| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 12 Aug 2005 : 18:00:55
I've always loved the Dalelands, some of my first campaigns where set there (Especially around Shadowdale and Daggerfalls). Recently I've wanted to go back to those roots and write a Campaign set around Shadowdale. While i want to take the adventures back to a 'original' feel i also want them to be a bit different. The campaign i decided would start with a mini-dungeon crawl. This crawl would be set in an old outpost within the Desertsmouth mountians. The outpost would been clearly overlooking, and have access to, a mountian pass.
Eventually I'd want my player to get involved within a few groups, mainly the Zhents, and the Cult of the Dragon. I was thinking that perhaps Lord Mourngrym could award the players a place within Shadowdale's Guard. The players would receive orders to guard the outpost, and prevent caravans carrying illicit goods. Mourngrym understands the players yearnings for freedom and so will allow a small garison to accompany the players to the outpost. The garison will guard the outpost when the players are away, under no conditions will they accompany the players on an adventure.
Eventually the players will be spending more and more time undertaking quests given to them by Mourngrym (basically foiling Zhents) additionally the Cult of the Dragon will make an appearance (basically moving from the background to the foreground).
That was probally hard to understand, I was basically typing and i thought... could ya tell? 
Here is what I could find in the Grey box about the Desertsmouth
"The Desertsmouth mountains form the western border of the Dales and serve as a barrier between them and the Desert of Anauroch. These forbidding peaks are laced with hidden trails and long forgotten outposts, many dating back to the days before the desert came, when the land was rich and vibrant. Now the area is mostly a monster-haunted wasteland.
The Desertsmouth Mountains were once the home of one of the greatest dwarven communities in the North, the Mines of Tethyamar. Those wondrous mines and caverns were bored by generations of dwarves who looted the earth of her valuables and sold them to humans and elves, sending rafts of riches down the river Tesh to the moonsea and beyond... The Desertsmouth Mountains are also home to the lost Vale of Tarkhaldale (see the earlier Tarkhaldale section for more details) and are the reputed lair of Aghazstamn the Dracolich. Though destroyed, Aghazstamn's lair reportedly contained a rich load of sparkling, flickering glowstone, known as beljuril." A Grand Tour of the Realms pp41
Right Firstly i'm not wanting the outpost to be dwarven build, i want it to be of human. (Perhaps built on dwarven foundations) so what humans where in that area- before the present time (1360-1369) and after Netheral?.
The Zhentarium are interested in the pass because its a quick and quite way for them to smuggle slaves and other illicite goods to daggerfalls. This pass in particular is wide enough for them to transport a large load.
The Cult is interested in the outpost to use as a base in the search for Aghazstamn's lost lair. Perhaps they hope to recover the Dracoliches remains or its lost treasure. Or perhaps even beljuril. Which leads me on to my next question what is Beljuril? Are there any other referances to it?
More will come later...
Hanx
Elrond |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tauster |
Posted - 08 Dec 2006 : 15:42:33
quote:
Originally posted by Elrond Half Elven
Webmanus, I'll send a copy of what ever i produce to you- you see to have a deep interest in the Dalelands. Unfortunetly the rules will be 2nd Edition; you should feel free to convert!
Ok well I'm planning on keeping Tarkhaldale uninhabited by humans. Zhent caravans will pass through, but on the whole no major effort will have been made to reinhabit the area (by humans at least). I'm guessing that there are very few sources of information on the saurial. I'm guessing that they arn't native to Faerun (i read somewhere that they are related to Dinosaurs, is this true?) It wil be wednesday before I can get to the CBoH. Does anyone have any fluff reading that will tide me over until then? (I found a netbook on Blue Trolls website but it was filled with crunch).
Hanx
Elrond
Elrond, here“s another DM interested in your work!
I“d like to see your take in the dales in general and on the desertsmouth mountains in particular, since it is a "side-story" in my mistledale-based dalelands campaign.
thanks,
tauster |
| The Sage |
Posted - 06 Dec 2006 : 23:37:30
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
quote:
Originally posted by bitter thorn
Any one else have any lore regarding Tethyamar?
Sidebar in "Lost Empires of Faerūn".
-- George Krashos
And you've seen the more complete listing of Tethyamar sources here:- http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7702
|
| George Krashos |
Posted - 06 Dec 2006 : 22:27:44
quote:
Originally posted by bitter thorn
Any one else have any lore regarding Tethyamar?
Sidebar in "Lost Empires of Faerūn".
-- George Krashos
|
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 06 Dec 2006 : 15:32:31
Any one else have any lore regarding Tethyamar? |
| Gelcur |
Posted - 12 Sep 2006 : 02:56:01
Not sure if you've caught this refrence in the 2nd ed Cult info:
"However, Sammaster had been prepared for such an eventuality, and had arranged several chain-contingencies upon his death; he became a lich, and 300 years later, in the Year of Many Mists (1282 DR), he emerged from a crypt high in the Desertsmouth Mountains near Shadow Gap and began to gather an army of dark minions and servants, included dragons and the occasional dracolich, under his banner. In the Year of Blacksnake (1285 DR) a group of adventuring paladins known as the Company of Twelve rode off to confront Sammaster and his growing army. The paladins, supported by the Harpers, attacked the lich and his powerful dracolich-mount in the ruins of an ancient city then known as Harrowsmouth, or the Gates of Hell." |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 08 Sep 2006 : 22:29:59
quote:
Originally posted by kalin agrivar
quote:
Originally posted by Elrond Half ElvenWhich leads me on to my next question what is Beljuril? Are there any other referances to it?
there is also a rift in the High Ice in the Great Glacier named "The Star Rift" where within the walls of the rift are thousands of twinkling beljurils 
Another uber-treasure load if you can survive getting there, mining it and then leaving (the beljurils are/were worth 5000 gp)
A DM in my gaming group used the Rift of Stars as an ancient base for Netherese traitors, who had allied with the Phaerimm. Their queen and her Phaerimm allies were still active, consuming or enslaving all who ventured there. We saw no trace of Beljurils, and apparently (in that campaign) it was a only a rumour to lure hapless adventurers to their doom. |
| Kalin Agrivar |
Posted - 05 Sep 2006 : 14:32:49
quote:
Originally posted by Elrond Half ElvenWhich leads me on to my next question what is Beljuril? Are there any other referances to it?
there is also a rift in the High Ice in the Great Glacier named "The Star Rift" where within the walls of the rift are thousands of twinkling beljurils
Another uber-treasure load if you can survive getting there, mining it and then leaving (the beljurils are/were worth 5000 gp) |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 03 Sep 2006 : 13:57:47
quote:
Originally posted by EvilKnight
FYI, the Bill Sweeney Return to the Throne adventure can be found here amoung others he wrote:
http://www.rpgarchive.com/index.php?page=adv&author=Bill%20Sweeney
EvilKnight
Dohp! Thanks! |
| bitter thorn |
Posted - 03 Sep 2006 : 13:54:16
quote:
Originally posted by Asgetrion
Well met, Elrond!
There is a "non-canon" AD&D-module called "The Return to the Throne, part 1" (by Bill Sweeney) which is set in the mines of Tethyamar (used to available for download on many websites). If I recall correctly, this module says that the dwarves mostly mines sapphires in Tethyamar.
If you wish to create "abadoned human outposts", you might also wish to check out the entries on the survivor states of Netheril in The Lost Empires of Faerun or the old module Anauroch. Many of the cities of these states were located near the Desertsmouth mountains. Also, a Dungeon magazine adventure ("The Door to Everywhere", issue #88 if my memory serves me ;) features a long-lost netherese outpost in the Storm Horns mountains. So it might very well be possible that there are other similar outposts elsewhere - you might even use the module to feature these places (replacing the destinations of the portals in the nexus).
You wouldn't have a link to the download would you? |
| webmanus |
Posted - 22 Aug 2005 : 23:04:28
Are you awere of the following available download? It is about the Saurials of the Lost Vale:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20040717a |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 22 Aug 2005 : 00:06:17
The saurials were brought to the Realms by Moander, to create a replacement body for him to use as his Abomination. This was detailed in Song of the Saurials, the third book of the Finder's Stone Trilogy. The first book, Azure Bonds, was where a saurial was first seen in the Realms. |
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 21 Aug 2005 : 23:22:40
Webmanus, I'll send a copy of what ever i produce to you- you see to have a deep interest in the Dalelands. Unfortunetly the rules will be 2nd Edition; you should feel free to convert!
Ok well I'm planning on keeping Tarkhaldale uninhabited by humans. Zhent caravans will pass through, but on the whole no major effort will have been made to reinhabit the area (by humans at least). I'm guessing that there are very few sources of information on the saurial. I'm guessing that they arn't native to Faerun (i read somewhere that they are related to Dinosaurs, is this true?) It wil be wednesday before I can get to the CBoH. Does anyone have any fluff reading that will tide me over until then? (I found a netbook on Blue Trolls website but it was filled with crunch).
Hanx
Elrond |
| webmanus |
Posted - 21 Aug 2005 : 20:10:18
The following comes from sources ... and I have posted this in my Teshar post ... quote:
-87 DR
Tarkhaldale (also called the Lost Vale) collapses. Tarkhaldale was a human settlement situated on the border of the Great Desert Anauroch that was allied with Asram and Hlondath.
And, I did also add the following comment quote:
Now, Chondathans had not reached this parts of Faerūn. So, it was a Netherese settlement.
Of course, you might have your own ideas ... |
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 21 Aug 2005 : 17:58:43
quote:
Stats for all four subraces of Saurial (bladebacks, finheads, flyers and hornheads) can be found into the Complete book of Humanoids.
If i remember correctly this was a book which i was quite impressed with; but never owned. However I believe there is one in the gaming groups pool, which i might have to pluck out!
Hanx
Elrond |
| Misericordia |
Posted - 21 Aug 2005 : 17:53:31
Stats for all four subraces of Saurial (bladebacks, finheads, flyers and hornheads) can be found into the Complete book of Humanoids. |
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 21 Aug 2005 : 17:41:35
Thanks for everyones suggestions but in the ended i've decided that the outpost was part of Tarkhaldale. This allows me to create a few adventure sites around the outpost and maintain a volume of caravans (Keeping the Zhents interested).
Does anyone know where I could find 2nd Edition stats for Saurials? I'd very much like to use them in the campaign.
The location of the outpost allows for site based adventures (Dungeon Crawls through the dwarven ruins of Tethyamar, Asram, Hlondath or possibly even Nethirese ruins.), woodland adventures (The proximity of the Elven wood and ofcourse Spiderhaunt), Desert Adventures (Interaction with desert tribes would be fun).
More to come...
Hanx
Elrond |
| EvilKnight |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 15:01:41
FYI, the Bill Sweeney Return to the Throne adventure can be found here amoung others he wrote:
http://www.rpgarchive.com/index.php?page=adv&author=Bill%20Sweeney
EvilKnight |
| webmanus |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 11:40:53
Elrond, this abandoned human outpost, do you want it in the west or east side of the Desertsmouth Mountains, or maybe in the middle of the mountains?quote:
The campaign i decided would start with a mini-dungeon crawl. This crawl would be set in an old outpost within the Desertsmouth mountians.
Which map are you using? Is it the 2nd edition FRCS set box from 1996 or the one from the FRCS from 2001? How far fróm Dagger Falls? |
| Asgetrion |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 08:42:52
Well met, Elrond!
There is a "non-canon" AD&D-module called "The Return to the Throne, part 1" (by Bill Sweeney) which is set in the mines of Tethyamar (used to available for download on many websites). If I recall correctly, this module says that the dwarves mostly mines sapphires in Tethyamar.
If you wish to create "abadoned human outposts", you might also wish to check out the entries on the survivor states of Netheril in The Lost Empires of Faerun or the old module Anauroch. Many of the cities of these states were located near the Desertsmouth mountains. Also, a Dungeon magazine adventure ("The Door to Everywhere", issue #88 if my memory serves me ;) features a long-lost netherese outpost in the Storm Horns mountains. So it might very well be possible that there are other similar outposts elsewhere - you might even use the module to feature these places (replacing the destinations of the portals in the nexus). |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 06:22:29
I just found another reference to beljurils. Narnra steals some in the beginning of Elminster's Daughter. |
| Lady Kazandra |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 05:22:48
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Of course Elrond, since you are starting your campaign now, you may not want to have your newly created PCs stumble upon a chamber containing the sleeping Tarrasque . . .
I must admit, I've never been a greater lover of the tarrasque and as such, I have never incorporated it into any of my games.
I'm also left to wonder why there is such a great fascination about the beast . . .
|
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 16 Aug 2005 : 04:44:37
Lets just say, there was something that woke it up, and in absense, there is no reason for it to be awake . . .
But Mr. smiley face just disappeared after that, with no more mention.
And of course all of this is leading me to write this into the backstory of my campaign (hey, my PCs are in Mistledale, not that far away). I think I would be tying him into the Cult of the Dragon in my version.
Of course Elrond, since you are starting your campaign now, you may not want to have your newly created PCs stumble upon a chamber containing the sleeping Tarrasque . . . |
| khorne |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 18:33:12
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Elrond Half Elven
quote:
Speaking of the mountains to the west of the Dales and cults, does anyone remember where the place was that that nutjob from the FR comics series was at when he woke up the Tarrasque? I was curious about his history, becuase he had to sacrifice dragons to wake the big T up, and he muttered to himself about the "others" thinking he was insane. I was wondering if he might not have been a dragon cultist originally that figured out a way to wake the Tarrasque.
Why do I get the feeling that I might be a bit too young to remember this
Hanx
Elrond
It happened in the early 90's, real-world, and a bit before the ToT, Realms-wise.
Someone woke up the Tarrasque? I`m surprised the heartlands still exist. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 16:33:46
quote:
Originally posted by Elrond Half Elven
quote:
Speaking of the mountains to the west of the Dales and cults, does anyone remember where the place was that that nutjob from the FR comics series was at when he woke up the Tarrasque? I was curious about his history, becuase he had to sacrifice dragons to wake the big T up, and he muttered to himself about the "others" thinking he was insane. I was wondering if he might not have been a dragon cultist originally that figured out a way to wake the Tarrasque.
Why do I get the feeling that I might be a bit too young to remember this
Hanx
Elrond
It happened in the early 90's, real-world, and a bit before the ToT, Realms-wise. |
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 12:01:19
I've started to print out Sections of the Cult of the Drsgon book availible on WOTC Classic downloads .
quote:
For an older human presence in the Desertsmouth Mtns. or their environs consider Tarkhaldale - one of the lost Dales noted in the 2E FR boxed set (sidebar in the Dalelands section). Dates for Tarkhaldale's founding and fall can be found in the recent Lost Empires of Faerun section (Tethyamar sidebar) IIRC.
-- George Krashos
Thanks alot George; i own both tomes so I'll be reading through them.
quote:
Speaking of the mountains to the west of the Dales and cults, does anyone remember where the place was that that nutjob from the FR comics series was at when he woke up the Tarrasque? I was curious about his history, becuase he had to sacrifice dragons to wake the big T up, and he muttered to himself about the "others" thinking he was insane. I was wondering if he might not have been a dragon cultist originally that figured out a way to wake the Tarrasque.
Why do I get the feeling that I might be a bit too young to remember this
Hanx
Elrond |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 11:08:41
Thanks Kaj . . . yeah, unfortunately dragons can fly pretty far, lol. |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 07:33:03
At least one more remembers what you're on about, but as to where... Less than a dragon's flight from Shadowdale - which I bet you had figured out yourself already, sorry. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 01:51:53
Speaking of the mountains to the west of the Dales and cults, does anyone remember where the place was that that nutjob from the FR comics series was at when he woke up the Tarrasque? I was curious about his history, becuase he had to sacrifice dragons to wake the big T up, and he muttered to himself about the "others" thinking he was insane. I was wondering if he might not have been a dragon cultist originally that figured out a way to wake the Tarrasque.
(Hoping someone besides Wooly remembers what I am talking about, lol) |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 15 Aug 2005 : 01:32:37
For an older human presence in the Desertsmouth Mtns. or their environs consider Tarkhaldale - one of the lost Dales noted in the 2E FR boxed set (sidebar in the Dalelands section). Dates for Tarkhaldale's founding and fall can be found in the recent Lost Empires of Faerun section (Tethyamar sidebar) IIRC.
-- George Krashos
|
| Elrond Half Elven |
Posted - 14 Aug 2005 : 23:05:13
quote:
Originally Posted by webmanus
Wow, 2nd edition!
Second Edition yeah, can't be the nostalga. Actually I'll play almost anything- I own a fair few 2nd Edition books along with a good number of 3/3.5 stuff.
By your exclamation I surmise your a fan?
quote:
Hi Elrond Half Elven,
I have a bit of information about the history of Daggerdale in my home page. There, you will also find some comments about Teshar, which might help you. However, Dordrien coexisted with Netheril. But Teshar, could be seen as the realm that existed after Netheril, but before Daggerdale ... and Teshendale. However, I do not have information about Desertmouths Mountains only.
Link to Daggerdale History page (in my home page):
http://user.tninet.se/~bsu242v/realmslore/regions/dalelands/daggerdale/history.htm
Best regards,
webmanus
Thanks for the Info, and the link!
Hanx
Elrond
EDIT: Is there any cannon information concerning the Cults activities in the Dalelands? Heck is there ANY information about it? |
