In Like Flynn

Beasts of Samardan: 'Astral Entity' to 'Danrakkom'...

2013-06-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

After detailing lairs, a quick glance at the list of steps to build out the World of Samardan Campaign Setting lets me know that I now need to create my bestiary. In this section, I'll provide the details for the creatures I have introduced earlier in this process. My original hopes were that I would create around fifty monsters for this section, so I have a lot of variety in my arsenal as a Referee. I may not create that many, but I'll see what I can do. My first selection starts here:

Astral Entity
Under moments of extreme stress, the psychic essence of a particularly strong mystic can become detached from the mystic's body. Under certain circumstances, the psychic essence is unable to reattach to its body, and so wanders aimlessly as an astral entity. Among the more superstitious, such entities are called ghosts or apparitions. The appearance of the astral entity often resembles the mystic's physical body, but there are occasions where the form is altered by the mystic's perception of themselves. Astral entities cannot interact with the physical world and thus are generally only affected by energy and psychic attacks. These entities possess a weak psychic blast, and generally possess the abilities of a 3rd level Mystic, although more powerful astral entities have more hit dice, gaining a level of Mystic ability with each additional hit die.

Astral Entity: DEF: 14; HD: 5; ATK: psychic blast (1d4+2); ST: +4; SP: Astral form (no physical interaction, only affected by energy and psychic attacks), powers as 3rd level Mystic; SPD: 6 (fly); CL: 4; XP: 900.

Automaton
Durable constructs of various sizes and configurations, automatons were primarily used by the Ancient Ones for security, defense and combat. Due to their mechanical nature, automatons are immune to all mental attacks and abilities, poison, disease and physical exhaustion.

Security Automaton: DEF: 14; HD: 3; ATK: by slam (1d6) or crystal pistol (1d8); ST: +3; SP: Immune to all mental attacks and abilities, poison, disease and physical exhaustion; SPD: 7; CL: 2; XP: 450.
Defense Automaton: DEF: 18; HD: 7; ATK: by slam (1d6) or heavy crystal rifle (3d6); ST: +5; SP: Immune to all mental attacks and abilities, poison, disease and physical exhaustion; SPD: 5; CL: 3; XP: 600.
Combat Automaton: DEF: 20; HD: 11; ATK: by slam (1d8) or crystal rifle (2d8); ST: +7; SP: Immune to all mental attacks and abilities, poison, disease and physical exhaustion; SPD: 9; CL: 5; XP: 1,200.

Bandrak
The bandrak is a small winged serpentine creature common to the jungles and dense forests of Samardan's lowland regions. These winged creatures average about three feet in length, with a wingspan of up to five feet. These creatures often attack first from a distance using their acidic spittle (1d8, Rng 6/12/24), before closing in to bite their prey. Flocks of winged serpents will often work together against larger prey. Bandraki are particularly attracted to shiny, sparkling objects, collecting such items for their nests.

Bandrak: DEF: 13; HD: 3; ATK: by acidic spittle (1d8, Rng 6/12/24) or bite (1d4); ST: +3; SP: Immune to acid; SPD: 8 (fly); CL: 1; XP: 300.

Bershun
Native to swamps, ponds and other watery regions, the bershun is a dying species on Samardan. A huge reptilian creature easily thirty-five feet long or longer, the bershun has a broad head with a tapering snout and massive jaws capable of devouring a human in one bite. This six-legged beast is protected by a thick outer covering of bony plates. Primarily a nocturnal animal, the bershun is a carnivorous predator that attacks creatures that enter their watery home. When food is scarce, the bershun has been known to travel up to six miles from their lairs in search of large game to devour. If the bershun hits with a natural attack roll of 20, man-sized or smaller prey will be swallowed whole. Being swallowed whole inflicts 3d6 points of acid damage per round, and the swallowed victim cannot breathe (beware of suffocation). The victim can, however, attack the bershun from within, using a dagger-sized weapon against DEF 15. If the victim can inflict 11 points of damage or more from within the beast, they can cut themselves free, and the bershun cannot swallow another creature whole until the damage is healed.

Bershun: DEF: 20; HD: 12; ATK: by bite (3d6) or tail slap (3d8); ST: +8; SP: Swallow whole (3d6 acid damage, DEF 15, 11 hp); SPD: 5, 6 (swim); CL: 5; XP: 1,200.

Danrakkom
Segmented black, red, brown, or yellow social insects the size of a small dog, danrakkomi possess large heads with two sets of mandibles: inner jaws for chewing and outer jaws for carrying and digging. These creatures live in highly organized colonies containing wingless female workers, a winged queen, and, during breeding seasons, winged males. Some species of danrakkomi have been noted by scholars for engaging in warfare, making slaves of other races, and the cultivation of food sources.

Danrakkom, Worker: DEF: 13; HD: 2; ATK: bite (1d6+poison); ST: +3; SP: Poison (1d6/round, Fort DC 13 ends); SPD: 8; CL: 1; XP: 300.
Danrakkom, Male: DEF: 14; HD: 3; ATK: bite (1d8); ST: +3; SP: None; SPD: 8, 6 (fly); CL: 1; XP: 300.
Danrakkom, Queen: DEF: 20; HD: 10; ATK: bite (2d6+poison); ST: +7; SP: Poison (2d6/round, Fort DC 17 ends); SPD: 4, 6 (fly); CL: 5; XP: 1,200.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Five More Lairs...

2013-06-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

I imagine that five lairs won't be enough for the World of Samardan Campaign Setting, so I'm going to create five more to post. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts on them in the comments section.

(Hex) Burahiko's Keep
Pansanu Yatan Burahiko, an aspiring warlord, is forging a new settlement in the wilds under his rulership. Although the Pansanu has grand plans for the region, he has only managed to construct a small keep thus far. His original support has long since abandoned him, and so Pansanu Burahiko has taken to raiding nearby settlements in order to further his aspirations.

(Hex) The Forgotten Army of Dankahena the Exile
When Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem, ascended the throne, he sent into exile anyone who might contest his right to rule, including his younger sister, Doganuba Dankahena Rekatur. Now, Dankahena the Exile has gathered an army of disenchanted loyalists under her banner, as she prepares to take action against her brother and claim the throne. Gossips say she has recently taken a new warlord as her right-hand man. Little is known of this mysterious man, save for his superior tactical knowledge as evidenced by her recent military successes against outlying forces of Torkobalem.

(Hex) Obsidian Halls of the Kelsh-Raganu
An abandoned complex, decorated throughout with obsidian tiles, has become known as the Obsidian Halls of the Kelsh-Raganu ("Demon Emperor"). According to legend, the king of all demons lies buried in the depths of the complex, and the nearby volcano shall remain dormant so long as the Kelsh-Raganu remains undisturbed. A band of mercenary kelshrani use the complex as their base of operations on the surface, taking advantage of their appearance and the legend of the Obsidian Halls to subdue nearby settlements through fear and intimidation.

(Hex) Sanctum of Sen Lusasanan
By all accounts, Sen Lusasanan is an insane mystic consumed with understanding the nature of life and biological enhancements. Toward that end, he has claimed an abandoned stronghold in the wilderness as his own, where he performs terrible experiments on captured victims. His army of patchwork monsters often roam the surrounding regions in search of new victims and esoteric supplies to further their master's hideous work.

(Hex) Warrens of the Marsh Folk
The human tribe known simply as the Marsh Folk dwell within these unusual warrens, cut off from the rest of civilization. Like many remote cultures, the Marsh Folk entertain some customs that others would consider taboo, particularly cannibalism. Indeed, the Marsh Folk have developed a number of delicacies based the flesh of husrani, rakrani and particularly sarrani people. As these races are understandably rare in the area, having been hunted out, the Marsh Folk hunting parties occasionally make excursions into more settled areas, looking for new "stock" for their kitchens.

Standard Disclaimer: As I have not yet decided where to set these particular lairs on the map as yet, I've left a placeholder to remind me to come back to this in the future. Later on, I'll replace (Hex) with the actual hex location, when I put all of this together into a single document.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Five Lairs...

2013-06-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

In reviewing my list of activities in order to build the World of Samardan campaign setting, I realize that I've totally skipped the step in which I create some lairs to sprinkle about the countryside. With that in mind, I think I'll offer some examples over the next few posts, to help with beefing the setting up with lots of adventure ideas and opportunities. If some of the examples I use seem somewhat familiar, you should know that I am basing some of these lairs on stories from the Planetary Romance genre.

(Hex) Airship Wreckage
A large pride of hatagati have claimed the wreckage of a shattered airship as their lair. The cargo hold contains several crates of rotted medicinal herbs and the skeleton of the unfortunate pilot. A crystal pistol and a spare power crystal still hang from the pilot's harness.

(Hex) Crater of the Star Creatures
Several seasons back, a star fell from the sky, leaving a great crater behind upon impact. Since then, strange mutant creatures began hunting in this region, apparently lairing in or near the crater itself. These bizarre tarfarkati ("star"+"alien/aberration" + "carnivore") frequently threaten nearby settlements, and these villages are often too small to adequately defend themselves from the bestial hordes.

(Hex) Fungal Forest
A small copse of giant mushrooms fill a small depression in the wastelands, protected somewhat from the winds above. An isolated band of Varrani ("leaf+men") warriors have claimed this site as their own, and will fiercely defend it from all intruders. When water becomes scarce, the Varrani warriors will raid nearby settlements for the precious liquid.

(Hex) Shrine of the Sun
This ruined building standing alone on a hillock is honored by local Husrani tribes as a shrine devoted to the sun. Offerings of food and other consumables are left here by the tribes. A human hermit hides within a secret chamber inside the ruins, stealing the offerings at night and leaving behind cryptic pictographs as omens. A growing cult of sun-worshipping warrior-priests has started to interpret the omens left behind, and their spiritual leader, Sen Devakusan, advocates a holy war against non-believers.

(Hex) Tamasol, Independent Citadel
Pansanu Luso Fortahen once held the citadel of Tamasol as an outpost of distant Torkobalem. After his son died as a soldier in Torkobalem's armies, Pansanu Luso Fortahen announced that he could no longer support the tyranny of Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, and declared the citadel independent of Torkobalem's rule. The Pansanu of Tamasol continues to fortify his position in preparation for Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur's eventual response to the citadel's secession from the Empire.

Enemies of Samardan: The Disciples of Somasumar...

2013-06-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

Our fourth and final minor regional enemy for the World of Samardan campaign setting was originally conceived as the classic power-mad warlord bent on conquest. Very quickly on, I realized that I already had a number of those in the setting, and while that type of antagonist is a classic trope of the genre, I didn't want it to get old.

Then I thought about the various Warrior backgrounds in Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance, and recalled that among them could be found the Martial Artist. Suddenly, I started picturing a more Sword and Planet version of the dreaded Sith, the enemy of the Jedi Knights, and things started to fall into place for me. After all, Dray Prescot was a member of a martial order called the Krozairs, and one of his companions, Turko the Shield, was a Khamorro, an expert in unarmed combat. Obviously, martial arts is part of the mystique of some Planetary Romance series. What would be better than having an order of evil monks as a regional villain? The idea works for me, so I now present the Disciples of Somasumar.

The Disciples of Somasumar
History: Originally a martial order, the Disciples of Somasumar became a quasi-religious cult after adopting spiritual teachings thought to belong to the Ancient Ones. Based on incomplete documents recovered from ruins in the wastelands of the Torafeldan, the Disciples of Somasumar practice a disciplined form of unarmed combat. When the Disciples elect to use actual weaponry, they prefer to fight using malkuni (claw-like weapons similar to the Indian bagh nakh) or barkuni (larger claw-like weapons similar to malkuni, with longer blades). The barkuni are traditionally reserved for acknowledged Masters of the order.

Personality: Sena Logana Mudaganan, the current Grandmaster of the Disciples of Somasumar, leads the order in the pursuit of the Grand Plan, which is to unite all of the lower valley under the rule of the Disciples. At her disposal are Disciples specialized in gathering information, assassination, military tactics and the finer points of estate and resource management. While her predecessors have been cautious and meticulous in their clandestine progress toward the Grand Plan, Sena Logana Mudaganan prefers a more aggressive approach, and has become more open in recent years. Intent on seeing the Grand Plan come into being during her lifetime, the Grandmaster has escalated to more militant tactics. She is a driven and fanatical woman, with the power of a well-established and devout following operating at her behest.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for representative members of the Disciples of Somasumar are based on Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Somasumaran Initiate: DEF: 14; HD: 1; ATK: by malkuni (1d6) or unarmed combat (1d6); ST: +2; SP: Unarmed combat; SPD: 6; CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Somasumaran Disciple: DEF: 15; HD: 2; ATK: by malkuni (1d6) or unarmed combat (1d6); ST: +3; SP: Unarmed combat, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Claw Weapons); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Somasumaran Master: DEF: 16; HD: 5; ATK: by barkuni (1d8) or unarmed combat (1d6); ST: +4; SP: Unarmed combat, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Claw Weapons); SPD: 6; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: The Swarms of the Rak-Pansanu...

2013-06-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

Our third minor regional enemy for the World of Samardan campaign setting is actually inspired by a Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated episode entitled "When the Cicada Calls", of all things. (I admit it; as a GM, I am not above the "resourceful acquisition" of plot ideas from the shows that my kids watch.) As I watched this particular episode unfold, I thought of someone using ancient technology to tap into the hive mind of a swarm and make the insects to wreak havoc on the world on his behalf. In Samardan, the translation of "insect lord" is Rak-Pansanu, and thus I had the name of my next regional villain. I thought this would create a different scenario than most, something that an enterprising Referee could use to really capture the Planetary Romance adventuring style. With that in mind, I now present the Swarms of the Rak-Pansanu.

The Swarms of the Rak-Pansanu
History: The Rakran mystic, Sen Safakusan, has always been the pariah of his family. From an early age, Sen Safakusan had explored the power of his mind instead of learning to utilize ancient technology as his father and brothers had. Because Sen Safakusan hindered his family's status among the rest of the clan, they would often force him to serve as the clan's representative on small clan-sponsored expeditions to explore ancient ruins. Out of sight, out of mind. While on one of these expeditions, Sen Safakusan stumbled upon a partially-functional artifact that gave him the unusual ability to mentally communicate with and command insects. Having realized the power of his find, Sen Safakusan fled the expedition, and began using his newfound abilities to further his vengeful and hedonistic desires.

Personality: Before Sen Safakusan found the ancient helmet that gives him control over insects, the Rakran mystic had been spiteful and vindictive. These personality traits have only become more pronounced after taking on the mantle of Rak-Pansanu. As the lord of insects, the Rak-Pansanu has sent his swarms to attack every site where he was once bullied or ostracized, accumulating quite a treasury in the process. While the Rak-Pansanu has discovered a taste for expensive wines and rich foods, his first priority remains the humiliation of his family and clan.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for representative members of the Rak-Pansanu's insectile servitors are based on Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance, which I wrote last year. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Cat-sized Insect: DEF: 12; HD: 1; ATK: sting (1d4+poison); ST: +2; SP: Poisonous sting (1d4/round, Fort DC 12 ends); SPD: 5 (fly 8); CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Wolf-sized Insect: DEF: 13; HD: 2; ATK: bite (1d6+poison); ST: +3; SP: Poison (1d6/round, Fort DC 13 ends); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Man-sized Insect: DEF: 14; HD: 4; ATK: bite (1d8+poison); ST: +4; SP: Poison (1d8/round, Fort DC 14 ends); SPD: 7; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: The Huntsmen of Sumakan...

2013-05-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

Our second minor regional enemy for the World of Samardan campaign setting is inspired by a number of stories both in and out of the genre. I wanted a group of men who hunted other men for sport and pleasure. With the presence of airships, such a group could easily be a regional menace, raiding small outlying settlements for prisoners while avoiding the stronger military forces of the cities and city-states. These murderous slavers call themselves the Huntsmen of Sumakan.

The Huntsmen of Sumakan
Description: Based out of an abandoned fortress overlooking a small box canyon, the Huntsmen of Sumakan raid settlements far and wide using their stolen airships. These bloodthirsty hunters will raid settlements solely for the purpose of taking prisoners. Those captives that show any initiative in trying to escape are used as the quarry for their monthly hunts, while the rest are sold into slavery. Those who survive the games are giving a choice between freedom and membership. Either way, they are branded with the mark of the Huntsmen, which could make it difficult in communities that have been struck by these raiders.

Personality: The name of this band, Sumakan, translates roughly conceptually as "honorable wolf," and they embody this mentality. Loyal and devoted to their pack, the Huntsmen are fierce warriors that strike quickly to cripple their foes. Unproven prisoners are considered prey, and are held as being less worthy of respect than the Huntsmen's pet dilkankati (highly intelligent six-legged wolf-like beast with an extraordinary talent for ambushing its prey). These men are fierce and wild, but surprisingly honorable to those who have proven to be predators rather than prey.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for each representative member of Sumakan forces are based on the Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance, which I wrote last year. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Sumakan Raider: DEF: 14; HD: 1; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or crystal pistol (1d8); ST: +2; SP: Terrain mastery; SPD: 6; CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Sumakan Huntsman: DEF: 15; HD: 2; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or heavy crystal pistol (2d6); ST: +3; SP: Terrain mastery, skill mastery (1/rest); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Dilkankat: DEF: 15; HD: 4; ATK: bite (1d6); ST: +4; SP: Ambush (+5 on Stealth), sneak attack; SPD: 7; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: Sky-Pirates of the Northern Peaks...

2013-05-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

In this post we start our revelation of the four Minor Enemies that will cause problems for the population of the World of Samardan campaign setting. For the first of our four entries at this level, I chose the one that sounded the most fun to me when I made mention of them previously. Straight out of the entry on Kolgrat, City of Marble, comes the dreaded Sky-Pirates of the Northern Peaks...

Sky-Pirates of the Northern Peaks
History: The dreaded Sky-Pirates of the Northern Peaks are considered a nuisance among most of the cities of the Granbalem, mostly because the Sky-Pirates know better than to attack the larger forces there. Among the smaller settlements of Samardan, however, the Sky-Pirates exert considerably more influence. Several times a year, the Sky-Pirates will visit such a settlement and demand tribute. Those who pay the exorbitant price are left alone, while those that do not are attacked from above with burning oil and makeshift bombs, to serve as a lesson to all who would dare oppose them. The current leader of the Sky-Pirates, the Pansanuba Bama Kudisjanan, has a penchant for collecting beautiful works of art. In recent years, she has taken to harassing Kolgrat, the City of Marble, in search of beautiful statues to add to her growing collection. The Crime Lords of Kolgrat are none too happy with her, and have offered a sizable bounty for her head, with or without her body attached.

Personality: The Pansanuba Bama Kudisjanan is, by all accounts, burdened with overconfidence. A talented flyer with a daredevil mentality, she tends to be rather showy in her conquests and actions. Subtle, she is not. Some rumor that this self-made Lady of the Skies is actually the daughter of one of the Crime Lords of Kolgrat, perhaps even Yaranu Moro himself, but proof has never been offered, nor does the Pansanuba claim such a heritage.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for each representative member of the forces of the Sky-Pirates are based on the Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Sky Pirate: DEF: 14; HD: 1; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or crystal pistol (1d8); ST: +2; SP: Shipborn; SPD: 6; CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Sky Raider: DEF: 15; HD: 2; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or heavy crystal pistol (2d6); ST: +3; SP: Shipborn, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Personal Firearms); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Sky Commander: DEF: 16; HD: 5; ATK: by long sword (1d8) or crystal rifle (2d8); ST: +4; SP: Shipborn, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Personal Firearms); SPD: 6; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: The Crime Lords of Kolgrat...

2013-05-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

In this post we are going to discuss our second Major Enemy for the World of Samardan campaign setting. From the information presented in the location pieces, there were few obvious options for this slot, so I started to consider less obvious options. I wanted an organization, because those don't die as quickly with the death of one person, and I wanted this group to be a lingering threat that requires the attention and concerted efforts of our protagonists to deal with. In the end, I decided that other Major Enemy will be Yaranu Moro, Master of Assassins and the Crime Lords of Kolgrat whom he represents. The reason I chose this route primarily is because I already had a mystic-based enemy and a warrior-based enemy. Therefore, I needed an expert-based enemy to for conceptual symmetry. After making the selection, Yaranu Moro and his fellow Crime Lords almost seemed to take on a life of their own in my imagination...

The Crime Lords of Kolgrat
History: The Crime Lords of Kolgrat have always been a tumultuous group, until they were forged into a secret alliance under the iron fist of Yaranu Moro, Master of Assassins. Rising up the in the ranks of Kolgrat's famous assassin's guild, Yaranu Moro achieved the rank of guildmaster through right of assassination and then began a ruthless campaign to force the other Crime Lords under his thumb. With his success, Yaranu Moro now appears publicly as the Master Assassin for the court of Kolgrat and the representative of the Crime Lords of the city in the Raganu's courtly affairs.

Personality: Some might believe that Yaranu Moro is paranoid, but it isn't paranoia if everyone really is out to get you, and that's the reality of his position. The only way to achieve masterhood in Kolgrat's assassin's guild is by right of assassination, and that's in addition to those Crime Lords he has had to manipulate and coerce into supporting his leadership. Yaranu Moro is known for his cruelty, which rumors depict as being even greater than that of the kelshrani. He has a particular love of poisons, and has been known to purchase slaves simply to serve as test subjects for his latest toxin.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for each representative member of the forces of the Crime Lords are based on the Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Thug: DEF: 13; HD: 1; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or short bow (1d6, Rng 12/24/48); ST: +2; SP: Sneak attack; SPD: 6; CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Thug Overseer: DEF: 14; HD: 2; ATK: by poisoned short sword (1d6 + poison) or short bow (1d6 + poison, Rng 12/24/48); ST: +3; SP: Poison (1d6/round, Fort DC 13 ends), sneak attack, skill mastery (1/rest); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Assassin of the Outer Circle: DEF: 15; HD: 4; ATK: by poisoned long sword (1d8 + poison) or long bow (1d8 + poison, Rng 12/24/48); ST: +4; SP: Poison (1d8/round, Fort DC 14 ends), sneak attack, skill mastery (1/rest); SPD: 6; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Assassin of the Inner Circle: DEF: 16; HD: 6; ATK: by poisoned long sword (1d8 + poison) or long bow (1d8 + poison, Rng 12/24/48); ST: +5; SP: Poison (2d6/round, Fort DC 15 ends), sneak attack, skill mastery (2/rest); SPD: 6; CL: 3; XP: 600.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem...

2013-05-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

Now that the Supreme Enemy of the World of Samardan campaign setting has been established, it is time to determine the two Major Enemies that will plague our protagonists once we start using the setting. The first and most obvious Major Enemy should be Torkobalem, City-State of Crystals, and more specifically, Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem.

Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem
History: Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur ascended the throne of the City of Crystals after his father's fatal hunting accident, although some whisper that the old Raganu's death was no accident. Shortly after Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur began his reign, Torkobalem launched both land and aerial assaults on several cities, who have been weakened considerably by Torkobalem's stranglehold on power crystals. The Raganu has made no effort to conceal his desire to conquer the cities of the Granbalem and forge a new empire under his iron rule.

Personality: Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur is known to be a vengeful man, and he has been known to hire assassins and bounty hunters to go after those who have wronged him. The Raganu is also a cruel man who believes in torturing his victims before he kills them, and many of his personal guards and appointed military leaders are cut from the same cloth. Above all else, however, Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur desires to conquer his many enemies and to control as much of the world as he is capable of. He has even proven willing to sacrifice vengeance and torture if doing so would benefit his desire for conquest. Woe be unto any who would take advantage of this fact by lying to him, for the Reganu's vengeance becomes all-consuming against those who betray him.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for each representative member of Torkobalem's forces are based on the Sword and Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance, which I wrote last year. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Torkobalem Soldier: DEF: 14; HD: 1; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or crystal pistol (1d8); ST: +2; SP: First strike; SPD: 6; CL: 1/2; XP: 150.

Torkobalem Veteran: DEF: 15; HD: 2; ATK: by short sword (1d6) or heavy crystal pistol (2d6); ST: +3; SP: First strike, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Personal Firearms); SPD: 6; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Torkobalem Leader: DEF: 16; HD: 5; ATK: by long sword (1d8) or crystal rifle (2d8); ST: +4; SP: Inspire courage, weapon mastery (+1 atk with Personal Firearms); SPD: 6; CL: 2; XP: 450.

Torkobalem Commander: DEF: 17; HD: 8; ATK: by great sword (2d6) or heavy crystal rifle (3d6+2); ST: +6; SP: Inspire courage, weapon mastery (+1 atk/+2 dmg with Personal Firearms); SPD: 6; CL: 3; XP: 600.

Enjoy,
Flynn

Enemies of Samardan: Farleni, The Mind Masters...

2013-05-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

Today, we begin our explorations of the Hall of Infamy for the World of Samardan. For those who may not be familiar with the concept, a Hall of Infamy is a list of regional antagonists whose role is to generate conflict for our heroes to resolve. The basic structure for a Hall of Infamy is simple:

One Supreme Over-Arching Enemy: Defeating this antagonist should require only the toughest, meanest, most experienced adventurers available. The Supreme Enemy is typically located in a ruin.
Two Major Enemies: Defeating these antagonists is not a job for novices, and should require well-established, well-prepared veteran adventurers. Major Enemies are frequently associated with cities, lairs or ruins.
Four Minor Enemies: Defeating these antagonists should be very difficult for novices, yet defeat can be accomplished at the hands of seasoned adventurers who are starting to build a reputation for themselves. Minor Enemies are often found in lairs.

We've already identified our Supreme Enemy for this campaign: The Farleni (or the Mind Masters of Orkelium, the Forked Tower).

Farleni, the Mind Masters
History: The Farleni are a race of alien psionic parasites that once inhabited a distant world, before unintentionally being brought to Samardan by the Ancient Ones. Upon their arrival, the Farleni spread quickly, seeking a way to contact their homeworld. After an intense battle, the Farleni were finally contained and cryogenically frozen for research purposes in the scientific research facility now known as Orkelium, the Forked Tower.

Life Cycle: Farleni are a race of parasites that go through numerous phases: Larva, Pupa and Adult. Much like insects, adult Farleni are physiologically differentiated by their role in their hive-like society: workers, soldiers, drones and queens. Larva can only grow within the body of another creature. When the larva matures into the pupa stage, it migrates outside the body of its host, but continues to ride its host as it grows and matures. When the host creature dies, the pupa will either seek out a new host or begin the transformation into an adult Farleni, with highly developed psychic powers. Workers are the most prominent, being sterile servitors that serve the main body of the Farleni "hive-mind". Also sterile, the much larger soldiers use their psychic powers to control local vermin and small creatures in order to protect the "hive-mind". Fertile male drone Farleni serve as the immediate guardians of the queen with their stunning mental blasts, while the queen leads the "hive-mind" and lays the eggs that will eventually hatch to become larva and start the cycle of life once again.

Stat Blocks: The following stat blocks for each form are based on the Sword & Planet: An Old School Roleplaying Game of Planetary Romance, which I wrote last year. Please feel free to convert these stats to the system of your choice, if you wish to use them elsewhere.

Farlen, Larva: DEF: 10; HD: 1/2; ATK: 1 bite (1d2); ST: +2; SP: Farleni traits, control host; SPD: 4; CL: 1; XP: 300.

Farlen, Pupa: DEF: 11; HD: 2; ATK: 2 tentacles (1d4); ST: +3; SP: Farleni traits, ride host; SPD: 5 (swim 6); CL: 2; XP: 450.

Farlen, Worker: DEF: 13; HD: 4; ATK: 4 tentacles (1d6); ST: +4; SP: Farleni traits, mystic powers (daze, fear); SPD: 5 (swim 6); CL: 4; XP: 900.

Farlen, Soldier: DEF: 15; HD: 6; ATK: 4 tentacles (1d8); ST: +5; SP: Farleni traits, mass dominate (all creatures within 30 ft, max 24 HD worth, Will negates), mystic powers (daze, fear); SPD: 6 (swim 9); CL: 5; XP: 1,200.

Farlen, Drone: DEF: 17; HD: 8; ATK: 4 tentacles (1d8); ST: +6; SP: Farleni traits, mind blast (all within 30ft cone are stunned and unable to act for 2d4 rounds, Will negates), mystic powers (dominate person, fear, phantasmal killer, telepathic bond); SPD: 6 (swim 9); CL: 6; XP: 1,800.

Farlen, Queen: DEF: 18; HD: 9; ATK: 4 tentacles (1d6 + mindfire poison); ST: +6; SP: Farleni traits, mindfire poison (1d6 plus -1 penalty on Will saves, Fort negates), mystic powers (daze, dominate person, fear, phantasmal killer, scrying, telepathic bond); SPD: 5 (swim 9); CL: 8; XP: 3,600.

Special Abilities
Farleni Traits: All Farleni have the following abilities: take half damage from acid and cold, take double damage from electricity, telepathy (100 ft range), detect thoughts (20 ft range), sense hive-mind (1 mile range).

Control Host: Larval Farleni will burrow into the flesh of an unconscious or helpless victim and, 1d4+1 rounds later, attach itself to the brain stem of its host. There, it will attempt to control the actions of the host (Will save to resist). Removing a burrowing Farlen larva requires a Very Difficult (DC 25) Healing skill check to successfully remove the larva without killing the patient. Once it has attached to the brain stem, the difficulty increases to Nigh Impossible (DC 30).

Farleni Traits: All Farleni have the following abilities: take half damage from acid and cold, take double damage from electricity, telepathy (100 ft range), detect thoughts (20 ft range), sense hive-mind (1 mile range). The larva cannot be hurt directly while its host is alive; only when the host is dead will the larva release the host's brain and attempt to find another host.

Ride Host: Pupal Farleni will grapple and ride a victim and extend tendrils that, 1d4+1 rounds later, attach themselves to the brain stem of its host. Once attached, it will attempt to control the actions of the host (Will save to resist). Removing an attached Farlen pupa requires a Difficult (DC 20) Healing skill check to successfully remove the tendrils without killing the patient. Once it has attached to the brain stem, the difficulty increases to Very Difficult (DC 25). The host suffers half of all damage dealt to the riding pupa.

The rest of the powers should be self-explanatory.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Rekmader, the Forest of Plenty...

2013-05-08T17:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome, All:

First, I would like to take a moment and celebrate a milestone for me. This is the 600th Post for In Like Flynn, something I honestly wasn't sure I'd ever see when I started all of this. Thankfully, I've stuck with it, and I was very proud to see 600 posts come up when I logged in to post my blog entry for today. Woohoo!

Second, this is the last location post for the World of Samardan campaign setting. After this post, we are diving straight in with the Hall of Infamy, developing a list of the top seven bad guys for the setting so we have antagonists to pit against our protagonists.

(hex) Rekmader, the Forest of Plenty
Ambiance: This small forested area is teaming with life, particularly herds of wild yurlathi. Surprisingly, these woods appear to be free of major predators, save for the occasional pile of skulls arranged along game trails. Their orderly arrangement suggests an intelligent presence, even if no other sign is immediately visible.

History: Rekmader has always been known for its good hunting. The ownership of the land is continually contested as new warlords strive to take the land from its previous owner. Recently, a tribe of primitive morsudkomi has taken residence in the woods, chasing the previous tenants from their watchtower.

Encounters: Herds of wild yurlathi inhabit this region, along with a number of smaller herbivores. A tribe of the four-armed morsudkomi also inhabit these woods, keeping the area clear of major predators. Common encounters and hazards include falling trees, crude man-traps, kandori nests, and the webs of a roving rivrakkat.

Treasure: Yurlathi are the most common form of livestock on Samardan, and herds of wild yurlathi sell well in the market as breeding stock. .

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Among certain tribes of Husrani, morsudkomi cubs are considered pets. Tamar Geshkan, the wandering merchant, has standing offers for living morsudkomi cubs, in order to maintain strong trading relations with such tribes.

Kado Sumanatan, a yurlathi rancher, seeks new breeding stock, but does not want to buy local males because he feels they are inferior to his herds. He is soliciting outlanders with animal skills to find and drive a herd of wild yurlathi from Rekmader to his ranch lands.

Pansanu Drako Dankana, a Husrani mercenary captain, seeks additional mercenaries to join him in a strike on the morsudkomi, so that he can retake the forest they took from him.

This season's fashionable delicacy among the nobility of Torkobalem is seared kandor with wild chili paste. The famous chef Sadabama Hikokan prefers to serve wild kandori, preferably from the Rekmader, as the meat is purpostedly tastier. Enterprising hunters are looking for men-at-arms to protect them as they hunt down and capture nests of kandori in response to Sadabama's increasing culinary needs.

Yaranu Moro, Master of Assassins for the court of Kolgrat, will pay handsomely for fresh rivrakkat poison.

Standard Disclaimer: As I have not yet decided where to set this particular location on the map as yet, I've left a placeholder to remind me to come back to this in the future. Later on, I'll replace (Hex) with the actual hex location, when I put all of this together into a single document.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Pekalium, the Tower of Strength...

2013-05-06T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Now that the A-Z Challenge is over, I only have two more locations that I want to describe here, and then I'd like to move on to the next step in the process of building a campaign setting, the Hall of Infamy. Before we can tackle that list of cool villains, though, I need to detail an abandoned manufacturing plant and some rich hunting grounds. First up will be the manufacturing plant.

(hex) Pekalium, the Tower of Strength
Ambiance: An ancient tower rises from the sands thirty feet tall, obviously the top part of a buried complex. The interior extends several floors below the surface and is remarkably well preserved, save for windows where sand has poured into the complex. Occasional animal tracks disturb the scattered soil, indicating the passage of living things.

History: This abandoned factory of the Ancient Ones has been protected from worst effects of the passage of time by being buried under sand in the wastelands of the Torafeldan. A recent earthquake uncovered the upper portion of it, giving access to remarkably preserved equipment. With some spare parts, a few repairs and a new power source, this site could be restored to almost full functionality.

Encounters: Within the Pekalium, adventurers will encounter numerous lairs of desert creatures seeking shelter within the complex. In addition, should power be restored, automated safety features may appear as traps or defense systems to the uninformed. Common encounters include kandori, viddrakkati and a large pack of hudyurkati (large, cloven-hoofed carnivores with an extremely powerful bite and the psychic ability to lure prey in for the kill).

Treasure: The true treasure to be found in this site is the possibility of a working factory that produces small airships. Even without that, the raw materials and semi-completed airship parts found in internal storage vaults would bring a fortune on the open market.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Flying above the Torafeldan via a large airship, the merchant Pilot-Commander spies the tower and decides to land and plunder this newly revealed structure, regardless of the desires of his passengers and crew.

One of the survivors of an airship crash sends out a psychic call for help, drawing those who answer to the Pekalium, where the survivors have taken shelter.

Pansanu Rago Rananagan, a Husran tribal chieftain, is calling for a Great Hunt after noting an increase in hudyurkat attacks on his tribe in this region.

The Rakrani sage Loba Granbura, having heard of a tower in the wastelands that was recently uncovered by an earthquake, is curious enough to hire mercenaries to accompany her on a journey to investigate it.

The Siblings of the Sapphire Sphere, a mystic order of scholars of the Ancient Ones, seek brave souls who would be willing to follow an old map into the Torafeldan, in search of an ancient complex referenced in recently recovered materials.

Taking A Long Weekend; I'll Be Back On Monday...

2013-05-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, All:

My apologies, but I decided to take a brief hiatus after successfully completing the A-Z Challenge this week. I feel that I need to put a little attention elsewhere for just a little bit, taking care of things that I let slide while I was working on April's flurry of posts. Starting Monday, though, I'll be back, with another World of Samardan location for the list.

Enjoy Your Weekend,
Flynn

World of Samardan: The Ziggurat of Moradan...

2013-04-30T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Here is the final post in this year's A to Z Challenge series, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. (There will be other location posts, but this one is the last of the Challenge posts.) Z is for the Ziggurat of Moradan.

(hex) Ziggurat of Moradan
Ambiance: A stepped pyramid of weathered black stone rising up from the wastelands, this ancient structure feels even older than most sites of the Ancient Ones. It is a cold, desolate structure, with steps rising to the apex along the slant height. The casing stones at the top have been pulled aside to reveal a narrow stairwell that descends into the depths of the ziggurat.

History: Also known as Moradan's Folly, this ancient structure has been the site of many deaths in the name of greed. Pansanu Hiko Moradan, convinced that great wealth lay deep within this ancient ziggurat, led numerous expeditions within, only to emerge with a handful of survivors unwilling to speak of the untold horrors they witnessed. None have dared enter the structure after Pansanu Hiko Moradan failed to return from his last trip within, although other warlords occasionally jest at mounting an expedition themselves to go after the fabled treasure.

Encounters: The ziggurat is loaded with traps, as well as puzzle rooms that appear to be designed to perplex and torment all who enter into it. Synthetic men mutely provide general maintenance for the site, and will direct visitors to various puzzle chambers in a jovial manner. The synthetic men appear to be in a losing battle against desert vermin that have entered into the complex since the casing stones were removed several decades ago. Common encounters are vermin swarms, unusual traps and helpful synthetic men.

Treasure: Rumors of great treasures found within the Ziggurat of Moradan are not unfounded. There's a wealth of repair components and power crystals to be discovered within the complex. In addition, a semi-functional synthetic man production plant exists in the lower-most level of the complex, waiting to be discovered. Aside from the scientific knowledge that could be recovered, more conquest-oriented leaders might view this as a possible source for slaves and possibly soldiers.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A mute synthetic man has been found wandering in the wastelands. The crystalline tool it carried caused a Rakrani scholar of the Ancient Ones to urgently solicit guides to track it back to its point of origin.

It is a rite of passage in some Husrani tribes that the youth coming of age must visit the Ziggurat of Moradan and return with a symbol of their visit. Recently, one Pansanu's heir did not return, and he seeks "volunteers" to explore the depths of the Ziggurat looking for his son.

Kudiso Moradan, grandson of the famous Pansanu Hiko Moradan, has a standing reward for any information related to locating his grandfather or revealing the mysteries of the Ziggurat of Moradan.

The Brotherhood of the Black Pyramid, a fanatically order of Rakrani scholars and cultists, believe that within the Ziggurat of Moradan lies a gateway to a heavenly afterlife. They are recruiting mercenaries to protect an expedition to find the Heavenly Gate.

The town drunkard claims to have found an ancient map, partially obliterated by the passage of time, which shows portions of the interior, and he's willing to sell it for an evening of wine and revelry. One of the chambers within appears to contain large golden idols.

My inspiration for this site was an amusement park. I tried to imagine what an amusement park might look like for the Ancient Ones, and then how that same image would look in the eyes of someone who had never lived in a culture that could conceive of an amusement park. Android staff, unable to speak, working diligently on maintaining the site, and directing visitors to rides, games and the usual attractions. If one wanted to make it more sinister, the GM could assume there's a deranged AI running things, and take the story from there.

Standard Disclaimer: As I have not yet decided where to set this particular location on the map as yet, I've left a placeholder to remind me to come back to this in the future. Later on, I'll replace (Hex) with the actual hex location, when I put all of this together into a single document.

With Regards,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Yatdros, the Wandering Palace...

2013-04-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

This is the twenty-fifth post in this year's A to Z Challenge series, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today's post is brought to you by the letter Y. Y is for Yatdros, the Wandering Palace.

(Hex) Yatdros, the Wandering Palace
Ambiance: Floating several hundred feet above the blighted wastelands of the Torafeldan, the building known as Yatdros, the Wandering Palace, travels where the winds take it. This great structure is a mix of crystalline and organic surfaces, and sections of the lower floors have fallen away after centuries of collisions and decay. The interior of the structure is a vast network of inter-connected corridors and unusual rooms, dimly lit by a slowly failing power system.

History: Constructed in the days of the Ancient Ones, Yatdros no longer serves its original purpose, whatever it once was. Now, it serves as a home for flying creatures, as well as three small competing tribes of Husrani and humans that have each claimed sections of the structure as their own.

Encounters: The upper reaches of the Wandering Palace are home to wild gorbani and flocks of smaller flying creatures. The middle and lower reaches of Yatdros are contested territory for the two Husrani tribes and one human tribe that have somehow managed to settle the structure after leaping aboard during an occasional flyby of a hill or ruined structure.

Treasure: Yatdros possesses a large semi-functioning anti-gravity system akin to those found in small airships. If the Palace could be controlled, the Wandering Palace could become the largest aerial warship known in the region. In addition, the ancient food production technology feeding the inhabitants is extremely valuable to those regions that cannot grow enough of their own and must depend on trade to feed some of their population.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A mystic order of Rakrani scholars renowned for their knowledge of the Ancient Ones, the Siblings of the Sapphire Sphere seek mercenaries to retrieve a specific device intact from the interior of Yatdros.

Mudo Pekaran, a master avian trainer from Pordel, seeks adventurers to locate the Wandering Palace and retrieve some of the wild gorbani eggs from the floating building to augment his current breeding stock.

Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem, dreams of making the Wandering Palace his own personal warship. The Raganu has promised the coveted title of Doganu to anyone who can locate, capture, and deliver Yatdros to him intact.

Tamo Torkan, a Husrani Pansanu, wants to board the Wandering Palace as it travels through a small ruin of the Ancient Ones. His proposed tactics are daring, to say the least.

The Order of the Amber Eye, a mystic order of Sarrani oracles, believe that Yatdros, the Wandering Palace, will have significant bearing on regional events in the months and years to come. They are seeking observers to watch the floating building and report back on any unusual activities.

World of Samardan: The Xenolith of Devapand...

2013-04-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

This is the twenty-fourth post in the A to Z Challenge series, where I'm describing 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, X is for the Xenolith of Devapand.

(hex) Xenolith of Devapand
Ambiance: The woods grow rich and abundant in this area, surrounding a natural stone spire that juts up a hundred feet from the earth. The spire is of a noticably different composition from the surrounding stone, appearing almost black under the moss that has grown to cover most of its surface. The ground here is boggy, and the air is humid.

History: This unusual rock formation marks the location of a set of natural springs that provide fresh water to the creatures of the area. The small pond formed at the base of the dark spire of stone attracts many living creatures, including predators. Its isolated location is about the only reason, aside from the local predators, that this oasis has not been claimed by sentient beings.

Encounters: A giant bershun (a huge reptilian creature with a broad head, tapering snout, massive jaws, and a thick outer covering of bony plates) has recently made the springs its home. Grankani (large canine beasts with a virulent poisonous bite that hunt in packs) roam the region, frequenting the pond for water in the evening, when the bershun is most likely resting. Common encounters and hazards are quicksand, vermin and kaskmandi (large armored herbivores possessing bony, turtle-like shells, sharp claws, short spiky tails and are easily irritated and provoked when disturbed).

Treasure: In a dying world, fresh water is highly valuable, and the springs of the Xenolith have that in abundance. The hides of the various creatures that dwell here also have a high market value, for those who can successfully hunt the beasts down.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A small group of nobles are seeking hunters and guides to escort them to the Xenolith of Devapand for a hunting expedition.

A young girl begs mercenaries on the street to save her father. All she knows is that he had departed for the Xenolith of Devapand in search of grankani pelts three weeks ago, and has not returned. Her mother is ill, and she is too young to care for her mother and three siblings on her own.

Master Fortan Rekadan, a big game hunter, seeks guides to escort him to the Xenolith of Devapand, so that he can bring home the skull of a bershun to add to his trophy room.

Pansanu Grankaso Kudisakeran is soliciting mercenaries for an extended expedition. Grankaso secretly plans to conquer the oasis surrounding the Xenolith of Devapand, so that he can erect a stronghold and found his own village.

The Order of the Raging Kaskmand, a mystical society in Mermak, will pay handsomely for a mated pair of kaskmandi from the Xenolith of Devapand. They need new mascots, as their previous kaskmand died of old age recently.

World of Samardan: The Wild Woods of Loganka...

2013-04-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

This is the twenty-third post in my A to Z Challenge series for 2013, in which I describe 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, W is for the Wild Woods of Loganka.

(hex) Wild Woods of Loganka
Ambiance: The forests in this area are worn with narrow trails, and the shrubbery appears well tended. The sounds of the local wildlife are fairly muted; it is obvious that the woods here are relatively devoid of fauna, save those that have wings. Bandraki (small winged serpentine creatures with acidic spittle and a high attraction to sparkling items) flit abundantly through the upper foilage, but rarely descend below the canopy. In a large clearing, a tall conical mound of soil reaches to heights slightly above that of the surrounding canopy.

History: This forested region contains a number of plants of great medicinal value, but it is also the home of a great hive of danrakkomi (dog-sized insectile creatures with an acidic bite and a telepathic hive-mind). Because danrakkomi are extremely territorial, any land-based fauna have been hunted out to feed and protect the hive. Herbalists from Pordel strongly desire these woods for the abundant healing herbs found within, but gathering them has proven almost lethal because of the danrakkomi presence.

Encounters: Colorful flying creatures are quite abundant here. The danrakkomi frequently patrols this region, protecting the hive from intruders. Common encounters and hazards are desperate herbalists seeking rare herbs, poisonous plants and occasionally falling trees.

Treasure: Rare medicinal herbs are the greatest treasure of the Wild Woods of Loganka. Some of them bear a strong resemblance to poisonous plants, so having a professional along will help harvesters choose wisely. While the bandraki collect shiny objects for their nests high up in the trees, it is the danrakkomi that gather fallen heroes and their equipment, and drag the bodies into the hive to feed the queen. Once their gear has entered the mound, only the truly mad or insane would be fool enough to follow.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Muda Hanaminan, a Rakran herbalist studying at the Lorarasak, seeks mercenaries to protect her while she harvests rare herbs from the Wild Woods of Loganka.

Nago Balsanan, an animal trainer, seeks explorers willing to retrieve eggs from bandraki nests found within the Wild Woods of Loganka, as their plumage is particularly desirable.

The danrakkomi patrols have discovered several villages a day's travel from the hive, and have begun harvesting the local population and their livestock as a new food source. In response, the village elders are hiring mercenaries to extinguish the threat, once and for all.

The Order of the Healing Hand requires a large supply of a particular herb in order to create a remedy for a new contagion that is starting to spread through the smaller communities of the upper valley. The only known source large enough to meet the immediate needs of the Order lies within the Wild Woods of Loganka.

Viro Minankan, an agent of the Raganu Podluso Banasam, Emperor of Pordel, is soliciting hunters and guides to join him on a trek to the Wild Woods of Loganka. One of the Raganu's personal messengers fell into the woods when his gorbani was attacked, and the Raganu wants the contents of the messenger's saddle bags recovered immediately.

World of Samardan: Valdren, City-State of Staves...

2013-04-25T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Herein lies the twenty-second post in this year's A to Z Challenge series, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today's post is brought to you by the letter V, and we probably all know by now that V is for Valdren, City-State of Staves.

1028 Valdren, City-State of Staves
Population: 22,000 (65% Human, 30% Sarrani, 5% Other). Ruler: Raganu Kusano Ragayaran, the Emperor of Valdren (10th Level Human Expert[Diplomat]). Resources: Exotic Wood, Paper.

Ambiance: In a dying world, Valdren is the beacon of civilization's last hope. The people of Valdren are dedicated to peaceful trade and higher learning. The campus of the Grand Library of Valdren, also known as the Yaranrasak, is perhaps the largest active academy or collegium within the territory known as the Granbalem. The people of Valdren are proud of their city, and their high morale is infectious.

History: From its humble beginnings as a lumber-camp on the edge of the dangerou Dulamader, Valdren has grown into a thriving metropolis. Although known for its exotic woods, Valdren also markets high quality paper, by the ream or bound in books. Freedom, knowledge and diplomacy are highly valued in Valdren; indeed, slavery was abolished early on, and Valdren has remained a city of free men throughout its history.

Encounters: Located on the edge of the Dulamader, the lands beyond the walls of Valdren are frequently visited by strange and unusual creatures from the depths of the dark jungle. Within the walls of Valdren, craftsmen and scholars are common occurrences. Common hazards and encounters include foresters, guides, librarians and diplomats.

Treasure: Valdren possesses a great many artistic treasures. The wooden statues displayed in the Royal Gardens are particularly valuable, for both artistic and political reasons. A great volume of ancient lore exists in private collections within the halls of the Yaranrasak, which are valuable to scholars of the Ancient Ones, as well as those who would use their technology for nefarious purposes.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A local scholar believes he has located the source of the mysterious effect that is causing airships to crash in the Dulamader with far greater than average frequency, and is soliciting hunters and guides to escort him to a location deep in the jungle.

Raganu Kusano Ragayaran, the Emperor of Valdren, recognizes the needs for a strong and reliable airship armada. He maintains an open reward on any technical information that will dramatically improve the quality of the fragile airships he is forced to acquire from Torkobalem.

Recently, the Raganu's eldest daughter, Devaloba, has vanished, and the Raganu fears she has been kidnapped. The reward for her return can only be described as obscenely huge, and many free mercenaries are considering undertaking quests of their own in search of the missing princess.

Sada Mudasanan, a librarian of the Grand Library of Valdren, is an avid seeker of tomes created by the Ancient Ones. She is open to petitions for library-supported expeditions into ancient ruins, so long as the chances of success seem realistic.

The Captain of the City Guard seeks mercenaries to investigate the recent raids on merchant caravans heading to Valdren. He suspects that Torkobalem is involved on some level, and desires proof, one way or the other.

The City-State of Valdren is essential Samardan's version of Barsoom's Helium or Kregen's Vallia. A campaign will not likely start in Valdren, but it will likely become the adopted homeland of the players as they explore the region. I definitely want a city that feels like a home for "True Heroes," and thus it should serve as the eventual home base for campaigns built on that particularly style of Planetary Romance protagonists.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Umadasag, Prison of the Unwise...

2013-04-24T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

I present this, the twenty-first post in this year's A to Z Challenge series. This series describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, U is for Umadasag, Prison of the Unwise.

(hex) Umadasag, Prison of the Unwise
Ambiance: Now overgrown and forgotten, Umadasag, Prison of the Unwise, is a secluded complex lost in the hills far from civilization. The few roads and paths that lead to the site are marked with skulls mounted on spears, and tattered banners once declared the asylum's quarantine status. By day, it is a silent place; by night, the howls and cries of unseen tormented souls echo from within.

History: Originally, Umadasag was an asylum used by a forgotten mystical society to treat members who had suffered mental anguish in the pursuit of their psychic powers. However, once a virulent disease known as the Rusamoro Plague appeared among the population of the site, this institution quickly fell. The region has been quarantined ever since, although bandits have recently visited the site.

Encounters: Astral entities, the disembodied remains of ancient psychics, are still tied to this site. Psychic creatures have also been attracted to the location by the high level of psychic activity still present within the walls of this abandoned insane asylum. Common encounters and hazards are Rusamoro-infested berserkers, psychic creatures and unusual mental phenomena.

Treasure: Several devices of the Ancient Ones remain within the asylum, heightening the psychic powers of all within their broadcast range. This has even allowed astral entities to remain after the death of their physical bodies. In addition, a small body of psychic lore, perhaps the best collection of works on the subject by the Ancient Ones, is hidden in a small library deep within the complex.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A "ghost" within Umadasag reaches psychically into the dreams of sensitive people in the region, begging for release from his eternal imprisonment at the Prison of the Unwise.

Nago Balsanan, an animal trainer, seeks explorers willing to retrieve eggs from the nests of rahanani (child-sized flying carnivores resembling a darkly feathered bird with a scaled, serpentine torso and tail, and possessing the psychic ability to stun its prey) that have been reported in the Umadasag area.

Sada Mudasanan, a librarian of the Grand Library of Valdren, seeks tomes of the Ancient Ones to add to the collection found in the vaults of the library itself. Other recovered tomes hint as to the existence of a library on psychic lore in the lower levels of the Umadasag, so she is hiring adventurers to seek them out and retrieve them in the name of the Grand Library.

Sen Lobalogana of the Healing Hands believes that a new Rusamoro Plague epidemic may be on the brink of devastating civilization once again, after treating a mercenary that had returned from Umadasag with symptoms of the disease. For the greater good of civilized lands, Sena Lobalogana seeks to cleanse the asylum once and for all, and needs men-at-arms to accompany her on the journey.

The Order of the Amber Eye, a mystic order of Sarrani oracles, is hiring mercenaries to retrieve one or more specific devices from within the Prison of the Unwise.

Here's a site for stories that involve ghosts and/or blood-raging zombies. Umadasag still bears the stigma of its origins as an asylum for insane psychics. Given its name, I could even play on some Chtulhu-esque stories using Umadasag, Prison of the Unwise, and give them a planetary romance twist. Fun, fun, fun!

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Torkobalem, City-State of Crystals...

2013-04-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Here is the twentieth post in this year's A to Z Challenge series, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Only six more posts in this series to go, followed by a few additional posts beyond the A to Z Challenge to cover more locales in the setting. Today, T is for Torkobalem, City-State of Crystals.

1114 Torkobalem, City-State of Crystals
Population: 24,000 (80% Human, 15% Rakran, 5% Other). Ruler: Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur, the Lord-Emperor of Torkobalem (10th Level Human Warrior[Tactician]). Resources: Airships, Crystals.

Ambiance: Torkobalem is a city at war with the rest of the world, ruled by an imperial tyrant with dreams of conquest, and it shows. Personal freedom is only given to the elite who provide the Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur with soldiers and resources; the rest of the populace are oppressed, and struggle to avoid indentured service to the Raganu. Vigilant guards and militia constantly patrol the streets, looking for those without the proper travel papers or trade permits. Only in the gladiatorial games of the Great Arena does the public find entertainment and limited freedom.

History: Torkobalem began as a mining town, and quickly grew as mines rich in power crystals drew the attention of the wealthy and powerful. Always a stern city-state under strict rule, Torkobalem began an aggressive campaign of imperialistic conquest when the Raganu Pekadevi Rekatur ascended the throne after his father's fatal hunting accident. Since then, Torkobalem has launched both land and aerial assaults on several cities, who have been weakened considerably by Torkobalem's stranglehold on power crystals.

Encounters: Mercenaries, militia and technicians are commonly encountered on the streets of the City-State of Crystals. Recently, a secret society of silver-masked cultists have taken over the shadows of Torkobalem's back alleys, displacing more established criminal organizations as their members flock to this mysterious cult. Common hazards and encounters include city militia, gunslinging duelists, slaver gangs and corrupt forgers.

Treasure: Power crystals are the primary source of power for the military machinery of Samardan, and Torkobalem has a stranglehold of them. Great vaults hold a surplus that has been mined locally or gained through battle or theft. Guns are a common weapon here, and other mercenaries would pay dearly for high-quality Torkobaleman guns, pistols and especially cannons. Torkobaleman airships are an even greater prize, as the ones that Torkobalem sells to the rest of the world are far inferior in quality and function than the ones they keep for themselves.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Forto Podasanan, a noble from Pordel, will reward a pilot handsomely if he can "acquire" a small, swift airship from the Raganu's personal fleet.

Hiko Sumarano, a slave-trainer of House Sanadasan, wants to hire investigators to locate who has been stealing slaves from the slave pens and discreetly bring the perpetrators to the House for punishment.

Reko Devalogan, a timid Rakran herbalist, needs the services of a master forger to prepare travel papers for him, so that he can leave the city with his family and be free of the oppression. Sadly, he's pretty bad as asking for such things clandestinely.

Several nobles out of Gorsal are discretely soliciting the services of "agents experienced in procurement" to "liberate" several crates of power crystals from the Raganu's storehouses.

Viro Dilayatan, a leader of an organization of "acquisition specialists," seeks foreign mercenaries to infiltrate a secret society of silver-masked cultists, and report back on what they discover.

The City-State of Torkobalem is one of the biggest threats of the region. They are envisioned as the kind of government most players would love to challenge, irritate and eventually destroy. Nothing irritates a player-character like being told they can't go where they want, when they want, and Torkobalem is all about restricting the freedom of its people. The silver-masked cultists are the Mind Masters of Orkelium, although I prefer to see that secret become revealed and developed more extensively through game play. The fact that the Farleni and Torkobalem are at odds with one another makes for an interesting political environment, should the players (or the characters in a story) decide to pursue that route.

Enjoy,
Flynn

World of Samardan: Suknat, City of Markets...

2013-04-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Welcome to my nineteenth post in this year's A to Z Challenge series, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, S is for Suknat, City of Markets.

(Hex) Suknat, City of Markets
Population: 11,000 (65% Human, 20% Rakrani, 10% Sarrani, 5% Other). Ruler: Raganuba Bamaloba Semaminan (in name only; the Council of Guilds is the true power of Suknat). Resources: Grains, Market.

Ambiance: The streets of Suknat are a loud and chaotic place, with numerous markets and bazaars selling a wide range of goods. In a city of merchants and markets, haggling has become an artform, and it is considered impolite not to participate in the back-and-forth banter. Guilds are ubiquitous throughout Suknat, and their tensions and rivalries influence almost all aspects of Suknatan life.

History: Suknat was originally a small marketplace that sprang up to serve a "heavy" agrarian locale. Early on, the markets of the township attracted many craftsmen, and as a result, Suknat has since grown into a renowned trade city. Almost a century ago, the merchants and the nobility fell into a civil war. The nobility officially won in the end, but not without making sufficient concessions that the true seat of political power lies in the wealth represented by the "advisory" Council of Guilds.

Encounters: Servants, slaves, craftsmen and merchants are all frequently encountered on the streets of Suknat. Like the Raganuba Bamaloba Semamanin, the city guard are tax-hungry and corrupt, leaving many guilds to protect their own members and clientele. Common hazards and encounters include con artists, unscrupulous merchants and corrupt city guards.

Treasure: Despite the heavy taxation imposed by the Raganuba Bamaloba Semamanin, her spending habits have resulted in nearly empty coffers for the City of Markets. However, the most affluent guilds have sizable treasuries, as recipients of the Raganuba's largesse. Suknat is widely known for the quality of its beers and ales, given the close proximity of agrarian lands.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Bano Tamasumaran, a mercenary captain, is seeking men-at-arms to protect a caravan travelling from Suknat to Valdren. The last three caravans have been attacked, so Bano is not taking any chances.

Doganu Reko Kudisamur, an elder noble of Suknat, needs "acquisition specialists" to recover his family blade, which had been lost in the civil war. The noble has recently learned that it lies within the treasury of the Bladmadan Guild, who creates swords and other edged weapons.

Drako Sanakusan, a merchant from Valdren, is hiring mercenaries to locate a missing member of his retinue. The merchant fears that his aide may have been ambushed to be sold into slavery in one of Suknat's slave auctions.

Kaso Hurakan, a local guildmaster, seeks a party to secretly negotiate with the city guard for the release of his son from jail, before the Raganuba learns of the incident and uses it against him to leverage more money from his guild.

Sema Bladakan, a vintner of Garsol clandestinely seeks accomplished thieves to steal the secrets to the preparation of Sorataves, a highly prized golden ale only manufactured in Suknat.

World of Samardan: Ramgrat, the Holy City...

2013-04-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

This post is the eighteenth in year's A to Z Challenge series describing 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, R is for Ramgrat, the Holy City.

(Hex) Ramgrat, the Holy City
Population: 10,000 (65% Rakran, 30% Human, 5% Other). Ruler: The Deva-Raganu of Ramgrat (unique 15HD artificially intelligent construct). Resources: Metal, Weapons.

Ambiance: The architecture of this strange city is a bizarre mix of clockwork gears and crystalline mechanism. Automatons, both active and inactive, are a fairly regular sight on the streets; inactive automatons are often covered in flowers, small gifts and other tokens of admiration and devotion. The most ancient building of Ramgrat are actually ruins of an ancient city, and there is a marked difference between elements of new and old construction.

History: Ramgrat has been a holy city, devout in its worship of the Ancient Ones and their war machines, since its foundation. Holy days are frequent; rarely does a week go by between days of celebration or remembrance. The Deva-Raganu does not speak often, but when it does, the Voice of the God-Emperor must be obeyed, even when the actions may not at first appear to be rational. Often, the preparations made under these prophetic commands bear surprising fruit in the future.

Encounters: A number of Ancient automatons walk the streets of Ramgrat, operating under the direction of the Deva-Raganu. Speakers for the God-Emperor, a sect of priests that interpret the Divine Words of the Deva-Raganu, rule the city fervently in the name of their god. Speakers for the God-Emperor are not known for their tolerance, even among believers. Common hazards and encounters include processionals, fanatical zealots and Rakran scholars.

Treasure: There is an abundance of Ancient technology in Ramgrat, guarded by the functioning and semi-functioning automatons serving the Deva-Raganu. In addition, a considerable stockpile of power crystals exists to support the constructs in times of siege by external sources.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

An automaton malfunctions and goes berserk in the main market area, threatening the lives of many people unless it is somehow stopped. Of course, wanton destruction of a Ramgrat automaton is considered a High Crime against the God-Emperor, and is punishable by death.

Kudiso Moradan, grandson of the famous Pansanu Hiko Moradan, desires an entourage to travel with him to Ramgrat, where he will beseech the Deva-Raganu for an audience. Kudiso hopes that the God-Emperor will be willing to part with divine knowledge of his grandfather's fate, or at least some insight into the mysteries of the Ziggurat of Moradan.

Sanana Lusadan, a mercenary from Grasol, is soliciting investigators to locate a colleague of hers that was last seen in Ramgrat. Unfortunately, she fears that her friend Kad Kanagan may have been arrested for violating local laws. He's always been a curious sort about Ancient technology, with not one ounce of common sense...

Sen Logomit, a master scholar of Mermak, needs mercenaries to deliver a gift to the Deva-Raganu, along with a request for a private audience related to the gift. Sadly, the Speakers for the God-Emperor are not in the habit of granting private audiences with the Deva-Raganu.

Viro Ragaharan, a rather shady local merchant, clandestinely seeks adventurers to smuggle stolen power crystals out of the Holy City and deliver their cargo to a band of mercenaries, who will take the crystals to their final destination.

World of Samardan: Quartz Fields of Kreggar...

2013-04-19T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

Welcome to the seventeenth post for this year's A to Z Challenge series. I am describing 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, Q is for Quartz Fields of Kreggar.

(Hex) Quartz Fields of Kreggar
Ambiance: High up in a mountain pass, this small vale, filled with skree and rubble, glistens with an abundance of power crystal and non-charged quartz. Rough winds howl through the narrow chasm, a bitter reminder of a dying world. Small niches, carved sporadically high up the valley walls, bear wind-worn statues of squatting figures that watch silently over this barren site.

History: A long-lost cult once considered the Quartz Fields of Kreggar to be a sacred place, and carved niches for the statues of guardian spirits to watch over this place of power. After a terrible earthquake cut off access to this valley, the site fell into disuse, and was eventually abandoned. Today, tales of the Quartz Fields of Kreggar have taken on a near-legendary status, attributing oasis-like qualities to this desolate site.

Encounters: Serpentine and insectoid creatures are common in the Quartz Fields of Kreggar, while flying creatures are virtually unknown. The top-level predator in this locale are the dansarkkati (huge heavily-scaled carnivorous creatures that burrow through the earth and attacks unsuspecting victims from below). Grandanraki (large subterranean predators with iron-like claws and the psychic ability to mentally stun and confuse other creatures) inhabit caves and caverns located near this valley, but do not intrude on the territory inhabited by the dansarkkati, who appear immune to the mental stunning effects of the grandanraki. Common hazards and encounters include landslides, dansarkkati warrens and extremely high winds.

Treasure: The power crystals found on this site are an incredible treasure for those using technology based on that of the Ancient Ones. Indeed, the City-State of Torkobalem has risen to its state of military and political power through its control of more easily accessible veins. Some of the statues that stand as sentinels over this valley are adorned with gold and silver inlay, with valuable gems set into them to represent eyes.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A mystic order of Mermak will pay handsomely for a clutch of grandanraki eggs from the Quartz Fields of Kreggar.

A scholar from Ramgrat, Malhiko Balsanan, seeks strong men to travel with him to the Quartz Fields of Kreggar in an effort to locate an alternate source of power crystals, at the behest of the Deva-Raganu of Ramgrat.

Doganu Drako Haranshand, an elderly noble of Valdren, is soliciting adventurers to explore the pass leading to the Quartz Fields of Kreggar in hopes of finding the wreckage of his daughter's airship, and possibly locating her if she is still alive.

Pansanu Forto Kudisyaran, a young noble from Deval, desires to track and kill a dansarkkat in the Quartz Fields of Kreggar so that he can place its skull on display in his manor, and he needs bait... er, guards, yes, guards to travel with him on his journey.

Sen Huramal Naganhen, a Sarran scholar, seeks the legendary Quartz Fields of Kreggar, hoping to find a spiritual oasis at the end of his journey, and is hiring guides to assist him on his journey.

World of Samardan: Pordel, City of the Gorbani Roosts...

2013-04-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

This is the sixteenth post for this year's A to Z Challenge series. This year, I am describing 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, P is for Pordel, City of the Gorbani Roosts.

(Hex) Pordel, City of the Gorbani Roosts
Population: 12,000 (65% Human, 30% Rakran, 5% Other). Ruler: Raganu Podluso Banasam (8th Level Human Warrior[Equestrian]). Resources: Gorbani, Herbs.

Ambiance: A great number gorbani (huge avian creatures with razor-sharp talons that are easily domesticated to serve as flying mounts) roost in nests along the steep mountainous walls above the city of Pordel. Built into and up the cliffside, Pordel is a city of various levels and tiers. This discourages travel by foot simply through the nature of the steep trails leading from one section of the city to another. Herbalists and healers hold Pordel in high regard for the Logarasak, a prestigious academy of medicine.

History: The original settlement of Pordel sprang up around a single aerie, and grew as knowledge of Pordel's superior gorbani stock spread throughout the region. Small mountain valleys provided well-protected sites best suited for certain medicinal herbs. As the needs for veterinary healers grew, the Logarasak emerged as a prominent institution of higher learning. The healing of humanoids was originally only a secondary course of study at the academy, but has since blossomed into its own field.

Encounters: Flyers of all types, both airship and gorbani, can be found in Pordel, as well as a wide variety of Rakrani drawn to study at the Logarasak. Attacks by wild gorbani are rare these days, although it can happen occasionally beyond the city walls. Occasionally, volburi (large winged ursinoid creatures with the ability to psychically stun its prey and a hatred of other creatures with mystical ability) come down from the higher reaches to attack gorbani roosts and the upper tiers of Pordel. Common hazards and encounters include herb addicts, gorbani droppings and the occasional landslide.

Treasure: Sen Sema Loganu, the headmistress of the Logarasak, is rumored to be in possession of lost lore of the Ancient Ones, and even has the ability to restore life to the recently deceased. The eggs of the Sorato breed of gorbani are held in particularly high esteem, for the gorbani of that particular breed fly faster and more fiercely. As such, they make fantastic war-mounts. These eggs are protected within the hatcheries of the Soratopor Aerie, and only sold to the highest nobles and most affluent merchants.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

A frantic woman wants to hire thugs to kidnap Sen Sema Loganu to raise her recently deceased husband, the crime lord Rapo Dilablad, from the dead before others hear of his demise.

A Rakran youth named Mal Buraban needs help climbing to a gorbani nest to recover a jeweled collar from the body of his pet, which the mother gorbani had snagged from the pasture to feed to her baby hatchlings. The collar was a gift from his father, a mercenary who died in battle last year.

Koranu Keran Podganan, a noble from Torkobalem, clandestinely seeks "acquisition specialists" to steal two gorbani eggs from the Soratopor Aerie for him.

Muda Hanaminan, a Rakran herbalist studying at the Lorarasak, wants to hire men-at-arms to protect her from possible volburi attacks while she harvests some rare herbs in an upper valley.

Pansanu Hiko Devikasuna is looking for guides to help him hunt down and slay a great black volbur called "Ol' Death".

World of Samardan: Orkelium, the Forked Tower...

2013-04-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings, All:

I present the fifteenth of my A to Z Challenge series of posts this year, which describes 26 different locations in the World of Samardan campaign setting, one for each letter of the alphabet. Today, O is for Orkelium, the Forked Tower.

(Hex) Orkelium, the Forked Tower
Ambiance: This unusual tower of the Ancient Ones has almost impossible angles and unusual extensions, resembling a dead tree more than a true spire. Portions of the Orkelium appear to retain residual power, based on lit windows seen at night in certain sections.

History: Orkelium was likely a marvel of engineering, even in the time of the Ancient Ones. Unbeknownst to the world at large, a race of psychic alien parasites known as the Farleni now inhabit the structure, having been released from containment by unwitting explorers. Hordes of creatures under the mental influence of the Farleni have begun to attack nearby settlements and ancient sites, as more sinister plots have secretly been set in motion.

Encounters: Mind-controlled creatures and humanoids are the first wave of defense for the Farleni of Orkelium. Deeper in the complex, the Farleni themselves work on their master plan to conquer this dying world and make contact with their homeworld, using whatever technology of the Ancient Ones they can locate in their quest. Common hazards and encounters include automated defenses, psychic traps and unusually intelligent beasts.

Treasure: The Farleni possess the world's most advanced collection of lost technology of the Ancient Ones. With the addition to power crystals that the Mind Masters of Orkelium are smuggling in from Torkobalem, the wealth of artifacts is almost beyond imagination. (Of course, if too much power goes away, the structure will collapse, because anti-gravity modules are no longer supporting the unusual structure, but that's beside the point.) In addition, the Orkelium possesses records that detail the lost history of Samardan, including the origins of the Farleni and what happened to the Ancient Ones.

Adventure Hooks: Adventure hooks for this site could include the following:

Pansanu Buramadan of Garsol is hiring an expeditionary force to confront the Hordes of Orkelium. He believes that the beasts are being controlled by exceptional trainers, given their extreme coordination during assaults and the systematic capture of various resources, and Pansanu Buramadan does not like what this portends.

Sen Logano Semaviran, a Rakran sage of Pordel, wants to explore the Orkelium in search of functional technology, based on reports of well-lit windows on the Forked Tower.

The daughter of a farmer tearfully seeks hunters to track down her father, find out why he has abandoned his family, and even bring him back if his mind has become broken. The farmer, Minan Sadanat, was last seen after the last raid of the Hordes, travelling peaceably with the creatures that slew her mother and eldest brother.

The Order of the Amber Eye, a mystic order of Sarrani oracles, is concerned by visions of dark forces at work in the Orkelium, and are soliciting adventurers to investigate the ruins and report back.

The small village of Sandros has been destroyed by the Hordes of Orkelium, and other villages are hiring hunters and mercenaries to exterminate the hordes before their own lands are attacked.

These are the ruins I've elected to use as the home base for the Supreme Big Bad Guys of the World of Samardan setting. The Farleni are creatures from another planet, and were sealed away into containment shortly after their arrival. Millennia later, a foolish band of adventurers has finally released them, and their mission of conquest and contact has been their main drive ever since. They obviously desire communication with their homeworld, and possibly even transportation home, but given the state of affairs on this dying world, this appears to be a very difficult task to undertake.

Standard Disclaimer: As I have not yet decided where to set this particular location on the map as yet, I've left a placeholder to remind me to come back to this in the future. Later on, I'll replace (Hex) with the actual hex location, when I put all of this together into a single document.

Enjoy,
Flynn