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I've always been a staunch supporter of the Vahnatai (I killed Erika in Exile III to stop her from dueling Rentar and the other Vahnatai), and Blades of Exile needs to have a different attitude towards them. Many of the Vahnatai I have seen in scenarios have been hostile, Empire-hating maniacs. The general perception of Vahnatai on the surface is negative, but that doesn't mean that it has to be right. The Vahnatai that had the Crystal Souls stolen from them are just one clan of Vahnatai, and they were pretty much routed by six PCs in Exile III. There are other clans out there that have not yet made contact with the humans. Some may welcome them, while others may spurn them. Rentar-Ihrno swore revenge, saying that the Vahnatai never forget, but that is not the only Vahnatai storyline available to designers. Beyond the Vahnatai lands in Exile II there are many more cities, both from Rentar's clan and others. The clan we met in Exiles II and III was just one, albeit a powerful one, with their own set of crystal souls. Olgai is a new city, constructed after Resting, and it's just the biggest one of this clan's latest waking era. Other clans of Vahnatai are not just waking up, and there are some Vahnatai civilizations that have been flourishing for centuries, undiscovered by anyone. Aspiring designers could create a scenario that takes place wholly in Vahnatai lands, with your party as human diplomats, making your first contact with the other clans. As Stephen Masel said, "I think they've had a pretty bad rap. Maybe it's because BoE doesn't allow you to put Vahnatai in the party so it's hard to write a scenario that's pro-Vahnatai or anti-human." Scenarios set before Exile III will work, with the party working with, against, or parallel to the main party in Exile II. Or scenarios way before Exile I, where Vahnatai are still on the surface, or where the Vahnatai have just created your party, and you have to deal with renegade Vahnatai. A scenario that explains why the Vahnatai fled the surface could be very interesting too. Scenario designers don't need to make Vahnatai with an anti-human sentiment. There are lots of good plots with the Vahnatai as the party's friends, and scenario designers are squandering them. For more information on the Vahnatai, check out Vahnatai Week, where everything we know about Vahnatai (and some things we don't) is available. |
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