08.05.2015 Views

Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius

Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius

Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Foreign Relations<br />

Due to ingrained beliefs about the inferiority <strong>of</strong><br />

other races, Mogreth is at odds with all <strong>of</strong> its<br />

neighbours, with the exception <strong>of</strong> the dwarves <strong>of</strong><br />

The Shimmering Lands to the north. In the latter<br />

case, the lizard men acknowledge the dwarves’<br />

claim to be the inheritors <strong>of</strong> Blackmoorian<br />

civilisation. All other peoples are viewed as little<br />

more than cattle, to be enslaved and consumed in<br />

the grand project to restore the lost glory <strong>of</strong> the<br />

First Empire.<br />

Particularly strong hatred exists between<br />

Taymora and Mogreth. The lizard men see their<br />

human rivals to the south as upstarts daring to<br />

challenge the universal truth <strong>of</strong> saurial<br />

supremacy. The fact that the Taymorans have not<br />

only resisted Mogreth’s advances, but actually<br />

defeated them on a number <strong>of</strong> occasions, is even<br />

more galling. Masked within that hatred,<br />

however, is a fear that an aggressive, youthful,<br />

human Taymora might become the next<br />

Blackmoor – a nation that had effectively<br />

countered the First Empire.<br />

Names*<br />

Lizard Man/Troglodyte (male): Darkessh, Felss,<br />

Ilassh, Ssekat, Ssethesh, Tuurssak, Zoressh<br />

Lizard Man/Troglodyte (female): Atarssh,<br />

Azessh, Durassh, Itorrek, Margessh, Morrek,<br />

Vesskessh<br />

Frogfolk (male): Burrug, Er, Grbac, Gribbt,<br />

Krum, Pol, Proak, Ribgt, Roak, Tibbir, Wog,<br />

Wrubbt<br />

Frogfolk (female): Gub, Gurk, Heqet, Keret,<br />

Nass, Pakwa, Ran, Raya, Wiss<br />

Human (male): Andahuur, Darakat, Itzalan,<br />

Gathan, Olan, Stelduur, Ulthuur<br />

Human (female): Angialil, Gathana, Nyssa,<br />

Patiatil, Rissa, Stefa, Teotina<br />

*Troglodytes in Mogreth lost their traditional<br />

names long ago. Gender is signified by the first<br />

syllable in a name.<br />

Language<br />

Although the Y’hog dialect <strong>of</strong> Carnifex remains<br />

the <strong>of</strong>ficial language <strong>of</strong> Mogreth, it is rarely<br />

spoken outside <strong>of</strong> court. Daily life is most <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

conducted in Hemkalss. The most common<br />

foreign languages spoken by the middle and<br />

upper castes are Dwarvish and Taymoran, but<br />

some well-traveled lizard men also speak<br />

Antalian or Inti. Humans in the vassal states<br />

speak dialects <strong>of</strong> Ussaldi, which is a patois <strong>of</strong><br />

Oltec and trade Thonian, but are expected to<br />

speak Hemkalss whenever one <strong>of</strong> the “true<br />

peoples” is present.<br />

Character Classes<br />

With the political and military resources <strong>of</strong> a<br />

nation at their disposal, the saurian peoples <strong>of</strong><br />

Mogreth have as many class options open to them<br />

as humans do in the Gazetteer era, but this is<br />

constrained by social caste. The upper caste may<br />

practice any pr<strong>of</strong>ession desired; although<br />

becoming a common warrior may bring disgrace<br />

on one’s family. The middle castes have the same<br />

options, but must <strong>of</strong>ten find a patron to become a<br />

wizard. The frogfolk, by long-established<br />

tradition, are commonly found in the clerical<br />

disciplines, and in most cases they venerate the<br />

Outer Beings. Increasing numbers <strong>of</strong> people are<br />

quietly turning towards other faiths, and clerics <strong>of</strong><br />

those Immortals can be found among all races.<br />

Lizard men and troglodytes are physically strong,<br />

and those from the lower castes <strong>of</strong>ten gravitate<br />

towards combat-oriented pr<strong>of</strong>essions; although<br />

troglodytes are more likely to hire themselves out<br />

as mercenaries. The less sturdy frogfolk tend to<br />

become scouts or thieves – both pr<strong>of</strong>essions at<br />

which they excel.<br />

The large underclass <strong>of</strong> slaves come from many<br />

walks <strong>of</strong> life, and may belong to any character<br />

class.<br />

After 2300 BC<br />

A great earthquake in BC 2000 shattered a<br />

portion <strong>of</strong> the glaciers in the Kuuromdaresh<br />

Mounts, allowing Raismyr Lake to drain through<br />

what is now the Ust-Urt Valley. The water surged<br />

over Mogreth in a great wave, scouring it <strong>of</strong>f the<br />

map and changing the land drastically. The<br />

subsiding waters revealed a muddy wasteland; the<br />

great delta, and Isshum, were no more. By<br />

45

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!