Hail!

I began thinking about Thaele last night, and was wondering what
everyone else thinks might lie up in the cold north.

I've discussed it with Darkstar briefly this A.M., and he gave me some
very good suggestions. Based on what Ian had to say, and the few
thoughts I have collected in the last few hours I have come up with the
following 'outline'.

- - Continent roughly the size of Greenland. Probably similar climate.
- - Southern coast slowly settled by Rjurik (Haven't actually read the
supplement, so I don't know what it has to say about this...)
- - Southern portions covered in Pine forests (Small spindly trees most
likely.) I picture the terrain to be similar to the Yukon... lots of
mountains probably too (Seeing as how Cerilia has so many...)
- - Mid portion turns to snow fields and glaciers, slowly turning into
tundra. The coastline disappears into the ice flows and polar ice caps,
and 'eruptions of ice packs... ("I thought we were on solid ground, not
in the middle of a frozen sea!!!!")
- - Maybe the odd volcano (?) allowing for 'odd & misplaced' ecosystems
and humanoid cultures.
- -A small, isolated but powerful "Empire", ruled by lots of decadent
magicians. The elite of these may be blooded (weak and cheezy story
how some of the survivors fled to Thaele... maybe they got "blasted" or
"teleported there from the force of the explosion?) Also, some blood
might have migrated from the Rjurik and Brechts who (IIRC) had made
forays onto Thaele in the distant past.
I don't see the over all blood being as strong as it is in Cerilia
though. Maybe half way between Cerilia & what is present in Darkstar's
Arduria expansion?
The Empire is kind of a combo wizard/priest ruled Theocracy. They
believe in divine dissension (some where between the Egyptian & Roman
theologies) and they worship some sort of 'death god'. Correction -
Maybe not a 'god' ... hence their priests are actually wizards? Are
there demons in Birthright?? Maybe an animal spirit of some kind?
Obviously this Empire is inspired by Hyperborea, (Conan), and I
think this type of culture would fit well with Thaele. The problem is
trying to make it un-forgotten realmish, and making it
Birthrightable..... how much magic is too much? What is everyones
thoughts on combining magic and 'machinery'... i.e.: the FR styled
flying ships. Would a high magic society have combined magic &
technology in some way?

- - As for monsters & bad guys;
-Frost Giants ??
-ice elves?? (Not fond of elves myself, but could the elves
have adapted to the colder north?)
-sleen
-polar bears (dull I know....)
-One of the Lost???? (Frozen in an ice flow??)
-neandrathals / sub humans (I love these cavemen types)

Well, that's about it for now. I would love to hear what you all
have to say about this. Maybe a Thaele Expansion is in the works here??

Keith

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Save BR Man!!!
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