The Emerald Islands Discussion Thread

[Ariel Hapzid]

The Emerald Islands

Introduction

I've just spent the past two weeks at an amazing job. I worked at a Boy Scout camp on Catalina Island at their High Adventure Program. There I met one of my best friends Shaun. Shaun and I are huge geeks, and both love Dungeons and Dragons. When 4th edition came out we wasted no time trying to get copies out to the island. While life guarding at Little Harbor, Shaun and I began discussing how cool a group of islands would be for a campaign setting. How you could add a little island flavor to each race and make them new and fresh.

And one thing led to the another and before we knew it we were discussing Vampirates, Halflings riding zeppelins and Dire Seagulls, vengeful spirits worshiped by the Elves, and dwarves that lived under the sea.

So here, for your pleasure, are the Emerald Islands. Born out of boredom and excitement, composed of notes scribbled in a found notebook, drawings, and excited conversations along the trail as scouts ask us what we are talking about.

[Kindling]

You had me at Dire Seagulls...


But seriously, your basic idea is a good one, with a lot of potential... can't wait to see what you do with it!

[Ishmayl-Retired]

I'm interested in the zeppelin-riding halflings.  Speak MORE!

[Ninja D!]

Yeah!  I think I was the first to look at this thread when I popped up.  I reloaded..and reloaded...and came back the next day...now again today...but nothing.  I MUST KNOW OF THESE DWARVES.

[Ariel Hapzid]

Sorry about that folks! I wasn't sure if it was worth writing about or not. :/
But now I know! so here it goes:

Humans

Over a century ago, the humans of the Albion Empire first discovered the Emerald Islands. These first explorers brought all manner of strange and new treasures to the Empire, including Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, and Gold. Soon, hundreds of ships a day was leaving the port of Stratton for the New World.

It was then that the Empire came into conflict with the Elves. The Elves, tired of being enslaved, converted, and mistreated, struck at the trading center of New Albion. Today, 70 years later, the conflict continues, most of the clans who began the conflict have signed peace treaties with Albion and strive for peace. Others, still thirst for the blood of the invaders.

The Imperial Elite are the Mercantile companies of the Empire. There are four major corporations that serve the Empire and its peoples, they are the Warlord's Guild (dealing mostly in weaponry, armor, and armaments), the Artisan's Guild (dealing in municipal needs like sewage, buildings, and roads), the Artificer's Guild (dealing all forms of magical items), and the Servant's Guild (Serving food, running inns, and other paid services). Each one is worth millions of gold pieces, and are incredibly driven to destroying all competitors. Each has different goals as far as the Islands are concerned, the Warlord's guild believes in conquering the islands. The Artisan's hope to bring law and order to the islands. The Artificer's try to work hand in hand with the savage natives. Finally, the Servant's Guild runs a very secretive spy network.

What it means to be Human

When you play a human, try to answer the following questions.
 

Why did you leave Albion to come to the Islands, or how did you get to the Islands?
What do you hope to gain from being at the Islands?
What is your opinion of the Natives?

 On Being Human  
One important thing to remember about the Emerald Islands, is that it is too easy to claim someone is evil. The Humans are not evil when they come to the islands to increase the empire, in their eyes they are doing the noble thing by bringing Law and Peace to an otherwise warlike people. As an analogy, look to the Iraq War, some would say we are there to protect and defend Democracy, or to bring freedom to those who have none. Others would say we are increasing our Oil holdings and lining the pockets of defense contractors. The Elf Human Conflict is very similar. Some people are dedicated to the war, others are very strongly opposed.

[Ariel Hapzid]

Dwarves

A nomadic and family based people, there are many who would call the Dwarves "sea-gypsies". They spend most of their lives on ships and are most comfortable on the open sea. They learn to swim before they learn to walk. Their capital is Dostrovia, a magnificent work of architecture. It spans hundreds of feet from the ocean floor to the surface, composed of thousands of brass pods welded together. These pods rise up into the water like a coral reef.

The Dwarves are skilled divers, wearing brass diver's suits they usually traverse Dostrovia in submersibles designed for defense and transport. Their city even spans downward into deep caverns of the underdark. Every 2 years, the surface of Dostrovia becomes a metropolis of barges. Lashed together, the barges become a bustling trade center, then a month later, the barges disembark and escape back to the ocean.

What it means to be a Dwarf

Who is your family? What do they specialize and deal in?

On Being a Dwarf
Dwarves are notably more Slavic then in other campaigns. Get rid of the Scottish accent and try a Russian one. Instead of fitting the standard stereotype of hot headed and passionate, try to be cold and stoic. Economic with everything, even your words, the Island Dwarf is a family man who enjoys Vodka and cold fish more than Ale and Salted Pork. He is deadly accurate with a spear, and usually worships a family ancestor. Dwarf Priests should worship their Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather instead of some divine entity like Moradin.

[Ninja D!]

Humans I like the way you have trade guilds, each with a specific purpose, created and called Imperial Elite as a whole.  I have a couple of questions, though.  Why does the Artisan's Guild do the things you have listed?  For the most part, that doesn't seem a very fitting title to me.  If anything, I would have expected them to be more like the Artificer's Guild.  That brings me to my next question, which is about the Artificer's Guild.  If they specialize in magic things, does that mean that magic is common in your world?  Or does that mean that there is just a lot of money in it?  (Such as the market is small but the consumers are incredibly wealthy.)

Dwarves While I do love standard dwarves, I really like what you've done here.  It has changed what is generally accepted, yet it is obvious that you haven't done that just for the sake of doing it.  They seem to be thought through well and despite the changes, remain as kind of outsiders to the world.  

Solid foundations thus far.

[Ariel Hapzid]

Sorry Ninja D! I've been busy with some other things, but I think I have more focus now. The Artisans guild call themselves that because that's what they are. In the renaissance (of the real world) an artisan was someone who was really good at doing a specific thing. Like making shoes, or barrels, or houses. The idea is that this organization does everything un-magical under the sun. Including Home building, shoes, roads, the new pier, what have you. The Artificers describe the human mentality to magic. The Humans treat it like a common thing, and to them it is. However, in the Emerald Islands, far away from Albion Magic is much more mystical. It's kind of my way of mixing the "MAGIC IS TECHNOLOGY!" of Eberron with the "MAGIC IS MAGICAL!" of Forgotten Realms. Each race has their own views on magic, something I will address in an article I like to call "Magic in the Emerald Islands!"

[Ninja D!]

I never felt that magic was magical in the Forgotten Realms.  It was far too common for that.

[Ariel Hapzid]

sometimes, but it still wasn't on the level that Eberron made it. I guess then what I'm really shooting for is Tolkien level of magic. A few people use magic, but the for the most part it isn't a major part of their lives.

[Ninja D!]

I would say that the Forgotten Realms level of magic and the Tolkien level of magic was very different.  In the Forgotten Realms, magic was very common place.  If you lived in a big city and wanted a spell cast it was easy to find someone to do it.  The Tolkien world presents magic as something very rare and special to common folk.  Even the heroes of the stories only get a few magical things on their journey.  If you'd like to continue this discussion in another thread or in private messages, I am fine with that.  This place, though, is for your setting and we should get back to that.  When will you be posting more for us?

[Ariel Hapzid]

I've just updated at least three times, posting about the Humans, Elves, and Eladrin!

[Ariel Hapzid]

oh yea, I decided to make this a discussion thread, so that way we can talk all about it. Right now I'm working on the Halfings and Tieflings. Tieflings are really hard to fit into this but I have an idea. The Halfings I've decided need to be something more then "OOOH! we get dire seagulls! so i've decided to make them like tiny Indianna Jones. They are driven by their desire to learn and know about all the people of the Islands.

[Ninja D!]

Ah, I see.  You did post more, just in another thread.  I'm looking at it right now.

I like that you've expanded upon the human information.  With humans being so obviously important to the setting, it is good  to know where they come from.  I like the brief but detailed description of New Albion and what you have included about the country of Albion itself.  I also noticed that some of what you posted about humans before is not included.  Why is that?

I like what you have done with the elves.  I am impressed more and more by your ability to paint a clear picture in so few words.  I like your setting thus far and I am enjoying how you present it, making good use of the features of this forum.

The Eladrin are also presented quite clearly and quite nicely here.  I notice that they are very different in flavor from the Eladrin of the PHB.  I don't mind that one bit.  Well done here as well.

[Ariel Hapzid]

This is the Emerald Islands Thread

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