A few players recently brought up the fact that the Underdark may be foreign to many people and asked if a list of frequently asked questions would be published about the setting. For example, someone asked where exactly the Middledark lies in relation to the surface. I am in the process of writing a few posts for the forums that will answer many of these questions.
What are some aspects of the Underdark you would like seen covered in these posts?
I know Sanctuary is not a canon location, but where would it be placed on the map, if given a choice?
Regarding Sanctuary: Is it too much to ask for it's actual history (we only know it's founded by two brothers) and how it sustains itself in the underdark (agriculture? etc.) Also, how well known is the town in the underdark denizens?
(1) The exact location of Sanctuary as corresponds to the surface is something I'm inclined to think should be learned in game, however it may make sense to provide a general region. Let us think it over.
(2) There are dozens of in-game books written by NPCs (all of whom have their particular biases, prejudices, and so on) that discuss the details of the setting. Learning basic history about the town shouldn't be much more than complex than strolling to the book merchant and purchasing a copy. It may be a good idea to provide some excerpts on the forums or website (basic information), I'll see what I can do.
It isn't so much that it would be neat to know the location under the earth of Sanctuary, but since most characters will be escaped slaves, it would be nice to know something about the slaver's community that we escaped from, and if we weren't born into slavery, what geographical region we may have originally been from.
Basic information about the three nearby settlements (Traensyr the drow city, Chabzash the beholder hive, Ysinode the illithid collective) which most Sanctuary citizens escaped from is up on the website (in the campaign page). Since so much of the server is based around the extreme difficulty of actually escaping from our town to the surface, we're reluctant to encourage backgrounds that involve simply finding a cave and strolling downward. So, for the moment, all we're really prepared to say is: under Faerun.
Backgrounds involving portals or enslavement anywhere from the Sword Coast to the Dalelands or beyond are acceptable.
A little more information on some of the subraces would be much appreciated. Particularly the Genasi.
Mainly, what I'm looking to find out is how long they live. But any interesting/important tidbits in addition would be welcome.
I have a question. Or rather, questions. Bear in mind I'm currently trying to learn as much about the Underdark as I can in preparation, as I've known very little up til now.
What are the ways that the Underdark races get hold of surface slaves? Do they mostly buy them from surfacer slavers? Capture them as they go exploring/get lost in the Underdark? Capture them on surface raids? Any other ways?
And is there any difference between the races? For example, do the drow make surface raids, but the illithids mostly just capture those wandering the Underdark?
Are there particular types of surfacers that are more likely to be taken? i.e. do they particularly want craftsman? Fighter types? Young children that they can bring up in slavery? Or do they generally just take whatever is available?
Any info will be gratefully received! :)
(I"m not a DM, so don't consider this a final word)
Drow tend to use slaves as cannon fodder, or extreme menial labororers, or food for pets/summoned demon. So I would guess they'd not be overly discriminating. Perhaps preferring dociilty, and no cripples.
Illithid takes thralls for more physical purposes. Dextrous sorts with a skilled touch for massaging the elder brain, skilled and useful laborers for construction, strong bearers for carrying burdens, and powerful warriors for defense. It's likely they would avoid strong-willed sorts, who might break their control, or those who have little value aside from their mental capabilities (mages, bards, etc).
What a Beholder does with a slave, is beyond me. Beyond possibly breeding them as food.
RavenBlackRose What a Beholder does with a slave, is beyond me. Beyond possibly breeding them as food.
Hey, that enormous bottle of ViseneTM doesn't just work itself.
I dont have the resources or books explaining in detail much of the Underdark. Most of my knowledge comes from the net(provided it is accurate) and from other players. There are a few things I have zero understanding off past names and bios. Included are:
1) Deities worshiped by any NON drow race(deep dwarves, gnomes..etc) and deites involved with other beings or monsters (beholders etc) -Besides names, meaning boundries for clerics and the divine, or holy times of the year, requirements..etc.
2) The calander. How does the calander work, and in that respect time itself, as most if not all have little or a vague concept of the "sun" and the seasons that ensue. Which I ask because I tend to lean towards the calander-if it exists-would direct some actions by folk.
3) The size of the Underdark. How widespread beneath the surface is it?
4) And in a broader sense, seeing it is is an entirely different world than the one above, do spell changes apply to surroundings? Does being beneath affect ones health and CON?(if one is not born into) And if someone would asnwer if anything I said, this alone....Do any of the major Underdark races get along with one another or do they consistently try to undermine one another at all costs?
Some things that I wouldnt have the slightest clue on.
Thank you for links Scarrow. I can afford the book, just have to locate it online. Again thanks.
About the calendar. I guess they have the same one in the Underdark as in the rest of Faerûn.
Each year has 365 days. Each year has 12 months called Hammer, Alturiak, Ches, Tarsakh, Mirtul, Kythorn, Flamerule, Eleasis, Eleint, Harpenoth, Uktar, Nightal. Each month has 30 days (five special days fall between the months). Each month has 3 tendays (also called ride). Each tenday has 10 days called first-day, second-day, ... , tenth-day. Current year is 1372.
Keeping track of day and night in the Underdark can be difficult, and they have different ways of counting the passing of the days. How this is done in Sanctuary I don't know.
The majority of the questions posed in this thread will be answered in various upcoming posts about the setting, so I have held off from answering them here. Once a few of these posts are made public, please feel free to add any additional questions or requests for information.
Kotenku A little more information on some of the subraces would be much appreciated.
There will be a section on both the playable races and those commonly found in the setting.
Silverstar What are the ways that the Underdark races get hold of surface slaves?
Slavery is a topic that will be covered in both general terms and in regards to each race.
DuffMan Deities worshiped by any NON drow race(deep dwarves, gnomes..etc) and deites involved with other beings or monsters (beholders etc) -Besides names, meaning boundries for clerics and the divine, or holy times of the year, requirements..etc.
There will be a substantial amount of information available on each of the 150 deities in the setting.
DuffMan The calander.
Another topic that will be covered in length, as the setting will use a unique calendar.
DuffMan The size of the Underdark. How widespread beneath the surface is it?
In general terms, the Underdark covers the whole continent of Toril. The major levels will be described and may include some of the more prominent areas.
DuffMan And in a broader sense, seeing it is is an entirely different world than the one above, do spell changes apply to surroundings?
Spell changes do exist and will be listed. This will include both basic mechanical changes and those specifically related to the setting.
DuffMan Does being beneath affect ones health and CON?
There will be information about the various levels of the Underdark and how they relate to an adventurer's survival.
DuffMan Do any of the major Underdark races get along with one another or do they consistently try to undermine one another at all costs?
This will be covered in several places. In general, none of the races found in the Underdark get along with each other, though strategic alliances may be found in certain areas.
Will there be direction in the Underdark? I imagine compasses getting quite screwed up down there. With no sun either…?
spartacus Will there be direction in the Underdark?
Yes, inhabitants of the Underdark are able to determine general direction. However, someone new to the environment would have more than a difficult time finding their way around using them. Travelers also need to be able to determine their depth, as walking north ten paces and then east five is of no use to someone standing fifty feet above their destination. The Underdark is also constantly changing, so a cavern or shaft that may have existed a year ago could very well be unreachable today.
spartacus I imagine compasses getting quite screwed up down there.
An experienced guide in this type of environment would have little use for a compass. Those characters with a background that may have included guiding, scouting, or tracking on the surface will have to spend a considerable amount of time adjusting to the challenges brought forth in traveling underground. Once they have mastered finding their way through the Underdark, they will become an invaluable member of any party.
I remember being told, while playing the official HotU campaign, that no maps of the Underdark exists as the caverns shift from time to time. I believe it was Durnan who said this actually.
This game world will be constant though, and maps will exist?
Schattenjäger This game world will be constant though, and maps will exist?
Maps will likely exist, possibly made by PCs, possibly accurate. Don't expect caverns to never collapse, though. ;)