I've been thinking a lot about the Gelderland, the Land of the Ulgars and the ancient secrets which lie within forgotten valleys and lost cathedrals.

~O

And where have your thoughts taken you to

I have been thinking about the types of adventures that could lie within. Sure, there could be the typical lost/ruined city or dungeon thing (which the Gelderland would be ripe for doing based on it's history and what little info was given to use in the Codex and the Folio). However, my thoughts to make the Gelderland a really different type of adventure lie with the Ulgars. Instead of making these Orcs the typical PC killing dummies, I would like to make this indiginous race more like some historical peoples. Perhaps base the Ulgars on the Vandals, or the middle-age hungarian peoples. Or, maybe these orcs have developed a more tangible society, but they are based on more barbaric humans, not unlike the Dothraki of the Song of Ice and Fire novels. I'm not quite sure yet. But I see the Ulgars as not your average, everyday fantasy Orc steroetype.

~O

Perhaps the Ulgars guard the ruins and ancient cathedrals of the Gelderland like some of the the modern day Ethiopian tribesmen who keep many of the ancient Christian churches hidden/kept safe from outsiders.

~O

Nice, I like that idea. However, why would they be hiding the sites? If they are guarding the ancient cities then they may not actually be "evil". If you do make them evil you'll have to be careful about letting them slip into the standard Orc

I agree with you on making the Ulgars less like the "normal" Orc. I have pictured them more like a Hun (but less reliance on horsemanship) but one barbarian tribe is as good as an other in this since.

Now that I actually own the print copies of Aihrde, my thoughts drift back to the Gelderland and the Ulgars. Why would the Ulgars be protecting the ancient sites found there? I'm not sure. However, I'm wondering whether or not the "cathedrals" mentioned in the Codex of Erde are actually ruined structures. Perhaps, these cathedrals are natural formations in the landscape, perhaps lost in valley's and ravines. -OR-, perhaps these cathedrals are actual ancient buildings carved right into the cliff face of these valleys and ravines - sort of like Petra or like the Etheopian underground churches... http://www.google.com/search?q=ethiopia ... d=0CEEQsAQ

~O

Omote, I'm sure you're aware that the cities and adventures in Lion in the Ropes are in The Gelderland.

Might be some stuff in that module to spark some thoughts or ideas.

Great, fun module, IMO. My group really enjoyed it.

No Rhu, I did not know that. I have the d20 version of the module but have never read it. It's time to open her up! Thanks man.

~O