Q'barran Cyclone - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Q'barran Cyclone

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
schala_zeal
Jun 05, 2008 20:52:43 I was thinking of running a campaign that involved Q'barra being hit by a cyclone/hurricane. I was imagining that Q'barra was generally more similar to the Everglades or the Louisiana bayou, so it would naturally have a higher water table, and it would be even higher in Newthrone, which would be built on the delta of that river (does the river have a name?).

I was thinking the storm would have winds of 120 - 150 miles per hour and would come up from the south, so it doesn't make landfall until it strikes Newthrone. It would strike Adderport and Newthrone mainly, and pass near Whitecliff and die out in the mountains two to three days later as a lengthy series of rain storms.

Newthrone would be seriously damaged, having been struck by winds that it was not prepared for and large amounts of flooding both from the storm surge, rain form the storm, and flooding from the river for days afterwards. Adderport would be spared the secondary flooding and might be more prepared for storms as it is more exposed. Whitecliff would probably be hit hard by flooding as the storm gets hung up in the mountains and drops lots of rain. The storm would also spawn tornadoes.

In addition, the Crimson River would possibly flood. The communities farther westwards would be somewhat damaged - Pitchwall might be flattened, but Wyrmwatch would be fine.

How do you think this would change the way the New Galifar and Hope factions view each other? And how might the lizardfolk interpret this event? Any ideas for cool adventures based on this?
#2
Alas
Jun 06, 2008 7:45:24 It depends on where the adventurers are when the storm hits. If they're dashed upon the shore, then there's adventure to be had in just surviving, figuring out where they are, and making it back to civilization. If they're in one of the communities, the adventure could be running around town getting people to safety before the storm hits, then dealing with looters and chaos afterwards. Hostile lizardmen could take the storm as a sign to hit the human settlements, and PCs could defend the rebuilding process. Or maybe they have to escort the homeless refugees to higher ground and a new home altogether.

Another option: the destruction of the storm could uncover a temple long overgown by the jungle. The residents (various Khyber spawn) are not happy about the sudden exposure of their lair, and extremely tense. Add adventurers, shake briskly.
#3
dsivis
Jun 08, 2008 18:47:57 Maybe it wasn't even a natural storm...
#4
schala_zeal
Jun 08, 2008 19:20:00
Maybe it wasn't even a natural storm...

I was planning on having it be part of a campaign dealing with the awakening of the Leviathan (from Elder Evils). Basically, the Leviathan is the personification of chaos remaining after the creation of the world. It has been given form and slumbers on the floor of the ocean, and when it stirs, unnatural weather occurs - initially appearing as intense storms or unseasonal weather but eventually progressing to the downright unnatural (snowstorms in summer, etc) and then the definitely magical (rains of frogs or burning hail, for example).

I haven't decided who is awakening the Leviathan yet. So far, I have thought of two good possibilities - Lady Vol tapping into the Leviathan in pursuit of power to enact some ritual she desires, or perhaps the ritual must be done near the Leviathan and causes it to stir and start to awaken.

The second would be having House Cannith discover the Leviathan but misinterpret it as a natural source of energy. Since it looks like natural formations on the sea floor, and the head is several miles long, it is easy to understand their confusion. They would believe that it is a great power source and would create a machine made of various dragonshards to harness the power of the beast, then use that power to fuel their research and creation forges. In the process, the machine would start to awaken the Leviathan or cause the weather to change on its own as part of channeling the energy.

But in the meantime, I got the idea of having a hurricane in Q'barra and it seemed like too good of a plot hook to let go. Plus, I need a plot for a play by post campaign I want to start in 4th (once my books get here - getting the one online retailer who not only doesn't break the street date but won't even get the books to me near the time it is released).
#5
schala_zeal
Jun 08, 2008 19:24:54
Another option: the destruction of the storm could uncover a temple long overgown by the jungle. The residents (various Khyber spawn) are not happy about the sudden exposure of their lair, and extremely tense. Add adventurers, shake briskly.

I like this idea - thanks! Though I would probably have the inhabitants (at least some of them) prey on villages/towns around them.

It would be interesting to run a game as lizardfolk attempting to discover what is going on - initially thinking that the disappearance of lizardfolk villages are due to encroaching settlers or other tribes, only to eventually discover a gateway opened to the heart of Khyber itself.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 schala_zeal Jun 05, 2008 20:52:43	I was thinking of running a campaign that involved Q'barra being hit by a cyclone/hurricane. I was imagining that Q'barra was generally more similar to the Everglades or the Louisiana bayou, so it would naturally have a higher water table, and it would be even higher in Newthrone, which would be built on the delta of that river (does the river have a name?). I was thinking the storm would have winds of 120 - 150 miles per hour and would come up from the south, so it doesn't make landfall until it strikes Newthrone. It would strike Adderport and Newthrone mainly, and pass near Whitecliff and die out in the mountains two to three days later as a lengthy series of rain storms. Newthrone would be seriously damaged, having been struck by winds that it was not prepared for and large amounts of flooding both from the storm surge, rain form the storm, and flooding from the river for days afterwards. Adderport would be spared the secondary flooding and might be more prepared for storms as it is more exposed. Whitecliff would probably be hit hard by flooding as the storm gets hung up in the mountains and drops lots of rain. The storm would also spawn tornadoes. In addition, the Crimson River would possibly flood. The communities farther westwards would be somewhat damaged - Pitchwall might be flattened, but Wyrmwatch would be fine. How do you think this would change the way the New Galifar and Hope factions view each other? And how might the lizardfolk interpret this event? Any ideas for cool adventures based on this?
#2 Alas Jun 06, 2008 7:45:24	It depends on where the adventurers are when the storm hits. If they're dashed upon the shore, then there's adventure to be had in just surviving, figuring out where they are, and making it back to civilization. If they're in one of the communities, the adventure could be running around town getting people to safety before the storm hits, then dealing with looters and chaos afterwards. Hostile lizardmen could take the storm as a sign to hit the human settlements, and PCs could defend the rebuilding process. Or maybe they have to escort the homeless refugees to higher ground and a new home altogether. Another option: the destruction of the storm could uncover a temple long overgown by the jungle. The residents (various Khyber spawn) are not happy about the sudden exposure of their lair, and extremely tense. Add adventurers, shake briskly.
#3 dsivis Jun 08, 2008 18:47:57	Maybe it wasn't even a natural storm...
#4 schala_zeal Jun 08, 2008 19:20:00	Maybe it wasn't even a natural storm... I was planning on having it be part of a campaign dealing with the awakening of the Leviathan (from Elder Evils). Basically, the Leviathan is the personification of chaos remaining after the creation of the world. It has been given form and slumbers on the floor of the ocean, and when it stirs, unnatural weather occurs - initially appearing as intense storms or unseasonal weather but eventually progressing to the downright unnatural (snowstorms in summer, etc) and then the definitely magical (rains of frogs or burning hail, for example). I haven't decided who is awakening the Leviathan yet. So far, I have thought of two good possibilities - Lady Vol tapping into the Leviathan in pursuit of power to enact some ritual she desires, or perhaps the ritual must be done near the Leviathan and causes it to stir and start to awaken. The second would be having House Cannith discover the Leviathan but misinterpret it as a natural source of energy. Since it looks like natural formations on the sea floor, and the head is several miles long, it is easy to understand their confusion. They would believe that it is a great power source and would create a machine made of various dragonshards to harness the power of the beast, then use that power to fuel their research and creation forges. In the process, the machine would start to awaken the Leviathan or cause the weather to change on its own as part of channeling the energy. But in the meantime, I got the idea of having a hurricane in Q'barra and it seemed like too good of a plot hook to let go. Plus, I need a plot for a play by post campaign I want to start in 4th (once my books get here - getting the one online retailer who not only doesn't break the street date but won't even get the books to me near the time it is released).
#5 schala_zeal Jun 08, 2008 19:24:54	Another option: the destruction of the storm could uncover a temple long overgown by the jungle. The residents (various Khyber spawn) are not happy about the sudden exposure of their lair, and extremely tense. Add adventurers, shake briskly. I like this idea - thanks! Though I would probably have the inhabitants (at least some of them) prey on villages/towns around them. It would be interesting to run a game as lizardfolk attempting to discover what is going on - initially thinking that the disappearance of lizardfolk villages are due to encroaching settlers or other tribes, only to eventually discover a gateway opened to the heart of Khyber itself.