Canonfire!

Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:17 pm Just who is this Kwalish person, anyway?

I'm planning a campaign that will include references to Kwalish (of Apparratice(sp?) fame) and was just wondering if there is any OFFICIAL info about him?

Like, when did he live? Is he still alive?
What race was he?
Was he even a he? Perhaps Kwalish was female?

Considering the contraption Kwalish is best known for, it would seem logical that he was an artificer. But, since that's not a historical class, perhaps not? Maybe Kwalish was one of the first artificers and later passed the skill along?

Any help on this topic will be greatly appreciated!!!

Sat Jun 17, 2006 5:29 pm

Living Greyhawk Journal #5 has an article on the Sultanate of Zeif that includes quite a bit about Kwalish. Here it goes with my own commentary:

Arm of Kwalish(1)
The inventor Kwalish lived here over 400 years ago(2), and the fortified workshop he built for himself is still to be found high on an inaccessible rock pillar several hundred yards from the mainland. A narrow arch once spannd the gap between the cliffside and the pillar, but that has since crumbled into the surf below. The upper works are also much weathered but local residents still know this place as the Arm of Kwalish. It is thought to be filled with traps and guardians designed by the great inventor(3) himself, along with a number of his other intriguing but generally less dangerous works.
Many examples of his works-murals, sculptures, and bas-reliefs, as well as other, specifically mechanical inventions are found throughout Zeif and abroad(4). Even the Sidi of the sea people was one of his patrons. Kwalish designed the great Dome of the Reef(5) for that renowned ruler of the mermen, as well as numerous devices for the use of his subjects. The various minor inventions of Kwalish are still highly sought after by collectors, as are the original plans for his creations. Some believe that Kwalish left scrolls with his outlines for several major unfinished works hidden somewhere in his workshops; but if he did the plans are well concealed for they have never been brought to light(6).

1) The Arm is off the coast near the Zeifan city of Nafiq which is about 500 due west of Zeif City.
2) By the article's timeline 400 years ago Zeif and thus Kwalish, must have still been on good terms with the merfolk. Zeif ruled the seas and its many ports/ islands. Then 21 years later the timeline lists an undetailed event called The Slaughter of the Sea People. This was followed by over two centuries of tensions with the merfolk that culminated at the Battle Beneath the Waves in which 1/3 of Zeif's navy was crushed by the merfolk and navies of Komal. The city of Nafiq where Kwalish evidentally spent most of his life was once a naval base. After the Battle Beneath the Waves, peace was made and human hostages were returned to Nafiq. This place is now more a retirement place for sailors and a frequent location for visiting merfolk. The article says that Zeifans host mer-sheiks to keep up good relations. They use submerged grottos that allow surface dwellers to breath air (a Kwalish design?).
3) This implies he was an artificer class of some type. I'm sure there's a dozen ways to characterize his class, but its not necessary since he no longer lives.
4) I assume this means his Apparatus. So far his far-reaching renaissance-man image brings to mind Leonardo.
5) This Dome must be for the palace of whatever undersea city the merfolk rule from. What it is I haven't found. Use your imagination on that one.
6) And here is the adventure in it. A treasure/ secret hunt through his lofty workshop, full of traps and programmed defenders. The loot is no less than a huge hoard of knowledge that any wizard, maybe someone like Drawmij, would love to have.

Sun Jun 18, 2006 8:34 am

Ofcourse the Sultanate of Zeif isn't going to take kindly to anyone "exploring" Kwalish workshop given he is a famous national figure especially easterners. Given the danger involved; possible historical and military advantage of the "lost manuscripts" the state will no doubt try to confiscate the documents.

Add some religious zealots who don't want Kwalish new "ungodly" creations to be discovered, black marketteers, merfolk who don't want their friends' memory and workshop ransacked.

Finally who knows what is in the workshop, for all your players know it could be empty?

Sounds like an adventure to me...

Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:09 pm Kwalish

Thanks for the info mortellan! (and for the ideas Crag!)

It never occurred to me that Kwalish was a Bakluni. The adventure I had in mind involved the finding of one of his inventions FAR from the Baklunish lands. But I was planning a side adventure to the baklunish areas anyway, and with this new info/adventure hook I feel the seed of new campaign germinating!

So anyone else want to weigh in on the subject?

Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:39 pm

Since he lived in Zeif it easiest to assume he is Baklunish, but then again Kwalish is such a fantasy-made name it wouldn't be a stretch to say he came from elsewhere and set up shop in Zeif so he could have some peace and quiet. He did do alot of works in that area but the article does mention his works being spread far and wide, perhaps he spent time in other courts. Being from 400 years ago makes him from the era of the Great Kingdom of Aerdy and Imperialist Keoland as well. He would have been quite interested in tales of relics from the east like the Servant of Luek-O, Machine of Lum the Mad or Queen Ehlissa's Marvelous Nightengale. Kwalish is a good personality to explore.

Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:01 pm

The best thing about Kwalish is that no one has gotten around to reinventing him as a minor god yet. Which has pretty much happened to every other potentially interesting historical figure in GH.

Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:08 am

Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:03 am

Wed Jun 21, 2006 7:40 am

Perhaps Kwalish was a sort of clockwork mage as in the 2ed Sha'ir Handbook?

Wed Jun 21, 2006 8:00 am

Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:46 pm

So, from the info you've provided so far, Kwalish would seem to be:

-a male Baklunish human

-an Artificer (or prototype thereof)

-dead (barring life prolonging magic)

-well travelled during his lifetime

So, one of his contraptions being fished out of the Nyr Dyv wouldn't be totally implossible, right? (that's the adventure hook I'd planned...)

Umm, what, if any, alignment is given for him?
(Sorry to be such a pest, but I have no access to LGJ back issues.)

Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:32 pm