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Ust Delmah: Loose Ends
Here are my prior notes on unresolved plot-lines, and some commentary with some newer details added based on questions posed by the DMs and Jerry. I still need to troll through my older e-mails to see if I've missed anything.
ADM Andy
- The new drow opponents (Houses Torrae (Driders) and Maeurden (Assassins), and the evil guild(s)) - If they're going to stick around, we'll need to explore this more, especially if they remain linked to the Atrea plotline. But keep in mind that we already have a year+ plot involving the Crying Woods/Green dragons/Serpent's Maw (and tangentially including the Dark Druids/Elvenguard) that needs to be revisited and completed at some point.
- It'lal - First off, It'lal is much more than House Bralfah now; it's three major Houses working together, possibly with the help of some minor Houses (or independent groups/guilds) that have not yet been specified. The DM pages should be updated if necessary to make this clear. I know Jerry was a bit
Currently, It'lal is in no position to be a true kingdom. They have only recently established themselves in their new home (perhaps a year now, although time in the Wold moves strangely), much of which has not even been properly searched/mapped. They have explored to the west and found it largely blocked by the Crying Woods, although they have begun to establish limited trade with the Floating City (via teleportation). Exploration in the other directions has led to trade with the nearby human/elf tribes, and some small drow homesteads/hamlets have been established.
What It'lal seems to be developing toward is a city-state, with gradually expanding connections to the outside world. This process might speed up some if the plaza-gate system can be reset (i.e., new keys created) to new locations and securely used so that invaders cannot simply transport in on a whim, as happened twice in It'lal's first six months. Misuse of the gate-system as a plot line should *not* be used a third time (IMO).
As part of this gradual expansion, the Shadow Guardians could get to interact more with the local tribes/hamlets, or perhaps learn about/discover larger groups in the region. It seems likely that there were also other roadways leading to/from It'lal at one time, which if re-discovered could be cleared/explored. Lost cities, hidden dangers, etc....
In addition, the group recently learned about a hobgoblin tribe relatively nearby (probably to the south of It'lal), with a possible connection to the kobolds below It'lal. See my June 21 & 22, 2010 DM posts, which includes a description of the hobgoblin chief who was captured by the minions of the Crying Woods and the Green:
"The hobgoblin was named Chief Kuureken. He was actually one of the first hobgoblins I've met who wasn't despicable. Most are evil and have a special hatred of elves, and are no friend of reptilians either. But he seemed relatively enlightened. I think his hunting party was caught in the Woods. A few escaped, the others were killed, and he was tortured for information about his tribe. He withstood more than most could I daresay. We were only together for one day before he died, but I gather his tribe has spent [many] generations battling subterranean kobolds somewhere in the foothills and mountains relatively near It'lal. I think some of his belongings are in the covered cart."
"As for Kuureken's tribe, I do not know what they will do, or even how close they are to your people. Only that they are in that general region, and that they are normally preoccupied with their kobold enemies. Had Kuureken not died, I might have tried to enlist his aid against the Woods, but that opportunity now seems lost."
(The body of the chief and his non-valuable personal effects were brought back to It'lal, with the idea that the body could be preserved and perhaps returned to the hobgoblin tribe.)
- The traitor Atrea - The group will obviously make finding her a priority, especially while she is connected to any evil acts and while she retains possession of the evil artifact she took. It would be nice to have the opportunity of resolution here, rather than having her be a bogyman who pops up now and then and always escapes (as has happened twice already). Naturally, the Shadow Guardians will have to perform well for this to happen, but in the past her escapes have seemed rather preordained.
- Other plots/themes to explore:
- Hobgoblins (see above).
- When the Shadow Guardians were in the Crying Woods, we were told that a group of kobolds attacked It'lal via one of the plaza gates. They live deep below the city (which might explain why some of It'lal's tunnels have been blocked with rubble), and became aware that It'lal was being re-populated again. The motive for the attack was apparently ancient hatred of the drow, although the Shadow Guardians speculated that other forces (Atrea, or perhaps the Green) might be involved (although no proof of this turned up). Certainly the timing was suspicious considering other regional threats.
The attack was repulsed, the gate key retaken (although we were told it is now damaged to some extent), and the battle taken to the Kobold's city before an uneasy truce was reached. Hostilities have remained suspended for roughly two months, and peace talks begun, but some final resolution is required. I would not think It'lal will allow a hostile entity to remain below them for much longer -- either a lasting peace should be reached, or firm steps should be taken against this threat before they attack again.
- Gilin's missing sister Reilara (see Gilin's bio for the background) -- we have been told by a seer that Gilin's long lost sister is an important part of coming events (perhaps related to the Crying Woods/Green, perhaps not), but thus far we have learned nothing further. The It'lal Council has been searching for any leads as to her whereabouts, so perhaps their efforts will bear fruit at some point. This thread has not been advanced for a long time -- it's overdue to be revisited.
It'lal construction details. The 1st level between the gateway plaza and the road up to the 2nd level is where most construction has occurred. Farms are sprouting up to the east and west. The northern half of the first level has only been lightly explored and not developed at all (so far as the Shadow Guardians know). There are also cavern entrances on the first level that lead to old lichen farms that are being revived. Again, last we heard, only there nearest of these have been properly investigated, secured, and developed.
Less construction exists on the south-most part of the 2nd level, and virtually no new construction has occurred on the 3rd and 4th levels. But all this may have advanced behind the scenes without the group being involved.
There is a view of the gateway plaza on the 1st level. This area is well guarded due to the five portals there. The portals are accessed by keys (one key per portal), but It'lal only possesses one of the keys at this time (meaning they can only activate one of the portals). Twice in recent months attacks were made on It'lal due to enemies possessing a key and using a portal. Recently, the Council has succeeded in magically locking the portals so that no further ambushes of that sort should be possible. They are working on ways to locate the other four keys (one is possessed by the traitor, Lady Atrea), or to create new keys that cannot be abused.
https://docs.google.com/View?id=dhqmshcg_288ccdrqd4n
Also, at the present time It'lal is largely cut off from the outside world -- there is some limited teleportation access to/trade with the Floating City and a new Catacombs branch, but there's no safe large-scale trade route by land anywhere. So the population is fairly static right now, and the initial surge of construction is probably tailing off. Until there are more people, there will be no real need to expand further.
See also Ust Delmah home page
