One to two weeks travel from Sobra, a church stands at the border between the farmed and inhabited hill country and the desert beyond. Some soldiers garrison here, keeping the seasonal bandits and reptile folk raiders from the nearby gold mines and farmlands. Being the last outpost before the desert, merchants stop here frequently and it’s a nice stop for caravans traveling overland between Sobra and anywhere else. Priests of Ferali and Pyrrhus both cohabit the structure, as it stands on the edge of a baked desert and ocean coastline, sacred locations for each faith.
The place doesn’t really have a name, just being referred to as “the church on the coast” by most people in the area. As the only sacred building shared by the clerics of these two gods, it’s unique enough that everyone knows what and where it is.
Hunting and farming here are less than subsidence levels so most of the food comes from the sea. Since the Church isn’t a trade center and port, the fishing is done in small boats and they never go far from the shore. There is a small industry in herb and plant gathering here in both spring and fall, as several desert plants are valued by inhabitants of Kynafir for both medicinal resources and cooking.
Residents discourage travelers from trying to navigate the desert alone as bandits and raiders are common hazards in addition to the usual dangers of desert travel.
Inspiration
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University article on Desert Plants
Gateway of Corruption is an adventure for D6 Fantasy set in Valiant. I’ve stripped the statistic blocks so it should be easily adaptable for any system. Click on images for full size, some are rather large. Click here to download the PDF.
Summary An evil minion of Islan Xanti has opened a portal to another realm. The portal is open consistently but within the week, the minion will be taking an artifact through it. It’s vital that the artifact isn’t removed from Valiant in order to be able to defeat Islan Xanti.
The sheriff of a local settlement has teamed up with someone else in order to close the portal. But this will take time and concentration and no one is available to retrieve the artifact from the evil minion. Enter the PCs.
Read More »
Local area map for my online RPG group. See Read More »
Local Map and Key for the city of Sobra Read More »
I’ve been learning alot about mapping lately and realized just how bad my original maps were so here are new maps of Kynafir. To my players: Yes, I know there’s a Read More »
Image via Wikipedia
Deep in the desert to the east of Kynafir, there are rumors of a race of men with reddened skin. One tale relates a great canal stretching from the sea into the desert to a great city where magic is common and the Gods are reviled. Great wonders are commonplace - beams of colored light striking out to kill a foe, huge flying ships floating far above the sands, spindly towers that meet the sky.
Many of the tales tell of ruins in the desert along the canal as well where great treasures rest guarded by terrible lizards who battle each other day and night. Even the Reptile Folk avoid the area believing it cursed by the desert spirits.
This adventure is suitable for any level and any system. It includes no crunchy bits at all and could probably be transplanted almost anywhere. This is the first adventure in a series set in Valiant. For more experienced parties, omit Scene 1. Click on maps for full-size versions that you can save to your hard drive.
Summary: A stay overnight reveals a dark secret. Read More »
Image by AMWRanes via Flickr
The Hook
Despite mounting evidence that he’s growing senile in his old age, a once great paladin is gathering troops for a crusade to a distant, savage land to fight a rising threat that no one is sure actually exists. - Free from Expeditious Retreat Press
The Background
Some years ago, a knight named Baltazar was reknowned for his ability but even more for his attitude. He entered many tourneys and competitions and was known for being a very poor sport, especially to a defeated opponent. He always teased and insulted his competitors and was never very well-liked although always respected.
He lives in Kofi now, a small village north of Sobra. He no longer has the ability to run someone through with a sword, having gotten old and slow. His presence brings merchants from Read More »
As inspired by ChattyDM this morning, with apologies to Steven Brust.
Valabar’s is a renowned restaurant in Jannasberre with exquisite food. It’s a fairly large establishment with impeccable atmosphere, great dining and a quiet, knowledgeable waitstaff. In existence for several hundred years, it’s an experience in the city not to be missed.
You walk down three shallow steps, and if you’re Draegaran (which I’m not) or an exceptionally tall human (which I’m not), you duck your head. When you raise it again, you’re immediately ambushed by the aroma of fresh-baked bread - ambushed, and you surrender. Excerpt from Dzur.
A meal in Valabar’s will be 6 or 7 courses and may include dishes such as steak kabobs, duck breast and frisee salad, halibut with spicy yogurt, veal sweetbreads and their signature dish - a fruit sorbet. Several wines will be served throughout the meal. Dinner here will cost 15 Crowns at a minimum per person dining but no one who visited has ever regretted the cost.
The current Chef Valabar is a Read More »
Jerem’s Saloon is located about a day’s travel north of Sobra on the main trade route road. Near a copse of woods, with its own well, the Saloon is a popular stop for those traveling to and from the city. As such, its somewhat more expensive than many places people stop. Those who can’t afford to stay there camp in the nearby trees.
The Saloon is a Read More »
Hunting and farming here are less than subsidence levels so most of the food comes from the sea. Since the Church isn’t a trade center and port, the fishing is done in small boats and they never go far from the shore. There is a small industry in herb and plant gathering here in both spring and fall, as several desert plants are valued by inhabitants of Kynafir for both medicinal resources and cooking.
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