Thrane [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Thrane [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
EnvyHax
05-03-07, 01:08 AM I just can't get this place down. Or most of the countries for that matter. To me, they (usually) all just look like the average medevil era country.

Well my players are currently adventuring in Thrane and I'm having a hell of a time getting a grasp on how this place is. Any words of wisdom so I can get a better picture of how this place works?
snakebliskan
05-03-07, 06:48 AM thrane is run by the church of the silver flame. If you are not of the church then you will most likely run into problems with someone from there eventually. Now I know what your saying just what the PC's need a holy vendetta against them do to some preceved insult of a higher up bishop or some such thing... The church is the power there and the church isnt all lilly white and nice. but that being said not all people in the church are bad either.. its like any organization it has some bad apples in the bunch!
Syltorian
05-03-07, 06:56 AM I would first recommend you read the Thrane chapter in Five Nations, if you have not already done so. It talks a bit about the life in the nation, their attitudes, their life style. You need to supply a lot, of course, but it will give you a basis.

Thrane is, first of all, unlike the other nations in that it is not, properly speaking, a monarchy. Queen Diani is still around, but, despite her title, is not acting monarch. It is a theocracy, and that means that the nation has many religious laws next to the Code of Galifar. One way of playing Thrane would be to include those into the game, as a background.

For instance, people might be expected to dress in a decent manner. According to Faiths of Eberron, early Purified even refused make-up and cutting their hair; while that has changed now, there will be less naked skin as well as less extravagance on the streets. Your glamerweave might be looked askance at.

Religious laws might also forbid drinking to excess (or, if you want to go all the way, drinking alcohol at all), because it makes you vulnerable to evil and fiends and what have you. There is no evidence for this in any of the source material, but if you really want to make Thrane exceptional, this could work. Or you might be forbidden to drink on one day a week, maybe even supposed to hold a fast.

Thrane laws might also require people to shoot longbows at least once per week, so you'll find such training groups on the village greens. At regular intervals, clergymen (and women) sing the Praises of the Flame and the Miracles of the Faith from the towers of the temples, and it is considered rude to interrupt them and talk during these brief declarations.

The people themselves are often religious, at least superficially so. They might mean that they look better after beggars than, say, the rigid Karrns or the arrogant Aundairians do. On the other hand, it means that some people will try to pick fights if they find out you are not a Purified, after you got into the wrong bar. Or try and save your soul and convert you.

Conversation often turns to religious ideas, or is at least peppered with religious terms; decisions are taken with the Silver Flame in mind, and some people might refuse services the PCs need because they feel that the Flame would not approve. Remember too that the religion of the Flame is militant (though not hostile or fanatic; most of the fanatics are in Aundair), so they are also more likely to aid heroes who work for good, if convinced of that fact.

Thrane is also a nation that comes out of a 100-year war. Many in the populace will distrust foreigners, which you can identify at their clothes, behaviour, and accent. No Treaty can tell people to forget overnight about 100 years of propaganda, attacks, loss of friends and family, and, in the case of Thrane, the refusal of other nations to let the Flame drive away the darkness from their hearts. Conversely, other people will be eager to make new friends, show their goodwill, and learn about their former enemies, and could invite foreign PCs in, to make new friends.

Physically, there is evidence in many places for the ravages of the war. Destroyed buildings - either because of an air-raid by Aundairian dragonhawk regiments, or because there simply was no money to keep it standing and in good repair. Abandonned farms. Military cemetaries. Defaces statues of former rulers of Galifar who came from a different nation. Shops that were destroyed and never restored because they were kept by a Brelish family.

At the moment, restauration work is in full blow, so there might be many construction yards depending on where you are. In Thrane - and in Karrnath - that means that there are many warforged. Remember, Thrane expects warforged to work off the debt (the money the cost the government when they bought them from Cannith) before they get to be free. The warforged in your party, if any, might also be checked out on a regular basis by the guards.

I hope this helps. Little is actually canon, but it seems to me that it can, with some effort in a few cases, be extrapolated. Remember, however, that Thrane is not a vile, evil and oppressive state. They have many good sides, and even in their religious zeal do not become fanatics, like the Puritans do - in fact, Thrane is likely not to like Puritans very much, because Thrane itself is moderate, and the Puritans were with the Aundarian enemy.
EnvyHax
05-03-07, 03:10 PM Wow, thanks you so much for that post. It's given me great insight on the working of thrane and many ideas for future sessions.

Thanks alot, I really appreciate it. As for the Five Nations book, I'll have to go buy it, heh.
Alex_
05-03-07, 03:34 PM Thrane is also supposed to be known for it's architecture and unique artistic style, which makes use of lots of flowing themes. It may be a place where religion is important, but it's not bland and lacking expression or creativity. They prefer the bow to the sword or hammer.

One more thing!

Thrane is not the Catholic Church. It just uses the same terminology to describe the clergy.

Worship ceremonies have been described as being more like people praying in a Mosque than people sitting and listening to a sermon or attending Mass. The one who speaks to the flame is not voted for, they are chosen by the Silver Flame. A mere child could be (and is) the next speaker. They're more like the Golden Child (if you've seen the movie) or the Dali Lama than the Pope. Archery is more about meditation and relationship between the body and mind than it is about honing one's martial prowess. There are armored knights who fight for the faith, but there are also unarmored and unarmed monks who fight for the faith.

Try looking at the religious practices and customs, or theocracies of other belief systems in the Middle east and Centra/East Asia. Try to combine elements from all of them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
EnvyHax 05-03-07, 01:08 AM	I just can't get this place down. Or most of the countries for that matter. To me, they (usually) all just look like the average medevil era country. Well my players are currently adventuring in Thrane and I'm having a hell of a time getting a grasp on how this place is. Any words of wisdom so I can get a better picture of how this place works?
snakebliskan 05-03-07, 06:48 AM	thrane is run by the church of the silver flame. If you are not of the church then you will most likely run into problems with someone from there eventually. Now I know what your saying just what the PC's need a holy vendetta against them do to some preceved insult of a higher up bishop or some such thing... The church is the power there and the church isnt all lilly white and nice. but that being said not all people in the church are bad either.. its like any organization it has some bad apples in the bunch!
Syltorian 05-03-07, 06:56 AM	I would first recommend you read the Thrane chapter in Five Nations, if you have not already done so. It talks a bit about the life in the nation, their attitudes, their life style. You need to supply a lot, of course, but it will give you a basis. Thrane is, first of all, unlike the other nations in that it is not, properly speaking, a monarchy. Queen Diani is still around, but, despite her title, is not acting monarch. It is a theocracy, and that means that the nation has many religious laws next to the Code of Galifar. One way of playing Thrane would be to include those into the game, as a background. For instance, people might be expected to dress in a decent manner. According to Faiths of Eberron, early Purified even refused make-up and cutting their hair; while that has changed now, there will be less naked skin as well as less extravagance on the streets. Your glamerweave might be looked askance at. Religious laws might also forbid drinking to excess (or, if you want to go all the way, drinking alcohol at all), because it makes you vulnerable to evil and fiends and what have you. There is no evidence for this in any of the source material, but if you really want to make Thrane exceptional, this could work. Or you might be forbidden to drink on one day a week, maybe even supposed to hold a fast. Thrane laws might also require people to shoot longbows at least once per week, so you'll find such training groups on the village greens. At regular intervals, clergymen (and women) sing the Praises of the Flame and the Miracles of the Faith from the towers of the temples, and it is considered rude to interrupt them and talk during these brief declarations. The people themselves are often religious, at least superficially so. They might mean that they look better after beggars than, say, the rigid Karrns or the arrogant Aundairians do. On the other hand, it means that some people will try to pick fights if they find out you are not a Purified, after you got into the wrong bar. Or try and save your soul and convert you. Conversation often turns to religious ideas, or is at least peppered with religious terms; decisions are taken with the Silver Flame in mind, and some people might refuse services the PCs need because they feel that the Flame would not approve. Remember too that the religion of the Flame is militant (though not hostile or fanatic; most of the fanatics are in Aundair), so they are also more likely to aid heroes who work for good, if convinced of that fact. Thrane is also a nation that comes out of a 100-year war. Many in the populace will distrust foreigners, which you can identify at their clothes, behaviour, and accent. No Treaty can tell people to forget overnight about 100 years of propaganda, attacks, loss of friends and family, and, in the case of Thrane, the refusal of other nations to let the Flame drive away the darkness from their hearts. Conversely, other people will be eager to make new friends, show their goodwill, and learn about their former enemies, and could invite foreign PCs in, to make new friends. Physically, there is evidence in many places for the ravages of the war. Destroyed buildings - either because of an air-raid by Aundairian dragonhawk regiments, or because there simply was no money to keep it standing and in good repair. Abandonned farms. Military cemetaries. Defaces statues of former rulers of Galifar who came from a different nation. Shops that were destroyed and never restored because they were kept by a Brelish family. At the moment, restauration work is in full blow, so there might be many construction yards depending on where you are. In Thrane - and in Karrnath - that means that there are many warforged. Remember, Thrane expects warforged to work off the debt (the money the cost the government when they bought them from Cannith) before they get to be free. The warforged in your party, if any, might also be checked out on a regular basis by the guards. I hope this helps. Little is actually canon, but it seems to me that it can, with some effort in a few cases, be extrapolated. Remember, however, that Thrane is not a vile, evil and oppressive state. They have many good sides, and even in their religious zeal do not become fanatics, like the Puritans do - in fact, Thrane is likely not to like Puritans very much, because Thrane itself is moderate, and the Puritans were with the Aundarian enemy.
EnvyHax 05-03-07, 03:10 PM	Wow, thanks you so much for that post. It's given me great insight on the working of thrane and many ideas for future sessions. Thanks alot, I really appreciate it. As for the Five Nations book, I'll have to go buy it, heh.
Alex_ 05-03-07, 03:34 PM	Thrane is also supposed to be known for it's architecture and unique artistic style, which makes use of lots of flowing themes. It may be a place where religion is important, but it's not bland and lacking expression or creativity. They prefer the bow to the sword or hammer. One more thing! Thrane is not the Catholic Church. It just uses the same terminology to describe the clergy. Worship ceremonies have been described as being more like people praying in a Mosque than people sitting and listening to a sermon or attending Mass. The one who speaks to the flame is not voted for, they are chosen by the Silver Flame. A mere child could be (and is) the next speaker. They're more like the Golden Child (if you've seen the movie) or the Dali Lama than the Pope. Archery is more about meditation and relationship between the body and mind than it is about honing one's martial prowess. There are armored knights who fight for the faith, but there are also unarmored and unarmed monks who fight for the faith. Try looking at the religious practices and customs, or theocracies of other belief systems in the Middle east and Centra/East Asia. Try to combine elements from all of them.