[Meta Org] The Topaz Eye

[Havard]

The Topaz Eye

-Havard

[Havard]

The Topaz Eye is an organization for all kinds of spellcasters who can access divination magic. What do you think about having a specific organization for this type of characters? Should Divination magic hold a special place in Blackmoor?

Dave Arneson's earlier writings (FFC) do mention predictions and precognitions IIRC...

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

The underlying concept of Blackmoor is very adventurer-centric (one hero -or a small group of heroes- that, in the face of overwhelming adverse odds, manage to resist and turn the tide of history) and therefore, in theory, divination (i.e. checking what is the destiny that the gods decided for us and, somehow, align to it, making the most of what they decided) should be a very opposed way of thinking. However, I think that, the way divination spells are often presented ("from a divination spell you get to know that the Afridhi/the Egg/an obscure chaotic cult.... is working on this and that obscure plot... and now you have a chance to twart it...") is actually very fitting with the setting.

[Havard]

The underlying concept of Blackmoor is very adventurer-centric (one hero -or a small group of heroes- that, in the face of overwhelming adverse odds, manage to resist and turn the tide of history) and therefore, in theory, divination (i.e. checking what is the destiny that the gods decided for us and, somehow, align to it, making the most of what they decided) should be a very opposed way of thinking. However, I think that, the way divination spells are often presented ("from a divination spell you get to know that the Afridhi/the Egg/an obscure chaotic cult.... is working on this and that obscure plot... and now you have a chance to twart it...") is actually very fitting with the setting.

That is an excellent point. As long as the divinations are kept vague and mysterious, they can make for alot of cool adventuring possibilities.

The one thing I am not so sure about in the description for the Topaz Eye is the requirement that they swear loyalty to King Uther. It seems a little odd to me. I think part of what is bothering me is the general problem of the Blackmoor d20 line that it produced tons of material that was tied to the tiny Kingdom of Blackmoor with very few references to the larger world. Could the Topaz Order simply be diviners who are loyal to all rulers wherever they travel? This would be benefitial for them if they would wish to survive as an organization. I would either have the Topaz Order also be loyal to the Thonian Empire, or I would have it be actively opposed to that Empire (but not say the Duchy of the Peaks).

Another option would be to have the Topaz Order be a larger order within the Empire, but have a local chapter who are exlusively servants of Uther.

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

My impression is that I don't see many playing characters joining the Topaz Eye. It sounds more a NPC organization... perhaps exactly that organization that goes from time to time to King Uther, warning him of threatening plots and the like, as mentioned above.

[Yaztromo]

The one thing I am not so sure about in the description for the Topaz Eye is the requirement that they swear loyalty to King Uther. It seems a little odd to me. I think part of what is bothering me is the general problem of the Blackmoor d20 line that it produced tons of material that was tied to the tiny Kingdom of Blackmoor with very few references to the larger world. Could the Topaz Order simply be diviners who are loyal to all rulers wherever they travel? This would be benefitial for them if they would wish to survive as an organization. I would either have the Topaz Order also be loyal to the Thonian Empire, or I would have it be actively opposed to that Empire (but not say the Duchy of the Peaks).

Another option would be to have the Topaz Order be a larger order within the Empire, but have a local chapter who are exlusively servants of Uther.

-Havard

I understood that this is a purely Blackmoorian Guild set up by eight Blackmoorian diviners. Maybe there is a similar Thonian (Tenian, etc.) Guild with a different name.
Did I get it right?

[Havard]

I understood that this is a purely Blackmoorian Guild set up by eight Blackmoorian diviners. Maybe there is a similar Thonian (Tenian, etc.) Guild with a different name.
Did I get it right?

I think your interpretation is correct.

However, one problem with the MMRPG and perhaps also some of the other D20 Blackmoor books is that the authors sometimes seem to give an impression of Blackmoor as a huge empire, when it is really a small Kingdom/collection of Baronies. Perhaps it is not the individual works that do this so much as the total of all the different materials that make the setting feel packed. How many organizations can exist in a small realm? At least if we are talking real organizations and not just groups of a handful of individuals?

My attempt at fixing that is linking the organizations to the greater setting and not just Blackmoor itself. The Topaz Eye is a little more problematic in that sense because of its connection to King Uther.

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

However, one problem with the MMRPG and perhaps also some of the other D20 Blackmoor books is that the authors sometimes seem to give an impression of Blackmoor as a huge empire, when it is really a small Kingdom/collection of Baronies.

I agree, it is an issue.
On top of it, the MMRPG gave multiple runs to all well-known enemies of Blackmoor (perhaps not so much to Skandaharians...) but, in comparison, not enough to the Thonian Empire snakepit.

[Havard]

However, one problem with the MMRPG and perhaps also some of the other D20 Blackmoor books is that the authors sometimes seem to give an impression of Blackmoor as a huge empire, when it is really a small Kingdom/collection of Baronies.

I agree, it is an issue.
On top of it, the MMRPG gave multiple runs to all well-known enemies of Blackmoor (perhaps not so much to Skandaharians...) but, in comparison, not enough to the Thonian Empire snakepit.

The MMRPG is a long campaign so it is not surprising that it covered a lot of ground when it comes to the conflicts around Blackmoor. Most long running BM campaigns are prone to do that.

Something Dustin once said leads me to believe that ZGG were not allowed to develop the world of Blackmoor outside the map shown in the DA modules or the FFC, so that might be why Thonia and the Skandahar Jarldoms got so little coverage.

Back to the Topaz Eye, I like the idea of an order of diviners and seers. It reminds me of the Gypsy Predictions from the FFC or Greek Oracles. I could see them appearing before rulers bringing warnings and precognitions at vital points through Blackmoor's history.

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

I also like the name of the organization!