Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius
Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius
Campaign Setting - Vaults of Pandius
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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 />
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