Grod_The_Giant
2020-05-30, 09:27 PM
I'm gearing up for an Exalted campaign, set in a tropical archipelago. I've got a map drawn up, and some broad strokes about the area as a whole, but I could use some help fleshing out all the islands. All I need at this point are neat thematic elements or evocative concepts that I can use to build plots and further develop areas as they become relevant. From my game intro:
The game will start on an island in the Ciangor Archipelago, a chain of islands at the southwestern extremity of the Realm and off the North-African-y coast of An-Teng. The thirty-seven islands are owned by the great families, lock stock and barrel. In better times there were frequent "wars" over the islands, with fleets and soldiers clashing more for the sport of it than anything else. Since the Scarlet Empress' disappearance and the beginning of civil war in the Realm, most of the useful forces and commanders have been recalled to be used in more important areas of Creation, leaving something of a power vacuum.
Things are, as usual in the Age of Sorrows (or really any RPG), not fantastic in the Archipelago right now. There are thousands of out-of-work local soldiers, betrayed and abandoned by their former Dragonblooded commanders. The demon-pirate empire of Bluehaven has eyes on the islands, as do rebellious forces in An-Teng. The local pantheons have begun to squabble over worship again. Strange creatures have been sighted in the waters as ships-- and even, a few months ago, the entire atoll of Three Palms Cove-- have begun to disappear without a trace.
https://i.imgur.com/sVaDB0B.png
House Cathank are noted for their military might, fielding and hiring out the best legions in the world. The whole house has a disciplined, pseudomillitary vibe. They're not fans of Houses Sesus and Tepet.
Jalis: Big
Pho Tien
Coral Rain Helm
Phan Hung
House Cynis are decadent socialites, leaders in fashion and trends of all sorts-- and specialists in the trade of slaves, drugs, and other luxury goods. They're close with House Sesus.
Chian Ranat: A massive island, Cynis owns the northeastern regions and Sesus the southwestern.
Khan-Chakta
Three Palm Cove: A small island in the center of the archepelago, used as a prison by House Cynis (and anyone who paid them). Two months ago, it vanished without a trace.
House Ledaal pride themselves as the most loyal servants the Realm has. They have less economic power than many of their rivals, instead concentrating their efforts on guarding the borders of creation. They're not fans of House Ragara.
Nam Ranh: Big
House Mnemon are proud and ancient, known for both piety and poetry. They make money through architecture and construction, and are closely associated with the state religion/supernatural police, the Immaculate Order.
Blood Plague Island: Not really controlled by anyone, since the entire island is quarantined. For unknown reasons, the Great Contagion that once killed 90% of Creation still lingers on its shores-- should it escape, millions will die. To keep the world safe, the island is surrounded by sorcerous currents and powerful aquatic demons.
Cheosok: A small island off the coast of Blood Plague Island, the Immaculate Order has a major stronghold here, dedicated to preserving the quarantine.
Tarajur: Big
Ban Beng
Sargam
Falling Star Cove
Il-Johun
House Nellens are bureaucrats and traders, with their fingers in all sorts of pies. Other houses look down at them for thinning bloodlines. They, in turn, have problems with House Sesus and V'neef.
Phakeo: Big
Lhokdore
Vinh La
House Peleps are sailors, through and through-- love of the sea runs throughout the house. They field great navies and trade fleets, but recently lost control of the imperial merchant fleet to the newly-risen House V'neef. They get on well with House Mnemon, badly with Nellens and Sesus, and hate V'neef.
Atun's Head: A very small, rounded, stony island, only interesting if you know the truth-- it's the helmet of an unspeakable enormous statue of an ancient, subtly inhuman warrior that stands on the sea floor. No-one lives here, and sailors swear there are strange currents around the island caused by the statue moving hundreds of feet beneath the wave.
Amber of Loss
Charoite Khal
Wyldhome: This island is a weak spot in the fabric of creation, where the endless chaos of the Wyld spills forth into the stable world. Fair Folk regularly set sail from its coast-- if not for House Peleps' patrolling fleets, they might have overrun half the archipelago by now.
Turquoise Through Sorrow
Jade and Violet Harbor
Burning Glory
High Vinari
Lost Vinari
Fallen Vinari
House Ragara are awful. Openly, they're bankers, with nearly every other house in debt to them to a greater or lesser degree. Quietly, they're into sorcery, demonology, and even sketchier stuff. No-one likes them, but they're rich as ****.
Home of Lost Currents
Ninh Duong
Cam Duong: A heavily forested jungle island where, centuries ago, a sorcerer bred plants to grow into beautiful living ships. House Ragara has since rediscovered her gardens, and has begun growing and selling luxury flower-yachts to the Realm's rich and famous.
House Sesus are another military power, but while House Cathank believe in discipline and honor, Sesus has strong interests in intrigue and subterfuge. They're close with House Cynis and Mnemon, and don't get on with House Tepet.
Chian Ranat: A massive island, Cynis owns the northeastern regions and Sesus the southwestern.
Manwas
Ponlaya
House Tepet is a fading power. They were once great heroes and generals; now they're in decline. They get on with House Nellens and the secretly-revived Iseli.
Iselsi
House V'neef are ambitious newcomers. They were supported by the Empress, who gave them control of the imperial merchant fleets that once belonged to House Peleps. With her gone, they pretty much stand alone.
Cheotam
House Iseli was destroyed many years ago for treason against the Empress, but they've been rebuilding in the shadows. For obvious reasons, they don't hold lands in the archipelago.
The game will start on an island in the Ciangor Archipelago, a chain of islands at the southwestern extremity of the Realm and off the North-African-y coast of An-Teng. The thirty-seven islands are owned by the great families, lock stock and barrel. In better times there were frequent "wars" over the islands, with fleets and soldiers clashing more for the sport of it than anything else. Since the Scarlet Empress' disappearance and the beginning of civil war in the Realm, most of the useful forces and commanders have been recalled to be used in more important areas of Creation, leaving something of a power vacuum.
Things are, as usual in the Age of Sorrows (or really any RPG), not fantastic in the Archipelago right now. There are thousands of out-of-work local soldiers, betrayed and abandoned by their former Dragonblooded commanders. The demon-pirate empire of Bluehaven has eyes on the islands, as do rebellious forces in An-Teng. The local pantheons have begun to squabble over worship again. Strange creatures have been sighted in the waters as ships-- and even, a few months ago, the entire atoll of Three Palms Cove-- have begun to disappear without a trace.
https://i.imgur.com/sVaDB0B.png
House Cathank are noted for their military might, fielding and hiring out the best legions in the world. The whole house has a disciplined, pseudomillitary vibe. They're not fans of Houses Sesus and Tepet.
Jalis: Big
Pho Tien
Coral Rain Helm
Phan Hung
House Cynis are decadent socialites, leaders in fashion and trends of all sorts-- and specialists in the trade of slaves, drugs, and other luxury goods. They're close with House Sesus.
Chian Ranat: A massive island, Cynis owns the northeastern regions and Sesus the southwestern.
Khan-Chakta
Three Palm Cove: A small island in the center of the archepelago, used as a prison by House Cynis (and anyone who paid them). Two months ago, it vanished without a trace.
House Ledaal pride themselves as the most loyal servants the Realm has. They have less economic power than many of their rivals, instead concentrating their efforts on guarding the borders of creation. They're not fans of House Ragara.
Nam Ranh: Big
House Mnemon are proud and ancient, known for both piety and poetry. They make money through architecture and construction, and are closely associated with the state religion/supernatural police, the Immaculate Order.
Blood Plague Island: Not really controlled by anyone, since the entire island is quarantined. For unknown reasons, the Great Contagion that once killed 90% of Creation still lingers on its shores-- should it escape, millions will die. To keep the world safe, the island is surrounded by sorcerous currents and powerful aquatic demons.
Cheosok: A small island off the coast of Blood Plague Island, the Immaculate Order has a major stronghold here, dedicated to preserving the quarantine.
Tarajur: Big
Ban Beng
Sargam
Falling Star Cove
Il-Johun
House Nellens are bureaucrats and traders, with their fingers in all sorts of pies. Other houses look down at them for thinning bloodlines. They, in turn, have problems with House Sesus and V'neef.
Phakeo: Big
Lhokdore
Vinh La
House Peleps are sailors, through and through-- love of the sea runs throughout the house. They field great navies and trade fleets, but recently lost control of the imperial merchant fleet to the newly-risen House V'neef. They get on well with House Mnemon, badly with Nellens and Sesus, and hate V'neef.
Atun's Head: A very small, rounded, stony island, only interesting if you know the truth-- it's the helmet of an unspeakable enormous statue of an ancient, subtly inhuman warrior that stands on the sea floor. No-one lives here, and sailors swear there are strange currents around the island caused by the statue moving hundreds of feet beneath the wave.
Amber of Loss
Charoite Khal
Wyldhome: This island is a weak spot in the fabric of creation, where the endless chaos of the Wyld spills forth into the stable world. Fair Folk regularly set sail from its coast-- if not for House Peleps' patrolling fleets, they might have overrun half the archipelago by now.
Turquoise Through Sorrow
Jade and Violet Harbor
Burning Glory
High Vinari
Lost Vinari
Fallen Vinari
House Ragara are awful. Openly, they're bankers, with nearly every other house in debt to them to a greater or lesser degree. Quietly, they're into sorcery, demonology, and even sketchier stuff. No-one likes them, but they're rich as ****.
Home of Lost Currents
Ninh Duong
Cam Duong: A heavily forested jungle island where, centuries ago, a sorcerer bred plants to grow into beautiful living ships. House Ragara has since rediscovered her gardens, and has begun growing and selling luxury flower-yachts to the Realm's rich and famous.
House Sesus are another military power, but while House Cathank believe in discipline and honor, Sesus has strong interests in intrigue and subterfuge. They're close with House Cynis and Mnemon, and don't get on with House Tepet.
Chian Ranat: A massive island, Cynis owns the northeastern regions and Sesus the southwestern.
Manwas
Ponlaya
House Tepet is a fading power. They were once great heroes and generals; now they're in decline. They get on with House Nellens and the secretly-revived Iseli.
Iselsi
House V'neef are ambitious newcomers. They were supported by the Empress, who gave them control of the imperial merchant fleets that once belonged to House Peleps. With her gone, they pretty much stand alone.
Cheotam
House Iseli was destroyed many years ago for treason against the Empress, but they've been rebuilding in the shadows. For obvious reasons, they don't hold lands in the archipelago.