Scarred Lands
Encyclopedia
Scarred Lands is a d20 System
fantasy campaign setting
, by White Wolf
under its Sword & Sorcery
brand.
Scarred Lands draws heavy inspiration from Greek mythology
.
s, which ended 150 years ago and left the land warped.
In need of a way to rid the world of the whimsical and dangerous titans, the gods - the children of the titans - decided to unite against their parents. However, the essence of the titans are inseparably bound to the world of Scarn, since they are the world's creators, and so the gods are obliged to simply incapacitate their parents instead of destroying them. Hacked to pieces and/or chained, the felled titans are a constant incentive for the titan-worshippers to resurrect their masters and for the divine races to continue fighting against the titanic abominations.
A great deal of the system's appeal comes from the detail of cultures, cities, governments and history given by the module books. There are also several continents which have been influenced in a lesser degree by the Titan/God war.
. Therefore giving alignment or domains assignments to these beings would be just like attempting to give them to a bolt of lightning
, or gravity.
Each God in the system therefore follows the d20 System
rules for gods and NPCs, having both alignment and domains. This is also true of the Titan Denev who supported the gods in their war.
Another difference in the Scarred Lands system, from other d20 System
, is the interaction, and 'awareness' of the Gods by the populations of the sentient beings. Like the land itself, the gods and titans are both major influences of the game. Blacksmiths for example invoke the name of Corean while they work. This in itself may not be different, for game purposes each round that the worshipper invokes his name a +1 may be added to die rolls for: Craft or Profession if the act involves blacksmithing, forging, or the creation of weapons. Other benefits are also described in the Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad book, and in The Divine and the Defeated published by White Wolf
s work with weather types and terrain difficulties, the Scarred Lands system brings in the aspect of land as an NPC #Non-Player Character#. There are two continents published in a book apiece, Ghelspad and Termana; and three more collected in the last book, Asherak, the Dragon Isles, and Fenrilik.
Ghelspad is temperate. Termana is tropical. Asherak is desert. Fenrilik is arctic.
comprises the titles Forsaken, Forsworn, and Forbidden. It recounts the story of an elf #Vladawen Titanslayer) and his companions as they try to deliver their people from a devastating curse by resurrecting the high elven god killed during the Divine War by the titan Chern the Scourge.
for the Scarred Lands, using the city of Fangsfall, created by Conrad Hubbard
and expanded upon by numerous other writers, volunteer Dungeon Masters and online players.
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
fantasy campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, by White Wolf
White Wolf, Inc.
White Wolf Publishing is an American gaming and book publisher. The company was founded in 1991 as a merger between Lion Rampant and White Wolf Magazine, and was initially led by Mark Rein·Hagen of the former and Steve and Stewart Wieck of the latter. Since White Wolf Publishing, Inc. merged with...
under its Sword & Sorcery
Sword & Sorcery
The Sword and Sorcery imprint is used by White Wolf to publish its d20 & OGL material. It publishes the Scarred Lands and Ravenloft D&D campaign settings, as well as the EverQuest Role-Playing Game and Warcraft the Roleplaying Game pencil and paper game lines...
brand.
Scarred Lands draws heavy inspiration from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.
Setting
The setting is set on the world of Scarn in a post-apocalyptic era where the world is recovering from a horrific war between the Gods and TitanTitan (mythology)
In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age....
s, which ended 150 years ago and left the land warped.
In need of a way to rid the world of the whimsical and dangerous titans, the gods - the children of the titans - decided to unite against their parents. However, the essence of the titans are inseparably bound to the world of Scarn, since they are the world's creators, and so the gods are obliged to simply incapacitate their parents instead of destroying them. Hacked to pieces and/or chained, the felled titans are a constant incentive for the titan-worshippers to resurrect their masters and for the divine races to continue fighting against the titanic abominations.
A great deal of the system's appeal comes from the detail of cultures, cities, governments and history given by the module books. There are also several continents which have been influenced in a lesser degree by the Titan/God war.
Titans
In the game structure, Titans have neither Alignment, nor Domains. Titans as described through the game are kin to raw natural and universal powerElemental
An elemental is a mythological being first appearing in the alchemical works of Paracelsus in the 16th century. Traditionally, there are four types:*gnomes, earth elementals*undines , water elementals*sylphs, air elementals...
. Therefore giving alignment or domains assignments to these beings would be just like attempting to give them to a bolt of lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, or gravity.
- Denev, the Earth Mother
- Chern, The ScourgeScourgeA scourge is a whip or lash, especially a multi-thong type used to inflict severe corporal punishment or self-mortification on the back.-Description:...
- Gaurak, the GluttonGluttonyGluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, intoxicants or wealth items to the point of extravagance or waste...
- Golthagga, the Shaper
- Golthain, the Faceless
- Gormoth, the Writhing Lord
- Gulaben, Lady of the WindsWINDSWINDS , is a Japanese communication satellite. Launch was originally scheduled for 2007. The launch date was eventually set for 15 February 2008, however a problem detected in a second stage manoeuvring thruster delayed it to 23 February...
- Hrinruuk, the Hunter
- Kadum, the MountainshakerEarthquakeAn earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
- Lethene, Dame of Storms
- Mesos, Sire of Sorcery
- Mormo, Mother of SerpentsSerpent (symbolism)Serpent in Latin means: Rory Collins :&, in turn, from the Biblical Hebrew word of: "saraf" with root letters of: which refers to something burning-as, the pain of poisonous snake's bite was likened to internal burning.This word is commonly used in a specifically mythic or religious context,...
- Thulkas, Father of FireFireFire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
Gods
While the Titans are kin to raw and universal power, the children of the Titans are not. Being a generation away from spontaneous birth is enough to limit the child to godhood in this game setting.Each God in the system therefore follows the d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
rules for gods and NPCs, having both alignment and domains. This is also true of the Titan Denev who supported the gods in their war.
Another difference in the Scarred Lands system, from other d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
, is the interaction, and 'awareness' of the Gods by the populations of the sentient beings. Like the land itself, the gods and titans are both major influences of the game. Blacksmiths for example invoke the name of Corean while they work. This in itself may not be different, for game purposes each round that the worshipper invokes his name a +1 may be added to die rolls for: Craft or Profession if the act involves blacksmithing, forging, or the creation of weapons. Other benefits are also described in the Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad book, and in The Divine and the Defeated published by White Wolf
White Wolf
White Wolf is a publisher of role-playing games, notably the World of Darkness.White Wolf may also refer to:*White Wolf , a location in Yosemite National Park*White Wolf , a Canadian heavy metal band...
- Corean, the Avenger -- LG: Fire, Good, Law, Protection, War
- Madriel, the Redeemer -- NG: Air, Good, Healing, Plant, Sun
- Tanil, the Huntress -- CG: Animal, Chaos, Luck, Plant, Travel, Trickery
- Hedrada, the Lawgiver -- LN: Judgment, Knowledge, Law, Protection
- Enkili, the Trickster -- CN: Air, Chaos, Luck, Travel, Trickery
- Chardun, the Slaver -- LE: Domination, Evil, Law, Strength, War
- Belsameth, the Slayer -- NE: Death, Evil, Magic, Trickery
- Vangal, the Reaver -- CE: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, Strength, War
- Denev, the Earth Mother -- N: Air, Animals, Earth, Fire, Plants, Water
The Land
While many role-playing game systemRole-playing game system
A role-playing game system is a set of game mechanics used in a role-playing game to determine the outcome of a character's in-game actions...
s work with weather types and terrain difficulties, the Scarred Lands system brings in the aspect of land as an NPC #Non-Player Character#. There are two continents published in a book apiece, Ghelspad and Termana; and three more collected in the last book, Asherak, the Dragon Isles, and Fenrilik.
Ghelspad is temperate. Termana is tropical. Asherak is desert. Fenrilik is arctic.
Novels
The Dead God Trilogy by Richard Lee ByersRichard Lee Byers
-Biography:Richard Lee Byers holds a Master's degree in Psychology. A resident of the Tampa Bay area, he worked in an emergency psychiatric facility for over a decade, then left the mental health field to become a writer. He is also a fencing and poker enthusiast. He is the author of over thirty...
comprises the titles Forsaken, Forsworn, and Forbidden. It recounts the story of an elf #Vladawen Titanslayer) and his companions as they try to deliver their people from a devastating curse by resurrecting the high elven god killed during the Divine War by the titan Chern the Scourge.
Scarred Lands #nline
White Wolf hosts an online text-based role-playing gameOnline text-based role-playing game
An online text-based role playing game is a role-playing game played online using a solely text-based interface. Online text-based role playing games date to 1978, with the creation of MUD1, which began the MUD heritage that culminates in today's MMORPGs...
for the Scarred Lands, using the city of Fangsfall, created by Conrad Hubbard
Conrad Hubbard
-Author credits:Published material by Conrad Hubbard consists of contributions to more than 35 books which are classified as roleplaying game books, published by White Wolf Publishing and Sword & Sorcery Studios....
and expanded upon by numerous other writers, volunteer Dungeon Masters and online players.