@OldShadow I am sort of wandering what is the astatic/civ template our proto elves are going to develop into?, as these quests typically have template frame everything confirms to, for example in Into that Vast and Unrelenting Darkness the template is the Fedration from star trek but with magical sorcerous space weasels, so what is the template our proto elves going for as they are still stone age hunter gatherers there isn't much to go on, I just hope it's not your stereotypical peace-loving fantasy vegan tree hugger elves , like in all of fiction the only two flavors of elves I actually liked were the Warhammer fantasy high elves cause they were just that badass (if your tried to translate the high elf militia spear men unit from the table top into the pathfinder system you would get a level 15 plus fighter clad in high end masterwork gear levels of badass) and the other being the elderscrolls Dwemmer deep elves (cause they too are bad ass and subvert the stereotype completely plus they have beards)
@OldShadow I am sort of wandering what is the astatic/civ template our proto elves are going to develop into?, as these quests typically have template frame everything confirms to, for example in Into that Vast and Unrelenting Darkness the template is the Fedration from star trek but with magical sorcerous space weasels, so what is the template our proto elves going for as they are still stone age hunter gatherers there isn't much to go on, I just hope it's not your stereotypical peace-loving fantasy vegan tree hugger elves , like in all of fiction the only two flavors of elves I actually liked were the Warhammer fantasy high elves cause they were just that badass (if your tried to translate the high elf militia spear men unit from the table top into the pathfinder system you would get a level 15 plus fighter clad in high end masterwork gear levels of badass) and the other being the elderscrolls Dwemmer deep elves (cause they too are bad ass and subvert the stereotype completely plus they have beards)
Somewhat of a spoiler, but I have a few templates ready, and they will be applied depending on the choices the player will take.
Since they are in a fantasy forest and made of long-lived proto-elves, the Freesingers could evolve as a druidic people/wood elves from fantasy...
But they could create a bard-focused nation, and use the power of songs and persuasion to influence others races, nature and the very earth (somewhat like an overboosted Senathil, for those who played Anbennar).
Or they could go all in their respect for the Elders, and become a theocracy venerating their dead/undead ancestors, like the Undying Court of Eberron.
Or even explore as much magic as possible and decide that having to deal with things like nature is for others, and become a society of mages living in flying cities (the Netheril template).
But they could create a bard-focused nation, and use the power of songs and persuasion to influence others races, nature and the very earth (somewhat like an overboosted Senathil, for those who played Anbennar).
We could migrate into desert tbh. Depends on how close we are to these climates, but it seems this forest is a broadleaf one, so we would need to travel a bit ; /
@OldShadow I am sort of wandering what is the astatic/civ template our proto elves are going to develop into?, as these quests typically have template frame everything confirms to, for example in Into that Vast and Unrelenting Darkness the template is the Fedration from star trek but with magical sorcerous space weasels, so what is the template our proto elves going for as they are still stone age hunter gatherers there isn't much to go on, I just hope it's not your stereotypical peace-loving fantasy vegan tree hugger elves , like in all of fiction the only two flavors of elves I actually liked were the Warhammer fantasy high elves cause they were just that badass (if your tried to translate the high elf militia spear men unit from the table top into the pathfinder system you would get a level 15 plus fighter clad in high end masterwork gear levels of badass) and the other being the elderscrolls Dwemmer deep elves (cause they too are bad ass and subvert the stereotype completely plus they have beards)
I can emphasize with the notion that tree loving elves are definitely overdone. I actually home that pur civilization builds cities, loves fire etc. Generally be different from normal elven settings but still mantains the Elven flavor.
But they could create a bard-focused nation, and use the power of songs and persuasion to influence others races, nature and the very earth (somewhat like an overboosted Senathil, for those who played Anbennar).
this one comes across as even more vanilla but in a lord of the rings sort of way which is kind of boring , how about instead of bards we go into the magic of words for in D&D words have power its why saying a paladins oath's and meaning it with all your heart and soul gives you paladin levels, why devils care more about the letter of contracts rather than spirit and why their is dedicated type of Inevitable that forces oaths and agreements , I suggest instead we go the way of the Dwemmer with developing Tonal magic to reshape the land , create constructs powered by the energy reaction of sonic wave propagation, develop devastating sonic magic , wave powerful enchantments and commit localized reality warping
Or they could go all in their respect for the Elders, and become a theocracy venerating their dead/undead ancestors, like the Undying Court of Eberron.
Or even explore as much magic as possible and decide that having to deal with things like nature is for others, and become a society of mages living in flying cities (the Netheril template).
Or they could go all in their respect for the Elders, and become a theocracy venerating their dead/undead ancestors, like the Undying Court of Eberron.
if your tried to translate the high elf militia spear men unit from the table top into the pathfinder system you would get a level 15 plus fighter clad in high end masterwork gear levels of badass)
Nope the high elves are glass cannon super elite army of the setting that gets by through hitting really hard, to into detail and make a lore and crunch accurate high elf spear men unit.
(I am going to use the pathfinder system for the fighter class because I know it best for this)
first they have weapons skill and ballistic skill 4 while normal human professional soldiers have a 3 (the stat scale is from 1 awful to 10 which is for example what the strongest dragon type would for its strength stat), so that means the high elf spearmen would have the following feats weapon focus(spear), weapon specialization(spear), shield focus (heavy shield) and greater weapon focus (spear)
second the high elf spear men have an initiative of 5 and all high elf units have a special rule called always Strick first which means they don't roll initiative to decide order of battle instead they just get to go first and if their initiative is higher than the opposing unit then the get rerolls on their failed attacks. in D&D/pathfinder terms this would translate to them having a dex stat of 20 , the alert feat and the improved initiative feat along with their gear giving them the benefits of the effortless armor spell
and finally this is the big one, High elf spearmen fight in 4 ranks which is big deal because they are using spears not pikes so it shouldn't be physically possible in the fluff its explained that they are so expertly trained and drilled and so experienced that they can just duck and weave amongst each other in perfect coordination and team work which I am translating to D&D/pathfinder terms to them having 5 to 6 teamwork feats
also cause they are high elves and are not shit at magic by default they all get the magic initiate feat
[X] Plan: Permanent camps
-[X] SURvival Point (SUR) : 18
--[X] Build our own shelters : 0/13 -> 13, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, Gateway action
--[X] Gather from the Weeping Trees 0/10 -> 5/10
-[X]CULture Points (CUL) : 17
--[X] Markings of life 0/10 -> 10/10, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, Chalks Markings Tradition
--[X] Honor the preys 0/10 -> 7/10
-[X] LEARNing Points (LEARN) : 12
--[X] Gather the Inborn Songs 8/19->19/19, unlock Ressource : Arcana (ARC).
--[X] Poissons and cures 0/10->1/10
Watchers : The Watchers are calm, still lulled by the songs of birds
Yellow actions are new Cyan actions are ongoing Green actions are updated
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Peace.
The Watchers, calm, the monsters of the wilds, unseen, the mushrooms that bring the rotting, far.
Food in every bellies, the songs of the birds around us to bring calm, and now, tents to protect from rain and colds good huts made of barks and wood in most campsites, to rest easily.
Where once our women had to give birth in hollow trees, now they have large, well protected and warmth huts, reserved for them.
Where once gathering bands had to huddle together on the ground of the forests, now they can bring their shelter with them.
Where once young children had to endure the cold of Winter and heat of Summer unprotected, they can now stay in the huts, in the shade and with a good fire nearby.
Life is good for the Freesingers, and each year, they grow more numerous, slowly spreading and growing. More children, more gathering bands, less people left behind alive, and far more only left behind when they are dead.
Some Elders now wonder if the tribe will need to be split up, with such growing numbers, to prevent over-gathering and attracting the wrath of the Watchers, but for now they are happy enough to enjoy the people's new prosperity, at time where even a 250 years old cripple like Blue Wind can hope to live another 50 years.
Hollow of Births evolve into Shelters of Births, +1 SUR
Survival
Exploration, expansion, crafting and settlement buildings
The Inborn Songs : The blood of the Firsts flows in our people's blood, and each generation a few are born with faint memories of the Firsts' songs of power, giving them minor magical abilities. Those songs have been studied, and through harassing efforts, may be learned by others Freesingers. +1 SUR point, +1 ARC
Enduring : Our people can live many Winters, and few of them ever die of illness. As such, we have a long time to learn and become wise. + 1 CUL point, +1 LEARN point, reduce distortion of knowledge from time.
Shielding FIres : Shielding Fires : Our people build at each camp great bonfires to keep darkness and monsters away, and use their light to craft tools and their heat to cook food and strengthen spears. At the borders of the camp, they raise smaller fires, to separate it from the wilds, and ward the evil outside. In the journey between the camps sites, they carry the fire, in vessels of stone. At every step, fire, our first friend, protects us. . +1 SUR
Shelters of Births : In hollow trees and tents covered with mats and protected by woven barriers, around a warm fire, the women of our people give birth, protected from the weather and the dangers of the outside. Increase pop growth and resilience to illness and subtle dangers, +1 SUR
Gathered Birds : With shelters and gifts of food, birds are gathered around the camps of the Freesingers, lulling the Watcher to ignore our actions with their songs. Reduce Watchers's anger
Fire's Favorite Meal : A mix of resins, rendered animal fat and some of the colored powder, this dense, glue-like liquid burns very fast and very strong, and is used by the Firekeepers for defense and offense.
SURvival Point (SUR) : 20
Arcana (ARC) : 1
Available Actions :
Setting up Sanctuaries : There are clearings in the forest too small for our entire people, but safe and with enough resources for a few people. We could spare those places from gathering, and prepare them with a semi-permanent hut of woven wicker and vines, as shelters for wounded Freesingers or the most vulnerable in bad times.
. 0/9, +2 SUR, set-up sanctuaries
Spread the tribe : The forest is vast, with many paths filled with food to take.
Some say it would be wiser to spread the tribe in many clans, each with their own paths, so that they may each grow and that one strong blow does not destroy the tribe.
The voices arguing for this grow more numerous as our number increase. 0/8, +2 Survival, increase tribe resilience.
Keeping away the hungry plants : There are plants in the woods that hunger for flesh like beasts, and can rip our skin with thorns sharper than stone knives. We should ensure those plants, Serpentvines, Wolfbushes or others, do not spread in or near our shelters. 0/6, Hungry plants keep away, unlocking actions using what can be gathered from them.
Upward :Our gatherers have shared songs of how they have climbed on trees to sleep when away from the tribe and the fires, to protect themselves from the hungry plants and poisons that await on the forest's floor.
We could spread this,and create tents that can be set high on tree's branches, away from dangers. 0/8, +1 SUR, Reduce dangers
Cleansing fires : There are places in the wood filled with tangled dead woods, filled with poisonous plants and without food. Those places are without Watchers, and by letting fire devour them, we may create new shelters without angering the Watchers. 0/3, use fire to cleanse dead woods.
Deer camps :Camps built around the paths taken by the deers herds in their migrations would help the Freesingers in huntings and processing our preys. 0/8,+2 SUR
Slaying the Owlbear : A beast stalks the woods, hungry for flesh, its hide stronger than our spears, its claws able to twain in two a Freesinger. We should find a way to destroy this monster. Available strategies
-[] Fire and smoke : The Firekeepers propose to find the lair of this monster, fill the entrance with woods and dried herbs, and set them on fire. Smoke and heat will prevail where spears cannot. 0/9, try to eliminate the Owlbear
-[] Toward the hungry plants : The monster is a great and dangerous thing, and so are the hungry plants that wake when the Watchers grow impatient with us. We could try to let both dangers deal with each other, by leading the owlbear toward some of the dark woods where the hungry plants sleep. 0/10, try to make the Owlbear fight with the hungry plants
-[] Into the Pit : We could anger the monster and trap it in a pit filled with fire-hardened spikes, and let the beast die in it. 0/10, try to trap the Owlbear in a spike-filled pit.
Stalk the tusked menace : The boars are terrifying to the Freesingers, moving masses of flesh that seem almost unstoppable and can crush or gut a Freesinger with ease. We could stalk them, to see if they do not move toward our tribe, and perhaps scavenge the corpses of dead or dying boars. 0/5, stalk the boars
Fishing Camps :With the great rivers and the Greeneye Lake found, the Freesingers could create semi-permanent camps to fish the life in those waters by spears and hands. 0/8, +2 SUR
Toward the Greeneye : In the middle of a vast lake, there is an island, one that seems to sing a song of peace to all who see it. Perhaps we could find safety here…if we can reach the island. 0/40, send an expedition to the Greeneye isle.
Explore the land of mushrooms : Too dangerous
Clean the paths : The Freesingers have found the safest paths and the safest shelters for our people to travel and live. Perhaps those paths could be made safer, by guiding away dangerous beasts and hungry plants, digging out poisonous herbs and ensuring the paths are easy to treed. 0/13, +1 SUR, increase resilience.
Digging Hideouts : There are few parts of the woods where we can be safe from plants and the Watchers, one of these are the cliffs where we dig our knapping stone and the chalk we use. The Freesingers could begin digging hideouts in the soft chalk, as last resort shelters. 0/4, Begin digging-out underground shelters.
Recreate the First Fire : There is a song whispered amongst the Fire Keepers. Of how, by building a fire taller than the tree, the Freesingers could bring back the First Fire, our First Friend, in this place. 0/30, try to recreate the First Fire.
Greater traps for the tusked : The boars are terrifying, but they are not smart. Making pit trap large enough to kill them and spreading them in the path of the boars will be time-consuming, but provide us access to their meat, and more importantly strong hide and tusk…even if some say it is foolhardy to try to trap them will we do not know all habits of the boars 0/15, +2 SUR, give access to dire boars materials.
Birds shelter along the paths : The birds that now live around our camps have proven their worth, the Watchers paying less attention to our people when they do not venture outside of the places where the songs of the birds can be heard. Some have proposed we could spread this concept, by building shelters for the birds along the paths we use in our migrations. 0/10, create bird shelters along migration paths.
Gather from the Weeping Trees : There are trees in the forest bent like an elder's back, with long, failing branches like the hair of a crying Freesinger. From the hair of the Weeping Trees, our crafters make their best weaving, and their more enduring oaths bracelets. Some say we should create a camp to gather from the Weeping Tree, much like the camp of the Chalk Clifs. 5/9, +1 SUR, +1 CUL
Raise the Sky-Poles : Up on the Chalks Clifs, there is a place without trees, where the sky can be seen better than anywhere else in the woods. Some among the Freesingers would like to raise poles of enduring wood here, to mark the course of the sky and better predict the change of the seasons and of the God's battles. 0/15, +1 CUL, +2 LEARN
Huts of Stones :During the digging of the Freesingers at the Chalks Cliffs, some have begun gathering broken bits of chalks and piling them together to make rough hut sto sleep in and protect themselves from the elements.
Such huts are far stronger than our semi-permanent huts of vines and wicker, and perhaps raising a few of those huts in our Chalk Cliffs camp could create safe shelter and stockpiles for the tribe. 0/10, Stone huts build at the Chalk Cliffs camp
Tally-Tent : Elders have proposed to build a tent from the strongest leather available, and use it to keep a tally with chalk and pigments of all that matters for the Freesingers : Marks for the animals hunted, the food gathered, births, deaths, and, more importantly, the growth in the Watcher's attention at each camp. 0/10, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN
Hidden Shelters :In the most frequently used campsite of the Freesingers, people have begun to create new shelters, beyond huts of vines and barks. Low dwellings, half-digged in the ground and made from wood, those shelters are both well-protected from the cold and seem to be almost hidden from the eyes of the Watchers. Perhaps we should create enough of those dwellings for most of our people, at least in the most frequented campsite. 0/10, +1 SUR, ???
Further Out :The Freesingers have reached more prosperity than ever before, food in their bellies, tools in their hands and tents over their heads when they rest.
With this, more children are born, and more of them grow to adulthood, and in time, far more bands ready to go explore what lies far from the tribe's migrations.
If they have the resources to do so. 0/20, More lands are explored beyond the territories were the Freesingers live.
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The camp of the Freesingers have changed, now longer a band of people huddled around a great bonfire each night, but a circle of tents around the central bonfire, the biggest one with their own, smaller inner fire cared for by the Firekeepers.
To get an inner fire for their tent is a sign of great respect amongst the Freesingers, limited to the Elders, the greatest crafters that can continue their work at night in the comfort of their own tent, those that had many songs sing about them and fulfilled many oaths, and those too weak, that need the fire's warmth to rest well.
For the Freesinger do not differentiate between themselves by things they owned, for all are expected to share with the entire tribe, but by respect. Those that are old, wise, skilled or with many fulfilled oaths have respect, and songs are sung about them.
Around the bonfire, when the time to discuss comes, their proposals are listened to with great attention.
When times are harsh, and there is not enough food for all, those with the most respect will be fed before others, and they will be carried if they grow too weak to walk.
And when they die, and their bodies are left behind, the more respect they have earned, the more songs will be sung about them.
It is the dream of all Freesingers to earn enough respect for their songs to become like those of the great ancestors, remembered, they believe in full, even when their grandson's granddaughter is an Elder.
Culture
Traditions, cultures practices and societal changes
Fair Songs :Our people were forced to learn of singing from our old masters, and are gifted with beautiful voices. Even as the Firsts forced us to sing of their glories, we created our own songs, of the pains of bondage and the hope of freedom. Now, our people can sing freely, and use songs to transmit our stories, share their feelings and bond with others. +2 CUL points, help communications
Woven Oaths : The Freesingers, when they swear oaths, wove bracelets of barks, vines and leaves and wear them around their limbs. They have to fulfill their oaths before the bracelet rot, or lose respect. +1 CUL
Markings of Life : With chalk and pigments, the Freesingers make simple marks to keep track of dangers, of the passing of time, of their possessions and to keep tally. +1 CUL, +1 LEARN
Elder Council : The Freesingers are guided in their lives and journey by a council of centuries old elders, sharing their hard-earned wisdom. Those elders are greatly respected, always listened to, and kept alive by the Freesingsers even when their bodies grow weak. +1 CUL, +1 LEARN. Influence : Moderate
Firekeepers : One of the oldest allies of the Freesingers is fire, befriended by the hero Purple Tongue. The Firekeepers follow his example, caring for the fires, ensuring our people are light and warmth, and that the flames burn only our foes. Combined with Bonfires, +2 CUL. Influence : Minor, Growing
Song Keepers : Songs are the memories that endure, say the wisdom of the
Elders. Those that spend time and effort learning, remembering and sharing with our people as much of our songs as possible are honored as the living memory of the Freesingers. +1 LEARN. Influence : Minor
CULture Points (CUL) : 19
Arcana (ARC) : 1
Available Actions :
Festivals : Songs are how our people find joys in their lives, and in the long, dark night, singing and creating new songs are how our people forget the pains of the day. It would be good if each year our people could unite in a feast, where the inventive amongst us would invent new songs and our best singers sharpen their art in contest against one another. 0/9, Festivals tradition, +1 CUL
Offerings for the Woods : When we were under the Firsts, we used offerings of food and songs to appease and obtain favors from their servants, creatures of stone, fire, water and winds. We could perform such offerings to the woods around us, in the hope that those watching us can be soothed into ignoring us. 0/4, ???
Memories of Pain : The Freesingers remember the cruelty of the Firsts, each generation raised on the song of suffering of our people. It is said by some that those who put those songs of sufferings in their heart can see in their dreams memories of our time under the Firsts, born of sufferings so strong they are now carried by our blood. What could be learned from those memories ? 0/19, ???
Rites of Initiation : The young learn and play, protected by the adults. The adults craft, gather food and decide what the Freesingers should do. The transition between an innocent child and a responsible adult should be marked by rites and trials, to symbolically welcome the child into the circle of the adults and give them their first taste of the trials of adulthood. 0/5, +1 CUL, choose one ritual. Others will be buyable at higher cost.
-[] First Scavenging : The young must go out alone in the wilds, and come back to the tribe with something of value, sacks of gathered roots and berries, the carcass of an animal, finely knapped stone tools. This marks their transition from one cared for to one who cares for others. -[] Fire Dance : The young must dance around the fire, jumping over the flames and singing songs of bravery without being burned, until they collapse, exhausted. This mark their transition from one protected from suffering to one ready to suffer and face the terrors of the world. -[] One Song : The young must sing without rest the song of the Freesingers, a shared tale of our lives, how we escaped the Firsts and made a home in the woods. At the end, they must add the beginning of their own song, that they will share in time with their childrens. This mark their transition from one who must learn to one who must teach, and find new wisdoms and songs to share
. Honor the Dead : We did not have the luxuries to care for the dead, when we were under the rule of the Firsts or in our first times of freedom. We were forced to leave behind the weak and dying.
Now that the Freesingers can care for their elders and young, perhaps we can even care for the dead, or at least of those who died when the living have time to spare. 0/5, +1 CUL, choose a ritual.
-[] Fire : We shall burn our dead, and keep their ashes. -[] Earth : We shall bury our dead, with the things they cherished. -[] Feast : We shall eat our dead, that they may stay with us, and keep their bones, skin and hair, to help us from beyond. +1 SUR
-[] Sky : We shall offer our dead to the birds, and gather their bones once cleaned.
Songs of Purple Tongue, fire-friend : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, a man once spent many nights talking to fire, the ever-hungry, chains by the Firsts to bring light to their lands. Many songs and many scavenged scraps were given to the fire, and many burns doge, until the First Fire acknowledged Purple Tongue as a friend, and gave him its progeny, its embers, to care for. Let us remember him, and remember how to care for our first, and most dangerous friend, fire. 0/8, the Songs of Purple Tongue are known by all Freesingers.
Songs of Black Tooths, first slayer : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, there was a beast of shadows, bound to the masters of the lands. The beast was empty, and devoured the heat of our people, trying to fill this emptiness. So our people suffered, until one called Black Tooths made from a rock shining like the stars a knife, and took it without fear to the innermost of the beast, slaying it and losing their life from the heat the beast had stolen. Let us remember them, and remember how to fight monsters without fear. 0/10, the Songs of Black Tooths are known by all Freesingers
Songs of Green Hands, first gatherer :In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our people at first took the fruits of the First's tree to survive, until our old master forbade this to us, and turn inside out the skin of those who disobeyed. Then, a woman called Green Hands found how to gather the roots below the gaze of the Firsts, things they did not care for, like us, for they were unseen in the ground. Let us remember her, and remember how to use what may be ignored. 0/10, the Songs of Green Hands are known by all Freesingers
Songs of Grey Nails, first makers : In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our old masters once turned the ground too hard to dig, and our people despaired, breaking nails and making their fingers bleed as they sought roots to eat. Then, a man called Grey Nails tried to make something to dig stronger than a hand. He made many things, out of straws, out of leaves, out of woods, all breaking upon the hard earth. He did not despair after each failure, simply trying something new, until he made from a stone our first tool, and dug unto the earth with it, bringing roots to the starving people.. Let us remember him, and remember to not despair when we fail, and try again, in a different way. 0/10, the Songs of Grey Nails are known by all Freesingers
Songs of White Eyes, first elder :In the lands of the Firsts, where the sky is unseen, our old masters once decided to hunt us down as prey for their pleasure,slaying the strong, and keepings the young to make new worthy prey.
With their hunts, they slain many, and without adults to teach them, our people risked to lose their songs, and what made them more than toys of the Firsts. Then, one called White Eyes, whose blindness made him an unworthy prey, and who should have died, worked as hard as he could to keep the children alive, and share our people's songs. He worked all day, and sang all night, never-stopping, no matter how many of the children he had raised became new preys for the Firsts, until finally, the Firsts grew bored of hunting us, and White Eyes finally breathed his last breath, all the songs he knew shared.
Let us remember him, and remember it is our duty to share all we know, for this is what makes us more than flesh. 0/10, the Songs of White Eyes are known by all Freesingers
Colors of life : The colors used by the bands scavenging to hide from monsters and the watchers could be far more. By using them, the Freesingers could mark their state of mind and their status. To the young no colors, to the adults the colors of hidings, to the elders the pale colors, to the Firekeepers the white of ashes and to the Song Keepers the vivid colors of the heroes of old. 0/3, +1 CUL, Body Painting tradition
Honor the hunters : It takes great bravery to slay the best of the forests, even if they are weakened. Let us celebrate those who dare face them, and bring back to the Freesingers meat, bones and skins. 0/5, +1 SUR, Create Hunters faction
Honor the preys : The animals of the wild are living beings, just as we are. We slain them to live and to defend ourselves , not out of pleasure or pride. Let us honor those we slay in our songs, and remember our shared nature as being of flesh. 7/10, Respect the preys tradition
Games for all : More than the children can profits from games, and slowly, game of skills, speed and endurance could spread in the leisure of all the Freesingers. 0/10, +1 CUL, +1 SUR
Virtue of Prudence : From the Rotting Spores, the Freesingers may learn the virtue of prudence, and to evaluate with great care what is new and may be dangerous. 0/5, Virtue of Prudence adopted
Hands and colors : Some Freesingers have begun using some of the powder we have found to mark the print of their hands on barks or on the chalk cliffs, by blowing the powder over their hand, as a way to mark their passing and their favorite parts of the lands. Perhaps we could encourage this… 0/3, Handprint tradition, +1 CUL
Warrior of Fire : Some of the Firekeepers, as they kept watch around the camps and carried the fire during the tribe's march, have fought off monsters by using flaming sticks as weapons. Perhaps this practice could be spread. 0/8, +1 CUL, Firekeepers accustomed to using fire as a weapon.
Sacred Birds : Some songs have begun to speak of the birds of the woods as protectors and bringer of good luck, showing the land that may be walked and the berries that may be eaten, lulling the monster of the wood to sleep. In time, birds may become sacred to the Freesingers, to be respected, observed and learned from. 0/9,Develop Sacred Birds tradition, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN
Honor the women : Women, as those who bring children into this world, are more precious than all, and hold a wisdom that no man may know, the wisdom of those who give birth. When pregnants, they must be respected like the Elders. Let this true spread among the Freesingers. 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN
Honor the Crafters : Let us give songs of praise to the crafters, who transform stone, wood and vines into the tools that shield us and allow us to bring food to our children. One who makes well shall be listened to more, and their song better remembered. 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 CUL
Knots of Memories : Green Breath fulfilled his woven oath in death, and Violet Eyes preserved and wear every oath she ever took. We could spread theses practices, by keeping and preserving woven oaths, and by choosing and naming one way of knotting in the honor of those who died in the name of their oaths. 0/5, +1 CUL, Woven Oaths evolve into Preserved Oaths
Fire-Breathing : Let us remember the song of Green Breath, who sacrificed his life for his fellow Freesingers, who breathed fire against the beast. Let others Freesingers learn to imitate his final act. 0/10, +1 CUL, Fire-Breathing adopted by the Freesinger.
Listen to the Weaks : Now that the Elders are carried and cared for even when their bodies begin to fail, and that others that seemed condemned or useless have proven they can still help despite broken bodies or minds, perhaps the Freesingers could learn to listen to those who are not like the others Freesingers, for there is wisdom in a different view. 0/10, +1 LEARN
Seek the Omens : With the song of the sky and skywatching now part of everyday life for the Freesinger, the practice could evolve further, until every action done by them must be preceded by skygazing and interpreting the course of the sky. 0/10, +1 LEARN, +2 CUL
Virtue of Bravery : From Green Breath, the Freesingers may learn the virtue of sacrifice, and become ready to risk their lives for the greater good. 0/5, Virtue of Bravery adopted
Tally of Oaths :Witch chalks and colored powder, the Freesinger mark what matters to them, to keep tracks despite failure of memories and twist of songs.
Now, some even show their achievements and fulfilled oaths by adding marks to their clothes and tools.
This way, the respect they are own can be understood by all with one look.
This tradition could grow, until each Freesinger kept their own tallies. 0/10, +2 CUL, Woven Oaths tradition become the Tally of Oaths.
Spread the Inborn Songs : Violets Eyes has found a way to spread the Inborn Songs to those that are not born with them !
However, this way is neither simple or easy, demanding to listen to one song until you cannot stop hearing it even when trying to sleep, then pushing one's body to its limit until you are almost delirious from fatigue and lack of sleep. At this point, the song can engrave into the mind, ready to be used.
Currently, with effort, we could use this method to spread one song until one person per gathering band can use it. 0/5 and 1 ARC, +1 SUR, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, choose one Inborn Song to spread amongst the Freesinger. Other may be spread after, for a higher price
-[] Sun-Gift : Sounding like cracking stones under the sun in summer, this song makes an object shine brightly for a time, allowing the Freesinger to combat the dark even without fire. + 1 LEARN, Spread Light amongst the Freesingers.
-[] The Little Lights : Sounding like laughter on the winds and the dance of fireflies, this song creates four orbs of glowing lights that can be moved and made to dance at the will of the singer. +1 CUL, Spread Dancing Light amongst the Freesingers
-[] Forget the Tears : Sounding like a half-remembered memory or dream, this song mends holes in tents and broken tools as if the world forgot they ever happened. +1 SUR, Spread Mending amongst the Freesingers.
-[] Hand of Winds : Sounding like leaves floating on the winds, this song creates a floating hand made of winds, weaker than a hand of flesh but usable by the singer further than 12 arm length away from them. +1 SUR, +1 LEARN, Spread Mage Hand amongst the Freesingers.
-[] Hunter's Instinct : Sounding like falling rocks crushing bones, this song give keen instinct to the singer, guiding their next strike against their prey or foe. +1 SUR, Spread True Strike amongst the Freesinger
-[] The River of Sound : The singer must whisper a message and intertwine it with something like the whispers of a far-away river, and their message shall be heard only by one near them they point with their finger. +1 LEARN, Spread Message amongst the Freesinger.
Sounds of magic : The Inborn Songs are born from strange movements and sounds that a Freesinger's throat should not be able to make.
Some Song Keepers have proposed to spread those sounds in the songs, tales and spoken tongue of the Freesingers, helping our people to detect magic and learn the Inborn Songs. 0/15, +1 CUL, +1 ARC
Woven Memories : The tents of the Freesingers are their shelters, moving with them, and many have begun decorating them with marks of clay, coloring them with pigments, or putting the woven oaths taken by multiple people on their walls. In time, the tents of the Freesingers could become the woven memories of our people's lives. 0/5, +1 CUL, help knowledge transmition
Keepers for the Inborn Songs :Amongst the Song Keepers, a new movement is growing, inspired by the recent discovery of how to share the Inborn Songs, that think the Song Keepers, as keeper and spreader of the songs and memories of the Freesingers, should also dedicate their life to learning and spreading the Inborn Songs. 0/20, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, + ARC, change and increase influence of the Song Keepers faction.
With her usual restlessness, Violet Eyes kept asking to see and hear the Inborn Songs, until she had gathered all she could understand of them.
The song that mend, the song that brings light, the song of glowing orbs, the song of unheard message, the song of keen strike and the song of the hand of winds, the power carried in the blood of the Freesingers. To the Elder, Violet Eyes sang (badly) of them, a cold song, describing without warmth what each did, and their limit, as she had learned of them.
Those songs, she explained, are like the Pattern of Fire she once had, for they are as engraved in the minds of those born with them, and can be unleashed with strange words and gestures that come almost instinctively to the singer.
However, unlike the pattern, Inborn Songs do not disappear when used, and they do not burn at every instant in the mind, bringing headache and obsession, being more like important memory, easily remembered and coming up in dreams.
But Violet Eyes needed more, and with the permission of the Elder, each night, she asked Blue Wind in the darkness of her tent to show her his Inborn Song, and bring the hand of winds, until the words and gesture of the songs were as clear as her name in her mind.
Then, when Blue Wind was asleep, she got up, and took guard duty at one of the watchfires, helping the Firekeepers in their duties to earn favors, and there, next to the fire, she tried and tried again to bring the hand of wind, speaking the words and making the gestures.
So she did for many nights, until even her began to grow weak from lack of sleep, until one night, after heavy rains, she almost fell asleep into the fire, breathing heavily the smoke from wet wood being burned, and at that point, as her body and mind were almost breaking down, as all what left of her focus was on the song…
The Inborn Song engraved itself into her, and the hand of wind rose, created by her words and gestures, and Violet Eyes cried tears of joy.
The next day, she showed the hand to the Elders, and told them how to learn the Inborn Song. Listen to the words and watch the gesture until your head hurts and you almost cannot think of anything else. Then speak the words and make the gestures until your body wants nothing but sleep and your mind nothing but peace. Then, the Song will be learned.
So where the Inborn Songs gathered, so did Violet Eyes earn respect, and so did a few fools asked her to teach them how to learn Inborn Songs.
A few learned. Many suffered.
You have earned your first Secondary Resource, Arcana (ARC), representing the Freesinger's knowledge and power in magic, and the numbers of people with magic power amongst them.
When a Secondary Resource is used by an action, it is spent permanently.
Learning
Learning about the world, testing new tools and reaching new understandings
Hiding Art :We have learned from painful experiences how to notice dangers and powerful creatures, hide and live below their notices, and how to distract them away from us. Reduce the chance of being noticed or harmed by monsters and other supernatural threats.
Camouflage : By using earth, leaves and other things, the Freesingers make themselves hard to notice in the woods, their skin colored with the tones of the world around them. Reduce the chance of being noticed or harmed by monsters, the Freesingers are less noticeable in the Woods.
Skygazing : By watching the sky and the course of the sun and moon, the Freesingers have learned how to better find their ways and predict incoming weather.
LEARNing Points (LEARN) : 14
Arcana (ARC) : 1
Available Actions :
Poissons and cures : There are plants in the woods that bring illness to even our people, and that we must fear. However, some of the poisson fight each other, and can be used to help our people. With practice, our people could use the pollen of the Birdeater Flowers to lessen their pain and sleep better or Yellowfern to purge their bodies of poison. 1/10, +1 SUR and +1 LEARN
The leaves of dreaming : Atop hollow, dead trees, grows the Blueclimber, of a blue so dark it looks almost black. When the leaves of this plant are gathered, infused in warm water, and the water drinked, our people can dream awake, seeing many strange and wonderful visions. Our people are ready to climb for those leaves, and our wise to learn what they can from the visions they bring. 0/5, +1 CUL
Smoke-tongue :Some of the plants of the woods, when burned on our bonfires, can create a great amount of colorful smoke. We could use this for our rites and communicate beyond the reach of our voices. 0/3, +1 CUL
Home of the Watchers : There are places in the Woods where the Watchers are more powerful and active , places where the trees are talls and the bushes bountiful. If we could learn to gather even a little in those places without angering the Watcher… 0/9, ???
Huntings tactics : Our people hunt animals by surprising them when unaware or by hunting them down when they are weak, ill or wounded. By better organizing the Freesingers and perhaps using fire, we could develop more effective ways of hunting. 0/5, Develop organized huntings tactics.
First Rope : From weaving vines and bark, the Freesingers make clothing, mat and baskets. Could they make something more ? Something strong enough to support the weight of a Freesinger, and more flexible than their rough workings ? 0/9, +1 SUR
True Clothes : The Freesingers clothes are simple things, covers for the intimate parts, rough cape against the cold, wind and rains, wrapped skins and roughly weaved barks to shield the feets. Now that they have skins again, and have learned more of weaving, the Freesingers could make something better. 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 CUL
Trinkets : From the unused bones, woods and vines of the tribe, our people make trinkets, to busy their hands, to make themselves fairer, or to create mementos. The Songkeepers are known to use such trinkets as props for their songs, ringing bones to make sound their voice cannot produce, and too help their memories. Perhaps something more could be made of this ? 0/9, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN
Art of cooking :One of the greatest gifts of fire are warm meals, cleansed of poisons by its heat. We should honor our first friend with the most wonderful food we can create, and give back to the fire what cannot be eaten or used from our meals. 0/9, +1 CUL, +1 SUR,
The Pattern of Fire :Since Violet Eyes had the Pattern imprinted in her mind, and cast fire from her hands thanks to it, she cannot remember the Pattern completely, only bits and pieces, that she desperately marks on pieces of bark. Perhaps, with help, she could recreate the Pattern that has left the sky… 0/37, unlock the Pattern of Fire, ??? -[] Songs and Pattern : Violet Eyes thinks that, by using what she has learned from the Inborn Songs (and by bothering those born with the Songs), she could greatly accelerate her reconstruction of the pattern. Spend 1 ARC, The Pattern of Fire becomes a 0/15 action.
Falling Stars : From the sky and the battle of the Gods, sometimes stars fall in burning trails toward the ground. With enough skygazing, perhaps the Freesingers could find if some of those fallen stars can be found near the tribe… 0/9, Find the locations of fallen stars
The Course of the Sky and the dangers of Earth : The Sun and Moon rule over the weather of this world, and seem to affect the mood of the Watchers and the activity of the beasts in the woods. By adjusting our actions according to the sky, we could better protect ourselves. 0/9, ???
Gaze into the battles of the Gods : Above us, the battles of the Gods rage, visible in strange clouds and light that can hide the stars, and the booms and screams that can sometimes be heard if we strain our ears. From those battles came the Pattern of Fire. What more could be learned, if we spend the time to gaze upon them ? 0/9, trigger a random roll to see what is gazed upon in the battles.
Traveling the waters : To travel in the rivers found in the woods, some of our people have tried riding on the trucks of dead trees that sometimes can be found in the waters. Perhaps we could make some time better from floating wood ? 0/4, develop primitive canoes
Finner tools : The bands spending most time gathering knapping stones and making tools in the camps of the chalk cliffs have grown in their crafting skills, trying to craft ever better tools, smaller, more easily used and carried blades. With a little work, they could succeed… 0/10, +1 SUR, +1 LEARN, Freesinger reach the Aurignacian Industry
Spores and mushrooms : The rotting spores brough pain and death to the Freesingers, but before they came, some of the mushrooms brought back by our gatherers could be eaten without danger. The Elder are ready to try understanding the mushrooms of those woods 0/10, Will trigger a roll (potentially new projects or points gain, potentially a new Rotting Spores outbreak)
A Smaller thrown ? : It may be possible to find a way to throw something smaller than a spear with more strength. Even if it will probably take many tries… 0/10, the Freesingers try to develop new throwing weapons
A better Axe : With the axes having shown their values both as a tool and against some of the hungry plants,a few of our craftsmen are working on perfecting them, to be more useful in their two uses . 0/5, tomahawk developed, +1 SUR
Why are the birds sparred ? : Some of our more astute people have noted that if gathering too much in some berries bush attracts the anger of the Watchers, they do not seem to care when birds devour every berries on them. Why ? 0/15, Find out why the birds can eat berries without fear. Gateway action
The Singing Stick : While listening to what he took were strange birds, one of our gatherers found the song came from a hollow branch, the wind flowing inside it. He brought the strange branch to our camp, and now some wonder if we could reproduce this…singing stick ? 0/10, +2 CUL, develop primitive woodwind instruments.
Throwing Fire : From the burning resin, rendered fat and the colored powder, the Firekeepers sometimes make a dense liquid that burns rapidly and strongly. By filling a small vessel of stone with this liquid before lighting it on fire and throwing the vessel, the Freesinger could have a way to bring fire to the hungry plants without too much risk to themselves. 0/10, Produce proto-alchemist fire
First Cage : Some Freesingers would like to carry some of the smallest birds with them at all time, some because they like their songs, others to lull the Watchers, and the wisest to be warned of dangers when the birds stop singing. Perhaps a closed vessel of wicker could be made for this… 0/5, +1 CUL, the Freesingers learn to make cages
Travois : Since those that cannot walk have begun to be carried, some have pondered if there was not a better way to transport those that cannot walk and goods worthy of respect. Something with wood poles… 0/5, +1 SUR, the Freesingers discover Travois.
Sweating Tent : To learn the inborn song, one needs to exhaust themselves and clean both their mind and body. Violet Eyes did it with relentless effort and by breathing the smoke of fire, but some wonder if we could not reach the same results with heated rocks used to boil water inside a closed tent… 0/10, +1 CUL, +1 LEARN, develop sweating tent/sauna
Marking the Songs : The Inborn Songs engraved themselves on the mind like the Pattern of Fire once did on Violet Eyes, if with far less strength and without dissipating when used. Some think the way they engrave could be…reproduced, in a marking of chalk or pigments, something that could exist beyond sound and mind… 0/10, 1 ARC, +1 LEARN, Develop Arcane Markings
Watchers and Songs :In the forests, in the sound of the winds through leaves, in the gaze of the watchers, there is something like the Inborn Songs, a power carried by sound and beyond sound. Perhaps those that have learned the Inborn Songs could spend their time listening to the woods, and see what they may learn ? 0/20, 1 ARC, ???
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Vote by plan, like this :
[ ] SUR Actions
-[ ] Action
-[ ] Action
[] CUL Actions
-[ ] Action
[] And so on
Four hours moratorium
For those that may wonder, the Inborn Songs were rolled just after CivGen. Prestidigitation was never going to be one of them (Just...too usefull) but Minor Illusion was a possibility.
[X] Plan: The first big hunt
-[x] Survival: 20
--[x] Spread the tribe: 1/8
--[x] Slaying the Owlbear:
---[x] Fire and smoke: 5/9
---[x] Into the Pit: 10/10
--[x] Gather from the Weeping Trees: 9/9
-[x] Culture: 19
--[x] Honor the preys 10/10
--[x] Honor the hunters 5/5
--[x] Virtue of Prudence: 5/5
--[x] Songs of Purple Tongue, fire-friend: 6/8
-[x] Learning: 14
--[x] Huntings tactics: 5/5
--[x] Art of cooking: 9/9
Its time to hunt the owlbear, combined with the started survival action that uses up all points there
Spread the Inborn Songs(5) is something i expect in all plans as well.
I would spend the last eight on:
Hands and colors(3) a cheap way to boost culture
Honor the preys (3) combines well with a hunting focused turn
Sounds of magic(7) start on gaining the next ARC
Learning we do hunting tactics(5) to support owlbear hunting
Poissons and cures(9): i have seen this in plans before and better healing could allow the named characters to live longer
[] Plan: River Side Tribes
-[] SURvival Point (SUR) : 20
--[] Spread the tribe 0/8->8/8
--[] Fishing Camp 0/8->8/8
--[] Gather from the Weeping Trees 5/9 -> 9/9
-[] CULture Points (CUL) : 19
--[] Honor the preys 7/10 -> 10/10
--[] Honor the hunters 0/5->5/5
--[] Spread the Inborn Songs CUL 0/5->5/5, Arc 0/1 -> 1/1
---[] Hands of Wind
--[] Sounds of magic 0/15->6/15
-[] LEARNing Points (LEARN) : 14
--[] Poissons and cures 1/10->10/10
--[] Traveling the waters 0/4->4/4
--[] Finner tools 0/10->1/10
Personally I think of the Owlbear as a none issue, rather than spending points to kill directly I think it is better to increase the strength of the tribe to the point it cannot harm us.
Personally I think of the Owlbear as a none issue, rather than spending points to kill directly I think it is better to increase the strength of the tribe to the point it cannot harm us.
It was such a non-threat then we wouldn't have actions to deal with it.
Plus, going after it would help establish the seeds of warrior traditions and later the ability to deal with actual dangers.
The Owl-bear is like a tutorial boss to teach the tribe how to combat something bigger than you.
[] Plan: The first big hunt
-[] Survival: 20
--[] Spread the tribe: 1/8
--[] Slaying the Owlbear:
---[] Fire and smoke: 5/9
---[] Into the Pit: 10/10
--[] Gather from the Weeping Trees: 9/9
-[] Culture: 19
--[] Honor the preys 10/10
--[] Honor the hunters 5/5
--[] Virtue of Prudence: 5/5
--[] Songs of Purple Tongue, fire-friend: 6/8
-[] Learning: 14
--[] Huntings tactics: 5/5
--[] Art of cooking: 9/9
This is my idea for a plan focused on killing the Owlbear. I also didn't pick a starting spell because I couldn't choose and I think we should get started on the legend songs before people start forgeting them.
[X] Plan: The first big hunt
-[X] Survival: 20
--[X] Spread the tribe: 1/8
--[X] Slaying the Owlbear:
---[X] Fire and smoke: 5/9
---[X] Into the Pit: 10/10
--[X] Gather from the Weeping Trees: 9/9
-[X] Culture: 19
--[X] Honor the preys 10/10
--[X] Honor the hunters 5/5
--[X] Virtue of Prudence: 5/5
--[X] Songs of Purple Tongue, fire-friend: 6/8
-[X] Learning: 14
--[X] Huntings tactics: 5/5
--[X] Art of cooking: 9/9
Good plan but I am not fan of spreading the tribe before we get Smoke-tongue, probably Smoke-tongue level 2, dividing a culture so early on especially before we get stuff like festivals to get something like ancient Olympics, if a sure way for conflict down the line.
I think that Upward for increased movement would be better.
[X] Plan: The first big hunt+death from above
-[X] Survival: 20
--[X] Upward 1/8
--[X] Slaying the Owlbear:
---[X] Fire and smoke: 5/9
---[X] Into the Pit: 10/10
--[X] Gather from the Weeping Trees: 9/9
-[X] Culture: 19
--[X] Honor the preys 10/10
--[X] Honor the hunters 5/5
--[X] Virtue of Prudence: 5/5
--[X] Songs of Purple Tongue, fire-friend: 6/8
-[X] Learning: 14
--[X] Huntings tactics: 5/5
--[X] Art of cooking: 9/9
[X] Plan: River Side Tribes
Can I ask, why do people want to do two owlbear actions at the same time. Seems like a waste, but if people want the owlbear dead than here's a plan
[X] Plan: Avoiding Plants, Slaying Beasts
-[X] SURvival Point (SUR) : 20
--[X] Keeping away the hungry plants 0/6->6/6
--[X] Toward the hungry plants 0/10->10/10
--[X] Gather from the Weeping Trees 5/9 -> 9/9
-[X] CULture Points (CUL) : 19
--[X] Honor the preys 7/10 -> 10/10
--[X] Honor the hunters 0/5->5/5
--[X] Spread the Inborn Songs CUL 0/5->5/5, Arc 0/1 -> 1/1
---[X] Hands of Wind
--[X] Virtue of Prudence 0/5->5/5
--[X] Sounds of magic 0/15->1/15
-[X] LEARNing Points (LEARN) : 14
--[X] Poissons and cures 1/10->10/10
--[X] Traveling the waters 0/4->4/4
--[X] Finner tools 0/10->1/10
Good plan but I am not fan of spreading the tribe before we get Smoke-tongue, probably Smoke-tongue level 2, dividing a culture so early on especially before we get stuff like festivals to get something like ancient Olympics, if a sure way for conflict down the line.
We are being told in game that we won't be able to push spreading off eternally. Besides, one is Culture and the other learning, so we could do both next turn.
