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The Black Loch Conclave has ended. Here are the results.
🕑 Added 2022-04-16 19:22:55 +0000 UTCAfter several rounds of voting, a new location for the Black Loch has been chosen: Kenneth's proposal of a drow outpost built into the ceiling of the loch, allowing them to keep an eye on the passing ships below. I love the idea and I think it'll make a great addition to the setting.
Of the twenty new locations proposed, the outpost is the only one that will put a new dot on the map, but it isn't the only one that will affect the loch. Quite a few of your ideas have inspired me in ways that will affect how I draw the remaining locations. Let's go over them:
Grimlocks
The proposal that came in second was a shipyard run by deep gnomes. When Leo proposed it, my first thought was, "Oh my god... I forgot to put a shipyard in the loch!" I decided that, if this proposal didn't win, I'd work the idea into the grimlock settlement.
Basically, a team of deep gnome engineers builds ships using grimlock laborers. The grimlocks, who are paid in meat, have come to realize that they get more meat by building ships than they did by hunting. So, the gnomes are rich, the grimlocks are fat, and whoever the grimlocks used to eat are still alive. Everyone's very happy with the arrangement.
Drow Settlement
Sinam proposed a temple complex built around stalactites. That reminded me of a map I made called The Tusk, which is a similar idea that I've thought might make an interesting concept for a village or small town. I've decided that the remaining drow settlement is the place for that.
Fortress Ruins
I wasn't sure what I was doing with this location, but two proposals helped me figure it out. Alfred proposed a kobold village in a maze of wet, narrow tunnels and moss farms (also known as "Kobold Venice"). And Hugh proposed a dragonkin settlement whose residents worship the ancient dragon Kaliphex.
I've been wanting to work Kaliphex into the lore a bit more. At 11,000 years old, she might be the oldest dragon in the world. Lately, a strange phenomenon has been happening. Lesser draconic races-- dragonborn, dragonkin and kobolds-- can feel her presence and seem to be drawn to her.
A number of them have ventured into the underdark to find the presence that's been calling to them. They've set up a small settlement in the ruins of a fortress that was burned down by Kaliphex centuries ago. The dragonborn and dragonkin live in the fort's old courtyard, while the kobolds have set up shop in the wet tunnels of the dungeon beneath. Of course, Kaliphex isn't interested in them, but they are really into her.
Duergar Outpost
Matt proposed a duergar outpost with a prison and a workshop for making duergar screamers. A screamer is a metal construct with a dwarf trapped inside. It's in constant agony and it channels that pain into screams which can shatter stone. There were already plans for a duergar outpost and I'm going to include that because it's absolutely nuts.
Aboleth Lair
This one is a maybe. Mirjirj proposed a settlement inside the gigantic, petrified skull of an ancient deity. I don't know exactly what I'm doing with the aboleth lair yet, but I'd really like to incorporate this if possible. No promises, but if I can find a way to make it work, I will. In my head, it looks really cool.
And that's about it. The ideas everyone has put forward are going to change the loch in pretty significant ways and I think it'll end up being a lot more interesting for it. Thanks to everyone for the inspiration and I hope you like the direction things are going with the Black Loch. Let me know what you think!
Comments
Milby's Maps
Thanks, I bookmarked that and I'll look it over again when I start on the aboleth lair. I'm definitely going for an alien look to the place and those sound like they'd contribute to that. I especially like the last one. Black pools of heinous sludge might set just the right tone for the place.
Alfred Salmon
wrt the Aboleth lair, the deities mentioned on this page each have specific signs that are used in aboleth architecture to honour them: https://rythiae.fandom.com/wiki/Elder_Evils specific interesting ones: - Pulsating pillars of violet fire honour Y'chak - Domes of red crystal honour Piscaethces - Large underwater pools of dense, dark liquid honour Shothotugg Not necessarily canon, but an interesting take on weird alien design principles influencing squid architecture.
