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Dragons Levy

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
khorne37
Mar 23, 2011 10:37:29 Tell me your thoughts. I am running a DS campaign with a group that is both new to DS and some to D&D. We are on our third adventure and are currently playing marauders.

I was going to have them find tome in the tomb that was very old and difficult to decipher but speaks of the war in heaven the rise of the champions and rajaat the slumbering of the primoridials. I did not want this book to tell all jus that there are names which the players might recognize and with loose dates and hope the PC's can put two and two together.

On the way back to Tyr I was going to have the players run into a large group of templars from Tyr with a group of slaves. Where did the slaves come from not sure yet. The templars are on thier way to a dragons alter to parley with the dragon about Tyrs levy. So the PC's learn that Titihian who they loosley work for has been communicating with the dragon and sending the innocent to die. Okay Dark Sun is a harsh world at least they are not on the chopping block.

So upon return to Tyr I am sure they may have a few words with Tithian where Sacha and Wyan will be introduced by name. Until now they have been cloaked and in the back ground moving in a strange fashion. I don't know in which order I want the information coming at the PC's should they know Sacha and Wyan from the tome before being introduced or should they learn of them after the meeting? Any additonal thoughts?
#2
Palladinae
Mar 24, 2011 6:57:21 I suppose you can introduce their names. Describe them as potent warriors and cunning warlords, let players think they are powerfull and magnificient. And later show them just the heads, it should be nic contrast.
#3
teamwrong
Mar 27, 2011 4:34:08 Your players' characters are literate? You're a nice GM. ;)

An option: you could have the tome mention the 1st and 12th Champion but not their names. So later on in the campaign the players discover that those two are the same as the previously mentioned Champions, they'll be completely surprised.
#4
baronspam
Mar 27, 2011 21:06:13
Your players' characters are literate? You're a nice GM. ;)

An option: you could have the tome mention the 1st and 12th Champion but not their names. So later on in the campaign the players discover that those two are the same as the previously mentioned Champions, they'll be completely surprised.

Although this is a frequent argument about the setting, the default rule in the DSCG is that PCs are literate unless the player chooses otherwise. Many folks on Athas are not, but the PCs can be exceptions if the players wish.

As a side note, remember that there are lots of folks who would be able to read. Those of the noble and templar classes, many merchants and those who work for the merchant houses, and anyone with arcane training, would likely be literate. Most slaves and commoners would probably not be, but even there trusted or valued slaves with specific work that required it might be taught at least basic literacy. A commoner might privately learn to read from a collection books for scrolls from a parent. There are lots of ways to work literacy into a character background.
#5
Duskweaver
Mar 28, 2011 8:34:03
Most slaves and commoners would probably not be, but even there trusted or valued slaves with specific work that required it might be taught at least basic literacy.

Given that the usual punishment for unauthorised literacy in the city-states is enslavement, slaves might even have a higher literacy rate than any other group on Athas except nobles and templars. I think that could lead to several interesting plot twists, actually...
#6
khorne37
Mar 28, 2011 11:01:44 I have a noble and an arcane user who are both literate the others are iffy. There is a tribal shaman, arena fighter and kreen warden. I was going to make ready the book a skill challenge too unless they produce or seek out comprehend languages.
#7
BRJN
Apr 08, 2011 22:41:20 Reading the ancient tome should not be a skill challenge; comprehending it ought to be the skill challenge!

Don't believe me? Go pick up a section of Shakespeare at random and try to figure out what is going on. Or get a King James Version of the Bible and look up Nehemiah where dueling bureaucrats are sending proclamations back and forth.

Of course the literate smart characters are going to use Arcana, Diplomacy, History, and basic INT checks on the book. Also the shaman could use Nature to figure out animal descriptions; the warden can Insight to follow directions to a place (or get somewhere in the general vicinity). The fighter might be able to 'get' an exotic weapon description - which turns out to be one Champions' signature item - so the group can figure out that that's them. If the PCs mess up their rolls, have some false clues and/or red herrings ready so you can go adventuring ... in the wrong direction and must re-trace steps later.
#8
themadone
Apr 20, 2011 1:04:16 Is there a reason your using the dragon levy? I haven't played since the start of 3e so i dont know much about the 3e-4e DS content. Are you playing 2e content before the Prism Pendant novels or something? Just curious.
#9
khorne37
Apr 20, 2011 11:38:41 4th edition resets the world. The Dragon is alive and the events of the Prism Pendant do not occur if you do not want them to. So I did the Dragons Levy and I think it went well. The good character wanted to stop the head templar from making his sacrafice to summon the Dragon yet was restrained due to the overwhelming force of Half-giants around. The Dragon showed up sucked the souls from the sacrafices and demanded more. This led the characters straight to King Tithian who told them straight out yes the dragon exists and he demands a levy from every city state of 1000 souls. He then made it a very grey area in saying that he would raid outlying tribes to meet this goal since every one in Tyr is now free. It is that or let the Dragon take what he wants and destroy the city. I have also introduced Sacha and Wyan the floating heads except they cover up the fact they dont have bodies by wearing large cloaks and not doing a lot of movement. The PC's have uncovered a book from The Temple of Ul-Athra that will lay out the dawn war talk about the tarrasque and also talk about other planes and that there were God beings at some point. It will also mention the 15 champions and how they send the first wizard and the primordials to rest. I also had Tithian drop a hint about how he does not know what the levy is for but more could be found from Kalak's Ziggaraut but not through official arenas as it has been closed. I think everything has gone well and it has captured the players attention like no other event before. Next I am going to run Arcane shadows.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 khorne37 Mar 23, 2011 10:37:29	Tell me your thoughts. I am running a DS campaign with a group that is both new to DS and some to D&D. We are on our third adventure and are currently playing marauders. I was going to have them find tome in the tomb that was very old and difficult to decipher but speaks of the war in heaven the rise of the champions and rajaat the slumbering of the primoridials. I did not want this book to tell all jus that there are names which the players might recognize and with loose dates and hope the PC's can put two and two together. On the way back to Tyr I was going to have the players run into a large group of templars from Tyr with a group of slaves. Where did the slaves come from not sure yet. The templars are on thier way to a dragons alter to parley with the dragon about Tyrs levy. So the PC's learn that Titihian who they loosley work for has been communicating with the dragon and sending the innocent to die. Okay Dark Sun is a harsh world at least they are not on the chopping block. So upon return to Tyr I am sure they may have a few words with Tithian where Sacha and Wyan will be introduced by name. Until now they have been cloaked and in the back ground moving in a strange fashion. I don't know in which order I want the information coming at the PC's should they know Sacha and Wyan from the tome before being introduced or should they learn of them after the meeting? Any additonal thoughts?
#2 Palladinae Mar 24, 2011 6:57:21	I suppose you can introduce their names. Describe them as potent warriors and cunning warlords, let players think they are powerfull and magnificient. And later show them just the heads, it should be nic contrast.
#3 teamwrong Mar 27, 2011 4:34:08	Your players' characters are literate? You're a nice GM. ;) An option: you could have the tome mention the 1st and 12th Champion but not their names. So later on in the campaign the players discover that those two are the same as the previously mentioned Champions, they'll be completely surprised.
#4 baronspam Mar 27, 2011 21:06:13	Your players' characters are literate? You're a nice GM. ;) An option: you could have the tome mention the 1st and 12th Champion but not their names. So later on in the campaign the players discover that those two are the same as the previously mentioned Champions, they'll be completely surprised. Although this is a frequent argument about the setting, the default rule in the DSCG is that PCs are literate unless the player chooses otherwise. Many folks on Athas are not, but the PCs can be exceptions if the players wish. As a side note, remember that there are lots of folks who would be able to read. Those of the noble and templar classes, many merchants and those who work for the merchant houses, and anyone with arcane training, would likely be literate. Most slaves and commoners would probably not be, but even there trusted or valued slaves with specific work that required it might be taught at least basic literacy. A commoner might privately learn to read from a collection books for scrolls from a parent. There are lots of ways to work literacy into a character background.
#5 Duskweaver Mar 28, 2011 8:34:03	Most slaves and commoners would probably not be, but even there trusted or valued slaves with specific work that required it might be taught at least basic literacy. Given that the usual punishment for unauthorised literacy in the city-states is enslavement, slaves might even have a higher literacy rate than any other group on Athas except nobles and templars. I think that could lead to several interesting plot twists, actually...
#6 khorne37 Mar 28, 2011 11:01:44	I have a noble and an arcane user who are both literate the others are iffy. There is a tribal shaman, arena fighter and kreen warden. I was going to make ready the book a skill challenge too unless they produce or seek out comprehend languages.
#7 BRJN Apr 08, 2011 22:41:20	Reading the ancient tome should not be a skill challenge; comprehending it ought to be the skill challenge! Don't believe me? Go pick up a section of Shakespeare at random and try to figure out what is going on. Or get a King James Version of the Bible and look up Nehemiah where dueling bureaucrats are sending proclamations back and forth. Of course the literate smart characters are going to use Arcana, Diplomacy, History, and basic INT checks on the book. Also the shaman could use Nature to figure out animal descriptions; the warden can Insight to follow directions to a place (or get somewhere in the general vicinity). The fighter might be able to 'get' an exotic weapon description - which turns out to be one Champions' signature item - so the group can figure out that that's them. If the PCs mess up their rolls, have some false clues and/or red herrings ready so you can go adventuring ... in the wrong direction and must re-trace steps later.
#8 themadone Apr 20, 2011 1:04:16	Is there a reason your using the dragon levy? I haven't played since the start of 3e so i dont know much about the 3e-4e DS content. Are you playing 2e content before the Prism Pendant novels or something? Just curious.
#9 khorne37 Apr 20, 2011 11:38:41	4th edition resets the world. The Dragon is alive and the events of the Prism Pendant do not occur if you do not want them to. So I did the Dragons Levy and I think it went well. The good character wanted to stop the head templar from making his sacrafice to summon the Dragon yet was restrained due to the overwhelming force of Half-giants around. The Dragon showed up sucked the souls from the sacrafices and demanded more. This led the characters straight to King Tithian who told them straight out yes the dragon exists and he demands a levy from every city state of 1000 souls. He then made it a very grey area in saying that he would raid outlying tribes to meet this goal since every one in Tyr is now free. It is that or let the Dragon take what he wants and destroy the city. I have also introduced Sacha and Wyan the floating heads except they cover up the fact they dont have bodies by wearing large cloaks and not doing a lot of movement. The PC's have uncovered a book from The Temple of Ul-Athra that will lay out the dawn war talk about the tarrasque and also talk about other planes and that there were God beings at some point. It will also mention the 15 champions and how they send the first wizard and the primordials to rest. I also had Tithian drop a hint about how he does not know what the levy is for but more could be found from Kalak's Ziggaraut but not through official arenas as it has been closed. I think everything has gone well and it has captured the players attention like no other event before. Next I am going to run Arcane shadows.