Lore of Arda (Campaign Seed)

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The Creation of the World[edit]

The world of Arda owes its existence and its name to the mother of the gods; Arda (for more information on Arda see the Gods & Goddesses section below).

The time frame of Arda can best be described as a mixture of the medieval and pre-industrial revolution eras of earth. Magic and superstition are still a prominent driving force of the world, but great advances in science and industry have been achieved including the invention of gun powder (known as Dragon's Dust), single shot firearms and crude steam engines.

Ardainian Geography[edit]

Arda's Map
Continent of Gensanchi

North-West Continent: Bamboo Glade, Baycliff, City of Dragons, Dellham, Emerald City, Falconshore, Isle Templus, Northdale, Seasong Cove, Zhei Jong

Delmah Thac'zil

North-East Continent: Alur'Olath, Blackmoor, Coldmere, Dorgate, Harborton, Miton's Tower, Skraag, Southburrow Castle, Surlara, Westervale


Continent of Shaeria

Southern Continent: Anahul Maakh, Bloodbreath's Horde, Bridgeport, Duvik's Pass, Eastedge, Edel Lumbar, Feylake, Havenkeep, Hollowdell, Iron Hall, Ishind Vail, Misthaven, Mythril Mines, Niadia, North Ward, Ravennna, Redriver, Riverton, Ruins of Nethale, Shallow's Loch, Silver Forest, Skullport, Snowfalcon Castle, Stonehold Keep, Wellburm, Willowbrook, Witchhaven, Zirmandia

Ardainian Astronomy and Astrology[edit]

Arda possesses two moons.

The first, named for the goddess Kuldara, orbits just barely outside Arda's own atmosphere, giving it a constant red glow and earning it the title of The Fire Moon.

The second, named for the goddess Miyarn, orbits far outside of Arda's atmosphere. It is believed that Miyarn was actually a smaller planet that was somehow caught in Arda's wake. This theory is supported by the ice that covers the surface of Miyarn and has earned it the title of The Ice Moon.

Each month of the Arda calender is watched over by an astrological sign. These signs seem to affect people born under them in strange and supernatural ways that no one has really been able to explain.

Centipede


Earth Month: April
Moons: Pink Moons
Element: Fire
Benefit(s): Resistance: Fire 5, +10 on Climb Checks
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Cold.

Cat
Earth Month: May
Moons: Mist Moons
Element: Fire
Benefit(s): Resistance: Fire 5, 2/day--Cat's Grace as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Cold.

Salamander
Earth Month: June
Moons: Rose Moons
Element: Fire
Benefit(s): Resistance: Fire 5, 1/day--Fireball as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Cold.

Snake
Earth Month: July
Moons: Thunder Moons
Element: Earth
Benefit(s): Resistance: Acid 5, 3/day--Poison as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Electricity, No saving throw Vs. Poisons

Rabbit
Earth Month: August
Moons: Restless Moons
Element: Earth
Benefit(s): Resistance: Acid 5, +2 Dexterity and +10 feet Movement.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Electricity, -2 Charisma.

Fox
Earth Month: September
Moons: Golden Moons
Element: Earth
Benefit(s): Resistance: Acid 5, 3/day--Invisibility as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Electricity, -2 Constitution.

Dog


Earth Month: October
Moons: Frost Moons
Element: Water
Benefit(s): Resistance: Cold 5, +2 Charisma and +2 Constitution.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Fire, -2 Intelligence.

Shark
Earth Month: November
Moons: Windy Moons
Element: Water
Benefit(s): Resistance: Cold 5, +10 on Swim Checks
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Fire.

Manta
Earth Month: December
Moons: Dark Moons
Element: Water
Benefit(s): Resistance: Cold 5, 3/day--Chill Touch as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Fire.

Horse
Earth Month: January
Moons: Frozen Moons
Element: Air
Benefit(s): Resistance: Electricity 5, x1.5 Carrying Capacity
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Acid.

Butterfly
Earth Month: February
Moons: Ice Moons
Element: Air
Benefit(s): Resistance: Electricity 5, Spell casters need sleep only 6 hours to restore spells.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Acid, -2 Strength.

Hawk
Earth Month: March
Moons: Lamb Moons
Element: Air
Benefit(s): Resistance: Electricity 5, 1/day--Fly as a spell-like ability.
Weakness(es): x1.5 Damage from Acid.

* * * * * *

Arda Calender[edit]

A year in Arda is 360 full days, this is the time it takes the world of Arda to orbit the sun and cycle through the seasons. The year is divided evenly into 12 months. Arda doesn't actually have days of the week, specific dates are referred to as the day of a particular month. On the calender the month is divided into three sections of ten days simply to save space and not for anything representing smaller sections of time.

Example
Jan 15: 15th day of the Frozen Moons
Oct 1: 1st day of the Frost Moons
April 30: 30th day of the Pink Moons



It is currently the 1057th year of the 1st Era.

Pink Moons (1st Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

  • 1st: 1st day of Spring
  • 14th: Eclipse of Miyarn
Mist Moons (2nd Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Rose Moons (3rd Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Thunder Moons (4th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

  • 1st: 1st day of Summer
Restless Moons (5th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Golden Moons (6th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Frost Moons (7th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Windy Moon (8th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Dark Moons (9th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

  • 15th: Eclipse of Miyran
Frozen Moons (10th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

  • 1st: 1st day of winter
Ice Moons (11th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Lamb Moons (12th Month)
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Important Dates

Ardanian Society[edit]

Arda Caste System[edit]

Arda's countries adhere to a rather rigid caste system. You're born into your station and though it's not impossible to gain a higher position of wealth and favor it isn't easy.

 
Royalty
Kings, queens, princes and princesses and other peoples of royal blood.
Ordained Mages
Ordained mages are some of the military's highest ranks. Ordained mages have the consent of the crown to cast their spells and experiments almost anywhere they please.
Military Officers
High ranking military; this includes knights and city watch members.
Merchant Nobility
Large Merchants and members of the Merchant's Guild.
Ordained Adventurers
Anyone who adventures and has been ordained by the crown to do so.
Traditional Adventurers and Mages
Anyone who adventurers and isn't ordained by the crown.
Commoners
Pretty much anyone who doesn't fall into the above categories.

* * * * * *

Arda Timeline[edit]

The Burning Era [pre-history]

The Burning Era is a period of time that goes as far back in history up until the begining of written history. This period is also called simply the Holy War, named so because it is the time period when the denizens of the outer plane of Hell swepted over the surface of Arda like a plague. In the planet's defense the gods took up arms against the demons in a war that is thought to have lasted thousands of years. At the end of the war the gods finally defeated the demons and banished them forever to the Outer Plane of Hell. In order to preserve balance the Gods locked themselves away in the Outer Plane of Heaven so that their would never again be direct contact between the immortals and the people of Arda.

Pantheon[edit]

Agamos

Aggran
Akulta
Arda
Barundee
Daiki
Dorath
Dunbrow
Elgos

Elossa
Etahan

Giao Ironstriker
Gorth
Iskoall
Jarrick
Kuferas
Kuldara
Lather
Leesti

Miyarn
Nemis

Niadus
Olwin
Piffudge
Pook
Sientra
Tarla
Thraskis
Vrisis

Zacrenius

Guilds, Organizations & Societies[edit]

The Waywanderer's Guild[edit]

The Waywanderer's Guild house in (Add City) is the hub for adventurers looking for work, a drink or a room at a friendly rate.

The Waywanderers are a guild of like minded adventurers. Their Guildhalls are hubs of information and jobs. The guild halls also serve as training and boarding houses. The guild's main guild hall is located in the southern capital of Ishind Vail but the Waywanderer's, true to their name, operate smaller guild houses in every city in the world so that it's guild members are never too far from a helping hand. All members of the guild are required to pay a yearly due of 5gp to retain their guild membership.

Becoming a Member: Becoming a member of the Waywanderer's Guild is as easy as finding a guildhall, filling out an application and paying a 10gp fee of joining. After which you are given your guild membership papers and a voucher to have your travelling papers updated with the information of your new guild.

Perks of Belonging to the Guild

  • Local and Foreign Job Postings
  • Training/Sparring Halls
  • Travel Animal Boarding (owner must provide feed)
  • 50% off staterooms
  • 1 free round a night at the bar

The Order of the Shadowed Flame[edit]

The Order of the Shadowed Flame, often referred to simply as The Order, is a 'secret' organization of like minded individuals who seek the preservation of order and law throughout the lands of Arda.

Though stories of The Order run rampant through out the lands of Arda, few people believe them to be anything more than a myth; something that the Order both encourages and supplements with outlandish tales spread among the bards of the land.

Travel[edit]

Travel Papers

Travel papers are required for all citizens traveling through Arda; they identify the owner with a physical description, birth date, home town, guild affiliation and other pertinent information. Some wealthy and veteran travellers go ahead and spend the extra gold to have their papers created with a magically augmented portrait that changes along with their age and physical appearance. Making fake copies of travel papers under false names takes a week's worth of work and a successful DC 15 forgery check for the regular kind and a DC 25 forgery check for the pictured kind. Fakes sell for three times the market value. Guilds and other organizations are very important in Arda. Guilds exist for virtually every profession in the world (be they legal or otherwise) and your guild affiliation is marked on the traveling papers each individual is required by law to carry. Obviously illegal guild affiliations aren't going to be marked on your travel papers.

Skyships

Skyships have been the primary mode of air travel on Arda for the past century. Originally these massive, sky going vessels were created, driven and held aloft by pure magic. However, in the last two decades great strides have been made, reducing the amount of magic needed to create and operate these massive machines. Skyships are constructed like any seagoing vessel with the exception of the materials used. The hull and supports are created using Ghostwood and a traditional ships ballast stones are replaced with airstones.

With the advent of the steam engine, bound air elementals are no longer required to propel these mammoths of the air; meaning that pilots of skyships are no longer required to be wizards. This has opened up the skies to a great number of would-be pilots seeking to prove themselves worthy.

Campaigns[edit]

Lore of Arda: The Burning Plague


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