This is a suggestion for an expansion of the Drain, the sewer underworld of Vallaki, that I've been working on the last two days as a personal project. This is not officially supported and by no means finished, merely an unofficial work in progress. Read the concept below and feel free to comment!
(It's only 1 area, which is supposed to go just north of the Drain. A small expansion to an existing module, not a new one.)The WasteworksJust north of the Drain, a mere five minute boat peddle away through a sewagepipe, lies the area accurately named area "The Wasteworks", in theory still counted as a part of the Drain. Before the calibans took these large tunnels and rooms into use they were said to be used as waste storage, hence the name, a wide space for the topsiders to dump their trash... and essentially it still functions as such til this very day.
The biggest scum and poorest of the poor generally end up here, in back of the Drain. Wether it is an alcohol, gamble or opium addiction or simply the fact that "runtism" is written on your forehead. Everyone counted as a waste of space finds a use for themselves in the Wasteworks! And else the ones lurking around to profit on these outcasts will find a spot for you.
Consisting of a harbor (inside the sewer system, yeah), a prison, the fancy Opium Lounge and "The Cage" (an arena of gladiatorial combat) there are plenty of creative ways to waste your time (or life) alright. So hop onto the ferry and see for yourself.
Area OverviewO. The Ferry / starting position1. The Opium LoungeIn their own words "The finest waste of time in the entire underworld" and even though coming from a bunch of drows, it is not entirely untrue. The Opium Lounge serves as both a restaurant and... ermm, lounge area for the more sophisticated residents of the Drain. This includes drow, tieflings, twists, rich shady topsiders and any caliban that does not suffer from "runtism" in any way. The place is most known for it's extraordinary services, which goes far beyond just a sniff of Opium or a waterpipe. A sharp tongue and knife are also often exchanged or arranged within this establishment.
2. The CageFrom far and wide caliban and topsiders alike risk traveling down the Drain to spectate at the events in The Cage! The source of gladiatorial combat in the Underworld of Vallaki (and beyond), wether it is a topsider with a gambling debt or captured monstrocity... Blood will spill! And only one (or none) will survive. If the caliban have anything worthy of being considered a sport or national event, this would be it.
3. The PrisonworksAn open end of a trade with the Cellar dwellers might end you up here. As will causing trouble in the Drain or being a possible threath in some other way. The majority of those in the Prisonworks are destined to either end up in The Cage or a stew, unless you're lucky enough to have a price on your head and to be bailed out. (On some occasions the sentenced ones unfortunatly pass away in the Prisonworks, the torturequipment -might- be partially to blame.)
4. The DocksThe area you first encounter when walking from the pier to the Wasteworks. Dozens of tents and piles of stored junk litter these docks. Most of the smuggling goods are stored here, but that also includes topsider slaves and the numerous caliban runts that settled down here. The living conditions are possibly worse than in the southern part of the drain, although illnesses are quickly treated... or the sick are disposed off. (This area would also serve to introduce merchants, crafting areas and other services normally not accesible to Caliban players, without going topside and risking to be slain mercilessly.)
5. The Dive to the lakeThis room is little more than a swift escape out of the Drain, a drop off point into a fast streaming part of the sewer system which ends up in Lake Zarowich. It's main use is to ditch trash and corpses, but lately it has been used by the mentally challenged (or simply daring) individuals of the Wasteworks to quickly get to the surface, dumping the person at the shores of the Lake if they manage to avoid drowning.
(A similar idea was mentioned on the forums somewhere before, it's basicly intended as a quick alternative exit which drops you at a random shore of the lake.)
X. A collapsed tunnel There originally were plans to dig out an underground railroad towards the Vistani Camp at the Tser Pool, as a swifter traveling and smuggling route towards the other Caliban underworld in Dementlieu. (Only accesible by those with a high enough outcast rating.)
Unforeseen and unspoken problems were encountered and the digging was halted until further notice, wether the collapsing of the tunnel was the cause of these problems or the intentional result to avoid further complications... nobody knows, apart from the highest ranked of the Cellar Dwellers. (Possible expansion)
Development infoI have little knowledge of the actual technical side of the toolset, which means I don't even know how to acces the CEP or .hak packages of PotM within the program. So below is a short list of what is already done or still missing.
- The level design is done. This includes the lightning, sound, environment and conceptual side.
- There are no NPCs yet whatsoever, not even the "passive" ones. (Apart from two guard dogs)
- Zone transitions and other scripts aren't in place. (Like the ferry from the Drain to the Wasteworks and the Dive to the Lake)
- Exporting / importing this into the actual module would need to be done, doh... should the development team choose to work out this concept further and include the area in the server. (Which would be awesome, just poke me about it if it's possibly being considered!)Thanks for viewing, constructive criticism is ofcourse more than welcome.
(Wether the Devteam decides to pick up the concept or not. It was a fun waste of time regardless, hehe)
Feronius