New Pavis and the River of Cradles 1625-1626

If we think about what is going on big picture in New Pavis and the River of Cradles 1625-1626, we can see some of the following:

1. Argrath and Jaldon need to prove themselves to the khans of the various tribes – especially after the defeat in Fire Season 1625. They were no doubt often traveling, perhaps with a few favored companions and followers, going to the Paps, Vulture’s Country, etc. I expect Argrath is in New Pavis only a small amount of time – for high holy days, and other Orlanthi rituals (as Pavis is the center of the Orlanth cult in Prax).
2. The adventurers, mercenaries, and Praxian cultists who have followed Argrath need to be kept busy. There is fortunately plenty to do – Big Rubble, there are broo bands in Vultures Country that threaten the River of Cradles, weird Chaos activities in the former Grantlands, and trade routes that need re-establishing. Lots to do!
3. With the collapse of the Lunar Occupation, lots of groups reassert their autonomy. Look at the population of New Pavis who no doubt seek to reassert the city council’s authority over civilian affairs (while trying to reach an accomodation with the warlord and his followers). Look at Sun County try to open outside of its xenophobia (a response towards the Lunar presence). The Storm Bull cult no doubt seeks out Chaos that once had been protected by the Lunar Empire. And so on.
4. One form that reassertion of autonomy often takes is banditry. Without the Lunar army, many groups take to robbing other groups. As Argrath’s followers are no doubt on both sides of this equation, this can get awful sticky. Still it gives those restless adventurers something to do – robbing foes, while hunting down and stopping those robbing friends and allies!

And if you can’t find plenty of fodder for traditional fantasy RPGs there, you clearly aren’t trying at all!

Who aids Argrath and follows him into Dragon Pass? Mostly Lightbringers, but also plenty of followers of the Nomad Gods, some Malkioni, Solar worshipers, and even some Lunars. The big three are probably Orlanth, Humakt, and Storm Bull.

Now one of the nice things about this is that it is really easy to get a party made up of different cults, different kinship groups, even different cultures.