DragonQuest Campaign Newsletter issue 11.0
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Where We Left Off..
Game Date: July 16th
The party is in Mirzapur, waiting for their meeting with the Mage Caranthir on Firday. Hopefully, Caranthir will be able to help the party track down Amar Das, who is believed to be the current owner of the Amulet of Sisuthros, originally in the possession of Aldeberon and sought after by the Dark Prince. It is known that this Amulet plays a role in a number of dark rituals.
Wesson asked the party to find out more about the Amulet or perhaps even find it and prevent the Dark Prince’s goons from getting it. Gfand, the scholar specializing in artifacts, is traveling with the party.
Caranthir was a long-time comrade of Amar Das’, up until about 20 years ago when Das became a hermit. About 15 years or so ago, rumor has it that Das was killed by an assassin, rumor which was confirmed by Caranthir (and everyone else) in his brief meeting with the party in the street.
Rumors & News of Current Events (top)
Adventurers’ Guild Postings (top)
Tidbits (top)
Citystates - Politics
While the exact governments of the individual Citystates differ, the politics are similar. There are four distinct arenas for politics: Government, religions, magic users, and underground.
Government: Most citystates are set up with an individual as the head of state. A good example of this is Jhansibad, where the rather insane Prince. However, increasing numbers of citystates are adopting a more mercantile attitude, and the Prince is usually just the chief officer of a council made up of prominent citizens (Nobles, Merchants, Mages). The official government of citystates create, judge, and enforce the laws of the realm, usually relying on a network of magistrates and city guard for the judging and enforcing.
Religion: The various Religions are traditionally ruled by a council of Priests, though it is largely ineffective. The Priests on the council spend more time bickering amongst themselves and maneuvering in their own internal politics. Traditionally, any crime, except a capital one, committed by an initiate of a priestly order or involving temple property falls under the jurisdiction of that particular temple. Usually there is a great amount of bickering between the temples and they all try to maintain some secrecy of their own inner dealings.
Mages: The magic using communities are often bound by their own codes, and loosely guided by a council of powerful mages. Often, this falls under the governing of the Mages’ Guild, and they don’t take particularly kindly to practicing Adepts who are not up to date on their dues. Despite drawing on the magical community, the Mages’ Guild lacks the clout of the Adventurers Guild, mainly because the AG has a larger membership (including mages), and the Mages’ Guild is not nearly so well coordinated. Like the religious sector, there is usually a fair amount of infighting and political maneuvering between the powerful mages and the adepts of particular colleges.
Underground: The criminal element in most cities will be organized under the leadership of one or more men. Often, there will be rival organizations in the larger cities, though small towns will have one particular individual who metes out justice to those who cross his wishes.
Artifact Alert
Dancing Swords of Khalim - An ancient ruler recruited the Mage Khalim to construct for him the perfect army - swords that wielded themselves! Khalim set about his task, and after several years produced one hundred such swords. The ruler then set about conquering neighboring realms with his Dancing Swords. When he demanded more of Khalim, Khalim refused, saying that he could not make any more. He did not live much longer, but the ruler did not long outlive him. Apparently, part of the magic of the swords was also to strike down any who were involved in Khalim’s death. Very few in the court survived. Since then, the swords have long since been separated and spread across the world. In most cases, the trigger for the magic is unknown so they are nothing more than very well crafted broadswords, but a few owners do know how to coax them to life.
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