Thronehold, what's on the island? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Thronehold, what's on the island? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Gimp
08-07-07, 03:37 PM Well someone told me to start a new thread since I was being curious about the issue and here it is. I noticed the island on the map in the ECS but didn't see any markings indicating something special being there and since I think (might be wrong) that the five nations signed the threaty there, did they just signed it in the wilderness or what? I just possess the ECS for the moment so my answer but be lying in another source book. Thanks guys for answering my thirst for curiosity!
Cavienn
08-07-07, 03:48 PM There's a sidebar in (I believe) the Karrnath section of Life in the World in the ECS that explains briefly that Thronehold is where Galifar had his castle and where he ruled from before the Last War erupted. It was not part of any of the five nations, allowing it to rule over each equally.

In the Five Nations supplement, it further adds that House Deneith has an honour guard that's been looking after the castle since it was abandoned at the start of the Last War. There's also a city on the island that used to service the castle, but during the Last War it became a hotbed of intrigue and spies and refugees, since it was on neutral ground. I believe the city's name is Throneport (but I could be mistaken).

It was used for the peace talks because of its symbolism as being where Galifar (and other kings) ruled the united country, and because it is neutral ground and has been so throughout the war.

Hope that helps!

Edit: I have just confirmed, the sidebar in the ECS is on page 183, the Deneith guard is called the Throne Wardens, the information in Five Nations is on page 96, and the city is called Throneport, and has small peacekeeping forces in it from each of the remaining four nations as well as the Throne Wardens.
Fabius Maximus
08-07-07, 04:46 PM Throneport is described further in Forge of War.
eehamburg
08-07-07, 04:52 PM Here is the link to Throneport.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ForgeWar_Maps/105890.jpg

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ForgeWar_Maps/105890.jpg
Edymnion
08-07-07, 06:44 PM Basically, Thronehold is Washington DC in the United States.
Not a part of any state, and the seat of political power. Its been more or less empty since the Last War started.
The_Gimp
08-07-07, 06:48 PM Awesome thanks guys! :)
Errant
08-07-07, 09:13 PM By my reckoning (looking at the large scale map of Khorvaire, zooming in and dragging the map scale closer to Thronehold) the island should be somewhere in the range of 20-25 miles across. That's a bit larger than what seems to be suggested by the Forge of War map. Although I'll grant you the similarity between the coastal shape on the FoW map and the southern half of the island on the Khorvaire map could be deemed coincidental. Either way its big enough to hold a few mysteries, or none at all if thats the way you want it.

We’ve been given precious few facts about the island:
- Prior to being chosen by Galifar I as the capital of his new kingdom it was considered mysterious and haunted.
- As the capital of the Kingdom of Galifar, Thonehold Keep “became a shining symbol of the kingdom and the island around developed into a wondrous showcase for the realm” (5N, p.96)
- After the outbreak of the Last War the island was largely abandoned, although House Deneith left the Throne Wardens in place to protect the castle.
- The town of Throneport mutated and “became a place for dissidents, spies, criminals, and mercenaries, ant the once opulent and safe port turned into a round-and-tumble town without law or allegiance to any single nation.” (5N again)
- Today Throneport is a small city and remains neutral ground protected by small peacekeeping forces from Aundair, Breland, Karrnath and Thrane. The castle and its grounds remain off limits under the protection of the Throne Wardens.

When the Kingdom of Galifar was at its height I imagine the capital and its surrounding lands were protected by many of the strongest magics and champions from all across Khorvaire. In the century since the kingdom fell, most of that protection has been stripped away. What was it that haunted the island in ages past? Was it destroyed or merely suppressed during Galifar’s reign?

I imagine Throneport (the city around/near Thronehold Keep) to be a blend of WWII Casablanca and Switzerland. Nobles from across Khorvaire must once have maintained estates here, as permanent or occasional homes while they visited or curried favor with the royal court. A (very) few noble families remained after the outbreak of the war but most abandoned the place and many once opulent estates are now run-down tenements and home to gangsters and outcasts.

I'm planning a campaign where Thronehold has become the defacto primary meeting ground for diplomats from all over Khorvaire. Scene of the signing of the Treaty that ended the Last War it has a symbolic importance that would make it an easy choice for site of further diplomatic negotiations. Ambassadors from all over meet regularly to haggle and parley. Law and order largely exists only in the immediate vicinity of the “Peacekeepers” who focus on protecting their nations’ embassies. Smugglers, outlaws and mercenaries continue to ply their trades with little hindrance. All are blissfully unaware that one of the Lords of Dust lies imprisoned deep beneath the island and his servants, responsible in the past for the "haunted" rumours, have begun efforts to draw on his power and/or awaken him.
DBlizzard
08-08-07, 01:25 AM By my reckoning (looking at the large scale map of Khorvaire, zooming in and dragging the map scale closer to Thronehold) the island should be somewhere in the range of 20-25 miles across.

No surprise there. Keith is on record as saying the large scale map is off by a scale of about 10 (he's probably talking about area, not straight distances).
Errant
08-08-07, 07:55 PM No surprise there. Keith is on record as saying the large scale map is off by a scale of about 10 (he's probably talking about area, not straight distances).

I remember reading something along those lines. The fact is though the official map scale of Khorvaire is what it is. For my campaign idea, a larger Thronehold island is a lot more useful than a smaller one. :cool:
Ravenstein
08-09-07, 02:21 PM I read those few bits of reference to Throneport, just to make sure I knew about it if it ever came up in a game. After ticking off the entire nation of Thrane, the party escaped across the river to Throneport. When asked about the island I gave them the basic description and such, "...its a hot-bed of intrigue and spies."

"You mean a wretched hive of scum and villainy?"

"Uh sure, if that helps you visualize it?"

"Just like Tortuga!"

"OK, yeah, if you guys want, sure, just like Tortuga."

That was a fun night with what followed...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Gimp 08-07-07, 03:37 PM	Well someone told me to start a new thread since I was being curious about the issue and here it is. I noticed the island on the map in the ECS but didn't see any markings indicating something special being there and since I think (might be wrong) that the five nations signed the threaty there, did they just signed it in the wilderness or what? I just possess the ECS for the moment so my answer but be lying in another source book. Thanks guys for answering my thirst for curiosity!
Cavienn 08-07-07, 03:48 PM	There's a sidebar in (I believe) the Karrnath section of Life in the World in the ECS that explains briefly that Thronehold is where Galifar had his castle and where he ruled from before the Last War erupted. It was not part of any of the five nations, allowing it to rule over each equally. In the Five Nations supplement, it further adds that House Deneith has an honour guard that's been looking after the castle since it was abandoned at the start of the Last War. There's also a city on the island that used to service the castle, but during the Last War it became a hotbed of intrigue and spies and refugees, since it was on neutral ground. I believe the city's name is Throneport (but I could be mistaken). It was used for the peace talks because of its symbolism as being where Galifar (and other kings) ruled the united country, and because it is neutral ground and has been so throughout the war. Hope that helps! Edit: I have just confirmed, the sidebar in the ECS is on page 183, the Deneith guard is called the Throne Wardens, the information in Five Nations is on page 96, and the city is called Throneport, and has small peacekeeping forces in it from each of the remaining four nations as well as the Throne Wardens.
Fabius Maximus 08-07-07, 04:46 PM	Throneport is described further in Forge of War.
eehamburg 08-07-07, 04:52 PM	Here is the link to Throneport. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ForgeWar_Maps/105890.jpg http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ForgeWar_Maps/105890.jpg
Edymnion 08-07-07, 06:44 PM	Basically, Thronehold is Washington DC in the United States. Not a part of any state, and the seat of political power. Its been more or less empty since the Last War started.
The_Gimp 08-07-07, 06:48 PM	Awesome thanks guys! :)
Errant 08-07-07, 09:13 PM	By my reckoning (looking at the large scale map of Khorvaire, zooming in and dragging the map scale closer to Thronehold) the island should be somewhere in the range of 20-25 miles across. That's a bit larger than what seems to be suggested by the Forge of War map. Although I'll grant you the similarity between the coastal shape on the FoW map and the southern half of the island on the Khorvaire map could be deemed coincidental. Either way its big enough to hold a few mysteries, or none at all if thats the way you want it. We’ve been given precious few facts about the island: - Prior to being chosen by Galifar I as the capital of his new kingdom it was considered mysterious and haunted. - As the capital of the Kingdom of Galifar, Thonehold Keep “became a shining symbol of the kingdom and the island around developed into a wondrous showcase for the realm” (5N, p.96) - After the outbreak of the Last War the island was largely abandoned, although House Deneith left the Throne Wardens in place to protect the castle. - The town of Throneport mutated and “became a place for dissidents, spies, criminals, and mercenaries, ant the once opulent and safe port turned into a round-and-tumble town without law or allegiance to any single nation.” (5N again) - Today Throneport is a small city and remains neutral ground protected by small peacekeeping forces from Aundair, Breland, Karrnath and Thrane. The castle and its grounds remain off limits under the protection of the Throne Wardens. When the Kingdom of Galifar was at its height I imagine the capital and its surrounding lands were protected by many of the strongest magics and champions from all across Khorvaire. In the century since the kingdom fell, most of that protection has been stripped away. What was it that haunted the island in ages past? Was it destroyed or merely suppressed during Galifar’s reign? I imagine Throneport (the city around/near Thronehold Keep) to be a blend of WWII Casablanca and Switzerland. Nobles from across Khorvaire must once have maintained estates here, as permanent or occasional homes while they visited or curried favor with the royal court. A (very) few noble families remained after the outbreak of the war but most abandoned the place and many once opulent estates are now run-down tenements and home to gangsters and outcasts. I'm planning a campaign where Thronehold has become the defacto primary meeting ground for diplomats from all over Khorvaire. Scene of the signing of the Treaty that ended the Last War it has a symbolic importance that would make it an easy choice for site of further diplomatic negotiations. Ambassadors from all over meet regularly to haggle and parley. Law and order largely exists only in the immediate vicinity of the “Peacekeepers” who focus on protecting their nations’ embassies. Smugglers, outlaws and mercenaries continue to ply their trades with little hindrance. All are blissfully unaware that one of the Lords of Dust lies imprisoned deep beneath the island and his servants, responsible in the past for the "haunted" rumours, have begun efforts to draw on his power and/or awaken him.
DBlizzard 08-08-07, 01:25 AM	By my reckoning (looking at the large scale map of Khorvaire, zooming in and dragging the map scale closer to Thronehold) the island should be somewhere in the range of 20-25 miles across. No surprise there. Keith is on record as saying the large scale map is off by a scale of about 10 (he's probably talking about area, not straight distances).
Errant 08-08-07, 07:55 PM	No surprise there. Keith is on record as saying the large scale map is off by a scale of about 10 (he's probably talking about area, not straight distances). I remember reading something along those lines. The fact is though the official map scale of Khorvaire is what it is. For my campaign idea, a larger Thronehold island is a lot more useful than a smaller one. :cool:
Ravenstein 08-09-07, 02:21 PM	I read those few bits of reference to Throneport, just to make sure I knew about it if it ever came up in a game. After ticking off the entire nation of Thrane, the party escaped across the river to Throneport. When asked about the island I gave them the basic description and such, "...its a hot-bed of intrigue and spies." "You mean a wretched hive of scum and villainy?" "Uh sure, if that helps you visualize it?" "Just like Tortuga!" "OK, yeah, if you guys want, sure, just like Tortuga." That was a fun night with what followed...