Tabueen - Ice Nomads
Few people still roam the lands as true nomads. Vegetation has become extinct in all
but the sollus isles and spire-lands, and the wandering animals left are strong
beasts very capable of defending themselves from the
most accomplished hunters. With few options remaining, most nomadic people were destroyed, turned savage or settled down to move past their previous traditions.
One tradition left is to survive by raiding, living by taking
what they can from the sollus towns. Most think of the Wastelanders
who have learned to survive by attacking anyone, beast or villager
that dares leave the protection of the sollus. They view life as a
struggle, and they take what they need. Often trying not to kill or
have strict codes about who they may attack and when. Some raiding tribes do
make allies with the "settled peoples", knowing the
importance strategic friends can mean. Those in the sollus islands also realize that it is beneficial to have allies with these powerful
raiding peoples, both to attack their foes and to help in protecting
the towns. Often the tribes need a place to rest in the most
dangerous of storms as well as a place to sell their spoils. These
people also served as early warnings for oncoming giant, dragon or undead
hordes. Most tribes are chaotic, neutral or both, taking what they need. Life is not for the weak, and they
destroy anything not as strong as they.
A
significant departure from these raiders are the Tabueen, ice nomads
that have found a unique method of survival. Who the Tabueen were
before the great winter came, is unknown. The most popular belief is
they were among the exiles, searching for sanctuary in the newly
discovered spires. According to the Tabueen, what they found at first
were dragon-bears, winged magical beasts that choose this group of
exiles as their prey. For too many years, these great beasts would
devastate the people, killing one or dozen at a time, and neither
their warriors nor sorcerers could do anything to stop them. Even once
these people found the spires, the dragon-bears attacked with no
mercy, forcing the tribes to continue running, trying to stay ahead
of these terrible beasts.
According to their legends, In one of
their many attempts to escape, they found three parallel gorges in
the snow, not too deep, and much more solid than other ice paths. The paths, being much
sturdier provided much better travel ways, and headed in the same
direction they wanted to go, the tribe decided to use them. The
tribes discovered small blue mushrooms along the pathway, nourishing
and plentiful and in some cases even magically boosted. The gorges turned to ice tunnels and the people
continued to use them, believing them sacred.
What happened
next changed the people forever, the tunnels went on for days until
they meet up, into one huge underground tavern, with even more
diverging tunnels. The shamans declared the tunnels holy,
claiming them to be safe from the dragon-bears. From this central
cavern they could reach far into the domain, but this would be their
home base, a meeting point where all the Tabueen tribes could
gather. Within the
huge ice cave they found signs of life. Pictograms and carvings, both
of the traditional ice dwarf inhabitants, and of blue ice wyrms
that traveled both beneath and above the ice. It was these who created the tunnels
and paths, and the shamans declared these beasts the holy totem, to
be worshiped and venerated as a way of life.
The old and
the weak rested in the central cavern, while the warriors and mystics
traveled in the many tunnels. There they found holes leading to both
the above world and deep caves beneath the ice itself holding open
water and mushrooms of even greater size and potency. They met other
inhabitants of the caves, some as allies, and others as vicious
enemies that they fought in order to use the same tunnels as a means
to get around the ice-underworld.
Their
greatest of mystics soon found the snow whales or balashi, swimming
up above on the loose snow on the surface. These huge majestic beasts
spent days above, sunning them, gathering in groups, and singing
long, beautiful music. The mystics knew it was these sounds the Tabueen were always driven by, the great peaceful beasts called to
the Tabueen, for the totem needs their followers as much as the
people needed them. The reason soon became clear, as these snow
whales, very abruptly the herd broke apart and swam away in many
different directions, as they seen their old foe, the dragon-bears
come, but they came to hunt the whales. The mystics called out to
their new benefactors, trying to discern what their new allies
needed.
The images
were not of battles outside the tunnels but inside of them. The snow whales
could hide from the tyrants, by swimming far beneath the snow and
ice. But the many creatures that also traveled the tunnels fought the
whales in close, by surprising the creatures and giving them nowhere to
go. The shamans knew their role would be to keep them free of the
vermin. In return, they would gain the sole use of the ice tunnels
and the many caverns that cropped out from them. The Tabueen found
their home, not free of the all dangers, but one that provided the
nomads with a living and a purpose. And they have stayed in the
tunnels for thousands of years...protecting it and trading with many
of the subterranean and other travelers they meet.
Rule:
Tribal, Led by eldest shaman (most often a sorcerer) in general paths, but the day-to-day leadership can be from any tribe member that has proven themselves in both gathering, hunting and making allies. Druids worship spirits but there are also clerics who follow one of the more traditional deities. Unlike in many other places, they are never in dispute over purpose or devotion, sometimes they don't smoothly align in terms of action.
Tribes: are usually fairly small in number, rarely more than two hundred. Almost every member has a class level or two. Males usually tend towards warrior and rogue classes, women toward rogue and sorcerer or druid.
Their hunters and warriors travel on the ice-top, always patrolling for enemies. They rarely fight among their own kin but it does happen for the best under-tunnels filled with resource rich buillish (snow mushrooms.)
Allies:
Dwarves (all), Balashi,
Tribal
Enemies: Orcs, Ogres, Walren, Wolves, White Ravii, Ice Rats
Common Threats: Undead, Dragon Bears, Frost-eyes (white beholders) & ice hags
Classes:
The
Swallowed Ones. Individuals that have been swallowed by the balashi
emerge with great wisdom and knowledge. They have a
telepathic link with the creatures and are revered in their tribe for
their closeness with the Kapuntuc. (Equivalent of paladins)
Druidic
priests. Summon the spirits to advise and heal. Though they do not
actually summon the spirit of the Kapuntuc, as it is considered
disrespectful.
No wizards,
but sorcerers are possible. These spellcasters rarely travel with
the tribe; they are hermits that protect the most important central
caves. Known to brew magical potions, as well as use the Necil ice
forges to create the magical weapons needed by the tribe.
Suvoen:
Rangers, born singing the whales holy songs and must learn their
tribal tongue as a foreign language. They are raised by other suvoen,
and travel with the whales as soon as they are old enough. Main duty
is to travel on top of the ice, searching for enemies that might
strike at their people or the kapuntuc. Often set up small trades or
try to discover anyone other than the dragon-bears that hunt the
kapuntuc.
Basic
Belief: The tunnels are theirs alone. Believe that all people need a
territory and will go out of their way to avoid trespassing, but they
want the same isolation and respect for their tunnels. Otherwise they
are extremely reclusive, and though will help innocents or weak
individuals, they rarely share their information about anything
beneath the ice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sollus - According to local tradition, sollus stone is part of the broken sun that was destroyed. Casting a simple light spell is enough to provide a gentle heat for a few months. Very valuable.
Spires - Mile high plateau islands
Wastelanders - Nyssian term for barbarians who hunt the icelands
Blue Magic - All items blue coloured have the healing property.
