Breland's answer to dragonhawks - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Breland's answer to dragonhawks

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
naturax
Apr 23, 2010 14:23:50 I'm coming up with a concept for a veteran of the Brelish army and I need to figure out what she would have used for some kind of flying mount or device that was used, say, in the first thirty years of the Last War.

Aundair had dragonhawks.
Thrane had wyverns.
Cyre had warforged raptors.
Karrnath had... wraiths or something I guess?

So what about Breland?
#2
morgrum
Apr 23, 2010 16:36:05 Gryphons perhaps? There are plenty of mountain ranges in Breland for them to come from.
#3
naturax
Apr 23, 2010 18:03:55 That'll do! Thanks!
#4
Madfox11
Apr 24, 2010 2:48:25 And they have Zilargo ;)
#5
naturax
Apr 24, 2010 13:33:15
And they have Zilargo ;)

Good point! However, airships were only developed the last ten years of the last war, and this character needed to have served , say, 40 years ago. And I like the idea of them using new, dangerous, untested technology, and the character definitely does not have the Mark of Storms.

Unless there is some prototype or precursor to airhsips you are referring to?
#6
RedRider
Apr 24, 2010 13:45:49 Breland's answer to Dragonhawks?

Crossbows.
#7
RedRider
Apr 24, 2010 14:13:06
Unless there is some prototype or precursor to airhsips you are referring to?

It's possible that before the elemental-powered airship there was the more classical "Flying boat" deal seen in other settings.

Come to think of it, Breland has SHARN, which must have some sort of institute of aviation.
Possibly Breland had an elite division of magewrights riding flying carpets, or swarms of spiretop dragons to bring down enemies.

Another thing you could do is suggest that Breland was the first nation to develop/re-invent a ritual for Overland Flight, giving them the opportunity to develop a division of heavily clothed sky-bombers with alchemical concoctions or fireballs.
#8
Ogiwan
Apr 24, 2010 20:09:32 The idea of a mage on a flying carpet bombing the crap out of them is oddly appealing to me, but probably more in line with Aundair's reliance on magic.

However, I can't think of another possibility.
#9
naturax
Apr 25, 2010 21:02:49 Good suggestions! Thanks!
#10
RedRider
Apr 26, 2010 2:54:38
The idea of a mage on a flying carpet bombing the crap out of them is oddly appealing to me,

Also, there's a delicious pun-in-potentia in that situation.

#11
Hellcow
Apr 26, 2010 14:34:03 Aerial cavalry has a long history in Breland. Page 135 Sharn: City of Towers mentions the Goldwings, a division of the City Watch that uses Vadalis-trained hippogriffs. Beyond this, the Race of Eight Winds (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/2...) has its origins in the old king's evaluation of the combat capabilities of various beasts.

With this in mind, I wouldn't lock Breland to a single beast; I'd say that versatility is a strength of theirs. Hippogriffs are good for a general combat mount, but they could maintain a smaller force of griffons used for heavy combat operations, and a corps of pegasus riders called into play when speed and intelligence are essential - expert scouts and couriers.
#12
naturax
Apr 26, 2010 14:37:03
Aerial cavalry has a long history in Breland. Page 135 Sharn: City of Towers mentions the Goldwings, a division of the City Watch that uses Vadalis-trained hippogriffs. Beyond this, the Race of Eight Winds (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/2...) has its origins in the old king's evaluation of the combat capabilities of various beasts.

With this in mind, I wouldn't lock Breland to a single beast; I'd say that versatility is a strength of theirs. Hippogriffs are good for a general combat mount, but they could maintain a smaller force of griffons used for heavy combat operations, and a corps of pegasus riders called into play when speed and intelligence are essential - expert scouts and couriers.

Thanks for this! That's exactly what I was looking for.
#13
Ogiwan
Apr 27, 2010 11:24:03 Hmm, Keith raises an interesting point. Perhaps it can be said that one of Breland's strengths was Aerial Cavalry....which then means that the harpies and gargoyles offered through House Tharashk were even more valuable to the other countries, in order to offset the Brelish aerial supremacy.
#14
Hellcow
Apr 27, 2010 11:53:58
...in order to offset the Brelish aerial supremacy.

I'm not sure about that. I'd still say that Breland's strength is versatility - while Aundair and Thrane were more heavily invested in their specific beasts. Thrane's wyvern force might have been more significant than Breland's griffons when it came to heavy air - but Breland's got those hippogriffs and pegasi for the situations where the heavy brute isn't the right mount for the job.

With that said, anyone could purchase hippogriffs from Vadalis, gargoyles mercenaries from Tharashk, or warforged raptors from Cannith; the question is how experienced they are in the use of these troops, both in terms of trained riders and of commanders who understand the tactics of air war.

In considering this, another question is what you've got on your mount. As noted earlier, Brelish troops might bring Zil weaponry to bear. Aundairan Dragonhawks might be a platform for a war wizard. We know Thrane Wyverns have been used in bombing operations - so the Thranes have developed tools for that purpose.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 naturax Apr 23, 2010 14:23:50	I'm coming up with a concept for a veteran of the Brelish army and I need to figure out what she would have used for some kind of flying mount or device that was used, say, in the first thirty years of the Last War. Aundair had dragonhawks. Thrane had wyverns. Cyre had warforged raptors. Karrnath had... wraiths or something I guess? So what about Breland?
#2 morgrum Apr 23, 2010 16:36:05	Gryphons perhaps? There are plenty of mountain ranges in Breland for them to come from.
#3 naturax Apr 23, 2010 18:03:55	That'll do! Thanks!
#4 Madfox11 Apr 24, 2010 2:48:25	And they have Zilargo ;)
#5 naturax Apr 24, 2010 13:33:15	And they have Zilargo ;) Good point! However, airships were only developed the last ten years of the last war, and this character needed to have served , say, 40 years ago. And I like the idea of them using new, dangerous, untested technology, and the character definitely does not have the Mark of Storms. Unless there is some prototype or precursor to airhsips you are referring to?
#6 RedRider Apr 24, 2010 13:45:49	Breland's answer to Dragonhawks? Crossbows.
#7 RedRider Apr 24, 2010 14:13:06	Unless there is some prototype or precursor to airhsips you are referring to? It's possible that before the elemental-powered airship there was the more classical "Flying boat" deal seen in other settings. Come to think of it, Breland has SHARN, which must have some sort of institute of aviation. Possibly Breland had an elite division of magewrights riding flying carpets, or swarms of spiretop dragons to bring down enemies. Another thing you could do is suggest that Breland was the first nation to develop/re-invent a ritual for Overland Flight, giving them the opportunity to develop a division of heavily clothed sky-bombers with alchemical concoctions or fireballs.
#8 Ogiwan Apr 24, 2010 20:09:32	The idea of a mage on a flying carpet bombing the crap out of them is oddly appealing to me, but probably more in line with Aundair's reliance on magic. However, I can't think of another possibility.
#9 naturax Apr 25, 2010 21:02:49	Good suggestions! Thanks!
#10 RedRider Apr 26, 2010 2:54:38	The idea of a mage on a flying carpet bombing the crap out of them is oddly appealing to me, Also, there's a delicious pun-in-potentia in that situation.
#11 Hellcow Apr 26, 2010 14:34:03	Aerial cavalry has a long history in Breland. Page 135 Sharn: City of Towers mentions the Goldwings, a division of the City Watch that uses Vadalis-trained hippogriffs. Beyond this, the Race of Eight Winds (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/2...) has its origins in the old king's evaluation of the combat capabilities of various beasts. With this in mind, I wouldn't lock Breland to a single beast; I'd say that versatility is a strength of theirs. Hippogriffs are good for a general combat mount, but they could maintain a smaller force of griffons used for heavy combat operations, and a corps of pegasus riders called into play when speed and intelligence are essential - expert scouts and couriers.
#12 naturax Apr 26, 2010 14:37:03	Aerial cavalry has a long history in Breland. Page 135 Sharn: City of Towers mentions the Goldwings, a division of the City Watch that uses Vadalis-trained hippogriffs. Beyond this, the Race of Eight Winds (www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/2...) has its origins in the old king's evaluation of the combat capabilities of various beasts. With this in mind, I wouldn't lock Breland to a single beast; I'd say that versatility is a strength of theirs. Hippogriffs are good for a general combat mount, but they could maintain a smaller force of griffons used for heavy combat operations, and a corps of pegasus riders called into play when speed and intelligence are essential - expert scouts and couriers. Thanks for this! That's exactly what I was looking for.
#13 Ogiwan Apr 27, 2010 11:24:03	Hmm, Keith raises an interesting point. Perhaps it can be said that one of Breland's strengths was Aerial Cavalry....which then means that the harpies and gargoyles offered through House Tharashk were even more valuable to the other countries, in order to offset the Brelish aerial supremacy.
#14 Hellcow Apr 27, 2010 11:53:58	...in order to offset the Brelish aerial supremacy. I'm not sure about that. I'd still say that Breland's strength is versatility - while Aundair and Thrane were more heavily invested in their specific beasts. Thrane's wyvern force might have been more significant than Breland's griffons when it came to heavy air - but Breland's got those hippogriffs and pegasi for the situations where the heavy brute isn't the right mount for the job. With that said, anyone could purchase hippogriffs from Vadalis, gargoyles mercenaries from Tharashk, or warforged raptors from Cannith; the question is how experienced they are in the use of these troops, both in terms of trained riders and of commanders who understand the tactics of air war. In considering this, another question is what you've got on your mount. As noted earlier, Brelish troops might bring Zil weaponry to bear. Aundairan Dragonhawks might be a platform for a war wizard. We know Thrane Wyverns have been used in bombing operations - so the Thranes have developed tools for that purpose.