Shadizar

[Aholibamah]

Has anyone else got the boxed set for this setting? I recently got it. It is a reasonably good city sourcebook but doesn't hand you everything on a platter. Like the Stygian one for instance you will have to flesh out situations and adventures for it. Having said that it has an interesting map and a number of building floorplans, npc templates by the dozen and an excellent sense of atmosphere is provided.

I haven't actually read any of the non-Howard stories set in Shadizar--my impression is that Howard never wrote any stories actually set in it. I'm considering picking up one or two to see if they are any good.

 

[rgrove0172]

Great resource, make sure you get the updated map.

 

[Axerules]

I haven't actually read any of the non-Howard stories set in Shadizar--my impression is that Howard never wrote any stories actually set in it. I'm considering picking up one or two to see if they are any good.

The name Shadizar comes from REH, but you're right he never wrote a story set there. Conan the Magnificent from R Jordan is the book you should get. Like in his other pastiches, there is perhaps a little bit too much sex, but IMHO RJ has a good understanding of the Hyborian Age and it was used as one of the sources for the boxed set. IMO not the best pastiche but a decent one. And welcome Aholibamah!

 

[Aholibamah]

thanks very much for the welcome! I'm planning to start up a campaign set largely in the Shem/Zamora region with a foray into Stygia at some point. I have yet to get the Shem sourcebook which I'm looking forward to.

There are a couple of stories not set in Shadizar that I might use for inspiration: "Shadows in Zamboula" is one of my favourites for its sheer sense of accident and mystery; "Tower of the Elephant" which is set in Zamboula but is interesting.

I'm planning on using the adventure provided in the game box certainly.

 

[Lucius]

There are a couple of stories not set in Shadizar that I might use for inspiration: "Shadows in Zamboula" is one of my favourites for its sheer sense of accident and mystery; "Tower of the Elephant" which is set in Zamboula but is interesting.

I'm planning on using the adventure provided in the game box certainly.

Please don't think I'm nit-picking, but I've always been under the impression that "The Tower of the Elephant was set in Zamora, rather than Zamboula.

The PDF Adventure "The Black Stones of Koveg-Re" by Mr Darlage is also set in Zamora, if my memory is correct. It may be worth a read.

Good luck with the campaign, and more importantly, welcome!

 

[VincentDarlage]

One, I did NOT write "The Black Stones of Koveg-Re."

Two, "The Tower of the Elephant" is set in Zamora, not Zamboula.

 

[Aholibamah]

My mistake, thanks.

 

[Auggie]

I got the boxed set when it first came out- and it's only NOW that I'm going to be using it in my campaign! Better late than never...

 

[Aholibamah]

If you don't mind sharing a bit, Auggie, what do you have planned?

For my part my players are going to be accomanying a trade envoy from Ophir to Zamora only to find themselves caught up in intrigues and dangers in Shadizar. The King will play a game with the envoy, both wanting to avoid supporting a faction that seems unlikely to win the struggle for the throne there and therefore wanting to see if the envoy is a man of ability and influence, and also wanting to use him as a means of dealing with his own concerns. It will be in a way like Marco Polo meets the Three Musketeers.

At the same time I want to adapt the adventure from the boxed set to my campaign and have a mysterious cult bedevil the pcs. What I want to go for is a sense of shadowy plots, some motives base and some actually sinister.

 

[Auggie]

Well, right now the group is part of a Free Company and after the events in "Heretics of Tarantia" (which we just completed), it is strongly advised that they leave Aquilonia for a while.

Thus, the Captain of their FC has accepted a contract by the Priests of Zath in the city of Yezud, who are hiring mercenaries to act as guards within their city.

So, after some random encounters on their journey to Zamora, they will now have a 'base of operations' from which to operate within Zamora for a bit

One of the main adventures I'll run, other than the one in the Shadazar boxed set, will be plots and conflicts involving other spider cults in Zamora who would love to destroy the followers of Zath and take the city of Yezud for their own...

 

[VincentDarlage]

One of the main adventures I'll run, other than the one in the Shadazar boxed set, will be plots and conflicts involving other spider cults in Zamora who would love to destroy the followers of Zath and take the city of Yezud for their own...

Oh, I like that idea!

 

[Lucius]

One, I did NOT write "The Black Stones of Koveg-Re."

Two, "The Tower of the Elephant" is set in Zamora, not Zamboula.

Well, one out of two can't be too bad.

Sorry, Vincent!

 

[Aholibamah]

The Zath cult is a cool idea--sinister bunch of weirdoes indeed. I have to admit that the idea of people worshipping a monster that is actually physically there has always fascinated me and I have always kind of wanted to have one in a game of mine.

I don't know if you ever read a short story called "Bones for Dulath" but it is an interesting take on that kind of thing.

 

[Auggie]

Ah, but is the cult of Zath really that bad? They wish to bring purity to Zamora, to bring about a new 'golden age'. True, they worship a spider... but I don't really see them as truly evil. I read "Conan and the Spider God", and while there were a few villians in the story, the cult as a whole did not strike me as being too sinister. I could be wrong.

Omm, on the other hand, has a demon impersonating the diety, and I'm sure he's not out looking for a game of bridge with his/its followers. They will provide the main antagonists I'm looking for with this part of my campaign in Zamora.

I am assuming, since a number of years have passed since "Conan and the Spider God" took place (in my campaign, anyway), that the main temple to Zath has been rebuilt, complete with new statue and that the underground labyrinth has been 'restocked' with their spider friends Thus, it's back to business as usual in Yezud.

I will try and capture the flavor of Yezud and Zamora and have fun watching the group interact and uphold their duties to the priests of Zath as mercenary guards. Many adventures can center around Zath, such as the followers of Omm being up to no good and other incidents that can take place in the northern part of Zamora.

Of course, I will provide the group opportunities to travel about Zamora, hence getting involved with the Shadazar boxed set adventure and other adventure hooks sprinkled throughout the various Conan suppliments.

Any comments/suggestions would be most welcome

 

[blackenedwings]

I have the boxed set for this too, as my story will revolve my much around Shadizar in particular.

One of the main NPCs was a low/middle class girl in Shadizar, and her parents sold her away to Stygian slavers, but due to her remarkable beauty she ended up being given to the temple of Derketo until the age of 13. She was bought by a low ranking Stygian sorcerer entranced by her beauty. The sorcerer has long desired to become a member of the Black ring, but as he is a relatively weak sorcerer (scarcely more than an apprentice) and only knew relatively minor prestidigitations he was denied membership, instead working as an apprentice to greater sorcerers. Although not a terribly powerful sorcerer, this Stygian has a knack for deciphering ancient texts, and finds referrence to a lost capitol of an ancient city rumored to contain the secret of eternal life and endless magical power. Caught up in his lust for power, and spurred on by his increasingly coersive slave, he steals the rituals for summoning a powerful demon and makes a pact with a creature from the Outer Dark.

Stealing the maps and writings about this lost city, he flees Stygia with his slave and sorcerous items he was able to steal from one of the temples of Set. Knowing of the dangers written in the stolen scrolls he determines he must locate dispensible adventurers able to help him find the ruins and survive the dangers until he can gain the magical power and become immortal.

South of the Zamorian border (in an undisclosed town) two nobles have embarked on an urban war of sorts, each trying to crush the merchant holdings of the other, discredit them in public, and remove them as an obstacle. One of the nobles has decided to strike a decisive blow by hiring a group of thugs and thieves to break into the storehouse for his rival, and steal his most valuable holdings, while planting evidence that would discredit him. The party is going to start in the action as this band of vagabonds having just broken into the compound of the opposing noble.

Assuming they succeed at stealing the item(s), and planting the evidence they will be paid and will be celebrating loudly in a local tavern. A strangely garbed Stygian will approach them with an opportunity they cannot refuse. A simple trek through a forest for this scholar of antiquities to conduct research into a fallen civilization, and they will get paid a veritable fortune in silver.

What the sorcerer doesn't know however is that his slave is less loyal to him than he could have imagined. In the months since she has been serving him, she has been courting the sorcerers he was serving as well, and seduced the knowledge of some dark magic. With this power, and the power she hopes to find in the ruins they travel to, she intends to return to Shadizar and make everyone responsible for her slavery pay.


This is just a quick/dirty outline of the general order of the story, but I'm definitely psyched about using the Shadizar box set and the Stygia book to bring these characters to life. The Ruins of Hyboria is also awesome, and will be helping me create a truly unique city for them to explore.

 

[Auggie]

Sounds great! Keep us posted!

 

[Aholibamah]

That sounds really good. I like the intrigues between sorcerors kind of plot, that always has me on the edge of my seat. I also like that the ambitious one has to do something desperate--his motive makes sense and is very REH.

BTW, I'm having a thought--it might be fun for us to combine certain elements as interesting random stuff to insert into the games of one another, or as red herrings or whatnot. For instance having a Free Company in the region that has recently moved in might be useful for me if my pcs somehow fall out with their employer, and who knows but an ambitious sorceror might want the book featured in the adventure in the boxed set...

 

[blackenedwings]

That sounds really good. I like the intrigues between sorcerors kind of plot, that always has me on the edge of my seat. I also like that the ambitious one has to do something desperate--his motive makes sense and is very REH.

BTW, I'm having a thought--it might be fun for us to combine certain elements as interesting random stuff to insert into the games of one another, or as red herrings or whatnot. For instance having a Free Company in the region that has recently moved in might be useful for me if my pcs somehow fall out with their employer, and who knows but an ambitious sorceror might want the book featured in the adventure in the boxed set...

That's a really good idea Aholibamah... I definitely love seeing how each of us have come up with unique and interesting takes on the world and the characters. My favorite thing about the Conan RPG is the rules really bring to life the books for me. Moreso than any other campaign setting, I see so many neat characters I could make. Fortunately as the DM I have the ability to make them all! I'm definitely up for putting in some elements from the posted games going on to enrich the world and keep my players on their toes. Since I do my best to try and make sure every NPC has a purpose and motivation, it would certainly help to make NPCs based off other Conan games out there. It would give a feeling of dimension to the adventure.

 

[Bjorn the Barbarian]

blackenedwings,

I like your plot ideas. Look forward to seeing how they pan out.

 

[blackenedwings]

blackenedwings,

I like your plot ideas. Look forward to seeing how they pan out.

Thanks much, there is actually a ton more to it, but I always seem to find myself in a hurry. I'll be sure to post a transcript of my first session here and let you guys know how it went. So far the party makeup is looking pretty interesting.

Nordenheimer Barbarian with Carousing and Brawl feats ('nuff said!)
Aquilonian Thief with extreme paranoia and inferiority complex
Shemite Noble (the noble who originally hires the group)
A pirate of some kind? (I haven't heard much about the character concept on this guy yet)

One girl still hasn't weighed in yet on what she is going to play, but I expect either a thief type or a soldier possibly with levels in temptress.

Although I expect the first mission will go relatively smoothly, there will be suspicion pointed at the noble character, convincing him it might be worthwhile to fund a trip to this ancient city and accompany the trip to safeguard his investment as well as let the heat subside in his home city.

I actually plan to play up the power and menace of the Stygian sorcerer at least originally as he has access to stolen arcane/alchemical items and some magic of his own. If he becomes in dire need he will even call upon his demon master which should really get the party focused on his power. Hopefully the party will focus on his menace and pay less attention to the sultry thirteen year old slave girl who is truly the most dangerous character.