2012/03/05

OSR Experiments #32: Jeff's 20 questions for... a not quite Dungeoneering type Campaign setting

Answering 20 questions seems to be an OSR hobby! Well, here's Jeff's famous 20 questions, for my current Nirdday games. Nirdday is a dark fantasy world, with elements from the 15th through 19th centuries. And it's not a regular dungeon world at all! I think my gamers haven't seen a single halfling in over a hundred games, and hardly ever entered an underearth crypt or ... wait that's not true, they do go in underearth settings sometimes. But not extended ones.

  1. What is the deal with my cleric's religion? - Most Nirdday priests are Crosstian, which is a kind of Roman Catholic Christian, with celtic influences and more space for female priests (or even a Papess). The more outlandish Elder religions are more remniscent of Ancient Roman religion.
  2. Where can we go to buy standard equipment? - in most towns or cities there is ample opportunity.
  3. Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended? - if you pay enough, many blacksmiths may try. But the best are from Solingen and Toledo Salamanca.
  4. Who is the mightiest wizard in the land? - most of these are dead, or supposed to be dead. Legendary is the AceceRex, architact of the magick walls that imprison Nirdday.
  5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land? - legendary are Feara Azriaz and Blade Ringwood. Both pretty ancient player characters, first played in the '80-ies.
  6. Who is the richest person in the land? - These are the de Medici and Fugger families - much like in real life 16th century.
  7. Where can we go to get some magical healing? - the Grey Friars, priests of St Rafael may help you.
  8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath? - in most cases you go for help from the Grey Friars if you want to live, or the priests of St Michael if you really want them dead. The Order of Leopold is specialised in slaying vampyres.
  9. Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells? - most magick users are either schooled in Dagon (ImperiMor), Samaris (center of the world) or Monmarche (Dominio). Magick users are relatively rare. And yes, learning new disciplines either needs old tomes, finding new masters or going to the academy.
  10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC? - most cities have one or more of these.
  11. Where can I hire mercenaries? - In Ferdan you can hire plenty just about everywhere. That's part of Ferdan's problem - too many old soldiers left from the wars of destruction, wanting a job.
  12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law? - for non-nobility, non-guard many cities outlaw swords. Magick is typically frowned upon, but it only becomes illegal if it's witchcraft. And whether it's witchcraft is often decided by nasty people in charge or nasty inquisitors.
  13. Which way to the nearest tavern? - across from the church.
  14. What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous? - killing old dragons may gain you a real reputation. Killing old elves will also give you a reputation, but it may turn out to be lethal for yourself. Killing orcs is often thought a necessity - until you find out orc women look like pretty human women, and some orcs aren't that warlike after all.
  15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight? - Ferdan is on the brink of a civil war. Skirmishes are on the borders of many provinces. ImperiMor has just been taken over in a coup d' etat - and a rebellion is building, starting to wage war from within.
  16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes? - Samaris has a well known arena, and so do Brethan and Capital. Ferdan, where most adventures are based has no arenas, but there are regular jousts, duels and tournaments all over the place.
  17. Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight? - oh... yes. Very much so.
  18. What is there to eat around here? - German cuisine (Ferdan), French cuisine (Keo), etc, etc. But also maggots if you prefer.
  19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for? - many, especially stuff lost in the pre-Arrival wars.
  20. Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure? - beg you pardon? You might want to look for the lost hoards of Vaal. Except that they say its soil is contaminated with doomstone.
Cheers Jeff! I didn't expect I could give answers making sense, but it wasn't hard after all.

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