Carthage has been taken, what next?
OK, this is it. I swear. I've found the setting and push for a D&D 5th Edition game. Honestly. It's this good. You'll love it.
I've been reading a great history of Istanbul, one of my Winter Gifts. While mainly a story of the city, by necessity it covers the events in the wider world as well. In this case, the Vandalic War (June 533 – March 534 AD) which is considered the first of Justinian's wars in his attempt to retake what had once been the Western Roman Empire. The highlight of this short, victorious war (yes, he managed that elusive goal) was the taking of Carthage and the final defeat of Geilamir, King of the Vandals and Alans.
After this, money and Romans poured into the city to rebuild, reconsecrate churches, dig new canals, all the things that made a Roman city really Roman. This all lasted until 698 AD, when Muslims took the city, and left it to rot, preferring the better harbors of Tunis.
But anyway, instead of an army of Vandals and Alans (who really get the short end of the stick in most histories) have it been an army of gnolls that had overrun the city. A great mystery is that these gnolls were more organized and controlled. For gnolls to take a city the size of Carthage is unheard of! Midway through the final battle to take the walls, the gnolls suddenly reverted to their usual ways, fighting in small packs, stopping to feed on fallen enemies instead of focusing on the next threat. Rumor is the Emperor's wizards detected a strong magic that suddenly vanished.
But here the characters are. Veterans of the war, they could have come from all corners of the known world. Stout fighters from Thessaly, barbarians from the far north, clerics and paladins of the Great Church, wizards from Damascus and Babylon, and the others who follow in an army's wake . . . thieves, bards, even monks from the Great Library on the island of Prinkipos.
Carthage itself could function like Sanctuary in the Thieves' World books. A place still not quite controlled, and place for strange travelers to meet. Carthage is a centuries-old city. Who knows how far the sewers and cisterns reach? This would be a great place for a character running from their past to wash up, and a great place to find a fortune.
Outside the city? Bands of gnolls and other threats still prowl the hills. Much was looted from the city, where did it go? Rumors are racing that a scouting patrol saw a dragon far to the west. To the south is the endless desert of the Sahara. But nomads live there, so there must be water. Maybe a character has come into possession of a map that shows watering holes and a way to the legendary city of Timbuktu! It is whispered that this is where Alexander's mages fled after his death and established a library that might rival the empire's.
Further south is the dense jungles of the Congo, filled with lizardmen, dinosaurs, and lost cursed temples. Beyond that, under strange stars, the characters might hear rumors of a state lead by a great priest of the gods, Pebstyr Ionnes. The party may find some of his coins. They are of the purest gold. Of course, Ionnes has been on his throne so long because he's turned into a lich without noticing it. Fun times!
This is just going south. I have some fun surprises along the Atlas mountains, and some very intriguing things are happening in the Horn of Africa. But even staying Carthage can bring great reward, or leave you dead in an alleyway buried in trash.
So, there you go. A campaign of mystery, exploration, and danger at every turn. I'm not going to bother with adjusting weapons and equipment except to say that plate mail isn't available yet. I'm using the Players Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and the Book of the Righteous for character generation. Anything from the Unearthed Arcana files is subject to DM approval. I give generous bonuses for good character histories.
Arise, you brave soldiers of Byzantum! Arise and seize your sword and the moment! Mysteries await, untold fortunes are there if you have the heart and cunning to take them!
This will all start next fall after I've returned from Burning Man. I will start doing the world building this week. Ideally, I'd like 4-5 local players. Otherwise, I'll play online using one of the platforms.
I've been reading a great history of Istanbul, one of my Winter Gifts. While mainly a story of the city, by necessity it covers the events in the wider world as well. In this case, the Vandalic War (June 533 – March 534 AD) which is considered the first of Justinian's wars in his attempt to retake what had once been the Western Roman Empire. The highlight of this short, victorious war (yes, he managed that elusive goal) was the taking of Carthage and the final defeat of Geilamir, King of the Vandals and Alans.
After this, money and Romans poured into the city to rebuild, reconsecrate churches, dig new canals, all the things that made a Roman city really Roman. This all lasted until 698 AD, when Muslims took the city, and left it to rot, preferring the better harbors of Tunis.
But anyway, instead of an army of Vandals and Alans (who really get the short end of the stick in most histories) have it been an army of gnolls that had overrun the city. A great mystery is that these gnolls were more organized and controlled. For gnolls to take a city the size of Carthage is unheard of! Midway through the final battle to take the walls, the gnolls suddenly reverted to their usual ways, fighting in small packs, stopping to feed on fallen enemies instead of focusing on the next threat. Rumor is the Emperor's wizards detected a strong magic that suddenly vanished.
But here the characters are. Veterans of the war, they could have come from all corners of the known world. Stout fighters from Thessaly, barbarians from the far north, clerics and paladins of the Great Church, wizards from Damascus and Babylon, and the others who follow in an army's wake . . . thieves, bards, even monks from the Great Library on the island of Prinkipos.
Carthage itself could function like Sanctuary in the Thieves' World books. A place still not quite controlled, and place for strange travelers to meet. Carthage is a centuries-old city. Who knows how far the sewers and cisterns reach? This would be a great place for a character running from their past to wash up, and a great place to find a fortune.
Outside the city? Bands of gnolls and other threats still prowl the hills. Much was looted from the city, where did it go? Rumors are racing that a scouting patrol saw a dragon far to the west. To the south is the endless desert of the Sahara. But nomads live there, so there must be water. Maybe a character has come into possession of a map that shows watering holes and a way to the legendary city of Timbuktu! It is whispered that this is where Alexander's mages fled after his death and established a library that might rival the empire's.
Further south is the dense jungles of the Congo, filled with lizardmen, dinosaurs, and lost cursed temples. Beyond that, under strange stars, the characters might hear rumors of a state lead by a great priest of the gods, Pebstyr Ionnes. The party may find some of his coins. They are of the purest gold. Of course, Ionnes has been on his throne so long because he's turned into a lich without noticing it. Fun times!
This is just going south. I have some fun surprises along the Atlas mountains, and some very intriguing things are happening in the Horn of Africa. But even staying Carthage can bring great reward, or leave you dead in an alleyway buried in trash.
So, there you go. A campaign of mystery, exploration, and danger at every turn. I'm not going to bother with adjusting weapons and equipment except to say that plate mail isn't available yet. I'm using the Players Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, and the Book of the Righteous for character generation. Anything from the Unearthed Arcana files is subject to DM approval. I give generous bonuses for good character histories.
Arise, you brave soldiers of Byzantum! Arise and seize your sword and the moment! Mysteries await, untold fortunes are there if you have the heart and cunning to take them!
This will all start next fall after I've returned from Burning Man. I will start doing the world building this week. Ideally, I'd like 4-5 local players. Otherwise, I'll play online using one of the platforms.