Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tae'graciel 12-26-05, 01:58 PM	Hey there.. SO my campaign is taking my PCs from Anauroch to Waterdeep... quite a hike. I was thinking of sending them RIGHT THROUGH the high forest, yes quite a journey... but I dont want it to be a plain hike I want some things to happen or go awry with them with them. I would like them to get themselves involved but sometimes needs a little shoving ;) So any ideas whatsoever would be appreciated
GothicDan 12-26-05, 02:01 PM	There is a LOT of Elven ruins and remnants of culture in the High Forest. The nations of Aryvandaar, Siluvanede, and Eaerlann were all there... And one more, I think, which I can't remember off the top of my head. I believe it was a Wood Elf realm. Then there's the ruins of Ascalhorn/Hellgate Keep, and the lost Sun Elven city of Myth Adofhaer, which was found here and thrown into temporal stasis/the future.. And Turlang, effectively the "granddaddy" of the treants of the North..
Dark Wizard 12-26-05, 02:53 PM	I believe Sharrven was situated around that area. It was an elven realm, moon or wood elf, maybe a combination of both.
Blackheart 12-26-05, 03:45 PM	Sharrven was a Moon and Sun Elf realm. Not sure on an older Wood Elf realm, but the Council of the Wood, made of Wood and Moon Elf elders/nobles want to raise a new Earlann within the wood. Don't forget that Delzoun and Ammarindar both bordered the High Forest, and that there has been quite a bit of fiendish influence in the area for over a thousand years. The High Forest is truly one of those places where you can never run short on ideas...it borders so many unique places and has a great history that shouldn't be overlooked.
GothicDan 12-26-05, 04:33 PM	Ahh yes, it was Sharrven, the last nation. I said Wood Elf thinking of Eaerlann (along with Moon Elves, of course). Thanks for filling in the gaps, folks. :) But yes.. I absolutely love the High Forest. With orcish activities on the western border, near the Silver Marches, it is all the more exciting, too.
aliira-sunstar 12-26-05, 04:53 PM	Turlang the Ent and his sylvan forces could come up.
Mr.Sinister 12-26-05, 04:59 PM	There's also the obvious Hellgate keep and old Elven Port to the North. Something interesting near the Dancing Falls south of The Lost Peaks and the Halls of the Four Ghosts or the Unicorn's Horn and the Endless caverns of the Starmounts to the South. Good gaming,
Old Sage 12-26-05, 07:30 PM	There is a LOT of Elven ruins and remnants of culture in the High Forest. The nations of Aryvandaar, Siluvanede, and Eaerlann were all there... And one more, I think, which I can't remember off the top of my head. I believe it was a Wood Elf realm. Then there's the ruins of Ascalhorn/Hellgate Keep, and the lost Sun Elven city of Myth Adofhaer, which was found here and thrown into temporal stasis/the future.. And Turlang, effectively the "granddaddy" of the treants of the North..Pick up Lost Empires of Faerun for more details on the ancient past of the High Forest. It should provide some intriguing campaign ideas for your game...
warlockco 12-26-05, 07:52 PM	Turlang the Ent and his sylvan forces could come up. It is "Treant" for D&D. I think "Ent" is copyrighted by those that hold Tolkien's Estate. I could be wrong though.
aliira-sunstar 12-26-05, 08:35 PM	It is "Treant" for D&D. I think "Ent" is copyrighted by those that hold Tolkien's Estate. I could be wrong though. Really? I wasn't aware of that. Anyways, ent sounds SO much better. Well- just checked my MM 3.5 in Portugese and Ent is listed as Ent. :P
Old Sage 12-26-05, 09:31 PM	It is "Treant" for D&D. I think "Ent" is copyrighted by those that hold Tolkien's Estate. I could be wrong though."Ent" is protected by copyright, yes. For these reasons... only "Treants" and "Treefolk" are acceptable in D&D.
louhas 12-27-05, 02:59 AM	I think something with House Dlardraegeth would be cool. Put in a villain who is a half-demon sun elf with many levels of sorcerer, and give them a reason to attack the PCs. Maybe add some beefy Fey'ri minions and a lot of Tanrukks and other bestial creatures (orcs and gnolls), not to mention summoned demons. As for motives, maybe there's something the PCs get from elven ruins, or there are elves in the party they want to kidnap for their nefarious schemes (demon breeding programs, etc.). Otherwise, I concur, Turlang and his treants would also add possibilities for fine hooks. Oh, maybe even some Malar worshippers. Or some odd creature that lives way out there in the wilderness, like the Aarocokra tribes of Star Mts. (or whatever mountain range is in the high forest area). Oh, and the campaign setting has an idea for a wizard that goes into the forest to speak with Turlang, but gets ambushed or something. Maybe going into the forest to look for a son or daughter of a noble family of Everlund, and running a plot from there. If they are an elf, that's how you could draw the Fey'ri into it, and from there, the elven ruins and such. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Rauric 12-27-05, 09:15 PM	They hear rumors of a evil were creature that is killing humans in the area. It turns out to be an elven druid of Silvanus who is part of that racist group of elves who loath humans. He kills humas so they won't be able to begin any "Empires" within the Forest that will eventually deforest the region. Allowing any humans in the High FOrest is unacceptable to him.
Blackheart 12-28-05, 12:29 AM	I don't see why a member of Eldreth Veluuthra would worship Silvanus? Most would see that as just as heretical to their race as sleeping with a human. Also, if you're going to add in power groups, I don't think a trip across the woods is really the place to do so. I tend to feel that you can't really get the proper mileage out of an organization until you add more sweeping arcs or even quicker, more insidious plots. That's like playing a dragon and the DM trying to show you the vile atrocities of the Cult of the Dragon by making one of your encounters against a Wearer of Purple. Back to topic, though... Be creative, most of all. Imagery goes a long way in storytelling, and you don't have to send villains at your party from every angle. Describe the different areas of the forest they enter, perhaps a glade that lies in perpetual freezing temperatures but maintains its seasonal foliage. Be sure to throw teasers in for various monsters...acid spotting on rocks, claw marks through bark, strange noises or things seen out the corner of their eyes. A forest might be visually breathtaking, but it's not a place for those with no ties to nature, and can be very scary. Even if they don't encounter one thing, make them feel like their lives hang in the hands of every other denizen of the Wood. Ad Hoc some xp if you really want them to advance, just for "surviving" the trip (i.e., listening to your storytelling). Be sure to search the beastiaries other than the Monster Manual, too. Any monster that might not be readily recognizable to people in your party is a plus, and tons can fit in the High Forest easily if you'd like to add some throwdowns. A twist to the combat may be that, even though they were defending themselves from a marauding creature, Turlang might not approve of the spells the party employed, or certain equipment, etc., putting the PCs in a hard spot of weakening themselves by limitation in the process of placating the powerful.
Krash 12-28-05, 07:29 PM	They might also stumble upon clues or new information as to the fate of the elven King Ellatharion of Phalorm who was lost in the High Forest pursuing the remnants of an orc horde that had been defeated in battle near Secomber. See LEoF. -- George Krashos
Rauric 12-29-05, 02:16 AM	I don't see why a member of Eldreth Veluthra would worship Silvanus? Most would see that as just as heretical to their race as sleeping with a human. Also, if you're going to add in power groups, I don't think a trip across the woods is really the place to do so. I tend to feel that you can't really get the proper mileage out of an organization until you add more sweeping arcs or even quicker, more insidious plots. That's like playing a dragon and the DM trying to show you the vile atrocities of the Cult of the Dragon by making one of your encounters against a Wearer of Purple. Back to topic, though... Be creative, most of all. Imagery goes a long way in storytelling, and you don't have to send villains at your party from every angle. Describe the different areas of the forest they enter, perhaps a glade that lies in perpetual freezing temperatures but maintains its seasonal foliage. Be sure to throw teasers in for various monsters...acid spotting on rocks, claw marks through bark, strange noises or things seen out the corner of their eyes. A forest might be visually breathtaking, but it's not a place for those with no ties to nature, and can be very scary. Even if they don't encounter one thing, make them feel like their lives hang in the hands of every other denizen of the Wood. Ad Hoc some xp if you really want them to advance, just for "surviving" the trip (i.e., listening to your storytelling). Be sure to search the beastiaries other than the Monster Manual, too. Any monster that might not be readily recognizable to people in your party is a plus, and tons can fit in the High Forest easily if you'd like to add some throwdowns. A twist to the combat may be that, even though they were defending themselves from a marauding creature, Turlang might not approve of the spells the party employed, or certain equipment, etc., putting the PCs in a hard spot of weakening themselves by limitation in the process of placating the powerful. Silvanus is about nature and balance. His followers (imo) take a hardline tactic to stopping deforrestation and defiling nature. I do not think he is considered just a HUMAN deity. Many elves probably respect his neutral aspect to protecting nature at any cost.
GothicDan 12-29-05, 12:15 PM	The Eldreth Veluuthra only worship the Seldarine. And since the Seldarine do not acknowledge them, they have no divine power whatsoever. This is part of the heat of the paradox of the EV - they are so devoted to the Seldarine that they have foregone all divine aid, thinking it a test of sorts. So I would not allow a member of the EV to worship any other deity. They are an Elven supremacist group; why would they worship a non-Elven god? And in this case, Silvanus is very much non-Elven, given the fact that he has a near-identical duplicate among the Seldarine in the form of Rillifane Ralathil.
tae'graciel 12-30-05, 08:17 PM	what soursebooks have the Eldreth Veluuthra in them? I like the idea of ambush by them for simply BEING in the forest. There is an elf in the party so maybe there will be diplomacy.. and maybe a suprise visit by Turlag asking party to remove thr Eldreth Veluuthra because hes afraid they will **** off Everlund for killing to many in his woods, or would Turlag support the Eldreth Veluuthra? lso, if you're going to add in power groups, I don't think a trip across the woods is really the place to do so. I tend to feel that you can't really get the proper mileage out of an organization until you add more sweeping arcs or even quicker, more insidious plots. That's like playing a dragon and the DM trying to show you the vile atrocities of the Cult of the Dragon by making one of your encounters against a Wearer of Purple. What do you mean by that blackheart?
Blackheart 12-31-05, 01:21 AM	Eldreth Veluuthra has a decent write-up in Lords of Darkness. And... I meant that throwing in a power group just because they seem 'cool' really throws the purpose of the group. Most organizations have plans that stretch over the course of months or years, even among the shorter lived races. In my opinion, plot 'splashing' with forces of this nature is bad form, as it can lend, at best, a lack of realism, and at worst, a collapse of any story you might have worked up when your players pursue information about the group they just got a taste of instead of biting your hooks. No doubt, stories can be rewritten, and yes, it's fun to be surprised by your players in this way from time to time, but it can also lead you into a jam when you might not have meant for a bit of flavor to lead your party into wanting the full taste.
tae'graciel 12-31-05, 01:43 PM	Ahhh, I see... Thanks Now does the plothook mentioned above sound too 'throwen in' however I will mention that one of my PC's is a ranger who lived on the western edge in a shack with his father, who is also a ranger (and is currently missing)