Where should I begin this adventure?

[koesherbacon]

As I think I've shared here before, I used to play in Ravenloft waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy back when DND had an "A" in front of it's acronym, and I could use a little help figuring out where this adventure idea should begin for a new group of players.

My idea right now is to have the PCs begin playing as slaves. Their game will begin just before being forced to compete in a gladiatorial arena against other slaves for the amusement of their necromancer slave-master and the free citizens of his city-state. In order to keep his warrior-slaves from escape, this necromancer uses many different undead as untiring guards, as well as a few humanoids and monstrous-humanoids.

Obviously, the first part of the adventure will be to escape from their captivity. In order to find and kill the necormancer, they'll have to figure out where he lives in relation to the gladiator slavepit in which they currently are held. Eventually, after killing the necromancer, I'd like the game to revolve around finding and freeing other slaves all over the Realm of Dread.

The PCs will begin at Level 4, if that makes any difference.

So, my question to you is... Where should this game begin? Is there a good area already made that would fit? Or should I make up my own custom area for this to take place in?

Thanks a lot!

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

well, until you said Necromancer, I was all set to say Falkovnia. That's the only canon place I know of with gladiators. But they're not big on necromancy (being sworn enemies of Azalin and all), and not real big on magic in general, outside of the Radiant Tower. So undead slave guards would be right out.

That sort of overt undead usage doesn't happen much in the Core, at least in the canon version. Or even in most non-core domains. It kind of sounds like something out of Tovag or Cavitius actually, though I'm not sure if they have people to spare for "play fighting" when there's a continuous war going on.

You might be best off making up your own domain, since you've already got some good setting flavor. It's just not a flavor that meshes 100% with any known domain I can think of.

[Dark Angel]

Athas (aka Dark Sun Setting) is rampant with gladiatorial combat, but I am fairly certain that magic users are VERY different than the straight forward mages (including specialists) of the D&D setting. One thing I have used with decent success is the players begin in another plane of existence (one with a setup you are looking for) and then have a big bad guy (your necromancer may work for this) begin the drawing in process to Ravenloft. As they gain their freedom, they can break the hold on the newly formed demiplane and can get placed elsewhere in Ravenloft. The only potential complication is the darklord npc would have to be fleshed out with appropriate levels of irredeemable evil and matching torments from the Dark Powers. When the group disposes of the bad guy and frees the slaves, they could now be dropped into a situation that is far worse than they may realize. Worst case scenario if you want to keep this new pocket domain around, keep it and allow the group to escape. Will they return to dispose of the bad guy? Will they go onto other domains without looking back? Not as important as the initial setup and execution.

Unless you really want them to be natives to the Demiplane (then you could have them born into domain) or enslaved from other domains. Gladiator combat, kits, campaign ideas, and arenas from Athas are summed up well in the AD&D 2ed book Book of Gladiators, if you are interested.

[Alastor]

Athas (aka Dark Sun Setting) is rampant with gladiatorial combat, but I am fairly certain that magic users are VERY different than the straight forward mages (including specialists) of the D&D setting. One thing I have used with decent success is the players begin in another plane of existence (one with a setup you are looking for) and then have a big bad guy (your necromancer may work for this) begin the drawing in process to Ravenloft. As they gain their freedom, they can break the hold on the newly formed demiplane and can get placed elsewhere in Ravenloft. The only potential complication is the darklord npc would have to be fleshed out with appropriate levels of irredeemable evil and matching torments from the Dark Powers.

Kalidnay, is an existing domain taken from Athas, so it might make a good starting point.

[Dark Angel]

Athas (aka Dark Sun Setting) is rampant with gladiatorial combat, but I am fairly certain that magic users are VERY different than the straight forward mages (including specialists) of the D&D setting. One thing I have used with decent success is the players begin in another plane of existence (one with a setup you are looking for) and then have a big bad guy (your necromancer may work for this) begin the drawing in process to Ravenloft. As they gain their freedom, they can break the hold on the newly formed demiplane and can get placed elsewhere in Ravenloft. The only potential complication is the darklord npc would have to be fleshed out with appropriate levels of irredeemable evil and matching torments from the Dark Powers.

Kalidnay, is an existing domain taken from Athas, so it might make a good starting point.

Crap, I mean to put that in there, but my tangent left me farther off track than normal. Thanks for that (because I clearly failed to throw it in), Alastor.

[A G Thing]

Hazlan could also work... It has magic so necromacy is no trouble and the potential just from how the society is set up to have gladiator fights. Plus it gives you access to the core.

[The Lesser Evil]

Hazlan could also work... It has magic so necromacy is no trouble and the potential just from how the society is set up to have gladiator fights. Plus it gives you access to the core.

Hazlan also has a massive subjugated population that makes up the majority of the people (the Rashemani) by numbers (if obviously not power). The Mulani are known to be somewhat decadent, so having some kind of gladiatorial outfit might not be that out of place either. Slavery is a common fact of life in Thay, the realm that inspired Hazlan (and from where Hazlik "The Red Wizard" originally came from).

If you wanted to go with Falknovia, I would would suggest you do it with Lekar in the vampyre enclave of Vladimir Ludzig. I doubt the vampyres have any compulsions against dark magic like the humans of the domain would, and the messy abuse of slaves gladiatorial style (albeit behind closes doors) is right up their alley.

[Goobs]

Nova Vassa might also along with Individia. Readings Gaz 4 & 5 gave me the impression of slaves. If its pre GC Gundarak could work also, the brides of Gundar.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Yeah, I could see it in Hazlan, too. I guess I wasn't thinking broadly enough. There's no mention of Hazlani gladiators that I know of, but the social structure is there that would make it make sense.

[koesherbacon]

Thanks a lot for all that info! It sounds like both Barovia and Hazlan are near Nova Vassa. After reading about it here -- http://goo.gl/yNmXVp -- it sounds like a good place to stat the game. The villain could actually be from anywhere and travels to this impoverished land in order to provide entertainment to the aristocracy. He could also capture the poor to use as his combatants, without much fear of being prosecuted for their abduction.

I think I'll start the game in Kantora, since its a large city at a major crossroads... Unless someone has a better suggestion of where to begin in Nova Vassa.

Thanks again!

[Goobs]

Their really brave that's the capital of Nova Vassa. I'd have it happen in Bergovitsa near Borovia the Vistani could smuggle them or sell them out or, not counting all the other bandits which roam the country side!

[koesherbacon]

Cool, thanks a lot for that quick reply! I'll take your advice and start in Bergovitsa