Need some help with current lore/locations/factions. First time DM looking for some advice on integrating some of my own places/story beats into the "by the book" Faerun map and locations. As I got started, I quickly realized I had some ideas that didn't quite fit in with the legacy content I was finding (e.g., gnomish mechanical/clockwork city, etc.). But I am also really inspired by the "standard" material (e.g., Tales from the Yawning Portal, Neverwinter, Waterdeep, etc.) because there is so much cool stuff already created to use. As things progress, I'm finding the notion of building out my worldmap a bit daunting. And since I'm planning to continue using a blend of Wizards content and my own, I'm wondering if there are already locations, factions, etc. that I could squeeze my content ideas into by tweaking them a bit without breaking them entirely.
That way, I could still integrate more "by the book" content when I find something cool without having rearrange the landscape as we move ahead because I blew up a "by the book" location to make my own space. I hope that makes sense.
So, could anyone out there more familiar with the lore and locations, please let me know if there are locations, factions, etc. in Faerun (or other continents) that come close to the following archetypes? Thanks in advance.
"Jerusalem" i.e., some kind of holy city where multiple gods are worshipped and religion is a big big thing
"Magic City" (e.g., Daleran...if you played WoW) a city fully focused on and run by magic and various magical practicioners
High council of Wizards ruling group within the "magic city" i'm hoping to include
"Transylvania" I know about Barovia...I just didn't like the idea of it being a demiplane. Is there a location in the prime material that makes sense as the home of ghouls, zombies, etc?
"Crusaders"/Spanish Inquisition Faction Any kind of religious order/fighter faction that might be "holding back the darkness" in the previously mentioned "transylvania" area. The kind of group that borders on being just as bad as the monsters they fight, given the horrible things they do for "good".
Dwarven Stonghold/Training Ground/Parris Island The kind of place where dwarven fighters/clerics (e.g., Mauridin's Hammers) might be trained and then sent out to protect dwarven interests and kingdoms across the land. And kill orcs :-)
Holy city: Off the top of my head I can't think of a city that would fit as a "city of the gods." Most cities and towns have at least an All-Faith's shrine. Bigger cities, like Waterdeep, would have temples devoted to specific gods or entire pantheons.
Magic city: Thay, home of the red wizards, or a surviving city of the Netherese would best fit this category. Both societies are magocracies.
Transylvania-esque: Thay comes to immediate mind here. The red wizards have a particular interest in necromancy and their society was, up until recently, ruled solely by liches. You could definitely orchestrate some Gothic horror stories in their territory if you are so inclined.
Crusaders: The faction that lines up most closely with this would be the Order of the Gauntlet. They are a collection of holy warriors intent on rooting out evil in Faerun.
Dwarf Strongholds: Mithral Hall is probably the best fit here. You could also use Gauntlgrym if your story currently has it occupied by dwarves.
Monks: I'm guessing you're looking for an Asian aesthetic here? 5e hasn't really explored this very much yet. In previous editions, Kara-Tur, a continent, is where that would have been set. There's also a few monasteries discussed in a couple books released for 5e. The Monastery of the Yellow Rose is a good aligned monastery from the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide. Sacred Stone Monastery is an evil aligned one from the Princes of the Apocalypse book.
Need some help with current lore/locations/factions. First time DM looking for some advice on integrating some of my own places/story beats into the "by the book" Faerun map and locations. As I got started, I quickly realized I had some ideas that didn't quite fit in with the legacy content I was finding (e.g., gnomish mechanical/clockwork city, etc.). But I am also really inspired by the "standard" material (e.g., Tales from the Yawning Portal, Neverwinter, Waterdeep, etc.) because there is so much cool stuff already created to use. As things progress, I'm finding the notion of building out my worldmap a bit daunting. And since I'm planning to continue using a blend of Wizards content and my own, I'm wondering if there are already locations, factions, etc. that I could squeeze my content ideas into by tweaking them a bit without breaking them entirely.
That way, I could still integrate more "by the book" content when I find something cool without having rearrange the landscape as we move ahead because I blew up a "by the book" location to make my own space. I hope that makes sense.
So, could anyone out there more familiar with the lore and locations, please let me know if there are locations, factions, etc. in Faerun (or other continents) that come close to the following archetypes? Thanks in advance.
"Jerusalem"
i.e., some kind of holy city where multiple gods are worshipped and religion is a big big thing
"Magic City" (e.g., Daleran...if you played WoW)
a city fully focused on and run by magic and various magical practicioners
High council of Wizards
ruling group within the "magic city" i'm hoping to include
"Transylvania"
I know about Barovia...I just didn't like the idea of it being a demiplane. Is there a location in the prime material that makes sense as the home of ghouls, zombies, etc?
"Crusaders"/Spanish Inquisition Faction
Any kind of religious order/fighter faction that might be "holding back the darkness" in the previously mentioned "transylvania" area. The kind of group that borders on being just as bad as the monsters they fight, given the horrible things they do for "good".
Dwarven Stonghold/Training Ground/Parris Island
The kind of place where dwarven fighters/clerics (e.g., Mauridin's Hammers) might be trained and then sent out to protect dwarven interests and kingdoms across the land. And kill orcs :-)
Evil kung-fu monk temple / evil monks
Good kung-fu monk temple / good monks
This is a great resource for Realms lore: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
Holy city: Off the top of my head I can't think of a city that would fit as a "city of the gods." Most cities and towns have at least an All-Faith's shrine. Bigger cities, like Waterdeep, would have temples devoted to specific gods or entire pantheons.
Magic city: Thay, home of the red wizards, or a surviving city of the Netherese would best fit this category. Both societies are magocracies.
Transylvania-esque: Thay comes to immediate mind here. The red wizards have a particular interest in necromancy and their society was, up until recently, ruled solely by liches. You could definitely orchestrate some Gothic horror stories in their territory if you are so inclined.
Crusaders: The faction that lines up most closely with this would be the Order of the Gauntlet. They are a collection of holy warriors intent on rooting out evil in Faerun.
Dwarf Strongholds: Mithral Hall is probably the best fit here. You could also use Gauntlgrym if your story currently has it occupied by dwarves.
Monks: I'm guessing you're looking for an Asian aesthetic here? 5e hasn't really explored this very much yet. In previous editions, Kara-Tur, a continent, is where that would have been set. There's also a few monasteries discussed in a couple books released for 5e. The Monastery of the Yellow Rose is a good aligned monastery from the Sword Coast Adventurers Guide. Sacred Stone Monastery is an evil aligned one from the Princes of the Apocalypse book.
(edit: spelling and grammar)