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| #1SteveMNDSep 25, 2014 7:03:33 | So, is there somewhere that has an 'overview' of Phlan and the surrounding areas, maybe some additnal non-module-specific background material and information, etc.? Like even a one-page screamsheet with the key info for a tourist just arriving in Phlan? Aside from some maps i've found online, I'm not really sure how 'big' of a city it is -- in some of the stuff I've played in, it seemed to be a pretty big city, with it's own quarters and such, but in others, and in certain maps, it seems much smaller, and I've heard varying reports of how good of a shape it's currently in, also.
The first couple of mods I've played in seemed to indicate that the Black Fists were a pretty organized group of constabulatory, but as I'm reading the EX-1 stuff that i'll be running for folks next week, I'm not so sure what sort of state they -- or the city itself -- is in. Frequent comments about Phlan being consistenly overrun by monsters,armies seeking the pool of radiance, etc., is leaving me in a bit of a quandry as to how I should be portraying the city.
Thanks in advance. |
| #2SkerritSep 25, 2014 7:29:53 | Its been put out in drips and dribbles here and there (mostly forum posts). I have actually been working on a one page overview like you requested and we will post it to the Adventurer's League website as soon as its approved.
As a general rule, Phlan is no longer half full off monsters. Between the Kelemvorites and the Black Fist, its now safe-ish. The previous Lord of the City died recently and the Knight Commander (Ector Brahms) of the Black Fist (who is the city guard, and was formerly the militant arm of the church of Bane that is no longer active in the city) declared himself Lord Regent of the city. Because the primary alignments of the people in charge are either L or E or both, its an odd place. Some guards want a bribe, and then will look the other way while some guards will declare you guilty and arrest you immediately if you hint at offering one. The Welcomers who were the thieves guild have become a vigilante and freedom fighter underground. The Kelemovorites have pacified the previously very dangerous graveyard, and could be a bigger force in politics, but they have declared themselves nuetral in all things. The trade guilds (there are 4) and the noble families (who own the largest businesses not controlled by the guilds) have agreed to back the Knight Commander if he cleans up the city and he continues to allow them a seat at a council where they advise him. Technically, the Lord Regent's claim to the Cinnabar Throne is weak so he needs their support. |
| (Reply to #2)SteveMND |
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| #4SkerritSep 25, 2014 9:58:28 | The clearing out was awhile ago, so no recent monster attacks. There are still parts of the city that are not fully repaired, but the trade guilds are all over that grabbing up contracts and rebuilding. The ruined areas still have neighborhoods that are ruined in some places. One big change is the graveyard. Instead of bastion of undead where no one can go, the Kelemvorites built their temple there and turned it into a popular picnic spot. |
| (Reply to #4)SteveMND |
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| #6DM_HEEGZSep 25, 2014 17:00:41 | Thanks for this, I was wondering the same. I'm still kicking myself for not having played Pools of Radiance back in the day. |
| #7TyranthraxusSep 25, 2014 17:55:15 | You can still play it you know. Dosbox can still run it and I fired it up the other day. finding a codewheel is ... difficult but using google its fairly findable. (Do not however play Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor.. its a horrible horrible game)
The Journal entries and such might be far trickier (the game cheated somewhat by having text not in the game but in your adventurers journal. You would get prompted to read entry 22, and entry 22 could be a red herring or something important). You could actually use the game to pick out possible character names but keep in mind as Skerrit above has indicated the city of then no way really reflects the reality of the city now. The Library, Mendor's tower, even the wacky Tower out in the middle of a corrupted river is probably in much different condition now.
My Character wants to establish a Wizard lab under Kuto's Well.
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| #8TheBreenSep 25, 2014 18:34:26 | After a day of Googling "Forgotten Realms Phlan," here's a (very) rough outline of the history of Phlan. ("Present day" is DR 1489.) 376 DR Phlan was founded. |
| #9TyranthraxusSep 25, 2014 18:44:38 | There would be a LOT of adventure to be had out of Phlan alone. Any city which is built then rebuilt, razed and rebuilt basically gets the 'building over the top of something else' effect where Buildings can and often are built essentially on top of the ruins of something else. Look at many European cities for this. The fact that there are angry things probably living under someones house/pet store/other is interesting and terrible for the locals. |
| #10Mind_Flayer_MonkSep 25, 2014 23:44:11 | If you don't want to play the old Pool of Radiance, you can watch a play through on youtube. There are many different versions out there. |
| #11SkerritSep 26, 2014 10:15:12 |
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| #12Lord_ToastOct 14, 2014 5:55:59 | Thanks to information provided by TheBreen I updated the listing and added some more information. For those following at home who wish to know more about Phlan I include the names of the resources used. These resources can be found at used bookstores, wizards website, or dndclassics.com: Monument of the Ancients Dungeon #170, The Grand History of the Realms, The Moonsea 2nd edition, The Pools novels,Heroes’ Lorebook, The Forgotten Realms Atlas, Ruins of Adventure 1st edition, and A History of Phlan and the Moonsea Reaches by Jeff Grubbs.
367 DR Year of Shying Eyes: Phlan was founded. 400 DR Year of the Blue Shield: Phlan was sacked by the inhuman army known as the Dark Alliance. 712 DR Year of the Lost Lance: Milsor the Valjevo and his adventuring companions re-establishes Phlan. He commissions the construction of a palace. 730 DR Year of the Jovial Mage: Construction is completed on Castle Valjevo. 902 DR Year of the Queen’s Tears: The Zhentilar attempts the first conquest of Phlan. War lasts four years. 906 DR Year of the Plough: The Treaty of the Ride is signed between Phlan , Zhentarim, and Melvaunt. 1303 DR Year of the Evening Sun: An army of ogres from Thar completely overrun Phlan. 1306 DR Year of Thunder: Moonsea War against Mulmaster. Phlan is reduced to ruins by The Dragon Run. 1340 DR Year of the Lion: Tyranthraxus, possess the body of Srossar, an ancient bronze dragon. He claims the Pool of Radiance then corrupts it by sacrificing the local Selûnite priestess. He then proceeds to rule the ruins of Phlan. 1350 DR Year of the Morning Star: Bane "removes" various Moonsea cities to another plane. The Heroes of Phlan rescues the cities from the evil god. 1356 DR Year of the Worm: A Flight of Dragons occures and Phlan is decimated along with other cities of the Moonsea. 1372 DR Year of Wild Magic: Undead Paladin Miltiades is restored to life in the city of Phlan. 1375 DR Year of Risen Elfkin: Zhentarim Hatemaster Cvaal Daoran seized control of the Phlan. 1380 DR Year if the Blazing Hand: The Council of Ten is dissolved and Cvaal Daoran declares himself Lord Protector of Phlan. The Order of the Silent Shroud was established and resides in the Valhingen Graveyard. 1383 DR Year of the Vindicated Warrior: Cvaal Daoran slays a Prince of Shade in the Shadowbane War. 1456 DR Year of the Mithral Hammer: Lord Talaric Daoran goes missing after sending loggers into the Quivering Forest. 1480 DR Year of the Deep Water Drifting: Attacks by local Vaegould barbarian tribe of the Ride are due to the perceived coming of Maram, a primordial. They are stopped by a group of adventurers. 1488 DR Year of Dwarvenkind Reborn: The heirless Lord Protector Anivar Daoran dies in a construction accident at Castle Valjevo. Knight Commander Ector Brahms becomes the new Lord Regent of the Cinnabar Throne. After martial law was declared the great temple of Bane burns to the ground. Followers of Lathander repurpose the temple to the god of dawn and rebirth. 1489 DR Year of the Warrior Princess(?): Apparently, someone or something in or around Phlan is defiant.
Phlan trivia: The Pool of Radiance in Phlan is waning crescent shaped. Ren o’ the Blade had a daughter whose name was Daile Redfletching. The Welcomers have aided the citizens of Phlan in the past as scouts and defenders. Stojanow means “Trade Route,” in the dwarven language. The Red Spyglass Inn has something special in its subbasement. Diogenes, a silver dragon, lives in the Dragonspine Mountains. In Ruins of Adventure it was possible for the players to visit the Lizadrmen of Sauros Island on friendly terms. If they completed Sorcerer’s Island first and rescued the lizarmen then they were invited to their home. After a grand feast they received an enchanted bronze medallion marking them as friends to all lizardfolk. It only worked for those characters and their future heirs.
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| #13AlHazredOct 10, 2014 8:08:57 | I think 1456 DR was the Year of the Mithral Hammer. |
| #14TheBreenOct 14, 2014 0:40:03 | There's a new campaign FAQ about Phlan posted here: http://dndadventurersleague.org/tyranny-of-dragons-premier-adventures/phlan-during-tyranny-of-dragons/
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| #15Lord_ToastOct 14, 2014 5:31:48 |
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| #16lieumorrisonOct 15, 2014 17:30:48 |
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| #17LashanOct 16, 2014 7:42:51 | If you want to know about the Moonsea region, I can spout off a bunch. I played in FR for years, but not lately. I tend to like the early stuff and anything after all the gods were killed off or mortals raised up is rather stupid in my mind. Anyways....
The Moonsea is a rough and rugged area. The weather is terrible with a harsh wind and it's cold throughout most of the year. Winters are, of course, harsh. The area was primarily settled by colonists from the kingdom of Damara during it's heyday hundereds of years ago. That kingdom is no where near it's peak and really a backward burg. Still, that's the ethnic makeup of the people, which is different than the Chondathians who settle the north side of the Inner Sea. Damarans are dark haired and suspicious. They are also very russian like.
Overall, the Moonsea region is full of mountains, particularly the north side. Men have carved out areas from humanoid tribes who are resentful. In fact, there was an early kingdom on an island in the middle of the Moonsea. These humanoids gathered on the shore of the Moonsea and 1,000 shaman did a ritual that sunk the whole island, but sucked all their souls, as well. The lands of Thar are ruled by Ogres, with rumors that they were once perhaps intelligent. Now it is a group of tribes that bash each other, bribe caravans, and eat anyone else. All other types of humanoids ebb and flow throughout the north. There are also barbarian tribes who live throughout the area. They are about as bad as the humanoids and should almost be considered as such.
Why does anyone bother going to such a harsh and unloved place? The minerals and ores that are removed from them. Lots of metals and gems are removed. Zhentil Keep and Mulmaster are centers of commerce that produce large amounts of arms and armor that are shipped throughout much of the Inner Sea, and even towards the Sword Coast. Furs is a secondary trade and more local, but still an important one. Hillsfar is also an important city on the Moonsea. It was once a place of Good, but when the elves of Cormanthyr (the elven woods SW of Moonsea) left this world, the economy collapsed and elf hatred began. A mercenary company took over and began a war with Zhentil Keep. Well, Zhentil Keep started it, but they didn't shirk. Phlan was abandoned up until after the Bronze Dragon took over. The Pools of Radiance game and then module cover the effort of humanity to retake it. It's a good module and game. So, Phlan is only recently a power again on the Moonsea.
The main power struggle of early FR in the Moonsea was between Zhentil Keep and Mulmaster. Both were primary rules by the Church of Bane, but the Zhentarium was created in Zhentil Keep. It wanted power and didn't mind mages. In fact, they were given positions within the Church of Bane. This pissed off the orthedox church in Mulmaster, who felt only Clerics deserved power in the Church. The two had a cold war that flared up at various points with Zhentil Keep usually on the upper hand. Eventually, in the story, Mulmaster lost the fight and the Zhentarium took over. I always liked to play the two off against each other and felt the story was great. |
| (Reply to #17)SteveMND |
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| #19SkerritOct 16, 2014 11:46:31 | I will note for anyone paying close attention that the old map we used as part of my blog post is actually out of date and not entirely accurate (but was the best one we had). So, take it with a grain of salt. It's been a decade in game (and lorekeepers at WOTC also tell us that the map was never quite right to begin with when it was published in Dragon). More details to follow as we get them. |
| (Reply to #19)TheBreen |
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| #21lieumorrisonOct 25, 2014 19:13:24 | Any idea what the current (1489DR) population of Phlan is?
::Giving an arching eyebrow stare towards the DnDAL Associate Resource Manager::
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| #22TheBreenOct 25, 2014 22:36:44 |
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| #23lieumorrisonOct 26, 2014 5:28:59 |
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| #24TyranthraxusOct 26, 2014 21:31:50 | Ive mentioned so far in my games that the Graveyard is immense compared to the size Phlan currently is.
That there is a lot of half finished construction going on, with not much activity happening on that front
That people dont want to antagonise the Black Fist if they can help it.
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| #25SkerritOct 29, 2014 16:39:55 |
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