Future

This future is 1,000 years away. It is heavy in both magic and technology.

Political. Ri-Laganth looks similar to the ancient settlement, The small mountain range it was once tucked into is now covered by large complexes of âpartments, homes, and businesses. Tlie Kirkshams rise up behind the city, and in their vast ranges, large areas of wilderness still remain. Ri-Laganth is now a city-state that covers what used to be several smaller kingdoms. It is ruled by a council in which the military still plays a large part.

The Empire (of which Ri-Laganth is a part) covers most of the human lands. It has a loose alliance with the elven nation that resides on the far side of the Kirkshams, but it refuses to even recognize the orc nation in the southern jungles. The Empire leaves each city-state to itself as long as they pay proper respect and meet yearly tax quotas. The Emperor is said to have built the Empire through great magical power and the loyalty of the Wizards' Guild. Other continents are traded with freely but st is thought that the Empire might be expanding in those directions soon.

Social. Ri-Laganth is "enlightened" with the classes relating fairly well with each other. Sexism and racism are all but eliminated, and if old grudges are still harbored, thevy are kept quiet. Orcs traveling the human lands are made as welcome as dwarves and elves. The people possess a high amount of pride in their city-state, which is not unfounded, since they tend to have a high standard of living. The common person lives at a level of comfort similar to that of the middle class of a thousand years ago, with plenty of leisure time and a steady income. Average Intelligence is up slightly, and everyone receives a fairly adequate education.

Religion. The religious paranoia these people once exhibited has faded, and several dozen churches have large followings, including some of questionable morals and alignment. No church has a huge footing, though, and the high priests occupy only three seats on the council, the smallest of any group.

Economic. A printed standard has been estabüshed by each city-state. Ten bills equal one gp, and coins of tin have taken over for precious metals. Tribute to the Empire is still paid in goid. Much of the trade between city-states is also accomplished this way, since some currencies are stronger than others.

Production of the essentials and many of life's comforts has reached a stage where they are ail cheap enough for people to have. Unless the item would be considered specially crafted, prices would be approximately half what they used to be.

Magic and Technology. Most people can cast a few lower-level speils. Schools offer courses in spellcasting. Magic is a career choice, and vvizards are all specialists of some type. A magical mass-transportation svstem runs along special routes in the city, similar to a trolley system but magically propelled. Steeds are still a means of travel, but horses are as common as hippogriffs and griffons, and a few pegasi fly over the city.

Telepads (see page 81) are the only public travel source for long distances, and they cost only a few bills to nse. Using magic to explore the possibillties of space travel is under way here (witii results depending on the DM's desire to deal with the ramifications). Firearms are normai weapons, but a large majority of the population has protective wards against nonmagical missiles. Much of the technology is divorcing itself from magical aid in efforts to become mass-producible, but the big stuff, such as lightning generators, rejuvenation centers, and telepads, remains the same, since the benefits far outweigh any problems with relying on magic.

Adventure Ideas. Unless the characters are intent on causing trouble, adventuring is at an all-time low. Wildemess areas are extant in the mountains or deep within certain forests, but the public frowns on the deliberate hunting of certain creatures. There are still the less civilized areas where trouble with other humanoids is as likeiy as a run-in with an ill-tempered creature, but rnost of the adventure here is in exploring a strange world.