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Post by countingwizard on Apr 24, 2017 7:02:18 GMT -6
In a far away land lies the Bearded Pallisades, a heavily wooded mountain range running north to south. It serves to separate the forested coastal Kingdom of Elzin in the west from the sprawling steppes of the larger Kingdom of Ultar in the east. The entire range is populated by primitive tribal orcs who range the dimly lit forests, with a scattering of goblin kingdoms living within the lesser mountains. Among the mountains are three distinct peaks: the dwarven hearth home of Ur Anil to the north [now goblin infested], the blasted peak of Ur Othâsh to the southwest [home to the hobgoblins and their smiths], and the solitary peak of Ur Tetóth rising from relatively flat land to the southeast.
It is this final peak which I am having difficulty coming up with a suitable mythology for. What is it that scares the hobgoblins, orcs, goblins, and even the dwarves (when they were around) so much, that they would go out of their way to avoid passing by the mountain?
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Post by smubee on Apr 24, 2017 10:16:42 GMT -6
Nothing.
An urban legend, much like Bigfoot. "A terrible creature with 10 eyeballs, teeth bigger than an Orc, giant claws, that can fly!!!"
But it's not real.
Some passerbys claim that they've seen it, or heard it.. But it simply doesn't exist.
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Post by countingwizard on Apr 24, 2017 12:04:58 GMT -6
Nothing. An urban legend, much like Bigfoot. "A terrible creature with 10 eyeballs, teeth bigger than an Orc, giant claws, that can fly!!!" But it's not real. Some passerbys claim that they've seen it, or heard it.. But it simply doesn't exist. I'd love to troll my players like this. Pretty good idea. One of the ideas someone else told me from another forums was: "The mountain is actually alive and possesses the ability to control weak minds, which it uses in order to bring victims into its caverns. The caverns are literally the bowels of the mountain and are slick and wet, but hard like rock, filled with macro-micro organisms that help the mountain digest its victims." |
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Post by DungeonDevil on Apr 24, 2017 16:48:16 GMT -6
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Post by tetramorph on Apr 24, 2017 17:45:19 GMT -6
countingwizard, I like both of those ideas so far. How about the mountain is the arched back of a sleeping giant whom the orcs worship as their god. The giant is Tetoth, Lord of Nightmares. Only perpetual sacrifice will keep the god sleeping. But if the sacrifices fail, he will awaken, oh yes, and many will know what it means to roast in the belly of a giant Tetoth on that day, I tell you. Underneath Tetoth is a network of hive like caves that hold the treasures stolen from the dreams that Tetoth raids every night. Exploring the caves risks awakening the god. If the god awakens before the caves are explored, they will remain but in a crushed and ruined form, full of devices that can recall their awakened master. Something like that?
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Post by MormonYoYoMan on Apr 24, 2017 17:50:50 GMT -6
L. Ron Hubbard.
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Post by foxroe on Apr 24, 2017 17:58:59 GMT -6
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Post by foxroe on Apr 24, 2017 18:11:58 GMT -6
The Necropolis of Htaed. No one ever returns, and adventurers are just dying to go there (I've got a million of 'em, folks).
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Post by countingwizard on Apr 25, 2017 7:43:35 GMT -6
countingwizard , I like both of those ideas so far. How about the mountain is the arched back of a sleeping giant whom the orcs worship as their god. The giant is Tetoth, Lord of Nightmares. Only perpetual sacrifice will keep the god sleeping. But if the sacrifices fail, he will awaken, oh yes, and many will know what it means to roast in the belly of a giant Tetoth on that day, I tell you. Underneath Tetoth is a network of hive like caves that hold the treasures stolen from the dreams that Tetoth raids every night. Exploring the caves risks awakening the god. If the god awakens before the caves are explored, they will remain but in a crushed and ruined form, full of devices that can recall their awakened master. Something like that? Good idea, although I'm leaning towards the mountain being more of an obstacle than a lure for adventure. |
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Post by countingwizard on Apr 25, 2017 7:45:42 GMT -6
The Necropolis of Htaed. No one ever returns, and adventurers are just dying to go there (I've got a million of 'em, folks). I've already got an idea for a necropolis, but it is a lizardman necropolis, and going there might instigate a war with the highly superstitious lizardmen that live in the area around it. |
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Post by geoffrey on Apr 25, 2017 7:50:26 GMT -6
In a far away land lies the Bearded Pallisades, a heavily wooded mountain range running north to south. It serves to separate the forested coastal Kingdom of Elzin in the west from the sprawling steppes of the larger Kingdom of Ultar in the east. The entire range is populated by primitive tribal orcs who range the dimly lit forests, with a scattering of goblin kingdoms living within the lesser mountains. Among the mountains are three distinct peaks: the dwarven hearth home of Ur Anil to the north [now goblin infested], the blasted peak of Ur Othâsh to the southwest [home to the hobgoblins and their smiths], and the solitary peak of Ur Tetóth rising from relatively flat land to the southeast. It is this final peak which I am having difficulty coming up with a suitable mythology for. What is it that scares the hobgoblins, orcs, goblins, and even the dwarves (when they were around) so much, that they would go out of their way to avoid passing by the mountain? A long time ago the dwarves fought a great battle against the hobgoblins, orcs,and goblins on this mountain. Both armies were decimated, with neither able to claim the victory. The pitiful remnants of both sides fled the slaughter. Now only ravenous ghosts of the battle frequent the mountain. |
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Post by jcstephens on Apr 25, 2017 20:06:16 GMT -6
Chernobog, from the Night on Bald Mountain segment of Fantasia.
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Post by howandwhy99 on Apr 25, 2017 22:31:29 GMT -6
It only seems to be a dormant volcano. In the past it has erupted destroying the surroundings into wasteland and ash. Poisoned rivulets, no plants, and no animals makes a poor home for any creature. What no one knows is Arvaunghul, a Hero-deity from ancient times is imprisoned deep within. Tormented in anguish, his writhing rumbles the earth and his tears burn into the smoke above. Powerful creatures in the past have attempted to make this forbidding place a home, but Arvaunghul's rage has routinely led to bad results. The tribal people who live in the nearest valleys keep legends of the anger of the mountain and tell traveler's not to go there, "lest ye anger the god of the mountain!" - an ironic truth.
If any powerful creature was smart enough to unify the goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins of the mountain range, they would also be smart enough to note the powerful natural defense from invaders the mountain offers. A lot of smoke and rumbling might mean another eruption!
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Post by countingwizard on Apr 27, 2017 12:06:36 GMT -6
It only seems to be a dormant volcano. In the past it has erupted destroying the surroundings into wasteland and ash. Poisoned rivulets, no plants, and no animals makes a poor home for any creature. What no one knows is Arvaunghul, a Hero-deity from ancient times is imprisoned deep within. Tormented in anguish, his writhing rumbles the earth and his tears burn into the smoke above. Powerful creatures in the past have attempted to make this forbidding place a home, but Arvaunghul's rage has routinely led to bad results. The tribal people who live in the nearest valleys keep legends of the anger of the mountain and tell traveler's not to go there, "lest ye anger the god of the mountain!" - an ironic truth. If any powerful creature was smart enough to unify the goblins, orcs, and hobgoblins of the mountain range, they would also be smart enough to note the powerful natural defense from invaders the mountain offers. A lot of smoke and rumbling might mean another eruption! This sparks a few ideas for me: Imprisoned god of the mountain, internal volcanic activity that threatens to blow the mountain up. I may be able to incorporate these ideas into some of the other ideas. Also like the idea about tribal people in nearby valleys. If I go back and look at my map, there may be a few clearings where human tribes are able to eke out an existence among the dark and extremely dangerous orc forests. |
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Post by countingwizard on Apr 27, 2017 12:07:30 GMT -6
Chernobog, from the Night on Bald Mountain segment of Fantasia. I had forgotten all about Chernobog. In fact, I didn't even know that was his name. I'll have to remember this for the next time I use a balrog-type. |
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Post by xerxez on May 8, 2017 9:41:31 GMT -6
Nice thoughts. I imagine such a mountain to have once been the location of a vast Temple of Lawful/Chaotic Good, which though abandoned, still radiates an aura which the evil demihumans shun. Perhaps that natural perils of the climb, and puzzles tricks traps and well chosen denizens who guard the Temple are the great tests set before even Good characters who would drink from a fantastic spring which bubbles up from the Mountain Heart and confers a powerful blessing.
I have used this before, Lamasu work well as Guardians, they may test good characters but break off battle before actually killing them and the character's wounds are divinely healed after the testing.
I also like the ideas of everyone who said it might be an imprisoned god or maybe a Titan?
Sounds like a fun game!
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premmy
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 295
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Post by premmy on May 8, 2017 14:08:00 GMT -6
Some sort of imprisoned world-ending monster (think Fenris, Simargl, Apep [well, not really imprisoned, but still], etc). Getting there is far from trivial, but not altogether gruelling or impossible. Interacting with the thing will almost certainly get you killed, but if you're very, very, very lucky or creative, you might just release it from captivity, precipitating the end of the world. The elder races know that humans are so full of hubris that if the monster's existence was made widely known, human adventurers would be lining up to "kill it and take its stuff", triggering the Apocalypse in pretty short order. The monster cannot be killed, and its location cannot be made completely inaccessible (maybe it's using its powers to lure people there in hopes of getting freed). Therefore, the elder races keep this all a secret, using their guile and craft to make humans believe the mountain is of absolutely no interest whatsoever, assassinating or otherwise doing away with any human who gets too close to finding out about the truth. The orcs are in on the whole thing, it's really only us who can't be trusted not to f**k it all up.
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