The Campaign Builder's Guild

I've got a new project that I'm probably going to kick into high gear, in order to help my writer's block (and, most importantly, for my upcoming campaign).
Khamil Hashim covered his eyes from the glare off of the sand as he reached for his waterskin. Putting it to his parched lips and tipping upward, his eyes widened in horror as he realized it was empty.

"Impossible," the dark-skinned man said in his native tongue of Ashram. "I am certain I had three days worth..."

The sands shifted around him suddenly, forming intricate, long patterns across its surface. Khamil put his waterskin away spurred on his mount, knowing he now had bigger problems than a lack of water. As the spark-filled mouth of a grotesque, blue-skinned monster emerged from the soil, Khamil drew his scimitar and kukri and raised them to the sky in prayer to Teleman, the Dekarran god of battle.

As the creature shot upward out of the dunes and into the sky, Khamil knew he was in more trouble than he previously believed. An arc of blue-black lightning came from its mouth impossibly quick, and Khamil was barely able to leap out of the way; his steed was not so lucky. With a growl, he moved his blades in an intricate meditative pattern. "Back into the sands with you, the cursed scion of Atran..."

The monster simply grinned as it slammed back into the sands. Khamil knew it was not over. His grip tightened on his blades as he sung a soft, haunting tune, another form of battle meditation.

A vortex appeared around him, as the laughing, thrashing mouth of the beast appeared at its center.

As the sands swallowed the swordsman, his hand shot upward, praying that his clan would avenge him.

Just another day under the burning sun.

The content is going to be CBG Exclusive for the duration of my players' stay on the wind-swept depths of the desert continent.

[spoiler=Project 1301 info]P1301 is getting closer to completion, and I've started compiling transitional pages to help update the site proper to the changes of the 1301 timeline. I will probably transit the site before I complete the nation and deity writeups, just so that I can canonize and prioritize my information.[/spoiler]

WOOOOOOO! 1301 cannonized! WOOOOOOO! New age of Red Valor! WOOOOOOO!

DONTORR: An Overview
Population: 3,402,100
Primary Climate Arrays: Warm desert, warm mountain, warm plains, cold desert, cold plains
Power Groups: The Sultan al-Asuul, the Emirs of Dekarr, the Bandit Princes (notably AlÃ,, 'ad-DÃ,,«n), the Djinni Caliphs (formerly of Teth-Akara, now known as New Vestin), the Spawn of Atran

There are five major eras in Dontorran history.

[spoiler=The Age of Glory]
Millenia ago, an ancient empire spanned across the face of Dontorr, united the human people beneath mighty wizard-priests as their rulers. This empire, known as Evalm-Senaak, created artifacts of untold power and wielded magic that impressed the gods themselves. They were a blessed people, living in happiness and prosperity in the rolling hills and bountiful joys of their realm.

Their happiness would not last. For some unknown reason, attributed in various legends as an act of a jealous deity, an attempt to grab divine power by one of the priests in the ultimate hubris, the revenge of the land itself for exploitation, or a thousand other fables, the land of Evalm-Senaak quickly and suddenly became violent. Fields dried up as crops rotted, soil and earth became loose grit, and cities were blasted with constant gales. The livestock of the people of Evalm-Senaak died from dehydration as bandits stole what little of the remaining water they could. Millions died from the skyrocketing heat, and within a matter of ten years, the empire was no more, its people scattered, thirsty, and bent on survival rather than cooperation.

It is said that the magic wielded and bound during this era was second only to the great artifacts and spells of the Ancients themselves.

In present-day Dontorr, most of the major artifacts and arcane "hotspots" that exist are products from the Age of Glory. Although countless centuries have passed sense Evalm-Senaak collapsed, there are still many questions left unanswered, the most important being, "Who caused the fall of the empire?" Sifting through thousands of myths and fables to find the truth may be even more difficult than it sounds, as written communication was not predominant during that era.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=The Age of Zantorus]
Zantorus, the ancient Wizard-King, appears in the earliest existing records of humankind. Near the end of the Buronian Era (more than 13,400 years ago), a powerful lich archmage seized control of the barren wastelands that the continent of Dontorr had become.
More information.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=The Age of Solitude]
Coming soon.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=The Age of Redemption]
Coming soon.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=The Age of Villains]
The modern era. Coming soon.[/spoiler]

New 1301 update: Myzrannic Principality

GNOMISH HOMELAND.
SOUTH VESTIN.

Also, be sure to check out the new new direction for divinity in Red Valor.

Look for a completion of the initial phase Red Valor: Project 1301 within the next month or so-- only about six nations need to be written up. Then, it's editing time, to clarify some of the inconsistencies or confusing points that are in 1301 and the underlying previous work.

-ElDo

Hey guys! The RVCS needs your help!

I'm planning on creating a glossary of terms for the Red Valor website (located here), and I need the assistance of readers both old and new to compile a list of terms, places, people, and events that need defining. Any help is appreciated!

Incorran :)

Hey, this is sort of a multi-part announcement, so bear with me.

First, there might have been a few updates over time that I neglected to post here. Here's the current list of countries, with hyperlinks to completed entries about them. I actually have ideas for the incomplete ones as well, I just need to find the time and motivation to write the entries.

Second, and more important, I've been running a (fairly successful) game in the 1301 world, so I'm learning what is and is not important, what works, and how the setting feels. To be brief, politics has become a huge, huge issue, and as such, I'll be working on completing the Glossary I conscripted a few folks around here to help soon-ish. No promises, though.

Third, I figured I'd throw in something actually relevant to the setting, to make up for all the empty promises about information and other things. It's a political map that outlines the various factions and alliances between nations, poising the Tare on the brink of continental war; the complicated system of alliances is akin to that of pre-World War 1 Europe.

(I've also thrown in the musings of gnome historian Glim Turen, who predicts three likely events of continental war.)

[spoiler=Glim's Notes]In the order of strength:
Artorian Pact- The most cohesive and powerful of alliances. Geographically and ideologically related, it has military, magical, diplomatic, and scouting might. Leaders are personal friends, though Elador is rumored to be ringleader.
Treaty of Baronport: Resources, similar ideologies, and powerful military presence. Secondary supporters unlikely to provide much military aid, but would side if pressed. Artoria's participation a wild card.
Western Alliance: Poorly coordinated and rife with in-fighting, nonetheless possesses the largest potential of resources if pooled. Constantly on the verge of collapse.
Torrath Alliance: Could control northern seaways and commerce, but is plagued with mismanagement and uncooperative leaders. Primarily a mutual agreement of non-aggression.

Scenario 1: Beastlands.
The Beastlands provokes Western Alliance, causing a war with either Sicloria or Vestin. After the alliance threatens to dissolve, a pact between S. Vestin and Pendorius aligns the Kingdom with both Baronport and Western. The Beastlands are besieged by enemies and ally with Eladrannia, causing Sicloria to fight a two-front war. Sicloria falls, Veovisinia and Symetrus provoke Myzrannic Principalities into conflict. The Beastlands faces heavy losses and collapses, while Enthoria becomes agitated at warfare taking place along its border. Elador provokes Enthoria, Allastrus and Symetrus eliminate Artorium, and war breaks out between the three factions. Estimated casualties: 6,000,000.

Scenario 2: Infiltration
Artorium or island nations infiltrate various levels of coastal governments, spurring discontent between Western Alliance and Baronport factions. War erupts between S. Vestin and Pendorius, soon escalating to include Sicloria, Azran, E.K.R., Artoria, Aarington, and Veovisinia. Allastrus and Symetrus conquer Artorium. The Beastlands become a battleground, besieged on all sides, and its government collapses. When Baronport appears dominant, the Torrath Alliance aligns with the Western Alliance, sending Baronport into a two-front war. When either appears dominant, Artorian Pact members invade, causing massive casualties and proving most dominant. Estimated casualties: 9,000,000.

Scenario 3: Ryozedri Defection
The Drakelands becomes an increasingly volatile threat, leading Tobias Karos to gain significant political power within Ryozedron. Ryozo is overthrown, and the new state allies with the Torrath Alliance. The remaining Artorian Pact members declare war with Torrath Alliance members, with Baronport allies choosing to side with Eladrannia. The Beastlands attempts to expand into Azrani space, leading Vestin to become paranoid and declare war, which it wins quickly and decisively. Disputes between Baronport and Vestin become exasperated after Vestin refuses to cede Azrani territory, leading to war between Baronport and Western Alliance. Eladrannia remains the last Artorian Pact nation as Ergoth and Myzra are routed, leading to a highly destructive civilian-targeted campaign in the north. Torrath suffers unbelievable losses, while Baronport and Western Alliance factions battle for nearly a decade. Elador is deposed, most nations become unstable, and barbarian tribes destroy the few remaining beacons of civilization. Estimated casualties: 25,000,000.[/spoiler]