rgrove0172
Mongoose
Im running a campaign in Shadizar and would like to mention the ruins of Yara's tower during one of the sessions. Where on the Shadizar map would you place it?
Where's Yara's Tower
- Thread starter rgrove0172
- Start date
rgrove0172
Mongoose
Urk... he he, my bad - wasnt thinking, your right of course. 
Sutek
Mongoose
Technically, Yara's tower crumbled, but then totally disappeared. I figure it was a pile of rubble for a while, and later even that dissolved away to dust.
However, in the movie, that tower is a rip off of Yara's tower in the story, co-opted to be used by Thulsa Doom and all that. Supposedly, he had those towers all over the place. There could easily be duplicate Yara towers built by worshipers of him as a god on Earth anywhere you like.
Especially if it makes your campaign work better...
However, in the movie, that tower is a rip off of Yara's tower in the story, co-opted to be used by Thulsa Doom and all that. Supposedly, he had those towers all over the place. There could easily be duplicate Yara towers built by worshipers of him as a god on Earth anywhere you like.
Especially if it makes your campaign work better...
rgrove0172
Mongoose
Actually my only plan was to mention it in passing as the players moved through a part of the city as in...
" Off to the left, away from the road a bit, oddly separate from the urban sprawl is an open space, surrounded by a high wall. As you pass the open gates you see the scattered stone debris of some structure that fell to ruin in the past. The once beautiful gardens are now a jumble of lifeless branches and silent fountains, a solemn memorial of some grand influence brought to destruction. The locals speak of a sorcerer who dwelled there a few years before, and speak his name "Yara" in furtive whispers as if mentioning his name might bring him back. As you leave the oddity behind, you wonder what manner of catastrophe could have brought such a power down."
Such little tidbits of the Conan mythos, injected into the game, bring a sense of belonging to the players in my opinion, helping them feel an actual part of Conan's world. Knowing that the famed Cimmerian walked the same paths they are walking, and seeing evidence of his passing at times, really brings the game to a new level.
" Off to the left, away from the road a bit, oddly separate from the urban sprawl is an open space, surrounded by a high wall. As you pass the open gates you see the scattered stone debris of some structure that fell to ruin in the past. The once beautiful gardens are now a jumble of lifeless branches and silent fountains, a solemn memorial of some grand influence brought to destruction. The locals speak of a sorcerer who dwelled there a few years before, and speak his name "Yara" in furtive whispers as if mentioning his name might bring him back. As you leave the oddity behind, you wonder what manner of catastrophe could have brought such a power down."
Such little tidbits of the Conan mythos, injected into the game, bring a sense of belonging to the players in my opinion, helping them feel an actual part of Conan's world. Knowing that the famed Cimmerian walked the same paths they are walking, and seeing evidence of his passing at times, really brings the game to a new level.
slaughterj
Mongoose
Sutek said:
For that matter, one thought I had was that for people who didn't want to run the module and have their PCs kill Yara because that would sully Conan's background, that Yara could have more than one tower (e.g., another in Shadizar) and when "slain" by Conan, in actuality, Yara had some backup magic that had him "reformulate" at another tower, e.g., in Shadizar, and then the PCs end up confronting him there instead. If necessary, he could have set this up for Yag-Kosha as well, furthering his torment. It might be a bit of a stretch, but oh well.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
rgrove0172 said:
You actually tell the players what they are wondering?
I always just let the players decide what their characters do and think.
rgrove0172
Mongoose
Well Vincent, this is a bit different than say - presenting elements of the actual ongoing plot and telling the players what they think about it, which of course would not be good gaming fare. This is a bit of colorful background only, used to give the players a little more insight into the world around them. The tower in this case has no bearing on thier game except as a backdrop. You could just as easily tell them that - "They have heard terrible things about the city of Arenjun and clutch thier coin purses a bit tighter as they pass throught the gates." Do they really? Well maybe, that would be up to them, but the narrative helps set the stage and draw the players into the environment. I dont see it as telling them what to think, an neither would they Im pretty sure. As Ive stated in a couple threads, I enjoy the narrative flow of the game and its a major part of our interaction. At times this may take a few liberties but in the end it doesnt hamstring the player's free will. Take the following statements, typical of one of my games for example.
"Your eyes widen as the big man steps into the room, slowly pulling the heavy tulwar from his belt. Your knuckles crack on the hilt of your own sword with just a hint of doubt..."
Are they really afraid, probably not but describing it this way really gives the situation some spark.
"The smells of the Maul assault your senses, the overwhelming stench momentarily causing you to wretch. As you wipe the spittle from your beard you notice what appears to be an arm potruding from a pile of filth by the wall. Gagging you lose the rest of your meal into the street."
Here again, does the character really throwup? Would that require a resistance roll? It doesnt matter. They arent in combat, its not going to affect their reputation or a subsequent diplomacy roll or anything so why not describe it that way? It makes for a cool scene and really paints the vileness of the Maul in an appropriately dark manner.
This was my intent for the Tower description. Lend the scene a little validity by hinting at the Elephant story and give a little color to the city around them.
"Your eyes widen as the big man steps into the room, slowly pulling the heavy tulwar from his belt. Your knuckles crack on the hilt of your own sword with just a hint of doubt..."
Are they really afraid, probably not but describing it this way really gives the situation some spark.
"The smells of the Maul assault your senses, the overwhelming stench momentarily causing you to wretch. As you wipe the spittle from your beard you notice what appears to be an arm potruding from a pile of filth by the wall. Gagging you lose the rest of your meal into the street."
Here again, does the character really throwup? Would that require a resistance roll? It doesnt matter. They arent in combat, its not going to affect their reputation or a subsequent diplomacy roll or anything so why not describe it that way? It makes for a cool scene and really paints the vileness of the Maul in an appropriately dark manner.
This was my intent for the Tower description. Lend the scene a little validity by hinting at the Elephant story and give a little color to the city around them.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Interesting. I never put actions or thoughts on the players. I just describe it as they see, smell, feel, taste and/or hear it and let them decide their own reactions. Different style, I guess. Interesting.
I must admit, I also steer clear of this. I'm very much of the GM provides the world, players do the charatcers school. Invading the players' moods is invading the players' space. I guess assumptions vary!
Actually, I always found the site of Yara's tower a little odd. He's supposed to be the power behind the throne of Zamora: its odd he's so far from the king.
Actually, I always found the site of Yara's tower a little odd. He's supposed to be the power behind the throne of Zamora: its odd he's so far from the king.
slaughterj
Mongoose
VincentDarlage said:
I'm generally with you, but it seems that approach doesn't hurt anything, so it's fine as well. Note, I might do something approaching that on occasion, if the character would think of it but the player has not for some reason, e.g., say "As you leave the oddity behind, you *may* wonder what manner of catastrophe could have brought such a power down" to clue in the PC scholar to consider making some knowledge rolls and get some information that might be pertinent to have.
