Bestiary notes

[Narek]

Soviet wrote:
>
> Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
> 1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
> fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins everywhere....what
> do you all think?

I totally agree, most goblins should be just a strong as human barbarians with
the others moving up from there.

> 2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by Azrai
> bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the halflings
> escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
> didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
> anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
> counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would they
> be like?

I don't know about this one, after all elves and dwarves are natural to
Cerilla, why not most of the monsters. I do think though that dragons should
be alittle more common than one dozen - how about a score and a half.
- --
Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - WebsiteTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Grimwell, Cerilian]

>From: Soviet
>Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
>1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
>fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins
>everywhere....what
>do you all think?
>

Well the way I have taken Goblins of Cerilia is that they are all just as
capable of holding levels as any other race out there. I give them an even
keel. For the most part I use the stats of the three strains (goblin,
hobgoblin, and bugbear) as a basis for a start and then give them "levels"
when appropriate to make them the right kind of challenge.

For the most part I will never raise them more than 4 HD above where they
start unless they are somehow special (ie: blooded) and deserve more of a
class treatment. I also allow them to emulate a few of the character
classes, the 3E T-shirt stating that there would be evil gnoll rangers was
just a confirmation of something I have done all along.

The most important thing I have tried to keep in mind is that the Goblins
were once a thriving and strong culture and people. Only the combined might
of humans and elves could beat them down into barbarism. They still remember
this greatness in their stories, and are, by no means, moronic and idiotic.
Just short on resources and organization.

I also have a number of goblin ruins in my cerilia, to parallel the elven
ones. Same goes for long lost magic items. Goblin wizards used to be a power
IMC.


>
Grimwell, wizard of Cerilia
The Birthright Revival is NOW! :)
When you've had the best, why buy the rest?


__________________________________________________ _____________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.comTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Soviet]

Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins everywhere....what
do you all think?

2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by Azrai
bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the halflings
escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would they
be like?
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Soviet]

exactly my point...who knows how powerful were the goblins before the time of
Humans...heck if the Vos could turn from a cultured magical society into
Barbarism why not the Goblins..perhaps this is how Azrai gained their trust by
promising of times long ago...

"Grimwell, Cerilian" wrote:

> >From: Soviet
> >Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
> >1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
> >fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins
> >everywhere....what
> >do you all think?
> >
>
> Well the way I have taken Goblins of Cerilia is that they are all just as
> capable of holding levels as any other race out there. I give them an even
> keel. For the most part I use the stats of the three strains (goblin,
> hobgoblin, and bugbear) as a basis for a start and then give them "levels"
> when appropriate to make them the right kind of challenge.
>
> For the most part I will never raise them more than 4 HD above where they
> start unless they are somehow special (ie: blooded) and deserve more of a
> class treatment. I also allow them to emulate a few of the character
> classes, the 3E T-shirt stating that there would be evil gnoll rangers was
> just a confirmation of something I have done all along.
>
> The most important thing I have tried to keep in mind is that the Goblins
> were once a thriving and strong culture and people. Only the combined might
> of humans and elves could beat them down into barbarism. They still remember
> this greatness in their stories, and are, by no means, moronic and idiotic.
> Just short on resources and organization.
>
> I also have a number of goblin ruins in my cerilia, to parallel the elven
> ones. Same goes for long lost magic items. Goblin wizards used to be a power
> IMC.
>
> >
> Grimwell, wizard of Cerilia
> The Birthright Revival is NOW! :)
> When you've had the best, why buy the rest?
>
> __________________________________________________ _____________
> Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
> ************************************************** *************************
> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
> with the line 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Peter Hodge]

Okay, my two cents worth:

Re: goblins - I think they are fine as they are. Remember that there are
three major strains of goblins already, with the toughest being equivalent
to a bugbear. I think making the "weakest" as tough as a human barbarian
means you would have to come with a very good reason why the goblins hadn't
pushed every other race off Cerilia! I think having a standard goblin
roughly the same as a standard human peasant is a good match. Of course, the
PCs would rarely, if ever, get the chance to fight these weaklings :)

Secondly, on the topic of dragons - I think it would be a horrible mistake
to up the frequency of these creatures - even a score and a half would be
too many for a number of reasons - first and foremost, 30 dragons are not
going to be able to hideaway the way half a dozen can - this would mean in
large increase in the number of dragon sightings at the very least and
possibly many more actual encounters (short and fatal but more frequent
:) ). This would detract from the mystery surrounding Cerilian dragons - one
of the most wonderful aspects of Cerilia, for me, is the rarity of these
awesome creatures and the fact that most of the populace (in Anuire
especially) probably believes dragon's have long since died out or never
even existed at all.

Basically, I think we should leave the current lot of the Birthright
creatures alone - I think most of them have a proven track record, and more
importantly are probably fairly similar from campaign to campaign. Let's
create our new ones instead?

However, that said, I really like your idea of having derro/dueragar/etc as
Shadow twisted versions of Cerilian humanoids - every campaign needs the
drow :)

- --
Peter "Dragon" Hodge

E-mail: dragon@uq.net.au
Website: www.uq.net.au\~zzphodge

- -----Original Message-----
From: Narek
To: birthright@lists.imagiconline.com
Date: Thursday, 12 August 1999 10:37
Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Bestiary notes


>Soviet wrote:
>>
>> Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
>> 1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
>> fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins
everywhere....what
>> do you all think?
>
>I totally agree, most goblins should be just a strong as human barbarians
with
>the others moving up from there.
>
>> 2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by
Azrai
>> bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the
halflings
>> escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
>> didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
>> anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
>> counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would
they
>> be like?
>
>I don't know about this one, after all elves and dwarves are natural to
>Cerilla, why not most of the monsters. I do think though that dragons
should
>be alittle more common than one dozen - how about a score and a half.
>--
>Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
>Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
>http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - Website
>************************************************** *************************
>To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
>with the line 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
>
>
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Soviet]

Peter Hodge wrote:

> Okay, my two cents worth:
>
> Re: goblins - I think they are fine as they are. Remember that there are
> three major strains of goblins already, with the toughest being equivalent
> to a bugbear. I think making the "weakest" as tough as a human barbarian
> means you would have to come with a very good reason why the goblins hadn't
> pushed every other race off Cerilia!

I have the answer..they are not unified..they war against each other...but if
only the Ghengis of all goblins came and assembled a Horde...well lets just say
thta humans everywere would tremble....

> I think having a standard goblin
> roughly the same as a standard human peasant is a good match. Of course, the
> PCs would rarely, if ever, get the chance to fight these weaklings :)
>

IMHO goblins should be treated as a nopther PC race like dwarves, elves, ect..

>
> Secondly, on the topic of dragons - I think it would be a horrible mistake
> to up the frequency of these creatures - even a score and a half would be
> too many for a number of reasons - first and foremost, 30 dragons are not
> going to be able to hideaway the way half a dozen can - this would mean in
> large increase in the number of dragon sightings at the very least and
> possibly many more actual encounters (short and fatal but more frequent
> :) ). This would detract from the mystery surrounding Cerilian dragons - one
> of the most wonderful aspects of Cerilia, for me, is the rarity of these
> awesome creatures and the fact that most of the populace (in Anuire
> especially) probably believes dragon's have long since died out or never
> even existed at all.
>

I'm with you in this..I'm currently working on an adventure in which Tarazin is
about to have offspring. and that event alone has had an effect in the terrain
for miles around....

>
> Basically, I think we should leave the current lot of the Birthright
> creatures alone - I think most of them have a proven track record, and more
> importantly are probably fairly similar from campaign to campaign. Let's
> create our new ones instead?
>

I for one think for Cerilia being a lom Magic world it has to many a variety of
creatures..we should let many of the creatures be Anshewleign and deal with the
existing ones...

>
> However, that said, I really like your idea of having derro/dueragar/etc as
> Shadow twisted versions of Cerilian humanoids - every campaign needs the
> drow :)
>

not every campaign...after all if you consider how nasty are Rhoubhe's elves,
they make Drow appear as fairies....but who know maybe there is a small tribe
that was left in the Shadow world...

>
> --
> Peter "Dragon" Hodge
>
> E-mail: dragon@uq.net.au
> Website: www.uq.net.au\~zzphodge
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Narek
> To: birthright@lists.imagiconline.com
> Date: Thursday, 12 August 1999 10:37
> Subject: Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] - Bestiary notes
>
> >Soviet wrote:
> >>
> >> Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
> >> 1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
> >> fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins
> everywhere....what
> >> do you all think?
> >
> >I totally agree, most goblins should be just a strong as human barbarians
> with
> >the others moving up from there.
> >
> >> 2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by
> Azrai
> >> bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the
> halflings
> >> escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
> >> didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
> >> anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
> >> counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would
> they
> >> be like?
> >
> >I don't know about this one, after all elves and dwarves are natural to
> >Cerilla, why not most of the monsters. I do think though that dragons
> should
> >be alittle more common than one dozen - how about a score and a half.
> >--
> >Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
> >Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
> >http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - Website
> >************************************************** *************************
> >To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
> >with the line 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
> >
> >
>
> ************************************************** *************************
> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
> with the line 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Narek]

Soviet wrote:
> IMHO goblins should be treated as a nopther PC race like dwarves, elves, ect..
>

Exactly!
> > However, that said, I really like your idea of having derro/dueragar/etc as
> > Shadow twisted versions of Cerilian humanoids - every campaign needs the
> > drow :)
> >
>
> not every campaign...after all if you consider how nasty are Rhoubhe's elves,
> they make Drow appear as fairies....but who know maybe there is a small tribe
> that was left in the Shadow world...
>

Actually there's already something almsot exactly like that, the nation of
Taur Annwn in Vosgaard.
- --
Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - WebsiteTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Pieter Sleijpen]

Soviet wrote:
>
> Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
> 1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
> fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins everywhere....what
> do you all think?

As many has stated before, this is hardly nessecary. I treat them as any
PC race (even going so far as to allow players to play one when the
campaign starts in the right area). Most are nothing more the 0-lvl
humans and a small percentage is leveled.

> 2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by Azrai
> bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the halflings
> escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
> didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
> anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
> counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would they
> be like?

I prefer to use a less true monsters as possible. This most likely has
rissen from my education as an ecologist. I am to aware that creatures
like harpies, manticores, giant insects and so on are to destructive to
their environment to be believeble. To me humans, humanoids and the
things they create (most notably undead) are more then enough to create
a challenge for my PC's. The few times a dangerous creature is needed
the awnsheighlien give me exactly the opertunity and it gives something
unique to it. Afterall in Greek myhtology, there was only one Gorgon and
if I remember correctly, only one pegasus. This also has got the added
benefit that polymorph other spell can not be used to create legions of
flying horses. The caster can only chose a creature he has seen...

Pieter SleijpenTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Joe & Jodi Walder]

> Dosen't one of the Monster Compendiums (one of the black-covered books, one
> of the smaller ones, don't remember the exact volume) give stats for goblins
> and Dragons
> for Cerilia?



You are correct sir! Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three has Cerilian
Dragons, Goblins and Humans. Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four has
Cerilian Fhoimorien (aka giants).

Joe
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Soviet]

what exactly is this the nation of Taur Annwn in Vosgaard?

BTW does anyone have the Fiend Folio within reach? I remember there was a monster
Entry for a creature from the Demi plane of Shadow that would fit right in the
shadowlands of Cerilia..I think it was called the Dark Stalker .....

Narek wrote:

> Soviet wrote:
> > IMHO goblins should be treated as a nopther PC race like dwarves, elves, ect..
> >
>
> Exactly!
> > > However, that said, I really like your idea of having derro/dueragar/etc as
> > > Shadow twisted versions of Cerilian humanoids - every campaign needs the
> > > drow :)
> > >
> >
> > not every campaign...after all if you consider how nasty are Rhoubhe's elves,
> > they make Drow appear as fairies....but who know maybe there is a small tribe
> > that was left in the Shadow world...
> >
>
> Actually there's already something almsot exactly like that, the nation of
> Taur Annwn in Vosgaard.
> --
> Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
> Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
> http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - Website
> ************************************************** *************************
> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
> with the line 'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Wed, 11 Aug 1999, Soviet wrote:

> Ok people lets get this bestiary thing started....
> 1) IMHO I think goblins should be redone, making them tougher, more
> fearsome...as they are they don't differ from normal goblins
everywhere....what
> do you all think?

I don't know that I agree with this, exactly. I certainly agree that they
could use more CULTURE. I love the idea of ancient goblin empires, and
their fallen civilization, so I suppose that what I would really like to
see is an "Ecology of the Cerilian Goblin." It would explain the
relationship between the three different breeds (do the types breed true?,
is it all a matter of environment--like bees feeding one larva "royal
jelly" so it grows into a queen rather than a worker?, is it a series of
genes/mutations--have no mutations and you're the "goblinoid" form, have
one mutation and you're the hobgoblin form, have both mutations and you're
the bugbear form?). What effect did/does this natural "caste" system have
on the society and culture of the goblins? I think I've mentioned before
that I see goblins as having a very "eastern" philosophical outlook on
life, sort of tribal-Confucianism, with a rigid caste system, moral code,
and a code of honor not too different from the Japanese samauri (sp?).
They seem like ravening barbarian hordes to most Anuireans, but for the
most part that's because they simply don't understand their culture (and
to be honest, most don't care to). I think it would be great if human
visitors in places like Thurazor would encounter elaborate cultural
rituals, in ancient stone palaces, that they had no idea the "barbarian"
goblins could ever have built. Nowadays, the goblins probably have no
idea how their ancestors built their palaces, having lost much of their
lore in the wars, but they are justifiably proud of their heritage. Of
course, some goblins have probably grasped for the "opportunities" of the
current Goblin Dark Ages with more glee than others (and may be largely
responsible for their bad reputation).

> 2) Most "monters" or creatures in Cerilia should be warped animal by Azrai
> bloodline or Shadow world essence, on this line of though since the halflings
> escape the shadow world fearing some evil presence, what about those that
> didn't escape, pehaps they regressed into more violent versions (Derro
> anyone?), what about the fairies (pixies,brownies, etc..), what about the
> counter part of Ogres,Goblins, and orogs in the Shadow World, what would they
> be like?

I agree that we should be cautious about throwing any old monster onto
Cerilia, but the Cerilian ecology does include one thing that our RL
doesn't, and that is mebheighl. It's there, it is capable of being used by
biological organisms, and it is capable of giving its user a fitness
advantage. So my opinion is, in the words of Ian Malcolm from _Jurassic
Park_, "Nature finds a way." Thus, I have absolutely no problem with, for
example, wyverns occuring naturally on Cerilia. My suggestion: if it
mentions anywhere in the MM entry that it is even suspected of being "an
experiment by a mad wizard..." etc., etc., you avoid it (except perhaps
for a handful, mostly in the vicininty of the Chimerae--although 1-2 may
have been successful enough to have grown more wide-spread).

Actually, one thing that bothers me--how would people have known to call
the awnsheighlein "the Gorgon," or "the Basilisk," or "The Minotaur," if
they have never seen or heard of regular gorgons or basilisks or minotaurs
with which to compare them? Are they just simply legends, like in the real
world, or where there perhaps such creatures located on the Adurian
continent? Perhaps Cerilians just THINK that they were legends passed down
from their ancestors, but if Cerilia ever begins an Age of Discovers and
starts of explore Aduria--watch out!

Also, I've been seriously considering placing fairies in the Elven woods.
My opinion is they are spirits that also fled the Corruption of the Shadow
World like the halflings, but are only capable of surviving in Elven woods
due to its magical nature (i.e. strange effects on time, shifting
landscapes, palpable "presence" felt by strangers, etc.). Such fairies
probably trust elves, dislike humans and goblins, and are neutral to
halflings and dwarves.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Thu, 12 Aug 1999, Grimwell, Cerilian wrote:

> The most important thing I have tried to keep in mind is that the Goblins
> were once a thriving and strong culture and people. Only the combined might
> of humans and elves could beat them down into barbarism. They still remember
> this greatness in their stories, and are, by no means, moronic and idiotic.
> Just short on resources and organization.
>
> I also have a number of goblin ruins in my cerilia, to parallel the elven
> ones. Same goes for long lost magic items. Goblin wizards used to be a power
> IMC.

So, you believe that the goblins were capable of casting wizardly magic
before the Battle of Deismaar just like the elves did? Interesting. Anyone
else think this way?

I would probably explain it more this way. The goblins, like humans, were
limited to Magician-level magic, but heavily explored the ritual end of
it--i.e. using increased casting time and material components to cast what
we think of as "higher level effects" at first or second level. After all,
when you have a high birth rate, you can afford to have numerous
priest-magicians spending three days in ritual fasting, chanting, singing
etc, just to cast a fifth-level spell. Probably, long-term use items like
amulets and magical weapons would be most useful to produce through
cooperative teams of dedicated and trained preist-magicians. Or perhaps
they employed witches and warlocks who gained their power through a
connection with a Shadow World spirit. This later is an interesting
option, because it implies that one reason for the fall of the Goblin
Culture may have been the Corruption of the Shadow World by Azrai--he
corrupted the spirits that served the goblin witches, which in turn
corrupted the witches, whose struggles for power with the traditional
heirarchy toppled the system and led to the Goblin Dark Ages.

Discussion?

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Narek]

Mark A Vandermeulen wrote:
>
> I don't know that I agree with this, exactly. I certainly agree that they
> could use more CULTURE. I love the idea of ancient goblin empires, and
> their fallen civilization, so I suppose that what I would really like to
> see is an "Ecology of the Cerilian Goblin." It would explain the
> relationship between the three different breeds (do the types breed true?,
> is it all a matter of environment--like bees feeding one larva "royal
> jelly" so it grows into a queen rather than a worker?, is it a series of
> genes/mutations--have no mutations and you're the "goblinoid" form, have
> one mutation and you're the hobgoblin form, have both mutations and you're

I don't think they're actually form changes, its just variations in size.
Cerilian goblins all look the same, aside from the height, the comparisons to
normal goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears are just stat wise. I think its much
like human variations on height taken to an extreme degree...

> the bugbear form?). What effect did/does this natural "caste" system have
> on the society and culture of the goblins? I think I've mentioned before
> that I see goblins as having a very "eastern" philosophical outlook on
> life, sort of tribal-Confucianism, with a rigid caste system, moral code,
> and a code of honor not too different from the Japanese samauri (sp?).
> They seem like ravening barbarian hordes to most Anuireans, but for the
> most part that's because they simply don't understand their culture (and
> to be honest, most don't care to). I think it would be great if human
> visitors in places like Thurazor would encounter elaborate cultural
> rituals, in ancient stone palaces, that they had no idea the "barbarian"
> goblins could ever have built. Nowadays, the goblins probably have no
> idea how their ancestors built their palaces, having lost much of their
> lore in the wars, but they are justifiably proud of their heritage. Of
> course, some goblins have probably grasped for the "opportunities" of the
> current Goblin Dark Ages with more glee than others (and may be largely
> responsible for their bad reputation).

I don't know about the goblins having an eastern philosiphy, except mabey for
those in Khinasi. In the atlas to cerilla I think it said somehwat emulate the
human societies around them in their own way. The Anuirean goblins have
nobility and much power in their kings, Vos goblins are very harsh and brutal,
etc. Mabey the ancient goblin empire was eastern in thought, but I doubt the
current ones are.

>
> Actually, one thing that bothers me--how would people have known to call
> the awnsheighlein "the Gorgon," or "the Basilisk," or "The Minotaur," if
> they have never seen or heard of regular gorgons or basilisks or minotaurs
> with which to compare them? Are they just simply legends, like in the real
> world, or where there perhaps such creatures located on the Adurian
> continent? Perhaps Cerilians just THINK that they were legends passed down
> from their ancestors, but if Cerilia ever begins an Age of Discovers and
> starts of explore Aduria--watch out!

Actually truthfully in our culture the word minotaur came from one specific
myth, that of Theseus and the Minotaur, I don't see why the Cerilians didn't
come up with the names for these awnsheighlien when they heard them described.

>
> Also, I've been seriously considering placing fairies in the Elven woods.
> My opinion is they are spirits that also fled the Corruption of the Shadow
> World like the halflings, but are only capable of surviving in Elven woods
> due to its magical nature (i.e. strange effects on time, shifting
> landscapes, palpable "presence" felt by strangers, etc.). Such fairies
> probably trust elves, dislike humans and goblins, and are neutral to
> halflings and dwarves.

I always just assumed that's where you found faeries in Birthright...I mean
the list of monsters found in Birthright found at the back of the rules does
list sprites, brownies, dryads, and treants (although dryads and treants
aren't too faerish...sprites are).
- --
Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - WebsiteTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Narek]

Mark A Vandermeulen wrote:
>
> I would probably explain it more this way. The goblins, like humans, were
> limited to Magician-level magic, but heavily explored the ritual end of
> it--i.e. using increased casting time and material components to cast what
> we think of as "higher level effects" at first or second level. After all,
> when you have a high birth rate, you can afford to have numerous
> priest-magicians spending three days in ritual fasting, chanting, singing
> etc, just to cast a fifth-level spell. Probably, long-term use items like
> amulets and magical weapons would be most useful to produce through
> cooperative teams of dedicated and trained preist-magicians. Or perhaps
> they employed witches and warlocks who gained their power through a
> connection with a Shadow World spirit. This later is an interesting
> option, because it implies that one reason for the fall of the Goblin
> Culture may have been the Corruption of the Shadow World by Azrai--he
> corrupted the spirits that served the goblin witches, which in turn
> corrupted the witches, whose struggles for power with the traditional
> heirarchy toppled the system and led to the Goblin Dark Ages.
>
> Discussion?

I think this is a very cool option....I could definatly see witch-shamans in
great numbers around blooded altars and stone circles. However, I'm leery of
the Shadow World connection. It just as easily explained by the normal means
already presented...the elves finally were begining to beat the goblins and
then the humans spelled their death knell. The resulting losses gave way to
anarchy and the goblins lost their knowledge and butchered the witches for
more power (no witches to stand in their way).
- --
Nicholas Morrell - cricknar@ix.netcom.com
Narek (ICQ# - 6560590)
http://pw1.netcom.com/~cricknar/dragon.html - WebsiteTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line