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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Mar 2015 : 19:55:31
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Many times I've said that Zakhara was my favorite area of the Realms to play around in. Sadly I never got to see Realms novels set in this fantastic sub-setting, and gaming supplements stopped being made for it years ago.
The purpose of this thread is to share your ideas for campaign's (large and small) that would fit well in the Arabian setting of the Forgotten Realms.
Set aside your scimitar, grab a bowl-full of dates, and share your ideas for travelling the dunes of the Land of Fate.
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Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2015 : 20:11:55
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| To get things started I suppose virtually anything from the 1001 Nights would translate well in this setting for obvious reasons. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2015 : 01:32:42
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Well, this got me writing (yay!) but the short version is that in my head, Nog and Kadar are the remains of Imaskari and Ilythiiri settlement of Zakhara circa -10,000 to -8,000 DR. The elves vanished during the Descent of the Drow (but never really left; the drow still have cities under Zakhara) and the Imaskari portion of the empires fell no later than -2200 DR... but probably earlier.
I'm also thinking that history will blame the Imaskari for the presence and disposition of the yak-men. I already have the Imaskari creating the phaerimm and enabling various intrusions from the Far Realm, so I don't think they created the yak-men... I suspect either (A) the yak-men were already in the Realms thanks to something involving the eastern realms but the Imaskari disturbed them and turned their attention westward, or (B) the yak-men were among the extraplanar beings that the Imaskari bothered and/or consulted on various matters and at some point some of them were summoned into Faerun and decided not to leave. A is simpler; B suggests that the yak-men have an agenda for Zakhara, which would require me to figure out what that is. Ugh.
Due to my issues with design philosophy, my thoughts on Al-Qadim are mainly historical at this point. 
I do really want to run an Al-Qadim campaign, and I'm working up an introductory sort of thing intended to bring new players into the Realms, but there's no pressure since I don't have any new players yet. Which makes it easy to get distracted by other projects.
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2015 : 01:52:14
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| Thanks for the input. Sounds intriguing! |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Baltas
Senior Scribe
Poland
955 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2015 : 02:12:47
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Well, there are allready good propositions for Nog and Kadar, although I myself think that the original peoples of the necromancer isle, Sahu, were Imaskari. Although on the other hand, some or the places on Sahu, are named after Ereshkigal, the Meseopotamian goddess of dead, so she may had once a presence in this region's ancient past, and possibly Zakhara in general. She might have been brough here with the Mulan, and by an Unther expansion to Zakhara. Another possibility, is is that she was worshipped on Toril before the Mulans arrival, but was weakened by the Imaskari GodWall, and possibly faded away because of that.
The Faceless God of the yak-men, might be Nyarlathotep,, as as one of his titles is identical. The Faceless God, might be also Ghaunadaur, who subsumed/absorbed Juiblex on Toril, who's title is "The Faceless Lord". |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2015 : 13:33:29
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| I was toying with the idea of having a powerful Illusionist lure adventurers into either the Haunted Lands or the High Desert with a permanent series of spells showcasing and elaborate oasis. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 13:57:23
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| Your adventuring group is hired by the caliph of ___ (insert city here) to rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by corsairs and taken to their base of operations in the Crowded Sea. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2382 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 17:35:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Baltas
The Faceless God of the yak-men, might be Nyarlathotep,, as as one of his titles is identical. The Faceless God, might be also Ghaunadaur, who subsumed/absorbed Juiblex on Toril, who's title is "The Faceless Lord".
The most practically important point about their god is that he procured servitude of the dao. This would be kind of too big to ignore if the same entity was active elsewhere. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 18:00:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Your adventuring group is hired by the caliph of ___ (insert city here) to rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by corsairs and taken to their base of operations in the Crowded Sea.
Put a twist or two on this... There is clear evidence that the corsairs were hired by a particular rival of the caliph; the caliph is of course greatly angered by this and wants to take action against this rival.
What he doesn't know is that someone close to the rival -- perhaps a son, perhaps the rival himself -- spurned the daughter's affections, and she arranged the entire thing as revenge.
It could be particularly awkward to discover this when the PCs are hired to rescue the girl, and she actively opposes her rescue. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 18:48:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
Your adventuring group is hired by the caliph of ___ (insert city here) to rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by corsairs and taken to their base of operations in the Crowded Sea.
Put a twist or two on this... There is clear evidence that the corsairs were hired by a particular rival of the caliph; the caliph is of course greatly angered by this and wants to take action against this rival.
What he doesn't know is that someone close to the rival -- perhaps a son, perhaps the rival himself -- spurned the daughter's affections, and she arranged the entire thing as revenge.
It could be particularly awkward to discover this when the PCs are hired to rescue the girl, and she actively opposes her rescue.
I like it. This would certainly make things more interesting to say the least. Things could really get heated up right when the PCs think the adventure is coming to a close. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2382 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 21:04:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What he doesn't know is that someone close to the rival -- perhaps a son, perhaps the rival himself -- spurned the daughter's affections, and she arranged the entire thing as revenge.
It could be particularly awkward to discover this when the PCs are hired to rescue the girl, and she actively opposes her rescue.
Self-napping? Old, but good.
Also, actively hindering her rescue needs not to be overt. She may just play a stupid, clumsy damsel in distress. 
And perhaps some interesting skills she's wonderfully free to use while underestimated. A little elemental magic goes long way, too. Wonder where all those complications came from... |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2015 : 22:22:31
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
What he doesn't know is that someone close to the rival -- perhaps a son, perhaps the rival himself -- spurned the daughter's affections, and she arranged the entire thing as revenge.
It could be particularly awkward to discover this when the PCs are hired to rescue the girl, and she actively opposes her rescue.
Self-napping? Old, but good.
Also, actively hindering her rescue needs not to be overt. She may just play a stupid, clumsy damsel in distress.
And perhaps some interesting skills she's wonderfully free to use while underestimated. A little elemental magic goes long way, too. Wonder where all those complications came from...
In secrecy she could even be a Sha'ir and have a genie or two thwart the party at critical moments. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2382 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2015 : 12:50:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Artemas Entreri
In secrecy she could even be a Sha'ir and have a genie or two thwart the party at critical moments.
The problem with Sha'ir is that a gen is hard to hide - it doesn't have invisibility on its own (not even air).
Hiding a decent-sized spellbook isn't too easy either, but at least this doesn't involve convincing it to stay hidden, and then having to deal with it pouting and/or trying to amuse itself. 
And it's not like a noble "passenger" is going to be searched by anyone. Also, there are possibilities (especially for wealthy or connected spellcasters) such as item shrinking and extradimensional storage. Or even ajami methods masking books as other books (illusory script, secret page). |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2015 : 13:14:56
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| Maybe the djinn could be cloaked by some kind of illusion to appear as a regular traveler or even an NPC who is "working" with the group. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Raelan
Acolyte
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2015 : 20:16:02
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| You could try a "worlds collide" type of scenario, but with a twist. Instead of being your standard ajami (outlander barbarians), you could work up a clash of cultures between Zakhara and the similarly Arabian-themed (but totally different in outlook and culture) Calimshan. What hijinks might result if, say, a wizard researching epic magic miscasts his epic spell and manages to juxtapose two entire cities, one from Calimshan and one from Zakhara? If you want to make things really interesting, make the Zakharan city one of those from the Pantheist League... |
"I am convinced that one of these days I will be able to run a regular game that doesn't fall apart due to scheduling conflicts. I am also convinced that, on this day, hell will freeze over." |
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Zakhara: The Land of Fate (Campaign Ideas)
