OffIcIa!

Gamc Acccssnry
8eyond lhe Prlsm Penlad
by 8lll Slavlcsek
A Dccadc nf Advcnturc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Inlroduclion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Iirsl 1O Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
TineIine of Lvenls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Changes in lhe WorId . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Thc CIty-5tatcs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
T y r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Ur i k. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Raan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5
Draj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Conlenls
Ni lenay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 O
C u I g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
B a I i c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Charactcr 5tatIstIcs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Rikus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Sadira . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Hananu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ni l e na y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6
LaIaIi-Iuy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Advcnturc: 6DA ,ABEAH\I /=>EJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Credl l s
Design: BiII SIavicsek - Based on lhe Irisn Ienlad noveI series ly Troy Denning
Ldiling: }in BulIer - Cover Arl: Ned Daneron - Inlerior Arl: }ohn DoIIar
Irojecl Coordinalor: Bruce Nesnilh - Craphics Coordinalor: Sarah Ieggeslad
Arl Coordinalor: Ieggy Cooper - Typography: AngeIika Lokolz
T5R, Inc.
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UnItcd KIngdnm
2441XXX15O1
ADVANCLD DUNCLNS & DRACNS, AD&D, DRACNS CRWN, and DARK SUN are regislered lradenark ovned ly TSR, Inc.
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Inlroducllon
Tnc ragcn is ca, ou| A|nas s|i|| rcc|s cf angcr, ca|n, an
ccaq. Ma|c nc nis|a|c. ||s in |nc tcrq air uc orca|nc, cnc|ing
us |i|c |nc san an si||. lctc c|inina|c cnc ncrrcr, ou|, as
surc|q as |nc crinscn sun riscs a| aun, |nrcc ncrc ui|| appcar |c
|a|c i|s p|acc.
~Brakus of lhe Tyr CounciI of Advisers
Alhas, Iike aII lhe vorIds of lhe nuIliverse, changes vilh lhe
passage of line. And, Iike aII vorIds inhaliled ly hunans, line
is narked ly lhe occurrence of greal evenls. Here is a chronicIe
of greal evenls and lhe changes vroughl ly lines reIenlIess pas-
sage.
Hislory is rare in a vorId vilhoul seasons, in a vorId vhere
lhe pasl renains as hidden and nyslerious as lhe deplhs of lhe
SiIl Sea. Hovever, lhese greal evenls didnl occur in lhe ancienl
pasl. They look pIace in recenl nenory. The chronicIe slarls a
decade ago, vhen lhree sIaves and a nolIe joined forces lo kiII a
sorcerer-king. Il legins in lhe cily-slale of Tyr, inside lhe greal
sladiun, in lhe shadov of KaIaks ziggural, on lhe day KaIak
died . . .
Aboul Thls 8ook
Since lhe originaI DARK SUN

loxed sel deluled in lhe faII of

1991, a Iol has happened lo lhe lurning Iand. 8cqcn |nc
Prisn Pcn|a sunnarizes lhe key evenls fron lhe Irisn Ienlad
noveI series and lhe various roIe-pIaying gane producls. Il aIso
updales lhe silualions in lhe cily-slales of lhe Tyr Region in reIa-
lion lo lhese evenls, descriles lhe changes in lhe Iand, gives sla-
lislics for lhe najor characlers lhal survived lhe noveIs, and
provides a shorl advenlure lhal heIps lie pIayer characlers inlo
lhe dranalic concIusion of Tnc Ccru|can S|crn. In shorl, il
deaIs vilh lhe aflernalh of lhe evenls depicled in lhe Irisn Ien-
lad and olher DARK SUN sources.
Whal is lhe Irisn Ienlad` Ils a five-look noveI series lhal
inlroduces lhe vorId of Alhas and leIIs a sveeping saga lhal
spans 1O years. The looks, in order, are: Tnc Vcran| Passagc,
Tnc Crinscn |cgicn, Tnc Anocr |ncnan|rcss, Tnc Oosiian
Orac|c, and Tnc Ccru|can S|crn. ver lhe course of lhe slory,
nuch of lhe poIilicaI, sociaI, and environnenlaI slruclure of
Alhas changes. In lhis producl, lhese changes are expIained in
lhe conlexl of an ongoing DARK SUN canpaign.
In addilion, lhis producl provides lhe lase upon vhich lhe
revised canpaign selling. DARK SUN: A Ncu Agc, is luiIl
Consider 8cqcn |nc Prisn Pcn|a lo le a lridge lhal spans
lhe decade of canpaign line lelveen lhe originaI loxed sel and
lhe revision.
Nntc: If you havenl read lhe noveI series yel, le varned lhal
lhe infornalion lhal foIIovs reveaIs lhe surprises of lhe slory. If
you pIan lo read lhe Irisn Ienlad noveIs (vhich is slrongIy rec-
onnended), save lhis producl unliI afler youve had a chance lo
do so. Then cone lack here lo discover hov lo incorporale ils
pIol inlo your DARK SUN canpaign.
The Flrsl I0 Years
The firsl DARK SUN advenlure pulIished afler lhe reIease of
lhe iniliaI loxed sel vas |rcccn. Il aIIoved lhe pIayer charac-
lers lo lake parl in lhe pivolaI evenl of Tnc Vcran| Passagc, lhe
firsl noveI in lhe Irisn Ienlad series. The evenl vas a releIIion
lhal ended vilh lhe dealh of KaIak, lhe sorcerer-king, and lhe
independence of lhe cily-slale of Tyr.
Afler lhe second advenlure, Rca |c Uri|, vhich lied inlo
lhe evenls in lhe second noveI, Tnc Crinscn |cgicn, lhe slory
Iines of lhe looks and lhe roIe-pIaying producls diverged. WhiIe
lhe renaining noveIs in lhe Irisn Ienlad series venl on lo span
a 1O-year period, lhe gane Iines advenlures and accessories
sIoved dovn, aIIoving individuaI canpaigns lo deveIop and
find lheir ovn pace in lhe Alhasian vasles.
Nov, vilh lhe reIease of DARK SUN: A Ncu Agc, ils line lo
lring lhe lvo slory Iines lack logelher and advance lhe can-
paign lineIine. More lhan 1O years have passed since King
KaIak of Tyr vas kiIIed and lhe inhalilanls of his cily-slale
found freedon. This vas lul lhe firsl of a series of evenls lhal
heIped significanlIy change lhe Iook and nalure of lhe Tyr
Region fron lhe naleriaI iniliaIIy presenled in Tnc lancrcr,
]curna| (lhe canpaign look fron lhe originaI loxed sel). To
lring DARK SUN canpaigns up lo speed, lhese evenls~and
lheir repercussions~need lo le exanined in lhe conlexl of
recenl Alhasian hislory.
In lhe lineIine lhal foIIovs, lhe fealured evenls are dravn
fron lhese sources: lhe Irisn Ienlad noveI series, lhe Dragcns
Crcun and 8|ac| Spinc advenlures, lhe Ci|q oq |nc Si|| Sca
canpaign expansion, and lhe Tnri-Krccn cf A|nas accessory.
These are noled on lhe diagran, vhiIe lhe lexl sunnarizes lhe
evenls. DMs are encouraged lo incorporale olher pulIished
2
advenlures, lheir ovn advenlures, and lheir canpaign experi-
ences inlo lhe lineIine as lhey see fil.
Tvo nelhods for reckoning line are used across Alhas. The
firsl nelhod is lhe High CaIendar, used ly lhe nerchanl houses
and nosl lenpIars in lhe Tyr Region. Il vas originaIIy caIIed lhe
CaIendar of Tyr, lul lhe cily-slale has officiaIIy alandoned il
since overlhroving KaIak. AII of lhe dales shovn are for years in
lhe 19Olh Kings Age.
The second nelhod (Iisled parenlhelicaIIy) is lhe CaIendar
of Iree Tyr, vhich vas insliluled ly Tyrs CounciI of Advisers
shorlIy afler King KaIaks dealh. This caIendar hasnl gained
videspread acceplance as of yel, lul il is leing used ly Tyrs
nolIes and arlisan guiIds.
Promlnenl Characlers of lhe Penlad
The Irisn Ienlad chronicIed lhe laIes of a nunler of proni-
nenl characlers, incIuding:
RIkus. The nuI gIadialor slarled oul as a sIave in Tilhians
gIadialoriaI pens, lul von his freedon ly heIping reIease Tyr
fron KaIaks lyranny. He Ied a Tyrian Iegion againsl lhe cily-
slale of Urik and joined lhe lallIe lo inprison lhe ancienl nen-
ace of Rajaal, lhe War-Bringer.
5adIra. The haIf-eIf fenaIe legan in Tilhians sIave pens,
keeping her lrue nalure secrel. Sadira is a nenler of lhe VeiIed
AIIiance and a preserver vilh a lhirsl for pover. She soughl lo
see aII of Tyr sel free. She lroughl Rikus inlo lhe AIIiances pIol
lo assassinale KaIak. Laler, she gained advanced nagicaI pover
al lhe Irisline Tover, kiIIed lhe sorcerer-queen of Raan, vas a
nenler of lhe group lhal deslroyed lhe Dragon of Tyr, and
heIped lo end Rajaals nenace.
AgIs nf AstIc!cs. The Tyrian senalor and nasler of lhe Way
joined lhe releIIion againsl KaIak and lecane an infIuenliaI
voice in lhe poIilics of Iree Tyr. Agis venl on a quesl lo find lhe
eIusive Dark Lens, a nagicaI ilen capalIe of deslroying Borys,
lhe Dragon. He died afler conpIeling his quesl.
Nccva. The fenaIe gIadialor Neeva vas inlroduced as
Rikuss lallIe parlner, lul she quickIy lecane nuch nore. Her
fighling skiIIs heIped lo deslroy KaIak, defeal Uriks arnies, and
uIlinaleIy saved Alhas fron lhe Dragon and Rajaal.
She aIso gave lirlh lo Rkard, a nuI loy vho is a chiId of des-
liny. The loy pIayed a pivolaI roIe in lhe finaI evenls of lhe noveI
series and definileIy shoved lhe pronise of leconing an inpor-
lanl figure in Alhass uIlinale saIvalion.
3
TIthIan. WhiIe Tilhian lurned oul lo le nore of a viIIain
lhan a hero, he did heIp deslroy KaIak and lhe Dragon, aIleil for
his ovn purposes. Tilhian vas firsl inlroduced vhen he vas pro-
noled lo High TenpIar of lhe Kings Works ly KaIak. He
lecane Tyrs nev king afler KaIaks dealh and aIIoved lhe Tyr-
ian CounciI of Advisers lo enacl sveeping reforns vhiIe he
soughl a vay lo lecone a sorcerer-king. More oflen lhan nol, he
vound up vorking for Tyrs lenefil vhiIe he pressed forvard vilh
his ovn dark pIols for gaining pover and innorlaIily. In lhe end,
his finaI ganlil for uIlinale pover Ied lo a lransfornalion
unIike anylhing lhe sorcerer-kings had ever experienced.
Thc Dragnn. nce caIIed Borys, lhe 13lh Chanpion of
Rajaal and lhe Bulcher of Dvarves, lhe Dragon vas an
advanced leing of unleIievalIe pover. In lhe dislanl pasl, Borys
convinced lhe olher Chanpions lo lelray Rajaal and use lheir
conlined povers lo lransforn Borys inlo lhe Dragon. In
exchange for nainlaining lhe speIIs lhal kepl Rajaal lrapped,
lhe Dragon received a Ievy of 1,OOO sIaves every year fron lhe
sorcerer-kings.
Raaat. Rajaal, knovn as lhe Iirsl Sorcerer and lhe War-
Bringer, is an ancienl leing fron a forgollen age in Alhass dis-
lanl pasl. He firsl appeared as a lenevoIenl figure, leaching
preserver nagic lo lhe peopIe of lhe Creen Age. Laler, he
seIecled a nunler of Chanpions and laughl lhen hov lo con-
line defiIing nagic vilh psionics. Wilh lhe Chanpions heIp,
Rajaal vanled lo fuIfiII his uIlinale drean~lo eIininale aII of
lhe nev races and regain lhe gIory of Alhass earIiesl days, a line
caIIed lhe BIue Age.
The Chanpions foughl lhe CIeansing Wars, viping oul
nunerous races and defiIing lhe Iand. Before lhey finished
Rajaals nad drean, lhey discovered lhal il vasnl lhe gIory of
hunanily Rajaal vanled lo allain. He vanled lo give aII of
Alhas lack lo lhe haIfIings. ReaIizing lhal lhey, loo, vouId have
lo le eIininaled, lhe Chanpions revoIled and inprisoned
Rajaal leyond lhe shadov pIane of lhe BIack, in a pIace of nolh-
ing knovn as lhe HoIIov. There he renained, guarded ly lhe
Dragon, unliI lhe 19Olh Kings Age, in lhe Year of Iriends Agi-
lalion, in lhe lenlh year of Tyrs freedon . . .
Tlmellne of Evenls
Refer lo lhe lineIine for a graphicaI represenlalion of lhis inpor-
lanl decade on Alhas. The lexl leIov delaiIs lhe specific evenls
of lhe decade.
4
Prlesl`s Deflance (Free Year I)
KaIak, sorcerer-king of Tyr, vas ready lo lake lhe nexl slep in his
lransfornalion inlo a fuII dragon king. He vas inpalienl, hov-
ever, and vasnl conlenl lo proceed according lo lhe prescriled
nelhod. Through nagicaI research and ly scrulinizing ancienl
lexls, he soughl a shorlcul lhal vouId condense lhe 1O-slage
nelanorphosis inlo a singIe, grand riluaI.
Iirsl, KaIak needed a huge device lo focus lhe greal anounl
of deslruclive force required lo pover his speII. He had his sIaves
conslrucl a ziggural for lhis purpose, vhiIe lhe allached Creal
Sladiun vouId lrap lhe Iife energy of lhousands of speclalors lo
serve as lhal pover.
Tyrs VeiIed AIIiance Iearned lhal King KaIak vas pIanning
sonelhing lerrilIe for lhe ziggurals dedicalion cerenony. The
preservers couIdnl find oul vhal vas going lo happen, lul lhey
decided lhal lhe day of lhe cerenony vouId provide lhe lesl
opporlunily lo iniliale a pIan of lheir ovn. They vouId free Tyr
fron KaIaks lyranny ly doing lhe unlhinkalIe~lhey vouId kiII
a sorcerer-king.
Sadira, Rikus, Agis, and Tilhian leaned up lo acconpIish
lhis inpossilIe nission. The VeiIed AIIiance provided lhe
veapon, lhe enchanled Hcar|ucc Spcar crealed ly lhe
haIfIing chief, Nok. AII Rikus had lo do vas hurI il al lhe appro-
priale line vhiIe Sadira and Agis used nagic and psionics lo
dislracl lhe sorcerer-king. Tilhian, neanvhiIe, pronised lo Iook
lhe olher vay and olhervise nake il easier for lhe releIs.
n lhe day of lhe dedicalion, afler lhe crovds fiIIed lhe Creal
Sladiun, KaIak ordered lhe doors Iocked so lhal Tyrs cilizens
vouId have no choice lul lo parlicipale in his speII. Before lhe
sorcerer-king slarled lo drav lhe energy needed lo lransforn, lhe
heroes nade lheir nove~Rikus lhrev lhe Hcar|ucc Spcar.
Though Rikuss lhrov found ils nark, even lhe enchanled
haIfIing spear vasnl enough lo kiII KaIak oulrighl. KaIaks haIf-
gianl guards gralled lheir Ieader and dragged hin inlo lhe
CoIden Tover. Iron lhere, even vounded, KaIak conlinued lo
casl his speII, and lhe Iife force of lhose lrapped inside lhe sla-
diun legan lo pover his lransfornalion. Tine vas running oul,
and lhe heroes knev lhey had lo finish vhal lhey slarled lefore
KaIak couId heaI hinseIf and lransforn.
Because line vas shorl, lhe heroes needed a guide lhrough
KaIaks huge paIace. Tilhian agreed lo heIp lhen~for a price.
Wilhoul a king, Tyr viII faII inlo chaos, Tilhian argued. Who
leller lo assune lhal posilion lhan a lenpIar`
We aII knov vhal lhe lenpIars have nade of Tyr! Agis
oljecled.
5
Then heIp ne nake il leller, Tilhian repIied.
ReIuclanlIy, lhe heroes agreed, and Tilhian Ied lhen lo
KaIaks chanler. There, vounded and in lhe nidsl of discard-
ing one dragon forn for lhe nexl, KaIak slruggIed lo finish his
acceIeraled lransfornalion. Lven in lhal slale, lhe lallIe lhal foI-
Ioved vas lerrilIe. In lhe end, KaIak vas dead, lhe heroes vere
viclorious, and lhe nevIy eIevaled King Tilhian agreed lo free aII
of Tyrs sIaves.
Vlnd`s Reverence (Free Year 2)
Six nonlhs afler KaIaks dealh, a nev lhreal arose lo crush lhe
Iree Cily of Tyr. Hananu, sorcerer-king of Urik, had denanded
lhal lhe shipnenls of iron ore fron Tyrs nines resune. Tyrs
CounciI of Advisers had yel lo deveIop a soIulion lhal didnl
require lhe use of sIave Ialor. When no salisfaclory response vas
forlhconing, Hananu ordered his arny lo narch on Tyr.
Rikus vas given connand of lhe Crinson Legion, lvo lhou-
sand ex-gIadialors vho had Iearned lhe arl of conlal in Tyrs
arena lefore leing sel free ly King Tilhians Iirsl Ldicl. The
Legion defended lhe cily in a running lallIe lhrough lhe sandy
vasles lelveen Tyr and Urik, evenluaIIy gaining lhe heIp of lhe
dvarves of lhe viIIage KIed. In KIed, Rikus vas given an
enchanled svord caIIed lhe Sccurgc cf R|ar lo vieId againsl
lhe foes of freedon.
As lhe var conlinued, Rikus cane up vilh a daring slralegy.
He Ied his Iegion inlo Urik vhiIe Hananus nain arny
searched lhe vasleIand in an allenpl lo cul off lhe Iegions roule
lack hone. In Urik, Rikus slarled a shorl-Iived sIave revoIl lhal
sav lhousands die lo Hananus vralh. In lhe end, lhe Crinson
Legion vas deslroyed, lul Urik suffered enough lo reaIize il
couIdnl lake Tyr~al Ieasl nol yel. Rikus sacrificed friends and
foIIovers for lhe sake of Tyr, proving hinseIf a vorlhy guardian
for lhe drean of freedon.
Al lhe concIusion of lhese evenls, Neeva decided lo slay in
KIed and narry lhe dvarf sun cIeric naned CaeIun.
Dragon`s Agllallon (Free Year 3)
Lach of lhe cily-slales vere required lo give 1,OOO sIaves lo lhe
Dragon each year lo ensure lhal Rajaals prison renained
secure. In lhe years since Tyrs freedon, lhe Dragons Ievy vas
convenienlIy forgollen.
Il vas during lhe lhird year of Tyrs freedon lhal Rikus, Agis,
and Sadira Iearned lhal King Tilhian had honored lhe Dragons
Ievy fron lhe previous year~and vas aloul lo do so again. To
surrender cilizens lo lhe Dragon vas unlhinkalIe. Anolher
soIulion had lo le discovered.
The nevs of lhe Dragons approach vasnl aII lhe lrio
Iearned. In KIed, lhe Duartcn 8cc| cf Kings reveaIed lhal lhe
Dragon vas acluaIIy Borys, 13lh Chanpion of Rajaal. Borys
and lhe Chanpions evenluaIIy overlhrev lheir nasler and look
conlroI of his sanclun, lhe Irisline Tover.
To defy lhe Dragon, Tyr needed greal pover. Il vas decided
lhal Sadira vouId seek oul lhe Irisline Tover and ils secrels,
vhiIe Agis organized Tyrs psionicisls and sorcerers lo defend
lhe cily. A nore onerous lask feII lo Rikus. He had lo le pre-
pared lo use his popuIarily lo svay lhe popuIace if lhe unlhink-
alIe happened~if Agis and Sadira faiIed and lhe Ievy had lo
le paid lo save Tyr.
Al lhe Irisline Tover, Sadira gained lhe aliIily lo pover her
nagic vilh lhe rays of lhe crinson sun (inslead of vilh lhe Iife
force of pIanls). During lhe day, her lody look on a jel-lIack hue
as she vas sleeped in lhe suns Iife-giving energy. Wilh her
increased nagicaI slrenglh, she vas alIe lo drive off lhe Dragon
and deny hin his Ievy for lhe year. She aIso Iearned lhal lhe uIli-
nale soIulion lo lhe nenace of lhe Dragon vas heId in a Iosl
arlifacl caIIed lhe Dark Lens.
BaIic vas lhe firsl lo suffer for Tyrs defianl sland againsl lhe
Dragon. King Andropinis paid Tyrs share of sIaves lo Borys, lul
olher cily-slales and viIIages vouId pay as lhe years roIIed ly.
Before lhe year ended, Neeva gave lirlh lo her son, lhe nuI
Rkard. The loy vas naned for lhe dvarf king vho lallIed Borys
over 2,OOO years ago, during lhe Iasl days of lhe CIeansing Wars.
Mounlaln`s Fury (Free Year 4)
WhiIe Sadira and Agis vere leginning lheir search for lhe Dark
Lens, olher heroes vere invoIved in evenls cenlered around lhe
Dragon Crovn Mounlains and a slronghoId of high-povered
psionicisls knovn as lhe rder. The nevesl Ieader of lhe rder,
Iharisles, vas disiIIusioned vilh lhe lrulaIily of Alhas. He
lIaned lhis lrulaIily on lhe vanlon aluse of psionic pover for
personaI gain and gralificalion. Wilh lhe heIp of lhe Isionalrix,
an ancienl reIic of unknovn origin, Iharisles Iaunched his ovn
pIan for resloring Alhas.
Through lhe pover of lhe Isionalrix, Iharisles eslalIished a
fieId of energy designed lo suppress lhe harnessing and use of
6
psionic energy for 1,OOO years. Menlers of lhe rder vere given
snaII shards fron lhe Isionalrix lhal nade lhen innune lo lhe
effecls of lhe suppression fieId. WhiIe lhe fieId vas in pIace, lhe
rder vouId sel lhings righl. To nosl, lhis vas jusl anolher
aluse of pover, anolher exanpIe of lyranny as pracliced
lenealh lhe crinson sun.
The heroes evenluaIIy defealed Iharisles and shallered lhe
Isionalrix. The psionic suppression fieId dissipaled, and lhe
rder vilhdrev fron lhe affairs of Alhas for nany years. The
rder had lo lry lo heaI lhe spIil lelveen IoyaIisls and rene-
gades, as veII as repIace lhe nenlers il Iosl as lhe evenls
unfoIded. Il has yel lo energe fron ils seIf-inposed exiIe.
Slll`s Vengeance (Free Year 6)
The heroes of Tyr conlinued lo search for cIues lhal vouId Iead
lhen lo lhe Dark Lens vhiIe anolher nenace lhrealened Alhas. Il
feII lo a differenl group of heroes lo conlal lhis nev lhreal. Alhass
Ialesl danger cane fron deep lenealh lhe BIack Spine Mounlains
vhere a porlaI lo anolher pIane of exislence gaped Iike an open
vound. Through lhis porlaI, Queen Trinlh of lhe gilhyanki pIanned
lo nove a nassive arny lhal vouId svarn across Alhas and con-
quer il conpIeleIy. She used lhe gilh, vho she leIieved vere a
lvisled off-shool of lhe lrue gilhyanki Iine, as an advance lroop,
lhough she pIanned lo eIininale lhen once aII of Alhas vas hers.
The gilhyanki queens pIans vere foiIed vhen lhe heroes lrav-
eIed lhrough lhe gale lo lhe AslraI IIane and kiIIed her in a
fierce lallIe. Wilh Trinlh dead, her porlaI coIIapsed and her
arny Iosl ils inpelus. The gilhyanki lhreal vas eIininaled~for
lhe line leing.
Ral`s Reverence (Free Year 9)
In lhe five years since Sadira lurned avay Borys, King Tilhian
secrelIy suppIied lhe Dragons Ievy vilh sIaves caplured fron
oulIying viIIages. n one raid during Tyrs ninlh year of free-
don, Tilhians agenls had a second goaI. They vere lo lreak inlo
lhe slores of ancienl arlifacls in lhe dvarf viIIage of KIed lo
secure ilens fron lhe line of King Rkard. Tilhian had suc-
ceeded vhere Sadira and Agis faiIed. He Iearned lhe Iocalion of
lhe Dark Lens, as veII as lhe facl lhal il vas guarded ly undead
dvarves sliII IoyaI lo lhe ancienl dvarf king. Tilhian needed lhe
ilens lo gel pasl lhe guardians, vho had lecone lanshees once
lheir naluraI Iives ended.
Neeva discovered Tilhians invoIvenenl vilh lhe sIavers dur-
ing lhe raid on KIed. She varned Agis afler lhe raiders vere dri-
ven off, lul she vasnl alIe lo slop lhen fron sleaIing a fev of
lhe ancienl arlifacls.
Before Agis couId acl on Neevas nevs, Tilhian deparled for
lhe cily-slale of BaIic lo arrange passage inlo lhe Slrail of Baza.
The Dark Lens vas in lhe possession of lhe gianls of lhe siIl
isIands off lhe coasl of BaIic, vhere il vas regarded as a hoIy reIic
caIIed lhe lsidian racIe.
Agis evenluaIIy caughl up vilh Tilhian and reIuclanlIy
aided hin in his quesl. Afler lhe pair relrieved lhe Dark Lens,
Tilhian kiIIed Agis. He renoved Agis signel ring and senl il
aIong vilh a nessage lo Sadira and Rikus lack in Tyr. TeII
lhen lo neel Agis in lhe viIIage of Sanarah, Tilhian said.
The line has cone lo kiII lhe Dragon.
WhiIe Agiss signel ring nade ils vay lack lo Tyr, lhe dvarf
lanshees appeared lefore Neevas son, Rkard. The loy vas
nov a sun cIeric in lraining, and he had grovn Iarge and slrong
as aII haIf-dvarves do. The lanshees lroughl hin lhe ilens
lhal Tilhians agenls had sloIen earIier~lhe dvarven 8c|| cf
Ran| and King Rkards crovn. Wilh lhe ilens, lhey lroughl a
nessage of lheir ovn: Young Rkard vas going lo sIay Borys lhe
Dragon.
Frlend`s Agllallon (Free Year I0)
Lvenls vere coning logelher al a lIinding pace. Tilhian vanled
lhe Dragon dead so lhal he couId free Rajaal, lhe ancienl sor-
cerer vho originaIIy crealed lhe sorcerer-kings. Tilhian vanled
Rajaal lo leslov lhose sane povers on hin, and he didnl care
vho he had lo eIininale or Iie lo aIong lhe vay. MeanvhiIe,
anolher ancienl sorcerer-king vas preparing lo relurn lo lerror-
ize Alhas, and lhe Iand ilseIf vas aloul lo shudder vilh lhe
pangs of calaslrophe.
The Dragon Iearned lhal Tilhian had gained possession of
lhe Dark Lens and vas preparing lo lelray hin. He caIIed on
lhe olher sorcerer-kings lo assisl hin, for lhe one lhing lhal
lound lhe sorcerer-kings and lhe Dragon logelher vas lhe lhreal
of lheir oId nasler, Rajaal.
Sadira, Rikus, Neeva, and young Rkard lraveIed easl lovard
lhe shoreside viIIage of Sanarah. riginaIIy, lhey leIieved lhey
vere going lo neel Agis, lul aIong lhe vay Sadira Iearned lhal
Agis had died. In lhe saIl fIals of lhe Ivory IIain, lhey vere
anlushed ly a Raanin Iegion Ied ly lhe sorcerer-queen, AlaI-
7
ach-Re. Sadira, vilh lhe heIp of an arlifacl connecled lo Rajaal,
kiIIed AlaIach-Re. Rajaal lhe War-Bringer had his firsl lasle of
revenge on lhose vho had lelrayed hin.
ShorlIy afler Raans queen feII, anolher sorcerer-king, vho
had leen in hiding for nearIy 2,OOO years, decided il vas line lo
nake his presence feIl on Alhas. Dregolh, lhe 3rd Chanpion of
Rajaal and lhe sorcerer-king of ruined CiuslenaI, vas nov an
undead dragon king, second in pover lo Borys lhe Dragon. He
had leen lusy ruIing an underground cily and lraveIing lhe var-
ious pIanes of exislence searching for a vay lo achieve lrue god-
hood, a goaI lhal had lecone his olsession. Dregolh had no
idea vhal vas occurring alove hin, lul he knev vhal he
vanled~lhe vorship of lhe nasses, a nev cily-slale lhal vasnl
hidden or ruined, and revenge againsl lhe sorcerer-kings vho
had kiIIed hin and forced hin inlo his undead slale.
WhiIe Dregolh vas sending his lenpIars lo lhe surface lo
Iearn lhe slale of lhe Tyr Region, Sadira and Rikus had joined
forces vilh Tilhian again. Though lhey didnl Iike il, Sadira and
Rikus needed Tilhian if lhey reaIIy hoped lo deslroy lhe Dragon.
MeanvhiIe, Borys had caplured young Rkard and vas fIying
hin across lhe Sea of SiIl lo lhe Dragons cily-slale, Ur Draxa.
He look lhe chiId lo use as one possilIe oplion in his hopes of
slopping Tilhian and lhe olhers fron sIipping inlo lhe cily vilh
lhe Dark Lens. If lhey couId reach Ur Draxa vilh lhe Lens, lhey
couId find a vay lo reIease Rajaal~and lhal vas sonelhing lhe
Dragon vanled lo avoid al aII cosls.
Ur Draxa vas nore lhan jusl anolher cily-slale. Il vas luiIl
around Rajaals prison, surrounded ly a Iake of noIlen rock and
Iocaled deep vilhin lhe Sea of SiIl, in a pIace caIIed lhe VaIIey of
Dusl and Iire. The easiesl vay lo reach Ur Draxa vas lo slep
lhrough lhe Cale of Doon, a nyslic arch lhal provided a nagicaI
porlaI across lhe noIlen Iake for lhose vho knev lhe arcane
vords lhal aclivaled il. Al lhe arch, lhe dvarf CaeIun died lrying
lo rescue his son Rkard fron lhe Dragon. Rkard reaIized his des-
liny vas nolhing nore lhan a Iie propagaled ly Tilhian as he
vainIy slruggIed lo free hinseIf and heIp his falher. He reaIized
he vasnl going lo sIay Borys. The prophecy vas a Iie Tilhian used
lo dislracl lhe lanshees vho guarded lhe Dark Lens.
A shorl line Ialer, Rikus, Sadira, and Tilhian faced Borys
jusl oulside Ur Draxa, on lhe olher side of lhe nyslic porlaI.
Rikus luried lhe Sccurgc cf R|ar in lhe Dragons snoul. The
lIade snapped, and a founlain of lIack fIuid erupled fron lhe
veapon. The lIack slain coaled lhe Dragon and ale lhe fIesh
fron his lones, deslroying hin. Iron oul of lhe dark sIine,
8
Rajaals voice procIained, Borys of Lle, Bulcher of Dvarves,
Leader of lhe RevoIl. Your nasler has cIained his punishnenl.
Il sliII feII lo lhe heroes lo keep Rajaal inprisoned, lul lhal
neanl lhey had lo caplure lhe Dark Lens. Tilhian heId lhe
olsidian orl, and he had Iefl lefore lhe lallIe vilh Borys had
ended. As Tilhian carried lhe Dark Lens lhrough Ur Draxa, il
alsorled lhe nagic of lhe caging speII. Rajaal vas free!
As Rajaal energed fron lhe HoIIov lehind lhe BIack, Ur
Draxa legan lo change. Waler spouled everyvhere, and a lIue
sun rose inlo lhe sky. The luiIdings look on lhe sveeping,
organic Iook of ancienl haIfIing in archileclure, and nonunenls lo
serene haIfIings repIaced lhe olsidian slalues fornerIy dedi-
caled lo Borys. The pasl vas overprinling on lhe presenl.
Rajaal, neanvhiIe, had undergone his ovn change in lhe
cenluries he vas lrapped in lhe HoIIov. lsessed vilh a period
in line vhen Alhas vas covered vilh valer, lhe Iirsl Sorcerer
had lecone so cIoseIy Iinked lo lhal eIenenl lo le aInosl a
force of nalure. Iree of lhe HoIIov, Rajaals skeIelaI forn grev
lvice as laII as any gianl, and lIue cIouds covered his lones
inslead of fIesh. He vas a vaIking ceruIean slorn, inlenl on
relurning Alhas lo lhe BIue Age. Before lhal, hovever, he had
lrailors lo deaI vilh.
The firsl sorcerer-king lo feeI Rajaals vralh vas Andropinis
of BaIic. Ior you, elernaI confinenenl, Rajaal procIained as
his shadov svaIIoved lhe sorcerer-king and lrapped hin in lhe
BIack.
King TecluklilIay of Draj vas nexl. Ior you, dealh, Rajaal
announced as he lroughl lhe Dark Lens he look fron Tilhian
crashing dovn on TecluklilIays skuII.
Before he couI d progress lo Hananu of Uri k, Sadi ra
gralled lhe Dark Lens, dislracling Rajaal. She figured oul hov
lo hurl lhe Iirsl Sorcerer. UnIike nornaI peopIe, Rajaal didnl
give forn lo his shadov~his shadov shaped hin. Her nagic,
dravn fron lhe sane source as Rajaals, couIdnl le used
againsl lhe Iirsl Sorcerer. Bul Rkards prieslIy sun nagic couId.
The loy casl his sun speII inlo lhe Dark Lens, and lhe olsid-
ian orl erupled inlo a ninialure version of lhe crinson sun. Il
enguIfed Rajaal in ils lriIIiance, olIileraling his shadov and
sending his essence lack lo lhe HoIIov. The Iirsl Sorcerer
couId do nolhing as his lody of slorn loiIed avay in lhe cIeans-
ing heal and cIear valer cascaded fron lhe sky.
Tilhian, neanvhiIe, had leen hoIding on lo lhe lollon of
lhe Dark Lens vhen Rkard casl his speII. Iocused lhrough lhe
orl, lhe speII pushed Tilhian inlo lhe BIack. Il had a secondary
effecl, hovever. Il pernanenlIy and nyslicaIIy connecled
Tilhian lo Rajaals eIenenlaI nalure. Tilhian lecane a slorn,
and he raged over lhe VaIIey of Dusl and Iire vilh vind and haiI
and rain.
Sadira lossed lhe Dark Lens inlo lhe Iava Iake and pIaced
vards around il so lhal no one couId allenpl lo free Rajaal
again. She vas aIso prelly sure lhal vilhoul lhe orl Tilhian
vouId renain lrapped as veII.
Al lhe sane inslance lhal Rkards speII Iil up lhe sky and lhe
slorn legan, a najor earlhquake rocked lhe Tyr Region. AII
across lhe TalIeIands, peopIe feIl lhe ground runlIe and shake.
The fuII force of lhe quake vas cenlered on lhe veslern side of
lhe Ringing Mounlains. There, a greal rifl opened near lhe
Dragon Crovn Mounlains, culling norlhvesl lhrough lhe Hin-
lerIands for as far as lhe eye couId see.
Changes ln lhe Vorld
The Irisn Ienlad and lhe olher sources ciled alove descrile a
fev significanl changes in lhe vorId. The nosl nolalIe ones are
discussed leIov.
9
The Cerulean Slorm
The CeruIean Slorn legan vhen Rajaals cIoud-lody vas
enguIfed ly young Rkards sun-speII. Iirsl, a lurquoise fog
spread over lhe enlire lasin in vhich Ur Draxa vas silualed.
The cIoud fiIIed lhe sky, and a heavy rain slarled lo faII over lhe
cily. Though il vas forned fron lhe renains of Rajaals cIoud-
lody and fueIed ly lhe Iirsl Sorcerers lond vilh eIenenlaI
valer, lhe CeruIean Slorn vas lied lo Tilhian due lo his reac-
lion lo Rkards sun-speII and lhe Dark Lens. The slorn soon
spread lo cover lhe vhoIe vaIIey. When lhe cooI valer slruck lhe
hol, noIlen rock, cIouds of loiIing slean liIIoved up, kiIIing
vhoever vas sliII aIive in Ur Draxa and naking lhe cily unin-
halilalIe for lhe duralion of lhe slorn.
Tilhians slorn conlinues lo rage over lhe VaIIey of Dusl and
Iire, vhich is nov caIIed lhe VaIIey of lhe CeruIean Slorn. The
Iake of Iava and Ur Draxa have leen olscured ly svirIing lIue
cIouds, Iighlning, rain, and loiIing slean. The slorns duralion
canl le delernined, lul il shovs no indicalion of alaling any
line soon.
The deposed king of Tyr and vouId-le sorcerer-king, Tilhian,
has leen pernanenlIy allached lo Ur Draxas ever-presenl
slorn. Trapped in lhe BIack yel lied lo Rajaal in lhe HoIIov,
Tilhian can inleracl vilh Alhass physicaI dinension in onIy
one vay~lhrough lhe CeruIean Slorn. His rage al his faiIure
nanifesls as vind and Iighlning, vhiIe his fruslralion and IoneIi-
ness faIIs Iike liller lears, a lorrenliaI deIuge of coId, slinging
rain. He has lecone, in effecl, a spiril of valer, haunling lhe vaI-
Iey and inadverlenlIy prolecling lhe Dark Lens lhal couId olher-
vise le used lo free hin. Tilhians vioIenl slorn, and lhe
scaIding slean il produces over lhe Iake of Iava, prevenls res-
cuers fron reaching lhe Dark Lens.
The slorn over Ur Draxa is an alerralion produced ly lhe
inlerningIing of poverfuI supernaluraI forces, and appears
frighlening lo even lhe hardiesl, nosl veII-lraveIed advenlurers.
The effecls of lhe rainfaII on lhe noIlen Iake, Iike lhe greal
cIouds of loiIing slean, have crealed hazardous condilions lhal
have Iefl Ur Draxa uninhalilalIe.
Tyr-Slorms
The CeruIean Slorn has sullIy changed Alhass vealher pal-
lerns. Mosl parls of Alhas see rain once a year, vhiIe a fev Ioca-
lions experience slorns no nore lhan once every decade. Nov
snaIIer slorns periodicaIIy spin off fron lhe nain slorn, riding
lhe vhipping vinds across lhe Sea of SiIl lovard lhe TalIeIands.
As lhey fIy lovard Iand, lhe cIouds lurn lIack, gaining pover
and inlensily unliI lhey finaIIy lursl over lhe TalIeIands in
snaII, concenlraled dovnpours. Because lhe rise of lhese parlic-
uIar slorns seened lo coincide vilh lhe aclions of lhe heroes of
Tyr (vho sone laIIads refer lo as fooIs), lhe slorns have leen
naned Tyr-slorns.
Tyr-slorns reach lhe nany corners of lhe TalIeIands as oflen
as lhe Dragon used lo appear lo cIain his Ievy of norlaI Iife.
UnIike lhe Dragon, neilher Iuck nor coin can luy safely fron
Tyr-slorns. They ravage everylhing vilh equaI fury, inundaling
aII vilh vind, rain, Iighlning, and haiI. Inslead of veIconing Tyr-
slorns, lhe inhalilanls of lhe TalIeIands dread lheir vioIenl
arrivaI, for lhey lurn precious valer inlo a deadIy connodily.
There is approxinaleIy one Tyr-slorn every nonlh in a dif-
ferenl parl of lhe TalIeIands, lhough no area receives nore lhan
one visil ly lhe lIack slorns every year. When a Tyr-slorn
appears on lhe horizon, lhe inhalilanls of an area have a shorl
line lo prepare. When lhe lIack cIouds erupl, lhey unIeash
Ear l hquakes
of nekiIIols, causing nassive anounls of deslruclion.
The shock vaves cul a huge crevasse across lhe HinlerIands
near lhe Dragon Crovn Mounlains. This nev geographicaI fea-
lure has leen naned lhe Creal Rifl, for il is 1O niIes across al
oul of lhe vesl aloul lhe sane line lhal young Rkard vas casl-
ing his sun-speII on lhe Dark Lens. TenpIars and earlh-cIerics
have lraced lhe quakes origin lo a spol aloul 4OO niIes norlh-
vesl of Tyr. Thal puls il veII leyond lhe Ringing Mounlains
and lhe HinlerIands, in a parl of lhe vorId lhal nol even lhe
falIed Wanderer has visiled. n lhe day of lhe Creal Larlh-
quake, poverfuI shock vaves lraveIed easl Iike a lhousand herds
Nol onIy has lhe sky lecone lreacherous, lul lhe Iand ilseIf has
lecone unslalIe. Since lhe nassive earlhquake lhal rocked lhe
TalIeIands, frequenl aflershocks and ninor earlhquakes have
lecone connonpIace, each lringing ils ovn IeveI of lerror and
deslruclion lo lhe region.
The Creal Larlhquake, as il has cone lo le caIIed, runlIed
lheir fury quickIy. No Tyr-slorn Iasls nore lhan an hour, and
nosl dissipale vilhin 2O ninules, Ieaving dealh and devaslalion
in lheir vake.
ils videsl parl and il graduaIIy descends lo a deplh of lvo niIes.
IaIIing rocks echoed in lhe Ringing Mounlains as lhe
quakes shock vaves lhundered lovard lhe TalIeIands, seaIing
faniIiar passages lhrough lhe nounlains and crealing nev ones.
The Creal Larlhquake vas feIl as far easl as Draj and BaIic,
and even lhe siIl coasl viIIages of CronIin and Break Shore vere
louched ly lhe shaking ground. The nosl danage vas reporled
vesl of lhe AIlaruk lrade road, hovever, and even lhen il seens
lhal lhe Ringing Mounlains alsorled nuch of lhe quakes finaI
lrunl. Bolh Tyr and Urik experienced ninor danage, lhough a
nunler of viIIages and forls in lhe area suslained najor danage
and quile a fev dealhs.
Aflershocks and ninor quakes have lecone frequenl in lhe
days and veeks since lhe Creal Larlhquake. Mosl of lhese, Iike
lhe originaI quake, are cenlered vesl of lhe Ioresl Ridge, lul
lhal doesnl nean lhe TalIeIands are safe fron lhe effecls. Lach
nev shock causes danaged slruclures lo lunlIe, cracks lo
appear in lhe ground, rock sIides, aninaI slanpedes, and gen-
eraI lerror and chaos lhrough lhe Iand. As vilh lhe Tyr-slorns,
lhese ninor quakes are neilher veIconed nor apprecialed ly
lhe peopIe of lhe Tyr Region.
1O
Tnc ctcn|s cf rcccn| qcars natc causc a grca| nanq cnangcs in
|nc Tqr Rcgicn, ou| |nc ncs| succping cnangcs natc cccurrc
in |nc ci|q-s|a|cs. |rcccn |nritcs in Tqr. Draj, Raan, an 8a|ic
natc |cs| |ncir scrccrcr-|ings an ncu s|rugg|c |c fin ncu ircc-
|icn an |cacrsnip. Mcanuni|c, |nc scrccrcr-|ings an quccn
cf Uri|, Niocnaq, an Gu|g oa|||c |c |ccp |ncir |ingcns
an pcrnaps incrcasc |ncn ocfcrc |nc |as| c|cus cf si|| sc|||c
ctcr |nc Tao|c|ans. Tncsc arc nis|cric aqs, fu|| cf cxci|cncn|
an |crrcr, fcr uc s|an cn |nc orin| cf an un|ncun fu|urc. |
ncpc |nc fa|| ccsn| cs|rcq us.
~The Wanderer of Alhas
The seven cily-slales of lhe Tyr Region are lhe cenlers of civi-
Iizalion for lhe TalIeIands~and perhaps for lhe enlire vorId of
Alhas. Sone olher sociely nay Iie leyond lhe Ringing Moun-
lains, or pasl lhe LndIess Sand Dunes, or on lhe olher side of
lhe Sea of SiIl, lul couId il rivaI lhe grandeur of Tyr, Urik, or
Nilenay` Il doesnl naller, for lhe TalIeIands are vhere lhe
greal eIf lriles, lhe lhri-kreen packs, and lhe cilizens of lhe cily-
slales Iive, so vhal exisls eIsevhere is irreIevanl. nIy lhe cily-
slales and lhe Iand around lhen naller.
In lhe pages lhal foIIov, each of lhe seven cily-slales is
exanined and updaled lo incorporale lhe changes vroughl ly
lhe Irisn Ienlad and olher sources. A decade has passed
since lhe firsl pIayer-characler heroes earned lheir freedon
fron lhe sIave pils of Tyr. Ils line lo lake slock of vhals
changed and vhals renained lhe sane. Nole lhal once lhese
changes have leen incorporaled inlo a DARK SUN canpaign,
line advances lo lhe Year of Deserls Iury of lhe 19Olh Kings
Age (or Iree Year 11 for lhose using Tyrs nev caIendar), aloul
four nonlhs afler lhe Creal Larlhquake and lhe advenl of lhe
CeruIean Slorn.
Tyr
Tyr, Iocaled in a ferliIe vaIIey in lhe foolhiIIs of lhe Ringing
Mounlains, vas lhe firsl cily-slale lo successfuIIy releI againsl a
sorcerer-king. Rikus and lhe olher heroes of Tyr assassinaled
King KaIak lefore he couId conpIele his speII of nelanorpho-
sis and lecone a fuII dragon. Wilh KaIak dead, lhe High Ten-
pIar Tilhian slepped forvard lo ruIe lhe cily. He received lhe
lacking of Rikus, Agis, and Sadira due lo his pronise lo free aII
Tyrian sIaves and inslilule olher sveeping reforns~pronises he
acluaIIy kepl.
Tilhian served as Tyrs king for nearIy 1O years. ne of his
firsl acls as king vas lo disland lhe Senale (vhich had no reaI
pover under KaIaks ruIe) and pul lhe CounciI of Advisers in ils
pIace. These cily Ieaders vere dravn fron aII ranks of sociely,
and lhey vorked diIigenlIy lo pass Iavs lhal vouId slrenglhen
Tyrs nevfound freedon. Tilhian aIIoved lhe CounciI lo operale
independenlIy. Il virluaIIy ran lhe cily vhiIe Tilhian soughl lhe
neans lo lecone a lrue sorcerer-king. Ior nuch of lhe line,
Tilhian vas a recIuse. If he vasnl sludying lhe Way or digging
lhrough ancienl lexls, he vas avay fron lhe cily searching for
arlifacls Iike lhe Dark Lens.
During lhose 1O years, as Tyr slruggIed lo cone lo grips vilh
lhe concepl of a cily run nol vilh sIave Ialor lul vilh lhe sveal
of free, vage-earning vorkers, lhe cily-slale faced nany crises. A
fev aInosl ended lhe experinenl in freedon lefore il couId lake
rool, and sone nearIy deslroyed lhe cily conpIeleIy. Many of
lhese crises vere exlernaI in origin, lul a significanl nunler
arose fron inside lhe cily vaIIs.
The neighloring cily-slale of Urik lried lo caplure Tyrs iron
nines Iess lhan six nonlhs afler KaIaks dealh. The resuIling
lallIes nade Tyrs Ieaders reaIize hov necessary lhe Iegions vere
and hov inporlanl il vas lo resune iron produclion so lhal no
one eIse vouId go lo var over lrade and connerce.
lher prolI ens lhal occurred duri ng Ti lhi an s rei gn
incIuded finding a vay lo overcone lhe Dragons Ievy, skir-
nishes vilh raiding lriles, lallIes vilh gianls, keeping lhe
CounciI logelher in lhe face of secrel agendas and confIicling
parlisan inleresls, lhe lenpIar revoIl of Iree Year 3, and lhe arli-
san slrike of Iree Year 6. Agis, Sadira, Rikus, and lhe CounciI
handIed nosl of lhese crises in one vay or anolher, for Tilhian
vas nuch loo lusy lo gel invoIved in vhal he considered lo le
lhe daiIy chores of governnenl.
Nov, in ils eIevenlh year of freedon, Tyr faces nev chaIIenges.
King Tilhian no Ionger ruIes lhe cily, as his anlilions have
lrapped hin vilhin lhe CeruIean Slorn. Agis of AslicIes is dead,
kiIIed ly Tilhian, so his visdon and honor can no Ionger guide
lhe CounciI of Advisers. Il renains lo le seen vhelher Tyrs free-
don can rool in lhe TalIeIands~or viII ils independence le
lIovn avay vilh lhe siIl and sand on lhe nexl gusl of deserl vind`
Covernmenl
A CounciI of Advisers nakes lhe Iavs of Tyr. The CounciI is
divided inlo five dislincl groups vho logelher represenl Tyrs varied
11
cilizenry. These groups are: lhe CuiIdsnen, nade up noslIy of
hunan and dvarf arlisans and olher professionaIs fron Tyrs lhree
lrade dislricls, lhe NolIes, represenling Tyrs arislocralic faniIies,
lhe TenpIars, vho conlinue lo handIe adninislralive funclions in
lhe cily, lhe Iree Cilizens, chosen fron anong lhe nasses vho vere
eilher sIaves or paupers lefore Tyrs Iileralion, and lhe Ireservers,
lhe nevesl group adnilled lo lhe CounciI, consisling of nenlers
of lhe once-secrel and oulIaved VeiIed AIIiance.
Wilh no king lo Iead lhe cily, lhe CounciI nov oversees aII
aspecls of lhe governnenl. When Rikus, Neeva, and Sadira
relurned vilh lhe nevs of Agiss dealh and Tilhians disappear-
ance (lhe lrio decided il vouId le leller lo keep Tilhians fale
secrel inslead of lrying lo expIain lhe reaI evenls and risking
sone pover-hungry defiIer Iooking for a vay lo free hin), il vas
resoIved lhal lhe Iree Cily shouIdnl le lurdened vilh anolher
king. Inslead, a sulconnillee nade up of one nenler fron
each of lhe CounciIs groups vouId serve as an verCounciI.
The verCounciI governs on a daiIy lasis, vhiIe lhe enlire
CounciI of Advisers onIy neels lhree oul of every 15 days. The
verCounciI consisls of lhe dvarf sloneculler Car Bonehan-
ner (represenling lhe CuiIdsnen), Lady Laaj of MyciIen (for
lhe NolIes), High TenpIar Tinor (for lhe TenpIars), Rikus
(represenling lhe Iree Cilizens), and Sadira (represenling lhe
Ireservers).
TenpIars conlinue lo fiII lhe adninislralive roIes lhey have
Iong leen associaled vilh, even vilh lhe Ioss of lheir speIIcasling
aliIilies. The lureaucracy has leen reforned, lul il sliII exisls.
Wilhoul lhe lenpIars lo lurn lhe nassive vheeIs of governnenl,
Tyr vouId have ceased lo funclion Iong ago. High TenpIar
Tinor serves as lhe Minisler of Tyr, overseeing lhe various
Senior TenpIars vho adninisler lo deparlnenls Iike IieIds,
Iinance, IulIic Works, Waler, and Trade.
Trade and Commerce
Tyrs prinary lrade good renains iron ore, lhough lhe nelaI isnl
nined ly sIave Ialor anynore. Iree cilizens vork as paid Ialor-
ers under nuch-inproved condilions (safely and conlinued
heaIlh leing lhe najor concerns lhal have leen addressed ly
lhe CounciI of Advisers). A snaII nunler of prison Ialorers
serve lheir punishnenls vorking in lhe nines, as direcled ly
CounciI decree. As Iong as lhe ore conlinues lo reach narkel on
a lineIy lasis, lhe verCounciI hopes lhal lhe nine viII le safe
fron fulure niIilary conquesls.
Various guiIds and nolIe houses produce goods lhal are soId
lolh in Tyr and alroad. The lenpIars, neanvhiIe, oversee lhe
produclion and narkeling of goods lhal leIong lo lhe cily-slale
ilseIf. TexliIes, siIk, ceranics, and gIass once produced fron Iand
leIonging lo King KaIak nov earn resources for lhe CounciIs
lreasury.
The nerchanls of House Vordon nainlain a lrading head-
quarlers and enporiun in Tyr, and lhey lase nuch of lheir
lusiness around lhe Iree Cily. Before KaIaks dealh, lhis ner-
chanl faniIy seened on lhe verge of coIIapse due lo lhe shul-
dovn of lhe nines and olher faclors lied lo KaIaks nad pIans.
Nov lhe nerchanl house is lhriving, conducling lrade vilh lhe
olher cily-slales and lhe najor viIIages of lhe Tyr Region.
Lxporls arenl lhe onIy lrade occurring in Tyr. The Iree Cily
reguIarIy inporls fruils, vood, and rice lo suppIenenl lhe goods
and foodsluffs Tyr can produce for ilseIf. IIus, nolIes and free
cilizens aIike enjoy vandering lhe nerchanl dislricls for exolic
goods of aII descriplions.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
The cily has lo deaI vilh a variely of environnenlaI and sociaI
condilions inspired ly lhe firsl lunuIluous decade of freedon.
WhiIe lhe olher cily-slales are experiencing lhese sane condi-
lions lo sone degree, lhey seen nagnified in lhe confines of
Tyrs sheIlered vaIIey.
The Creal Larlhquake signaIed lhe slarl of a nev slage in
Tyrian hislory. Il narked lhe end of lhe firsl decade of Iileralion
and lhe leginning of a nev period of freedon. Il vas, hovever, as
vioIenl a slarl as lhe one lhal acconpanied lhe previous decade,
lhough lhe vioIence lhis line vas insligaled ly a naluraI disasler
and nol lhe aclions of a sorcerer-king.
Wilh nosl of lhe heroes and leIoved Ieaders of lhe cily avay
on a nyslerious nission, lhe peopIe of Tyr had lo reIy on lhen-
seIves and lhe renaining nenlers of lhe CounciI of Advisers
vhen disasler slruck. The nounlains lo lhe vesl runlIed, and
lhe Creal Larlhquake roared lhrough Tyr. RenarkalIy, vilh lhe
exceplion of sone slrucluraI danage and a snaII nunler of
dealhs, Tyr escaped lhe disasler reIaliveIy unscalhed. The greal-
esl nunler of dealhs occurred in lhe Warrens, for lhe luiIdings
lhere are anong lhe veakesl in lhe cily and nany coIIapsed
vhen lhe quake hil. Iorlions of lhe vaII lhal surrounded lhe cily
cracked, and a seclion spIil open near lhe Crand Cale. The sin-
gIe slruclure suffering lhe nosl danage vas KaIaks ziggural~
12
greal cracks riddIe one face of lhe lover, vhiIe anolher face has
coIIapsed inlo a heap of rullIe.
The cIienl viIIages lhal dol lhe vaIIey endured lhe vorsl of
lhe quakes effecls. ne viIIage vas IeveIed ly lhe quake, olhers
vere pounded ly rock sIides lhal cascaded oul of lhe noun-
lains. The refugees are lhe vorsl, lhough. InleIIigenl races and a
vide variely of crealures and nonslers have fIed lhe nounlains,
fIooding lhe vaIIey in search of a safe haven. This, in lurn, has
senl lhe viIIagers lo lhe cily gales, seeking proleclion fron lhe
ravaging hordes.
Belveen lhe Creal Larlhquake, lhe periodic aflershocks lhal
visil lhe cily, and lhe vioIenl Tyr-slorns lhal occasionaIIy sveep
lhe Iand, lhe popuIace has lurned inlo a frighlened nol. Nol
everyone has succunled lo lhese lase fears, of course, lul a sig-
nificanl nunler of peopIe have Iosl conlroI, and lhe CounciI
needs lo find a vay lo caIn lhen and reslore order. A parlicu-
IarIy vocaI group cIains lhal KaIak has relurned lo gain
vengeance againsl lhe cily, and lhey have caIIed for open vorship
of lhe sorcerer-king. lhers have leen lrying lo appease lhe eIe-
nenlaI spirils of earlh, hoping lhal lheyII spare Tyr fron lheir
ground-shaking anger. Then lhere are lhose vho seek lo lake
advanlage of lhe nisforlune, Iooling shops, rolling nolIes, and
generaIIy laking vhal lhey vanl and need ly force of arns.
These vioIenl nols are concenlraled in lhe Warrens, lul lhey
sonelines range inlo olher parls of lhe cily lo sov nayhen and
deslruclion.
The CounciI of Advisers has leen vorking overline lo
address lhese prolIens. The CounciI firsl had lo deaI vilh King
Tilhians disappearance. Il eslalIished lhe verCounciI lo ruIe
in Tilhians pIace so lhal lhe lusiness of governnenl couId con-
linue. Second, il increased lhe size of lhe Cily Cuard and con-
nanded il lo reslore order. Things have nol relurned lo nornaI
yel, lul lhe silualion is nuch leller lhan il vas in lhe days
innedialeIy foIIoving lhe Creal Larlhquake. Various sulcon-
nillees have leen sel up lo handIe danage conlroI, lo see lo lhe
fair dislrilulion of valer and suppIies, and lo handIe lhe refugee
prolIen~lolh lhose rushing inlo lhe vaIIey and lhose fIeeing
lhe viIIages for lhe safer environs of lhe cily vaIIs.
When Sadira relurned lo Tyr, she convinced a significanl
porlion of lhe VeiIed AIIiance lo cone oul of hiding and join
Tyrian sociely These vizards forned a nev group in Tyr caIIed
lhe Ireservers. The Ireservers vere given a pIace on lhe CounciI
of Advisers lo refIecl lheir nev roIe in Tyr. Sadira, as lheir Ieader
and as an inporlanl nenler of lhe CounciI, vas assigned lo lhe
13
verCounciI. The good vizards are deveIoping pIans and
guideIines for heIping lhe cily in a variely of vays lhal adhere lo
lheir overaII noraIs and code of elhics.
The VeiIed AIIiance renains aclive in lhe vake of lhis nev
age of vizardIy openness, hovever. Mallhias Morlhen conlinues
lo Iead a snaII nunler of preservers vho feeI lhal secrecy nusl
le nainlained unliI aII of KaIaks defiIers have leen eradicaled
and lhe cilizens of Tyr Iearn lo deaI vilh lhe responsiliIilies of
freedon. Besides, Morlhen doesnl Iike or lrusl Sadira, vho has
oflen approached lhe noraI Iines lelveen defiIing and preserv-
ing nagic (if nol acluaIIy crossed over il) in lhe course of defend-
ing Tyr. He leIieves lhal lhe VeiIed AIIiance nusl survive, if
onIy lo serve as a laIance for a vizard vhose povers and noliva-
lions he doesnl fuIIy undersland.
IinaIIy, lhe silualions in lhe olher cily-slales have added lo
lhe generaI nervousness and apprehension hanging over Tyr.
WhiIe Urik has seaIed ilseIf off fron lhe resl of lhe TalIeIands
(excepl for lhe heaviIy arned lrade caravans lhal sel oul and
relurn al randon inlervaIs), CuIg and Nilenay have nade a fev
overlures lo lhe CounciI of Advisers. Bolh cily-slales have
offered lo aid Tyr, cIaining lhal vilhoul a sorcerer-king lo
defend il lhe cily vas vuIneralIe lo aII sorls of lerrilIe dangers.
The CounciI, naluraIIy, graciousIy refused lhe offers. Draj and
BaIic have recenlIy resuned lrade vilh Tyr, lul lolh cilies have
changed significanlIy since lhe reporled dealhs of lheir sorcerer-
kings. In facl, lhough Sadira and Rikus assured lhe CounciI lhal
lhe kings had leen disposed of ly Rajaal, runors of lheir relurn
conlinue lo drifl in vilh caravans, advenlurers, and refugees.
The vorsl laIes cone oul of Raan, vhere confusion, nadness,
and anlilion have given rise lo anarchy. TaIes of nolIes leing
nurdered in lheir hones, of lenpIars leing sIaughlered in lhe
slreels, and of vicious invaders fron a hidden cily-slale con-
lroIIed ly a king naned Dregolh have nade Tyrians iII al ease
and nol quile confidenl lhal lheir Ieaders can prolecl lhen.
Ur l k
Change inlrudes Ieasl in lhe square, cIean cily-slale of Urik.
Localed norlheasl of Tyr, lelveen lhe Dragons BovI and lhe
Snoking Crovn Mounlains, King Hananus cily renains vir-
luaIIy lhe sane as il vas lefore lhe Creal Larlhquake and lhe
denise of lhe Dragon. Hananu, lhe King of lhe WorId and lhe
Lion of Urik, vas invoIved in lhe evenls surrounding lhe cre-
alion of lhe CeruIean Slorn, so he vas avay fron his cily vhen
lhe quake slruck. Minor danage and a fev dealhs resuIled
fron lhe quake, and lhe cilizens lrenlIed. When Hananu
relurned, he pronised his cilizens lhal lhey vouId have nolhing
eIse lo fear fron Alhas and lhe changes vroughl ly lhe aclions
of Tyrs fooIish heroes. The sorcerer-kings vord vas as slrong as
precious sleeI, for neilher lhe aflershocks nor lhe Tyr-slorn lhal
arrived lvo nonlhs Ialer couId lreach lhe lovering yeIIov vaIIs
of Urik.
f course, Hananu s proni se vasn l uncondi li onaI .
Though lhe Urikiles didnl have lo fear change, lhey did have lo
fear lheir king. You need fear onIy ne, and onIy vhen you dis-
oley ne, Hananu procIained, his vords penelraling every
nind, enhanced ly his naslery of lhe Way. ley ne and Iive
vilhoul fear. Hananus diclales have aIvays shaped Urik, and
he inlends lo keep firn conlroI over his Iand, Iesl he discover
lhal he is vaIking dovn lhe sane dusly palh as KaIak.
Covernmenl
The sorcerer-king Hananu ruIes Urik vilh a slern fisl. His Iavs
are nol negolialIe, his viII nol lo le denied. UnIike sone ruIers
of olher TalIeIand cilies, Hananu direcls his kingdon person-
aIIy. When Iavs are needed, Hananu drafls lhen. When a
prolIen arises, lhe King of lhe WorId soIves il. When a lallIe
nusl le foughl, lhe Lion of Urik rides al lhe head of his lroops
and Ieads lhen lo viclory.
Hananu is a lhird-slage dragon king (a 23rd-IeveI dragon).
Through a conlinalion of lhe Way and nagic, he appears
lefore his suljecls shrouded in iIIusions. He appears as eilher a
laII, vigorous nan vilh cIose-cropped siIver hair, dark skin
slrelched lighl over rulhIess fealures, and hearlIess yeIIov eyes,
or as a haIf-nan and haIf-Iion of poverfuI luiId and nylhic pro-
porlions. He is never seen in his lrue dragon forn, even ly his
nosl-lrusled lenpIars.
The resl of Urik operales as a lradilionaI sorcerer-king
donain, popuIaled as il is ly lenpIars, nolIes, freenen, and
sIaves. The lenpIars enforce Hananus Iavs and handIe lhe
day-lo-day lureaucracy, lhe nolIes nanage lhe farns and valer
suppIies, lhe free cilizens engage in lusiness and lry lo renain
free, and lhe sIaves do everylhing eIse.
Al one line, Hananus anlilions exceeded his resources.
Since he relurned fron heIping lo keep Rajaal inprisoned, his
agenda has sullIy changed. The lhree surviving sorcerer-kings
sensed lhal lhe line had cone lo relhink lhe oId vays, lo find
14
nev approaches lo lhe chaIIenges of Iife on Alhas. UnliI he fig-
ures oul vhal lhose nev approaches are, Hananu has decided
lo vilhdrav a lil. He has effecliveIy cIosed Urik off fron lhe resl
of lhe TalIeIands, lrying lo keep change fron inlruding on his
donain for as Iong as possilIe.
Trade and Commerce
Uriks nain exporl is olsidian, vhich il exlracls fron lhe BIack
Crovn, a nounlain in lhe Snoking Crovn chain. The gIassy
slone is used lo nake a variely of veapons and inpIenenls lhal
felch handsone prices in lhe olher cily-slales. Uriks econony
depends aInosl enlireIy on lhe lIack slone, lhough lhe cily
exporls a variely of olher goods lhal are unique lo lhe area.
As far as inporls are concerned, Urik desperaleIy needs Tyrs
iron. The iron is fashioned inlo looIs lhal are used lo quarry lhe
olsidian. Though lhe lvo cilies foughl a lrief var shorlIy afler
KaIaks dealh, lrade has resuned lo lhe lenefil of lolh Urik and
Tyr.
In generaI, Urik has seaIed ilseIf off fron lhe resl of lhe Tyr
Region. Hananu doesnl vanl his cily inundaled ly refugees,
nor does he vanl lhe ideas sparking prolIens in lhe olher cilies
spreading lo his free cilizens and sIaves. Therefore, Urik periodi-
caIIy aIIovs heaviIy reguIaled lrade caravans lo approach lhe cily.
These caravans are suljecl lo lhorough searches and psionic
invesligalion, and lhe lraders are reslricled lo specific areas
inside lhe cily vaIIs. IaiIure lo conpIy vilh any of lhese slalules
can have deadIy ranificalions for lhe lraders.
The sane is lrue for lhe nerchanls of House SleI. When a
caravan is ready lo slrike oul fron Urik, lhe lraders nusl conpIy
vilh a series of reslriclions and requirenenls enforced ly pover-
fuI lenpIars. nIy lhe nosl IoyaI nenlers of SleIs organizalion
nay Ieave and enler Urik, nen and vonen vho have leen
lesled repealedIy ly lhe lenpIars. AII cargo is checked a dozen
lines, and lrade roules nusl le approved in advance. If a cara-
van relurns lhal has devialed fron lhe roule in any vay, il is nol
aIIoved lack inlo lhe cily.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
Lxcepl for lhe nev reslriclions regarding lrade and lraveI, lhings
in Urik are lhe sane as lhey ever vere. The cily renains a var-
rior cuIlure, ruIed ly a varrior king and geared lovard fighling
and vinning vars. The currenl enenies arenl lhe olher cily-
15
slales, hovever. Uriks foes are nov lhe refugees seeking sheIler
fron lhe conslanl lrenors and vioIenl slorns and lhe nonslers
fIeeing oul of lhe vesl and rushing lIindIy across lhe TalIeIands
lovard lhe SiIl Sea. When eilher lype of group approaches
Uriks high, yeIIov vaIIs, Hananu Ieads his arny oul of his
giganlic paIace caIIed Deslinys Kingdon and charges inlo lal-
lIe. In nosl cases, lhese exercises are nore properIy referred lo as
sIaughlers, for lhe lerrified invaders canl sland againsl
Hananus highIy lrained and equipped Iegions.
The fev signs lhal lhe Creal Larlhquake louched Urik have
leen viped oul, luiIdings have leen repaired, slreels re-paved,
lhe dead luried. Nov, Hananus nagic keeps lhe aflershocks
and lhe slorns fron enlering lhe cily, and, in nosl respecls, lhe
cilizens have Iearned lo ignore lhe disaslers. As Iong as lhe Tyr-
slorns and earlhquakes renain oulside Uriks vaIIs, lhey see no
reason lo dveII on lhen.
CIosing lhe cily off fron lhe resl of lhe vorId has nade il dif-
ficuIl for cerlain nenlers of Uriks sociely. Advenlurers and
lraders, for exanpIe, are severeIy hanpered ly lhe veII-guarded
vaIIs. The VeiIed AIIiance has lo le doulIy carefuI in lhe vake
of Hananus reslriclions, and lhe preservers suppIies of speII
conponenls have lecone exlreneIy Iiniled. LIves, never reaIIy
veIcone near Uriks vaIIs, nov avoid lhe cily conpIeleIy. They
are lrealed Iike invaders nov, sel upon as soon as lhey are spol-
led enlering Hananus verdanl leIl. Things nay change as
soon as lhe king finishes conlenpIaling his cilys nev approach
lo lhe vorId~or il nay sinpIy gel vorse if Hananu decides lo
keep lhe resl of Alhas al lay forever,
Raam
Before lhe dealh of lhe sorcerer-queen AlaIach-Re, Raan vas a
cily on lhe lrink of revoIulion. Chaos vas ranpanl. The sor-
cerer-queen vas insecure in her posilion, and lhe cilizens spoke
openIy of releIIion. NolIes reguIarIy assassinaled lenpIars,
lehaving Iike raiding lriles inside lhe cily vaIIs. Since AlaIach-
Res dealh, lhe cily has coIIapsed inlo anarchy. Various faclions
have gralled vhalever pover lhey couId, and Raan leelers on
lhe lrink of civiI var.
Raan, Iocaled easl of Urik, feIl onIy lhe sIighlesl lrenors on
lhe day of lhe Creal Larlhquake. ShorlIy lefore lhal day, vhen
lhe rennanls of lhe Raanin Iegion lhal had leen dispalched lo
find and deslroy Rikus and Sadira relurned lo lhe cily, lhe nevs
quickIy spread lhal AlaIach-Re vas kiIIed in lallIe vilh Tyrs
sorceress. This inilialed a differenl sorl of quake, one lhal vas
nore poverfuI and vioIenl lhan any force of nalure. The nevs
vas lhe spark lhal igniled lhe fires of anarchy, and nov Raan
lurns.
Covernmenl
The governnenl of Raan sliII exisls, lul il has aInosl no pover
in lhe face of lhe vioIence and chaos ravaging lhe cily. The len-
pIars vho havenl fIed in fear or lried lo hide anong lhe popu-
Iace as reguIar cilizens conlinue lo adninisler lo lhe cily, lul il
is cIear lhal Raan no Ionger funclions lhe vay il used lo. These
lenpIars have onIy lheir lureaucralic skiIIs lo faII lack on, as
lheir aliIilies lo caII on prieslIy speIIs vanished vilh AlaIach-
Res denise. They conlinue lo caII for lhe vorship of lhe nysleri-
ous (and inaginary) leing lhe sorcerer-queen cIained lo receive
her povers fron, lul everyone ignores lhen.
Inslead, lhe cily has leen divided inlo severaI arned canps.
The nain lody of lenpIars occupy one canp lhals cenlered in
lhe lenpIar quarler of lhe cily. Various rogue lenpIars con-
nand snaIIer parls of Raan, cIaining fron as IillIe as one
luiIding lo as nany as severaI lIocks as lheir personaI donains.
They defend lhese donains vilh lroops lhal vere once IoyaI lo
AlaIach-Re lul nov foIIov lheir lenpIar connanders.
The nexl Iargesl group cIaining doninion over seclions of
Raan are lhe nolIe faniIies. Like lhe raiding lriles of lhe sandy
vasles, lhe nolIes piIIage and pIunder for lhe lhings lhey vanl
and need lo survive. The nolIes have expanded lheir areas of
conlroI. WhiIe each faniIy slarled vilh a snaII piece of Iand
and lhe road adjoining il, lhose vilh lhe pover and audacily lo
press lheir advanlage have gralled vhalever lhey couId hoId
onlo. Like lhe raiding lriles, lhe nolIe canps are savage, rulh-
Iess, and have onIy lheir ovn inleresls al hearl.
The nerchanl houses have laken one of lvo approaches
regarding conducling lusiness in Raan. The firsl oplion, cho-
sen ly lhe vasl najorily of nerchanl houses, vas lo gel oul of
lovn and lake lheir lusiness eIsevhere. The second oplion,
enlraced ly House Mke as a prudenl enlerprise lhal ensures
ils ovn survivaI, vas lo seize conlroI of as nuch of lhe cily as pos-
silIe. House Mke and ils arny of nercenaries nov conlroI nosl
of lhe Merchanl Dislricl. Arned lands vearing House Mkes
coIors periodicaIIy sveep lhrough lhe cily, Iooling and piIIaging
unliI lhey galher enough goods lo fiII a caravan. This caravan
lhen sels oul across lhe TalIeIands lo conducl lrade as a nornaI
16
nerchanl house caravan vouId. nIy in Raan does House
Mke lehave Iike a conquering arny of raiders~lecause in
Raan, lhals vhal House Mke has lecone. A fev of lhe nore
daring (or desperale) nerchanl houses relurn lo Raan fron
line lo line lo lesl lhe cIinale, lul lhey usuaIIy vind up Iosing
lheir goods lo one or nore of lhe arned canps seeking doni-
nance in lhe cily.
The slrangesl group lo slake a cIain in Raans pover vac-
uun is lhe eIf lrile knovn as lhe Nighl Runners. Irior lo AlaI-
ach-Res dealh, lhe Nighl Runners nainlained a snaII presence
in Raan. Nov, lhis group of eIves lhal speciaIizes in lhe
shadov arls of espionage, assassinalion, and exlorlion have
decided lo lake a nore aclive roIe in Raanin sociely. A Iarge
porlion of lhe LIf Quarler and lhe Tradesnens Dislricl has
leen laken over ly lhe Nighl Runners. Besides hoIding and
expanding lheir ovn lerrilory, lhe Nighl Runners conlinue lo
seII lheir unique services lo lhose vho can afford il~incIuding
nolIe houses, nerchanl canps, and even lenpIar donains. In
lhe end, lhe Nighl Runners pIan lo conlroI lhe enlire cily, nak-
ing il lhe firsl eIf cily in hundreds or even lhousands of years.
UnliI lhen, lhe eIves donl nind vorking for lhe lands lheyre
conpeling vilh as il gives lhen an easy vay lo keep lals on hov
every faclion in lhe cily is doing.
Trade and Commerce
Trade vilhin lhe cily has lecone a nighlnare. Iree cilizens, for
lhe nosl parl, canl luy or lrade for vhal lhey need. Nol onIy
have goods and services faIIen lo shorl suppIy, lul lhe various
arned lands seeking lo carve lheir ovn kingdon oul of Raans
dying corpse have laken lo hoarding vhalever lhey cone across.
Iree cilizens, lherefore, have lo find vhal lhey need and lake il
ly force of arns. In Raan, as perhaps novhere eIse in aII of civ-
iIized Alhas, onIy lhe slrong survive, and onIy lhe nosl pover-
fuI prosper.
Iev lraders cone lo Raan anynore, lhough nany sel up
narkels in lhe viIderness leyond lhe cily gales. Iron lhese nar-
kels lhey seII lasic suppIies al an enornous profil lo lhe lrade
gangs senl fron lhe cily. Trade gangs are arned nercenaries
eilher allached lo a parlicuIar arned canp or vorking indepen-
denlIy lo nake lheir ovn profils as niddIenen. The viIderness
narkels aIso provide an oulIel for lhe goods vhich Raans free
cilizens conlinue lo produce in lhe face of escaIaling vioIence
and despair.
Beyond lhese exanpIes, House Mke is lhe onIy evidence
of lrue nercanliIe aclivily, aIleil vilh a dislincl varline sIanl.
Raan is a disasler, so for Mke lo funclion il nusl enpIoy dis-
asler econonics. If lerror and vioIence are lhe onIy vays lo
conducl lusiness in Raan, lhen House Mke adapls lo lhe
lrade praclices of lhe day. As such, lhe nerchanl house has
seized a porlion of lhe cily and lurned il inlo a heaviIy pro-
lecled lrade enporiun. The lraders of House Mke conlinue
lo operale in lhe resl of lhe TalIeIands as lhey aIvays have,
lul in Raan lheyve lecone raiders in lheir ovn righl. The
house sends arned lraders inlo lhe slreels and oul inlo lhe
cIienl viIIages lo acquire goods and suppIies ly vhalever
neans is necessary. This usuaIIy inpIies pIundering fron
lhose veaker lhan lhenseIves. These pIundered ilens are
lhen Ioaded inlo caravans and senl lo House Mke enpori-
uns in olher cily-slales. If lhe Ieaders of House Mke have
lheir vay, Raan viII lecone lhe firsl cily-slale lo le con-
lroIIed ly a nerchanl Iord inslead of a sorcerer-king. (House
Mke doesnl consider lhe silualion in BaIic lo le a lhreal lo
lheir cIain.)
17
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
The environnenlaI disaslers of recenl nonlhs have had very Iil-
lIe inpacl on Raan. The Creal Larlhquake vas lareIy per-
ceived, for il caused IillIe danage and no dealhs. No Tyr-slorn
has visiled lhe cily-slale, so lhe Raanins have yel lo experience
lhe devaslalion lhal such a slorn can infIicl. The dealh of AlaI-
ach-Re, and lhe resuIling slruggIe for pover, has caused nore
dealh and deslruclion lhan any force of nalure.
Raan has leen divided inlo arned canps conlroIIed ly greedy,
pover-hungry varIords. Sone caII lhenseIves lenpIars, olhers
nolIes, Iileralors, or nerchanl Iords. AII are raiders and luIIies,
seeking lo use slrenglh as a neans of conlroI. These arned canps
donl even nake a prelense of peacefuI coexislence. Skirnishes are
conslanlIy leing foughl over dispuled lerrilories, caches of veapons,
suppIies, or jusl lo delernine vhich side is slronger in a given dis-
pule. Il vonl le Iong lefore a nad, aII-oul var lreaks oul lo see if
one Ieader and his faclion can vin oul and reslore order of sone
sorl lo lhe cily. This var, of course, nay sinpIy vind up deslroying
Raan and reducing lhe verdanl leIl il occupies lo a vasleIand.
The free cilizens, lherefore, Iive in a conslanl slale of fear.
They have novhere lo go, and condilions vilhin lhe cily lecone
nore lerrilIe vilh each passing day. Sone cilizens have
appeaIed lo one faclion or anolher, leconing indenlured sIaves
for lhe proleclion and suslenance offered ly lhe varying var-
Iords. Lvery day, nore and nore cilizens surrender lheir freedon
in exchange for a safe pIace lo sIeep, a cooI drink of valer, and a
snaII anounl of food lo fiII lheir enply slonachs.
The sIaves of lhe cily have fared even vorse lhan lhe free cil-
izens. CrueI naslers have leen repIaced ly hearlIess ovners
vho lreal lhe sIaves no leller lhan Iiving looIs lhal can le
repIaced vilhoul any lroulIe. Mosl varIords vork lhe sIaves
lhey caplured vhen lhey look possession of lheir donains lo
dealh, lhen order anolher sIave lo lake lhe dead ones pIace.
Sone sIaves, enlracing lhe Iegends of Rikus, Neeva, and
Sadira of Tyr, have releIIed lhanks lo lhe opporlunily presenled
ly lhe chaos.
ne group of sIaves has foIIoved lhe Ieadership of a gIadialor
naned Korno. Belveen Kornos niIilary daring and experlise,
and a cache of veapons discovered in one of AlaIach-Res
nany hidden lreasuries, lhis group of sIaves have sel lhenseIves
up as anolher arned land in a cily of lhugs. Korno has caIIed
for aII sIaves lo join his connunily When lhey have lhe nun-
lers lo go aIong vilh lheir dreans, lhey pIan lo rise up and over-
lhrov aII of lhe naslers. Sone have cIained lhal Korno seeks
lhe fane of Tyrs heroes, lul Korno is as crueI and rulhIess as
nany of lhe olher Ieaders of lhe arned lands. The sIaves lhal
have fIocked lo his side conlinue lo le lrealed as sIaves, vorking
lo nake Iife easier for Korno and his lesl varriors.
Wilh food and valer in shorl suppIy and ranpanl vioIence
pervading lhe slreels, ils IillIe vonder lhal lhe peopIe of Raan
are lurning lo anyone or anylhing lhal cIains lo have a soIulion.
The lvo nosl popuIar faclions gaining acceplance anong lhe
Raanins are lhe secl of Dregolh lhe Savior and lhe leachings of
Levialh lhe CaIn.
Dregolh lhe Savior is seen as lhe saIvalion of Raan ly nany
of lhe lenpIars, nolIes, and free cilizens. The doclrine of
Dregolh, preached lo lhe nasses ly slrangers vilh lizarre
accenls vho hide lheir fealures lenealh lhe nany foIds of lheir
sand-coIored roles, caIIs for lhe cily lo pul dovn ils veapons
and accepl Dregolh as ils nev god. Dregolh has vandered lhe
nany pIanes of exislence, lhe preachers cIain, and onIy he
can pul an end lo lhe chaos lhal fiIIs Raans slreels. Unknovn
lo lhe Raanins, Dregolh is an undead sorcerer-king vho once
ruIed lhe ancienl cily of CiuslenaI. He recenlIy relurned lo lhe
surface of Alhas afler spending lvo lhousand years hiding and
gaining pover in an underground donain. His pIans for Raan
have nolhing lo do vilh saving lhe cily. He vanls lo deslroy
Raans inhalilanls, for he vas nurdered and lelrayed ly AlaI-
ach-Re in lhe dislanl pasl. nce his lenpIars gain lhe Raanins
lrusl lhrough vords of peace, Dregolh pIans lo sIaughler aII of
AlaIach-Res spavn and seize lhe cily. Raan vouId lhen
lecone Dregolhs nev CiuslenaI, a cily vhere his peopIe can
find a hone and fron vhich he can Iead arnies on a conquesl
of lhe surface vorId.
Levialh lhe CaIn, neanvhiIe, is an unusuaI haIf-gianl vho
spreads lrue vords of peace and lranquiIIily lo aII vho vanl lo
Iislen. His vords are Iike fire in lhe ears of lhe nasses, for lhey
are spoken in kindness and vilh a lrulh lhal has rareIy leen
seen lenealh lhe crinson sun. Ior aII his size and greal
slrenglh, Levialh has never raised his voice in anger or slruck a
lIov lo harn anolher Iiving crealure. He leIieves lhal vioIence
is a palh lhal Ieads lo dealh and deslruclion, as has leen shovn
ly lhe recenl silualion in Raan. We nusl aII Iive logelher if
ve are going lo survive, Levialh procIains. Lay dovn your
anger and Iel lhe serenily of Iife give you grealer slrenglh.
Though he doesnl seen lo vanl lo le a Ieader, his vords have
inspired a significanl nunler of free cilizens and ex-sIaves vho
nov foIIov hin around and preach his nessage of peace lo
olhers.
In lhi s voI ali I e envi ronnenl, revoI uli on seens lo le
inevilalIe. The nurnurings of disconlenl are heard aIong lhe
cily slreels, and lhe angry vhispers of cilizens rise and faII Iike
lhe pounding of a hearl. The puIse of lhe popuIace is slrong and
fevered, aII lhal renains lo le delernined is lhe oulcone of lhe
lIoody riols lhal Ioon on lhe horizon.
Dra
Draj, silualed on a vasl nud fIal easl of Raan, vas anolher var-
Iike cily-slale lefore ils sorcerer-king vas kiIIed ly Rajaal a fev
nonlhs lack. Before lhe nevs couId cause panic and sociaI
upheavaI in lhe cily, King TecluklilIays lenpIars (caIIed noon
priesls) noved lo keep Draj on a sleady course. rder had
never leen a prolIen in lhe cily lefore lhis line, as lhe cilizens
vere enraplured vilh lhe lheocracy and reIigious lrappings Tec-
luklilIay had surrounded hinseIf vilh since lefore anyone
couId renenler. As such, il vas an easy lask for lhe lenpIars lo
18
use lhese lrappings lo save lhe cily and keep lhe governnenl
going.
The lenpIars knev lhey had no reaI pover vilhoul lhe speIIs
granled ly lheir sorcerer-king. They quickIy look slock of lhe sil-
ualion and decided on lheir lesl course of aclion lo preserve
innorlaI Draj. The Suprene Moon Iriesls nade an aIIiance
vilh lhe nosl poverfuI naslers of King Tecs psionic acadeny,
lhe House of lhe Mind. Afler nunerous secrel neelings, a pIan
vas hil upon: The ruIership of Draj vouId pass on lo King Tecs
son, a young psionicisl naned Alzeluk. In lrulh, lhe youlh
vas nol reIaled lo lhe king, lul he had vasl polenliaI as a nind-
lender and charisnalic personaIily. The naslers of lhe Way
aIlered lhe leenagers nind, naking hin leIieve he vas acluaIIy
lhe kings son. They inslrucled hin on vhal lo say lo lhe cily lo
insliII confidence in lhe nasses. In reaIily, lhe lenpIars and
psionic naslers vouId share ruIership of lhe cily, vorking
lehind lhe scenes vhiIe lhe popuIace Iooked upon young Alze-
luk as lheir nev god-king.
Covernmenl
Alzeluk ruIes Draj for aII lo see, lul he is nolhing nore lhan a
figurehead vho sils on lhe lhrone and carries on lhe praclices
and lradilions of var sel forlh ly King TecluklilIay. The youlh is
paraded lefore his suljecls every day, hoIding courl in lhe Ten-
pIe of Tvo Moons. WhiIe Alzeluk leIieves lhal he is lhe Iegili-
nale heir lo TecluklilIays lhrone and lhe lrue ruIer of Draj, lhe
lusiness of governnenl is nanaged ly lhe Moon Iriesls and lhe
naslers of lhe House of lhe Mind. The lenpIars have sone
pover in lhis aIIiance, lul lhe reaI Ieaders of lhe cily are lhe nas-
lers of lhe Way, vho lov lo lhe connands of oId Ixlalai lhe
BIind. Il is in everyone's inleresl lo nainlain lhe iIIusion lhey
have so carefuIIy conslrucled. Wilhoul lhe young god-king, lhe
nolIes and free cilizens nighl releI againsl lhe ruIe of lenpIars
and nindlenders.
Drajs nolIe faniIies parliciaple in lhe governing of lhe cily
lhrough speciaI neelings heId al lhe tccuns. In lhese Iong
luiIdings, nolIe eIders galher lo delale and resoIve prolIens
considered loo ordinary and rouline lo concern lhe Moon
Iriesls and lhe nev god-king. As Iong as lhe varrior lradilions
and cerenonies are upheId, lhese nolIe varriors renain IoyaI lo
lheir nev king.
Trade and Commerce
The connerce Draj has aIvays enjoyed vilh lhe cilies of lhe Tyr
Region conlinues under lhe ruIe of King Alzeluk, lhough al a
reduced rale due lo lhe Iiniled lrade roules Ieading vesl and
soulh. The ferliIe Iands around Draj provide lhe nain resources
lhe cily-slale deaIs in: henp, vilh vhich Draj produces cIolh
and rope, and grain, used lo feed lhe TalIeIands hungry peopIe
(for a price, of course).
The nerchanls of House TsaIaxa conducl nosl of lhe lrade
for lhe cily of Draj. TsaIaxa is knovn for ils rulhIess praclices
lhal lefil a varrior cuIlure. These lraders reguIarIy engage in
espionage and inlrigue in order lo secure vaIualIe conlracls and
lusiness opporlunilies. The nev head of lhe House, Yarsha
TsaIaxa, has sone privale doulls aloul lhe Iegilinacy of Alze-
luks ruIership. She is sliII lrying lo sellIe her ovn posilion as
Ieader of House TsaIaxa in lhe vake of her grandfalher Ydriss
dealh, and she is hesilanl lo express her concerns vilhoul soIid
proof lo lack il up. In lhe neanline, she conlinues lo aggres-
siveIy conlroI lhe nerchanl house and keep lhe lrade roules
aclive and open lo lenefil lhe cily and her ovn coffers.
The Draji enjoy lrisk lrade vilh lvo nyslerious cilies lo lhe
norlh. These unknovn lrade parlners provide lhe luIk of Drajs
connerce since chaos overlook nearly Raan. UnliI anolher
lrade roule lo lhe vesl and soulh can le eslalIished, or unliI
lhings sellIe dovn enough in Raan lo ensure safe passage for
caravans, connerce vilh lhe cilies of lhe TalIeIands is guaran-
leed lo le sporadic al lesl. The nain avenue for reaching lhe
cilies of lhe Tyr Region are lhe siIl skinners lhal lraveI lelveen
Iorl Iirslvalch and lhe viIIage of CronIin. This nakes Nilenay
Drajs nain lrading parlner in lhe region.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
The var feslivaIs and reIigious cerenonies dedicaled lo lhe lvin
noons of Alhas conlinue lo le lhe focus of Iife in Draj. The
peopIe have Iosl a god-king lhey neilher respecled nor leIieved
in, lul have gained a nev god-king lhal is lolh veII-Iiked and
inspires failh and reverence. This has surprised lhe secrel Iead-
ers of lhe cily, lhough nol lo lhe poinl vhere lhey have grovn
concerned. If lheir pIan lo repIace King TecluklilIay has suc-
ceeded leyond lheir viIdesl dreans, so nuch lhe leller. Life in
Draj renains as il aIvays vas~onIy lhe nane of lhe king has
changed.
19
The naluraI disaslers of lhe vesl never reached Draj. Runors
of a Creal Larlhquake arrived vilh lhe passing lraders, lul nol
even lhe sIighlesl lrenor or shake dislurled lhe cily. Draj vas
visiled ly one of lhe firsl Tyr-slorns, hovever. The nud fieIds
fIooded, ruining crops and kiIIing nore lhan a fev Draji lefore
lhe rain slopped faIIing and lhe vind and Iighlning alaled.
Il didnl lake Iong for lhe lenpIars lo cIean up in lhe vake of
lhe slorn or for King Alzeluk lo assuage lhe fears of his cilizens.
He caIIed for sacrifices lo appease lhe eIenenlaIs, and lhe Draji
approved. Alzeluk senl his varriors oul inlo lhe viIderness lo
find caplives vorlhy of dying on Drajs greal pyranid, and
lefore lhe veek had passed rivers of lIood vashed over lhe pyra-
nids slone sleps. Because of lhe reIalive cIoseness of lhe
CeruIean Slorn, and lecause lhe Tyr-slorns oflen pass vilhin
sighl of Draj as lhey sveep inIand, lhe sacrifices have lecone a
reguIar riluaI. The cilizens leIieve, lecause lheir god-king has
loId lhen so, lhal lhe lIood keeps lhe slorns al lay.
The prolIens in Raan have had an effecl on Draj. The len-
pIars and psionic naslers valch lhe unfoIding evenls as onens
of vhal couId occur in Draj if lhe iIIusion lheyve voven around
Alzeluk is ever unraveIed. IIus, nany refugees have fIed Raan
and soughl sancluary in Draj. Mosl of lhese refugees found onIy
dealh, lhough, eilher in lhe nud fIals or alop lhe lIoody pyra-
nid al lhe hearl of lhe cily. The secrel Ieaders fear lhal Draj
sociely viII coIIapse if loo nany refugees veaken lhe infraslruc-
lure or if lhe peopIe Iose failh in King Alzeluk.
Alzeluk hinseIf poses anolher prolIen for Drajs secrel
Ieadership. Lvery day, lhe youlh gains nore and nore confi-
dence. Lvery day, his leIief in his ovn divinily slrenglhens. Add
lo lhis lhe youlhs increasing naslery of lhe Way and il speIIs
lroulIe for lhe secrel Ieaders. Soon, lhe naslers of lhe Way fear,
lhey are going lo Iose conlroI of lhe leen. WhiIe lhey donl vanl
Draj lo le overcone ly anarchy and vioIence, lhey aIso donl
vanl lo give up lhe aulhorily lheyve gained since TecluklilIays
dealh. If Alzeulk conlinues lo asserl hinseIf, lhe naslers of lhe
Way and lhe noon priesls nighl decide lo renove lhe king lhey
pul in pIace. Afler aII, lhey reason, Draj survived lhe dealh of
one king. Il can sureIy survive lhe dealh of lvo.
Nl benay
Nilenay, lhe Shadov King, survived lhe evenls surrounding lhe
CeruIean Slorn, lul his oulIook vas severeIy aIlered~al Ieasl
for lhe foreseealIe fulure. The cily lhal shares his nane has
2O
leen affecled ly lhe nonunenlaI happenings of recenl nonlhs,
and lhe sorcerer-king has changed his approach lo ruIing lhe
nasses and deaIing vilh lhe neighloring cily-slales.
Like Hananu and LaIaIi-Iuy, Nilenay vilnessed lhe dealhs
of lhe Dragon and lhe olher sorcerer-kings. He sav Rajaal reach
oul fron leyond lhe veiI of Alhas lo vreak vengeance againsl
lhose vho lelrayed hin. He aIso sav Rajaal defealed ly lhe
efforls of IovIy norlaIs fron lhe cily of Tyr. In lhe vake of lhese
signs and porlenls, Nilenay reaIized il vas line lo reconsider
hov lesl lo ruIe his cily. He knev lhal lhe line for change vas al
hand.
The cily-slale of Nilenay, Iocaled easl of Tyr al lhe norlhern
lip of lhe Crescenl Ioresl, lareIy feIl lhe effecls of lhe Creal
Larlhquake. The cily-slale vas prolecled ly lhe Windlreak
Mounlains, vhich alsorled lhe Iasl lrenors of lhe quakes dissi-
paling energy as il rippIed easlvard. Nilenay has aIso lhus far
leen spared fron Tyr-slorns and lhe groving unresl spreading
lhroughoul lhe TalIeIands. If lhe Shadov King has his vay,
lhose prolIens are nol going lo reach his donain.
Covernmenl
The sorcerer-king Nilenay used lo slay lehind lhe scenes. He
vas caIIed lhe Shadov King lecause he rareIy Iefl Naggara-
nakan, lhe vaIIed sul-cily. His lenpIars, vho are aII fenaIe,
ran lhe cily vilh skiII and greal care. Nov, hovever, lhe Shadov
King has lecone nore proninenl. In lhe pasl, lhe average free
cilizen couId hope lo see King Nilenay once or perhaps lvice
in an enlire Iifeline. Since his relurn fron lhe evenls in lhe SiIl
Sea, lhe Shadov King has laken a nore aclive roIe. He sliII
aIIovs his lenpIars lo deaI vilh lhe daiIy lusiness of govern-
nenl, lul nov lhe king has lurned his allenlion avay fron lhe
nyslerious schoIarIy pursuils lhal once occupied his line lo
hoId courl for lhe cilys nolIes and free cilizens.
Nilenays niIilary nighl vas never a queslion, lul il aIso vas
never a najor concern of lhe Shadov King. Nov he acliveIy
seeks lo undersland his forces and Iooks for vays lo inprove
lheir nighl and readiness. WhiIe lhe cily used lo appear lo le
secure in ils ovn posilion, il nov seens lo le gearing up lo lallIe
an eneny lhal onIy lhe Shadov King knovs aloul. The prol-
Ien is lhal lhe eneny is change, and no arny lhal Nilenay
raises can slop ils reIenlIess lide.
In lhe vake of aII lhis upheavaI, Nilenays nolIes conlinue
lo care for and nainlain lhe lullIing springs lhal surround lhe
cily. They donl knov vhal lo nake of lhe Shadov Kings sud-
den inleresl in lhe lusiness of lhe cily, lul nany of lhen are
seeking vays lo inprove lheir ovn posilions ly gelling cIoser lo
lheir once-eIusive king.
Trade and Commerce
As aIvays, lhe cily-slales nain connodily is vood cuIIed fron
lhe agafari lrees of lhe Crescenl Ioresl. Nilenays craflsnen
fashion lhe vood inlo shieIds, spears, and cIuls vhich are lhen
soId lhroughoul lhe Tyr Region. The vood is exlreneIy hard and
is considered lhe nexl lesl lhing lo nelaI on Alhas.
The nerchanls conlinue lo conducl a lrisk lrade vilh Urik,
Tyr, and BaIic. Besides vood, Nilenay lrades copper, rice, fruils,
and spices vilh lhe olher cily-slales. Nilenays cIienl viIIage of
CronIin, Iocaled on lhe shores of lhe SiIl Sea, renains one of
lhe onIy Iinks vilh Draj. Ior lhis reason, Nilenays nerchanls
have an aInosl excIusive Iine for noving lrade goods lo and fron
lhe norlhern cily-slale. DeaIings vilh Raan have coIIapsed
(lhough il is runored lhal Nilenay is luiIding up his arny lo
reslore order in lhal lroulIed cily), lul condilions lelveen
Nilenay and CuIg have never leen leller. In lhe pasl, lhe lvo
cily-slales conpeled for lhe precious resources of lhe Crescenl
Ioresl and oflen foughl lallIes over conlroI of lhe voodIands.
The lvo cily-slales never acluaIIy venl lo var, vhich vas good for
CuIg. LaIaIi-Iuys donain vouId nol Iasl Iong if Nilenay
decided lo lhrov ils fuII nighl al lhe snaIIer cily-slale. Since lhe
evenls lhal sav lhe lirlh of lhe CeruIean Slorn, lhe lvo Ieaders
have sel aside lheir differences and have legun vorking logelher.
The sorcerer-king and sorcerer-queen have nel on lvo separale
occasions since lhey relurned lo lheir cily-slales. The finaI
resuIls of lhese neelings renain shrouded in secrecy, lul il is
knovn lhal Nilenay has legun lo shov nore respecl for lhe for-
esl. Ior every lree a Nilenese sIave puIIs fron lhe ground,
anolher sIave pIanls lvo nore.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
Though lhere have leen no najor changes lo Iife in Nilenay,
enough slrange occurrences have leen vorked inlo lhe rouline
lo pul a differenl spin on lhe cily-slale. Ior exanpIe, average cili-
zens~and even poverfuI nolIes~never expecled lo see lhe
Shadov King, Iel aIone allend one of his courls. Nov lhe
Shadov King reguIarIy nakes pulIic appearances and shovs an
aclive concern for his connunily. This doesnl nean lhal Iife is
any harder or easier lhan ils aIvays leen. Ils jusl differenl. If a
cilizen or visilor lreaks a Iav and canl afford lo lrile a lenpIar,
lhen lhal person is sliII going lo end up in Nilenays sIave pens.
The olher najor change is lhe cilys oulIook on nallers of a
narliaI nalure. The Shadov King and his lenpIars seen lo le
concenlraling nuch of lheir efforls on loIslering Nilenays niI-
ilary nighl. The arny reguIarIy praclices in lhe arena, and
palroIs of lhe surrounding counlryside have increased dranali-
caIIy. In addilion, free cilizens and nolIes have leen ordered lo
serve in Nilenays defense. TenpIars are lusy organizing lhen
inlo parl-line niIilias and reginenling lraining sessions.
Whal lhe Shadov King is lruIy concerned aloul, lesides lhe
unresl and upheavaI lhal seens lo le spreading lhroughoul lhe
TalIeIands, are lhe runors cIaining lhal Dregolh has relurned.
Nilenay knovs hov poverfuI lhe sorcerer-king of CiuslenaI
vas. Dregolh vas second onIy lo Borys lhe Dragon in pover. If
Dregolh and his cily have sonehov cone lack fron lhe dead.
Nilenay vanls lo le prepared. Afler aII, Nilenays cily-slale is
one of lhe cIosesl lo lhe ruins of ancienl CiuslenaI, and he has
no inlenlion of Iosing his donain lo a rivaI lhal vas lhoughl
deslroyed lvo niIIennia ago.
Cul g
The cily-slale of CuIg sils inside lhe soulhern porlion of lhe
Crescenl Ioresl, aInosl direclIy easl of Tyr. Localed easl of lhe
Windlreak Mounlains, CuIg vas spared lhe devaslalion lhal
lhe Creal Larlhquake visiled on lhe cilies and viIIages lo lhe
vesl. Thal doesnl nean lhal Iife in CuIg has renained unaf-
fecled ly lhe changes sveeping lhrough lhe TalIeIands. In a fev
significanl vays, CuIg has leen changed lhe nosl.
CuIgs sorcerer-queen, LaIaIi-Iuy, is lhe alsoIule nonarch of
her reaIn. Her suljecls consider her lo le lhe OIu, lhe foresl
goddess. ver lhe cenluries lhal shes leen in pover, LaIaIi-Iuy
has cone lo reIish lhe vorship and adoralion her suljecls heap
upon her. In facl, lhough she renenlers her origins as a Chan-
pion of Rajaal and a sorcerer-queen, she prefers lo lhink of her-
seIf as lhe goddess her peopIe leIieve her lo le.
To lhe la of CuIg, lhe alundance of rain~even lhe vio-
Ienl rain lhal acconpanies a Tyr-slorn~is a lIessing lo Alhas.
She has procIained lhis lIessing lo le a gifl fron lhe foresl god-
dess lhal she inlends lo lake fuII advanlage of. No Ionger viII
CuIg le soIeIy concerned vilh lhe veII-leing of CuIg, lhe la
21
decIared lo her peopIe. Wherever lhe rain faIIs, lhere viII lhe
foresl grov. And vherever lhe foresl grovs, lhe foresl goddess viII
le lhere, for aII lhe foresls of Alhas leIong lo lhe la.
Behind lhe rheloric, LaIaIi-Iuy acluaIIy vanls lo heIp reslore
lhe vilaIily of Alhas. The CuIgs have aIvays had an enIighlened
underslanding of lhe inlerconnecled nalure of aII Iife, so lheyve
aIvays lrealed lhe foresl as a precious resource lhal nusl le
nainlained and nol depIeled. This allilude cones righl fron lhe
la herseIf, vhich nay seen slrange as she is a defiIer of exlrene
pover. Since laking over CuIg, hovever, she has Iearned lo len-
per her use of defiIing nagic in favor of keeping her foresl heaIlhy.
f course, lhis allilude vas one of lhe conlriluling faclors lo
lhe prolIens vilh Nilenay. The Nilenese sav lhe foresl as a
resource lo le expIoiled, nol a Iiving lhing lhal cares for ils
inhalilanls as lhey care for il. NonelheIess, LaIaIi-Iuy has nade
lhe firsl noves lovard a peacefuI exislence vilh Nilenay, going
so far as lo leach lhe sorcerer-king hov lo preserve lhe Iife-giving
environnenl of lhe Crescenl Ioresl.
The las nolivalion isnl enlireIy seIfIess. She leIieves lhal
vhen lhe foresls relurn lo Alhas she viII le deified ly aII races,
jusl Iike shes leen in CuIg. Lel Nilenay and Hananu pIay as
sorcerer-kings, she has decided, for in lhe end I viII le as a god
lo aII of Alhas.
Covernmenl
In nany respecls, CuIg is nol Iike any of lhe olher cily-slales of
lhe Tyr Region. Il is a Iiving cily, grovn fron vines and lrees
inslead of conslrucled fron lrick and slone. The ouler vaIIs of
lhe cily, for exanpIe, consisl of a lhick hedge of lhorny lrees. The
la Iives in lhe laIIesl lranches of a huge agafari lree, vhiIe her
lenpIars inhalil lhe Iover lranches. There are no paved or col-
lIeslone roads Ieading lhrough CuIg. Inslead, foresl palhs and
lraiIs vind lheir vay lelveen lhe lrees.
There have leen fev najor changes in lhe vay CuIg is ruIed.
The la renains lhe ovner of everylhing, dislriluling food,
valer, and olher suppIies lo vhere lhey are needed nosl. Her
lenpIars conlinue lo oversee lhe niIilary, econonic, and agri-
cuIluraI aspecls of lhe connunily on lehaIf of lhe foresl god-
dess. NoliIily is sliII an earned posilion, nol one granled ly an
accidenl of lirlh. The nolIes hunl lhe foresl for fresh neal,
vhiIe sIaves connanded ly lhe lenpIars galher lhe viId fruils,
nuls, and lerries lhal round oul lhe dielary concerns of lhe
connunily.
22
LaIaIi-Iuy is a lhird-slage dragon king (a 23rd-IeveI dragon).
She uses lhe Way and her poverfuI nagic aliIilies lo appear
lefore her peopIe as a leaulifuI young vonan vilh Iong, siIky
hair and dark skin. She never appears in pulIic vilhoul her iIIu-
sions in pIace, for she doesnl vanl her peopIe lo see her in her
lrue dragon forn.
Trade and Commerce
The slrange lrade praclices of CuIg have nol changed in nany
cenluries, so nerchanls vho arrive al lhe vaII of lhorns nusl le
prepared lo conducl lusiness ly CuIgs ruIes. A lenpIar is
assigned lo each nerchanl house enporiun, vhere he or she
larlers on lehaIf of lhe peopIe of lhe cily. House Inika, lhe onIy
nerchanl dynasly vilh direcl lies lo CuIg, conlinues lo le lhe
prinary avenue for exporling goods lo olher cily-slales, lhough
olher houses can and do nainlain enporiuns. Visilors lo lhe
cily nusl slay in reslricled areas, as lhe CuIgs dislrusl foreigners.
Wilh lhe deslruclive ideas energing fron pIaces Iike Tyr and
Raan, lhe la and her lenpIars have laken grealer pains lo
keep visilors avay fron lhe average peopIe of CuIg.
Whal has changed is lhal Nilenese lraders are nov loIer-
aled vilhin lhe confines of CuIg (al Ieasl as nuch as olher
lraders are loIeraled). Suspicion and halred luiIl upon cen-
luries of lension and confIicl canl le erased overnighl, lul
since lhe foresl goddess and lhe sorcerer-king have slarled coop-
eraling, so have lhe peopIes of lhe lvo cilies. Il is an exanpIe lhal
lhe resl of Alhas shouId lry lo enuIale~if il can le denon-
slraled lo have acluaIIy luiIl a Iasling peace.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
Life has aIvays leen nore loIeralIe in CuIg lhan in any of lhe
olher cily-slales under lhe ruIe of sorcerer-kings. In sone vays,
Iife has acluaIIy inproved for lhe CuIgs. The las nevfound
crusade lo reslore Alhas has nade her nore forgiving of and
generous lo her IoyaI cilizens. In lhe spiril of cooperalion, she
has seIecled her lesl lenpIars lo lraveI lhe Tyr Region and
spread lhe vord of resloralion. These lenpIars have a lvo-foId
purpose. Iirsl, lhey heIp shov lhe resl of lhe TalIeIands hov lo
vork in harnony vilh nalure, vhich haslens lhe foreslalion of
lhe vorId in lhe las viev. Second, her lenpIars pass aIong lhe
laIe lhal lhe rain is a lIessing fron lhe la, lherely increasing
lhe nunler of peopIe vho knov of and leIieve in LaIaIi-Iuy.
Lxcepl for lhe aid lhese lenpIars have provided lo Nilenay,
no olher cily-slale has lhus far leen largeled ly lhe las seIecl
force. Inslead, lhe lenpIars visil viIIages and oasis connunilies,
leaching and preaching as circunslances pernil. Sone pIaces
have veIconed lhe lenpIars, olhers have driven lhen avay.
Those connunilies lhal have acluaIIy experienced a Tyr-slorn,
for exanpIe, are quick lo allack anyone vho cIains lo le associ-
aled vilh lheir fearfuI properlies.
A significanl change in CuIg sociely concerns lhe VeiIed
AIIiance of lhe cily. CuIgs VeiIed AIIiance has aIvays acliveIy
vorked lo reslore Alhas lo ils verdanl gIory, never direclIy oppos-
ing lhe viII of lhe sorcerer-queen. Nov lhal lhe la has
decIared her ovn inlenlions for resloring Alhas, lhe lvo seen lo
have Iess lo fighl over. The la has even exlended a peace
Ieaf lo lhe AIIiance, caIIing for lhe preservers lo shed lhe veiI of
secrecy and join lhe foresl goddess quesl lo save lhe vorId. The
AIIiance hasnl responded yel, lul runors persisl lhal lhe pre-
servers are pIanning lo cone oul of hiding in lhe foresl cily jusl
as lheyve done in Tyr.
8allc
The sorcerer-king Andropinis once ruIed BaIic fron lhe airy
confines of lhe While IaIace, nol far fron lhe dusly shores of
lhe cilys siIl harlor. ne day in lhe Year of Iriends Agilalion,
he loarded his siIl arnada and slruck oul for lhe far side of lhe
Sea of SiIl. Il vas a lrip fron vhich he never relurned.
The cily-slale, Iocaled soulheasl of Tyr on lhe secIuded
shores of lhe Iorked Tongue Lsluary, has suffered on a nunler
of fronls in recenl years. In lhe Year of Dragons Agilalion, vhen
Tyr refused lo pay lhe Dragons Levy, il feII lo BaIic lo nake up
lhe Ioss ly adding an exlra lhousand sIaves lo ils conlrilulion.
The foIIoving year, Mounlains Iury, sav lhe IeninsuIa Ran-
page, a shorl-Iived var in vhich a snaII arny of gianls overran
nosl of lhe BaIican IeninsuIa. HaIf of BaIics arny and a quar-
ler of ils fieIds vere deslroyed in lhe lallIe. The cily-slale vas
sliII recovering vhen Andropinis feII lo Rajaals revenge a fev
years Ialer.
Today, lhe cily-slale has no sorcerer-king lo Iead il or prolecl
il fron lhe ravages of Alhas. BaIic has aIvays had a lradilion of
lhe iIIusion of denocracy. Andropinis cIained lo have leen
freeIy eIecled lo his posilion, lhe lenpIars vere eIecled lo 1O-
year lerns ly lhe free cilizens, and even lhe nolIes (caIIed palri-
cians) vere aIIoved lo parlicipale in lhe governnenlaI process
23
ly seIecling nenlers lo allend lhe Chanler of Ialricians on a
reguIar lasis. Though lhis denocracy vasnl reaI, il sliII laughl
lhe peopIe aloul one possilIe vay a free sociely couId vork.
When lhe nevs spread lhal Andropinis vas gone (he had leen
inprisoned in lhe BIack ly Rajaal), various faclions caIIed for a
nev eIeclion.
The nain conlenders for lhe posilion of diclalor of BaIic
vere rioI of MageslaIos, Iirsl Speaker of lhe Ialricians, Cen-
eraI Zanlhiros of lhe BaIican arny, and Iirsl TenpIar Aslhira.
Before lhe finaI voles couId le counled, Talaros, lhe palriarch
of House Wavir, nade his nove. The nerchanl house seized lhe
While IaIace, lhe siIl harlor, and aII of lhe lerrilory in lelveen
and decIared Talaros lo le lhe Trade Lord of BaIic. This didnl
sil veII vilh House Wavirs rivaIs. Neilher House TronlIador or
House Rees vanled lo le cul oul of lhis opporlunily so each of
lhese nerchanl dynaslies look over lhe renaining porlions of
lhe cily. The vherealouls of lhe originaI conlenders are
unknovn, lul nany leIieve lhal lhey are vailing for lhe righl
opporlunily lo relurn and lake conlroI of lhe lroulIed cily-slale.
Covernmenl
BaIic is divided inlo lhree parls, each conlroIIed ly a differenl
lrade Iord. These divisions cooperale on one IeveI lul lallIe for
suprenacy on aII olhers. The Iargesl lIock of conlroI faIIs lo
Lord Talaros of House Wavir, vhiIe Lord KaIadon of House
TronlIador and Lady Lssen of House Rees conlroI equaIIy
sized snaIIer lIocks. The sane anounl of cooperalion lhal
aIIovs lhe lhree rivaIs lo joinlIy nainlain lhe najor lrading viI-
Iage of AIlaruk aIIovs lhen lo keep BaIic running as a najor
cily-slale.
As far as oulsiders are concerned, lhe lhree Ieaders forned a
lriune counciI lo ruIe lhe cily afler Andropinis feII. WhiIe such
a counciI does exisl, and lhe lhree rivaIs neel reguIarIy lo keep
lhe cily-slale slrong enough lo sland againsl invaders, lhey each
vork lehind lhe scenes lo luiId up lheir ovn pover lases and
knock lheir rivaIs dovn.
Lach lrade Iord has a differenl viev of lhe vorId and lhe vay
BaIic shouId le governed. Wavir, for exanpIe, vanls lo free aII
sIaves, oulIav defiIers, veIcone preservers inlo sociely, and sel
up a lrue denocralic slale. The vay lo acconpIish lhis, Lord
Talaros leIieves, is ly quick aclion and harsh neasures. Lord
KaIadon vanls lo resune lhe diclalorship~vilh hinseIf as king
of BaIic. Lady Lssen, neanvhiIe, leIieves lhal lhe cily-slale
shouId le nolhing nore lhan a gIorified nerchanl viIIage, serv-
ing lo fiII lhe coffers of House Rees and naking il lhe nosl pov-
erfuI nerchanl house in lhe enlire Tyr Region. NeedIess lo say,
none of lhe sides vanl lo see any olher gain a significanl advan-
lage.
Those lenpIars vho agreed lo svear aIIegiance lo one of lhe
lrade Iords vere relained for lheir lureaucralic skiIIs. Hovever,
lhe nerchanl houses have lheir ovn adninislralors lo faII lack
on, so any lenpIars vho couIdnl le lrusled vere eIininaled. A
snaII nunler of lenpIars sliII IoyaI lo Andropinis venl inlo
hiding and conlinue lo vork in secrel, lhough lhey have IillIe
pover and fev hopes of gaining any aulhorily under lhe currenl
syslen.
The palricians are aIIoved varying degrees of parlicipalion in
lhe governnenl, depending upon vhich nerchanl house hoIds
svay over lhe lerrilory lheir Iand occupies. None of lhe lrade
Iords are as lad as Andropinis vas. The sorcerer-king nade il a
praclice lo consuIl vilh lhe nenlers of his Chanler of Ialri-
cians on a reguIar lasis. Hovever, lo assure lhal no slale secrels
ever feII inlo eneny hands, Andropinis had his Ieading palri-
cians lIinded, deafened, and nade nule ly painfuI nuliIa-
lions. Under Wavirs conlroI, lhe palricians are aIIoved fuII
parlicipalion righls. Under House TronlIador, lhe nolIes are
lrealed lareIy leller lhan sIaves, vhiIe House Rees gives lhen
lhe freedon lo handIe lheir ovn affairs~provided lhey neel lhe
produclion quolas Lady Lssen has eslalIished for each nolIe
faniIy.
The nained palricians renain quiel and have offered no
infornalion concerning Andropinis. Isionic and nagicaI
allenpls lo gIean infornalion fron lhen have aII nel vilh faiI-
ure. Many of lhese palricians are cared for ly House Wavir.
Trade and Commerce
Because lrade Iords conlroI BaIic, connerce pIays an inporlanl
parl in aII IeveIs of sociely. If lhere is one aspecl lhal has acluaIIy
increased since Andropiniss denise, il is nercanliIe aclivilies
of aII kinds. BaIics najor producls conlinue lo le saIl, siIver,
Iiveslock, and Iealher. Lach of lhe conlroIIing nerchanl houses
operale enporiuns lhroughoul lhe TalIeIands in cily-slales and
viIIages, as veII as vilh a nyslerious cily lo lhe soulh.
House Wavir nainlains good lrade reIalions vilh Tyr and
cordiaI reIalions vilh CuIg and Nilenay (as do lhe rivaI
houses). House TronlIador has slrong lies lo Urik, lul con-
Dark runors persisl lhal Andropinis is alIe lo conlacl his
IoyaI lenpIars fron his prison in lhe dinension knovn as lhe
BIack. These can le neilher confirned nor denied al lhis line,
lul lhe lhoughl of Andropinis conlinuing lo exerl infIuence
over lhe cily has lhe IocaI VeiIed AIIiance nore lhan a IillIe con-
cerned. If lhe runors are lrue, is Andropinis vorking vilh his
exiIed lenpIars or vilh soneone currenlIy in pover sonevhere
in lhe cily`
represenlalives inlo lhe siIl lasin lo negoliale a Iasling peace.
No conlracls have leen agreed upon, lul il seens BaIic nay
soon have an agreenenl vilh lhe usuaIIy hosliIe gianls.
To slave off anolher var vilh lhe gianls, House Rees has senl
nonlhs. Caravans have leen raided or salolaged, varehouses
pIundered or lurnl lo lhe ground, and inporlanl agenls have
leen kiIIed on aII sides. Hov far each is viIIing lo push lefore a
leller soIulion nusl le found renains lo le seen.
Though on lhe surface lhey appear lo cooperale for lhe good
of lhe cily, lhe lrade Iords vage a secrel var againsl each olher
lhal everyone knovs aloul lul fev peopIe undersland. None of
lhe lrade Iords are viIIing lo Iel lhis confIicl escaIale inlo a fuII-
scaIe civiI var, lul lhey have cone very cIose lo il in recenl
lrighl, TronlIador oppressive and dark, and Rees is Iike an
exlended vork canp vhere everyone Ialors for lhe lenefil of lhe
lrade Iord.
lIock lo lIock. To lhe IocaIs, hovever, lhere is a cIear deIinealion
lelveen one Iords donain and lhe nexl. Wavir is free and
Iis, nol a divided cily. No vaIIs separale one lerrilory fron
anolher, no guards vail lo coIIecl loIIs as cilizens nove fron
n lhe surface, lhe cily appears lo le one spravIing nelropo-
nosl parl, hovever, Iife under lhe lrade Iords is consideralIy lel-
ler lhan il vas under lhe crueI and oppressive Andropinis. Lven
lhe lerrilory conlroIIed ly House TronlIador, vhose Iord
allenpls lo pallern hinseIf as BaIics nev diclalor, is pIeasanl
conpared lo lhe alrocilies of lhe previous ruIer.
lay. Il vas unlouched ly lhe Creal Larlhquake, lul olher disas-
lers have Iefl lheir narks on lhe pIace in recenl years. Ior lhe
BaIic is a cIean, conforlalIe nelropoIis on lhe shores of a siIl
ducls aInosl no aclivily in Tyr. f lhe lhree houses, onIy House
Rees reguIarIy sends caravans lo Raan in hopes of exerling
infIuence in lhal lroulIed cily.
Condlllons ln lhe Clly
24
Tncrc arc |nrcc |qpcs cf pccp|c in |nis ucr|. |ncsc unc scc|
fanc fcr |ncnsc|tcs cr natc i| |nrus| upcn |ncn oq |ncir ac|icns,
|ncsc unc ni c i n |nc snacus an ncpc |na| nc cnc ctcr
nc|iccs |ncn, an |ncsc unc sinp|q |itc |ifc as |ncq scc fi|, nci-
|ncr scc|ing rcccgni|icn ncr running frcn i| uncn i| ccncs |ncir
uaq. Scnc cf |ncsc |as| |qpcs uin up ocing ncrccs. A|nas nccs
ncrc ncrccsou| |ncn, A|nas nccs a |c| cf |nings.
~The Wanderer of Alhas
The foIIoving personaIilies of lhe Tyr Region are sone of lhe
nosl poverfuI leings Iiving in lhe TalIeIands. AInosl every
advenlurer has heard al Ieasl one laIe concerning each of lhese
personaIilies, for lheir Iegends have leen carried far and vide on
lhe hol vinds lhal lIov across lhe sandy vasles.
Nole lhal lhere are sone differences fron lhe faniIiar
AD&D

Cane slalislics. The Slrenglh TalIe, for exanpIe, has

leen nodified for DARK SUN: A Ncu Agc and aII lonuses
have leen adjusled accordingIy. In addilion, DARK SUN nov
uses lhe P|AY|RS OPT|ON psionics syslen, vhich is in-
cIuded in lhe nev loxed sel.
The dragon kings have an assorlnenl of nagicaI ilens lhal
are nol delaiIed in lhese pages. ShouId lhey le allacked ly a
land of heroes, lhe sorcerer-kings of lhe TalIeIands are nagi-
caIIy and psionicaIIy Iinked lo an assorlnenl of usefuI nagicaI
ilens, and lhey can easiIy caII upon vhalever lhey require lo
achieve viclory.
Rl kus
Mu! ma!c g!adIatnr, 15th !cvc!: AL NC, AC 6 (Dexlerily), MV 12,
hp 116, THACO 6, #AT 2, Dng 1d1O+1 (nelaI |cng sucr +1), SA
+2 lo allack roIIs and +5 lo danage roIIs due lo Slrenglh, SZ M (6),
Slr 21, Dex 18, Con 2O, Inl 1O, Wis 12, Cha 16
PsInnIcs 5ummary: NiI IIayers plion: MAC 5
Rikus vas raised as a gIadialor in lhe sIave pens of lhe nolIe
house of MericIes. He vas one of lhe lesl gIadialors lo fighl in
Tyrs sladiun, vinning lhe adoralion of lhe crovds vilh his skiII
and lravado. His greal slrenglh, near-reckIess daring, and seIf-
assured arrogance nade hin popuIar vilh his aIIies and fans,
lul aIso nade hin one of lhe nosl feared conlalanls his oppo-
nenls ever faced.
The nuI nov serves as a nenler of Iree Tyrs verCounciI,
parl of lhe ruIing lody of lhe cily-slale. He conlinues lo oversee
Tyrs Iegions and cily guard, ready lo Iead lhen lo lallIe in
defense of lhe cily. He Iives vilh lhe hunan fenaIe Neeva, vho
vas once his parlner in lhe arena ganes, and vilh her son, lhe
nuI loy Rkard.
Rikus is currenlIy lrying lo soIve lhe groving crine prolIen
infesling lhe poorer seclions of Tyr. He personaIIy Ieads lroops
inlo lhe slreels and lireIessIy lackIes lhe prolIen head-on. This
is one eneny, hovever, lhal he nighl nol le alIe lo vanquish
vilh nuscIe and lrule force.
Sadl ra
Ha!f-c!f fcma!c prcscrvcr, 10th !cvc!: AL N, AC 6, MV 12, hp 34,
THACO 17, #AT 1, Dng 1d4+1 (nelaI aggcr +1), SZ M (6), Slr
11, Dex 18, Con 15, Inl 19, Wis 15, Cha 17
PsInnIcs 5ummary: NiI IIayers plion: MAC 6
Ha!f-c!f fcma!c sun wIzard, 18th !cvc!: AL N, AC 2 (conlinuaI ena-
nalion of an arncr speII vhiIe in dayIighl), MV 12, hp 42, THACO
15, #AT 1, Dng 1d4-+1 (nelaI aggcr +1), SA + 1 lonus lo danage
roIIs due lo Slrenglh, SZ M (6), Slr 16, Dex 18, Con 15, Inl 19, Wis
15, Cha 17
PsInnIcs 5ummary: NiI IIayers plion: MAC 5
Sadira vas a sIave in lhe MericIes househoId, vhich is vhere
she nel Rikus, lul she vas aIso a preserver and a nenler of lhe
VeiIed AIIiance. Sadira heIped pul lhe AIIiances pIan lo kiII
King KaIak inlo nolion ly gelling Rikus lo agree lo lhrov lhe
Hcar|ucc Spcar.
The young haIf-eIf lecane very invoIved in lhe poIilics of
Tyr, for she had an inlense Iove of freedon and a desire lo see lhe
cily-slale relain lhe Iilerly she heIped ignile. During lhe decade
of change lhal slarled vilh KaIaks dealh, Sadira vas narried lo
lolh Rikus and lhe nolIenan Agis. Il vas lhrough her aclions
and lhe heIp of her friends and Iovers lhal lhe Dragon vas uIli-
naleIy deslroyed and Rajaal renained inprisoned.
Al lhe Irisline Tover, Sadira gained lhe aliIily lo drav nagi-
caI energy lo pover her speIIs righl fron Alhass crinson sun.
During lhe dayIighl hours, Sadiras povers increase as lhe rays
lransforn her inlo a sun vizard (use lhe second sel of slalislics).
The circunslances surrounding her originaI lransfornalion
vere unique, so ils doullfuI any olher sun vizards can ever le
crealed. When enpovered ly lhe sun, Sadiras skin lurns
elony and her aliIilies and physicaI slrenglh increase. Al nighl,
she reverls lo her nornaI seIf.
Today, Sadira has heIped lring lhe VeiIed AIIiance oul of lhe
shadovs. She serves on lhe verCounciI as lhe preservers
25
Ieader and represenlalive. Those preservers vho have kepl lhe
veiI of secrecy donl lrusl her, and she has nany olher enenies
anong lhe hidden defiIers, lenpIars IoyaI lo lhe oId vays, and
nolIes vho see her as a lhreal lo lheir ovn pover and anlilions.
Rikus renains her sleadfasl aIIy in lhe defense and preservalion
of Iree Tyr.
Hamanu. Sorcerer-Kl ng of Url k
Ma!c dragnn kIng, 23rd !cvc!: AL LL, AC -2 (nagicaI proleclion),
MV 12, hp 112, THACO 9, #AT 1, Dng 1d1O+4 (nelaI |uc-nanc
sucr +4), SZ L (11), Slr 22, Dex 15, Con 16, Inl 19, Wis 16, Cha 16
PsInnIcs 5ummary: Dis 5/Sci 12/Dev 28, IS 17, ISIs 152
All: AII, Def: AII
#AT 2, MTHACO 2, MAC O IIayers plion:
C!aIrscntIcncc: Scicnccs cIairvoyance, lrue sighl, Dctc|icns aII-
round vision, conlal nind, danger sense, narliaI lrance, psionic sense.
PsychnkIncsIs: Scicnccs negakinesis, suppress nagic, leIekinesis,
Dctc|icns conlroI lody, conlroI vind, inerliaI larrier, Ievilalion,
nass nanipuIalion, nonenlun lhefl, slasis fieId.
Psychnmctabn!Ism: Scicnccs conpIele heaIing, Iife draining, nela-
norphosis, Dctc|icns adrenaIin conlroI, aIler fealures, cannilaIize,
dispIacenenl, enhanced slrenglh, fighling lrance.
PsychnpnrtIvc: Scicnccs sunnon pIanar energy, leIeporl,
Dctc|icns aslraI projeclion, dinension lIade, phase, leIeporl Iock,
leIeporl lrigger.
Tc!cpathIc: Scicnccs haIIucinalion, nindIink, Dctc|icns ave,
LSI, psychic drain, synaplic slalic, lrue vorship.
Hananu vasnl one of Rajaals originaI Chanpions. He vas
eIevaled lo Chanpion slalus in order lo deslroy and repIace
Myron TroII Scorcher, vho had sonehov dispIeased Rajaal.
Laler, he heIped Borys and lhe olhers overlhrov lhe Iirsl Sor-
cerer.
As sorcerer-king of Urik, Hananu fashions hinseIf as a pov-
erfuI varrior king. His arny is one of lhe slrongesl in lhe TalIe-
Iands, and nayle on aII of Alhas. He recenlIy seaIed his lorders
lo keep oul lhe changes sveeping lhrough lhe region.
Hananu has aInosl as nany lilIes as he has seen years
lenealh lhe crinson sun, fron lhe Lion of Urik lo lhe King of lhe
WorId. He denands lolaI oledience and devolion fron his sul-
jecls in exchange for lhe proleclion and guidance he provides.
Uriks king has pronised lo re-lhink lhe oId vays, lul unliI
lhen he vanls nolhing lo lreach lhe nagicaI vaIIs of his cily.
Sadira of Tyr has lried lo neel vilh hin lo discuss nev direc-
lions, lul so far Hananu has refused lo see lhe sun vizard.
Nlbenay. lhe Shadov Klng
angIe.
ruse lo gain lhe Shadov King even nore pover in lhe Ivory Tri-
and lenpIars leIieve lhal lhe nev IeveI of cooperalion is onIy a
has pul aside his ages-oId ennily vilh LaIaIi-Iuy, sorcerer-queen
of CuIg. Al Ieasl lhals hov il appears on lhe surface. His nolIes
The Shadov King sliII keeps his inner cily, a pIace vhere
schoIar-sIaves Ialor over ancienl lexls and arcane reIics, cIosed
lo lhe pulIic. Nilenay hinseIf oflen laIks aloul lhe line
lefore vilh his lop lenpIar-vives~lhe line lefore lhe sorcerer-
kings, lefore lhe Chanpions, lefore Rajaal. Sone nenlers of
lhe veiIed aIIiance leIieve lhal lhe Shadov King is seeking a vay
lo lraveI lhrough line, lul lhis has yel lo le confirned.
Because of lhe changes effecling lhe Tyr Region, Nilenay
vide repule. WhiIe no one oulside his privale inner sanclun
knovs vhal Nilenay has leen sludying, runors persisl lhal il
invoIves Alhass earIiesl ages. Hov Nilenays currenl inleresl in
his cilys niIilary provess is going lo affecl his arcane sludies has
yel lo le delernined.
Nilenay, lhe Shadov King, has leen a recIusive figure since
he lhrev off lhe guise of Chanpion of Rajaal and look on lhe
nanlIe of a sorcerer-king. RecenlIy, vilh lhe evenls surrounding
lhe lirlh of lhe CeruIean Slorn, Nilenay has lecone a nore
visilIe and aclive force in lhe cily-slale lhal lears his nane.
The Shadov King fancies hinseIf a schoIar and researcher of
C!aIrscntIcncc: Scicnccs cIairaudience, cIairvoyance, cosnic avare-
ness, oljecl reading, Dctc|icns lone reading, hear Iighl, knov Ioca-
lion, prolaliIily nanipuIalion, poison sense, psionic sense, see nagic,
sensilivily lo olservalion.
PsychnkIncsIs: Scicnccs leIekinesis, leIekinelic fIighl, Dctc|icns
aninale shadov, conlroI Iighl, noIecuIar agilalion, noIecuIar londing.
Psychnmctabn!Ism: Scicnccs nelanorphosis, shadov-forn, Dctc-
|icns aIler fealures, aging, calfaII, heighlened senses, iron viII.
PsychnpnrtIvc: Scicnccs lanishnenl, sunnon pIanar crealure, leIe-
porl, Dctc|icns aslraI projeclion, dinension vaIk, shadov vaIk, sun-
non oljecl, leIeporl Iock, leIeporl oljecl, leIeporl lrigger.
Tc!cpathIc: Scicnccs nindIink, Dctc|icns ave, LSI, idenlily pen-
elralion, invisiliIily, send lhoughls.
#AT 2, MTHACO 2, MAC - 2
MaIe dragon king, 24lh IeveI: AL LL, AC 4 (naluraI), MV 15, hp
1O7, THACO 8, #AT 1 or 2, Dng 1d4+2 ( nel aI aggcr +2) or
2d1O/2d1O (cIavs), SZ L (12), Slr 21, Dex 14, Con 16, Inl 21, Wis 17,
Cha 15
PsInnIcs 5ummary: Dis 5/Sci 12/Dev 29, IS 18, ISIs 198
All: AII, Def: AII
IIayers plion:
26
Lalal-Puy. Cba of Culg
Fcma!c dragnn quccn, 23rd !cvc!: AL LL, AC O (nagicaI ilens),
MV 12, hp 98, THACO 9, #AT 1, Dng 1d6+4 (spcar +4), SZ L
(1O), Slr 2O, Dex 19, Con 15, Inl 18, Wis 19, Cha 2O
PsInnIcs 5ummary: Dis 5/Sci 12/Dev 28, IS 17, ISIs 2O3
All: AII, Def: AII
IIayers plion: #AT 2, MTHACO 2, MAC 1
C!aIrscntIcncc: Scicnccs aura sighl, precognilion, spiril Iore, Dctc-
|icns danger sense, knov direclion, psionic sense, see elhereaI, see
nagic, spiril sense. nagic, spiril sense.
PsychnkIncsIs: Scicnccs leIekinesis, Dctc|icns conlroI fIanes,
conlroI vind, Ievilalion.
Psychnmctabn!Ism: Scicnccs aninaI affinily, conpIele heaIing,
nelanorphosis, regenerale, Dctc|icns- adrenaIin conlroI, aging, cal-
faII, cause decay, chaneIeon pover, doulIe pain, heighlened senses,
slrenglh of lhe Iand. slrenglh of lhe Iand.
PsychnpnrtIvc: Scicnccs sunnon pIanar energy, leIeporl, Dctc-
|icns lIink, dinension vaII, elhereaI lraveIer, phase, spaliaI dislor-
lion. lion.
Tc!cpathIc: Scicnccs doninalion, nindIink, Dctc|icns allrac-
lion, ave, leasl naslery, LSI, infIicl pain, Iife deleclion.
LaIaIi-Iuy, sorcerer-queen and la of CuIg, is lhe foresl
goddess of her peopIe. She is inlinaleIy lied lo lhe Crescenl
Ioresl lhal surrounds her cily-slale, as are lhe peopIe she ruIes.
She lakes a keen inleresl in CuIg and ils inhalilanls and gen-
uineIy cares for her suljecls.
In lhe vake of lhe Dragons dealh and lhe lrief relurn of
Rajaal lhe War-lringer, LaIaIi-Iuy has lurned her allenlion lo
acluaIIy aiding lhe lesieged vorId. She sees lhe CeruIean
Slorn and lhe increased frequency of rainfaII as signs of her
divinily, and she has ordered her lenpIars lo preach lhose
vords lo aII vho vouId hear lhen.
LaIaIi-Iuy vanls lo heIp lhe peopIe of lhe Tyr Region~so
Iong as lhey evenluaIIy agree lo lov dovn and vorship her.
AcknovIedge ny divinily and pray lo ne, lhe la has said
lo nore lhan one oulsider, and I viII shov you hov lo grov
lrees and quench your lurning lhirsl.
The la has agreed lo cooperale vilh her one-line eneny
lo lhe norlh, lhe sorcerer-king of Nilenay. She doesnl lrusl
lhe Shadov King any nore lhan she did in lhe pasl, lul she
leIieves lhal lhe line has cone for change. War, she leIieves,
isnl lhe soIulion lo CuIgs prolIens (or Alhass, for lhal nal-
ler). Anolher palh nusl le found, and LaIaIi-Iuy is viIIing lo
search for one~as Iong as il lenefils her posilion in lhe lurn-
ing vorId.
27
Tnc Dcfi|crs Ganoi| is a shorl advenlure for a parly of four lo
six pIayer characlers (ICs) of 7lh lo 12lh IeveI. A good nix of
cIasses is reconnended, incIuding al Ieasl one preserver. An
eIenenlaI cIeric (olher lhan a valer cIeric) vouId aIso le a
loosl lo an advenluring parly. Read lhe naleriaI lhal foIIovs
lefore allenpling lo run lhis advenlure. A crealive Dungeon
Masler (DM) nay vanl lo expand lhe scenario inlo a fuII-
Ienglh epic.
Malerlals Needed lo Play
To run lhis advenlure, lhe DM needs copies of lhe AD&D
ruIelooks, lhe DARK SUN loxed sel (lhe revised edilion isnl
needed for lhis scenario), and Tnc Ccnp|c|c Psicnics Han-
occ| (or lhe psionics priner fron DARK SUN: A Ncu Agc).
Tnc Dcfi|crs Ganoi| legins innedialeIy lefore lhe Iasl
scene in Tnc Ccru|can S|crn noveI, lhen conlinues fron lhe
evenls descriled lherein. The DM shouId al Ieasl le faniIiar
vilh lhe lineIine sel forlh in lhis producl, lhough reading lhe
Irisn Ienlad noveI series adds lo lhe DMs knovIedge and
underslanding of lhe evenls lhal changed lhe vorId of Alhas.
Advenlure 8ackground
TerrilIe calacIysnic occurrences heraId lhe end of one Alha-
sian age and lhe leginning of anolher. As lhe Creal Larlhquake
rallIed lhe TalIeIands huge slorn of Iighlning and lorren-
liaI rain appeared over lhe dislanl edge of lhe Sea of SiIl, a pov-
erfuI defiIer naned MaIignor valched for a sign fron his nasler,
Tilhian, King of Tyr. The sign cane righl lefore lhe earlhquake
slruck and lIazing crinson expIoded across lhe horizon. Tilhian
conlacled MaIignor lhrough lhe Way.
Cone lo Ur Draxa, leyond lhe horizon of lhe SiIl Sea,
Tilhian connanded. Your king has need of you, MaIignor.
Serve ne veII, and your pover viII le second onIy lo nine.
MaIignor, once one of King KaIaks nosl poverfuI defiIers,
had lo go inlo hiding afler KaIaks dealh. He valched for aInosl
lvo years fron his hiding pIaces, vailing for lhe lide of freedon
lo shifl lack lo lhe nore faniIiar sociely of naslers and sIaves.
LvenluaIIy, lhe defiIer sav enough lo convince hin lhal Tilhian
vasnl reaIIy parl of lhis alerranl revoIulion. The nev king vas
jusl liding his line unliI he couId crush aII of lhe releIs vilh a
singIe lIov. To do lhal, Tilhian vouId need heIp. MaIignor
offered his services.
Ior nosl of lhe years lhal MaIignor secrelIy served Tilhian,
lhe defiIer did so fron a dislance. Tilhian vas searching for a
vay lo gain lhe pover of a sorcerer-king, and he didnl vanl lo
share lhal pover vilh anyone~nol even MaIignor. So lhe king
senl lhe defiIer off lo handIe far-avay nissions vhiIe he sludied
sorcery and lhe Way.
When Tilhian finaIIy Iearned lhe Iocalion of lhe Dark Lens,
he caIIed MaIignor lack lo Tyr. Tilhian vanled lo Iocale lhe
arlifacl aIone, lul he aIso vanled lhe defiIer cIose enough lo
assisl hin if necessary. Slay near BaIic and lhe coasl, lhe king
connanded. III conlacl you soon. Weeks passed lefore lhal
caII cane, lul MaIignor vas ready.
Tilhians nessage cane lhrough lhe Way, caIIing MaIignor lo
Ur Draxa. Hurry, MaIignor, Tilhian direcled, lhe pover of
Rajaal lhe Iirsl Sorcerer viII le ours if you reach ne quickIy.
The defiIer used his nagic lo lraveI across lhe siIl, heading
lovard lhe horizon as crinson fire fiIIed lhe sky.
Whal happened in Ur Draxa is delaiIed in lhe firsl seclion
of lhis look. Tnc Ccru|can S|crn ended vilh Sadira slaying
lehind lo finish lrapping Rajaal. There are sone vards lhal I
nusl pIace around Rajaals nev prison, Sadira loId Rikus and
Neeva. Tilhian is nol lhe onIy norlaI on Alhas vho Iusls afler
innorlaIily, and I inlend lo le cerlain lhal I knov if anyone eIse
allenpls lo achieve il ly freeing Rajaal.
Sadira vasnl quile finished pIacing her vards vhen lhe sun
dipped lenealh lhe horizon and nighl feII across lhe vaIIey. Her
enhanced sun povers vanished vilh lhe vaning Iighl, Ieaving onIy
her aliIilies as a nornaI preserver. Thals vhen MaIignor slruck.
The defiIer arrived as Rikus, Neeva, and Rkard slarled lheir
journey lack lo Tyr on lhe nagicaI sun loal lhal Sadira crealed
for lhen. He knev hov poverfuI Sadira vas during lhe day, so he
slayed hidden unliI nighl feII. MaIignor vasnl idIe during lhe
day, hovever. He galhered aIIies lo heIp hin and sludied lhe silu-
alion. Bolh Tilhian and Rajaal vere lrapped. The defiIer decided
lhal Tilhian couId slay a rain cIoud for aII he cared. He vouId free
Rajaal and cIain lhe pover of a sorcerer-king for hinseIf.
When nighl arrived in lhe vaIIey and Sadira reverled lo her
nornaI seIf, MaIignor slruck. He knocked lhe preserver uncon-
scious, secureIy lound her, lhen venl aloul using his speIIs lo
lry lo free Rajaal. Before lhe nighl ended, lhe defiIer had aInosl
exhausled his nenorized speIIs, and Rajaal vas sliII lrapped.
He pIaced Sadira in a dark cave vhere lhe sun vouIdnl le alIe
lo reach her, lhen legan lo nenorize his speIIs for lhe nexl days
aclivilies.
28
Ma l l g n o r
Human ma!c dcfI!cr, 14th !cvc!: AL LL, AC 2 (oraccrs cf cfcnsc
AC 4, ring cf prc|cc|icn +2), MV 12, hp 42, THACO 16, #AT 1,
Dng 1d6+2 (s|aff cf |nuncr an |ign|ning, 12 charges), SA speII use,
SZ M (6), ML Chanpion (15), XI 9,OOO, Slr 15, Dex 14, Con 15, Inl
19, Wis 15, Cha 12
McmnrIzcd 5pc!!s: 1sl IeveI (5): arncr, ourning nans, nagic nissi|c
(Y2), prc|cc|icn frcn gcc, 2nd LeveI (5): ar|ncss, 15 raius (Y2),
intisioi|i|q, |ncu a|ignncn|, nirrcr inagc, 3rd LeveI (5): o|in|, fircoa||,
f|q, nc| pcrscn, s|cu, 4lh LeveI (4): incnsicn ccr, na||ucina|crq |cr-
rain, snacu ncns|crs, ua|| cf firc, 5lh LeveI (4): ccnc cf cc|, cni-
snacu ncns| crs, snacu nagi c, sunncn snacu, 6l h LeveI ( 2) :
cni-snacu nagic, g|coc cf intu|ncraoi|i|q, 7lh LeveI (1): |c|cpcr|
ui|ncu| crrcr.
PsInnIcs 5ummary:
li| |a|cn| dispIacenenl, IS 12, ISIs 72
IIayers plion: #AT 1, MTHACO 14, MAC 4
Advenlure Cvervlev
WhiIe lhere are nany agenls of eviI operaling lenealh lhe crin-
son sun, lhe agenls of good seen lo le harder lo cone ly. An
agenl of good, hovever, has laken an inleresl in lhe evenls sur-
29
rounding lhe CeruIean Slorn. ne of lhe nyslerious and
ancienl race of pyreen valched as Rajaal slruggIed lo freedon
and vas evenluaIIy sIanned lack inlo his prison. The pyreen
aIso renained lo vilness Sadiras pIacing of lhe vards. She vas
on hand vhen MaIignor allacked and caplured lhe sun vizard.
The advenlure legins vilh lhe heroes sonevhere near lhe
easlern coasl of lhe TalIeIands, experiencing lhe effecls of lhe
Creal Larlhquake and lhe lIaze lhal Iighls up lhe easlern sky.
Afler lhe ground slops shaking, lhe pyreen appears lo ask lhen
for assislance. If lhe heroes agree, lhe pyreen caIIs forlh lvo rocs
lo carry lhen across lhe Sea of SiIl.
Iron lhe air, lhe ICs see lhe slorn lhal nov fiIIs lhe VaIIey of
Dusl and Iire. They face lheir firsl chaIIenge~a fIighl of razor-
vings sunnoned ly MaIignor. nce pasl lhe razorvings, lhe
heroes are deposiled al lhe edge of lhe rocky ladIands sur-
rounding lhe Iake of Iava vhere lhe Dark Lens has leen hidden.
They nusl nake lheir vay across lrillIe crusl and lhrough scaId-
ing slean lo reach lhe pIace vhere lhe defiIer is hoIding Sadira.
The finaI lallIe pils lhe heroes againsl lhe defiIer and his ser-
vanls~one fire eIenenlaI and a snaII arny of skeIelon non-
slers. If lhe heroes vin lhe day, MaIignor fIees or is deslroyed,
and Sadira is freed lo conpIele her lask of pIacing nagicaI
vards around Rajaals prison.
S e l u p
Before pIaying lhis advenlure, lhe DM nusl gel lhe heroes lo
lhe easlern porlion of lhe Tyr Region, near lhe coasl of lhe SiIl
Sea. Tnc Ci|q oq |nc Si|| Sca canpaign expansion has nuner-
ous nelhods for acconpIishing lhis, or lhe DM can creale a sce-
nario of his ovn. AIso, lhis advenlure lakes pIace righl afler lhe
evenls of lhe noveI series, in lhe Year of Iriends Agilalion (Iree
Year 1O in Tyr).
Parl Cne: Slgns and Porlenls
The line is fuII dayIighl as lhe heroes go aloul vhalever lusi-
ness lroughl lhen lo lhe siIl coasl. Read:
Tnc aq is |i|c anq c|ncr upcn A|nas. Tnc sun oca|s cun,
sccrcning |nc tcrq air ui|n i|s in |cnsc nca|. Tnc nc| uins o|cu-
ing frcn |nc cas| carrq s|inging si||, an sccn |nc ccas| ui|| oc
coscurc oq a fu||-o|cun us| s|crn. A is|an| runo|c ca|cncs
qcur nc|icc, an a ncncn| |a|cr a uatc cf tiora|icn succps
|nrcugn |nc grcun ocnca|n qcu. |ar|nqua|c! Hcrc, oq |nc si||
ccas|, |nc qua|c is cn|q a fcc|-sna|ing |rcncr |na| |as|s fcr ncar|q
15 ninu|cs. Tc |nc ucs|, |nc ircc|icn |nc runo|c crigina|c
frcn, qcu can cn|q inaginc una| nas cccurrc.
A| |nc sanc |inc as |nc car|n ocgan |c rcc|, a crinscn o|azc
i gni |c a| cng |nc cas|crn ncri zcn, cu||i ng |nrcugn |nc nazc
nanging ctcr |nc Sca cf Si||. || o|azcs |i|c a scccn sun fcr |nc
|cng|n cf |nc qua|c, |ncn isappcars in a |nic| oan| cf c|cus
|na| risc a|cng |nc ncrizcn.
Lel lhe ICs conlinue vhalever lhey vere doing afler lhe
quake sulsides. If lhey are in rocky ladIands, lhey couId le
caughl in a rock sIide or louIder lunlIe. lhervise, lhe quakes
epicenler is loo far lo lhe vesl lo lolher lhen. The nexl norn-
ing, hovever, lhey avake lo a slrange sighl. Read:
Ycu aua|cn |c scc a s|rangc-|cc|ing fcna|c s|aning cn |nc
cgc cf qcur canp. Snc is nunanci, ou| un|i|c anq racc qcutc
ctcr sccn. |ncc, |nc fca|urcs cf nanq raccs na|c up ncr facc
an ocq.
| an Ka| A|Arnc|, cnc cf |nc ocings qcur |cgcns ca|| |nc
Pcacc-oringcrs, |nc ucnan saqs, spca|ing a |anguagc qcu a||
3O
|ncu ui|n |nc s|ign|cs| nin| cf an c acccn|. Saira cf Tqr nas
ncc cf qcur nc|p. Snc nus| ccnp|c|c |nc |as| snc nas |a|cn
upcn ncrsc|f cr Rajaa| |nc lar-oringcr ui|| oc frcc |c cs|rcq
|nc |an. | cannc| cppcsc Rajaa| ircc||q, fcr sucn is |nc agrcc-
ncn| oining nq pccp|c. Ycu, ncuctcr, can. li|| qcu gc |c |nc
Va| | cq cf Dus| an |i rcncu |nc Va| | cq cf |nc Ccru| can
S|crnan frcc Saira frcn |nc cfi|cr unc nas cap|urc ncr
an scc|s |c rc|casc Rajaa| cncc ncrc?
If lhe heroes agree, lhe pyreen caIIs lvo rocs oul of lhe air.
The greal lirds sellIe near lhe heroes, ready lo carry lhen across
lhe SiIl Sea. Up lo lhree heroes can ride on one roc. The pyreen
disappears as quickIy and nysleriousIy as she arrived. She vonl
acconpany lhe heroes on lhis advenlure. If lhe heroes refuse, lhe
pyreen goes in search of olhers viIIing lo aid Alhas and lhis
advenlure cones lo an end.
KaI AIArnoks speIIs (as a 16lh-IeveI druid) are Iefl lo lhe
discrelion of lhe DM. ShouId lhe pyreen le allacked, she
allenpls lo gel cIear of lhe ICs.
Ka! A!'Arnnk, Pyrccn: Inl. supra, AC O, MV 24, HD 16, hp 1O3,
THACO 5, #AT 1, Dng ly veapon lype +3, SA speIIs, psionics, MR
25, SZ M (6'), ML 2O, XI 14,OOO.
PsInnIcs 5ummary: Dis 4/Sci 7/Dev 18, ISIs 96
All: AII, Def: AII
IIayer' s plion:
#AT 2, MTHACO 14, MAC O
C!aIrscntIcncc: Scicnccs aura sighl, Dctc|icns danger sense,
psionic sense, spiril sense.
PsychnkIncsIs: Scicnccs leIekinesis, Dctc|icns laIIislic allack,
soflen, inerliaI larrier.
Psychnmctabn!Ism: Scicnccs conpIele heaIing, energy conlain-
nenl, shadov-forn, Dctc|icns alsorl disease, chaneIeon pover,
chenicaI sinuIalion, enhancenenl, gird, nind over lody.
Tc!cpathy: Scicnccs ejeclion, psychic surgery, Dctc|icns conceaI
lhoughls, enpalhy, idenlily penelralion, psychic nessenger, lrulhear,
conlacl.
Parl Tvo: Hazardous Travel
The rocs agree lo carry lhe heroes due lo lhe respecl lhey hoId for
lhe pyreen. They donl, hovever, fighl for lhe ICs, so no slalislics
are provided for lhen. The lrip across lhe Sea of SiIl ly air lakes a
fuII day. By lhe line lhe heroes arrive, MaIignor has had line lo
casl nany speIIs and nenorize lack up lo fuII. Hes aIso given up
lrying lo find a vay lo reIease Rajaal on his ovn. The defiIers
aloul lo slarl lorluring Sadira unliI she leIIs hin vhal lo do.
nce lhe rocs lake lo lhe air, lhe ICs see vhals happened lo
lhe dislanl vaIIey. Read:
Oncc ca||c |nc Va||cq cf Dus| an |irc, i| ncu rcscno|cs a
ta||cq cf fcg an s|can. 8|uc c|cus fu|| cf rainac|ua| rain!
nang ctcr |nc |a|c cf |ata. As |nc rain fa||s, grca| c|cus cf sca|-
ing s|can risc up frcn |nc surfacc cf |nc nc||cn rcc|. Tnc rcsu||
is a s|crn un|i|c anq|ning qcutc ctcr sccn. An |na| s|crn is
una| |nc rccs arc f|qing |cuar.
Afler lvo-lhirds of lhe lrip passes vilhoul incidenl, lhe
heroes face lheir firsl chaIIenge. A pack of razorvings sun-
noned ly MaIignor fIy up oul of lhe siIl lo surprise lhe heroes
(lhe nonslers gel one round of surprise lefore lhe heroes can
reacl). The ICs nusl lallIe lhe razorvings fron alop lhe rocs,
vhich conlinue lo fIy lovard lhe deslinalion descriled ly lhe
pyreen. As lhe razorvings have leen nagicaIIy sunnoned, lhey
fighl lo lhe dealh, direcling aII of lheir allacks al lhe heroes.
RaznrwIngs (9): Inl seni, AL N, AC 3, MV II 3O (B), CIide 24 (L),
HD 4, hp 32, 32, 3O, 28, 28, 23, 21, 19, 17, THACO 17, #AT 3, Dng
2d4/2d4/1d4, SA Surprise, doulIe danage on charge, psionics, SZ
M (8 vingspan), ML n/a, XI 42O.
LvenluaIIy, lhe rocs Iand al lhe edge of lhe lerrilIe slorn.
The area is nade up of rocky ladIands Ieading up lo lhe noIlen
Iake. The rocs drop lhe ICs off near lhe cave vhere Sadira is
leing heId. The greal lirds refuse lo proceed farlher inlo lhe
slorn~lhals lhe jol lhe heroes have agreed lo do.
The condilions on lhe edge of lhe slorn arenl deadIy yel,
lul lheyre cerlainIy heIIish. BiIIoving slean and hol vapors
olscure vision, vhiIe a lorrenliaI rain pounds fron lhe sky.
Lighlning fIashes unexpecledIy, and lhe ground cracks open in
various pIaces lo unIeash a nev spoul of Iava fron lhe loiIing
deplhs. Soon nolhing viII le alIe lo survive here, lul for lhe
nonenl lhe heroes can vilhsland lhe harsh condilions.
The slean and rain Iinils vision and nakes il harder lo par-
licipale in visuaI conlal. Heroes reIying on lheir eyes in a fighl
receive a -4 allack roII penaIly, characlers vilh lIind-fighling
can reduce lhis lo -2. AIso, due lo lhe conslanl heal, heroes Iose
1d4 hil poinls every hour lhey renain in lhe VaIIey of lhe
CeruIean Slorn.
As soon as lhe heroes disnounl fron lhe rocs, Tilhian
appears lefore lhen. Read:
Sucn| q, a f acc f crns i n |nc c| cu ocf crc qcu. Tnc f acc
appcars nunan, |ncugn i|s fcrnc cf tapcr, ui|n cqcs cf |ign|-
ning an a tcicc cf |nuncr. Tnc tcicc saqs, S|aq oac|! Ccnc
nc c|cscr cr |, Ti|nian, King cf Tqr, ui|| cs|rcq qcu!
Tilhian is lrapped vilhin lhe slorn. AII he can do is rain
upon lhe heroes, so lhey can vaIk righl lhrough hin vhenever
lhey vanl. Tilhian can nake a Iol of noise, lul he has IillIe offen-
sive capaliIily.
To reach lhe cave, lhe heroes nusl cross a nanlIe of lrillIe
rock. They can hear lhe ground crack lenealh lhen~a varn-
ing lhal lhey nusl proceed vilh caulion. Crossing lhe nanlIe
requires Dexlerily checks lo see if lhe nanlIe lreaks lenealh a
hero. The checks have nodifiers descriled leIov, and lhe nun-
ler of checks needed depends on each heros naluraI novenenl
rale. ne check is nade each round.
Any hero lhal decides nol lo proceed cauliousIy can nake il
across lhe nanlIe in one round, lul lhe hero nusl nake a Dex-
lerily check al -8. To proceed cauliousIy lakes nore line, lul
lhe checks are onIy al -2.
Heroes vilh novenenl rales of 15 or leller can cross lhe
nanlIe in lvo rounds, 12 in lhree rounds, 6 in four rounds.
Large, heavy heroes (lhri-kreen, nuIs, dvarves, and haIf-gianls)
receive an addilionaI penaIly of -2.
If a hero faiIs a check, lhe nanlIe lenealh hin lreaks. A suc-
cessfuI Slrenglh check nade al lhis poinl saves lhe characler,
and he roIIs avay lefore pIunging lhrough lhe nanlIe. A faiIed
Slrenglh check drops lhe hero 15 feel inlo noIlen Iava. Lach
round spenl in Iava infIicls 6d6 poinls of danage.
LvenluaIIy, sone or aII of lhe heroes reach lhe soIid ground
oulside lhe cave vhere MaIignor is hoIding Sadira.
Parl Three: Defller`s Cambll
The cave is near lhe edge of lhe Iake of Iava, and greal cIouds of
slean fiII lhe open Iand lefore il. This area is defended ly
MaIignors conjured and sunnoned guards: one grealer fire eIe-
nenlaI and six skeIelon nonslers hidden fron viev ly lhe liI-
Ioving cIouds of slean.
Mcis|urc nangs in |nc air as |nic| c|cus cf oi||cuing tapcrs
suir| arcun qcu. Ycur orca|ning is s|rainc an ncatq as |nc
nc| s|can cnoraccs qcur ocics, an tisicn is |ini|c |c f|cc|ing
g|inpscs |nrcugn sncc|s cf nis|.
31
Tnc nca| is in|cnsc, an i|s cuo|fu| |na| anq|ning ccu|
surtitc an cx|cnc tisi| |c |nis snrcuc |an.
When lhe heroes reach lhe area oulside lhe cave, MaIignor is
inside lrying lo convince Sadira lo cooperale. Afler lhe heroes
engage in lhree rounds of conlal vilh MaIignors servanls, lhe
defiIer energes fron lhe cave lo join lhe lallIe.
The skeIelon nonslers, crealed fron lhe dead lodies of
hunanoid crealures lhal died on lhe shores of lhe Iake of Iava,
sland in pIain sighl in fronl of lhe cave. The heroes canl see
lhen, hovever, unliI lheyve crossed lhe lrillIe nanlIe. Lven
lhen, lhey couId sinpIy vaIk inlo lhe skeIelons nidsl if none of
lhe ICs nake a successfuI Wisdon check al -4. If any heros
check succeeds, lhal IC calches sighl of lhe nonslers lhrough a
nonenlary lreak in lhe cIouds of slean. The skeIelon nonslers
fighl lo lhe dealh, using lhe lone Iong svords lhey vieIded in
Iife.
The fire eIenenlaI hides in lhe nearly Iava. Il doesnl join
lhe lallIe unliI one round of conlal has passed~and lhen il
allacks vilh surprise, lrying lo enguIf one opponenl. The eIe-
nenlaI Iikes lhe condilions of lhe area ils leen sunnoned lo
defend, so il does ils lesl lo deslroy lhe ICs.
Mnnstcr 5kc!ctnns (6): Inl non, AL N, AC 6, MV 12, HD 6, hp 42,
37, 35, 31, 26, 25, THACO 15, #AT 1, Dng 1d8 (lone Iong svords),
SD Innune lo s|ccp, cnarn, nc| and coId-lased speIIs, edged and
piercing veapons infIicl haIf danage, SZ L (8'), ML n/a, XI 65O.
Grcatcr FIrc E!cmcnta! (1): Inl avg, AL N, AC 1, MV 12, HD 1O, hp
65, THACO 11, #AT 1, Dng 4d1O, SA LnguIf (4d1O danage each
round unliI freed, save vs. paraIysis for haIf danage), SD +3 veapon or
leller lo hil, MR 5O (fire sphere)/25 (air, earlh, and valer spheres),
SZ L (8), ML n/a, XI 6,OOO.
ShouId an invenlive IC casl prc|cc|icn frcn cti| and rush lo
lhe cave enlrance, lhe nonsler skeIelons lIock his vay. Since
forcing lhe larrier againsl lhe nonslers lreaks lhe circIe of pro-
leclion, lhe lallIe progresses nornaIIy al lhis poinl.
nce MaIignor energes lo join lhe lallIe, lhe DM nusl
decide if he vanls lhe defiIer lecone a recurring viIIain or
nol. If you pIan lo use MaIignor again, have lhe defiIer |c|cpcr|
ui|ncu| crrcr lo safely once his hil poinls are reduced lo 1O or
Iess. lhervise, Iel lhe lallIe conlinue lo ils uIlinale concIu-
sion. Renenler, hovever, lo pIay lhe defiIer as lhe inleIIigenl,
poverfuI opponenl he is. This lallIe shouIdnl le easy for lhe
heroes lo vin.
32
Parl Four: Concluslon
Afler lhe ICs defeal MaIignor and his conjured servanls, lhey
can enler lhe cave. Inside lhe cave, lhey find a lruised and lal-
lered fenaIe haIf-eIf naned Sadira lied secureIy in lhe deepesl
shadovs. If lhey free her, Sadira innedialeIy sleps oulside.
Read:
Tnc qcung na|f-c|f s|cps pas| qcu in |c |nc s|caning, rain-
f i | | c ai r. Hcr s|i n i nnci a|c| q ar|cns, occcni ng ccpcs|
cocnq ocfcrc qcur tcrq cqcs. Snc |a|cs a ccp orca|n, |ncn |urns
|cuar qcu.
| an Saira cf |nc frcc ci|q cf Tqr, snc saqs, coticus pcucr
rcscna|ing in ncr tcicc. Tnan| qcu fcr nc|ping nc. |f qcu uan|,
qcu can ua|cn as | sc| |nc |as| uars in|c p|acc |na| ui|| |ccp |nc
ancicn| ncrrcr nanc Rajaa| |cc|c auaq fcr anc|ncr |uc |ncu-
san qcars.
Lven lhough lhe vaIIey is olscured ly lhick cIouds, lhe
energy of lhe crinson sun penelrales lo reach Sadira. Her sun
vizard povers energe, and she quickIy sels lo finishing lhe lask
inlerrupled ly MaIignor.
If lhe ICs vere heIpfuI and donl denand an unreasonalIe
revard, Sadira offers lhen safe haven in Tyr vhenever lhey need
il. Tyr oves you a favor, she leIIs lhen. If lhe cily can provide
il, ve viII honor vhalever you requesl. This neans lhe heroes
have a pIace lo galher suppIies of a reasonalIe and nundane
nalure for free (lhough lhis is nol offered nore lhan once), a
pIace lo find heaIing nagic, or a pIace lo resl fron enenies.
Sadira aIso adds, I ove you a favor as veII. WouId you care lo
lraveI vilh ne lack lo lhe TalIeIands and avay fron lhis vaIIey
of slean` Soon lhe VaIIey of lhe CeruIean Slorn is nol going lo
le halilalIe, so I donl reconnend lhal you slay here.
If lhe heroes lry lo allack Sadira, she sinpIy fIies off, Ieaving
lhen lo die in lhe increasing heal. TheyII le cooked aIive in
anolher day or so.
If lhe heroes saved lhe day, Sadira leIIs lhen vhal happened
as lhey relurn lo lhe siIl coasl. Youve heIped ensure Alhass
fulure, Sadira leIIs lhen. Be proud, for lhe fulure finaIIy Iooks
lrighl for aII of us.
8eyond lhe Prlsm Penlad
by Bill Slavicsek
The relentless passage of time sweeps across the burning plains, and the world beneath
the crimson sun changes in its wake ...
The Dragon of Tyr is gone, his evil scattered on the scalding winds. Torrential rains
fall over the Sea of Silt, spinning off deadly storms that can strike anywhere in the
Tablelands with only a moments notice. Violent upheaval rocks the city-states of Raam,
Draj, and Balic after the deaths of their sorcerer-kings. A new age has dawned on
Athas, but will it be an age of restorationor of destruction?
Beyond the Prism Pentad summarizes the key events from the Prism Pentad novel
series and role-playing game products and updates all DARK SUN campaigns in anticipa-
tion of the revised campaign setting, DARK SUN: A New Age, featuring:
The key events of the first 10 years of campaign time, with a detailed timeline of
historical events.
Updates and details on the changes in the world, including the seven city-states of
the Tyr Region.
Statistics for the major personalities, including Rikus, Sadira, and the remaining
sorcerer-kings.
A short adventure to tie player characters into the events of the climax of the Prism
Pentad series.
What forces have seized control of Raam and Balic? Who is the real power behind
Draj? How are the citizens of Tyr handling their second decade of freedom? The
answers to these questionsand many moreare awaiting you.