I've been running an eberron campaign for the last year and a half, and thanks to all the sourcebooks and adventures I've had access to, I've always had good sources of ideas and a solid concept of the areas my players are in.
But next week, they're going to be escaping from a cavern deep in Khyber. A cavern that I've already established to be near a Daelkyr, and presumably full of its abberant forces.
And suddenly I've realized: I have no real idea what that area should be like. I've only found one map that even claims to be in Khyber: the Khyber shard cavern. I can't find any descriptions of what sort of structure or society might have developed around the Daelkyr.
Would a Dolgaunt city exist? Would it be a ruling class of mind flayers? Would there even BE any sort of organized heirarchy?
The more I think about it, the more conflicted I get.
So, I'm asking for ideas. Has anyone on this board, or in any sources, put together any sort of snapshot of life in Khyber? Can anyone think of any existing adventures or maps that would be a good match for this sort of "escape from underground through powerful forces" adventure I'm planning?
If nothing exists, does anyone want to speculate? I'm running short on cool ideas right now, so anything interesting would be welcome.
Thanks in advance, folks.
Other than that we know it is a place for demonic beings and aberrations. Who have sick and twisted societies. So lords of madness might be another good book. And you even have a article about how to fit it in here.
Note that I only own the Players guide to Eberron so I cant really say if anything is good or not.
Honestly, I wish books on Khyber and the planes were published for v3.5 before 4e came along. Now we'll have to wait a couple of years if we're lucky, and then they'll be for 4e instead of v3.5, which I plan to continue using.
pg 129 Eberron sourcebook. It reads: "...Khyber consists of twisting tunnels that open on vaults of varying shapes and sizes. This subterranean expanse mirrors the world above, a dark reflection of underground rivers, still lakes, and fiery streams of molten lava."
I don't know if it is a metaphor, but I liked the idea of a rough shadowy reflection of the surface. As if Khyber was mocking the world above. So I ran with it. Places of importance on the surface are represented (in some way at least) underneath. Can just take some maps, and twist things up a bit.
Places of importance on the surface are represented (in some way at least) underneath. Can just take some maps, and twist things up a bit.
This would give yet another great way one could play the day of mourning actually. By having some demonic force changing the Khyber version with the Eberron version.
My hat of to you sir, this is a great idea.
In the original Eberron sourcebook, it hints that Khyber is a twisted mirror of the surface world. So in my campaign, that's what I've done.
pg 129 Eberron sourcebook. It reads: "...Khyber consists of twisting tunnels that open on vaults of varying shapes and sizes. This subterranean expanse mirrors the world above, a dark reflection of underground rivers, still lakes, and fiery streams of molten lava."
I don't know if it is a metaphor, but I liked the idea of a rough shadowy reflection of the surface. As if Khyber was mocking the world above. So I ran with it. Places of importance on the surface are represented (in some way at least) underneath. Can just take some maps, and twist things up a bit.
I like this way of viewing Khyber. It reminds me of the underworld in Big Trouble in Little China where the world turned in on itself, with the worlds life-blood flowing as rivers with all sorts of unnatural creatures within its folds.
In writing we have Lovecraft and his buddies.
-Joni
Well, when I want Daelkyr inspiration I turn to Giger and Escher for visual inspiration. The Hellraiser movies could also be a source of inspiration. Event Horizon is also full of creepy goodness.
In writing we have Lovecraft and his buddies.
-Joni
If you like the Hellraiser Movies as inspiration I suggest you read the Books of Blood Series by Clive Barker. They are a collection of short stories, and are of a unique nature fitting to any twisted creepy creatures.
I wouldn't call it a town or even a village, but maybe 20-30 or so Aberrations. 2 or 3 Mind Flayers, 10 Dolgrims, 10 Dolgaunts, 8-15 other Aberrations.
I'm currently running an adventure where the party will be entering Khyber and infiltrating the same fortress described in the MoE... though its a bit skeletal so I'm adding some significant information.
I have the fortress populated with several hundred dolgrims, a few score dolgaunt officers, and handfulls of other aberrations, including dolghasts, cloakers, and corrupted humans/humanoids.
-Lords of Madness- has a ton of great aberration information as well...
As for how Khyber actually is, I'm going with a fairly straightforward approach... large caverns, rivers of lava, etc... but unlike the Underdark from some other worlds, its not a populated place - except for the Daelkyr and their minions, life forms are few and far between.