by the giants, though they basically beat them. Their second-oldest, greatest enemies are dragons, with whom they've battled for millenia. How is the Aereni economy right now?I believe it's strong, thanks to their elegant craftsmanship and forests of exotic wood. With brief descriptions, which countries surround Aerenal?Now that you know where Aerenal is, you can see that Darguun, Zilargo, Valenar, Breland, Q'barra, and the Lhazaar Principalities are all coastal nations within a few days' sail of Aerenal. For details on those nations, click here (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/ebmap/index.asp). Hope this helps! I might get a chance to post more later!
Masterful_Norg 06-25-04, 03:53 AM	Thanks! You've been a great help. If you can, please keep the answers coming. I have two questions to add to the list: What organizations are there in Sharn (in brief)? My character is going there, and I want to have every possibility as to why that is, though I've taken some of your suggestions in to consideration. Why is there enmity between the Aerenal and the dragons?
JohnnyONeal 06-25-04, 10:26 AM	How is the heirarchy of the Undying court structured?I wouldn't say there's a defined hierarchy, though roles in life continue after death. The strong become Undying Warriors, the wise become Undying Councilors. There doesn't seem to be anything like an undying king; in general, individual families turn to their own deathless ancestors for counsel, and the collective force of the Undying Court is revered. Over 40,000 deathless live in Shae Mordai, the city of the dead. (BTW, I don't have the book with me, so I may be misspelling some of the elven words.) Is it possible that a corrupted individual might make his/her way into the undying court?I think the process of becoming deathless requires a good or neutral spirit, but I could be wrong. Whether they're deathless or undead, there are certainly some corrupted individuals in Aerenal, and an organization known as the Deathguard is dedicated to hunting them down. The Deathguard also opposes the Blood of Vol cult, which sees undeath as a path to divinity, inside Aerenal and (presumably) in parts of Khorvaire. In Aerenal, the Vol cult is the secret force behind the Stillborn, a group of young elves who aren't willing to wait a thousand years to become deathless. They're impatient and are turning to the forbidden forms of undeath. In addition to being a religeous pantheon, is the Undying court also the Aereni governing body? If not which group is?Aerenal is divided into large a number of families, who are very inwardly focused and have developed unique subcultures over time. Families rarely marry, resulting in a fair amount of inbreeding (though this does not seem to negatively affect elves). Each family governs itself to a certain extent. The ultimate temporal authorities are the Sibling Kings, a pair of rulers selected from the families who must be husband/wife brother/sister couple. Do the people fear the government or does the government fear the people? In other words, is there tyrrany, liberty, or a ballance between the two?It doesn't seem to be a very "big government" society. The families are likely to be a larger part of an individual elf's life. Which laws and punishments do they have which stand out as being either cruel or intriguing?I'd say the incest thing is pretty intriguing. There are no other unusual laws mentioned, other than the fact that pretty much all elves are given a chance to become deathless. Which groups are the Aereni most affiliated with and which groups would seem to be there enemies? What are the general plots of these groups and any specific plots including or involving the Aereni is some way?I think I've covered this a bit. Other than the Blood of Vol, Aerenal doesn't seem to have much to do with the major organizations. They're wary of the dragonmarked houses in the wake of the Phiarlan-Thuranni split, but do some business with them. Assuming that they are plotting something what are the Aereni elves plotting themselves?Who knows? But the implication is that they're plotting something, and that their undying councilors have plans that reach further than even dragons can comprehend. As for other groups, the Valaes Tairn are a group of more warrior-oriented elves, who have the mindset of the Valenar. (In fact, the Valenar are basically a group of the Valaes Tairn.) Another group of interest is the Salaes Tairn (I think I'm spelling that right), dedicated to exploring Xen'drik, and one more Tairn group (the name escapes me) interested in going to fight the dragons of Argonnessen. What position would a Necromancer be in or be trying to get into?I'm actually not clear on this. There doesn't actually seem to be room for an arcane necromancer in the culture, because anything that smacks of traditional undeath is reviled. You could certainly be one of the Stillborn, but then you'd be an evil-leaning neutral. I suppose if you avoid animate dead, you could be fine, perhaps an arcane apprentice to the Priests of Transition who manage the deathless-creation process. How does one ascend to the Undying court? What is the proceedure for transforming into an entity such as a member of the Undying Court?You live until you reach the end of your natural lifespan or die in some heroic way, and then the Priests of Transition turn you into a deathless. If you're a bad person, they won't. If you're a mediocre person, they'll raise you from the dead and give you a chance to distinguish yourself, with the hope that pretty much all elves find a place in Shae Mordai. What does a baboon familiar give?This isn't mentioned. When asked about the baboon, Keith commented, "It's a long story." It certainly looks cool and fits the aesthetic of the Aereni. I'd probably base it on the stats for a wolf, which means it would be an Improved Familiar. Are Aereni manogamous in the marital relationships?Yes. How and where is a young Aereni likely to be trained by his race?There isn't tons of information on this. Only a select few can gain audience with the deathless in Shae Mordai, though a deathless ancestor might come to you and teach you things like family history. It seems that most learning would take place within the family, because a communal school system would contradict the distinctness of the families' mini-cultures. Including countries, people, races, animals and outsiders, who hates or supports the Aereni?I don't think anyone really hates them, though the dragons and the Aereni have clashed many times before, and any giants aware of the past would be ill-disposed toward them. Some people in Khorvaire may think it was lame of them not to participate in the Last war, but they've maintained very consistent neutrality. In general, citizens of Khorvaire are more liekly to misunderstand the Aereni than to hate them. What organizations are there in Sharn (in brief)?Almost every organization in the setting, really. Aside from the dragonmarked houses and some primarily NPC groups, Morgrave University and the Wayfinder Foundation are two big ones: they sponsor expeditions to Xen'drik. Wayfinder is for people who have proven themselves; Morgrave is less reputable and is possible for 1st-level characters to be affiliated with. Why is there enmity between the Aerenal and the dragons?Because there has been for a long time. I'm not sure a specific cause is mentioned, but basically, after the elves smacked down the giants and left Xen'drik, they went to Aerenal. They tried settling in Khorvaire, but at that time the Dhakaan empire was the indisputable ruler of that land. I don't recall if the dragons decided to take over Aerenal, or the elves decided to expand into Argonnessen, but conflict erupted. They clashed multiple times over the centuries, and now there's one group of elves who would like to keep fighting them. All you need to know for game purposes is that the two are ancient enemies, and an elven dragon-slayer (like this guy! (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/draco_gallery/75619.jpg)) is a very plausible character concept. Though you haven't asked this, I should mention that not all Aereni make themselves look freaky. Several families tattoo skulls on their faces, as do members of the Deathguard. One family (the Jhaelian family) uses alchemical substances and a bit of magic to make themselves look more like deathless. The Stillborn do this, too. Other elves, particularly the northern elves who aren't into the deathless thing, presumably look like mainstream elves, perhaps with more exotic garb. And that, dear sir, is pretty much all I can tell you. As it is, I fear I've written almost as much text as is in the actual book about Aerenal elves! Good luck with the character. Are you playing in Trolls' PBP game?
Masterful_Norg 06-25-04, 09:31 PM	Yes, as it just so happens, I am playing in Troll's PBP game. Thanks for all the information. You've done me a great service by answering these questions.