Edens_Fall wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 7:23 amLurkingShadow wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 9:48 pmDM Poppy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:40 pmIt is a deliberate imbalance between the Underdark and the Surface. The Surface thrives with bustling settlements, shared resources, and coexistence among diverse cultures. In contrast, the treacherous Underdark is infested with monsters and criminals, posing a threat to the Surface society.
Surface dwellers are urged to repel any attempts by the Underdark's inhabitants to disrupt their peaceful existence. The Underdark attracts malevolent forces seeking to undermine the Surface's stability and progress.
Conversely, the Underdark struggles with Andunor, its lone trade city situated in hazardous caves prone to collapse. Andunor relies heavily on surface traders for survival, despite the citizens' resentment.
This stark divide between the Surface and the Underdark emphasizes the differing living conditions and resources. The Surface represents stability and progress, while the Underdark remains a harsh environment endangering the Surface society. This intentional imbalance offers rich storytelling possibilities, as players navigate the conflicts arising from these contrasting realms.
For being so reliant on the surface they sure hate it and mess a lot with it. Whats up with that?
It's mainly due to the one-sided nature of the interaction that causes the resentment. For example Andunor is forced by the setting to allow surfacers to visit and trade, however every surface settlement is also forced by the setting to kill and exile every Underdarker. So they raid and enslave as a way to vent.
This is not a choice by the surface players. So why blame them? It just feels like a excuse to kidnap and do god knows what with surfacers becaue "Andunor is open to anyone". Like Poppy says below, it is not your typical holy person wandering inside Andunor like the Fonz from Happy Days, making the women swoon and the men want to be him, while selling turnips from Bendir Dale.
DM Poppy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 19, 2023 8:26 amIt's not a way to vent. It's a way of living.
Andunor is a trade city, but it is the capital of slavery on Arelith.
Your typical merchant in Andunor is not going to be a Paladin from the Radiant Heart, if so they need to strongly reflect on their RPR. It is scum trading with other scum.
But despite the fact it is scraping at the bottom of the bucket in terms of morality, even these Surfacer Traders are hated because they are doing what the monsters cannot. Stable trade of supplies. Without them, despite how they are loathed both up and down, Andunor would loose resources and income that it cannot afford.
This is game settings, Arelith lore. It may not reflect what has been built in game but it serves to maintain a direction of development.
Though, I think there s a number of players who should step away from their computer and take a moment of pause. Several individuals are commenting on matters of gameplay far to critically.
So I'll ask people to consider what they write and the politeness of their writing before they submit it as these topics risk being locked.
Considering the support of slavery, the recent rise in attacks. Is it reasonable to attack any Andunorians now? As vengeance? There been actions against my char icly that makes it furious. Where goes the line of interactions and relations?