Author Topic: The Three Thousand  (Read 7319 times)

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Offline Old Man

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The Three Thousand
« on: November 27, 2012, 09:38:43 PM »
Hi all,

Anyone give any thought or have suggestions for the break down of the (few, several, "about three") thousand refugees? (Aside from PCs that is. :) ) Or do GMs prefer it to be up to them to define it, aside from notable NPCs (Grayson and whomever is introduced in modules)?

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Old Man
** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2012, 09:00:07 PM »
 IMHO one of the big things is where the people are going and how to feed them. So I think some notes or input is very important.
MDC
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2012, 08:36:55 PM »
IMHO one of the big things is where the people are going and how to feed them. So I think some notes or input is very important.
MDC

That was something my wife and I were pondering - what % of the refugees decide to vacate Belynar for the surrounding small towns (Nabdur, Sefnar and others not named) in attempts to create their own communities. The Ritual may have created a season's worth of ripe fields - but that will need people to harvest (and survive harvesting) and then till for upcoming years (the Ritual being roughly around early Spring in the Cyradon calender if I recall correctly).

(Then my mind wanders to the overall politics of the area. Grayson, et al, declared Belynar a Free City but what about the surrounds? Though once Shival lands, and now abandoned, do more conservative Elven (Janieal) elements declare the lands as Arali or do more liberal (Desnian) elements let the Humans (and their Allies) divide the restored lands as they see fit (such as the land grants in Ruins of Kausur).)

Regards,
Old Man

** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2012, 10:02:12 PM »
 As to politics I think it all happens and takes some time to work out. Maybe even a few fights breakout here and their with merc companies being countries proxies.


 If we are talking about after the ritual with new fertile land I think the cities would try and get people out into the fields ASAP. ie get the food before something happens to it.
 Why? Because how would they know it is permanent? Maybe the new land undergoes some flux and its boarders change. This could happen soon and if land is lost at a quick rate then it would spur the quest for the other stones (I think it was stones. It has been a while since I got very deep into the product)


MDC
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Offline Zut

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2012, 10:09:59 PM »
Unless the majority of the refugees are adventurers, I believe that most of them would settle outside/around Belynar. Even after the ritual, the city seems like a dangerous place, with lots of unexplored areas. And there are the monsters and constructs of the coliseum that can brak free anytime. The refugees will need a home and food. The ruined Belynar doesn't seem fit for this task.

I thought that it was the Janieal who defended the regugees against the conquering attitude of the Desnian? I think I remember the Desnian trying to convince/force Grayson to be a protectorate. The other political factions opposed to this.

Yes, the Ritual was during the night on the first day of the new year. There were three comets on the sky. I wonder if the other rituals (with the other tears of life) will restore that much land after that (no more comets). And do you think the other rituals will need to be held in Belynar again?
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2012, 08:10:21 AM »
As to politics I think it all happens and takes some time to work out. Maybe even a few fights breakout here and their with merc companies being countries proxies.


 If we are talking about after the ritual with new fertile land I think the cities would try and get people out into the fields ASAP. ie get the food before something happens to it.
 Why? Because how would they know it is permanent? Maybe the new land undergoes some flux and its boarders change. This could happen soon and if land is lost at a quick rate then it would spur the quest for the other stones (I think it was stones. It has been a while since I got very deep into the product)
MDC

Actually the decay rate (if any) of the Ritual is a good point. That's something I'd like to see in the game canon if modules are written post-ritual. Also, whether there is further use of the Tears of Life. (Ruins of Kausur, if canon, has one - so was it used and what effect occurs?)

Mark - what do you mean about Merc company proxies? For the Elves? Or for factions among the refugees?
** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2012, 08:16:57 AM »
...
I thought that it was the Janieal who defended the regugees against the conquering attitude of the Desnian? I think I remember the Desnian trying to convince/force Grayson to be a protectorate. The other political factions opposed to this.

Yes, the Ritual was during the night on the first day of the new year. There were three comets on the sky. I wonder if the other rituals (with the other tears of life) will restore that much land after that (no more comets). And do you think the other rituals will need to be held in Belynar again?

I may have the two Elven factions reversed. (I tend to do that... :) )

"second night of the Festival of Arene" - That is after the 1st month of Spring (Cilia, Cyradon PDF pg 18) - Whether further comet appearances or Belynar's location are required, I guess is either up to individual GMs or perhaps ICE will write it into the canon in upcoming modules ...
** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2012, 09:45:56 AM »
As to politics I think it all happens and takes some time to work out. Maybe even a few fights breakout here and their with merc companies being countries proxies.


 If we are talking about after the ritual with new fertile land I think the cities would try and get people out into the fields ASAP. ie get the food before something happens to it.
 Why? Because how would they know it is permanent? Maybe the new land undergoes some flux and its boarders change. This could happen soon and if land is lost at a quick rate then it would spur the quest for the other stones (I think it was stones. It has been a while since I got very deep into the product)
MDC

Actually the decay rate (if any) of the Ritual is a good point. That's something I'd like to see in the game canon if modules are written post-ritual. Also, whether there is further use of the Tears of Life. (Ruins of Kausur, if canon, has one - so was it used and what effect occurs?)

Mark - what do you mean about Merc company proxies? For the Elves? Or for factions among the refugees?


 I was thinking more about the elves (the militant ones which I do not remember their name). IMHO if they can cause trouble behind the scenes and gain from it I think they would do so as it seems to be their political nature. But again I may be reading more into it than was there.


MDC
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2012, 10:20:59 AM »
I was thinking more about the elves (the militant ones which I do not remember their name). IMHO if they can cause trouble behind the scenes and gain from it I think they would do so as it seems to be their political nature. But again I may be reading more into it than was there.
MDC

Ah I see. The Desnian faction (as Zut mentioned). A Desnian takeover of the restored lands would be an interesting plot but I guess hard to engineer (given their distance) unless Royal Roads were used. Perhaps Desnia has allies closer to Belynar.

** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2012, 09:57:03 AM »
 Yes or maybe they just want a foothold to begin with. They might also stir up trouble between groups so as they are off balance or unable to react when the Desnian forces move in.
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2013, 02:09:20 PM »
Yes or maybe they just want a foothold to begin with. They might also stir up trouble between groups so as they are off balance or unable to react when the Desnian forces move in.
MDC

Given the size of the restored lands (240 mi diameter is what - 3*120*120 - 43k square miles) - I could see small groups (friendly or not) taking over and restoring old Shival Manors and forming their own little frontier strongholds. You might get a sort of Wild West feel to the area - here's the prairie and out there's the desert (Devastation) and the roads tie the settlements together.

So we could take the restored lands map and posit a number of new locales (such as the crossroads from Ruins of Kausur or Kausur itself) for PCs to encounter/explore ...
** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2013, 11:43:21 PM »
 Yes, also once it has been shown it has been done, will it start a race for the other tears. What will people pay for the Tears? Can you fake a Tear? IMHO lots of good story lines.


 I also then to think of it as like in the gold rush, once it is known gold was discovered then the race was all in all of its glory and ugliness. Also the beasts of the devastated lands will protect the lands as I tend to think there will be very little place for them in the newly awakened lands.
MDC
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2013, 01:06:08 PM »
Yes, also once it has been shown it has been done, will it start a race for the other tears. What will people pay for the Tears? Can you fake a Tear? IMHO lots of good story lines.


 I also then to think of it as like in the gold rush, once it is known gold was discovered then the race was all in all of its glory and ugliness. Also the beasts of the devastated lands will protect the lands as I tend to think there will be very little place for them in the newly awakened lands.
MDC

That is a good point. If it is generally known that the Narsi stopped making Tears after 12, and now one is gone, I can see a need to find what the Narsi did with the other eleven and secure them. Perhaps not necessarily by Grayson and company, but more likely by the Cyrads and the Delvers who came back with them. (Perhaps they have knowledge of the 11 and seed quests, via other agencies, to start searches - such as the Ruins of Kausur adventure.)

The closer everyone gets to finding all 11, the harder it likely becomes. Especially if other groups (Arali, Schirae, Nagah, etc.) get in on the act. A Cyradon Adventure Path ...
** Yes, some of ROCO IV and VII is my fault. **

Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2013, 02:39:52 PM »
 That is good to know as I keep forgetting to also include in my posts that I have not delved deeply into the material for a while.


 Another good old plot out of the old west is to escort a group of settlers out to the new lands and construct some basic defense so they can get to farming. Or ye old help clear out the area.
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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #14 on: January 20, 2013, 08:25:59 PM »
Markc, Zut and whoever has run Cyradon - what did you do for the economy of the refugees? Still do traditional coin based (with folk having brought coin and/or Arali/other visitors having coin) or invent a barter system?

Also, anyone think the scenario/region works better if there are more refugees? 30k rather than 3k? Perhaps they arrive in waves? ...
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Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #15 on: January 21, 2013, 10:03:24 AM »
 IMHO, I think a barter system would spring up. People would carry coin if they had sometime to grab some before leaving, but if they were prepping for a long journey essentials would displace coin if you knew there was not going to be any where you could buy things. I think you might quickly get to a place where money is not worth much and food is worth a lot.
 I also like to say to people "So how are you going to fix your Gold tonight?" In other words you cannot eat gold to survive. 


 I do not know about the refugee concept as I just did (a lot of) editing of the text (not published text), and thus had a few thoughts on how I would do things. But I think if the refugee's did come in waves it would allow for a more orderly transition vs a "we are starving and need food now" or we cannot accept any more people in the city so turn out any new comers into the wilds (unless they have lots of food).
  Also IIRC are there not vaults that contain fresh food and supplies in the city? Or am I inserting some of my own game world into the setting? If so then finding the vaults and getting supplies is very important for everyone as well as trying to plan a way toward the future.
 A twist might be that when you open a vault you cannot reseal it again and you have to use the stuff inside ASAP. This would mean that the cities government might not want people opening up the vaults until supplies got to a specific level.


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Offline Old Man

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #16 on: January 21, 2013, 10:23:16 AM »
IMHO, I think a barter system would spring up. People would carry coin if they had sometime to grab some before leaving, but if they were prepping for a long journey essentials would displace coin if you knew there was not going to be any where you could buy things. I think you might quickly get to a place where money is not worth much and food is worth a lot.
 I also like to say to people "So how are you going to fix your Gold tonight?" In other words you cannot eat gold to survive. 

Did you run such? I was wondering how to portray it in a game context (as the source-book doesn't really address it iirc) especially for adventure rewards. (I guess you can do, "kill X for me and I can give you a week of room and board, plus X, Y and Z tools/items.)

Refugee numbers I was pondering in terms of Grayson's ZOC (zone of control). 3000, some % of warriors, seems easy prey to a good sized Schirae raid .... (Depending on their populations and the nearby Gryphon Aerie size.) :)
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Offline markc

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #17 on: January 21, 2013, 07:37:58 PM »
 I did not run the game world. My book fell apart shortly after arriving and I was having some trouble with other books at the time also and was a little disillusioned with the physical book and trying to get another copy thing.
 At one time I was going to run it but it also took a while to get out so I had to do my own thing that was loosely based on the Cyradon idea.
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Offline Zut

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2013, 10:21:19 AM »
About the storage rooms, yes, there are some of them in Mount Belnos. I can't remember exactly where it is (as I don't have the book with me), but at least you can find a reference to it in the Adventure Seeds, at the end. A Rhona elder had a vision about it and the PC are "volunteers" to accompagny him. Fresh, well-preserved food for everybody for some months.

Also, about the number of fighters, I suppose that a lot of them are in good physical condition, as they were forced to travel in mountains. So it means a lot of healthy people, not an easy prey. Mentally, that's something else!
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Offline Bruce

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Re: The Three Thousand
« Reply #19 on: October 09, 2013, 12:35:51 AM »
I will be running the Cyradon adventures here soon enough. Anybody have any tips as far as things that were a little tricky to run in the modules?

As far as the number of refugees, I was thinking there was a lot more than just 3000. For some reason I keep thinking in the hundred thousands, I am not sure why. I know I read something in one of the modules or the Cyradon core book about the number of refugees, I just have to find it now.
It might have been just a vague reference.
Ok, I've looked through the main book and all I found were vague references to a few thousand, I have no idea where I got the idea of "hundred thousands".
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