Midnight in Athas [Merging Midnight and Dark Sun] - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Midnight in Athas [Merging Midnight and Dark Sun]

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
wraithspawn
Nov 26, 2010 15:45:53 First, hello to everyone, as this is my first post.

I'm thinking of starting a Dark Sun campaign, and would like some comments and suggestions about some ideas I have. Let me first point out that I have not yet got the Dark Sun Campaign setting book (although I hope to get it during christmas), so any info I have about the setting is through these forums, DDI, 2nd ed. and 3.5.

I was introduced to the Midnight setting some years back (which you can read about in the link below, thanks to the_Jester):

community.wizards.com/the_jester/blog/20...

Both Midnight and Dark Sun are settings I love, probably because they are quite different from the usual settings. Since both are low magic, post-apocalyptic settings, I thought I would be quite possible to use aspects from Midnight in a Dark Sun campaign.

More specifically, I have been thinking of introducing the black mirrors of Midnight to my Dark Sun campaign. I'm thinking of basing the campaign around one of the trading houses, and have the characters be affiliated with the house through the recovery of artifacts/valuable items. I am thinking that at some point they would recover information about one of these black mirrors, and so hunting for more information and searching for a mirror would fill a large part of the first tier.

For those that do not know the Midnight setting, the black mirrors are originally used as a way for the fallen god Izrador to drain magic from the world to help him reclaim his powers as a diety. The black mirrors are placed around the world and guarded by his church. In order for them to keep working, they require the sacrifice of sentient creatures.

In my campaign, the black mirrors would be much rarer than they would be in Midnight (only a couple of mirrors would exist), and the knowledge of them would be lost by most people, even most sages. I was thinking that one of the sorcerer kings/queens could be using one of these mirrors to gather magical energy for the purpose of becoming a dragon through the required ritual. The sorcerer king of Draj (based on 3.5) would be the obvious choice, as Atzetuk are having weekly "cullings".

I realize that in 4E, Draj is ruled by Tectuktitlay. Since I do not yet have the setting book, I do not know if the cullings are still taking place (or should I say, has yet begun).

So the questions I have are:

1) What do you think about the idea of bringing in the black mirrors, and do you have other suggestions to how they could fit in (if you feel they could fit)? Feel free to expand on the idea.

2) Are there other aspects of the Midnight setting that could be interesting to use as part of a Dark Sun campaign?

3) Which trading house would be a good fit for a trader campaign based on gathering valuable items? I will be running The Vault of Darom Madar as one of the adventures (most likely the first), so right now I'm thinking about Wavir.
#2
DontEatRawHagis
Nov 26, 2010 18:32:51 3) As far as luxary items, House Inika is known for that in Gulg. Most merchant houses wouldn't turn away valuable items.

Its hard to get a list of all the Houses, even with the Dark Sun: Campaign Setting they are written all over the place such as every City Description. Tyr on page 139 of the book has the best list with the details on their Trade Goods. All the other cities fail to mention their trade.

If your campaign has a pay off of a lot of Magical Items think about using the Veiled Alliance or the Templars of a Sorcerer King/Queen, they are always looking for ways to horde Arcane Magic items.
#3
guest1647903482
Nov 29, 2010 14:22:26 As a veteran DM of both Midnight and Darksun, I think your ideas are excellent.

1 - Black mirror idea is great. The SK's are always looking for quick and easier ways of getting to be a 30th level Dragon - See: Kalak/Prism Pentad. As for how they could be expanded, there could be some issues since the mirrors require sarifices and so does The Dragon, so whomever is trying to use the item is gobbling up sentients. Perhaps they decide to hold back on the Dragon their yearly allotment.

2 - I think that the Templars and Legates are similiar in many ways, so there is a crossover there for sure. As for more similiarities, the Racism of Midnight could be brought into Darksun a little stronger than it is presented.

3 - Any of them really. Presuming the party is good, it just depends on whether you see them as being a campaign long ally (Wavir/M'ke/etc), or an eventual enemy, (Stel, Tsalaxia). All of the house are interested in gather riches.
#4
wraithspawn
Dec 01, 2010 13:03:39 Thabks for the reply, both of you.

Regarding the trading houses, I was thinking to make the characters affiliated with the house through most of the campaign. I have been considering allowing the characters to make their choice of whether they want to play with the good guys or the bad guys. I could adjust The Vault of Darom Madar to account for this, but then I would need to give them a couple of adventures before I run them through that adventure.

I also see many similarities between the legates and the tempars, and the thought of bringing in the astirax as a companion to the templars have passed me. I do see some trouble regarding the drain-magic ability, so it would probably be mostly for flavor (and as a general warning to the players that the templars have animals that can detect magic-use).

I have also been debating with myself whether I should bring in the fell. It would give a different feel about the undead, and I think it would fit Athas (there being no gods and all). I suspect it would not have a major impact on the campaign (except for some interesting encounters) as undead will not be a major enemy. Still, it would affect the feel of the campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wraithspawn Nov 26, 2010 15:45:53	First, hello to everyone, as this is my first post. I'm thinking of starting a Dark Sun campaign, and would like some comments and suggestions about some ideas I have. Let me first point out that I have not yet got the Dark Sun Campaign setting book (although I hope to get it during christmas), so any info I have about the setting is through these forums, DDI, 2nd ed. and 3.5. I was introduced to the Midnight setting some years back (which you can read about in the link below, thanks to the_Jester): community.wizards.com/the_jester/blog/20... Both Midnight and Dark Sun are settings I love, probably because they are quite different from the usual settings. Since both are low magic, post-apocalyptic settings, I thought I would be quite possible to use aspects from Midnight in a Dark Sun campaign. More specifically, I have been thinking of introducing the black mirrors of Midnight to my Dark Sun campaign. I'm thinking of basing the campaign around one of the trading houses, and have the characters be affiliated with the house through the recovery of artifacts/valuable items. I am thinking that at some point they would recover information about one of these black mirrors, and so hunting for more information and searching for a mirror would fill a large part of the first tier. For those that do not know the Midnight setting, the black mirrors are originally used as a way for the fallen god Izrador to drain magic from the world to help him reclaim his powers as a diety. The black mirrors are placed around the world and guarded by his church. In order for them to keep working, they require the sacrifice of sentient creatures. In my campaign, the black mirrors would be much rarer than they would be in Midnight (only a couple of mirrors would exist), and the knowledge of them would be lost by most people, even most sages. I was thinking that one of the sorcerer kings/queens could be using one of these mirrors to gather magical energy for the purpose of becoming a dragon through the required ritual. The sorcerer king of Draj (based on 3.5) would be the obvious choice, as Atzetuk are having weekly "cullings". I realize that in 4E, Draj is ruled by Tectuktitlay. Since I do not yet have the setting book, I do not know if the cullings are still taking place (or should I say, has yet begun). So the questions I have are: 1) What do you think about the idea of bringing in the black mirrors, and do you have other suggestions to how they could fit in (if you feel they could fit)? Feel free to expand on the idea. 2) Are there other aspects of the Midnight setting that could be interesting to use as part of a Dark Sun campaign? 3) Which trading house would be a good fit for a trader campaign based on gathering valuable items? I will be running The Vault of Darom Madar as one of the adventures (most likely the first), so right now I'm thinking about Wavir.
#2 DontEatRawHagis Nov 26, 2010 18:32:51	3) As far as luxary items, House Inika is known for that in Gulg. Most merchant houses wouldn't turn away valuable items. Its hard to get a list of all the Houses, even with the Dark Sun: Campaign Setting they are written all over the place such as every City Description. Tyr on page 139 of the book has the best list with the details on their Trade Goods. All the other cities fail to mention their trade. If your campaign has a pay off of a lot of Magical Items think about using the Veiled Alliance or the Templars of a Sorcerer King/Queen, they are always looking for ways to horde Arcane Magic items.
#3 guest1647903482 Nov 29, 2010 14:22:26	As a veteran DM of both Midnight and Darksun, I think your ideas are excellent. 1 - Black mirror idea is great. The SK's are always looking for quick and easier ways of getting to be a 30th level Dragon - See: Kalak/Prism Pentad. As for how they could be expanded, there could be some issues since the mirrors require sarifices and so does The Dragon, so whomever is trying to use the item is gobbling up sentients. Perhaps they decide to hold back on the Dragon their yearly allotment. 2 - I think that the Templars and Legates are similiar in many ways, so there is a crossover there for sure. As for more similiarities, the Racism of Midnight could be brought into Darksun a little stronger than it is presented. 3 - Any of them really. Presuming the party is good, it just depends on whether you see them as being a campaign long ally (Wavir/M'ke/etc), or an eventual enemy, (Stel, Tsalaxia). All of the house are interested in gather riches.
#4 wraithspawn Dec 01, 2010 13:03:39	Thabks for the reply, both of you. Regarding the trading houses, I was thinking to make the characters affiliated with the house through most of the campaign. I have been considering allowing the characters to make their choice of whether they want to play with the good guys or the bad guys. I could adjust The Vault of Darom Madar to account for this, but then I would need to give them a couple of adventures before I run them through that adventure. I also see many similarities between the legates and the tempars, and the thought of bringing in the astirax as a companion to the templars have passed me. I do see some trouble regarding the drain-magic ability, so it would probably be mostly for flavor (and as a general warning to the players that the templars have animals that can detect magic-use). I have also been debating with myself whether I should bring in the fell. It would give a different feel about the undead, and I think it would fit Athas (there being no gods and all). I suspect it would not have a major impact on the campaign (except for some interesting encounters) as undead will not be a major enemy. Still, it would affect the feel of the campaign.