Ordovician
Mongoose
So today, my copy of Darklands got here. Weighs in at 128 pages (counting a nifty map of Helgedad in the back).
Contents:
- Geography of the Darklands
- Helgedad: The Eye of Evil
- Darklands Characters
- The Darklords
- Tools of Evil
- Creatures of Darkness
Geography of the Darklands is a rundown of the various provinces/regions of the Darklands, their Darklord rulers, special effects that may effect your character if he goes there (you take freezing damage in Gourizaga, for instance, and if you die from frost you come back under Ixiataaga's control, even though he's not a Darklord).
Helgedad is a gazetteer of the Black City. My one complaint is that I wish the Helgedad map was a bit closer to this section - it refers to the numbered structures in this chapter, and when reading the map one has to flip back and forth.
The Darklands characters section gives two new base classes (Dark Cultist and Dark Warrior). The Dark Cultist is a right-hand practitioner who chooses his tiered powers by the deity he chooses to devote himself to. Provided deities are Karaushnith (lust and gluttony), Naar, Tharayn (madness), Vurnos (plague), and Xhagvash (death). One could also house-rule them to make guys like the Acolytes of Vashna, and already have visions of Acolyte classes for the other Darklords. It also gives three advanced classes (Breedmaster, Cult Leader, and Death Knight).
The Darklords chapter is pretty sweet, giving stats of all the Darklords, and I mean all. Just for reference: Chlanzor, Dakushna, Ghanesh, Ghurch, Gnaag (my fave), Haakon, Khatellu, Kraagenskul, Menashga, Mrugor, Nhorg, Shebnar, Slutar, Taktaal, Tomogh, Unc, Xog, Zagarna, and Zhanshal.
Tools of Evil gives you stats on the items of the Darklands. Zejar-dulaga arrows, special Kraan and Giak weapons, and nifty write-ups of things like Doomstones, Helshezag, Nadazgada, and the Nyras Sceptre.
Creatures of Darkness is on, well, the monsters of the Darklands. Gives details on the structure of Darklands armies, Giak regiments, etc. Statted monsters: Agarashi (Blood, Poison), Antah Wasps, Bangrol, Barren Souls, Crocaryx, Curseborn, Degradon, Dhax, Egorgh, Foul Servants, Giak (Desert, Forest, Ice, Mountain, Swamp, Wild), Ictakko, Liganim, Mind Reaper, Nadziranim, Plaak, Sea-Scavenger, Tzarg, Vladoka, Xaghash, Yawshath.
Looks like Eternalknight and I need to edit our list of monsters. Some stats I don't like (the Crocaryx mainly serve the Darklords? but that's minor and easily changed), and some things are new to me. The Tzarg in the series is a beast of burden used along the Storn. The Tzarg here seems to me to be like the Xlorg from Jungle of Horrors. I wonder if Dever originally had the Tzarg and Xlorg as the same thing? I like the Mongoose Yawshath better than mine. This one's a battle behemoth.
All in all, I'm glad I decided to skip over converting Masters of Darkness.
Already got a new game idea from the book.
But a question to end: in the main RPG book, it says that the Maakenmire is ruled by a Darklord, but this book doesn't even mention the Maakenmire, nor any Darklord who rules it. Clarification? Or is this free-reign DM territory?
Contents:
- Geography of the Darklands
- Helgedad: The Eye of Evil
- Darklands Characters
- The Darklords
- Tools of Evil
- Creatures of Darkness
Geography of the Darklands is a rundown of the various provinces/regions of the Darklands, their Darklord rulers, special effects that may effect your character if he goes there (you take freezing damage in Gourizaga, for instance, and if you die from frost you come back under Ixiataaga's control, even though he's not a Darklord).
Helgedad is a gazetteer of the Black City. My one complaint is that I wish the Helgedad map was a bit closer to this section - it refers to the numbered structures in this chapter, and when reading the map one has to flip back and forth.
The Darklands characters section gives two new base classes (Dark Cultist and Dark Warrior). The Dark Cultist is a right-hand practitioner who chooses his tiered powers by the deity he chooses to devote himself to. Provided deities are Karaushnith (lust and gluttony), Naar, Tharayn (madness), Vurnos (plague), and Xhagvash (death). One could also house-rule them to make guys like the Acolytes of Vashna, and already have visions of Acolyte classes for the other Darklords. It also gives three advanced classes (Breedmaster, Cult Leader, and Death Knight).
The Darklords chapter is pretty sweet, giving stats of all the Darklords, and I mean all. Just for reference: Chlanzor, Dakushna, Ghanesh, Ghurch, Gnaag (my fave), Haakon, Khatellu, Kraagenskul, Menashga, Mrugor, Nhorg, Shebnar, Slutar, Taktaal, Tomogh, Unc, Xog, Zagarna, and Zhanshal.
Tools of Evil gives you stats on the items of the Darklands. Zejar-dulaga arrows, special Kraan and Giak weapons, and nifty write-ups of things like Doomstones, Helshezag, Nadazgada, and the Nyras Sceptre.
Creatures of Darkness is on, well, the monsters of the Darklands. Gives details on the structure of Darklands armies, Giak regiments, etc. Statted monsters: Agarashi (Blood, Poison), Antah Wasps, Bangrol, Barren Souls, Crocaryx, Curseborn, Degradon, Dhax, Egorgh, Foul Servants, Giak (Desert, Forest, Ice, Mountain, Swamp, Wild), Ictakko, Liganim, Mind Reaper, Nadziranim, Plaak, Sea-Scavenger, Tzarg, Vladoka, Xaghash, Yawshath.
Looks like Eternalknight and I need to edit our list of monsters. Some stats I don't like (the Crocaryx mainly serve the Darklords? but that's minor and easily changed), and some things are new to me. The Tzarg in the series is a beast of burden used along the Storn. The Tzarg here seems to me to be like the Xlorg from Jungle of Horrors. I wonder if Dever originally had the Tzarg and Xlorg as the same thing? I like the Mongoose Yawshath better than mine. This one's a battle behemoth.

All in all, I'm glad I decided to skip over converting Masters of Darkness.

Already got a new game idea from the book.
But a question to end: in the main RPG book, it says that the Maakenmire is ruled by a Darklord, but this book doesn't even mention the Maakenmire, nor any Darklord who rules it. Clarification? Or is this free-reign DM territory?
