Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I briefly toyed with the idea of setting Adventure Path 2 along the Wild Coast, and involving Queen Yolande's final push to exterminate the humanoids of the Pomarj, with Melf Brightflame as a major NPC.
Then I remembered that not all of my readers were Greyhawk fans, so I decided to go with something a little more generic.
Turrosh Mak shows up in the late second edition-era module "Slavers!," where he was revealed to be an agent of the Slave Lords known as Theg Narlot (from the original adventures).
Lots of old-timers seem to dislike this, for whatever reason.
I don't anticipate using Turrosh Mak any time soon. That ground seems like it's been covered efficiently.
--Erik
I briefly toyed with the idea of setting Adventure Path 2 along the Wild Coast, and involving Queen Yolande's final push to exterminate the humanoids of the Pomarj, with Melf Brightflame as a major NPC.
IMO, if the trouble in the Pomarj is to be wrapped up, and Turrosh's empire defeated, the Elves should not be the ones to do it. The Principality of Ulek and her allies have gone without Elven aid thus far, and to have the Elves suddenly sweep in and end the war cheapens the role of the Dwarves, Halflings and Humans, and reenforces the notion that Elves are somehow "uber" and vastly superior to their peers.
Leave the Pomarj be, or let those who've been fighting the war all along win it.
Turrosh Mak shows up in the late second edition-era module "Slavers!," where he was revealed to be an agent of the Slave Lords known as Theg Narlot (from the original adventures).
Lots of old-timers seem to dislike this, for whatever reason.
For me at least, the dislike of that connection comes from a general dislike of regurgitating old minor villains instead of calling forth unique new ones. It's also my opinion that Greyhawk lore should assume that the old modules were completed successfully by the adventurers, and their villains defeated. Exceptions are to be made, surely, such as Acererak, or Lolth, who I've no objection to seeing used again in new product, but minor players like Theg should be assumed to have been put to the sword by adventurers past, and left to rest in peace.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I tend to agree with some of your comments, Rich. In any event, I abandoned the idea.
If Mak is to be dealt with, however, I do think it makes sense to involve the elves of Celene, perhaps due to a rise in power of the Knights of Luna. This in combination with the hardy dwarves of Ulek and the humans of the Domain of Greyhawk might just provide the force necessary to root out the Pomarj threat "once and for all."
You know, once and for all like during the Hateful Wars.
--Erik
Whatever Happened to Turosh Mak?
My best guess is that he, Hierarch Blontug and Smigmal Redhand all got together for a amusing "Three's Company"-esque grouping of old school half-orc multiclassed assassins. Their landlord? An irritable Obmi the Dwarf.
It's funny you mention that, Greg...
--Erik
Erik, do you care to share what you have in mind?
I briefly toyed with the idea of setting Adventure Path 2 along the Wild Coast, and involving Queen Yolande's final push to exterminate the humanoids of the Pomarj, with Melf Brightflame as a major NPC.
I agree in part where you mention that this would be hard to make an adaptable series. Although I think Melf and Turrosh are both something akin to boba-fett of the greyhawk world, not enough mention tends to develope cult followings.
I think if dungeon does go ahead with more adventure paths, they dont necessarily need to be world specific (although my mouth waters at all the greyhawk lately) the only things needed for a greyhawk feel are names and places. An adventure set in a remote land (could be anywhere, shield lands, wild coast, gnarley forest) with the standard PHB pantheon and maybe the occasional famous NPC.
Melf Brightflame need not have the story revolve around him, have the story revolve around the PC's and let them run into Melf along the way, perhaps even rescue him from Turrosh Mak.
My Most memorable Adventure hook was having my pc's start ToEE discovering a clue to the whereabouts of Prince Thrommel (6 years after his dissappearance). My current greyhawk world is still set before the greyhawk wars, the giants are still yet to invade Sterich and Geoff. I'm getting excited thinking about the next 20years of gaming in this one thread.
I actually worked TM into the history of a 1/2 orc FTR in a game where I'm the GM. This FTR, Ark-vox by name, is NG and has a price on his head in the Pomarj (as does any similiar 1/2 orc) because he doesn't wear the mark of Mak's legions.
The bard I'll never get to play will one day have this to sing of the epic-level Ark-vox (if he ever gets over his insistance in wearing light armor and learning to cross-class as a tumbler):
Sung to the tune of Warren Zevon's Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner...ahem,
Ark-vox was a warrior,
from the land of the midnight sun,
with a two-handed curved falchion for hire,
fighting to be done,
the deal was made in Greyhawk,
on a dark and stormy day,
so he set out for the Pomarj,
to join the bloody fray.
Through common year 590,
he fought the Greyhawk wars,
swinging his mighty curved sword,
knee-deep in gore,
the days and nights he battled,
Mak's minions to their knees,
he killed to earn his living,
and to help out the Ulek-ese....
Would the dwarves resent a 1/2 orc's assistance?
It's funny you mention that, Greg...
--Erik
Erik, it's been a while since I asked before so I figured it's safe to ask again. Are you willing to share what you have in mind regarding an adventure that ties into the Hateful Wars?
Erik, it's been a while since I asked before so I figured it's safe to ask again. Are you willing to share what you have in mind regarding an adventure that ties into the Hateful Wars?It's funny you mention that, Greg...
--Erik
I'll betcha 50 bones that Greg submitted this as a query at some point. . . he has a particular knack for exploring old modules and idears in a very cool way.
The question is. . . was it greenlit?
The question is. . . was it greenlit?
Dear Gods, I hope so. I could use this directly in my current greyhawk campaign with strong ties directly into five of my players' characters' backgrounds. The party includes three humans from the Wild Coast, one half-elf from Celene (his father, a Knight of Luna, had him move to Greyhawk after Celene's borders were closed), and another a dwarf from the Principality of Ulek who fought in the Battle of Celene Pass.
Came across this thread and wanted to add my two cents. Using the Pomarj and Turrosh Mak as the main villan in an adventure path would alow the use of several of the new books D&D has come out with lately. Imagine a battle along the Ulek/Pomarj border using the Heros of Battle book. Or a fight in the Drachensgrab peaks using the rules from new Frostburn book. There is a lot of potential there....
Came across this thread and wanted to add my two cents. Using the Pomarj and Turrosh Mak as the main villan in an adventure path would alow the use of several of the new books D&D has come out with lately. Imagine a battle along the Ulek/Pomarj border using the Heros of Battle book. Or a fight in the Drachensgrab peaks using the rules from new Frostburn book. There is a lot of potential there....
Or even Stormwrack, Sandstorm (for the ruined cities along the Wild Coast and the Ulek borders (albeit with a stretch)), Races of Stone, Races of Destiny and Races of the Wild (if you include Celene).
I have been planning an AP-esque adventure for my PC's using the Patriots of Ulek, and the Slavers! modules, and I have a question maybe someone can help me with. In Living Greyhawk gazetter, it says Turrosh Mak is looking for an ancient Suel city in the Suss Forest. So, since all three AP's so far have dealt with some sort of mass transformations that would grant the Demon Lord, or Demi-god more power, or free them from something, I was wondering what the Earth Dragon, a Demi-god itself, could want from the afore mentioned lost Suel city. Obviously, it wants to spread its power and influence, but what artifact or magic can help it attain that goal? Any thoughts?