Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tallric_kruush Apr 24, 2011 14:51:28	One of our players has expressed an interest in playing a Vryloka Blackguard in our upcoming/eventual FR Campaign. The campaign likely won't happen for some time, but that won't keep me from mulling over the smallest possibilities for the next few months. Both the Vryloka race and the Blackguard class are presented in the new Heroes of Shadow supplement, for those unfamiliar. I will not be the DM for this upcoming campaign, but I am often the manufacturer of fluff for our group. I'm the one that helps everyone work their ideas into a form that better fits the campaign world. In this case, I'm looking to blend the Vryloka into the history of the Realms. Since they need be neither well known nor numerous, it shouldn't be too tough. The Vryloka racial fluff in HoS begins: "Uncounted centuries ago, in a land of mists and dark forests, the noble families of a now-forgotten kingdom sought a way to increase their life span beyond the meager years allotted them by their human heritage." In cliched but classic fantasy fashion these nobles use a "blood-bonding ritual" of shady origins to transform themselves into "living vampires". I kind of like the story, even if it's not ground-breakingly original. These Vryloka no longer hold any ties to their homeland, and are essentially scattered across the world, living amongst other cultures. My question is from where might the original Vryloka have hailed?  I'm leaning toward Damara, sometime in the 8-900s DR, but there are many possibilties. Does anyone have suggestions or lore that might impact our choice? I imagine any place where one could drop a small, somewhat isolated Duchy could work.
#2 sfdragon Apr 24, 2011 14:59:47	the good thing is about the realms is that there are alot of dead kingdoms. best points to use: Narfell Raumuatharai Illusk Netheril and this would just be recorded history as you could also use Cormyr....
#3 tallric_kruush Apr 24, 2011 15:30:17	the good thing is about the realms is that there are alot of dead kingdoms. best points to use: Narfell Raumuatharai Illusk Netheril and this would just be recorded history as you could also use Cormyr.... Thanks, SFD. Nearly every kingdom on your list crossed my mind at some point. It's good to know my thoughts are in line with a more savvy Realmslore buff. I'm solid, but far from an expert, on the topic. I hadn't even considered a long-forgotten Cormyrean line. That's another option. Since we're already going to have a Netherese-flavored PC (mine), I ruled out kingdoms linked to Netheril (perhaps needlessly, since there were so many successor nations). Illusk was a major consideration, and I haven't taken it "off the table", just yet. We're hoping to use the upcoming Neverwinter supplement to supply most of the Heroic Tier backdrop for a 4E Realms campaign. Illusk makes a lot of sense for that part of the world. That said, I was actually more inclined to suggest something from the other side of the continent precisely because the Vryloka are "scattered" amongst the modern nations. The PC would be far from her ancestors' homeland if I went with a place like Damara, Narfell or Raumathar. I'll see what the player and DM have to say. If it were my PC, I'd likely go with one of the eastern nations for this particular campaign. If the PC or DM would prefer to in some way incorporate the ancestral birthplace into an adventure, then the closer nations make more sense. I initially said Damara in 900s DR because, to the best of my knowledge, no true nation would arise for at least another 100 years. Small duchies or baronies make a lot of sense in that type of setting. If I went with Narfell or Raumathar, I'd have the race spawn long after the glory days of either empire. Perhaps the ritual the Vryloka nobles used was old Raumathari magic, if the homeland was in the east. If they were westerners, the ritual coud easily have been Netherese in origin. The Realms really do offer so much history to draw upon...
#4 sfdragon Apr 24, 2011 16:59:12	and then there is also Ancient Imaskar........ but that might be stretching it
#5 The_Silversword Apr 25, 2011 5:26:51	Well really you could have them be from anywhere. The Vryloka as written up in Heroes of Shadow are very much tied to the default setting, which is one of the things I really hate about 4e, I think they should be more general in the non-setting books, but any way, there could be some half-vampires or living vampires any where in the Realms, I dont know if Id have a whole race of them in the Realms, id make them unique or very rare at the most, you could change up the backstory some too like instead of makin them the descendants of humans who traded their humanity for everlasting life, have it so that this individual is one of a kind, perhaps theyre cursed after p*ssing off a wizard or something, or maybe go the Blade route and say that their mother was bitten by a vampire before they was born so they come out not fully human but not full vampire either. Id call the Race something else too, Vryloka was the surname of the humans who orginally went through the transformatin, so the name alone really ties them to the default world I think, so id just call them half vampires or something or maybe half human? Or I guess if any one asks they could just say theyre human. I dunno, I think its a pretty cool race but I dont like the name, and the fluff is to tied in with the default PoL setting, but thats the problem I have with most of the races. I wish they would of put in more Realmsian races in the 4e FR players guide, I mean all the settings have Drow, right? And Genasi arent just in the Realms, if my memory is right they were first introduced in the Planescape boxed set, not sure when and how they got to be tied in with the Realms. I would of rather seen Saurials (even though they arent native), or maybe Fey'ri in there instead. But im starting to get off topic now... Any way, as for a good location in the Realms, any place could work, sfdragon had some great suggestions, but if it was up to me Id go with Tethyr because of the Ravenloft connection with Castle Spulzeer, perhaps have them from the nearby town of Trailstone, which of course is not on the 4e map, or maybe Riatavin, which actually is on the 4e map. and it has a little write up about it involving vampires: "A number of vampires have infiltrated the city, working on extending the reach of Erlkazar’s Night Barony. The Shadow Thieves actually stand as a defense against this incursion, and Riatavin’s Chosen Council would richly reward anyone who brings the vampires to light." So yeah that could work, or maybe theyre a refugee from Erlkazar, maybe the vampires there werent able to turn him all the way, or perhaps he was an experiment by the vampires to produce vampires who are immune to sunlight. I dunno just an idea. Like I said really there isnt a right or wrong answer here, Im sure you the DM and the player can come up with an interesting backstory regardless of where theyre from and make the race seem more "Realmsy"
#6 The_Silversword Apr 25, 2011 5:48:05	OK after rereading up on the Vryloka and the part about them being from a "land of mists". theyre talking about Ravenloft! Duh! I dont know how I missed that on my first read through, so yeah Tethyr would definitely work with its ties to Ravenloft with Castle Spulzeer. Just a thought, I mean like I said earlier, anywhere could work, Faerun is full of portals so you could even say theyre from Eberron or Dark Sun or where ever and was accidently ported in or something. But any way im wondering now, with the Ravenloft reference, if the Vrylokas are from previous editions like maybe in one of the old Ravenloft box sets or something? Id never heard of them before, but then I was never real big into Ravenloft, I bought one box set but thats only cause it came with those nifty fortune telling cards.
#7 sfdragon Apr 25, 2011 14:11:28	Strahd Strahd Strahd Strahd could not resist... sorry.
#8 tallric_kruush Apr 25, 2011 17:46:57	Indeed, the Vryloka have very much a Ravenloft feel, and I have little doubt that was on the devs' mind when crafting them. I had no idea Strahd had an official (semi-official?) home in the Realms. Tethyr would not have been my first guess for such a place, but the government by local lords/counts certainly makes sense, I guess. As to Vryloka rarity in a Realms game, I think a few minor noble houses from a long passed era in a long forgotten duchy in a far corner of Faerun sounds pretty rare. Maybe there'd only be a few score in all of Faerun. I share your mild annoyance with some of th PoL fluff, but it's easily redone in most cases. I really don't like the PoL Shadar-kai fluff, for instance, but I love the Shadovar variety of the Realms. The mechanics are the same, but the two visions I conjure couldn't be more different. On the one hand, you have the outrageous tattoos and piercings of the PoL Shadar-kai, and on the other you have the privileged aristocrat of Shade Enclave. Very different. I did enjoy the "Shadar-kai in the Realms" or somesuch article. I'd never considered the Shadar-kai of Shade might suffer a lingering ennui, but it makes a lot of sense for a largely Sharran populace that only recently emerged from the Plane of Shadow. Meandering tangent aside, the default Vryloka fluff isn't as intricate and heavy as some of the PoL races. It's pretty easily dropped into almost any setting in which I've played.
#9 Diffan Apr 27, 2011 17:18:29	I also like the idea of the distant kingdom or some such on the Borderlands, resting on the southern shore of the Lake of Steam. That place has probably had more rulers, would-be kings, and city-state principalities than any other region of Faerun. You can probably get the Border Kingdom articles Ed Greenwood created a few years back that were on the WotC site for free. This could provide additional content into the character's backstory.
#10 tallric_kruush Apr 27, 2011 19:28:45	I also like the idea of the distant kingdom or some such on the Borderlands, resting on the southern shore of the Lake of Steam. That place has probably had more rulers, would-be kings, and city-state principalities than any other region of Faerun. You can probably get the Border Kingdom articles Ed Greenwood created a few years back that were on the WotC site for free. This could provide additional content into the character's backstory. Nice. I wasn't up on that particular lore. That's yet another good choice for such a "house" or collection of houses. I'll pass this along. Pretty much anywhere that is, or was in the past, relatively isolated and feudalistic has potential. In a "medieval fantasy" type setting like the Realms, that ends up being quite a number of places. Thinking of this character earlier in the week caused me to watch the Underworld movies, again. The second and third movies make me thing "Ravenloft" every time I see them. In those films is some cool imagery to consider when crafting this type of character. I have to remember that it's not my character. I particularly liked the dark, almost demonic-looking plate the vampires wear in the third flick. I could definitely see a blackguard rocking that stuff.
#11 Diffan Apr 27, 2011 22:35:20	Found the info on the Border Kingdoms if your still interested. Here ----> www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr... is the site that has all the articles (for free) and you might find some good ideas in there as well. Heck, if your playing with a group unfamiliar with the Realms, you could even just insert this part into your existing 4E Realms campaign as is with a few minor tweaks to timeline, deities, and other details.
#12 pruano Apr 28, 2011 6:14:55	Found the info on the Border Kingdoms if your still interested. Here ----> www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr... is the site that has all the articles (for free) and you might find some good ideas in there as well. Heck, if your playing with a group unfamiliar with the Realms, you could even just insert this part into your existing 4E Realms campaign as is with a few minor tweaks to timeline, deities, and other details. He would need to ignore the mass environment destruction that is the Shaar Desolation; those kingdoms have either disapeared or reverted a lot.
#13 sfdragon Apr 28, 2011 9:47:39	you know what else you could say... and thsi you could just use anyhere with. offspring between a vampire and a damphyr.
#14 tallric_kruush Apr 29, 2011 15:56:49	That's a very useful link, Diffan, regardless of whether we end up using the Border Kingdoms in this case. That has been added to my favorites as yet another gaming resource. Thanks. The Shaar Desolation was one of many disappointments in the new Realms, for me. I'll play in the new Realms, but so much has been lost, the Shaar being relatively minor compared to the stuff I really miss. I hate the way much was implemented. Did Mulhurand and Unther have to literally have new land dropped on top of them? Couldn't we have these displaced new-comers drop out of thin air without their entire countries? The FRCG repeatedly speaks of how Mulhorand was "wiped clean", as if the nation never existed at all. For some reason, they were determined that we not have High Imaskar building upon Mulhorand's remains (one of many examples). We can't have Chondathan survivors assimilated into Tymanther. It's better that they all die when Tymanther literally drops on them. Really?!? No reason to pick at old wounds, I guess. The Vryloka are very well suited to all sorts of adaptation. Any number of ideas can be used. We won't be able to talk over this weekend, so it's likely I won't get to share any ideas with the player until at least next weekend.
#15 Andrekan May 04, 2011 0:17:33	Seems to be quiet a bit of Vampiric activity in Erlkazar just east of Omlarandin Mountains.  It's divided into Night and Day Baronies.  With the many pockets of Shadowfell ripped open there in the past and names like Ahlarkhem, Carrelath, Night Vault just seem to  blood curdling scream "Vryloka".  It seems the bandits prefer to work at night for undead lords.  There's that Saestra Karanok, vampire, from Luthcheq, Chessenta.  Seems like alot of Vampires are there making quiet a stir without fear from the ghostly haunted Spirit Soaring...  So I say Vryloka and Erlkazar are as one.
#16 Diffan May 04, 2011 10:36:17	Found the info on the Border Kingdoms if your still interested. Here ----> www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr... is the site that has all the articles (for free) and you might find some good ideas in there as well. Heck, if your playing with a group unfamiliar with the Realms, you could even just insert this part into your existing 4E Realms campaign as is with a few minor tweaks to timeline, deities, and other details. He would need to ignore the mass environment destruction that is the Shaar Desolation; those kingdoms have either disapeared or reverted a lot. Or use the Border Kingdoms of a Pre-Spellplague Realms as the basis of the Vyrloka state. They could've led a very productive kingdom (if but a small one) and when the Spellplague hit, it fractured their lifes and sent them spinning in all sorts of directions. A century later, who knows how far the race spread? Or completly disregard how large the Shaar Desolation is. Maybe the Border Kingdoms keep back the spell-scarred monsters at bay. Could be like the Realms version of Gondor.
#17 tallric_kruush May 09, 2011 12:47:50	Found the info on the Border Kingdoms if your still interested. Here ----> www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archfr... is the site that has all the articles (for free) and you might find some good ideas in there as well. Heck, if your playing with a group unfamiliar with the Realms, you could even just insert this part into your existing 4E Realms campaign as is with a few minor tweaks to timeline, deities, and other details. He would need to ignore the mass environment destruction that is the Shaar Desolation; those kingdoms have either disapeared or reverted a lot. Or use the Border Kingdoms of a Pre-Spellplague Realms as the basis of the Vyrloka state. They could've led a very productive kingdom (if but a small one) and when the Spellplague hit, it fractured their lifes and sent them spinning in all sorts of directions. A century later, who knows how far the race spread? Or completly disregard how large the Shaar Desolation is. Maybe the Border Kingdoms keep back the spell-scarred monsters at bay. Could be like the Realms version of Gondor. Yep. A post-Spellplague diaspora could work. We're not even thinking of them as a "race", so to speak, even if they could reproduce amongst themselves and with humans. We are assuming their total numbers are a few score, coming from a handful of allied, or once allied, noble houses. That would explain why no one's ever heard of them. Faerun's a big place, afterall.
#18 omegaphallic May 14, 2011 16:47:51	The border Kingdoms would be your best bet. The Border Kingdom are where Godswalk keep is, the place where Jargal, Sharess, and Gargos visit on certain times of the year. Now the closest FR has to the Red Witch, creator of the Vryloka and exarch of the Raven Queen/Kelemorvor, is Jargal. So the Vryloka could be a result of special ritual or deal struck with these three Demigods, each granting a different gift. Like Jargal could grant vampiric gifts, Gargos could grant them superhuman speed or strength, and Sharess the ablility to still enjoy life inspite of thier vampiric connection, as well as the ability to still have children. So instead of one exarch patron they would have three. Also the border lands are filled with fallen kingdoms so your good there. So this part of the FR is the best for the Vryloka hands down.
#19 zebastian Jun 11, 2011 0:27:40	Westgate deserves mention. The Night Masks were once the de facto rulers of the city and for a time the Night Masks were controlled by a powerful Vampire elite.
#20 crzyhawk Sep 13, 2011 15:06:02	The cop-out way would be to make them come from somewhere on Abeir that was transposed along with the rest of the Abeir stuff.  You could also rule that a "vampire clan" was transformed during the spell plague into the Vryloka...as magic was ripped apart, these undead got new souls of pure magic, and live again. I'd think that having them as a recent addition to the realms is probably easier to justify then an ancient lost race, hidden through time...
#21 hyrsam Sep 15, 2012 16:06:55	The one forgotten realms vryloka we've been,exposed too has been from Chessenta, which,used to be a part of Unther. I can forsee the Red Witch as an incarnation of a Unther deity, they had thier own deity of death Nirgal I think, plus visiting the underworld is a part of Inanna and Ishtar's mythology, and the search for immortality is a big part of Gilgamesh's epic. Maybe they that dispersed after the Orcgate wars and many of thier Gods died. Plus that allows for a mystique still, which Untheric God created the Red Witch could be a mystery, and it would allow for the Vryloka honoring the red witch without tying her to a single living God, like the Core 4E Vryloka. Of course with 5e it gives the realms a new chance to explain how Warforged, Vrylokas, Kalashar fit into the setting. I hope these races are in the mm for 5e too, right from the beginning.
#22 Chloramantis May 28, 2014 9:20:44	I like the idea or Erlkazar, but after reading Bloodwalk, I think the Border Kingdoms make more sense.  Gargauth, the Lord of the Tenth and his Blood Magus of the Order of Twilight would be a great way to incorporate the Vrylokas too.
(Reply to #22) Diffan	Chloramantis wrote: