[Dark Sun] Help with Draj campaign. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

[Dark Sun] Help with Draj campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
krosszer0
Aug 20, 2008 2:22:53 So I'm setting up a Dark Sun campaign in the Paizo 3.5 version of the world, and I'm setting up the PC's as part of a resistance cell in Draj. I found some interesting hooks in the source material, but I need some help fleshing them out:

The dragon-king that founded Draj, Tectuktitlay, had a keen interest in having the denizens of the city-state worship him as a god-emperor. He established temples to himself across the city and made faith in Tectuktitlay and the twin moons mandatory. Atzetuk has continued this tradition,
claiming a divine right to rule Draj—and eventually all of Athas, his templars promise.
Central to Atzetuk’s religion is the belief that ritual sacrifices are required to ward off disasters and misfortune. Atzetuk’s templars often point out that Draj was able to avoidmuch of the chaos that befell Raam and Balic after their dragon-kings died or disappeared. They likewise claim that the sacrifices keep a permanent hurricaine of dust and rain called the Cerulean Storm from moving northward and engulfing them.
Druids working secretly in Draj say that the sacrifices have nothing to do with protection against natural or manmade disasters. But they do have some purpose and often unleash powerful conjuration and transmutation magic, according to revolutionaries who’ve seen the sacrifices up close. The
druids and other rebel cells in Draj would very much like to know the real reason for Atzetuk’s state religion.
The characters learn the reason behind Atzetuk’s ritual
sacrifices, and they have one month to disrupt the powerful
energies he’s gathering.

Any ideas on what the reason behind the culling could/should be? It also mentions that Atzetuk destroyed the House of the Mind and that people who display a lot Psionic power are often picked for the culling.

Thanks
#2
jon_oracle_of_athas
Aug 20, 2008 5:32:09 You might want to grab the City-State of Draj from athas.org for additional information on the city. It also has a companion adventure, Whispers of the Storm.
#3
Band2
Aug 21, 2008 11:57:00
The characters learn the reason behind Atzetuk’s ritual
sacrifices, and they have one month to disrupt the powerful
energies he’s gathering.
Any ideas on what the reason behind the culling could/should be?

Well, the first thing I would say is that is very coincidental. He has been making these sacrifices for hundreds of years, and just one month before his plan will come to its conclusion, someone else (the PC's) learn about it.

I would make some changes. Atzetuk is doing the rituals for whatever reason he is. But a royal defiler has begun using the rituals for his own purposes. The defiler is gathering the life energies of some of those sacrificed, not all so Atzetuk does not find out. The defiler is gathering the energies because he has been contacted by the spirit of Tithian. The defiler thinks he is going to be using the energy to gain the power of the Cerulean Storm, but the ceremony is really to try to free Tithian from the storm. There is also the danger that the ceremony may weaken Rajaat's bonds. A druid or a cerulean wizard may notice the gathered energy and have the PC's look into it. The defiler only needs the life energy in five more sacrifices and he will have enough to perform the ritual.
#4
phoenix_m
Aug 22, 2008 2:36:39 Oh and for the love of the Dragon, DO NOT kill the defiler on the alter - YOU might end up finishing the ritual for him/them!
#5
jaanos1
Aug 25, 2008 21:22:48 This is what i'd do:

1. The sacrifices are part of gathering energy to try and become a dragon in one hit, ala Kalak style. Let him cast the spell, but it fails (why is up to you) and instead he becomes a deformed dragon - just whack on the half-dragon template, and voila, deformed dragon ;)

2. Maybe the stored up life energy is being used to try and attract the attention of an elemental vortex, so he can get the powers of a SK?

3. Maybe he needs the life-energy to power an epic spell to propel him to the outerplanes for reasons unknown?

4. Maybe he's gathering life energy to try and make a conduit for spiritual energy from scratch? (either to the elemental or outerplanes)

5. He's made a deal with Andropinis or Rajaat and this is all part of it...
#6
bennet
Aug 25, 2008 23:38:43 I'm always recommending to add some flavor by seeting up a classic Athasian occurrence taken from the novels; not every player has read the novels; & as a player-not GM,that is- it is always ''cool" to compare your character to a famous hero from the World of Athas. Skill challenges are always a great add, even on 3rd Ed sesions...
#7
krosszer0
Aug 26, 2008 10:42:37 Thanks for all the suggestions guy. I like the idea of him striking a deal with Rajaat, so that I can possibly set Rajaat up as an endgame boss (like Orcus in the generic setting).

Maybe Rajaat has agreed to turn Atzetuk into a dragon king if he frees him from the Black, and he's been using the Psionic energy to slowly eat away at Rajaat's prison?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 krosszer0 Aug 20, 2008 2:22:53	So I'm setting up a Dark Sun campaign in the Paizo 3.5 version of the world, and I'm setting up the PC's as part of a resistance cell in Draj. I found some interesting hooks in the source material, but I need some help fleshing them out: The dragon-king that founded Draj, Tectuktitlay, had a keen interest in having the denizens of the city-state worship him as a god-emperor. He established temples to himself across the city and made faith in Tectuktitlay and the twin moons mandatory. Atzetuk has continued this tradition, claiming a divine right to rule Draj—and eventually all of Athas, his templars promise. Central to Atzetuk’s religion is the belief that ritual sacrifices are required to ward off disasters and misfortune. Atzetuk’s templars often point out that Draj was able to avoidmuch of the chaos that befell Raam and Balic after their dragon-kings died or disappeared. They likewise claim that the sacrifices keep a permanent hurricaine of dust and rain called the Cerulean Storm from moving northward and engulfing them. Druids working secretly in Draj say that the sacrifices have nothing to do with protection against natural or manmade disasters. But they do have some purpose and often unleash powerful conjuration and transmutation magic, according to revolutionaries who’ve seen the sacrifices up close. The druids and other rebel cells in Draj would very much like to know the real reason for Atzetuk’s state religion. The characters learn the reason behind Atzetuk’s ritual sacrifices, and they have one month to disrupt the powerful energies he’s gathering. Any ideas on what the reason behind the culling could/should be? It also mentions that Atzetuk destroyed the House of the Mind and that people who display a lot Psionic power are often picked for the culling. Thanks
#2 jon_oracle_of_athas Aug 20, 2008 5:32:09	You might want to grab the City-State of Draj from athas.org for additional information on the city. It also has a companion adventure, Whispers of the Storm.
#3 Band2 Aug 21, 2008 11:57:00	The characters learn the reason behind Atzetuk’s ritual sacrifices, and they have one month to disrupt the powerful energies he’s gathering. Any ideas on what the reason behind the culling could/should be? Well, the first thing I would say is that is very coincidental. He has been making these sacrifices for hundreds of years, and just one month before his plan will come to its conclusion, someone else (the PC's) learn about it. I would make some changes. Atzetuk is doing the rituals for whatever reason he is. But a royal defiler has begun using the rituals for his own purposes. The defiler is gathering the life energies of some of those sacrificed, not all so Atzetuk does not find out. The defiler is gathering the energies because he has been contacted by the spirit of Tithian. The defiler thinks he is going to be using the energy to gain the power of the Cerulean Storm, but the ceremony is really to try to free Tithian from the storm. There is also the danger that the ceremony may weaken Rajaat's bonds. A druid or a cerulean wizard may notice the gathered energy and have the PC's look into it. The defiler only needs the life energy in five more sacrifices and he will have enough to perform the ritual.
#4 phoenix_m Aug 22, 2008 2:36:39	Oh and for the love of the Dragon, DO NOT kill the defiler on the alter - YOU might end up finishing the ritual for him/them!
#5 jaanos1 Aug 25, 2008 21:22:48	This is what i'd do: 1. The sacrifices are part of gathering energy to try and become a dragon in one hit, ala Kalak style. Let him cast the spell, but it fails (why is up to you) and instead he becomes a deformed dragon - just whack on the half-dragon template, and voila, deformed dragon ;) 2. Maybe the stored up life energy is being used to try and attract the attention of an elemental vortex, so he can get the powers of a SK? 3. Maybe he needs the life-energy to power an epic spell to propel him to the outerplanes for reasons unknown? 4. Maybe he's gathering life energy to try and make a conduit for spiritual energy from scratch? (either to the elemental or outerplanes) 5. He's made a deal with Andropinis or Rajaat and this is all part of it...
#6 bennet Aug 25, 2008 23:38:43	I'm always recommending to add some flavor by seeting up a classic Athasian occurrence taken from the novels; not every player has read the novels; & as a player-not GM,that is- it is always ''cool" to compare your character to a famous hero from the World of Athas. Skill challenges are always a great add, even on 3rd Ed sesions...
#7 krosszer0 Aug 26, 2008 10:42:37	Thanks for all the suggestions guy. I like the idea of him striking a deal with Rajaat, so that I can possibly set Rajaat up as an endgame boss (like Orcus in the generic setting). Maybe Rajaat has agreed to turn Atzetuk into a dragon king if he frees him from the Black, and he's been using the Psionic energy to slowly eat away at Rajaat's prison?