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The Mahasarpa Campaign is a free web enhancement to Wizard of the Coast’s Oriental Adventures (available here). Mahasarpa is an Indian-themed campaign setting that features seven kingdoms that are the surviving remnants of a great kingdom brought down by its own arrogance. Mahasarpa includes brief descriptions of the seven kingdoms, character options for the setting, new magic items, and new monsters.

Centuries ago, the great kingdom of Mahanaga ruled seven smaller kingdoms and controlled all of the lands along the Bahanis River from the Adribandha Mountains to the coast as well as the Kokaha Steppes north of the Adribandhas. However, a mad maharajah came to power and through arrogance and foolish pride alienated the seven kingdoms and Nagini, their serpent queen patron deity. The rajahs of the lesser kingdoms rebelled, and Nagini placed a curse on the people of Mahanaga, transforming them into yuan-ti. Their city then decayed and the Mahayana Forest overtook their lands.

The people of the seven kingdoms are divided into four varnas (castes) plus untouchables. The highest varnas are the Brahmins, the shamans of the seven kingdoms. Next are the Kshatriyas, the warrior caste and wielders of temporal authority. Below the Kshatriyas are the vaishyas, the merchant caste, and the shudras, comprised of farmers, herders, and servants.

The seven kingdoms are Bhalluka, Gandharva, Kokaha, Lakshmana, Naga, Singha, and Vriscika. Bhalluka lies in the grasslands west of the Mahayana Forest and that its people are dedicated to warfare against the yuan-ti of the Mahayana. Gandharva is a theocracy to the east of the Mahayana. Kokaha is the land of the horse steppe nomads north of the Adribandhas. Lakshmana is the coastal kingdom where the Bahanis River meets the sea. Lakshmana is a luxurious land far removed from the terrors of the Mahayana Forest. The Naga is the kingdom of the Adribandha Mountain and is known for its monks and ascetic warriors. Singha is a kingdom of elite warriors south of the Mahayana that prefer warfare in the open grasslands over confronting the terrors of the forest (But it will undoubtedly be referred to by players as the beer kingdom). Vriscika is the decadent kingdom whose capital is on an island in the Bahanis River between Singha and Lakshmana.

Humans are the prevalent race in the Seven Kingdoms, but players can also choose to play shapechanging Hengeyokai (monkey or mongoose only), Spirit Folk (river or sea only), Vanara (hirsute monkey-like humanoids), or Aasimar (planetouched). Available classes include psychic warrior, shaman, sohei, rogue, samurai, sorceror, monk, ranger, fighter, wu jen, barbarian, and psion. Two new domains are provided: Meditation, for the Brahmins, and Serpent for the yuan-ti. Available prestige classes include Bear Warrior, Hanshin Mystic, Kishi Charger, Ninja Spy, Shadow Scout, Shapeshifter, Singh Rager, Tattooed Monk, Void Disciple, Weapon Master, and Witch Hunter from OA, Soulknife from the Psionics Handbook, and Assassin.

Mahasarpa is closely-tied to the Rokugan-based campaign elements from OA. The Bhalluka are similar to the Crab Clan; the Gandharva are like the Phoenix Clan; the Kokaha are equivalent to the Unicorn Clan; the Lakshmana are similar to the Crane Clan; the Naga are like the Dragon Clan; the Singha are equivalent to the Lion Clan; and the Vriscika are similar to the Scorpion Clan. The Kshatriya even carry ancestral tulwar and kris like a samurai’s dai-sho (perhaps taking the analogy too far). More surprising are the number of other books referenced here, including the Psionics Handbook, Monsters of Faerun, and the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Still, Mahasarpa could be played with just the three core rulebooks.

For such a brief presentation, Mahasarpa offers an intriguing setting for adventure whether it is monster-hunting in the Mahayana, political intrigue among the seven kingdoms, or exploration in the Adribandhas or beyond. A GM will need to do some work to build on the setting - none of the cities and next to no NPCs are described - but Mahasarpa provides a solid outline to begin from that presents plenty of possibilities.

The Mahasarpa Campaign
The Mahasarpa Campaign Capsule Review by Jeb Boyt on 15/01/02 Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty) An intriguing alternative setting for Oriental Adventures Product: The Mahasarpa Campaign Author: James Wyatt Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Line: D&D3d / Oriental Adventures Cost: Free download Page count: 11 Year published: 2001 ISBN: SKU: Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Jeb Boyt on 15/01/02 Genre tags: Fantasy Asian/Far East	The Mahasarpa Campaign is a free web enhancement to Wizard of the Coast’s Oriental Adventures (available here). Mahasarpa is an Indian-themed campaign setting that features seven kingdoms that are the surviving remnants of a great kingdom brought down by its own arrogance. Mahasarpa includes brief descriptions of the seven kingdoms, character options for the setting, new magic items, and new monsters. Centuries ago, the great kingdom of Mahanaga ruled seven smaller kingdoms and controlled all of the lands along the Bahanis River from the Adribandha Mountains to the coast as well as the Kokaha Steppes north of the Adribandhas. However, a mad maharajah came to power and through arrogance and foolish pride alienated the seven kingdoms and Nagini, their serpent queen patron deity. The rajahs of the lesser kingdoms rebelled, and Nagini placed a curse on the people of Mahanaga, transforming them into yuan-ti. Their city then decayed and the Mahayana Forest overtook their lands. The people of the seven kingdoms are divided into four varnas (castes) plus untouchables. The highest varnas are the Brahmins, the shamans of the seven kingdoms. Next are the Kshatriyas, the warrior caste and wielders of temporal authority. Below the Kshatriyas are the vaishyas, the merchant caste, and the shudras, comprised of farmers, herders, and servants. The seven kingdoms are Bhalluka, Gandharva, Kokaha, Lakshmana, Naga, Singha, and Vriscika. Bhalluka lies in the grasslands west of the Mahayana Forest and that its people are dedicated to warfare against the yuan-ti of the Mahayana. Gandharva is a theocracy to the east of the Mahayana. Kokaha is the land of the horse steppe nomads north of the Adribandhas. Lakshmana is the coastal kingdom where the Bahanis River meets the sea. Lakshmana is a luxurious land far removed from the terrors of the Mahayana Forest. The Naga is the kingdom of the Adribandha Mountain and is known for its monks and ascetic warriors. Singha is a kingdom of elite warriors south of the Mahayana that prefer warfare in the open grasslands over confronting the terrors of the forest (But it will undoubtedly be referred to by players as the beer kingdom). Vriscika is the decadent kingdom whose capital is on an island in the Bahanis River between Singha and Lakshmana. Humans are the prevalent race in the Seven Kingdoms, but players can also choose to play shapechanging Hengeyokai (monkey or mongoose only), Spirit Folk (river or sea only), Vanara (hirsute monkey-like humanoids), or Aasimar (planetouched). Available classes include psychic warrior, shaman, sohei, rogue, samurai, sorceror, monk, ranger, fighter, wu jen, barbarian, and psion. Two new domains are provided: Meditation, for the Brahmins, and Serpent for the yuan-ti. Available prestige classes include Bear Warrior, Hanshin Mystic, Kishi Charger, Ninja Spy, Shadow Scout, Shapeshifter, Singh Rager, Tattooed Monk, Void Disciple, Weapon Master, and Witch Hunter from OA, Soulknife from the Psionics Handbook, and Assassin. Mahasarpa is closely-tied to the Rokugan-based campaign elements from OA. The Bhalluka are similar to the Crab Clan; the Gandharva are like the Phoenix Clan; the Kokaha are equivalent to the Unicorn Clan; the Lakshmana are similar to the Crane Clan; the Naga are like the Dragon Clan; the Singha are equivalent to the Lion Clan; and the Vriscika are similar to the Scorpion Clan. The Kshatriya even carry ancestral tulwar and kris like a samurai’s dai-sho (perhaps taking the analogy too far). More surprising are the number of other books referenced here, including the Psionics Handbook, Monsters of Faerun, and the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting. Still, Mahasarpa could be played with just the three core rulebooks. For such a brief presentation, Mahasarpa offers an intriguing setting for adventure whether it is monster-hunting in the Mahayana, political intrigue among the seven kingdoms, or exploration in the Adribandhas or beyond. A GM will need to do some work to build on the setting - none of the cities and next to no NPCs are described - but Mahasarpa provides a solid outline to begin from that presents plenty of possibilities.