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PDF“The seal is made. Forty Suns,” said every cleric simultaneously on the planet that day. That would number only in the tens of thousands, among all the races.
This event, thirty-eight years ago, caused a varying degree of anxiety, doubt and violence. Most faiths awaiting their god or an avatar were convinced that it was a sign, not only that the wait was soon over, but also of the superiority of their faith over others, for had not their shamans and demon-possessed heretics also spoken the words?
For others, particularly parts of the world with less complicated religions, this became the seed from which great and terrible faiths arose. The old races took it as a sign of a revival and eventual golden age.
Still others took it as political prophecy–the King that would liberate them would be coming as the mandate of heaven had changed. Some tribes even managed to liberate themselves far in advance. Other superstition cultures took it as an ill omen for their future. As the fortieth date approaches, panic arises and decorum breaks down.
Oracles in particular had a hard time understanding this. Some went silent after that, never speaking again and in some cases, throwing themselves to the ocean.
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Okay, what happens in the 40th year? And wouldn’t Suns be more like days?
Whatever the DM wants happens.
Suns could mean days or years. I see where days might be the first reaction. Maybe there was a great suicide and panic on the fortieth day then someone thought it might be solar years.
Or maybe it is days and it happened last night!
I don’t have the audience to make a Gygaxian Democracy (tm Zak) out of this, but maybe a table this weekend. If you have an idea you want to share, please feel free to post.
I will.
40 Suns was both a time period and a description. Each day for 39 days, exactly 40 years after The Speaking, a new sun will appear. Each of these is illusionary until the 40th rises, at which point they become real, tearing apart the entire solar system. The players of course have to figure out a way to stop this. Alternately, they could give off heat, but not have mass, forcing people to live underground.
Nice.
That justifies megadungeons and many underground races, if it was so hot everyone went under. Eons later, people can come back up but some stayed behind.