Age of Ice and Blood: A Pathfinder System Heroic Fantasy Quest
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
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- Tags
- pathfinder open voting
Update will be tomorrow unfortunately. I was going to do an informational post today but then my speakers decided to start buzzing out of nowhere. Between trying and failing to fix them and some other stuff I did not have the time to sit down and write properly today.
Sorry guys
Sorry guys
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
My PC speakers have started doing the same thing in the past couple weeks. No clue why it is happening or how to fix it. I just started unplugging them whenever it happens, then plugging them back in a few minutes later. That normally takes care of the issue for a while.
People and Places: Yayar, the Wild Lords
Yayar, the Wild Lords
-From the Notes of Zaia of Alexandria
I write these lines by light that does not waver like candle's flame, but even and eternal, the power of the ether and yet I doubt myself and my sources for these are not the accounts of my travels seen with mine own eyes, but of the people who would speak to me in the bustling markets of Orinilu where a tale is as much merchandise as a sack of winter wheat or a amphora of olive oil.
They say the Yarar are savages who hold not to any god but Olweje, that war is their father and they suckle blood not milk at their mothers' breast, that the wild lords love their elk more than their sons and yet they eat their elk in lean times. What mercy then could be afforded to us? The question is often asked eliciting a shiver from the listeners comfortably bundled up in goatskin shawls and finely woven blankets. Yet is one asks the merchants who often trade with the clans of the wide plains north and east of here in the short days of high summer they will speak of a people who holds guest law even as they have no roofs to guard, who will share a fire with a stranger rather than risk the nukipi, the spirits of the wild turning on them.
From that little I understand of their superstitions, shared with such outsiders as make their way among the clans the Yarar are distinct from other Wyrdoki in that they do not believe man can ever own the land and master it, that even the place where one is born and where the bones of your ancestors lie belongs first to the spirits and they take ill of mortal men who linger too long there. According to the lore of the clans the spirit of Yayar is born from the breath of heaven rushing through the valleys of the Giants Causeway where dwell their kinsmen the Yarduk. Thus those who are born of the wind must wander like the wind if they are to live in peace and plenty alongside their herds
Animal spirits and guides are common among the tribes with many a tale of beasts which speak like man common in their tales. I have seen far too much of this world to doubt them, but still the list of beasts which they honor is odd. Wolf, Fox and Aurochs are common enough beasts on the planes and white Crow and Raven seem to me birds of ill omen to ride under I know that men skilled in battle might not think so... but a shark-skin banner? That seems to have more in common with the pirates of the Southern Blue Sea than with the men of the plains. Perhaps the tinker to sold me the tale had been taken in, though I did not see in his eye the vacuousness of a fool and more genuine terror at the thought of 'warriors who rip the flesh off your bones like sharks' and so I shall consign it here
Moving on from the matter of their religion the Yayar seem to hold that men and women hold property jointly when they are wed, though no young Yayar may posses more than fits atop his or her personal mount beforehand leading to many seeking their fortunes with other tribes. Thus among the settled peoples of the coast many count the men vagabonds and the women little more than camp followers, though such sentiments are not given voice to too loudly. It seems to me most likely that in the absence of fields to till and walls to guard the yayyar have less need to rigorously follow the lines of descent and blood.
The question of how their chiefs are chosen is not one they speak of to outsiders often. I think though that we can safely exclude the notion that they are chosen 'by the spirits'. Having encountered several of the landwards of the western islands I think they would be even worse at choosing leaders among men than either a show of support or the vagaries of birth would allow.
OOC: Vote's still tied so have an informational post, not as well informed as others, but should give you some idea about these people.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
That was a good one, DP. Zaia's info posts are always neat, IMO.
Knowing more about the Yayar, and that they are not all likely to be immediately hostile to us, does give a good reason to not bring Esha along.
Gonna change my vote, despite really not being a fan of leaving behind a powerful caster.
[X] Arhin
Knowing more about the Yayar, and that they are not all likely to be immediately hostile to us, does give a good reason to not bring Esha along.
Gonna change my vote, despite really not being a fan of leaving behind a powerful caster.
[X] Arhin
Should this part say horses, though? I didn't think they rode the horses native to this part of the world, since they're kinda small? Or am I remembering this incorrectly?
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hm. Maybe we should also take Megin with us? Or ask her about it, at least?
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
She might like the chance to stretch her legs a bit and could end up being useful to have along.
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Thank you.
Also, updating my vote:
[X] Roland & Silver, Tom, Wanderer, Inge, Zaia, Swift Pebble, plus 4 archers, 4 spearmen, and 2 net-wielders.
-[X] Follow advice and do not invite Esha
-[X] Also take Cor Eso, drummer of Drums of Haste
-[X] Ask Megin if she wants to accompany us
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"
Banshee
CR 13This beautiful, ghostly elven woman glides through the air, her long hair flowing around a face knotted into a mask of rage.
Defensive Abilities incorporeal
Melee incorporeal touch +26 (14d6 negative energy plus terror)
A creature damaged by the banshee's touch attack must make a DC 23 Will save.
All creatures within 40 feet of the banshee when she begins her wail, as well as all creatures that end their turn within that radius, must make a DC 23 Fortitude save. ... Creatures that make their save are sickened for 1d6 rounds. Those that fail take 140 points of damage. ... Banshee wails are supernaturally powerful, and penetrate the effect of any spell of 3rd level or lower that creates silence."
...honestly, I would also prefer not to meet nukipi...
That is indeed an error, should have been elk
"Banshee
CR 13
This beautiful, ghostly elven woman glides through the air, her long hair flowing around a face knotted into a mask of rage.
Defensive Abilities incorporeal
Melee incorporeal touch +26 (14d6 negative energy plus terror)
A creature damaged by the banshee's touch attack must make a DC 23 Will save.
All creatures within 40 feet of the banshee when she begins her wail, as well as all creatures that end their turn within that radius, must make a DC 23 Fortitude save. ... Creatures that make their save are sickened for 1d6 rounds. Those that fail take 140 points of damage. ... Banshee wails are supernaturally powerful, and penetrate the effect of any spell of 3rd level or lower that creates silence."
...honestly, I would also prefer not to meet nukipi...
Well it is their equivalent of demon gods, no one has met one in a long time.
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
@DragonParadox , I've noticed that you did not update Tom's character sheet from Goldfish' post.
Fixed, thanks.
Update tomorrow, good night guys
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It seems like inconsistency to me. Although it may have IC explanation, because both piece of information are based on gossips and rumors, not some interview of Yayar shaman.
The coastal settled peoples see that they are warlike so they think 'ah this bunch must serve Olweje', when in fact they do not for the most part do that. Adding to the confusion some syncretic thought does happen around the edges... in the places most likely to actually encounter traders.
Vote closed.
Arc 16 Post 10: On Golden Fields
On Golden Fields
Fifteenth of Olweje-hamba (Olweje Descendent), 1349 A. L. (After Landfall)
Fields of gold stretch out before you in the heady evening light, rustling at the lightest breath of wind. The city is now far behind you and far are the green shadowed paths where the kin of the Shore Sworn till fields of sorghum and oats. You are not going to find many farmers ahead according to Hengo, the soil here is too thin 'enough for grazing' but not worth half-a-spit to a man who loves ordered and tilled land'.
"Well they sure make the beasts small for such a poor land," Tom says as he motions to a herd of what one might call wild cattle, though they are to what you would call cows what a hoary old wolf is to a grey hound, shaggy and humped, great mountains of ruddy fur moving placidly over the grasslands.
"These lands are wide warrior, even the most meager of fodder can sustain the greatest of beasts so long as they range widely, so it is with the Yayar," so says the bard Cor Eso. The man claims to have traveled far, though quite to where seems to change with the audience and the mood of the day . Whatever the merit of his wisdom he has at least mastered how to sound wise, which Zaia once told you in jest is 'more than half the battle to being a wiseman'. Probably easier to to play the part when your tools are drums and not knives.
"How do you find your way out here?" Inge asks, looking towards the distant mountains. "It's like a sea without ports, 'r maybe more like one where the ports move around...?" She trails off, seeming very small atop 'her' horse. If nothing else the journey has motivated her to learn how to ride on her own, not that you begrudge her the joy of it, but a part of you is uneasy at the reasoning.
Sometimes I'll have to be in another place in battle than at the front with you. A girl of ten should not be thinking of war and battle, but with the hand of Ikomi on her shoulder she can do no other.
"You find your way by the stars and the sun like a ship at sea, but also by the contours of the land, the bones might be hidden under grass and one hill might seem same as the other to eyes used to islands, but they are not. See there, that is the Three Thunders Ridge where the trade is done in the Descending of Elnu, though the Yayar call it the Moon of the Badger..."
You allow the old man's voice to fade into the background of your thoughts as you consider the path still ahead. Horse herds are not uncommon in these lands, short and stocky like ponies, though the proportions of their backs and heads are a little off, as though an inexpert sculptor had tried to mold a horse from memory and left it a little stretched out in some places and pressed together in others, but the hard part would be actually capturing the dozen or so mares to carry the foals Hengo wants and keeping them tame enough to follow you into the city.
The last thing you want is to be caught out here by some Yayar band in transgression of some strange clan law, or even just looking too much like wealthy travelers fit for the plucking. Zaia suggests making use of herbs and potions to calm the beasts and make the more amenable to your ministrations, but he admits that he had never doused a horse before, much less a wild one before taming.
On the other side of things is Megin who thinks that she can sway a herd to follow her by strength of limb and swiftness of hoof. "The eldest mare will know not to gainsay me," she proclaims confidently, her thoughts borne through Swift Pebble, but the otter-kin herself suggests caution. While she speakers of any breed have some sway over their Lesser Kindred it is a long way from the mountains of the south and the herds in these lands may find her presence more unnerving than commanding. Silver is more akin to them, but at the same time as strange in origin as the rest of you.
How do you go about the taming?
[] Just use ropes and ordinary means for roping intractable horses
[] See if Zaia's potions can help
[] Megin and Silver try to sway a herd to follow along
[] Write in
OOC: And we finally have a few days pass. Hope you guys like the outing from the city.
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- Location
- Argentina
I want to see this happen. I don't really know about how likely we are to succeed, but I like this
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I'm glad to be out of the city. There will probably we a random encounter or two, but hopefully that won't involve more thugs and Daemons.
@DragonParadox, how many people did Hengo bring along? Has Inge been making use of her Eagle Eye spell? It should be just as useful on the plains as it has been at sea, IMO. She could easily spot herds, predators, and Yayar from many miles away, well before they would be able to sneak up on us.
Zaia is awesome, of course, but I don't think this is the time to experiment with Alchemical horse tranquilizers. Maybe after we found up a small here of mares and he has a chance to examine and test his concoctions on some of them, he could use what he learns next time we come out here to gather up a batch of fresh proto-horses?
I think we should give Megin and Silver a chance to shine here. It would be best and could save us a lot of time and frustration if they succeed.
[X] Megin and Silver try to sway a herd to follow along
-[X] Fall back on ropes, nets, and other ordinary means if the dynamic duo is unable to wrangle the horses.
@DragonParadox, how many people did Hengo bring along? Has Inge been making use of her Eagle Eye spell? It should be just as useful on the plains as it has been at sea, IMO. She could easily spot herds, predators, and Yayar from many miles away, well before they would be able to sneak up on us.
Zaia is awesome, of course, but I don't think this is the time to experiment with Alchemical horse tranquilizers. Maybe after we found up a small here of mares and he has a chance to examine and test his concoctions on some of them, he could use what he learns next time we come out here to gather up a batch of fresh proto-horses?
I think we should give Megin and Silver a chance to shine here. It would be best and could save us a lot of time and frustration if they succeed.
[X] Megin and Silver try to sway a herd to follow along
-[X] Fall back on ropes, nets, and other ordinary means if the dynamic duo is unable to wrangle the horses.
- He brought along ten of his own people
- I had not thought of the spell, but now that you mention it yeah she's been using it, it does make sense IC
- Location
- Russia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So am I!
[X] Megin and Silver try to sway a herd to follow along
-[X] Fall back on ropes, nets, and other ordinary means if the dynamic duo is unable to wrangle the horses.
Additional plus: if Yayar notice this, they will be less hostile with talking beasts than with strangers.
Probably.