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I've been wanting to post this for a while now. These are my entries on a new location in Gamandria I used in my own campaign. I had to wait for my players to come here though before putting it up on the blog. The City of Qelna is fully described below in the CITY OF
QELNA section. The giant, Numa, is also described at the very end with stats provided. I tried to clean up my notes to make them easier to understand. This should be enough information to run an entire adventure in the
EDIT: I should mention that my campaign is set in 1452, two years after the official date in the rulebook, for anyone who was confused by the timeline.
About Qelna
Qelna is an ancient ruin on a high outcropping of rock north
of Palus. It was an ancient city
destroyed in the year over 1400 years ago. However Qelna is actually a Grim
that exists outside of time. Its center is a giant Sertori named Numa.
Only Sertori can see Qelna. All others who look upon the
site see only a ruin. To most Sertori it looks like a ruin as well. But to
Sertori who look closely (essentially taking the time to get a TN 10 or rolling
a natural 10 on their Detect roll) they see the city is still inhabited and
thriving.
The truth about Qelna is that it is a trap. Numa takes on
the memories and powers of Sertori who enter and he intends to keep them there.
So long as he lives, they cannot leave except through special means.
The danger of remaining in Qelna is that time passes faster
outside its walls. Each hour spent in Qelna is a day outside. This makes it a
useful location for adventure because players who arrive and realize their
situation will urgently want to leave.
Initially, Numa tries to keep people in Qelna by tending to
their needs but he resorts to other methods if anyone tries to leave.
Only the sword of Qelna can truly kill Numa. The blade is
located deep below the city temple, in a well guarded complex.
TIME IN QELNA
Time passes slower on the inside of Qelna than on the
outside. One hour inside equals 1 day outside.
ENTERING QELNA
When Sertori enter they are met by four elven guards dressed
in metal studded leather cloaks (effectively Leather armor), bronze helmets and
spears (for stats see SOLDIERS OF QELNA BELOW). They welcome the party, tell
them they are honored guests of King Numa who has foreseen their arrival. They
may follow the guards to food and lodging.
They are taken to the Beer Seller Isaree’s House which
functions as a tavern for Sertori. There they can interact with the other
Sertori in the city or roam about as they wish. They may eventually learn that
time passes faster on the outside and they are physically unable to leave. To
escape they must either convince Numa to let them go free or discover the
nature of the Blade of Qelna and use it against him (both difficult
undertakings).
LEAVING QELNA
It is impossible to leave Qelna against the wish of Numa,
anyone who tries to do so finds that no matter how long they try to trek down
the mountain, they never reach the bottom, but if they turn around, they return
within minutes. This is because Qelna is a Grim, able to warp time and space as
it desires.
SERTORI PRESENT IN THE CITY
These are the Sertori Present in the city. They are
important because they can serve as potential allies or enemies to the players
but they also can help them discern the time gap between Qelna and the outer
world. All are at the Beer Seller’s house, where the city gives them fine
rooms, except for Numa who resides at the palace. They are rarely together
though as most have business in the city itself they are conducting. Players
should be asked to make Detect Rolls to notice that clothing and armor is of a
different time period in cases like Cadius or Azima (who have both been here
for centuries).
Each entry give s the name, race, place of origin, time the
character thinks he or she has been in Qelne, and then the time that character
has actually been in Qelna (at least as far as the outside world is concerned).
Cassius (Orc): Poro
Deus, 1 Month, Almost Two Years
Cassius came here to find the Sword of Qelna, hoping to
being it back to his Caelan legate as a gift. He received on audience with Numa
who promised him the sword (this was a lie) if he helps him translate some
Latari texts in the next couple of months.
Hauchgel (Gru):
Glaver, A little over a day, 30 Days
Hauchgel was going North to investigate rumors of the Lady
Druza’s return. He is a convert to the church of Ramos.
Hekas (Hasri):
Asharun, 6 months, 11 years
Hekas came here as a scholar with interest in the ruins. He
is the only Sertori who realizes that time has been passing differently on the
inside of the city from the outside.
Hermakaul (Human
Agarian): Perlova Valley, 1 year, 23 years
Came here when to follow a vision. From Perlova valley
before the conquest. He and Cassius bicker constantly about whether it is a
province of the empire or not. Neither one has figured out that there is a time
difference but Hermakaul is close to realizing this.
Tuk (Human Agarian):
Poro Deus, 5 years, 118 years
Fled here when her village was wiped out by Gru advancing
from the North.
Azima (Dwarf): Sula
Akdala, 10 years, 236 years
Was a mercenary for the Ronian Side of the Caelum invasion
of Rono. She enjoys the luxury the city affords her as a Sertori .
Cadius (Orc): Rono
Empire, 27 years, 649 years
Came here on way to investigate the recent formation of The
Fellowship of Promestus in Ronia. Found the city fascinating and has remained
to study it.
Numa (Giant), 57
years, 1382(time closure)
THE CITY OF QELNA
Population:
10,300
Religion: Cult of
Numa
Language: Singh
Technology: Bronze
The streets of Qelna are all meandering stone stairs, hewn
into the mountain. They wind and wrap going from one gate to the next and
leading to Numa’s Palace and the Temple of Numa. There are three tiers to the
city, each ringed by a stone wall 12 to 15 feet in height. The buildings are
all made of stone and clay and typically three stories high, all interconnected
by a maze of walls. Most houses have a central interior courtyard on the first
floor. Cooking and cultivation, even sleeping, are often done on roofs.
Furniture is typically made of Ivory, stone, lapis lazuli and gold. The
temperature is warm year round, despite being in the cold heights of the Varian
Mountains. This allows them to farm rice and other grains, which they do in
sections along the outer rings.
The city is ruled by Numa (a giant and Sertori) and managed
by his priesthood, led by the high priestess (Luang Ta) and concubine Cintana.
The high priestess also controls the most important members of the king’s
government, the Scribes (Luang Shen), they keep records, collect taxes and
manage crucial documents in the city upon stone tablets. Note that tax is not
taken in the form of currency but labor or gifting. All property in Qelna is owned by the priesthood.
The priesthood also has a council next to the king called the Phra Qelna. In
addition the preists (Luang)serve as the physicians of Qelna. The Nai Pun are a
special order of warrior priests who are personally loyal to Numa but selected
by the High Preistess. They also command the Nai Shen (soldiers). They are also
the merchant class, being granted permission to leave on contract with the king
for trade purposes. The Nai Shen are the soldier class. Sertori enjoy special
status in Qelna, where they are called Nai Jao (holy people) and given access
to every manner of luxury possible.
There have been three Luang Ta since the city’s founding.
The former Luang Ta, Ratria, was poisoned and replaced by Cintana ten years
ago. A common saying in Qelna is “Elves are long-lived, yet the Luang Ta is
not”
Qelna is a caste society. Generally speaking elves occupy
the priestly positions in the city while the Agarian people serve as laborers
(largely for helping erect structures). Foreign Trade is conducted by the Nai
Pun on a contract basis. Agarians with wealth can rise to the level of priests
or merchants, but even then they hold a lower position in Qelna (Agarian
Priests perform only the most basic duties and are largely used to help keep
the rest of the Agarian population under control). The castes are as follows:
1. THE LUANG CASTE (Elves)
Luang Ta (Concubine)
Nai Pun (Warrior Priests and Merchants)
Nai Shen (Soldiers)
Luang Shen (Scribes)
Luang (Normal Priests)
2. THE AMETA CASTE (Lower level Priests and Administrators
of Agarian heritage)
3. THE MAI PUN CASTE (Agarians merchants)
4. THE MANUT CASTE (Agarian Laborers)
5. THE NAI JAO CASTE (Sertori who exist outside the normal
hierarchy)
Each month ends in a weeklong religious festival. The first
month and last month are both dedicated to Numa, the savior of the world. But
the other gods are honored the remaining months. The core belief of Qelna is
that at the moment of disaster, Numa protected the city from the end of the
world. Beyond the city they believe is a terrible place of scorched cities and
primitive tribes.
There is a movement of rebels, who have tried to kill Numa
many times and failed. They are called The Sons of Shai. Presently there are
about fifty members of the Sons of Shai and they are based in the Wine Palace
of Po. The Wine Palace of Po is a tavern known for a beverage called Blue
Salamander Wine.
Qelna conducts trade beyond its borders, using the time gap
to its advantage. The Merchants, the Mai Pun, are the only ones allows to leave
the city and do so with permission from the king on a case by case basis. They
can leave, travel to Asharun, and return soon after they left. For each month
they spend outside the city, barely a day passes in the city.
The city has a total of 400 soldiers, with 65 on the wall,
100 Patrolling Temple Qaurter, 150 at the palace, 50 Patrolling the Elven
Quarter, 25 at the Temple itself. Plus the King has his Elite warrior priests
(100). The soldiers are led by an Nai
Pun named Fai Mai. He has 16 captains from the Nai Pun caste who command 20
city soldiers each. The wall is managed by Lao San, who has equal status to Fai
Mai and is also from the Nai Pun class. He has 8 captains who control 8 wall
soldiers each.
There are nine crucial laws in the city, known as the laws
of Numa. These appear at every gate etched in stone and in the city entrance.
Grievances not covered by these laws can still be brought before the
priesthood.
The Laws of Numa:
1. None may leave Qelna without permission from Numa
2. Only the Nai Pun may seek permission to leave
3. All shall be paid for their labors and services, except
Nai Jao
4. All goods and services are to be purchased in silver
rings with the King’s seal, with credit or with favors. Favors or credit
unfulfilled warrant punishment
5. No one may charge the holy people (Nai Jao) for goods or
services. No good or service may be denied to the holy people.
6. Only Nai Shen, Nai Joa and Nai Pun may carry weapons.
7. Only the High Priestess and King together can produce
silver rings with the King’s seal, and they may do so only once every ten years
8. No one except the holy people (Nai Jao) may carry foreign
weapons into the city.
9. All punishments are decided by the king, the High
Preistess (Luang Ta) or the Warrior Priests (Nai Pun)
PLACES OF NOTE IN THE CITY
The House of the Beer Seller Isaree
This is a courtyard house with a central garden and
greenery. Beer is made in the storage room areas and stored in an attached
chamber. Bedrooms are luxurious. Dining room is luxurious with tables
surrounded by circular cushions. Isaree is the Beer Seller and she is an elf
who has been brewing for 57 years. She has also been inside the city since its
founding. She serves all manner of food including roasted peacock, roasted boar
meat, stuffed fish, and a pungent dish made of papaya and various spices.
The Wine Palace of Po
This white stone tower with 9 levels is owned by one of the
wealthiest Agarian families in Qelna, with many ties to the temple. It is
managed by the family matriarch, Bu. While they serve all manner of wine their
specialty is something called Blue Salamander Wine, which prompts strong
hallucinations.
This is also where the Sons of Shai make their headquarters
on the 7th floor. Their present leader is Ogaron. Ogaron knows many
of the secrets of the Temple and with the help of Bu, can probably get the PCs
inside if they wish. He also knows that the something in the temple that can
harm Numa is being protected. He has had five men die trying to kill the king.
He has seen the king survive decapitation.
Wines: Blue Salamander Wine (6 Silver), Resin Wine (3
Silver), Agarian Wine—Red (5 Silver).
Blue Salamander Wine (3d10 against Hardiness): Immediate
effects are -1d10 to Physical and Combat skills for 3 hours. Prompts visions
from the gods. Divination Skill TN 9, can get some important vision to help
solve a critical problem. On a Failure the person takes a random affliction for
three hours.
Numa’s Palace
This sprawling complex of rooms is supported by columns made
of polished stones. Each room has enormous statues of the various gods, but
they seem like they the King’s pets, not objects of devotion. The palace has
many Agarian Guards and a number of scribes as well.
The Temple School
This is the school of the city. It is operated by the
Scribes and attended mainly by folks of the priest class (Elves) and those with
money. It is very strict and students who make mistakes are punished. The
primary purpose of the school is to teach writing Singh. The school is located
inside the temple structure itself.
Temple of Numa
This massive ziggurat is the heart of the city, where all
its major offices are including its great library. It is also where the sword
of Qelna is housed. The sword is inside an underground chamber built
specifically to protect it. It is trapped and protected by “The Guardians”. I will be posting a detailed map and
description page of this in the coming days.
QELNA TIMELINE
This is a timeline of the history of Qelna. The column on
the left shows the normal Gamandrian date, while the “Qelnan Date” column gives
the time from the point of view of the city of Qelna.
Gamandrian Date
|
Qelnan Date
|
Event
|
10 AA*
|
80 BS
|
Numa is Born
|
12 PA
|
58 BS
|
Fall of Nong Sai complete
|
13 AA-70 PA
|
57-1
|
This is a period of devastation and war. The agents of the
gods have free reign and continue to brutalize the people. Formation of human
and elven cities in Tongasha region.
|
23
|
47 BS
|
Numa finds the Blade of Qelna, and gains fame killing the
Angustia and even fending off a Dragon. People begin to follow him, soon he
is a king with a city of Elven refugees and allied Agarian people.
|
24
|
46 BS
|
Qelna Founded
|
70
|
1 AS
|
The Dragon Mangon tries to destroy Qelna, Numa fights with
it for two days but grims and the city is forever trapped outside of time
|
90
|
2
|
Rona and Agra established
|
114
|
3
|
Work on Complex Below Temple Begun (simply called the
Qelna Complex)
|
238
|
7
|
Sukhon becomes First Luang Ta
|
358
|
12
|
Work on Palace and Temple Begun
|
430
|
15
|
Qelna Complex Completed
|
550
|
20
|
Sukhon killed by High Priestess Ratria
Ratria Becomes
Second Luang Ta
|
646
|
24
|
Palace and Temple Completed
|
1200
|
47
|
Ratria poisoned
Cintana Becomes
Luang Ta
|
1452
|
57
|
Present
|
*ANTE ANGUSTIAM (AA)
**POST ANGUSTIAM (PA)
*** BEFORE SALVATION
SOLDIERS OF QELNA
ELVEN WALL SOLDIERS (4 out of total of
65)
Defenses: Hardiness 4*, Stealth 6, Evade 6, Parry
7**, Wits 8, Resolve 8
Skills: Heavy Melee 2d10, Medium Melee 1d10
(Halberd) or 3d10 (Javelin), Wrestling 2d10, Muscle 1d10, Speed 2d10, Detect 2d10
Damage: Halberd (3d10 or 1d10), Javelin (2d10)
Wounds: 2
Equipment:
Leather Armor*, Light Shield**, Javelin, Halberd
LAO SAN, COMMANDER OF THE WALL
Defenses: Hardiness 5*, Stealth 6, Evade 7**, Parry
8**, Wits 8, Resolve 8
Skills: Heavy Melee 2d10, Medium Melee 3d10
(Short Sword), Wrestling 2d10, Muscle 2d10, Speed 2d10, Detect 3d10
Damage: Short Sword (3d10)
Wounds: 2
Equipment: Breast
Plate*, Heavy Shield**, Short Sword
ELVEN INTERIOR CITY SOLDIERS (335)
Defenses: Hardiness 4*, Stealth 6, Evade 6, Parry
7**, Wits 8, Resolve 8
Skills: Heavy Melee 2d10, Medium Melee 1d10
(Halberd) or 3d10 (Javelin), Wrestling 2d10, Muscle 2d10, Speed 2d10, Detect 1d10
Damage: Halberd (4d10 or 2d10), Javelin (3d10)
Wounds: 2
Equipment:
Leather Armor*, Light Shield**, Javelin, Halberd
NAI PUN SOLDIERS (100)
Defenses: Hardiness 5*, Stealth 6, Evade 8**, Parry
9**, Wits 8, Resolve 8
Skills: Heavy Melee 2d10, Medium Melee 3d10
(Short Sword), Wrestling 2d10, Muscle 2d10, Speed 1d10, Detect 2d10
Damage: Short Sword (3d10)
Wounds: 2
Equipment:
Breast Plate*, Heavy Shield**, Short Sword
FAI MAI, COMMANDER OF THE GUARD
Defenses: Hardiness 6*, Stealth 6, Evade 8**, Parry
9**, Wits 8, Resolve 8
Skills: Heavy Melee 2d10, Medium Melee 3d10
(Short Sword), Wrestling 2d10, Muscle 3d10, Speed 2d10, Detect 2d10
Damage: Short Sword (4d10)
Wounds: 2
Equipment:
Breast Plate*, Heavy Shield**, Short Sword
NUMA THE FIRST SERTORI
Born at the moment of the fall, Numa was once a king and hero, a Sertori who used his powers to protect the people of Tongasha after the fall of Nong Sai. He found the Sword of Qelna deep in the Varian sea. His subjects were mostly elven, and remain so to this day. While trying to protect the city from dragon he grimed. After the battle the Blade of Qelna burned his hands and filled him with dread, so he had it buried below the city and placed in a trapped vault. Has reigned for 104 years (57 of which have been inside the time closure).
Defenses
Hardiness 8
Stealth 2
Evade 2
Parry 4
Wits 6
Resolve 7
Key Skills [HEADER FOUR]
Wrestling: 3d10
Large Ranged:
2d10
Speed: 0d10 (30
feet)
Athletics: 1d10
Muscle: 5d10
Swim: 1d10
Detect: 1d10
Command: 2d10
Persuade: 1d10
Empathy: 2d10
Medicine: 3d10
Divination: 2d10
Talent
(Sculpture): 2d10
History (Nong
Sai): 3d10
Trade
(Architecture): 2d10
Language
(Singh): 3d10
Language
(Pasaali): 2d10
Language
(Agarian): 2d10
Qualities
[HEADER FOUR]
Wounds: 11
Powers [HEADER FOUR]
Resist: 3d10
Divinity: 4
Followers: 10,400
Natural Spells (Deimos
2, Misos 2, Agape 2, Penthos): The Splintering of Yaum, Youthful Restoration, Avalanche
of Flame, Tearing the Veil, Pora’s Portrait, Dread Passenger, Earth Mastery, Food
of the Gods (Thauma)
New Spells (40): Memory, Potent Ambience,
Soul Shield, Treacherous Icon, Arch of Protection, Desire,Captivation, Cloak of
Protection, Flavia’s Terrible Purification, Gilded Cage, Heal, Merciful Plea,
Sanctuary, Summon, Warding Wall, Unity, Bridge, Bloodsmith, Flying Eyes,
Mourning Glory, Reshaping of Satree, Sphere of Suffocation, Daydream, Flight,
Hide, Blades of Wrath, Bolt of Fury, Focus of Ire, Inner Strength, Immolation,
Impaling Spike, Karima’s Baleful Glare, Obliterate Magic, Screaming Surge,
Surging Wave, Vow
Boulder
Throw:
Beast
Strength X2:
Power:
Automatic wound on successful Melee roll.
Union:
Qelna’s mind is made stronger by the presence of other Sertori, and his magic
increases too. He automatically gains all the spells of any Sertori in the city
and he can sense their desires.
Immunity:
Numa cannot die. He can be physically harmed, but regenerates back to health 2
wounds every round.
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