What do your players know? (len

[Kyle Foster]

Here's a GM's reply to the players point of view.

Topic 1: I would say that there would be many rumors from all over the
world with many names mentioned but no details. My impression from the
Blood Enemies book was that the Abominations where shrouded in mystery
and vauge rumors of horrible power. So while names may be known details
would not, I also feel that while a player might know the Abominations
from his region, ie Anuire, he wouldn't know about the Magian over in
the Kinashi lands unless an Kinashi told him about it.

Topic 2: As long as this was done with the understanding that level
alingment and class were "apperant" based on previous actions and
behavior this would be a good idea.

Topic 3: In battle I agree its not evil and maybe Bloodtheft is a
misnomer for the act in all cases. HIGHLANDER does have some good
Birthright aspects to it so those are good points for us to consider.

Topic 4: What happens after killing a scion of Axari isn't a penalty.
The bloodline change is a simple act of mystical physics for lack of a
better phrase. As I read LotHK becoming the blood of Azari doesn't
instently make you evil it simply make you have more evil thoughts and
have to deal with more temptation. In the original boxed set there is a
paladin with Azari's bloodline so its possible to still be good you just
have to work harder.

I could be off base about some of this but those are my views on the
things KirbyRanma mentioned.

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Thu, 26 Mar 1998, KirbyRanma wrote:

> TOPIC 1: Does anyone make a list of the Awnsheglin (sp?) that players should
> know about? I know of the Gorgon, Rhoubhe, Spider, Sphinx, Chimeron, Boar,
> Minotaur, Hag, Stag (maybe illsheglin?), Kraken/Leviathan (don't know if these
> are the same or seperate) Serpent and the Cold Rider (I think I know who he
> *really* is, and it concerns me), but there seems to be many more. Now, some
> of these I know just because I read the Birthright novels, I'm not sure if my
> character knows of them all. Do you let your players know of them?

Well, most of my players have the boxed set and the Blood Enemies book, so
its sort of a moot point for me, but I would say that characters know at
least the name, and probably at least the "mythic characteristics" of the
major Awnsheighlein in their own "subcontinent" of Cerillia. Thus
Anuireans would know about the Gorgon, the Spider, the Chimaera, and
Rhoubhe. Minor local awnsheighlein would be known throughout the
appropriate "subcontinent" by the intelligencia or well-informed, but by
the commoners only in adjacent domains. Thus, those on the Southern Coast
(or involved in sailing) would know of the Seadrake, and those in Turonen,
Alamie, Cariele and other around the 5 Peaks would have heard of the
Eyeless One. In addition, those in cities have a good chance to have heard
of the Awnsheighlein important for their trdaing partners: those in
Illien, which is connected to Binsada (I believe) through El Hadid's trade
routes, would be likely to know about the Sphinx. Anyplace where Brecht
sailors are common would likely know about the Kraken (and may
believe--mistakenly, btw--that it's the same thing as the Leviathan).

> TOPIC 2: Does anyone make a list of important people in Anuire, what their
> class, level & alignment are (or what they're *supposed* to be : )? My DM did
> this and it helps a lot. He also has given us nobles their titles so we won't
> show disrespect to them.

I think it would be a very good thing to do for players w/o the books.
Plus you can read them all off together and agree on a pronounciation for
those wierd Anuirean words we all love. (For example, in my group we've
agreed that Roesone is pronounced "roh-SAHN" rather than "roh-SOHN" and
Ilien is pronouced "il-EEN" rather than "IL-ee-en" or "I-leen."

> TOPIC 3: Bloodtheft. I think it's safe to deduce that being blooded doesn't


I think the general consensus on this list has been that as long as the
reason you are fighting in the first place isn't to improve your
bloodline, any bloodtheft that occurs as a result of the fight is not an
evil act. There was a BIG debate a few months ago about whether the blood
of Azrai is "contagious," and there are certainly DM's who do play that
way. It's often known as the "Taint of Azrai." Some DM's roll a percentage
die for the chance to "change derivation" to Azrai whenever one commits
bloodtheft on an awnsheighlein (major or minor), and others keep track of
Azrai blood separately from "regular" blood, and as the Azrai blood grows
in strength it acts like a "voice of temptation" to the character until
it grow powerful enought ot overwhelm the regular blood. The idea behind
these concepts is that just as Azrai gained power by his connection to the
Shadow World, that blood retains the connection and is a source of chaotic
and/or evil tendencies that can occasionally flood the character with
impluses. They can be fought (as the Paladin with Azrai's blood attests),
but it is a background to everyday existance. Also, most DM's which use
the "Taint of Azrai" also allow some sort of Task or Quest that can be
accomplished to remove that taint. Generally, the other god's "bloods,"
which does not have the reinforceing power of something akin to the Shadow
World behind them, are not powerful enough to cause derivation changes.

> REMINDER: I'm a player and I don't have the Blood Enemies book nor the Boxed
> Set, so if a rule clearly states that I'm off my rocker, be gentle with me.
> :-) My main point is to give you thoughts from the players' perspective.
> Y'all do have to keep us in mind, as well as all you're NPCs! ( :-D)

I must thank you very much for your perspective. Most of us on this list
appear to be DM's, so its useful to have someone here who is
less-omniscient about the whole BR cannon, and who can poke and prod at us
when we say things that don't quite make sense. I'm glad you're here. :)

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[nick yates]

At 04:13 26/03/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Here's a GM's reply to the players point of view.
>
> Topic 1: I would say that there would be many rumors from all over the
>world with many names mentioned but no details. My impression from the
>Blood Enemies book was that the Abominations where shrouded in mystery
>and vauge rumors of horrible power. So while names may be known details
>would not, I also feel that while a player might know the Abominations
>from his region, ie Anuire, he wouldn't know about the Magian over in
>the Kinashi lands unless an Kinashi told him about it.

Yeah I agree, the players should know the names of the Awnsheglien, but
unless they're particularly familiar with them, ie their domain borders the
Awnshegh's they wouldn't know their history of goals. In the Spider's Test
what Richard Endier knows about the Spider is a good example. Its only a
rumor that the Spider is insane, confirmed by the Goblin they capture.

On the other hand characters that don't come from the region wouldn't know
very much. In the Hag's Contract Candabraxis describes the Hag as a minor
Awnshegh, then gets corrected by Parniel Bowspear. Maybe the best thing
would be to give each player a sheet of information at the start of the
campaign, full of truths half truths and complete whoppers.

The players wouldn't know what each other knew, and little bits of
knowledge could be useful to different players. The only problems comes
when you're playing with a group that has played BR before. I tried this
with a DL campaign and it worked quite well, after a few false starts. "No
I remember reading in XYZ by Badly researched Author ABC that........"

As for alignment and character class a few comments about the person can
get the general idea accross. "He's the richest merchant in Müden/Greatest
Warrior of Anuire/Smelliest Goblin of the Spiderfell" :-)

Good points though, shame I had to snip them......

Nick