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2 years ago ::
Jan 20, 2011 - 9:58AM
#1
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The first arc of my campaign is coming to a close tonight. As such, I'm beginning to work on the next part of the game which will have little or nothing to do with the first. It should be a shorter chapter in the overall story, but an important one. I would like to send my players to investigate the strange murders of two travelers, refugees from another, abandoned world. I originally saw this mystery taking place in a place I was going to call Old Tennor Port, but I've since had an idea I like more, and is more in line (I think) with the Rule of Cool. I would like to hear from the community on this one. What images, styles, and themes spring to your fertile minds when you think of a place called Strasa, the Raining City? Spoiler:
Show
I imagine a tall, spire-filled city of granite. Storm clouds are always overhead, as they have been for centuries. The occasional rowboat plods through the canals that snake through the city while rain-slick sidewalks and footbridges allowing pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages alike to traverse the urban environment. The residents of Strasa can most often be seen wearing leather garments; long, leather overcoats to keep their bodies dry, tall leather boots to keep their feet from soaking in the many puddles in the city, and leather hats with wide, floppy brims to deflect the rain from their heads and their eyes.
Among the wealthy, sheepskin is the most popular material for it's light property and it's waterproof quality, but unfortunately it ruins much more easily that the cheaper and more durable cowhide.
Parchment is only ever used for internal documents, bookkeeping and the like. If a message is to be sent in the Raining City, it is most often delivered orally by a specially trained class of eidetic messengers. Those messages that cannot be revealed to anyone, however, are written on small plaques of glass with a special paint that never washes off but only becomes visible when it is dry.
I'm actually looking forward to D&D Next. I think that every edition had some really awesome qualities, and every edition has truly awful design flaws. I don't expect Next to be any different, but if WotC is actively trying to incorporate the good bits into one unified whole, then I do expect it to be worth playing.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 20, 2011 - 10:05AM
#2
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Also, I think that only the wealthy can generally afford to send those plaques with any frequency, and they are easily discarded in the canals.
I also see this city between two hills, originally at the bottom of some (now) underwater valley. Perhaps the city was built up from ruins of the sunken city, which could also explain why so many of the structures are so tall. Every few generations, to deal with the ever-rising water level, the city rebuilds the streets and bridges, and seals off the lower, flooded levels that their forebears occupied.
I'm actually looking forward to D&D Next. I think that every edition had some really awesome qualities, and every edition has truly awful design flaws. I don't expect Next to be any different, but if WotC is actively trying to incorporate the good bits into one unified whole, then I do expect it to be worth playing.
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2 years ago ::
Feb 16, 2011 - 8:38PM
#3
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Wow, this idea is really cool.
One thing I thought of though, is that instead of wearing bulky leather garments every time they go outside, all the poor and middle class people wear loose pants, vests and no shoes while outside. Each building and home could have a small atrium with towels and fireplaces for them to hang their stuff. Everybody carries a small waterproof bag with them, with extra pants and shirt for indoors. Or, the men just walk around shirtless and only put on clothes inside.
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2 years ago ::
Feb 18, 2011 - 5:49AM
#4
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Great concept. A few thoughts... 1. I love the idea of flooded lower levels as the water rises and obviously it opens up lots of possibilities for exploring the underwater parts. One idea that might be fun to play with is that whenever people come upon a trapped air bubble under the city, they only have a short amount of time to loot or rest before the air turns bad... from a couple of hours down to a few minutes, depending on the size of the bubble and if they're using torches for light. I can imagine a fight where everyone starts taking increasing penalties or ongoing damage as the air runs out. 2. A consequence of having continual rain is that there would be a constant level of background noise. It might well be that the rich and powerful, rather than living in high towers, actually live in windowless rooms, right in the centres of the largest buildings where they can enjoy that rare commodity... silence. 3. Depending on the government and the prevalence of magic and so on, lightning powers would potentially be outlawed as being too dangerous in a constantly wet environment. 4. If the canal network is fairly extensive, there could be a sub-culture that lives entirely in houseboats, simply rising with the waters rather than having to move house every couple of generations.
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2 years ago ::
Feb 25, 2011 - 8:57AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Sep 23, 2006
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How about this for an idea? The local constabulary are made up of mostly Watersoul Genasi. They're valued for their mobility and amphibious nature.
Also, what makes this city so attractive? I could see the perpetual downpour coming from a natural 'gate' into the Elemental Chaos. This would, to my mind at least, make it a valuable trading post and waystation for those looking to go from one plane of existence to another.
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2 years ago ::
Mar 02, 2011 - 12:57AM
#6
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Thanks for your replies, ideas, and positive feedback!
@ArthurHoneyhill: That is a great piece of flavor that will definitely be incorporated into the local customs. Maybe the PCs will get strange looks for being fully clothed all the time, and possibly chided for leaving bulky, dripping wet clothes in other peoples' homes unless they start traveling like the locals do.
@ThatGiantMan: Points 2, 3, and 4 are great ideas, and I will also be using them. Thank you! As far as point 1, I had already planned a session that involves investigating an abandoned level of the city that is filled with air via magic. Halfway through, the magic will be dispelled by the person using the area as his hideout, and they will have to succeed at a skill challenge to get back to the surface as frigid water rushes in around them. I haven't decided the consequences of failure yet.
@El_Shawno: That is a great question. What about this city makes it important? What about this city makes people want to stay here? The gate to the Elemental Chaos or the Elemental Plane of Water could make an interesting twist. Perhaps the city is such a novelty that it can survive almost entirely on tourism, or Strasa is the home to the realm's preemininent sculptors. Or it could be conceivable that the Raining City houses several powerful magical academies, and their meddling with the natural world is why this place has seen centuries of downpour.
For what other reasons could you envision this city being an important fixture in the world? I can't wait to hear more of your ideas.
I'm actually looking forward to D&D Next. I think that every edition had some really awesome qualities, and every edition has truly awful design flaws. I don't expect Next to be any different, but if WotC is actively trying to incorporate the good bits into one unified whole, then I do expect it to be worth playing.
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2 years ago ::
Mar 02, 2011 - 8:18PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jul 18, 2009
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I love the idea of this city, man. Out of curiosity, how do you imagine the area surrounding the Strasa? I think the concept's great, but I'm having difficulty with the structure of the city. Was it originally built in a valley or something? I guess I'm imagining the rains filling up the valley over time, so Strasa's basically in the middle of a lake at this point. Is that sort of how you see it? I can't figure any way the city would flood that high otherwise.
I'm liking the idea of only using paper and parchment internally, because they'll just get ruined in the rain. I like the idea of messenger birds too, like ravens, soaring through the city, delivering news or signals.
This city is really, really cool.
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2 years ago ::
Mar 03, 2011 - 9:32AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Sep 14, 2009
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I'm incredibly impressed with the thought and imagination that's gone in to making Strasa. I was wondering where the city is actually located, though. Hidden among the mountains? In the midst of a swamp? How has the constant rain affected the local flora and fauna?
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2 years ago ::
Mar 04, 2011 - 5:30PM
#9
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@milkducks: I do see it as exactly that, a city that is now in the center of an ever-rising lake.
@dfn55: In the immediate vicinity of the valley, I'm seeing fields and hills that flooded and muddy. Traveling to and from the city by foot is messy at best, and at worst boots get stuck in the mire and clothes are easily soiled. I think I need some more help imagining the surround area.
I'm actually looking forward to D&D Next. I think that every edition had some really awesome qualities, and every edition has truly awful design flaws. I don't expect Next to be any different, but if WotC is actively trying to incorporate the good bits into one unified whole, then I do expect it to be worth playing.
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2 years ago ::
Mar 05, 2011 - 9:44PM
#10
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Perhaps Strasa is in the centre of an ever-rising lake, which itself is in the centre of a swamp that is becoming more and more wet. Travel into and out of the city and swamp could be done on wooden causeways.
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