So, I'm in the process of putting together a primer for the Mwangi Expanse, and I wanted your input on this; as written in 2e, there aren't a ton of major threats left in the region! Walkena and his rule over Mzali seems to be the main one, but we've lost most of the focus for the servants of Angazhan, the colonial powers have been pushed out of Vidrian (though I fully intend to have an Order of the Coil insurgency), and the Aspis Consortium and Shackles pirates are fighting each other. What non-Walkena big bads am I missing, if any?
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The Bekyar leap to mind. And while the Gorilla King is dead, the Charau Ka remain, and remain deadly. Indeed, I know of no real evidence that demons and demon worshipers as a whole are any less of a threat than they ever were on an individual level. They're less directed now, and so less of a military threat in a sense, certainly, but there was no real campaign culling their numbers so they remain a deadly threat to travelers, villages, and isolated tribes.
That and Walkena, plus the aforementioned colonial remnants, definitely seem like the big ones. Though Geb may also throw their oar in the water. Arazni is dead and gone, and with her dead, we really don't know what the leaders of Geb may choose to do, and the Mwangi Expanse is right nearby. Geb himself has no interests in expansion, but he's also a very hands off manager, so who knows what some lich or vampire might do? All that is pretty speculative, though. Geb would certainly be an interesting choice as foreign sponsors for the Order of the Coil if you want to go that direction.
(though I fully intend to have an Order of the Coil insurgency)How? Insurgencies thrive only with the support of the people, and if anyone can't get that, it's the Order of the Coil.
If you want to have them play Contra, they'll need an effective foreign sponsor.
They have a nice labor pool of wannabes from the Sargavan colonials that were driven out, and there are a few potential patrons; the old Sargava book had at least one wealthy Chelish noble sponsoring adventurers in the region, and the Consortium is right there in Bloodcove and a few other trading posts. I'm not saying they're a massive threat, but they make for a fun loose end to be hunted down.
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What if there were certain powers on the Mwangi Expanse that felt they could not freely act because they were kept in check by the power of the Gorilla King? Now that the big bad demon ruler is out of the way, these forces are expanding to fill the power vacuum left behind.
Also, an idea spread unprompted to my mind of a wizard exiled from the Magaambya because he attempted to fuse Arcane Magic with primal magic drawn from the traditions of the Uskwood in Nidal.
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What if there were certain powers on the Mwangi Expanse that felt they could not freely act because they were kept in check by the power of the Gorilla King? Now that the big bad demon ruler is out of the way, these forces are expanding to fill the power vacuum left behind.
Also, an idea spread unprompted to my mind of a wizard exiled from the Magaambya because he attempted to fuse Arcane Magic with primal magic drawn from the traditions of the Uskwood in Nidal.
I’d sooner see a local evil druid than one imported from Avistan. There’s plenty of room for the region to be complete on its own.
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The Free Captains of the Shackles crop up a lot as a problem for the western nations of Garund in the new World Guide- Vidrian has to worry about them, Bloodcove has to worry about them...
Spanish Main-style pirates raiding the coasts make for a good foreign threat that can still preserve a focus on local heroes.
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I wouldn't want to push this analogy too far, but Sargava/Vidrian does bear a similarity to South Africa. This opens up a lot of potentially interesting story lines and adventures.
How was the transition from Sargava to Vidrian achieved? Was it more or less violent or peaceful?
What does its post-colonial social structure look like? What's the role and status of the settlers who formerly ruled it?
What evil entities, organizations, etc. might be trying to take advantage of the tensions that are inevitable after such a transition, be it peaceful or violent?
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So, I'm in the process of putting together a primer for the Mwangi Expanse, and I wanted your input on this; as written in 2e, there aren't a ton of major threats left in the region! Walkena and his rule over Mzali seems to be the main one, but we've lost most of the focus for the servants of Angazhan, the colonial powers have been pushed out of Vidrian (though I fully intend to have an Order of the Coil insurgency), and the Aspis Consortium and Shackles pirates are fighting each other. What non-Walkena big bads am I missing, if any?
One of the biggest antagonists is the jungles themselves.
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I wouldn't want to push this analogy too far, but Sargava/Vidrian does bear a similarity to South Africa. This opens up a lot of potentially interesting story lines and adventures.
How was the transition from Sargava to Vidrian achieved? Was it more or less violent or peaceful?
What does its post-colonial social structure look like? What's the role and status of the settlers who formerly ruled it?
What evil entities, organizations, etc. might be trying to take advantage of the tensions that are inevitable after such a transition, be it peaceful or violent?
Per the new book?
After years of constant adversity, the locals finally chose to enact change in their lands. What began as a small revolt by Mwangi servants and slaves soon became a complete overthrow of the nation’s
overlords. Some of the colonists, now several generations removed from the golden age of Cheliax and disdainful of the state of Sargava at the hands of their kin, found camaraderie among the Mwangi peoples and chose to fight alongside them.
The rebelling forces soon grew to massive numbers and were able to take the capital of Eleder with relative ease, displacing the domineering Baron Utilinus. Unfortunately, the rebels also had to contend with the Free Captains who had been exploiting the region. Not content to lose their easy stream of revenue in the form of protection money from Sargava, the Free Captains waged a bloody battle against the rebels, an ordeal that lasted for over a year. After countless engagements and a hastily written alliance with Senghor, the combined forces of the Mwangi and turncoat colonists successfully drove off the pirates. With the Free Captains routed, the lands became the new nation of Vidrian in 4717 ar.
The folk of Vidrian are a coalition of disparate Mwangi peoples, united under a common history, cause, and banner. A sizable population of former Sargavan colonists also remains in the nation, protected by law from retaliation. While their aid in the rebellion against their fellows and the Free Captains earned them citizenship, the stark change in Vidric culture that occurred after the Mwangi natives regained control of their land has resulted in a new source of friction between these two groups.
So basically, the rebellion itself was over fast without much of fighting, the actual battle was against the pirates?
Sounds like it was a groundswell that mostly pushed out rather than killed those it removed (especially once it gained some momentum), and then, yes, the pirates threw down in more of a scrap.
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Hmm, so definitely some ex-sargavans who became homeless and refugees in other places(or pirates. Or returned to distant family in cheliax)
Definitely lot of conflict hooks for future
Oh, the book has conflict hooks galore- including between ostensible allies within the region.
Plus:
Further complicating the shadow war that regularly spills onto Bloodcove’s city streets are the colonialist refugees from former Sargava who have begun to throng Bloodcove in the hopes of making a fresh start. The chaotic port is far from kind to newcomers, however. In Bloodcove, subterfuge and shady dealings are the only reliable ways to gain traction amid the ever-swirling social miasma. The city’s poor have little to no chance of clawing their way out of the darkest, seediest parts of the Cove, and immigrants soon learn that the best way to gain any standing is
to ally with either the Aspis Consortium or the Free Captains, though this often requires reevaluating one’s moral values.
Per the new book?
Very cool, I guess I didn't realize this was already shipping. Once again, I don't want to push the analogy too far, but it does sound somewhat South African with a multi-racial/ethnic nationalism and some degree of legal protection for minority populations.
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Also, to steer back on track now, it looks like a Mwangi campaign has a rough easy shape taking place:
Figure out where your game is based (most likely Vidrian, Nantambu, or Kibwe)
Take the fight to a chosen mundane-ish bad guy (Sargavan holdouts, the Aspis Consortium, Shackles pirates)
Ramp up into a supernatural threat (the easy ones being the cult of Angazhan or Walkena in Mzali, but an original one or bringing back the King of Biting Ants works well here too)
Which honestly seems like a pretty solid skeleton to build from, and makes the region pretty satisfying to boot. I really appreciate how distinct each locale feels, especially the contrast when you visit Bloodcove or Senghor pop.
If you are still looking for antagonists, it looks like the Aspis Consortium are expanding into the expanse. They were setting up shop in Kibwe during the Firesoul novel in 4715 AR.
They also own Bloodcove.
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I would -love- getting to write more about Ird or perhaps even more so Arzikal 'the city of hungry spires'.
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I would -love- getting to write more about Ird or perhaps even more so Arzikal 'the city of hungry spires'.
Would be over the moon for that.
Anything about the fallen Mwangi cultures, really.
I'm not that versed on the Darklands, but with Serpentfolk, Cyclopses, and Purple worms and the like I'm pretty sure the Mwangi expanse has a lot of trouble under the surface it may not know about... save in legend.
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I heard the King of Biting Ants is making a comeback.
Do you want biting ants?
Because that is how you get biting ants.
Plus there's always just... you know, individual villains? He's a low key figure in my game, and it's not set in the Expanse but I've had a ton of fun with a Mwangi animal trader whose been threatening the party rogue to find out who stole from him. ^^. He's cool, intimidating and fun to RP