Second Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons

Over at his Mythlands of Erce blog, Anders H* has a couple of amusing polemical posts defending the honour and goodness of second edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (part one concerns the rules; part two addresses the ‘culture’ of the game).

Second edition AD&D was an edition that I almost entirely skipped. I say “almost” because I played very briefly in a 2e campaign one summer around 1990. However, I never owned any 2e AD&D books during its lifecycle (I bought a few books for the Greyhawk and Planescape settings years later). I had drifted away from AD&D by the late 1980s and did not play role-playing games that regularly during the 1990s. To the extent that I did, it was stuff like MERP, Rolemaster, Call of Cthulhu, Hawkmoon, GURPS, and the like.

I eventually did “play” a lot of 2e AD&D, but only via various computer RPGs, namely, the “Infinity engine” Baldur's Gate games, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment (the latter game motivated me to learn more about the Planescape setting, hence my subsequent purchase of the box set and a few other things). It didn't seem that different from 1e AD&D, at least in terms of the rules (the addition of “kits” seemed to be the main difference).

The hatred directed towards 2e by adherents of 1e AD&D (primarily from grognards grumbling on the internet – not that there’s anything wrong with that!) always struck me as primarily flavour-based. And I share their irritation with 2e’s “purging” of things like assassins, half-orcs, demons, devils, etc., (all things that eventually crept back into the game, however, during the 1990s). Also contributing to this sentiment was some bitterness about TSR’s treatment of Gary Gygax, and the unavoidable fact that 2e AD&D was the first “post-Gygax” version of the game. 

There are some rules differences between the two editions, of course, and in my view some favour 2e (e.g., the way thief skills were handled), others 1e (e.g., the presence of a distinct "illusionist" class). 

I much prefer the art in the original 1e AD&D books, especially the classic Dave Trampier Player’s Handbook cover. Overall, the 1e art seems “grittier” and less “family-friendly” than the 2e stuff. Trampier’s pictures often looked like etchings from some mysterious past (as did David Sutherland’s epic “Paladin in Hell”). Erol Otus’s pictures looked like visions of an alternate reality.  

But in terms of rules, I’m fine with 2e AD&D. I certainly prefer them over 3e (which I’ll never touch again), 4e (which I never played after reading halfway through the PHB), and 5e (which, admittedly, is the “least bad” of the post-TSR versions of AD&D/D&D, but still not my cup of tea). I'd be quite happy to play in a 2e campaign. But if I ever run an “old school” AD&D campaign again, it almost certainly would be (a house-ruled version of) Gygaxian 1e AD&D.

(*Note: Anders H is the author of the excellent Into the Unknown RPG, an “old school” variant of the 5e rules. Check it out! If you’re curious, I go over some of the main differences between ItU and 5e here.) 

The new Mythras Imperative is now available!

I recently mentioned that a new version of Mythras Imperative was in the works. Well … it’s here!

The Design Mechanism’s announcement (at the RPG Pub):

The new, revised, expanded, ORC-licensed edition of Mythras Imperative is now available – just in time for Christmas.

While the game and mechanics are fundamentally the same, we've tweaked a few rules, made errata corrections, and fully integrated rules for firearms, vehicles, new character creation options, and sample creatures (with a complete list of traits to make them worthy opponents).

Most important of all, Mythras Imperative is licensed under ORC, meaning that 3rd party creators can freely use, adapt and build upon the Mythras Imperative foundation for their own unique d100 games, supplements and adventures. Combine Mythras Imperative with its sister book, Classic Fantasy Imperative, or any other ORC-licensed open gaming system.

So whether you want gritty fantasy or mythic historical, Pulp-era spies or cinematic superheroes, Mythras Imperative has you covered. Simple to learn, simple to play, but with a surprising depth that is the result of many, many years of refinement.

The PDF version is free to download. The Print on Demand version is $24.99 (black and white, softcover, 80 pages). A POD version for Drivethru customers will follow later.

TDM Store

Lulu Store

DTRPG

As I’ve mentioned many times before at this blog, Mythras is the game that I’ve played the most over the past dozen years (I include its immediate ancestors, RuneQuest 6 and Mongoose Runequest II, within the ‘Mythras’ category, as they’re all essentially the same game, written by the same people). I don’t write about it as much as I do some other games, primarily because I don’t run (“Game Master”) Mythras. I tend to write more about games that I’ve run in the past, am running currently, or plan to run in the future. But if I wasn’t so fortunate as to belong to a group with a couple of excellent Mythras GMs – one of whom is the co-author of the system, the other the co-author of the Mythic Babylon book – I’d definitely be running Mythras myself. 

Anyhow, if you’re still unfamiliar with Mythras, I recommend checking out Mythras Imperative, as it’s a nice, lean presentation of the system, easily readable within an afternoon.

My original fantasy sandbox: ICE’s Middle-earth

One reason why I have such affection for Iron Crown Enterprise’s line of Middle-earth campaign and adventure modules, is that I learned how to run genuine “sandbox” campaigns (decades before that term was a thing) by using them. This was during the mid-late 1980s, when TSR increasingly released “story-driven” modules like their Dragonlace series. Somewhat ironically, given their literary source, the Middle-earth campaign and adventure modules typically were quite open-ended and location-based in nature, not at all focused on a predetermined “plot” or necessary sequence of events. (The one exception of which I know, and which was published quite late in ICE’s Middle-earth tenure, is their Palantir Quest ‘adventure path’.) 

What happened in my Middle-earth games back in the day, essentially, is that the players would create characters in Esgaroth, Bree, Tharbad, or wherever. I would contrive some reason why they all knew each other (usually something like: “you meet at an inn and intuit that you’re all solid, trustworthy fellows looking for adventure and to protect the free peoples of Middle-earth”). The characters then would simply wander around, following whichever adventure hooks they liked. While I added hooks, encounters, and adventures to what was provided in the Middle-earth campaign modules, the books typically provided very solid frameworks for such campaigns. Or at least the ones that I used did so. As I think I’ve mentioned before here, I ran a summer-long campaign during high-school (we probably played at least 12 hours every week in those halcyon days) using the Rangers of the North (Arthedain) book, building on the adventure notes in the back (years later, these notes would be expanded by ICE into their Palantir Quest book).

I learned a lot from using ICE’s Middle-earth campaign modules. Indeed, trying to figure out how to use them, and doing what I could as a teenager to run challenging and fun sessions in a Middle-earth “sandbox” was a formative experience. (Beyond gaming, I think running MERP helped me to learn how to “think on my feet” far more than running D&D/AD&D adventures – whether published modules or my own creations – ever did.)

Yes, the books varied in quality – well, not the maps by Pete Fenlon or the covers by Angus McBride, which were always amazing. And yes, some didn’t really belong in Middle-earth, like the (totally awesome) Court of Ardor. Nonetheless, overall, I loved MERP, and I still do to this day. Hence my present joy in running the MERP-influenced Against the Darkmaster, both in 20th century Eriador (“Against the Witch-King”) and in my “homebrew” world of Urkasia (“Against the Court of Urdor”).

[This post is a modified version of a comment I posted over at the blog Grognardia, in response to a rather negative, but not unfair, review of the original Iron Crown Middle-earth module, Southern Mirkwood.]

[The pictures are by the great Angus McBride. The top one is from the cover of the Lost Realm of Cardolan campaign module, the bottom one is from the cover of the Rogues of the Borderlands adventure module.]

Swords and Wizardry special edition

Several weeks ago, I received the special edition of Swords and Wizardry - Revised Edition. It’s a beautiful book. I love the matte cover! If you like S&W, I recommend obtaining one for yourself, if possible.

For my overview of this version of S&W, go here.

The Cursed Lands (World of Ukrasia)

The Cursed Lands are not ruled or claimed by any of the political regimes of Urdor. It lies to the southeast of Tantûrak, west of Koronande, and north of Taaliraan. 

Once, over a thousand years ago, it was part of Taaliraan. But following the Great War that ended the First Age of Humanity – which ended the Autarch’s Rylindar Imperium (of which Tantûrak was then a colony) – it was largely abandoned by the Elves. Many had died in the final battles of the War, and most of those who survived relocated to either Koronande or southern Taaliraan. However, a few small independent Elvish communities remain in the jungles to this day. Some reclusive faerie folk (pixies and gnomes) also are rumoured to dwell in hidden enclaves.

The region is known as the ‘Cursed Lands’ because of the large number of undead that have haunted its hills and forests since the Great War. Ghouls especially are quite common. Trolls, redcaps, and other menaces also dwell within the central hill lands. Giant spiders dwell within the woodlands, as do other malevolent entities, such as vampires and similar dark spirits.

The ranger of the ‘Company of the Morning Star’ – Karos – provided the adventurers with a detailed map of the area. The land within the surrounding jungle is roughly 35 miles east-west (40 miles at its widest point) and about 75 miles north-south. 

Map Information: 

The little coloured circles on the map mark small settlements (100 – 1000 inhabitants). 

• Green: Elvish settlements (these are loyal to Taaliraan in the south, Koronande in the northeast, and are independent [‘free’] in the middle region).
• Pink: Koronande (Kirani) settlements.
• Red: Tantûraki (Arsilonian) settlements.
• Yellow: Independent settlements (of various kins).

Human settlements:

• Dawnfell (mixed population).
• Green Shields (mixed population; some elves).
• Korlax’s Haven (mixed population; some dwarves). Ruled by the dwarf Korlax.
• Misty Vale (mixed population; some halflings).
• New Hope (primarily Tantûraki).
• Soggy Fields (primarily Tantûraki; some halflings).
• Triumvir Town (primarily Tantûraki). Ruled by Lord Triumvir – an Arsilonian from the northern island of Aldena (not Tantûrak).

Other settlements:

• Blue Stone Mine (Dwarves).
• Bright Lake (Green Elves).
• Bruffo (Orcs and half-orcs).
• Crisp Water (Halflings).
• Crystal Glade (Green Elves).
• Fargoth (Orcs and half-orcs).
• Naurlindol (Orcs and … terrible things).
• Thraz (Orcs and half-orcs).

The Company of the Morning Star:

• The Company is based in the Tower of the Morning Star.
• It includes Evrix (Hathorian mage and elf-friend), Karos (Kirani ranger), Zephyr (Tantûraki scout), Bleys (apprentice to Evrix), Ketta (Halfling scout), Onshay (Dwarf 'intelligence collector'), Ulxor (Tantûraki healer and scholar), and Wylane (Blue Elf warrior).
• The Company tries to deal with major threats to the troubled people of the Cursed Lands.

Significant Dangers in the Cursed Lands:

• Bandits (humans, orcs, and especially redcaps).
• Trolls (only attack at night). 
• Undead, especially ghouls.
• Spiders (mainly in the Weblands and nearby regions).
• Wolves. 

(More information about the World of Ukrasia is available here.)

[The map above is part of the larger one, by Pete Fenlon, included within ICE’s The Court of Ardor campaign module. I have added the coloured circles and many of the names to it using Preview.]

Erol Otus cover of Dragon Magazine now on my wall

I'm thrilled that I now have a framed print of the cover illustration by Erol Otus of the very first Dragon magazine that I ever owned (issue # 55) hanging on my wall:

The print is number 99 (out of 200) and signed Otus.

The original magazine cover:

The corner of my study:

Eyes of a Catoblepas, Wings of an Owlbear (Greyhawk campaign)

PART 10: EYES OF A CATOBLEPAS, WINGS OF AN OWLBEAR

10.1 The Wood Elf Camp (Richfest 2nd – 3rd)

Our dauntless adventurers — Erik (the mountain dwarf fighter from the Lortmils), Althaea (the high elf wizard from the city of Tringlee), and the brothers Godric (the human rogue from the Barony of Shiboleth) and Cedric (the human cleric of St. Cuthbert) – journey to the Wood Elf camp after successfully exploring the Tomb of Serten. 

Erik decides to give the legendary Helm of Laga Vulin to Cedric. The dwarf is sad and reluctant to make this decision. Finding the helm had been his dream ever since he learned of its existence and its ability to cure the wearer of the effects of all poisons and toxins – including alcohol. He had hoped that finding it would enable him to indulge in hedonistic drunken excesses without suffering disabling hangovers. Alas, the helm also impresses a commitment to LAW in those who wear it, something that Erik ultimately could not accept. He figures that it would be far better for one already devoted to dour order, like the warrior priest Cedric, to make use of it.

After two days of journeying through the northern reaches of the Kron Hills (with their loyal mule Vick), the party reaches the Wood Elf camp. There the party meets with the band’s leader, the beautiful half-elf Tomyria.

Godric explains his quest to find the Manor of Quesse (a legendary half-elf roguish mage, and distant relation of Godric and Cedric). Tomyria informs the party that she knows where the manor is located, but will divulge this information only if the party recovers one of three items for her: 

- A gryphon egg (from a nest located somewhere to the southwest, in the Kron Hills).
- The eyes of a catoblepas (from an abandoned farmhouse to the south).
- The wings of a unique (mutant?) flying owlbear (likely nesting in some hills to the southeast).

She explains that her band is looking for these items for the reclusive mage Master Nyv (of the Mage Tower, located roughly 9 leagues north of Nulb).

That evening, the party makes merry with the high-spirited elves. Tomyria and Godric hook up, as do Althaea and the wood elf scout Urth. Cedric tries to share the wisdom of St. Cuthbert with the elves, but is roundly mocked by the boisterous followers of Rillifane Rallathil. Erik, free from the discipline of the Helm of Laga Vulin, drinks until he passes out in an unwholesome puddle. 

10.2 Some Harpies, a Catoblepas, and a Ghost (Richfest 4th – 7th)

The party decides to recover the catoblepas eyes after Tomyria offers some additional platinum pieces as an incentive. The half-elf band leader gives them a magical glass container for the creature’s deadly eyes.

The adventuring quartet then journeys to the abandoned farmhouse, which lies on the northern side of the High Road, a mere two leagues away from the accursed Moathouse. En route, the party is attacked by a trio of vicious harpies. Erik is momentarily charmed by their music, but a magic missile blast from Althaea knocks his senses back into him. Eventually, the party is triumphant over the monsters.

At the farmhouse the party hunts down the terrible catoblepas in a mire. It is a difficult battle, but the party slays the creature and recovers its malevolent eyes. Althaea places them in the magical glass container. The party also slays a giant spider that attacks them in the barn, and some giant centipedes in the cottage.

Later in the old cottage, the adventurers are approached by a silent ghost. The ghost attempts to possess Godric but fails. Cedric figures out that the ghost is not in fact hostile but is trying to communicate with the party. When Cedric invokes the name of St. Cuthbert, the ghost looks at the cleric with hope, and then leads the party to a withered corpse hidden outside. Apparently, the ghost was once the farmer here, but was slain by vile brigands and not given a proper burial. The party builds a cairn for the body, which Cedric consecrates with holy water. The ghost thanks the party and disappears, having crossed over to its proper afterlife. 

After this good deed, the party naturally decides to loot the place. They uncover some bloodstones, a potion of healing, and a slightly magical dagger.

On their journey back to the Wood Elf camp, the adventurers again encounter Darr the druid. Darr learns of the party’s plans to eventually go to Nulb, and tells them that Otis is an ally, and that Mother Screng is actually friendly and helpful, even if she does not seem so at first. Darr also confirms that there is a flying owlbear in the region – such creatures are unnatural, and the druid encourages the party to destroy it if they are so inclined.

Darr travels north with the party along the High Road but leaves them when the adventures head west back to the Wood Elf Camp.

Tomyria is profoundly grateful for the catoblepas eyes and tells the party where Quesse’s ruined manor is located. She provides additional “rewards” to Godric later that evening. 

10.3 Some Ankhegs and the Wings of an Owlbear (Reaping 1st – 5th)

Tomyria offers the party forty platinum pieces if they will perform another job for her. The greedy adventurers agree to obtain the owlbear wings. The half-elf then provides the party with two large sacks for the wings, along with a vial of preservation fluid. 

The party heads back into the Gnarley Forest to find the lair of the flying owlbear. During their search, they are surprised by some vicious ankhegs, but manage to defeat the burrowing beasts. 

As the party nears the hills within the dark woodland, they are attacked by the winged owlbear! It swoops down a number of times to attack, and the party at first has a hard time responding. But Althaea manages to bring the savage brute down using a “Web” spell to entangle its wings. Erik then somehow disembowels the owlbear with his staff of striking. The wings are removed, covered with preservation fluid, and placed in the great sacks strapped to Vick the mule.

The adventuring quintet explores the owlbear’s lair. Within, they find hidden amongst the vile debris and waste a gold ring. The ring turns out to be magical – it enables its wearer to magically jump great distances. Erik is thrilled by the item and implores his friends to let him have it. Since they pity the dwarf for how the helm turned out for him, they agree to his request. 

The party also finds a secret door at the back of the cave. Beyond is a smugglers’ den, long abandoned. The adventurers recover some unruined bolts of silk. A cask of fine dwarvish brandy also is obtained, but Erik drops it while drunkenly stumbling down the hill, and the fine liquor is lost forever. 

Upon returning the Wood Elf camp, Tomyria rewards the adventurers for the wings. She also gives them a key to the band’s cabin on the outskirts of Nulb. And once again, she grants Godric a “special reward” later that night.

10.4 A Visit to Nulb (Reaping 6th – 8th)

The party spends a couple of days in the nasty village of Nulb, staying at the Wood Elves’ cabin and doing their best to remain inconspicuous. 

While in the village they overhear some cultists speaking Abyssal in the Waterside Hostel. They also interact positively with Mother Screng – who reveals herself to be Canoness Y’dey of the Church of St. Cuthbert, assisted by the Elf Murfles. (Apparently the druid Darr had informed them of the party’s efforts in the Moathouse during his previous visit.) Y’dey fills the party in on their mission (namely, spying on the activities of the agents of the Temple of Elemental Evil within Nulb and the surrounding region) and the general activities of the “Iuzians” in the area. She also gives the party a jar of “Keoghtom’s Ointment” to help them in their fight against the forces of Chaotic Evil.

The adventurers then make contact with Otis, who is acting as a smith in the village. After discussing the sad fate of Otis’s brother Elmo, the four learn that Otis is an agent of Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc. Otis makes tea for all and mentions that he uses two owls as spies in the area.

Finally, the group visits the Curio Shop run by the mysterious half-elf Elris. They find a map of an ancient tomb (located somewhere in the Vast Swamp), a tome on the “History of the Free City of Greyhawk,” a rusty barbute helmet, and a gnarled walking stick with a crystal on the top. They purchase all these items. Later, Althaea discovers that the crystal is an “Ioun Stone of Sustenance” – a wondrous item that enables its user to survive indefinitely without food or drink. Erik is repulsed by the item – food and drink give meaning to his life – whereas Althaea is delighted by it.

The four decide that their next destination will be the Tower of Master Nyv. 

Notes:

• The characters reached 5th level while resting near Nulb.
• The picture of Tomyria is by Kim Sokol (found online). The monster pictures are from WotC. The map is from Goodman Games’ Temple of Elemental Evil book, with my additions. 
• There are only two more log entries left for this campaign! (See the full list here.)

Against the Court of Urdor: the Heroes

Below is an overview of the two player characters in my “Against the Court of Urdor” campaign. 
Since there are only two of them, I decided to give them 65 points to distribute among their stats (instead of the usual 50), so they’re tougher than usual for beginning characters.
(The final stats listed below take into account further kin and background modifiers.)

EINAR QUICKSILVER

Kin:  Green (Dusk) Elf.
Culture: Weald.
Vocation: Rogue.
Level: 1.

Stats: Brawn 0; Swiftness 35; Fortitude 10; Wits 15; Wisdom 5; Bearing 20.
Hit Points: 55.
Magic Points: 5.
Move: 15 meters.

Special Traits (Kin): 
- Immortal (+10 vs cold; needs no sleep but meditates 3 hours/day).
- Light-footed (not affected by terrain when wearing no/light armour).
- Sure shot (+10 to all ranged attacks).
- Lithe (+10 to acrobatics; +20 to stealth in natural environments).
- Keen sense (+10 perception; see 30 metres in dim light).

Background:
- Elven training: Use SWI for light blades (instead of BRN); Elven Spell Lores
- Served on the Koronande Border Patrol

Spell Lores: Elven Lore; Spell Songs.

Motivation: Protect Koronande from Tantûrak; deliver family necklace to Nuriel (cousin). 
Nature: Impulsive and impetuous but a friend to all who would live free.
Allegiance: Koronande and Green Elves everywhere.

Einar Quicksilver is a Green Elf of Koronande. More at home in the wilds than in cities or towns, he spent the first few decades of his life serving in the border guard. Travelling throughout the frontiers of the Republic, Einar helped to keep his homeland safe from ne’er-do-wells, orcish brigands, and raiders from Tantûrak. He became known for his uncanny sneakiness, acrobatic skill in moving amongst the branches of the trees, and careful aim with his trusty bow.

At the age of fifty, Einar felt it was time for a change. And so, he travelled to the city of Tauronde to figure out what to do with his life. While frequenting some of the city’s excellent taverns, he befriended the dwarf Kiren Hammerstone. 

A month ago, Einar’s Aunt Yvenna passed away. At first it was thought that she had lost her will to live, and so had chosen to return her spirit to Faerie, like most elves who have lived for a couple of millennia. But since Yvenna had given no indication that she was contemplating such an action, her close friend Pathric asked the healers of Tauronde to inquire further. Closer examination revealed that Yvenna had in fact been poisoned! However, the exact nature of the poison was unknown to the healers and scholars of Koronande. Astonished by this news, Pathric asked Einer – as Yvenna’s only known relative in Tauronde – to take a sample of Yvenna’s blood to the sages of Tilvirin in Taaliraan to learn more. Pathric wishes to know who could have been behind such a vile act, as Yvenna was widely loved amongst the Elves of Koronande. 

In addition to this mission, Einar has been asked to first deliver Yvenna’s enchanted jade necklace to her daughter Nuriel. According to Pathric, Nuriel leads a band of Green Elves – the “Emerald Wardens” – in the wildlands north of Taaliraan. She can be found in place called the Crystal Glade, which lies near a human settlement called Dawnfell (a village of “free” folk, outside the boundaries of any established realm).

Given that their missions take them both to the Blue Elf city of Tilvirin, Kiren and Einar have decided to travel together.   



KIREN HAMMERSTONE

Kin: Dwarf.
Culture: Deep.
Vocation: Animist.
Level: 1.

Stats: Brawn 30; Swiftness 5; Fortitude 15; Wits 10; Wisdom 30; Bearing 0.
Hit Points:  85.
Magic Points: 5.
Move: 15 meters.

Special Traits (Kin): 
- Dark Sight (see 30m in dim light; 3m in total darkness).
- +30 to save rolls versus Heat and Cold attacks.
- +30 to working/crafting with metals, stones, and gems (all items ‘high quality’).
- +20 to Nature and Wandering skills when underground.

Background:
- Battle hardened (+15 hit points; maximum hp = 160).
- Eccentric – friendly for a dwarf (+5 to Bearing).
- Gifted (+5 to Wisdom).
- Unorthodox Education (+10 bonus with blunt weapons).
 
Spell Lores: Cleansing, Healing, Lore of Nature, Master of Animals, Soul Soothing. 

Motivation: Seek out the Elvish sages of Taaliraan to learn about the Night Elf allies of the Dwergar. 
Nature: Work and support all good peoples and do the unexpected. 
Allegiance: Unbreakable loyalty to friends who actively oppose the Darkmasters. 

Kiren Hammerstone hails from Grimhold, one of the five Halls of Pale Steel found in the Skyclaw Mountains of northern Urdor. (A Dwarvish “hall” is a city.) His people have been at war with the Dwergar of the mountains for over two centuries. When the Dwergar first attacked (in the year 797 of the current Age), the advantage of surprise enabled them to capture two of the great Halls. Since then, the Pale Steel dwarves have recaptured one Hall – but the struggle continues, as the Dwergar have recruited fresh orcish troops to assist them in recent decades. 

As a young dwarf, Kiren was noted for his strength, judgement, and impressive fighting abilities. His nickname was “Kiren the Wise” and Grimhold’s elders expected him to grow into a mighty warrior. But in his early thirties, Kiren became enraptured with the vast underground mushroom forests cultivated by his people’s sages and spell-crafters. He wished to learn more of the flora and fauna of the Deeprealms, and so decided to abandon the path of the warrior and become an animist. He studied the arts of healing and spell lore under Ovik “the Learned.” 

Eventually, Kiren began to engage in some decidedly “un-dwarvish” behaviour. He wandered far from Grimhold, spending increasingly long periods in the open air, learning about the animals and plants of the surface forests, hills, rivers, and lakes. He befriended the Kirani and Green Elves who dwelt in the lands south of the Skyclaw Mountains, learning their languages and about the realms of Urdor. 

A year ago, the Dwarves of Grimhold engaged in a difficult battle with Dwergar raiders. To the surprise of the Dwarves, among the Dwergar ranks was a powerful Elvish mage. Since the Dwergar, like their estranged Dwarvish cousins, generally eschew the wizardly arts, Kiren’s people were caught off-guard by this development, and especially the mage’s bolts of flame, frost, and lightning. Fortunately, though, the Dwergar were defeated in the end, and the elf slain. Upon recovering the elf’s body, the dwarves discovered that he had been wearing a robe died in shades of red, orange, and yellow, with a distinctive badge on his left breast: an inverted triangle embroidered with a flaming staff. Examining the elf’s body, Kiren realized that he did not resemble the Green elves with whom he had interacted in the past.

With the approval of the elders of Grimhold, Kiren took the badge to the Green Elves of the Singing Lake. Based on Kiren’s description of the elf’s body, Kiren’s friend, the Elf sage Ildetha, inferred that the Dwergar ally was likely a Night Elf. The Night Elves have rarely been seen by others since the defeat of their Queen, Everekka, at the end of the Era of the Elves, over thirty-seven centuries ago. However, the Dwergar were allies of the Night Elves in those ancient times. 

As for the symbol, Ildetha’s research indicated that it belonged the “Suit of Staves,” an order within an ancient Night Elf organization known as “The Court of Urdor.” The Court ruled the entire island during the Era of the Elves but was believed to have been defeated and destroyed with the fall of the Pale Queen Everekka. In any case, Ildetha informed Kiren that if he wished to learn more, he would have to travel to either the city of Tauronde in Koronande, or the city of Tilvirin in Taaliraan. 

Kiren went first to Tauronde, as it was the closer of the two, and Koronande had a reputation for being more welcoming to outsiders than Taaliraan. There he met with the Elf scholar Aeryth (the cousin of Ildetha). Aeryth was troubled by the news that Kiren shared with him. Following months of research, Aeryth learned that that the Court of Urdor in fact did survive the fall of the Night Elves, and persisted in a number of secret holds throughout Urdor. 

The scholar helpfully indicated the location of these holds on a very detailed map for Kiren. They are: Menelcarca, Naurlindol, Taurang, Mirisgroth, Tirgoroth, Angkirya, Aurax-Dûr, and Ithilkir. Aeryth stressed that Kiren should stay away from these places, as they no doubt were centres of dark power. In order to learn more about the Court, Aeryth advised Kiren to go to Tilvirin, and seek a bard named Klaen, who is a learned associate of the scholar.

During his time in Tauronde, Kiren became friends with the Green Elf Einar. They have agreed to travel together.

The World of Ukrasia

Ukrasia is a campaign setting that I’ve created (and am still creating) for use with one of my Against the Darkmaster (VsD) campaigns.  

As I’ve done for some of my other settings and campaigns, I’ve decided to create a central ‘master page’ or ‘index’ with links to relevant posts at this blog. This is that page. A permanent link to it can be found on the upper right side of the blog (under 'Akratic RPG stuff: campaigns'). I will update it whenever new relevant posts appear on my blog.

Ukrasia: General Information

- The Three Darkmasters of Ukrasia.
- The Planes and Deities connected to Ukrasia.
- A Brief History of Ukrasia.
- Some Notes on the Peoples of Ukrasia.

Ukrasia: The Isle of Urdor

- Adapting the Court of Ardor to Ukrasia: The Court of Urdor.
- The Lands and Peoples of Central Urdor.
- The Cursed Lands.

- The Isle of Urdor: Maps and Notes.

Campaign: Against the Court of Urdor

- The Heroes: Kiren the Dwarf Animist and Einar the Green Elf Rogue.

BOOK ONE: TALES OF THE CURSED LANDS

- Chapter 1: Zepheus the Mage and the Elf Prince Berethil.
- Chapter 2: The Company of the Morning Star, Korlax's Haven, and Blarth's Harp.
- Chapter 3: Triumvir Town, Dawnfell, and the Crystal Glade.

- Chapter 4: The Broken Temple, the Dread Wolves, and the Tower of the Morning Star.

- Chapter 5: Misty Vale, Queen Blàithnaid’s Elfstone, and the Warden’s Pendant .

- Chapter 6: The Return to Prince Berethil's Barrow and the Journey to Taaliraan.

BOOK TWO: MISSIONS FOR THE GUILD OF ELEMENTS

- Chapter 7: 

Other Related Posts

- The Court of Ardor.
- Terry Amthor RIP.
- MERP Resurrected? Against the Darkmaster!

Art credits:

The colour map of 'Urdor' is by yours truly (expanding upon the original 'Ardor' map by Pete Fenlon).

The picture of Kiren is from the Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition CRPG. The picture of Einar is from the Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition CRPG.

The bottom picture is by Charles Peale and appeared in ICE's old Cirith Ungol MERP module.

Mythras Imperative enters the Age of the Orc

The Classic Fantasy Imperative variant of Mythras already is offered under the ‘ORC’ license. Soon an expanded version of Mythras Imperative will be offered under the ORC license as well!

Here’s a brief description:

This edition of Mythras Imperative has additional rules for character creation, firearms, and vehicles. Like Classic Fantasy Imperative, it is completely open using the ORC license and will have an accompanying SRD. The PDF is completely free, and there will be a Print on Demand edition for those wanting a physical copy.

The Design Mechanism hopes to release the new version of Mythras Imperative in December.