THE LAND OF NOD: Madame Blavatsky is my Dungeon Master

http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/madame-blavatsky-is-m...

SinceI'mcurrentlyworkingonapseudoAtlantishexcrawlatthemoment, I'vebeendoingsomelightreading(i.e.Wikipedia)onsubjectsrelatedto undersealandformsand,ofcourse,Atlantis.This,ofcourse,leadmeto somearticlesonMadameBlavatsky'sTheosophyandthatgroup'sthoughts onAtlantisanditsplaceintheircosmology.AsIreaduponthe"rootraces" concept,Icouldn'thelpbutseefertilegroundforaveryentertaining sciencefantasycampaign.Whatfollowsisanoutlinethatfolksmightnd useful: Thetheosophistsbelieved(okay,madeupsorry,I'mascienceguy,soI don'tjibewellwiththerealmsofpseudohistory,pseudoanthropology andpseudoscience)theconceptofrootracesracesof"humanity"that precededmodernhumanbeings.Theseracesweresupposedtobeour forebears,andindeedsharedtheplanetwithus.Theplanet,intheseelder dayslongforgotten,planetEarthwasquiteabitdierentthantheEarth weknowtoday,geographicallyspeaking.Thetheosophistswereworking oofsometheoriespopularatthetimethathavesincebeenabandoned,specicallythenotionthatcontinents couldsinkintoandberaisedfromtheoceandepths.Now,understandingcontinentaldriftaswenowdo,weknow that,indeed,Earth'scontinentswerecongureddierentlybackinthedaywejustalsoknowthatthiswasn'tdue tocontinentssinkingorrisingfromtheoceanoor. ATheosophyinspiredcampaignwillbesetinthewaningdaysofAtlantis.Thatcontinentisnolongeratitsheight (thistiesintotheimpliedsettinginD&Dofamedievalworldbuiltontheruinsofamorehighlyadvanced(eitherin termsofscienceormagic)world),butitisn'tatthepointwhereit'ssinkingintothesea.Wewillalsoassumethat theotherrootracesarestillknockingaround,andthatmodernhumansarenowappearingonthescenethat givesusthe"multipleraces"conceptweneedforgoodandproperD&D.Ofcourse,we'regoingtomesswiththose racesjustabittomakethemworkbetterintermsofthegamerules. So,rstthingsrstwhatarethedierentraces,andwherecantheybefound.

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THE LAND OF NOD: Madame Blavatsky is my Dungeon Master

http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/madame-blavatsky-is-m...

Therstrace,theeldestrace(sowe'llcallthemtheelders)wereanetherealrace.Thesefolksareactually composedofethericmatterwhichinD&Dtermsmeanstheycanonlybehit(orattackmaterialcreatures)with silverandmagicweapons.Thatdoesn'tworktoowellasaplayablerace.Theoriginalelderswereformedwhen Earthwasstillcoolingtheiretherealbodieswereunaectedbytheheatbuttheirdescendantsarelessethereal. Theyreproduceasamoebas,bydividingtheirbodies,andaretheforebearsofthesecondrootrace,agolden skinnedpeople.Perhapsthesemoderneldersarehalfwaybetweentheirpurelyetherealforebearsandtheirgolden skinneddescendants.They'llhavesilverygreyskin,beslightandgraceful,canwalkthroughwallsonceinawhile butareotherwisevulnerableasnormalhumansaretocoldandheatandphysicalduress.Theirslightformsmake themquiet(i.e.movesilently).Becausetheyreproducebydividing,theyareasexual.Whiletheycanbefoundall overtheprimordialworld,their"homebase"isMountMeru,anethereal(andinvisible)mountainatthecenterof allcreation.

EldersforB&T Eldersaremediumsizedcreatureswithabaselandspeedof30.Theyhavedarkvisiontoarangeof60 feetandaknackformovingsilently.Sincethematteroftheirbodiesisonlyabout90%material,they sueraonepointpenaltytostartingstrength,butgainaonepointbonustostartingdexterity;an elder'sstartingabilityscorescannotbereducedbelow3orincreasedabove18duetothese modiers.Onceperday,aneldercanforcetheirbodiestobecomecompletelyethereal,perthe

etherealjauntspell,for1fullminute.Inaddition,aneldercanreduceitssolidityenoughtoreproduce theeectsoftheblurspellforatotalof1minuteperday.Elderscanmulticlassasghter/thieves, thief/magicusersandthief/clerics.

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THE LAND OF NOD: Madame Blavatsky is my Dungeon Master

http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/madame-blavatsky-is-m...

ThesecondrootracearetheKimpurshas(sometimescalledHyperboreans).TheKimpurshasaregoldenskinned humanoidswhoreproducebybuddingsoagain,nomalesorfemalesinthisrace.Theyhailedfromagreat northerncontinentthatwastropical,becauseEarthhadnotyetreceiveditsaxialtilt.Intime,thiscontinentwas shatteredandaltered,suchthattheKimpurshashadtomoveon.Theycanstillbefoundintheworldasnomadic seapeoplessometimesmerchants,sometimespiratesmovingaboutingreat,ancientgalleys.

KimpurshasforB&T Kimpurshasaremediumsizedcreatureswithabaselandspeedof30.Theyhavedarkvisiontoarange of60feet.Possessedofvril(mysticenergy)intheirveins,theyenjoyaonepointbonustotheir startingcharismascoresduetothisinfusionofenergy,butsueraonepointpenaltytotheirstarting intelligencescoresduetotheirprimitivelifestyle;anelder'sstartingabilityscorescannotbereduced below3orincreasedabove18duetothesemodiers.Akimpursha'smagicalbloodgivesthema+3 bonustosavevs.magicaleects(spells,powers,etc.)anda+1bonustoallothersavingthrows;they arefamedfortheirluck.Askimpurshasarenomadsofthewaves,theyhaveaninnateabilitytopredict theweatherandaknackforkeepingtheirbalance.Theirclimbspeedupnonsheersurfaces(i.e. wheretheyhavehandholds)is15feetperround.Kimpurshascanmulticlassassorcerer/ghters, sorcerer/thievesandsorcerer/clerics.

ThethirdracearetheShalmalians(sometimescalledLemurians).TheShalmaliansaretallerandlargerthan modernhumans,andhaveblackskin.TheyinhabitedthecontinentofShalmali(Lemuria)intheIndianOceanand southwestPacic,acontinentthatisnolongerwithus.TheirremnantpopulationsnowresideinprotoAfrica, protoIndiaandprotoAustralia.TherewerefoursubracesoftheShalmalians,therstthreereproducingbylaying eggs,thefourthasmodernhumans.Ithinkforourpurposesitismorefuntohavethembeegglayers(whichalso givesanicetieintoBarsoom!).Theyaren'tasadvancedastheAtlanteans,sowe'llgivethemamedievallevelof technologyandcoolweaponsandarmorsbasedonAfricaandIndia.Sincedinosaursstillroamthisprimordial Earth,we'llalsomakethemthemastersofthesegreatbeasts,usingthemasbeastsofburdensandaswarbeasts. Imaginean8ft.tallShalmalianknightastrideatriceratopsinmirrorarmorwithlanceandcurvedsword!

ShalmaliansforB&T Shalmaliansaremediumsizedcreatures(thoughtheyoftengrowtoalmost9feetinheight)witha baselandspeedof30feet.Theirsizegivesthematwopointbonustostartingstrength,butthey sueraonepointpenaltytostartingwisdomduetotheirbravadoandtendencytousetheirstrength tosolvetheirproblems;anelder'sstartingabilityscorescannotbereducedbelow3orincreased above18duetothesemodiers.Shalmalianshaveaknackfortamingwildanimalsandusingthemas mounts.Theycanmulticlassasghter/clerics,ghter/magicusersandghter/thieves.

ThefourthracearetheAtlanteans,ofwhichtherewereseveralsubraces.Forourpurposes,wehavetheHigh Atlanteans(essentiallybasedontheAmericanIndians)andtheLowAtlanteans(essentiallybasedontheTuranian peoplesanicetietoHyborea!).TheHighAtlanteansbuiltanamazingcivilizationthatharnessedvril(googleit!)to powertheiryingmachines,telecommunications,etc.Theyhadaerialbattleshipsthatcarried50to100ghting menwholaunchedpoisongasbombsandretippedarrows,etc.TheHighAtlanteansworshippedtheSunasthe ancientEgyptiansdid(theirdescendants)soourLawfulclericsaresunworshipers.Unfortunately,theyeventually felltousingblackmagic(chaosclericsandmagicusers)andbecamematerialistictheyfall,andtheLow Atlanteans(whoalsouseblackmagic)becomedominant.Atlantisistornbystrifeandgoespostapocalypticonus.

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THE LAND OF NOD: Madame Blavatsky is my Dungeon Master

http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com.es/2013/07/madame-blavatsky-is-m...

Someoldvrilpoweredtechnology(magicitems)survive,butmostisgone.Thepeoplehaveamedievallevelof technologynowandtheendiscomingsoon.

HighAtlanteansforB&T HighAtlanteansaremediumsizedcreatureswithabaselandspeedof30.Naturalmagicians,they enjoyaonepointbonustostartingintelligence.Theiroverrelianceonvrilpoweredtechnologyand nelivingimposesaonepointpenaltyontheirstartingconstitution.HighAtlanteansareusually welleducated,andhaveaknackfordecipheringcodesandactivatingmagicuserscrolls(witha penaltytotherollequaltothelevelofthespell;oneanactivationisfailed,thescrollisworthlessand theAtlanteansuersdamageequaltothelevelofthespell).HighAtlanteanshavelimitedtelepathic abilities,beingabletocommunicatetelepathicallywithsentientcreaturesupto150feetaway.This alsoallowsthemtoattempttoimplantasuggestion,perthespell,onceperdayinotherhumanoids. HighAtlanteanscanmulticlassasghter/magicusers,cleric/magicusersandmagicuser/thieves. LowAtlanteansforB&T LowAtlanteansaremediumsizedcreatureswithabaselandspeedof30.Theyenjoyaonepoint bonustostartingintelligencebutsuernoconstitutionpenalty,andtheyhaveaknackfordeciphering codesandcancommunicatetelepathicallyupto150feet,butwithouttheabilitytoimplant suggestions.LowAtlanteanscanmulticlass,asHighAtlanteans,atrstlevelorchoosetochange classesinmidplayashumans.

Thefthrace(andnowthingsgettricky)aretheAryans.Yeah,thepeoplewith"mooncolored"skin.Theyemerge fromtheAtlanteanraceandleaveAtlantistofoundotherkingdomsspecicallyonanislandintheshallowsea thatwillbecometheSaharaDesertTheCityoftheSun,andonasimilarislandinwhatwillbecometheGobi DesertTheCityoftheBridge,locateddirectlybeneaththeethericcityofShamballa.Thesepeopleareguidedby theLordoftheWorldandwilleventuallybecomemanydierentpeoplesinthemodernworldHindus,Arabs, Persians,Greeks,Celts,TeutonsandSlavs.Toplaythiscampaign,you'llneedtogetovertheoldideaoftheAryans beingamasterrace,andjustplaythemas"normalhumans".Ifnecessary,dropthewordAryan.

AryansforB&TashumansinB&T

Sowehavealargecampaignmapandseveralraces.Classesareaccordingtowhateverversionofthegameyou play.Thepointisstilloneofexploration(primarilyintheruinsofAtlantis)andtreasurehunting.Lawfulclericswant toreestablishSunworship,somaybetheywanttoenterAtlantisinsearchofholyrelics.Magicusersaresearching forancientAtlanteanwisdomperhapsallmagicinthiscampaignispoweredbyvril,andthemagicusersaretrying todiscoverthesecretsofthatscience,nowlosttomankind(butstilllurkinginthehollowworldwiththeaasimar vrilya).Wildlifeisfromtheageofthedinosaurs(whichmeanswhateverdinosaurswelike,andmaybewellthrow insomeancientmammalsaswell).Serpentmenarelurkingabout,aswellasotherdegenerates(goblins,orcs, etc.).Yougettheidea.

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