Arabian Adventures

I watched the new live-action Aladdin movie and it inspired me with visions of a Middle Eastern/Indian/Turkmenistan setting for ACKS.

Fenereux is still on my mind and I want to continue developing the setting. However, I wanted another setting that was more established (historically, both in game and in the real world) to help me grasp the realm mechanics. The issue I have had with ACKS has always been my attempt to use it for the colonization campaign for Trokair (and subsequently Fenereux) while the rules seem to want to describe kingdoms and realms that have been in existence for some time (for the initial worldbuilding section).

By modeling a new setting where realms have risen and fallen over the centuries, rather than trying to establish colonies and realms whole cloth in a "new world", I can see how the rules work in situ.

I also want to learn more about the Middle East, particularly Lebanon and the Levant, for my own purposes to understand current geopolitics and better understand my children's heritage on their mother's side.

Finally, I think having a Mediterranean-style geography helps to open the world up a bit. Fenereux was really meant to restrict travel to overland to help contain the setting. By setting up the realms around the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, I can flex my "create just enough at a time" DM muscles by touching on more realms (Fenereux has such a light touch that non-Birmver realms are just broad concepts because the players are specifically not meant to travel from one realm to another except in very controlled ways).

The realm I will concentrate on is based heavily on the ancient Nabatean kingdom. They created the ruins at Petra and Mada'in al-Saleh (also known as Hegra). Hegra is really awesome. They carved tombs into the side of giant boulders. And I mean GIANT boulders. Some of these things could easily house medium, multi-level dungeons (Qasr al-Farid or Qasr al-Bint). Others could have smaller dungeons or connect to an underground megadungeon. Of course, you also have the Aladdin-inspired Cave of Wonders.

One of the main ideas that is stuck in my head are the Twin Princes. They are literally twins who adventure around the realms seeking fame, fortune, and glory for their realm (still ruled by their father). They are able to act as friends and foes to the PCs depending on whether the party is in their way or working to further their aims.

I am not sure how I want to handle religion. I feel like I want to avoid having a very strong Islam vibe as my historical inspiration is pre-Islam.