Friday, February 7, 2020

Blood of Ancient Lore [2e AD&D, Birthright]

This an adventure/campaign idea/campaign subtext that I came up with while reading the Rulebook for Birthright. It might have already been done, or be contradicted by official material. Anyway, I'm just basing this off an idle thought, and not much more.

All the blooded of any education know of Ghoigwnnwd, the sidhe smith who created tighmaevril, and they know of it's wondrous and ghastly powers. What few realize, however, is that Ghoigwnnwd had been touched by the Blood of Vorynn. He had only the barest mark of Vorynn on him, but it was enough to infuse him, and his descendants, with a tainted bloodline.

A talented and dedicated smith, Ghoigwnnwd had little time for children early in life... his drive was almost human in its intensity and singleness of focus. However, time can mellow even elven passions, and he eventually sired my father, who in turn had his head turned by a young human woman. I know all this. I know everything that my father and grandfather did, up until the time of the birth of their son, for I am the blood of Vorynn.


And I know how to create and work tighmaevril.-The Journal of Rovy Half-elven

Obviously, a lot about that previous set-up can be changed. However, I think the implications are obvious. A few ideas, though, for those who might want them:

Adventure: A group of characters learns of the grandson of Ghoigwnnwd, and of his abilities. Unfortunately, so has another regent... one who stands against them. How do they keep Rovy out of the hands of their opponents? And how do they convince him to work for them?

Campaign sub-text: A particularly interesting, though difficult to manage, option is for Rovy to be a PC (likely a non-regent PC). His past and abilities are things he must keep secret, or risk losing his freedom (or his life) to any of the factions or regents who might cover the secret of tighmaevril.

Campaign Idea: An entire campaign could easily center around a regent (or group of regents) attempting to not only gain control over Rovy, but gather the necessary materials to create tighmaevril... without alerting their enemies that they're doing so. After all, if a specific type of ore that is largely useless otherwise is needed for tighmaevril, what are other regents going to think when one of their number works to corner the market on it? And the first use of tighmaevril weapons unknown to the sages is going to cause a stir... especially if a lot are used.

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