Questions for Scott about the Sunchaser setting.

[Morgenstern]

So why not simply remove the fruit before it can ripen?

That would come after making your way past an army of zealot Erron, and then surviving the tree iteself (I smell stacking poison DCs with a cap around 500).

I always figured having a go at the tree was end-game climax on par with the final battle with the Crone (just further north) .

[ArawnNox]

So, I'm typing up a little primer for my friends back north to have before I go up for the holidays, and I notice that, under the list for common species feats is "Spider Nation".
I had already begun to work dark elves into the setting in my head, thinking of them as a rare breed of elf from possibly a different land altogether that follow the Crone and the Burning Maw. Players with this, in my mind, are those that have turned away from that and thus, are next to unknown by the community at large, except maybe there are those who heard of them through passed-down stories.

I wonder what Scott's plans for them were? Are they maybe the strange elves that are spoken of once or twice that still live in the elven ruins? Or is it more along the lines of: Ignore the Noble Feat, and focus on the stats; they're not exactly "dark elves" just a different sub-species?

[Morgenstern]

I wonder what Scott's plans for them were? Are they maybe the strange elves that are spoken of once or twice that still live in the elven ruins? Or is it more along the lines of: Ignore the Noble Feat, and focus on the stats; they're not exactly "dark elves" just a different sub-species?

I don't actually remember putting that in there, but when you mention it I immediately think of the gaunt elves of the ruins along the southern edge of Anmai. Turning in to driders is probably not appropriate, but the Nation feat seems like a sound representation of the 'old ways' turned horribly in on themselves.

Did you check out the Talon Rock quest hub thread? It was set in that area.

[Morgenstern]

Sorry, meant to get back to this at the time :|.

Just a quick question, are elves born from the elf blooded Janno, or can only full elves beget more elves? Also, do the elves talk about the catastrophe that ruined their civilization, or is that one part of their culture that they do not pass on?

Only elves beget elves without intervention by the Silver crown (which is rare, but not unheard of - their specific blessing can give what would otherwise be an elf-blooded child fully elven mechanics/Origin). It takes sincere desire from both parents though. For many the trace of elven blood its just a footnote, for those with the Janno or similar Orgins it's noticably manifest (and taking one of the Elven 'Nation' feats can make it quite strongly manifest - no mistaking a Janno with the Swan Nation feat!). The Elven-blood feat or Fey heritage are also perfectly justifiable for humans from the Janno region, though such extreme expressions are not common.

As to 'the Devestation' of the Elven civilization, they themselves don't know much about it. Their numbers were so harrowed that their civilizaiton colapsed to the point of oral tradition only. The elves talk about it all the time in terms of mythology about a golden age now gone with only a few ruined towers s reminders - the gods however have nothing to say on the matter. These are elves perhaps 2 full generations into a hard-core post appocalypse when the humans showed up. Gaunt Elves should give off a serious Mad Max vibe - feral scavengers picking over the corpse of their own past. Come down hard on the Burden of Ages angle; this is a species on it's way out the door and they know it. The ones in Anmai survived only because the fundamental ecology is so friendly. You can support a decent tribe on hunter/gather tech on these plains even after getting blown all the way back below the agricultural age. once you hit the Saltweep, everything east of there is dead, dead, dead. Anmai is basically only a border province of what had been a MUCH larger civilization, and the heart of that civilization got torn out and lit on fire. Yeah, there's some plot hooks lurking out on the seared wastes of Avva's Anvil  . Ogre and the Bloodghost are just the tip of the... well. Probably not an iceberg, but something big.

I know that this is a bit off topic here but these are three of my 3rd level pregens for an upcoming game (the darkest hour) (still trying to stat the mage):

1.) Jack Serpentfang
Human Cunning Rogue Burglar, Janno

Went straight through the knife melee combat feat tree (basics, mastery, supremacy). The "Serpentfang" is a goblin sacrificial blade (Large superior goblin razor with lure and grip applied) that he stole from a Burning Maw encampment before the last sunpool jump. Someone probably wants that back.

Roleplaying hints: Suave and smirky, the eternal Janno rascal, as liable to steal your heart as to gut you, tempered with a healthy dose of looking over the shoulder for the inevitable comuppance.

2.) Jagged River
Rootwalker Barbarian Martial Artist, Sharos

Rage basics and rage mastery combined with mistbranch and native ferocity makes this guy the groups heavy hitter.

Roleplaying hints: Just because most Green Erron are "civilized" and calm doesn't mean there aren't some that break the mould. You fight hard and you booze hard, and when the chips are down, you summon some of that famous Erron wrath to even the odds.

3.) The living Statue of Elaena, Herald Angel Handmaiden of the Silver Crown (nominally Janno)
Unborn Cleric Priest

With floater and a longbow as a ritual weapon, this character can rain down death from the skies in between healing folk with her enlightened skill medicine (or resolve rather, but every point in resolve is a point in medicine) and her two steps in the life path. One step on heroism's path evens the odds during dramatic scenes.

Roleplaying hints: When they were attacked by a goblin raiding party, the citizens of Caer Bedwyn took refuge in the nearby elven ruins. They beseeched the spirits of the silver crown to render them succor and it is said that the very stones themselves came to life and stepped off their pillars to aid them, covered all over with flowing silver runes.

That was your origin, and the song of the Silver Crown is always with you, as you spread the light of ages past in this time of darkness.

prototype00

I love them all .

[The_Grand_User]

My turn for a few questions for Scott

My group is about to be (finally!) starting a new campaign, using both FC and Sunchaser for the first time, and I get to be the first GM of rotating GM duties (the sunpools provide such a convenient mechanic to do so).

I’ll generally be running adventures in the Black Peaks region, and particularly focusing on the conflict between the drakes and the goblins there, and probably convincing the drakes and Dragon Kings of the threat of the Crone and helping mankind against her. There are a couple drakes in the party (one PC, one NPC companion) so that should provide plenty of motive for the party to help the drakes.

The Questions!

• The Black Peaks goblins, what relations do they have with the nearby orcs in the Kaia Jungle?
• Do the goblins confront the drakes directly on raids, or are they more about sneaking around and stealing the young? If the former, how do they go about it? Do they have flying mounts (I figure something nasty)?
• How best to build/run those goblins who have consumed the young drakes and stole their powers?
• Are the Matha aware of the goblins preying upon the drakes and would they be interested in helping or not? Have the drakes asked for help, or are they too proud to do so?
• What are the relations between the drakes and the other people groups besides the Matha?
• Will you be providing bonus content for Sunchaser some day?

Thanks for your answers and a great setting!

[Morgenstern]

My turn for a few questions for Scott

My pleasure .

I’ll generally be running adventures in the Black Peaks region, and particularly focusing on the conflict between the drakes and the goblins there, and probably convincing the drakes and Dragon Kings of the threat of the Crone and helping mankind against her. There are a couple drakes in the party (one PC, one NPC companion) so that should provide plenty of motive for the party to help the drakes.

Sounds like a good base to work with.

The Black Peaks goblins, what relations do they have with the nearby orcs in the Kaia Jungle?

The goblins think of the Orcs the way we think of summer blockbuster movies... They grab some popcorn and watch the show when the orcs show up. While goblin raiding might uptick slightly while a Orc rampage is passing through, theo orcs kill everything indiscrimatealy, so the goblins mostly stay out of the way. They might pick off some targets of aopportunity in the aftermath, but ussually the surviving humans are so spun up on military standby it's not the best time to visit. The orcs stay out of the high mountian areas ("drake territory") so while the drakes do often come out in fair numbers to help the Matha, the goblins can benefit by stepping up their attacks on the drakes in their absence, rather than than attacking the Matha.

Do the goblins confront the drakes directly on raids, or are they more about sneaking around and stealing the young? If the former, how do they go about it? Do they have flying mounts (I figure something nasty)?

The black peaks are riddled with extensive volcanic cave systems, some big enough for Drakes to nest and even hold massive  gatherings in... and others just big enough for a goblin to squeeze through. So, surprisingly, the goblins have more practical mobility than the drakes do - underground they can outmanuever and escape drakes quite easily if the pick their battlefields right. Underground attacks do a great job of neutralizing the drake advantage of flight. This is one area where the human-drake alliance shines: most early humans had excellent stone cutting and mining skills, and that knowledge remains common among the 4 kingdoms, so humans are often brought in to collapse smaller tunnels, widen larger tunnels and generally help fortify desirable drake caves against goblin incursion.

How best to build/run those goblins who have consumed the young drakes and stole their powers?

About 75% of the goblins in the black peaks should have the Draconic Heritage feat. This immediately sets the tone for these little buggers. Those goblins that have personally drank the blood and eaten the flesh of a drake straight off the still-warm bones have the option to take the Draconic Legacy feat (ignore the ussual species restrictions). Yes, some black peaks goblins can fly .

Are the Matha aware of the goblins preying upon the drakes and would they be interested in helping or not? Have the drakes asked for help, or are they too proud to do so?

Innitially the drakes had no idea what was happening to their eggs and young. This period allowed the goblins to get their innitial hold on the region and gain the broad traces of Draconic Heritage in their numbers. Now the threat is fairly well understood and humans are definitely part of the fight, where their small (to a drake) size is a great asset. Similarly the Goblins have learned about their enemies and are much more comfortable attacking adults and calling a feast for multiple bands, ensuring scores or even hundreds of goblins get a sip and a bite when a large drake falls.

What are the relations between the drakes and the other people groups besides the Matha?

They respect the Matha (and the Rascal) for being smart/clever. When meeting new humans from other regions they'll probably try to test their knowledge or wits just a little to see if they are similarly deserving of respect, or should be lumped in as 'slightly slow' If they think you're not real bright they can be a little disdainful and talk slower. They are so confident of their superior physical prowess that a good, friendly thrashing can also earn their respect (Pummel a drake unconcious, and he'll never give you crap about not knowing the answers to any of his 8 favorite riddles ever again).

Will you be providing bonus content for Sunchaser some day?

There are several master classes addapted for the setting available through the boards/wiki and I put some of my work in context for Sunchaser, but I don't guide official releases. My current project is creating a number of bounties - special one-shot encounters with tough NPCs, but I'm not as gifted with the NPC generation system as some folks so while I have Ideas I haven't fully executed any of them yet. I have a pair of beefed up beggar beetles I want to put out there at some point. You may also see some Sunchaser themes spells and paths after Spellbound comes out.

hanks for your answers and a great setting!

Glad you are enjoying it. I hope you'll share some reports from the game

[The_Grand_User]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I hadn't considered the natural tunnels as a route for the goblins. Thsi opens up possibilities, hmm.

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

Yes, some black peaks goblins can fly .

And now my image of the Crone as the Wicked Witch of the West is complete. 

[Morgenstern]

I think more grey than green, but the wicked witch motif seems fitting. Just remember that she occasionally snatches up and hurls ogres one-handed .

[paddyfool]

Would it be appropriate to have a Drake/Saurian Priest of the Dragon Kings (ie, do they grant power in that way?)

[Morgenstern]

Yes. The Dragon Kings alignment is fully functional for characters that take steps along Paths. That the six Dragon Kings physically reside in remote corners of the world does not reduce their nigh-immortal power.

(its a little like the Olympian pantheon - the belivers CAN point at a mountain and tell their young, "some of the Gods reside right there.")

[The_Grand_User]

So approximately where do the drakes/saurians point to say where their gods are?

The drake priest in the party would like to know

[Seuss]

Sunhaser is set up to absorb new character options very easily, so giants can be introduced as player characters or a one-off threat as easily as saying "And then one stumbles out of a sunpool." They are not intended as a sustained threat or pressence in the setting - partially to differentiate it from the norse-inspired Godspawn. If you did want to add them on a full-time basis I would sugest small communities high in the Rainwall mountains.

Just a quick question regarding the AWESOMENESS that is Sunchaser.  These Rainwall Mountains you reference.  I have been unable to find them in the Sunchaser chapter nor the map.  My assumption is they are located in the Brenne-Stones since that seems to be where the fey/elementals reside and Giants to me have always been "elemental".  An "official" clarification though would be great though 

Seuss

[Morgenstern]

Just a quick question regarding the AWESOMENESS that is Sunchaser.  These Rainwall Mountains you reference.  I have been unable to find them in the Sunchaser chapter nor the map.  My assumption is they are located in the Brenne-Stones since that seems to be where the fey/elementals reside and Giants to me have always been "elemental".  An "official" clarification though would be great though 

Glad you're liking it .

The Rainwall is the mountainrange east of Anmai - Its quite high and probably a significant contributor to the arrid climate of the desert and steppes beyond.

[The_Grand_User]

How long is it from one end of the Thousand River Valley to the other? If how long to travel if you go by the rivers?