Author Topic: Upcoming New Handbook - Teasers (Read 2108 times)

EdTheKet · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2006, 01:04:52 PM »

A bit of Prunilla, by Pankoki

“Because all fields are grown evenly, there is only a seed and a plant that grows...”

The church of the Lady of the Harvest is not structured in complicated pyramidal schemes where one person reports to a higher authority by filling complicated forms that only leads to more headaches than any halfling should ever bother with. No. Prunilla's faithful follow the halfling spirit to the core and as it has been ingrained for many ages, they will always say: “Life is simple, don't be tall about it”. This of course is simply their view about themselves, for in their simple view of life, many misunderstandings are reached that have been known to end in epic sized stories of the small sized creatures. In reality, there are only two layers to the church of Lady Comfort, the first being a Lucky Clover and the second that of a Sapling.

Saplings

Saplings of Prunilla are those followers that have discovered or taken upon the path of clergy. These young halflings are known for their very caring demeanor, a desire to perpetuate the halfling culture, and a gift for tending to fields and the harvest. Saplings normally learn all the “tools of the trade” from Clan Mothers or Lucky Clovers, often made to do all the menial work for these two in order to build that enduring character that most clerics of Prunilla have.

Most Saplings are given playful nicknames that are adopted into their birth names. These nicknames often portraying their personalities through fruits and labor of the harvest. Names like Cookie, Nutty, Cherry, or Spicy are normally heard flying around in the fields for Saplings to carry farming tools or collect batches of harvest baskets. Yet despite these hard years, Saplings often take this work with great joy, and behind every playful complaint of how they are being driven by slavers, there is a caring smile and warm dedication to clan and culture.

Eventually Saplings ripe into full fledged clerics, an event that is normally triggered either by their 30th birthday or the passing (or retirement) of their mentors. Whichever may come first, all Saplings embrace this growth in the way all halflings should; by celebrating. Thus in a long night of clan joys and merriment, the Sapling cooks their favorite meal and gives a little of it to everyone present, called the Night of the Bloom, it marks the beginning of a new phase in those who choose the warm path of Prunilla.

Lucky Clovers

The second and only other layer of Lady Comfort's church is that of the Lucky Clovers. The name is said to have originated from Deliar's gift to Prunilla when he was courting her. As the story goes the day Deliar proposed to Her, he was so nervous and jittery that in the moment he was presenting her with the ring, he stumbled and it dropped into a large clover patch. Not wanting to disappoint, he improvised a small ring from a wreath of the clovers and presented it as his band of union with Her. Prunilla never bothered replacing the ring, despite Deliar's constant showering of many presents, and it is said that the first priestess of Lady Harvest was poked on the nose with the ringed finger, granting her the gift for her devotion and a name for Her people.

Regardless of where the name came, Lucky Clovers never disappoint their namesake. If it is said that most halflings have Luck on their backs, many would argue that the Clovers are Luck themselves, for in their tender touch they seem to break all rules and bring to the world children that were never supposed to be born, or save people from the strangest of ailments. When asked they simply shrug and reply with their playful smirks saying, “I was Lucky”.

Lucky Clovers are respected in any halfling community they may be passing through, for many of them can easily claim that they brought the residents into this world or fed them when they were children. This motherly embrace is rarely forgotten and often grants them a place to stay wherever they roam, of course a meal prepared by a Lucky Clover is not easy to pass up, thus adding to the leverage. Older Lucky Clovers often take on an apprentice to share all the wisdom they have gained through their lives, and in the last years of it will make sure that a Sapling is at their side so that their last breath is captured and returned to the clans.

In general however, Lucky Clovers act as healers for their clans, midwives for those bearing child, tenders of the fields that many feed from and soul for the race that never seems to lose its mirthful spirit.

EdTheKet · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2006, 04:55:47 PM »

Short piece from Vierdri'ira, written by me

Light’s Demise
These are Vierdri’ira’s warrior priestesses, who think the middle part of the dogma is the most important. Warrior priestesses of Light’s Demise are cunning tacticians, and care not about honorable warfare or rules of engagement. Ambushes, treachery, spying everything is allowed to bring about the Demise of the Light and the subjugation of the weak and the faithless. If a city’s War Mistress is also a cleric, she’s also a member of Light’s Demise, if she’s not she is still invited to any meetings.

hawklen · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2006, 10:53:20 AM »

Oooo! Can't wait for it. Like the shadon one so far!

EdTheKet · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2006, 12:53:10 PM »

The Allied Duchies of Morholt, by Reventage.
_______________________________________________________________

After the Cataclysm the history of eastern Alindor is the history of families Virvatule, Mullein and Roste, and their fight over the dominion of Kartherian trade routes. When the races clashed with each other all around Layonara, these three Grand Duchies were more intent on slaughtering their neighbours to completely secure their control of the now vital harbour city. Even after the rest of the world lowered their arms and focused on licking their wounds, the flames of war still raged fierce between the Duchies.

Yet once the western parts of Alindor were well on their way on the road to recovery, they too realized the significance of the only large port city of the east coast and their eyes turned to the three Duchies and their ongoing feud. This new pressure forced the families to accept a simple truth; the years of fighting had depleted most of their resources and none of them alone was strong enough to stand against their western neighbours and that the only thought they disliked more than one of their competitors controlling Kartherian was the thought of some barbarians from the West doing it.

This revelation led to hasty peace talks and finally in the year 46 A.C. the Duchies of Virvatule, Mullein and Roste signed a treaty at Fort Morholt, declaring the birth of Allied Duchies of Morholt. The treaty stated that under the banner of Morholt the Duchies would act as a single body in their relations to other states and that during wartime their armies would be unified under a single leader chosen by the families to repel anything that would threaten any of the Duchies.

They also shared the control of the city of Kartherian amongst each other, splitting the tax revenues equally and requiring agreement between two of the families for any new legislation for the area.

This treaty allowed the families rule the eastern corner of Alindor uncontested for nearly nine hundred years. While the families still wrestled for absolute control in the shadows they were more or less evenly matched, and the alliances between any two of them being temporary at best, the situation stayed much the same. The trade from Kartherian was blossoming and the giants in the Mountains of Madness stayed mostly quiet.

During this time the clause on military action in the Morholt treaty was invoked four times.

This happened first in the year 142 A.C., when the elves of Wolfswood declared war on the Roste family after they had expanded their farmlands by burning away most of Wolfswood that had spread over the Rusty River. The state of war lasted for sixty-five years and no definite victory was gained.

The second time was when the Mullein family decided to force the dwarven clans residing in the Crystal Peak mountains to pay taxes. This notion was first objected by the two other families but after Mullein family negotiated to give them a portion of the future profits, war was declared on 7th of Junar, 235 A.C.

When the Morholt forces marched to the mountains they found all the dwarven mining villages empty. Knowing that their small communities could not stand alone against the overwhelming numbers of the human armies, all the dwarves had fallen back to the only dwarven halls in the region, the home of the Diamondback clan.

The family Mullein took this as a good sign and populated the old dwarven villages with their own people. Their attempt to mine the mountains, however, faced extreme difficulties as the dwarves had collapsed their mines and any attempts to reopen them were stunted by small troops of dwarven mountaineers.

The Morholt army continued to siege the Diamondback halls for five years with no noticeable results and the interest to the war started to wane. Then suddenly and without warning on the Apreal of the year 240 the Diamondback clan halls were attacked from below by an unknown force.

The Mullein family had been approached by a clan of Grey Dwarves with whom they had stroke a deal. In exchange for their help on the war effort and the promise to become loyal subjects to the family Mullein and the Morholt nation, the Grey Dwarf clan Sootscale was granted exclusive mining rights on the Crystal Peak mountains.

Caught between human and Grey Dwarf forces, the Diamondback clan home soon fell and the clan members were killed to the last man. Humans retreated from the mountains and the Sootscales established themselves in the Diamondback clan home.

After the dwarven wars the Virvatule family started to grow increasingly discontent. They felt that they had gained little to none from the wars fought yet still carried as much of the burden as the other families. This led to increased demands from the Virvatules towards the two other families that they should help Virvatule with some internal problems that, while not yet at the level requiring military action could possibly escalate to that in the future.

In the end families Mullein and Roste decided that it would be easier to simply give Virvatule some forces than risk the alliance, and yet another state of war was declared in 242 A.C and Rencent Virvatule was appointed as the Lord Commander of the United Armies of Morholt. This was the first time the military action clause of the Fort Morholt treaty was invoked without a clear enemy.

Immediately Rencent directed his new military might at the Two Toes troll clan that had controlled most of the Swamp of Sorrows from the days before Cataclysm. During the next two years Rencent proved to be an brilliant military leader. He was familiar with the region and its perils and quickly trained the troops coming from the southern regions to survive in the harsh environment. In just two years he had expanded the Virvatule family area of control from simply the coastal areas to the entire northern section of the swamp.

During the second year of the war the United Armies of Morholt took a most peculiar prisoner of war. Cold blooded and clearly a member of the lizard kin, it towered taller than most grown men, its yellow scales reflecting none of the sunlight filtering trough the swamp air. Most normal men would have put the strange creature to the sword, but Rencent had trained his men well and it was brought before him for interrogation. Much of the details of this meeting has been lost to history, but in the end, for the first time during the Two Toe War, Rencent left the fields of battle taking his captive with him and spent over a month negotiating with his family to a great discontent of the other families.

When Rencent returned to his men the prisoner returned with him but this time as a trusted advisor, a change which Rencent refused to explain to those who would question him. With his return the war escalated into a never before seen fury. Every move he made was that of brilliance, perfectly building upon his old actions to a crescendo of destruction. If it was said before that Rencent was a great military tactician, then now his reputation soared to such heights that he is to today the most revered commander ever to lead the Morholt army.

The ending of War of Sorrows in 246 marked a seven hundred year period of peace to the region, only broken by the occasional scuffle with either the giants from the Mountains of Madness or the few remaining Two Toe trolls in the Swamps of Sorrows. Trade flourished, especially after the Diamoniar line was established on the continent of Dregar and Morholt's relations to their neighbours were mostly peaceful. Some observers have even commented that during this time it actually appeared as if the families were content to what they had.

Then, in the year 924 A.C. disturbing rumours of giant activity started to echo from the Mountains of Madness. It took two years to ascertain the fact that someone had in fact taken control of the region and unified the giant clans there under a single rule. This confirmation was quickly followed by an emergency meeting between the duchies in third day of Oclar 926 A.C. which ended up in appointing the head of the Virvatule family, Rencent the Sixth, as the Lord Commander of United Armies of Morholt with the intent on building enough forces over the winter to cleanse the Mountains of Madness of this potential threat.

The resolution proved to be short lived as four weeks later it was revoked and all three families published a joint declaration stating that the power building at the mountains was of no threat to the Allied Duchies. The declaration also announced a week long period of mourning due to the recent passing of the Duke of Virvatule, Rencent Virvatule the Sixth, whom had died to a food poisoning two weeks prior. Just some years later the continent of Alindor was officially renamed as Rilara.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2006, 01:27:44 PM »

I keep hearing about this Cataclysm. What's that?

EdTheKet · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2006, 02:26:11 PM »

A disaster of epic proportions that ripped the world apart and reshaped the lands.

EdTheKet · « **Reply #26 on:** December 23, 2006, 01:29:31 PM »

A myth on Ilsare and Corath, if it happened is anyone's guess of course, written by Meizter.

Once there was a man and woman so in love that few knew of anyone more devoted to one another. But one day the woman fell ill, and within the week she had passed away from the disease which had come so abruptly. The man was stricken with grief and would not leave her body. Not even when she was taken to her grave and lowered he would leave her side, and he stayed there as they covered the coffin with earth.
His tears ran down his cheek as he laid himself upon her grave, giving no thought to people who watched him, and heeding none of their words of comfort. For a week he stayed at her grave, praying and praying to Ilsare that she bring his love back to him. People brought him food and water but he did barely touch it, nor did he sleep except when he passed out from fatigue. Still as soon as he woke he would begin to pray again, pleading for help, but none came.
Then on the night of the seventh day he again passed out from exhaustion, and his body, now looking more dead than alive fell to the ground. As he lay there unconscious he saw Ilsare before him. She told him she would not bring his love back, instead he should think of what they had had, and not what he had lost. She commended him for his devotion and told that she would help ease his suffering and that in time all would be better. The Soul Mother had claimed his wife and there was nothing Ilsare could do about that she said.
The man screamed that Ilsare was a cold and heartless deity, that if she valued love she would bring his love back to him. Ilsare shook her head sadly and again explained that she could not bring her back, only help ease his pain, and then faded into darkness.
At that moment he awoke, his limbs feeling numb. A man clad in black robes stood above him, robes so black that he seemed like an empty spot as the man saw him against the night sky. “She is a betrayer” he whispered, his voice so low that it seemed little more than the whisper of the wind “She will not help you”. The man sobbed as he lay on the ground and did not reply. The stranger spoke again and said that he would help him, he could bring the man’s wife back to him.
The man looked up and said that he would pay anything to have his love back. It was almost as if a chuckle could be heard in the quiet night, but then again it was so low it could have been imagination.
The stranger told the man that he would bring the woman back if he would turn from Ilsare and devout his soul to the stranger. Without hesitation the man agreed and the stranger told him to move aside.
As he did so, the robed man raised his hand, whispering dark words of power, and as he did the earth parted and the coffin was raised from the ground by some invisible force. As the coffin stood there on the ground the lid burst away and the woman rose from it.
As the stranger faded into the darkness a whisper reached the man’s ear “Lord Corath provides” then all fell silent. With lifeless eyes, skin deathly pale and her body still ravaged by the disease, she turned to her husband and whispered in a cracking voice “My love”

Weeblie · « **Reply #27 on:** December 23, 2006, 01:54:26 PM »

Oooh... Lovely!

The dark side is way stronger than the light one.

hawklen · « **Reply #28 on:** December 23, 2006, 04:25:55 PM »

*hearts the dark side*

EdTheKet · « **Reply #29 on:** December 26, 2006, 02:48:17 AM »

Due to the sheer size of it, we've decided to cut the handbook into at least two pieces.
The first that will be released will be the Layonaran Pantheon, It didn't make before Christmas, but trust me, you're going to love it.

So, to ease the waiting, here's a blurb of Aeridinness.
_________________________________________________________________

The Lifegiver Leaf
Known mostly by reputation by all healers and potion makers across the lands, the Lifegiver Leaf is the symbol of Aeridin.
Whether Aeridin’s alias of The Lifegiver was transposed onto this small plant, or if the name of the plant also became similar to Aeridin’s is not clear, what is clear however, is that it is the most potent herb of healing known to exist on Layonara.
It is rumored to be able to cure any natural illness as well as a key component in returning transformed, altered or corrupted entities to their normal forms.
Research into old alchemical texts indicates that it is at its most potent if it is harvested at noon, when the sun is high in the sky, and then worked into whatever potion or elixir it is needed for in the light of a full moon, whether this is true or just adding useless Aeridin related rituals to a simple alchemical preparation is not clear from my research.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any records of the Lifegiver Leaf being seen, let alone being used, in recent generations, so my guess is that whoever finds one and intends to use it will follow the lore, or folklore, of the harvest at noon, and preparation at night.

- Section L, entry 67 of “On the Use of Herbs and Weeds in Alchemic Applications”, Martin Numman, alchemist

cbnicholson · « **Reply #30 on:** December 26, 2006, 09:51:34 AM »

Nay, evil always wilst turn upon itself. Whenst victorious, evil destroys the very objects of its domination. As Corath provided in the tale, naught but the man's desire, but in its darkest form and substance.

LynnJuniper · « **Reply #31 on:** December 26, 2006, 11:15:01 AM »

Yup. That's Corath the way I like him *giggles* None of that over the top LOOK AT ME EEEEEEEEEEEEEVIL foolishness. Great Myth!

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #32 on:** December 31, 2006, 03:08:52 AM »

Say, will we be seeing more info on the Plane of the Lost in the new handbook?

EdTheKet · « **Reply #33 on:** December 31, 2006, 03:36:44 AM »

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #34 on:** December 31, 2006, 07:47:28 AM »

Will we ever see more info? *Puppy dog eyes.*

EdTheKet · « **Reply #35 on:** December 31, 2006, 07:51:06 AM »

Nope

Nobody ever returned to make a description.

Stephen_Zuckerman · « **Reply #36 on:** December 31, 2006, 11:22:55 AM »

Hrm... *Plots maniacally.*

Don't suppose that if I had a character go there, though, I'd find out?

Really looking forward to the new handbook; looks like it'll be great! (Though I may've said that before. It's worth repeating.)

EdTheKet · « **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2007, 12:13:41 PM »

Been a while....

E Sgiathatch Corm by stormspirit

Often called the commoners shrine, yet more accurately translated as The Dragons Heart, this small yet poignant work to Ilsare is found nearby the main road of the town of Hlint. Containing little more than a small pagoda, a statue to Ilsare and some tiny gardens that contain delightfully scented plants, the warmth and devotion echoing from within still make it clearly a holy place of The Gentle binder.

Its name has true meaning in both contexts however as it is the most accessible of Ilsarian shrines for the common folk of Mistone and the clergy attending the shrine are well versed in dealing with the woes and requests of the more usual of folk of both fields and farm.

With that said however, Hlint was always a gathering point for those touched and called by the Gold Dragon, perhaps now a memory of times past, but still recent and alive. Due to this E Sgiathatch Corm has a long and rather colorful history of dealing with the strange, right down to the somewhat insane. Each time the few clergy have offered support, healing and care to the township and have never been found wanting.

Leading the shrine is Amenithruila, a gentle elf who has been stationed in Hlint for as long as any can remember. With nut brown hair and a wit that is as sharp as her nature is caring, her easy and outgoing disposition has earned her many friends among adventurers, the common folk and influential Hlintites alike. Indeed it is even noted that the Captain of Hlint's Guard has winked at her on many occasions...the Ilsarian just pointedly looking the other way....

EdTheKet · « **Reply #38 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:56:00 PM »

This has been deleted.

Honora · « **Reply #39 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:23:26 PM »

Broegar King: Have it my way. Or else.

:rolleyes: