Stygian Characters and Stygian Campaigns?

[Nyarlathotep]

Here's a general question for you all:

Anyone have any Stygian characters in their groups? If so, how has their presence effected NPC interaction in the Hyborian kingdoms given their nation's negative reputation as a whole?

Has anyone set a whole game in Stygia? And if so, how is the party make-up structured?

 

[Majestic7]

Last two sessions of my current campaign have happened in Stygia. The player characters are still the same lot of Nemedian veterans as before, as described in the campaign journal. I've taken Stygia as an exotic background, against which the characters may compare their own culture and values. Sure, the nobles seem decadent and the human sacrifices intimidating, not to mention the intimidating architecture....but... there are no beggars in the streets and everyone seem to have a roof under which to stay. The characters are currently even thinking about staying a year or two in Stygia before returning home.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

Last two sessions of my current campaign have happened in Stygia. The player characters are still the same lot of Nemedian veterans as before, as described in the campaign journal. I've taken Stygia as an exotic background, against which the characters may compare their own culture and values. Sure, the nobles seem decadent and the human sacrifices intimidating, not to mention the intimidating architecture....but... there are no beggars in the streets and everyone seem to have a roof under which to stay. The characters are currently even thinking about staying a year or two in Stygia before returning home.

Majestic - where are they currently residing in Stygia? From my reading of the book, i was under the impression that foreigners were not generally welcomed throughout the country with perhaps the exception of Luxur.

But wow - they are actually liking Stygia, that's interesting in and of itself.

 

[VincentDarlage]

Kheshatta also allows foreigners, so does Sukhmet.

So long as the king invites a person, I think it isn't a problem. Khemi is the city with the extremely stringent rules.

 

[blackenedwings]

My campaign when it gets started is going to be heavily based off of Stygia, and I have to say the Stygia sourcebook is amazing. It is probably one of the best d20 sourcebooks I have purchased thus far.

 

[Damien]

I've ran a few games with Stygian PCs. As it goes -- the group gets the same reaction they tend to get pretty much anywhere they go. Most groups are going to be culturally diverse unless the GM has a plan and specifically requests characters from the same region.

Cimmerians in Nemedia, Nemedians in Aquilonia, Aquilonians in Stygia, Stygians. . anywhere, Picts. . anywhere, the list goes on and on. You'd be hard-pressed to find any race that's welcomed everywhere they go. A Stygian doesn't really change that dynamic at all, in my experience.

A constable in Nemedia is certainly going to keep a close eye on the Stygian 'possible-sorcerer' in your group, but he'll probably keep just as close an eye on the Aquilonian 'spy' and the Pictish 'beast-worshipping murderer.'

It's all a matter of perspective.

 

[Majestic7]

Majestic - where are they currently residing in Stygia? From my reading of the book, i was under the impression that foreigners were not generally welcomed throughout the country with perhaps the exception of Luxur.

But wow - they are actually liking Stygia, that's interesting in and of itself.

They are currently in Khemi. They received trading license and entry permit to the foreign quarters for services rendered to a Stygian sorcerer - they done a high-profile assassination for him in Kordova. The characters hope they can buy exotic goods from Stygia and get them to Nemedia on the trip home, becoming filthy rich in the process. We'll see how that will go, as they are being pulled in Stygian politics at the moment. I plan to put the darker side of Stygia before their eyes quite slowly, instead of throwing it on their faces.

 

[Halfbat]

Yeap. We have a Stygian noble.

It was very interesting when the group ran through Heretics of Tarantia as he was the groups prime negotiator/diplomat and couldn't speak Aquilonian either. he was relegated to an advisory role/hiding in dark alleys/wearing nondescript robes (indignantly, in character, I might add). The player, though, loved this sort of roleplaying and the rest of the group joined in, even using him as bait or as a potential convert to Mitra.

The group is based in Messantia, which is probably more cosmopolitan than most cities, and the Stygian is gently wheedling his way into high society and working a few Merchant Houses. Yes, there are suspicions, but he's been totally open with the authorities about the fact he's not a sorcerer... I think it's one of the group's in-jokes in that the Stygian sometimes acts as a cover for the real sorcerer.

I think the thing that works about the setup is that the _player_ is a hardened roleplayer rather than power gamer, so any setbacks due to his background are opportunities for interesting (and fun) roleplay.

 

[Aholibamah]

I'm planning on at some point having a set of adventures in Stygia but I just recently got the book for it and I'm trying to figure out what I'd like to do most. I would want to do it justice--have that sense of mystery and menace come through without spoiling it.

 

[VincentDarlage]

I'm planning on at some point having a set of adventures in Stygia but I just recently got the book for it and I'm trying to figure out what I'd like to do most. I would want to do it justice--have that sense of mystery and menace come through without spoiling it.

I think that can best come from build-up before they get to Stygia - that way their mind fills in the blanks better than any GM description.

 

[Aholibamah]

My campaign is going to start elsewhere anyway. Essentially the pcs are going to be hired to accompany a pair of roguish but clever trade envoys into the decadent south.