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Assassins in Dark Sun

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
whitelycan
Oct 08, 2010 2:56:21 So since on Athas the other planes are all but cut off from one another, how do you DMs out there figure they fit in? I have a player who really wants to try out the essentials assassin but I'm having a bit of a time coming up with a story of how assassins have powers that come from the black when it's more or less inaccessible.
#2
nightchill
Oct 08, 2010 6:28:02 I don't know much about the Shadow power source, but I'm guessing it comes from the Shadowfell

The direct analogy of the Shadowfell in 4e Dark Sun is 'The Gray', not 'The Black'. At least, as the DSCS is written ('The Gray is another echo of Athas, an otherworld of shadows and ghosts.'), and The Gray is a fair bit more accessible ;)

I realise some DMs prefer to use The Black though
#3
big_goon
Oct 08, 2010 11:39:54 While Athas is cut off from other planes, there is many references to the parallel worlds (feywilds and shadowfell). Travel to and from these parallel worlds doesn't seem to be as difficult as travelling between planes.

Assassins are mentioned in the Templars of Athas article - they work well as Templars of Nibenay (aka the 'Shadow King'). Nibenay probably has lots of knowledge on Shadows and the Shadow Power Source, and his Templarate parallels his ambitions.
#4
whitelycan
Oct 10, 2010 21:52:15 I thought the black was shadowfell and the gray was astral? At least I'm pretty sure it was in 2nd edition cause the place rajaat is imprisoned in is called the hollow which is located in the black
#5
Nyarlathotep
Oct 10, 2010 22:37:08 I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from. In the case of my campaign, the assassin is a halfling from a mystical society in his tribe that bargains with 'dark spirits' to gain powers to hunt down defilers and other enemies of his people. It leaves me with a lot of wiggle room in case the subject ever becomes important in the campaign but is sufficient to describe it for now.
#6
Pennarin
Oct 11, 2010 0:40:25 It's simple: the Black no longer exists in 4e, but the Gray does, taking the place of the Shadowfell. The Astral still exists and is called the Astral, but is somewhat more difficult to reach than for other settings, being behind the dimensional barrier known as...the Gray.

Nothing's to stop you from creating a Domain of Dread (heck, doesn't even need to be called that) for Dark Sun called the Black, which coalesced within the Shadowfell (where the Domains are in other settings) around the Hollow. It would be populated by Rajaat's halfling servants - the shadow giants - which are now undead, and through it they could listen and talk to Rajaat, taking orders from him.
#7
cmdluke
Oct 11, 2010 15:11:47 I play an assassin in a dark sun campaign currently. He got his powers form torurous experiments conducted on him by a shadow cult.
#8
cmdluke
Oct 11, 2010 15:11:51 I play an assassin in a dark sun campaign currently. He got his powers form torurous experiments conducted on him by a shadow cult.
#9
Finarvyn
Oct 11, 2010 17:12:35
I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from.

My solution exactly. I don't try to "explain away" some of those parts of the campaign. My group knows that there are assassins and they accept that fact without having to spend a lot of time worrying about the exact origins of their powers.
#10
Nyarlathotep
Oct 11, 2010 19:11:46
I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from.

My solution exactly. I don't try to "explain away" some of those parts of the campaign. My group knows that there are assassins and they accept that fact without having to spend a lot of time worrying about the exact origins of their powers.

Granted it's not an answer for everyone, but sometimes I take a page from the book of the Star Trek writer who was asked how Heisenberg Compensators work and he answered "Very Well, thank you."
#11
angelus_obscura
Oct 12, 2010 12:19:35 Athasian assassins could originate from multiple sects of a guild, like the Hashshashins from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The guild would include bards/minstrels, assassins, and rogues, with maybe a few mystics/spellcasters thrown into the mix. Their killing arts could have evolved into its own unique brand of pseudo-magic or psionics. FOr example, real-life correlates speak of rumors that the Hashshashins consumed hashish before carrying out killings. Extended use of hallucinogenic drugs or poisons could have opened previously dormant mental pathways, releasing psionic potential into shadowy powers including the ability to cloud minds and invoke heart-crushing fear.

Looks like I found my next (back-up) Dark Sun character; a nightstalker assassin (minstrel themed).
#12
cmdluke
Oct 12, 2010 14:50:58
Athasian assassins could originate from multiple sects of a guild, like the Hashshashins from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The guild would include bards/minstrels, assassins, and rogues, with maybe a few mystics/spellcasters thrown into the mix. Their killing arts could have evolved into its own unique brand of pseudo-magic or psionics. FOr example, real-life correlates speak of rumors that the Hashshashins consumed hashish before carrying out killings. Extended use of hallucinogenic drugs or poisons could have opened previously dormant mental pathways, releasing psionic potential into shadowy powers including the ability to cloud minds and invoke heart-crushing fear.

Looks like I found my next (back-up) Dark Sun character; a nightstalker assassin (minstrel themed).

thats exactly what i'm playing. =)

originally, his assassin powers were going to be psionic in nature, but he was going to be clinically insane and believed that he got all of his powers from shadow magic. his psionic abilities allowed him to subconsciously manifest these powers in a 'shadowy' way to appear as if he could command shadow magic at-will. =)
#13
dgtitan
Oct 15, 2010 11:39:35 I have an assassin in my current DS campaign and I don't see a conflict with the power source. Power Source = Shadowfel = The Grey. No explanatory gymnastics required there. I did however make my player choose an affiliation, either he had to associate himself with a Sorcerer-King, or with The Veiled Alliance. I figured no self-respecting Sorcerer-King would let an assassin's guild exist outside of his direct control, the exception to this would be The Veiled Alliance who would be training a cadre of spy's/assassins to further their goals.
#14
HarbringerOfNok
Apr 28, 2011 11:25:57
We have an assassin rolling in our up-coming campaign. In favor of the original flavor of DS we explained his powers as psionic in origin. Has anyone looked at possible hybrid combinations for the athasian assassin?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 whitelycan Oct 08, 2010 2:56:21	So since on Athas the other planes are all but cut off from one another, how do you DMs out there figure they fit in? I have a player who really wants to try out the essentials assassin but I'm having a bit of a time coming up with a story of how assassins have powers that come from the black when it's more or less inaccessible.
#2 nightchill Oct 08, 2010 6:28:02	I don't know much about the Shadow power source, but I'm guessing it comes from the Shadowfell The direct analogy of the Shadowfell in 4e Dark Sun is 'The Gray', not 'The Black'. At least, as the DSCS is written ('The Gray is another echo of Athas, an otherworld of shadows and ghosts.'), and The Gray is a fair bit more accessible ;) I realise some DMs prefer to use The Black though
#3 big_goon Oct 08, 2010 11:39:54	While Athas is cut off from other planes, there is many references to the parallel worlds (feywilds and shadowfell). Travel to and from these parallel worlds doesn't seem to be as difficult as travelling between planes. Assassins are mentioned in the Templars of Athas article - they work well as Templars of Nibenay (aka the 'Shadow King'). Nibenay probably has lots of knowledge on Shadows and the Shadow Power Source, and his Templarate parallels his ambitions.
#4 whitelycan Oct 10, 2010 21:52:15	I thought the black was shadowfell and the gray was astral? At least I'm pretty sure it was in 2nd edition cause the place rajaat is imprisoned in is called the hollow which is located in the black
#5 Nyarlathotep Oct 10, 2010 22:37:08	I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from. In the case of my campaign, the assassin is a halfling from a mystical society in his tribe that bargains with 'dark spirits' to gain powers to hunt down defilers and other enemies of his people. It leaves me with a lot of wiggle room in case the subject ever becomes important in the campaign but is sufficient to describe it for now.
#6 Pennarin Oct 11, 2010 0:40:25	It's simple: the Black no longer exists in 4e, but the Gray does, taking the place of the Shadowfell. The Astral still exists and is called the Astral, but is somewhat more difficult to reach than for other settings, being behind the dimensional barrier known as...the Gray. Nothing's to stop you from creating a Domain of Dread (heck, doesn't even need to be called that) for Dark Sun called the Black, which coalesced within the Shadowfell (where the Domains are in other settings) around the Hollow. It would be populated by Rajaat's halfling servants - the shadow giants - which are now undead, and through it they could listen and talk to Rajaat, taking orders from him.
#7 cmdluke Oct 11, 2010 15:11:47	I play an assassin in a dark sun campaign currently. He got his powers form torurous experiments conducted on him by a shadow cult.
#8 cmdluke Oct 11, 2010 15:11:51	I play an assassin in a dark sun campaign currently. He got his powers form torurous experiments conducted on him by a shadow cult.
#9 Finarvyn Oct 11, 2010 17:12:35	I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from. My solution exactly. I don't try to "explain away" some of those parts of the campaign. My group knows that there are assassins and they accept that fact without having to spend a lot of time worrying about the exact origins of their powers.
#10 Nyarlathotep Oct 11, 2010 19:11:46	I have an assassin in my campaign and I get around it by simply not worrying overmuch about where his powers come from. My solution exactly. I don't try to "explain away" some of those parts of the campaign. My group knows that there are assassins and they accept that fact without having to spend a lot of time worrying about the exact origins of their powers. Granted it's not an answer for everyone, but sometimes I take a page from the book of the Star Trek writer who was asked how Heisenberg Compensators work and he answered "Very Well, thank you."
#11 angelus_obscura Oct 12, 2010 12:19:35	Athasian assassins could originate from multiple sects of a guild, like the Hashshashins from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The guild would include bards/minstrels, assassins, and rogues, with maybe a few mystics/spellcasters thrown into the mix. Their killing arts could have evolved into its own unique brand of pseudo-magic or psionics. FOr example, real-life correlates speak of rumors that the Hashshashins consumed hashish before carrying out killings. Extended use of hallucinogenic drugs or poisons could have opened previously dormant mental pathways, releasing psionic potential into shadowy powers including the ability to cloud minds and invoke heart-crushing fear. Looks like I found my next (back-up) Dark Sun character; a nightstalker assassin (minstrel themed).
#12 cmdluke Oct 12, 2010 14:50:58	Athasian assassins could originate from multiple sects of a guild, like the Hashshashins from Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The guild would include bards/minstrels, assassins, and rogues, with maybe a few mystics/spellcasters thrown into the mix. Their killing arts could have evolved into its own unique brand of pseudo-magic or psionics. FOr example, real-life correlates speak of rumors that the Hashshashins consumed hashish before carrying out killings. Extended use of hallucinogenic drugs or poisons could have opened previously dormant mental pathways, releasing psionic potential into shadowy powers including the ability to cloud minds and invoke heart-crushing fear. Looks like I found my next (back-up) Dark Sun character; a nightstalker assassin (minstrel themed). thats exactly what i'm playing. =) originally, his assassin powers were going to be psionic in nature, but he was going to be clinically insane and believed that he got all of his powers from shadow magic. his psionic abilities allowed him to subconsciously manifest these powers in a 'shadowy' way to appear as if he could command shadow magic at-will. =)
#13 dgtitan Oct 15, 2010 11:39:35	I have an assassin in my current DS campaign and I don't see a conflict with the power source. Power Source = Shadowfel = The Grey. No explanatory gymnastics required there. I did however make my player choose an affiliation, either he had to associate himself with a Sorcerer-King, or with The Veiled Alliance. I figured no self-respecting Sorcerer-King would let an assassin's guild exist outside of his direct control, the exception to this would be The Veiled Alliance who would be training a cadre of spy's/assassins to further their goals.
#14 HarbringerOfNok Apr 28, 2011 11:25:57	We have an assassin rolling in our up-coming campaign. In favor of the original flavor of DS we explained his powers as psionic in origin. Has anyone looked at possible hybrid combinations for the athasian assassin?