Indusharan destinations (Turakian Age)

[BobGreenwade]

I'm trying to assemble a large quest-adventure taking place in The Turakian Age, wherein the PCs would travel all around Ambrethel gathering advice from notables mages and religious figures, and collecting powerful magical items. (I'm not sure I'll actually do anything with it, but it's an interesting exercise nonetheless.) I have several potential locations to go to around Arduna, and a couple in the eastern half of Mitharia, but I'd like to try to find something in Indushara (the countries of Vendiya, Halore, and Malegyon).

The storyline I have so far starts the PCs in Vestria, where the King commissions a party to gather support against the rising threat of Kal-Turak. The party will go first to the Academy Velthune in Tretha on the way to consult with the Bonifact's staff in Ytheis, then make a stop in Aarn for news (and possibly to pick up new PCs from other lands with similar quests) before going on to Tatha Gorel to seek the advice of Scauromdrax. From there they'll be sent to seek counsel at Akanthe's Mouth in Arutha, from the ecclesiastical bodies in Halathaloorm, and then to D'ansif the Beautiful somewhere in Vashkor. She will interpret the advice from the preceding two sources, sending the PCs in search of the spell-book of Kristor the Immortal in Thrayshara. Supposedly, a spell in that book will show how to build a weapon that will destroy Kal-Turak.

Thus far, for components, I've come up with only a silver-laden sword hilt from a silversmith in Korem-Var. Any suggestions for further parts would be appreciated, but in particular I'd like a good excuse to send the PCs into Indushara.

[BobGreenwade]

No suggestions? Or even general thoughts?

[Savinien]

Sounds cool to me, but I don't actually have my TA available. I don't know it well enough to offer suggestions at this point.

[Labrat]

I'm currently re-browsing TA for my reborn '5000 SE' game. I'll let you know if I hit on anything, Bob.

Maybe it's me being dense in the mid-afternoon but what exactly are you looking for? Actual items, plot seeds, contacts, references from TA itself? Forgive my density. It comes and goes, but mostly I have good days.

It might be good to slip in Silvertine from NKN somewhere...

[phookz]

The idea sounds intriguing. I always liked quests that involved travel, especially ship-borne travel, for some reason. Of course, you want to limit the fast and instant travel (ala flight and teleport) to get the maximum effect.

I don't have any suggestions, however, as I don't have TA with me and I'm not certain what you're looking for.

[Steve Long]

Well, if I were running something like that, given the "Indian subcontinent" feel/flavor of Indushara, I'd concoct a Fantasy/Turakian version of the Taj Mahal. Perhaps even one that's somewhat fallen into ruin, become infested with undead, or something like that.

[BobGreenwade]

It might be good to slip in Silvertine from NKN somewhere...

Well, if I were running something like that, given the "Indian subcontinent" feel/flavor of Indushara, I'd concoct a Fantasy/Turakian version of the Taj Mahal. Perhaps even one that's somewhat fallen into ruin, become infested with undead, or something like that.

The combination of these two thoughts is a good start.... To answer Labrat's questions, I'm actually looking for some specific item or material from that the PCs would have to travel to Indushara to collect, or possibly a person they'd need to consult, given what they learn from Kristor's tome.

Maybe there'll be something intererating along these lines in Enchanted Items.

[Labrat]

I was just reading about Alarch Denbrose (NKN p115) and thought that I might point you in his direction (assuming you have NKN). I don't think Steve put in a 'base of operations' for him and he seems to be 'Indian-like' in his appearance, maybe he'd make a great master villian for the heroes if you based him in the Taj Mahal suggestion that Steve put forth. Add a nasty Mordak cult (i.e. the Shadow Priests of Khem in this instance) and other wicked groupies (slavers like the Red Talon guild?) and that would definately be one place I would want to send my PCs into!

...funny that I always made the Indusharan connection with India, probably the name itself inspires that 'feel'.

[BobGreenwade]

I was just reading about Alarch Denbrose (NKN p115) and thought that I might point you in his direction (assuming you have NKN). I don't think Steve put in a 'base of operations' for him and he seems to be 'Indian-like' in his appearance, maybe he'd make a great master villian for the heroes if you based him in the Taj Mahal suggestion that Steve put forth. Add a nasty Mordak cult (i.e. the Shadow Priests of Khem in this instance) and other wicked groupies (slavers like the Red Talon guild?) and that would definately be one place I would want to send my PCs into!

...funny that I always made the Indusharan connection with India, probably the name itself inspires that 'feel'.

Not only do I have NKN, I happen to have it packed with me at the moment.... I hadn't really considered Denbrose as an enemy in that region, since he's from Besruhan and is an enemy of the Golden Basilisks, both of which suggest he's in the southwestern parts of Arduna (the Basilisks' published tales tend toward that area), but of course that's highly variable.

All of this makes for a wonderful set of complications for the PCs to face (on top of the possibility of having to fight Serpent-Men, deal with the Empire of Orumbar, and get involved with Indusharan politics); I just need the goal that sends them there in the first place.

[Labrat]

Not only do I have NKN, I happen to have it packed with me at the moment.... I hadn't really considered Denbrose as an enemy in that region, since he's from Besruhan and is an enemy of the Golden Basilisks, both of which suggest he's in the southwestern parts of Arduna (the Basilisks' published tales tend toward that area), but of course that's highly variable.

All of this makes for a wonderful set of complications for the PCs to face (on top of the possibility of having to fight Serpent-Men, deal with the Empire of Orumbar, and get involved with Indusharan politics); I just need the goal that sends them there in the first place.

How about a Key of Khem (listed with Dembrose)... maybe you can connect it to the spell-book of Kristor somehow. Or the Shadow-staff? Both would work well with the legend of Kal-Turak's demise by 'the sun and the moon' (sorry I have to paraphrase since I don't have TA with me...)

[BobGreenwade]

How about a Key of Khem (listed with Dembrose)... maybe you can connect it to the spell-book of Kristor somehow. Or the Shadow-staff? Both would work well with the legend of Kal-Turak's demise by 'the sun and the moon' (sorry I have to paraphrase since I don't have TA with me...)

Actually, that legend was for Kal-Turak's father, the Lord of the Graven Spear.

But you did give me an idea: the needed item is a lock of hair taken directly from the head of a Crown Princess. The only Crown Princess I know of (or, at least, the most prominent one) is the one in NKN (I went and left that book at home this time, so I don't recall her name or that of her country). The problem is, Dembrose kidnaped her and sold her into slavery via the Red League, and her new master is currently searching Steve's Taj Mahal-like ruin with her along for entertainment....

The final villain in this one, I think should be the Elven necromancer also in NKN. Given the number of dead bodies in that ruin, it should make for some very entertaining encounters.

Hm.... this sounds like it could be a stand-alone adventure of its own. Maybe I'll write it up for Digital Hero after I've exhausted my ideas for Star Hero (if that should ever happen).

[Labrat]

Actually, that legend was for Kal-Turak's father, the Lord of the Graven Spear.

But you did give me an idea: the needed item is a lock of hair taken directly from the head of a Crown Princess. The only Crown Princess I know of (or, at least, the most prominent one) is the one in NKN (I went and left that book at home this time, so I don't recall her name or that of her country). The problem is, Dembrose kidnaped her and sold her into slavery via the Red League, and her new master is currently searching Steve's Taj Mahal-like ruin with her along for entertainment....

The final villain in this one, I think should be the Elven necromancer also in NKN. Given the number of dead bodies in that ruin, it should make for some very entertaining encounters.

Hm.... this sounds like it could be a stand-alone adventure of its own. Maybe I'll write it up for Digital Hero after I've exhausted my ideas for Star Hero (if that should ever happen).

I will buy my credits now to make sure I get that issue!

[Lord Liaden]

I apologise for the thread necromancy, but I've recently been studying The Turakian Age in detail, and find discussions of the setting interesting, especially if I feel I now have something to contribute (albeit obviously belatedly).

Since we're talking about developing a magic weapon to use against the Ravager of Men, and from the examples of your other quest destinations the acquisition of pertinent knowledge would be a valid reason for visiting a location, I suggest that your PCs could attempt to track down either the powerful mind-affecting spell by which Samaresh of Halore became the Diamond Lord of Indushara, or the counter-spell that the sorceror Algashar used to break it. Either one could be very useful against Kal-Turak, who appears to often use sorcery himself to stir up his followers or enemies.

I'm sure this is too late to be of practical benefit to you, but if this stayed on the level of a creative exercise it might still be of interest.

[BobGreenwade]

I'm sure this is too late to be of practical benefit to you, but if this stayed on the level of a creative exercise it might still be of interest.

Actually I'd been thinking of writing something for publication in Haymaker (and possibly as a Free Stuff upload), so until it's well under way and published any suggestions can be helpful.

[Lord Liaden]

Okay, I have one.

The Ha-Haraj of Indushara was known as the "Diamond Lord;" the title could have been more than just symbolic. Let's say the Ha-Haraj wore a crown set with three great diamonds, one for each of the original Indusharan kingdoms. The diamonds possess powerful enchantments; they might even have been the foundation for the spell by which the Diamond Lord ruled Indushara. As part of the indemnity paid to Malegyon and Vendiya when Halore's treachery was discovered, its ruler broke up the crown and gave one diamond to each of the other kingdoms.

To create the weapon against Kal-Turak, your PCs must obtain one of these diamonds. It's up to you whether they can persuade an haraj to give it or lend it to them, or if they have to buy it or perform a service in exchange, or steal it. To make it truly difficult for them, they need all three diamonds.