|
So with the APG out, I was thinking of doing a crusade campaign with the Worldwound. Basically a small strike/scout force of medium to high level mainly divine players (Clerics, Paladins, Inquisitors, Oracles) going into the area on various missions for various purposes.
But I can't really get my head around what it would be like behind the walls. I've read the Campaign Setting, and the one module set near the area (with the Paladins, can't remember the name right now), and the short story on this website called "Certainty", and that gave me a clear view of life on the "safe" side of the wardstones, but I can't get clear in my head what it would be like to go to the other side.
I know close to the whole reality warps, but up to that point is it mostly normal, with demons appearing? Or are the hordes just looking for gaps near the wardstones, attacking anyone who comes to close.
And then there is the whole open border to the west, guarded only by the barbarians of the area. Why don't the demons just go that way?
Maybe I'm just not getting it, which is why I am asking what other people have been interpreting as I prepare this adventure.
Also, story ideas to steal...er...borrow for my game.
One point to remember is Demons, as archetypes of Chaos and Evil, fight themselves almost as much as they fight others. If I remember right several arch-demons have small territories they have claimed inside the area guarded by the wardstones. Like everything Chaotic those territories will shift, change ownership, and generally be under siege by just about everything.
Again from what I recall reality is effected all the way from wardstones to the hole, it is just extremely noticeable the close one draws.
What do you find on the other side? Well if you discount altered reality itself you can at least account for prolong predation by demons (both intelligent and more animal). Keep in mind that the Demon focus is "they want to destroy your body" and apply this to the world/environment they now inhabit. This means they will have spilled out and started breaking (killing) things, which is by no means limited to creatures. A demon that finds a river offensive could every well attempt to fill it with dirt and create a bog. Cut paths through hills or cliffs because they are in the way. Dig holes or pits just because it thinks the land would look better that way.
Then there is the impact on flora and fauna. What has been killed and has somehow survived will be deadlier and distinctly predatory. You also have invasive abyssal flora and fauna. Demonic equivalent to trees, flowers, even grass will be present. Demonic Grass, need I say more? You will also likely find hybrids (Half-Fiend).
|
|
One point to remember is Demons, as archetypes of Chaos and Evil, fight themselves almost as much as they fight others. If I remember right several arch-demons have small territories they have claimed inside the area guarded by the wardstones. Like everything Chaotic those territories will shift, change ownership, and generally be under siege by just about everything.
Again from what I recall reality is effected all the way from wardstones to the hole, it is just extremely noticeable the close one draws.
What do you find on the other side? Well if you discount altered reality itself you can at least account for prolong predation by demons (both intelligent and more animal). Keep in mind that the Demon focus is "they want to destroy your body" and apply this to the world/environment they now inhabit. This means they will have spilled out and started breaking (killing) things, which is by no means limited to creatures. A demon that finds a river offensive could every well attempt to fill it with dirt and create a bog. Cut paths through hills or cliffs because they are in the way. Dig holes or pits just because it thinks the land would look better that way.
Then there is the impact on flora and fauna. What has been killed and has somehow survived will be deadlier and distinctly predatory. You also have invasive abyssal flora and fauna. Demonic equivalent to trees, flowers, even grass will be present. Demonic Grass, need I say more? You will also likely find hybrids (Half-Fiend).
This helps a lot actually. So sending in a strike force to various areas would work, as there is no real front. It's just masses of chaotic things killing each other as much as any "invaders"
But I can't really get my head around what it would be like behind the walls. I've read the Campaign Setting, and the one module set near the area (with the Paladins, can't remember the name right now)
The Demon Within.
As for open borders, I once asked a similar question and this is what James Jacobs had to say back then:
The Worldwound is an area that a lot of us here at Paizo are VERY interested in. You can probably expect to see more about this location in a year or two. Until then, most of what's been said about the region is in the Pathfinder Campaign setting hardcover and in the adventure "The Demon Within."
As for why the demons of the Worldwound haven't invaded Ustalav, Numeria, and other nations, I believe the idea is that there are actaully wardstones placed all around the Worldwound. The demonic tendency toward chaos and disorganization could also be a reason, and I'm sure there are other reasons as well hidden within the nature of the Worldwound itself.
In any event, if you want a demonic incursion from the Worldwound into a neighboring nation in your game, go for it! We set up Golarion so that each nation is relatively self-contained, and while we did some linking and worked some international connections in among the nations, the fact that there's a lot left unsaid is intentional so every GM can make Golarion his own.
If you're worried about possible conflicts with future development, though, you can probably safely assume that there are wardstones all around the Worldwound, and that the focus of the demon vs. mortal conflict is against Mendev in any event.
As for how far apart the wardstones are, I believe they're actually quite far apart. There doesn't have to be a lot of them, in other words, to protect places like Ustalav and Numeria.
In that thread, I made mention of a theory I'd been working on which is basically that the high concentration of holy warriors, clerics, relics, and more or less powerful celestial beings in Mendev acts as a magnet to the demons of the Worldwound, causing them to focus their attention on Mendev.
That being said, if you're a bit patient, I do believe that you'll actually get a glimpse behind the curtain with The Worldwound Gambit. I seem to remember someone saying that part of the action takes place in the Worldwound. Maybe someone can confirm or deny that.
I've always thought of it as a more dangerous version of The Blight (*panics*) from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels.
I've always thought of it as a more dangerous version of The Blight (*panics*) from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels.
Even more dangerous than the Blight? Scary! ;)
I think the Desolation in the Slumbering Tsar campaign has some great ideas for how to imagine this area.
If you can find a copy, Paul Edwin Zimmer's Dark Border novels have a very nice take on the whole issue that I'll probably use if I ever do a Worldwound campaign.
Just think Disneyland on Mickeys birthday and all the kiddies just hadd a bag full of chocolate covered espresso beans ;)
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
|
All of the above-mentioned are excellent analogs for what kinds of things you will find inside the Worldwound. You might even reach back and think about the effects of the Sun-Bane from the second Thomas Covenant series for how radically and horribly parts of the landscape can change.
As far as how you might run a campaign or adventure in that area... you might look forward to the upcoming Lost Cities of Golarion, as one of the cities in that product is Storasta, a city right on the border of the Worldwound... the BAD side of the border. It promises to give a lot of info about running a campaign in a city like that, where according to the Campaign Setting entry demons and corrupted nature have been at war since the city's fall.
|
Another 'equivalent' would be the Mournlands from the Eberron setting, though from the 3.5 setting one (which I loved reading about), not sure what they changed when they moved on to 4e.
Eberron made no really significant changes in between editions, other than playing up teiflings and adding dragonborn... somewhere.
Another 'equivalent' would be the Mournlands from the Eberron setting, though from the 3.5 setting one (which I loved reading about), not sure what they changed when they moved on to 4e.Eberron made no really significant changes in between editions, other than playing up teiflings and adding dragonborn... somewhere.
And allowing everyone to have dragonmarks. Even Warforged.
Director of Brand Strategy
|
As far as how you might run a campaign or adventure in that area... you might look forward to the upcoming Lost Cities of Golarion, as one of the cities in that product is Storasta, a city right on the border of the Worldwound... the BAD side of the border. It promises to give a lot of info about running a campaign in a city like that, where according to the Campaign Setting entry demons and corrupted nature have been at war since the city's fall.
In addition to Storasta's inclusion in Lost Cities, there's a Pathfinder Society scenario (penned by yours truly) releasing at the end of this month set on the outskirts of Storasta, but on the Worldwound side of the wardstones. Check out Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-08: The Sarkorian Prophecy on October 27!
Just think Disneyland on Mickeys birthday and all the kiddies just hadd a bag full of chocolate covered espresso beans ;)
*Shudders at the thought*
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
|
As far as how you might run a campaign or adventure in that area... you might look forward to the upcoming Lost Cities of Golarion, as one of the cities in that product is Storasta, a city right on the border of the Worldwound... the BAD side of the border. It promises to give a lot of info about running a campaign in a city like that, where according to the Campaign Setting entry demons and corrupted nature have been at war since the city's fall.In addition to Storasta's inclusion in Lost Cities, there's a Pathfinder Society scenario (penned by yours truly) releasing at the end of this month set on the outskirts of Storasta, but on the Worldwound side of the wardstones. Check out Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-08: The Sarkorian Prophecy on October 27!
Sweet, double Storasta love!
|
But I can't really get my head around what it would be like behind the walls.
Remember, you don't have to detail the whole Worldwound.
Make 2 or 3 Demon Powers -- a Marilith, a Glabrezu Cleric of Yeenoghu, and a Cambion/Barbarian son of Pazuzu with his Vrock Lieutenant.
Make a small map of the region.
Make the 3 all hate each other.
Make them all relatively new to the area -- they've only just built and consolidated a base of operations and are in the beginning stages of coming up with plans.
They have few resources each, perhaps:
-The marilith only has a newly subjugated tribe of Fiendish kobolds (including its Sorcerer King and 3 Rogue Lieutenants).
-The Glabrezu Cleric of Yeenoghu has found a handful of Fiendish gnolls and a wandering Tiefling Ranger.
-The Cambion son of Pazuzu and his Vrock have a dozen Dretches and recently "convinced" a Babau to join them.
Finally, each is about to start a different campaign:
-The marilith only wants to find a way back to the Abyss where she can finish some "business." She needs some magic item to do so and is about to start looking (murdering) for it.
-The Glabrezu Cleric is here to prove his worth to Yeenoghu by finding some relic.
-The Cambion son of Pazuzu wants nothing to do with the Abyss but wants to start a mini-empire here on the Prime Material.
Finally, throw the PCs on the border and let them have fun learning about their new neighbors.
|
|
As far as how you might run a campaign or adventure in that area... you might look forward to the upcoming Lost Cities of Golarion, as one of the cities in that product is Storasta, a city right on the border of the Worldwound... the BAD side of the border. It promises to give a lot of info about running a campaign in a city like that, where according to the Campaign Setting entry demons and corrupted nature have been at war since the city's fall.In addition to Storasta's inclusion in Lost Cities, there's a Pathfinder Society scenario (penned by yours truly) releasing at the end of this month set on the outskirts of Storasta, but on the Worldwound side of the wardstones. Check out Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-08: The Sarkorian Prophecy on October 27!
Nice. It's the "Ask and you shall receive" aspect to Paizo that I love the most.
Sweet, double Storasta love!
I'm pretty sure that's illegal in my state. But I look forward to it nonetheless! *thumbs up* :D
|
|
But I can't really get my head around what it would be like behind the walls.Remember, you don't have to detail the whole Worldwound.
Make 2 or 3 Demon Powers -- a Marilith, a Glabrezu Cleric of Yeenoghu, and a Cambion/Barbarian son of Pazuzu with his Vrock Lieutenant.
Make a small map of the region.
Make the 3 all hate each other.
Make them all relatively new to the area -- they've only just built and consolidated a base of operations and are in the beginning stages of coming up with plans.
They have few resources each, perhaps:
-The marilith only has a newly subjugated tribe of Fiendish kobolds (including its Sorcerer King and 3 Rogue Lieutenants).
-The Glabrezu Cleric of Yeenoghu has found a handful of Fiendish gnolls and a wandering Tiefling Ranger.
-The Cambion son of Pazuzu and his Vrock have a dozen Dretches and recently "convinced" a Babau to join them.Finally, each is about to start a different campaign:
-The marilith only wants to find a way back to the Abyss where she can finish some "business." She needs some magic item to do so and is about to start looking (murdering) for it.
-The Glabrezu Cleric is here to prove his worth to Yeenoghu by finding some relic.
-The Cambion son of Pazuzu wants nothing to do with the Abyss but wants to start a mini-empire here on the Prime Material.Finally, throw the PCs on the border and let them have fun learning about their new neighbors.
Very Myth Drannor. I may build to that, but I'm excited to see what the developers do now. I didn't realize this was planned to be addressed so soon in canon.
I've always thought of it as a more dangerous version of The Blight (*panics*) from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time novels.
This is kinda how I imagined it too. It's not just that there are horrible monstrous beasties running around and eating everything they can get their tentacles on (although there's plenty of that going on too), it's that the land itself is chaotic and warped and wrong. Everything in it works according to dream-logic, and it's not your dream that controls.