Baran's Keep [Archive] - Wizards Community

Baran's Keep [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cooky
08-11-07, 07:53 AM I am detailing this location for my campaign group.
Currently it is an oversized wall fort that has been overrun in the recent past, and has signs of earthquake style rifts within the walls. From the edge of these rifts it is possible to descend to different depths of the Khyber.

So far it looks like this

Ground Level 1 - Fort
Sub Level 1 Basement, Crypts, secret store
Sub Level 2 -4 Caves and natural(mostly) tunnels
sub level 5 - 9 Dhakaani Ruins
further sub levels lead further into Khyber/underdark.

Would it be in keeping with ECS to have portals (not planar) to transport to other locations around ECS or does that go against canon as I'm still quite new to writing for ECS.

I'm very loosely getting ideas from other major dungeon settings but am keen to keep the history of ECS in mind such as the Dhakaan Empire and it's war against the Daelkyr.

Any advice or suggestions for this mini-project would be appreciated, especially with Dhakaan items history :rolleyes:
OctaviusIII
08-11-07, 02:53 PM If the fort was once used as a logistical hub, I think it would be conceivable to have portals around the world. The difficulty is that high magic like that is exceedingly rare in contemporary Khorvaire. If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire.
Errant
08-12-07, 08:27 PM If the fort was once used as a logistical hub, I think it would be conceivable to have portals around the world. The difficulty is that high magic like that is exceedingly rare in contemporary Khorvaire. If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire.

Rare in contemporary Khorvaire agreed, but possible for the pre-Last War/united Kingdom of Galifar?

Personally I like to think that the Kingdom commanded a lot more resources than what you see in post-War Khorvaire. Think how much damage was done to europe's infrastructure during WWII. Remember all the pictures of ruined cities and displaced refugees? Stretch that over practically a century of warfare. If the canon setting describes what was left after all that, what wonders were destroyed?

So, if you didn't like the idea of your ruined keep being a Dhakaani ruin (although I think that's more fitting if you want the portals to open onto remote/'forgotten' locations) you could make it a ruined fortress dating back to the height of the kingdom of Galifar.

Heck, you could make it a Galifar fortress built over the top of an ancient Dhakaani fortress. That wouldn't be a first for Khorvaire now would it?

Btw, cool concept. I might have to steal it for my own campaign.

:)
OctaviusIII
08-12-07, 11:39 PM If it's Galifar tech, it would have been a state secret, constructed by a branch of the intelligence services to bypass Orien and Lyrandar if necessary, and to move agents about.
Revvecor
08-12-07, 11:43 PM If it's Galifar tech, it would have been a state secret, constructed by a branch of the intelligence services to bypass Orien and Lyrandar if necessary, and to move agents about.

And given the paranoia of the last king that is a distinct possibility.

Although I personally think it is beyond the capability of humans without the help of more powerful creatures (like dragons or demons).
OctaviusIII
08-13-07, 10:48 PM If the services built an eldritch machine similar to the ones that allow elemental binding, it would be within reach. They would have had to have some brilliant artificers, magewrights and wizards working on it, though.
Artemel
08-17-07, 11:10 AM Yeah... I think it would pre-date Galifar, simply because the lightning rails were a newish invention when the war started. Mainly because the King wanted a way to more supplies more efficiently.

Or maybe it is Galifar tech... but it's buggy, or dangerous, or likely to fail or send you to odd locales without warning. ::evil grin::
Shady314
08-17-07, 06:21 PM Rare in contemporary Khorvaire agreed, but possible for the pre-Last War/united Kingdom of Galifar?

Nope.

Personally I like to think that the Kingdom commanded a lot more resources than what you see in post-War Khorvaire.
? No it commanded the same resources. Cannith and the other houses, the resources of each of the 5N etc. It's just that now those resources are not shared and the resources of Cyre are gone. Sure the 5N also got carved up with the Valenar, Darguun and Droam spinging up but the areas they took were always part of their respective nations mostly in name. There wasn't a great amount of infrastructure and arcane might in them.

Think how much damage was done to europe's infrastructure during WWII. Remember all the pictures of ruined cities and displaced refugees? Stretch that over practically a century of warfare. If the canon setting describes what was left after all that, what wonders were destroyed?
We know that much of the Last War was mostly border skirmishes for those hundred years, and there were periods where hostilities were put on hold (little fighting in the winter), etc. It wasn't like total war was waged across every inch of their lands for 100 years. Forge of war has Breland sitting back for most of that century. Neither attacking nor being attacked.

So, if you didn't like the idea of your ruined keep being a Dhakaani ruin (although I think that's more fitting if you want the portals to open onto remote/'forgotten' locations) you could make it a ruined fortress dating back to the height of the kingdom of Galifar.
The Height of the Kingdom of Galifar was only a century ago. There are elves and other demi-humans that can still remember it and lived in it. Which makes it unusual such incredible technology could just be forgotten. "Hey anybody remember that fort we lost less than a hundred years ago with the wondrous one of a kind teleportation circles?.. NO?" There'd be records of it if it were Galifaran.

I suppose you could say the destruction of the Cannith Enclave in Cyre (the most likely people to build this) killed the only artificers with the knowledge and capability. But going by the Dragonshard Demographics such people just don't exist without willful DM intention and it sounds like this DM wants to adhere as closely as possible to the settings canon.
Shady314
08-17-07, 06:24 PM Or maybe it is Galifar tech... but it's buggy, or dangerous, or likely to fail or send you to odd locales without warning. ::evil grin::

Lovely idea. Perhaps they have the limitations of teleport with the range of greater teleport? A way to cut costs and bring such technology within reach of Cannith artificers.
Shady314
08-17-07, 06:27 PM If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire.

Yes if the OP wants to keep the portals this is the best way to do it.

It's a hell of a find though. Where is this fort? The government would pay for a fortune for the location. The PCs just got an early retirement. If the PCs keep it secret it's pretty much mandatory they make this fort a home base. Can the portals be moved? because the Dhakaani remnants will want this back very badly.
OctaviusIII
08-18-07, 02:46 AM I could see a mad scientist type that worked for the darkest corner of the Galifar intelligence services building something like this, if it is Galifar. It certainly wouldn't have been anywhere close to common knowledge. Think Treadstone level of secrecy and you're about where I'm thinking.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cooky 08-11-07, 07:53 AM	I am detailing this location for my campaign group. Currently it is an oversized wall fort that has been overrun in the recent past, and has signs of earthquake style rifts within the walls. From the edge of these rifts it is possible to descend to different depths of the Khyber. So far it looks like this Ground Level 1 - Fort Sub Level 1 Basement, Crypts, secret store Sub Level 2 -4 Caves and natural(mostly) tunnels sub level 5 - 9 Dhakaani Ruins further sub levels lead further into Khyber/underdark. Would it be in keeping with ECS to have portals (not planar) to transport to other locations around ECS or does that go against canon as I'm still quite new to writing for ECS. I'm very loosely getting ideas from other major dungeon settings but am keen to keep the history of ECS in mind such as the Dhakaan Empire and it's war against the Daelkyr. Any advice or suggestions for this mini-project would be appreciated, especially with Dhakaan items history :rolleyes:
OctaviusIII 08-11-07, 02:53 PM	If the fort was once used as a logistical hub, I think it would be conceivable to have portals around the world. The difficulty is that high magic like that is exceedingly rare in contemporary Khorvaire. If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire.
Errant 08-12-07, 08:27 PM	If the fort was once used as a logistical hub, I think it would be conceivable to have portals around the world. The difficulty is that high magic like that is exceedingly rare in contemporary Khorvaire. If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire. Rare in contemporary Khorvaire agreed, but possible for the pre-Last War/united Kingdom of Galifar? Personally I like to think that the Kingdom commanded a lot more resources than what you see in post-War Khorvaire. Think how much damage was done to europe's infrastructure during WWII. Remember all the pictures of ruined cities and displaced refugees? Stretch that over practically a century of warfare. If the canon setting describes what was left after all that, what wonders were destroyed? So, if you didn't like the idea of your ruined keep being a Dhakaani ruin (although I think that's more fitting if you want the portals to open onto remote/'forgotten' locations) you could make it a ruined fortress dating back to the height of the kingdom of Galifar. Heck, you could make it a Galifar fortress built over the top of an ancient Dhakaani fortress. That wouldn't be a first for Khorvaire now would it? Btw, cool concept. I might have to steal it for my own campaign. :)
OctaviusIII 08-12-07, 11:39 PM	If it's Galifar tech, it would have been a state secret, constructed by a branch of the intelligence services to bypass Orien and Lyrandar if necessary, and to move agents about.
Revvecor 08-12-07, 11:43 PM	If it's Galifar tech, it would have been a state secret, constructed by a branch of the intelligence services to bypass Orien and Lyrandar if necessary, and to move agents about. And given the paranoia of the last king that is a distinct possibility. Although I personally think it is beyond the capability of humans without the help of more powerful creatures (like dragons or demons).
OctaviusIII 08-13-07, 10:48 PM	If the services built an eldritch machine similar to the ones that allow elemental binding, it would be within reach. They would have had to have some brilliant artificers, magewrights and wizards working on it, though.
Artemel 08-17-07, 11:10 AM	Yeah... I think it would pre-date Galifar, simply because the lightning rails were a newish invention when the war started. Mainly because the King wanted a way to more supplies more efficiently. Or maybe it is Galifar tech... but it's buggy, or dangerous, or likely to fail or send you to odd locales without warning. ::evil grin::
Shady314 08-17-07, 06:21 PM	Rare in contemporary Khorvaire agreed, but possible for the pre-Last War/united Kingdom of Galifar? Nope. Personally I like to think that the Kingdom commanded a lot more resources than what you see in post-War Khorvaire. ? No it commanded the same resources. Cannith and the other houses, the resources of each of the 5N etc. It's just that now those resources are not shared and the resources of Cyre are gone. Sure the 5N also got carved up with the Valenar, Darguun and Droam spinging up but the areas they took were always part of their respective nations mostly in name. There wasn't a great amount of infrastructure and arcane might in them. Think how much damage was done to europe's infrastructure during WWII. Remember all the pictures of ruined cities and displaced refugees? Stretch that over practically a century of warfare. If the canon setting describes what was left after all that, what wonders were destroyed? We know that much of the Last War was mostly border skirmishes for those hundred years, and there were periods where hostilities were put on hold (little fighting in the winter), etc. It wasn't like total war was waged across every inch of their lands for 100 years. Forge of war has Breland sitting back for most of that century. Neither attacking nor being attacked. So, if you didn't like the idea of your ruined keep being a Dhakaani ruin (although I think that's more fitting if you want the portals to open onto remote/'forgotten' locations) you could make it a ruined fortress dating back to the height of the kingdom of Galifar. The Height of the Kingdom of Galifar was only a century ago. There are elves and other demi-humans that can still remember it and lived in it. Which makes it unusual such incredible technology could just be forgotten. "Hey anybody remember that fort we lost less than a hundred years ago with the wondrous one of a kind teleportation circles?.. NO?" There'd be records of it if it were Galifaran. I suppose you could say the destruction of the Cannith Enclave in Cyre (the most likely people to build this) killed the only artificers with the knowledge and capability. But going by the Dragonshard Demographics such people just don't exist without willful DM intention and it sounds like this DM wants to adhere as closely as possible to the settings canon.
Shady314 08-17-07, 06:24 PM	Or maybe it is Galifar tech... but it's buggy, or dangerous, or likely to fail or send you to odd locales without warning. ::evil grin:: Lovely idea. Perhaps they have the limitations of teleport with the range of greater teleport? A way to cut costs and bring such technology within reach of Cannith artificers.
Shady314 08-17-07, 06:27 PM	If these portals do exist, I'd fold them in with the Dhakaani ruins as one of the lost wonders of the Empire. Yes if the OP wants to keep the portals this is the best way to do it. It's a hell of a find though. Where is this fort? The government would pay for a fortune for the location. The PCs just got an early retirement. If the PCs keep it secret it's pretty much mandatory they make this fort a home base. Can the portals be moved? because the Dhakaani remnants will want this back very badly.
OctaviusIII 08-18-07, 02:46 AM	I could see a mad scientist type that worked for the darkest corner of the Galifar intelligence services building something like this, if it is Galifar. It certainly wouldn't have been anywhere close to common knowledge. Think Treadstone level of secrecy and you're about where I'm thinking.