POVERO REFERENCE

Online roleplaying at the Café
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Wizard SPELLS


MODIFIED

Sleep (1st) as noted, under playtest


REMOVED

Continual Light (2nd)

ADDED

Fire Burst (1st)
Lasting Breath (1st)
Insatiable Thirst (2nd)
Protection from Paralysis (2nd)



My working guideline is to replace any PHB spell I eliminate or modify with two spells of the same level, from another source.

Unless otherwise noted, " new" spells come from the Tome of Magic (AD&D 2nd Edition).


DM NOTE

I removed Continual Light from the wizard list because it is a low level spell that could have major effects on the economy, technology, cityscapes, etc of the setting. Yes, mages capable of casting 2nd level spells are relatively rare, but not so rare some of them couldn't set up ever-burning torch businesses. ;)

I also like oil, lanterns, torches, etc, and do not want those things to become obsolete for adventuring parties.

Whereas I do not worry about things like zombie powered industrial revolution. Animate dead requires a higher level mage. And social/legal/religious factors limit the open use of this sort of necromancy.

(Zombie-mills do feature in something I've written, but not for this setting. It might be adaptable...)
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
alhoon
Invisible Menace
Invisible Menace
Posts: 8804
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:46 pm
Location: Chania or Athens // Greece

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by alhoon »

I would suggest making wizard lock semi-permanent too. It holds for 1d12 months.

Continual light... how about it requires materials that cost a lot instead of it being removed? Say... as much as enough torches for 100-150 years. 4 torches per day, ~40000 days, 160000 torches. That's 1600 PHB gp IIRC.
OK, that's practically worthless. You did well. Remove it \ push it at higher level.

But I think you should keep the magic items. I love the fantasy wizard towers \ guilds that are illuminated magically.
"You truly see what a person is made of, when you begin to slice into them" - Semirhage
"I am not mad, no matter what you're implying." - Litalia
My DMGuild work!
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

alhoon wrote:I would suggest making wizard lock semi-permanent too. It holds for 1d12 months.

Continual light... how about it requires materials that cost a lot instead of it being removed? Say... as much as enough torches for 100-150 years. 4 torches per day, ~40000 days, 160000 torches. That's 1600 PHB gp IIRC.
OK, that's practically worthless. You did well. Remove it \ push it at higher level.

But I think you should keep the magic items. I love the fantasy wizard towers \ guilds that are illuminated magically.

It may be possible to use permanency or semi permanency on a light spell.
That makes it essentially a minor magic item and requires a pretty high level caster.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

:gabrielle:
Last edited by ewancummins on Tue Dec 13, 2016 1:10 pm, edited 12 times in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
alhoon
Invisible Menace
Invisible Menace
Posts: 8804
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2003 6:46 pm
Location: Chania or Athens // Greece

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by alhoon »

ewancummins wrote:Poveran galley, sail down and oars in, fighting men not shown:


http://militaryhistory.x10.mx/shippictu ... y%20XV.jpg
To be sincere, I expected a more 16th century Italian Galley used in the Mediterranean, than an Ancient-Greek looking one.
Except if in 2000 years, Galleys changed very little in appearance. :)


Also, IIRC early industrial (16th century) Galleys had a couple of guns. They didn't rely solely on archers.
"You truly see what a person is made of, when you begin to slice into them" - Semirhage
"I am not mad, no matter what you're implying." - Litalia
My DMGuild work!
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

alhoon wrote:
ewancummins wrote:Poveran galley, sail down and oars in, fighting men not shown:


http://militaryhistory.x10.mx/shippictu ... y%20XV.jpg
To be sincere, I expected a more 16th century Italian Galley used in the Mediterranean, than an Ancient-Greek looking one.
Except if in 2000 years, Galleys changed very little in appearance. :)


Also, IIRC early industrial (16th century) Galleys had a couple of guns. They didn't rely solely on archers.
Indeed.

This one is supposed to be 15th Century, though. The arrangement of the oars is different than the later ships built in the Arsenal of Venice.

I am aiming at late 15th Century, with some more advanced stuff, like the occasional (weak) spyglass. The arquebus your gnome carries is a new type of weapon.
POVERO certainly does have some naval guns.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

The PHB arquebus represents a more advanced weapon than the Late Medieval handgonne or man-portable small culverin.
But it is still pretty primitive.

I see this as a good example:


http://www.daviddarling.info/images3/arquebus.jpg
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Human cultures/nations quick reference


Ostreman
https://armstreet.com/catalogue/full/re ... evra-2.jpg

a fashionable lady of Povero.




The people of Povero and many of the cities, towns, and rural districts of this part of the world.
The ancient Ostromanni were a tall, slim, fair people with eyes the color of the sea or the sky. They mixed with stouter, dark-eyed, olive complexioned brunet tribes to create the modern Ostreman culture.
Looks vary, but the old Ostromannic type shows up fairly often among aristocratic families. Ostronic has become the common language of trade.
Old Ostronic, written in an ancient runic script, is today a " dead" scholarly language.

Maerish

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/gam ... 0413041346

Sallow-skinned marsh and river folk of Modrona and neighboring districts. Some Maerish have webbed toes, and some have tea-colored dappling on their breasts , shoulders, or arms. They keep mostly to themselves. The fen-witches among them have a reputation as fortune tellers.
Their ancestors built the old city of Modron and once controlled a strong River and sea kingdom.

Picture shows a fen-witch.


Abbrontine




An alpine race with a long history of bloody feuds, private wars, brigandage, mercenary activity. Also lost treasures and haunted keeps. Related to Ostromane people, but they can be told apart by their speech, garb, and some of their customs.



Chaerulli
http://www.displacedminiatures.com/resi ... 000&w=1000


Seminomadic pastoralists and hunters of the Vinegrass Plains. Olive or tan skin, dark hair and eyes. They often show bluish stains on their teeth, a mark acquired from drinking copious amounts of bitter "wine"' (made from grass and fermented berries).
Chaerulli traders and mercs speak a dialect of Ostronic full of older , pre Ostromannic migration, words to do with sheep, horses, grasslands terrain, weather, and plants.
Chaerulli fighting-men may hire out as light cavalry or skirmishers.




Zikandroon

http://www.piratesofdarkwater.net/gfx/char-zoolie.jpg

The Zikandroon live on islands in the Sea of Whales. Most are simple fishermen or farmers, but the pirates, sailors, and whalers among them interact more often with people from POVERO.
They incline towards the worship of the powers of Chaos, benign and baleful. The classic Zikandroon type is well-fleshed and ruddy. Red hair is regarded as lucky; some Zikandroon use (imported) henna to acquire the fortunate hue.
Zikandroon don't have much of a legal system, but they do have strongly held customs. What government exists is mostly democratic in theory, but really amounts to either mob rule or the sway of a popular strongman.
Last edited by ewancummins on Thu Dec 15, 2016 5:42 pm, edited 18 times in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Technology

The overall tech level of Povero and nearby places is more of less Late Medieval /Early Rennaisance European, but don't expect a perfect match with any period or country.

So it is all pretty much PHB based, with the notable addition of printing presses with moveable type.

Ships are mainly of the (late) cog and galley period, not later Age of Sail stuff.

Spyglasses exist, but they are not particularly powerful. Again, straight out of the PHB.

Gunpowder/ smokepowder exists, but is a quasi-magical concoction, as per the PHB.
Last edited by ewancummins on Mon Aug 22, 2016 7:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

POVERO
A burgeoning seaport in the middle latitudes. Scrub-covered hinterlands and grassy plains stretch out into the foothills of the mountains that shadow the region from heavy rainfall borne on the easterly winds. Ranches, vineyards, and farms in the city bounds and in the outlying countryside provide the city with wool, hides, meat, olive oil, wheat, etc. Forts built in the hills and mountain passes protect overland routes against bandits and foreign armies.
Povero grew from a small town into a city only after engineers tapped mountain aquifers and dug subterranean canals to supplement the creeks and wells the settlement had depended on in its earlier history. Povero has outgrown its old system of defensive walls; the city government has dismantled these and used the material to create improved roads.
Elected elders and appointed guild masters govern the city. Three great houses of merchant-princes hold much influence, but don’t directly control affairs.
(This city is taken from The Matchmakers, a Dungeon Magazine adventure by P. N. Elrod. I have expanded and altered the original, briefly sketched, city setting.)
Povero
• Medium or Large City (in total population, not counting many transients, and allowing for lower density area of urban farms)
• predominant race: Human
• Ruled by Council of Elders (senators) with input from guilds and the Three Families
• tech level: Renaissance


Riorico, AKA Ruscellon
A mining center and river-port city, northwest of Povero beyond the mountains. Ruled by a hereditary prince. The prince owns navigation rights on the river, but aristocratic landowners hold title to the real estate where the richest mines have been excavated.
The city has undergone a minor slump in recent years as its gold mines have pretty well played out; cave-ins and floods far outnumber discoveries of minable veins. Gemstones dug up or found in the river have kept the prince and mine-owners in comfort and wealth, even as things grow harder for the common folk. Fishing in the river provides a living for some citizens, but runoff from the mines has polluted the stream and reservoir lake, reducing the once-abundant stock of fishes. It’s not uncommon for fishermen to turn to smuggling or thievery in order to makes ends meet.
Every year in spring the city holds Carnival, with masks, wine, parades, and all sorts of pranks and revelry.
Gnomes live here, but must return to their walled ghetto by nightfall unless they carry papers from the prince’s officials. Most gnomes survive by doing dirty and dangerous jobs: draining mines, cleaning sewers, hunting vermin, mixing dangerous chemicals, working in lead, etc. A minority of gnomes follow the more prestigious occupations of apothecary or gem-cutter.
Riorico
• Medium City
• Predominant race: Human. Minority race: gnome
• Ruled by Prince with input from a privy council of aristocrats and courtiers
• tech level: Renaissance

Ferrantio

North of Povero, across mountains and the borders of the Tanglewood. Ferrantio used to be a major center of culture and commerce, the seat of learning in the north. But that was generations ago, before wars with the semi-human orchi, plagues, and shifts in trade routes. Still, the old city retains its famous university with library. The local nobility supports the university as a matter of pride, and to attract revenue from local students and visiting scholars.
Technical innovations and improvements have lagged here, as the laymen hold the almost uniform opinion that old ways are best ways. Most scholars of the university show a similarly conservative attitude. The chief librarian had to wrangle with the panel of maestros in order to get the newest model of printing press and type shipped overland from Povero.
While behind in technological matters, Ferrantio enjoys a reputation for the wizardly arts. In truth, the reputation rests on a misunderstanding by simple country folk and misinformed foreigners: the university grants degrees in the theory and history of magic without running an actual school for practical magic-use. Experiments by students have been banned within the city after a student accidentally summoned a monster, which ran wild in the library stacks, destroyed a tavern, and then attacked people in the streets before the ducal guards destroyed it. Rumors persist of clandestine magical research conducted in cellars, in the hills outside town, or on the estates of certain eccentric families.


Ferrantio
• Small City
• Predominant race: Human.
• Ruled by Duchess
• tech level: Medieval (Renaissance items available as imports with higher prices)
Last edited by ewancummins on Sat Jan 07, 2017 1:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

:gabrielle:
Last edited by ewancummins on Thu Dec 15, 2016 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Mines of Nivilon
The Mines of Nivilon (in the Pale Sierras) house the only large population of dwarves in the regions near Povero.
Nivilon produces most of the lead used in Povero, Rio-Rico, and some other cities. The dwarves also export silver, but only in the form of coins or art objects, never as ingots.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

NONHUMAN AND SEMI-HUMAN RACES OF THE POVERO REGION


Humanity dominates Povero and the lands near the city, but there are some nonhumans and semi-humans living in the region.


Pebble Gnomes

Grim gnomes that live in warrens located in a dry, hill-rimmed basin north of the city-state.
These gnomes carry on intermittent trade with local human shepherds and ranchers, exchanging opals and other minerals for quantities of food and trade goods.
Books in the library of Ferrantio record that the Pebble Gnomes possess power against sorcery, and whispers among the gnomes of RioRico connect these clannish folk with the much-feared 'Critics.' But surprisingly little is known for certain about them, as they mistrust strangers and keep to themselves when not engaged in trade.
They rarely travel to Povero itself.

''Fish-heads''

In bad light they can pass for normal humans, but one good look at their features instantly dispels that impression: double-lidded and bulging eyes, balding crowns with lank and stringy green hair, wide mouths with needle-like teeth, and flattened faces marred by patches of greenish-pink scales. An oily smell clings to their bodies and garments. It seems they are all related to one another, with most showing a distinct family resemblance.

They often enter Povero's old and rundown suburb of Fishtown by night to consort with ne-er-do-wells in seedy taverns. The menfolk (their women rarely come to Fishtown) show the usual male interest in local harlots.
The Fish-Heads dwell in their own fortified island settlement apart from the city. Magistrates suspect them of smuggling, boat-theft, and other crimes, but the Fish-heads have provided timely warning of pirate raids and other seaborne perils (and placed bribes with the right officials) often enough that they've earned grudging toleration--so long as they don't leave Fishtown for other parts of the city.

Local sages consider these people to be of human origin, but derived from inbred and mutated stock, possibly hybridized with something inhuman from the sea.


Calling a normal human inhabitant of Fishtown a fish-head is a great way to start a fight.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
User avatar
ewancummins
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 28523
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:35 pm

Re: POVERO REFERENCE

Post by ewancummins »

Note about minor races and PCs


Pebble Gnomes don't adventure as a rule. It's highly unlikely one would be a PC in the future, but PCs might encounter them at some point if you ever go near their home.


The Fish-Heads are likewise an NPC race, at least for now.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
Post Reply