Signup
Welcome to... Canonfire! World of GreyhawK
Features
Postcards from the Flanaess
Adventures
in Greyhawk
Cities of
Oerth
Deadly
Denizens
Jason Zavoda Presents
The Gord Novels
Greyhawk Wiki
#greytalk
JOIN THE CHAT
ON DISCORD
    Canonfire :: View topic - More news frome the far west - Ataphads (1/2)
    Canonfire Forum Index -> World of Greyhawk Discussion
    More news frome the far west - Ataphads (1/2)
    Author Message
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 15, 2001
    Posts: 30
    From: France

    Send private message
    Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:00 pm  
    More news frome the far west - Ataphads (1/2)

    Traduced from french

    The Ataphads are the descendants of some corrupted members of the ancient baklunish empire which had been seduced by the power of Elemental Evil. The magic of elements and genies reached its highlight in the last centuries of the Empire. In spite of this success, powerful elemental wizards were attracted by the power which was promised to them by the ancestral elemental EYE. However, the majority of the baklunish wizards resisted the temptation and discovered the corruption which invaded their art. In order to keep intact the purity of the art, they waged war against the corrupted mages. These were unable to resist for a long time and fled away far in the North, on the Ataphad islands. These islands were out of reach the Empire and the Elemental Evil was able to develop, shielded from attacks.

    The corrupted mages were later joined by the Ur-Flannas, essentially dark necromancers. In fact, it is possible that the Ur-Flannas lived in the Ataphad islands before the arrival of the corrupted baklunish. The question of the anteriority of some or the others is not resolved.

    The conjunction of the necromantic knowledge of the Ur-Flannas and the malefic elemental magic of the Baklunish facilitated the development of diverse branches of black magic. Numerous evil experiments were led on the islands, especially the crossing of human beings with all sorts of aberrations and monstrous creatures. Nowadays most Ataphads still show stigmas of those experiments.

    The most powerful servants of the Elemental Evil discovered, in one of the central islands, a powerful source of malefic power. At the same time, they discovered that the ancestral elementary EYE was in fact the eye of the god of the eternal Darkness. Over this source of dark power, they founded what is today the most powerful and most feared of all ataphad cities, the terrific and evil city of Kazurka. It is in this cursed place, that takes place the abominable rite of the servants of the Eternal Darkness which affixes the mysterious pale mark on the flesh of the followers. It is also in Kazurka that the dark market of the Worlds takes place, where the creatures of the lower plans come to trade with the initiates of the Eternal Darkness, and where everything is settled in slaves, in souls, in bond elementals or in a strange currency dedicated to the dark god. Illithids and dark elves come to trade too in this abominable market. It is very difficult to get into Kazurka because, with very few exceptions, only those who wear the subtle mark of the eternal Darkness can enter it. The lighthouse of the port of Kazurka is, during day, a lighthouse of darkness, and covers all the city in an eternal dusk. It is finally in the black Haven, the harbour of Kazurka, that is anchored the terrible fleet of the purple Sails which makes the terror reign in all the Dramidj ocean.

    Kazurka exercises its suzerainty over the other ataphad cities which pay a levy. The captain of black Haven, supreme lord of Kazurka, lives on an island of basalt in the middle of the port. The dark lighthouse stands on this island. The supreme Lord imposes the law of the Servants to all those who come to trade in his markets, wether they are are human or demonic. The lord of Kazurka proclaimed himself - Prince - of the Ataphads. His intention is to dominate all the Dramidj ocean and the surrounding lands, by establishing a kind of evil Caliphate. In a sense, he is the anti-caliph, the supreme enemy of Ekbir. His power is colossal. However, a thousand years ago, the Lord of Kazurka of this period has been overcome by the High Priest (Al'Akbar) himself. The fight took place in the country of Dezbat (in Ekbir). So the holy power demonstrated its superiority over the corrupt magic. {May we follow this example !}

    Kazurka is allied with the Nine Hells of Baator. The mark of the archdevil Geryon, former prince of Stygia, the fifth circle of the hells, was discovered many a time in relation with the ataphads' machinations. And, it is known that Geryon is the most loyal servant of Asmodeus, the supreme master of the Nine Hells and prince of Nessus, the ninth and last circle and home of the most redoubtable Pit Fiends. {I have acquired the certainty that} one of them operates in the region of the Dramidj. His name is Faarzephon. Mighty is his power. It is a dark presence which threatens us all. {May Al' Akbar helps us to unmask and to overcome him !}


    Other ataphad cities are governed by a Lord versed into such or such branch of wizardry. So Atios is dominated by the power of the blood, while Gorshareb is the island of the necromancy and of the undead.

    [Source: EKB5-02 - Le Chant du Tocsin]
    _________________
    Armenfrast, Sage d'Ekbir<br />aka Belvor_x (Greytalk / AOL 1995-1999)<br />aka 100523.157 (Compuserve 1994 - 1995)<br />http://www.greyhawk.fr
    GreySage

    Joined: Aug 03, 2001
    Posts: 3310
    From: Michigan

    Send private message
    Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:54 pm  

    Thanks for posting this! There's some really interesting stuff here; I love the idea of an "anti-caliphate" in the Dramidj Ocean, diametrically opposed to Ekbir's goodness and dedicated to elemental evil.
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Sep 22, 2003
    Posts: 6


    Send private message
    Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:05 pm  

    Happy
    Indeed very nice of you Armenfrast to post extracts of Living Ekbir stuff.

    May the Caliph live a long life for the good of his people!

    Driss Ibn Al Issad of the True Faith.
    GreySage

    Joined: Oct 06, 2008
    Posts: 2788
    From: South-Central Pennsylvania

    Send private message
    Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:53 pm  

    Yes, indeed. Very interesting. I hope that Crag can find a way to incorporate this information into his current project. Sounds like another Horned Society in the making. Evil Grin
    _________________
    Mystic's web page: http://melkot.com/mysticscholar/index.html
    Mystic's blog page: http://mysticscholar.blogspot.com/
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 15, 2001
    Posts: 30
    From: France

    Send private message
    Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:56 pm  

    The fact is, that it is very plausible that some surviving hierach might have fled to the Ataphad islands.
    _________________
    Armenfrast, Sage d'Ekbir<br />aka Belvor_x (Greytalk / AOL 1995-1999)<br />aka 100523.157 (Compuserve 1994 - 1995)<br />http://www.greyhawk.fr
    Journeyman Greytalker

    Joined: Oct 08, 2003
    Posts: 157
    From: Pretoria

    Send private message
    Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:44 am  

    Thanks for the post!

    I am always interested in Ekbir related articles and there is a lot I am going to use here for my own game. Happy
    GreySage

    Joined: Oct 06, 2008
    Posts: 2788
    From: South-Central Pennsylvania

    Send private message
    Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:47 am  

    You should start visiting Greytalk again Belvor_x, we still have a lively discussion on Thrusday nights. Wink

    Some of us even visit Greytalk on a daily basis. Happy
    _________________
    Mystic's web page: http://melkot.com/mysticscholar/index.html
    Mystic's blog page: http://mysticscholar.blogspot.com/
    Forum Moderator

    Joined: Feb 26, 2004
    Posts: 2590
    From: Ullinois

    Send private message
    Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:34 am  

    Thanks again for the Ekbir pieces, this is pretty cool stuff. :)
    Master Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 17, 2004
    Posts: 924
    From: Computer Desk

    Send private message
    Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:03 am  

    Thanks so much Wink

    I speak for those mono-lingual people that appreciate the translation.

    For those like mystic rest assured I will incorporate the information into the manuscript and reconfigure the regional map to coincide with the material. Though it will take some effort but not as much at first blush as I envisioned the ataphads as a trio of necromancer city states.

    As the Ataphad Isles need some more detail; I thought we all could help.

    Name of the Princes of Kazurka and Gorshareb
    Also a chilling but dramatic name for the fortress of Kazurka.

    We should be able to come up with some suggestions Smile

    It really is nice work...

    Armenfrast once again thanks
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 15, 2001
    Posts: 30
    From: France

    Send private message
    Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:31 am  

    Crag wrote:

    As the Ataphad Isles need some more detail; I thought we all could help.

    Name of the Princes of Kazurka and Gorshareb
    Also a chilling but dramatic name for the fortress of Kazurka.


    I am in contact with the ex head of the Ekbir's Triad, and he will see if he can find more information in the notes, projects and emails he has accumulated over 8 years.
    _________________
    Armenfrast, Sage d'Ekbir<br />aka Belvor_x (Greytalk / AOL 1995-1999)<br />aka 100523.157 (Compuserve 1994 - 1995)<br />http://www.greyhawk.fr
    Master Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 17, 2004
    Posts: 924
    From: Computer Desk

    Send private message
    Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:08 pm  

    Look forward to it; Armenfrast.

    Although I am confused the notes seem to speak of Kazurka including several distinctive structures such as the Lighthouse of Darkness and Black Haven Harbour.

    However the map is titled La Ville D'Atios.

    1) A simple misprint and it is Kazurka
    2) Atios has a Lighthouse too
    3) I have misinterpreted the french legend.

    Has anyone translated the map legend Question
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 15, 2001
    Posts: 30
    From: France

    Send private message
    Thu Dec 03, 2009 11:44 pm  

    The map is the map of Atios, and Atios also has a special Lighthouse, but this one is slightly different (or perhaps weaker).

    The fact is that the light emitted by day by the Lighthouse, is a red (scarlet) light, and amongst other effects (not described) it allows Vampires to circulate in the city even by daylight (however the contact with light is still uncomfortable, not to say slightly painful)

    The legend is
    1) Lighthouse
    2) Fortress
    3) Harbour master
    4) Arena
    5) Great Market
    6) Temple
    7) Arch of Triumph
    8) Watchtower
    9) Raised stones (of Ur-Flan origins)
    _________________
    Armenfrast, Sage d'Ekbir<br />aka Belvor_x (Greytalk / AOL 1995-1999)<br />aka 100523.157 (Compuserve 1994 - 1995)<br />http://www.greyhawk.fr
    Display posts from previous:   
       Canonfire Forum Index -> World of Greyhawk Discussion All times are GMT - 8 Hours
    Page 1 of 1

    Jump to:  

    You cannot post new topics in this forum
    You cannot reply to topics in this forum
    You cannot edit your posts in this forum
    You cannot delete your posts in this forum
    You cannot vote in polls in this forum




    Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises

    Contact the Webmaster.  Long Live Spidasa!


    Greyhawk Gothic Font by Darlene Pekul is used under the Creative Commons License.

    PHP-Nuke Copyright © 2005 by Francisco Burzi. This is free software, and you may redistribute it under the GPL. PHP-Nuke comes with absolutely no warranty, for details, see the license.
    Page Generation: 0.34 Seconds