Subject: Race designing request
From: Beregar (beregar@majik.netti.fi)
Date: Fri Aug 13 1999 - 14:49:34 EEST
Our design is far behind from development because most designers are inactive. It seems that when development is in point that it would require designed world, design has almost nothing to offer. Currently we need race/tribe and region design, mostly race and tribe design because we have too few player races and for example humans have currently only one tribe. If you want design a race/tribe you must also design area where they live or then find someone to design it. When you design a race you must make it somehow interesting and roleplayable. It shouldn't be too powerful but also not too weak. If you design a human tribe it is wise to remember that common humans generally suck - we don't have any level advantages or something similar in Majik which make humans good in AD&D and similar games. So, When you design a human tribe make them for example excellent traders, however, you shouldn't give them any special innate abilities because then they are no longer humans. It is recomended to design human tribe or at least player race. It is almost imposible to avoid ripoffs and we already have few races with ripped features, though it is acceptable as long as it's not directly from some book. If you are not willing to design a race or describe region but still want help we need people to typocheck race descs (especially I need since my English sucks). I'll attach one of my own race descs, you should be able to make at least that good desc or preferably better (it's not typochecked or complete yet as you can see when you read it :). So, if you are interested in race/tribe designing contact me and I'll send you further instructions. - Beregar (Beregar@majik.netti.fi) Sisalto 1. Introduction 2. Appearance 2.1 Clothing 2.2 Weapons & Armors 3. Culture 3.1 Castes 3.2 Sahid 3.3 Mahdi 3.4 Food & Trade 4. Religion 5. Language 6. Ghalimcar 7. Roleplaying 1. Introduction Brahjians are one of the most toughest race in Majik for they have chosen to live in area which other races have discarded uninhabitable - the Desert of Ghalimcar. It is unsure whe ter Brahjians have evolved from same ancestors as northern humans, but they are unquestio nably humans. Most Brahjians have dark, almost bluish, hairs and gleaming black eyes. Both sexes are about 180cm tall and slender, but strong. Brahjians tend to wear robes and wrap veil around their head so that only gleaming eyes are visible. This efficiently prevents outsiders from separate both sexes from eachother. Color of fabric and decorations show in dividuals status in society. It is imposible to live in burning desert without water and lack of water has made Brah jians masters in art of water finding. They are also very adapt in magic and especially re ligious magic but Tsuhad, the magician caste, has also major part in the life of society. Brahjians society is highly based on magic for using magic is often only way for society to survive in desert. Magic is not only used in finding or creation of water and food but also in creation exotic magical goods. If something can't be made by normal means, magic is used. Brahjians form small tent societys which can have from few dozens of to hundred persons. These societies travel from oasis to oasis after food and water, only the largest socie ties have permanent magical cities called "Mahdi" which are usually made from marble or bronze with power of Tsudath Mahaire, the lords of the earth. Leaders of tent societies, Sahid, are called as "Sahid Mahaire" which means lord of the tents and magical cities are ruled by "Mahadare" council of magicians, who often are members of same group who created the city. 2. Appearance Living in the desert where food and water sources are rare has made Brahjians durable and untiring people. Lack of water and constant travelling has given Brahjians slender and strong body. Parching sun has given them olive colored skin. All Brahjians are about 180cm tall and weigh only 60kg. Most have dark, almost bluish, long hairs which are usual ly tied to make it more easy to wear the veil. Eyes are piercing black, slightly narrow and gleaming. Sometimes Brahjians have blond haired descendants but they are immediately killed when it can be noticed to keep race full-blooded. Men are almost hairless except rare chin beard or/and oriental type moustache. This is because strong body hair would cause more sweating and would keep body temperature higher. Women differ from men in ge neral appearance only slightly and they have slightly narrower face. 2.1 Clothing Clothes and decoration is very important for a Brahjian because it determines his or her place in the society. However, all Brahjians wear traditional, long robe which reaches to feet and is tied with decorated girdle. Brahjians call this robe "Jalara". Another tradi tional clothing is "Hunain" which is veil. There are two ways to tie Hunain, other is po pular among wandering tribes and it leaves only eyes visible and another is popular among those Brahjians who live in Mahdi, in this case hunain isn't actually tied but placed loo sely in head and then kept in place with either circular or square headband. Jalara and Hunain are both made from "Shurawari", which is very durable material that reminds silk. Shurawari is collected from "Dacca" 10cm large spider like creatures by boiling them. Brahjians wear slippers called "Saya" in their feet. They have been mainly made from shu rawari like most clothes which Brahjians wear. Slippers have three layers in the sole, two outer layers are made from shurawari and they have thick cotton layer between them to make it easier run over sand. Saya leave only little tracks on the sand. Girdle which is used to tie the robe is not only decorations but it's also one of the ma jor signs of inviduals place in society. The more decorated and valuable material the mo re wealthy and higher status person has. the girdle itself is usually made from shurawari and decorated with embroiderys and has usually precious gems, jewels and pieces of metal. The most high-ranked or rich persons have usually girdle that is completelly made from so me soft metal, like silver, and some may be made even from steel. However, most valuable are those which have rare most rare materials like pearls and amber which do not exist in desert. These valuable girdles are known as "Khajid" and besides showing individuals posi tion in society, they have also more practical uses. Brahjians often tie pounches to gird les where they hold their items. Also, Khajid is one of those rare items which are valuab le enough to hold canteens of water. "Baggarat" and "Ghazali" are also carried in the girdles. Besides Jalara, Hunain, Saya and Khajid, Brahjians use earrings, rings, bangles and pen dants. Large amount of decoration and materials used in them shows that person is wealthy and have high status in the society. Silver, steel and gold and precious gems are again most popular. 2.2 Weapons & Armors Brahjians use rarely any other weapons than Baggarat and Ghazali. Baggarat is about 60cm long and 0.8kg weighting one-handed sabre which is completely created by using magic that makes it very sharp and durable. Hilt is usually made of bone and like blade, is undecora ted. Baggarat can be used either as slashing or piercing weapon. Ghazali, which means ta lon of the desert snake, is about 40cm long and 0.4 kg weighting dagger with double-cur ved, double-edged blade. As Baggarat, Ghazali is completelly made by using magic, which makes it very sharp and durable. The blade is decorated with images of desert snake and hilt is shaped in form of snake which curls around the hand. Ghazali is mainly used as piercing weapon but it can be also used as slashing weapon though not as efficiently. Gha zali often has strong enchantment which cause poison like effects and pain that reminds bite of the desert snake. Though every member of tribe has either of these weapons only sand warriors and Religious brotherhoods use both weapons. Brahjians do not use bows but they often place couple of Chakrams above headband which keeps Hunain it's in place. Reli gious brotherhoods and sand warriors are masters in art of Chakram throwing. Brahjians do not wear armors for it takes too much energy to move in one and even worse, make their wearers sweat. A Person wearing an armor dies as quickly in desert as person who does not protect himself from sun with clothes. While Brahjians do not use any real armors, they might use thick cotton or metal arm protectors under they clothes which are used to block sword slashes. 3. Culture Brahjians are honorable and proud people. They are suspicious towards strangers but not of fensive - they simply seem to ignore strangers until they make something to reach their at tention. They praise rituals, ceremonies and competitions which nature is such that it be nefits the society. Brahjians are disciplined people, they have very strict rules about how to behave and live. Brahjians usually hide their emotions except in few situations li ke holy wars and act of worshipping. While Brahjian are honest to everyone they often deci de not to say the truth if they feel it is insulting. They don't believe in marriage and usually live alone even if they have children. Children are considered as castless which means that they are not full members of society. If they want to became one they must show that they benefit the society. To became a full members they must follow strictly both orders of the members of society as well as religious rules Children must also learn abilities of some caste before he can became member of the socie ty. When a parent and a children meet they show no feelings towards eachother and children must always follow orders of all members. When child becames a member of society he or she is considered to be full brother or sister to all members of society. Culture of Brahjians is based on mutual trust and strict religious rules and habits. Rules and habits are necessary for all those who wish to live in the burning desert and without them whole tribes would quickly became extinct. There is usually only one punishment for breaking the rules, death. 3.1 Castes Society of Brahjians is divided in the three castes known as Tsuhad, Habaru and Shantai. Tsuhad is a magician caste. It's members are essential to the society in their own way for they have ability to create magical weapons and fabrics which Brahjians are known of. Tsu had has two different type of members. When members of religious caste concentrate on mo re ethereal things members of Habaru concentrate on matter and creation. Tsudath Mahaire are alchemists, scholars and earth mages. Their task is to create weapons and tools which tribes uses. Tsudath are often more stronger and durable than other members of the society because they spend much time in tasks which require physical strength. Most powerful of Tsudath Mahaire who have mastered the art of creation and alchemy have created magical ci ties called "Mahdi". Another group of mages are Jahid Mahaire. They are creators too but their knowledge is based on magical patterns and symbols which they place on fabrics. Habaru is a religious caste. Their magical powers raise from rituals and worshiping of the Gods and their wordly authority is based on rituals and strict religious rules. No doubt this caste could be the most powerful because its influence among the tribes. However the rules created by the caste have much influence from all castes and this makes all castes, including religious caste no stronger than any other caste. This caste has three different members. Most common are Hadar-Dhare and Hantai-Dhare, brothers to death and life, who are religious assassins and warriors priests. Hadar-Dhare are religious assassins whose main task is to make sure that religious rules are strictly followed and terminate those who op pose them. Warriors of Hantai-Dhare are religious fanatics and battle clerics whose task is to cast protective prayers in combat. Besides these two groups there are also one known as Shaldun Mahaire. Besides being seers and dreamers they are also priests of all gods that Brahjians worship. Shantai are the sand warriors. They are defenders of the tribe and best warriors. Because battles between tribes are rare, their main task is to hunt food, scout and kill monsters that could threat the tribe. These warriors do not wear any real armors and seldom use ot her weapons than Baggarat, Ghazali and Chakrams. They are especially skilled in parrying and defending with these weapons. They can wear armor or wield other weapons but can not fight well with them. In addition to these castes are "castless" which are usually group where children and visi tors from other races belong as well as those who hasn't been chosen to any cast, though there are only few of these. 3.2 Sahid Most Brahjians live as beduins in small tent villages called Sahid. These villages are ea sy to move and pitch. A tent, or "Santo" is a one of the greatest magical achievements of Brahjian society. They are mostly woven from Shurawari and seem to smaller from outside than they actually are. Each caste have their own location for santo. Most "valuable" pla ces are those around the tent of Sahid Mahaire, the leader of the tribe. Leaders tent is placed in the middle of village. Brahjians have three temple tents: one is in west side of leaders tent and it is place for general worshipping and tribal rituals. Other two tents are northern and southern ends of village. Northern is meant for Warrior priests and sout hern for religious assassins. Members of those two groups have their own tents around them. Other priests have their tents in eastern side of main temple tent and members of ma gigian caste have their tents in western side of leaders tent. Generally Shantai warriors fill the remaining places near the middle parts. Tents of castless are place in circle around the main parts. Sahid Mahaire is always member of some of the three castes. He/she reigns untill death and in teheory has ultimate judging power over all mebers of the villages. However, rules are even more strict for Sahid Mahaire and though he/she can't be toppled there are other ways to get rid from leader that no-longer benefits the society. If members of the castes found leader unsuitable for the task, he/she is quickly excecuted by Hadar-Dhare. How ever, to be a leader is considered to be a great honor and while leader should not seek riches, members of the society often give gifts those leaders who have lead the society well. Also leaders of tribes often share most valuable "Bazda", a seremonial gift which visitor gives to host. When leader dies castes arange competition where members of all castes will participate. Meaning of this contest is to determine which caste is most use ful for the society. Person who is elected is from winning caste. These contests can in clude fighting but not among members of the own tribe or other tribes. Good example is mission to kill some monster that is threat for the tribe. 3.3 Mahdi Only rare tribes have mahdi, a magical fortress. Mahdi are usually inhabitated by members Tsuhad and Habaru castes and they are centres of magical and religious learning. Leaders of Mahdi break normal rules for they are usually lead by council which mostly concists of those magigians who created the city. Even while Mahdi is mostly inhabitated by previous castes it doesn't mean there are no other people. As mentioned Mahdi are centres of lear ning and they are open for all who are interrested about magic or buying and selling of magical items. Though only rare outsiders can visit Mahdi because of Ghalimcar desert. However those who can, are one of the most powerful mages and clerics in Majik and often benefit both themselves and residents of Mahdi. Often members of beduin tribes send their mages and priests to mahdi to learn magical arts. While residents of Mahdi have rejected most of the rules of beduin tribes it doesn't mean that they no-longer can survive in de sert or don't have rules at all. Actually they have more rules than beduin tribes and they are also more strict. 3.4 Food & Trade Brahjians live mostly with meat and milk of "Banto" which is goat-like, durable and hair less animal. Banto is a very special animal for it can store large amounts of water and survive with very little food. Bantos eat omnivorous, they eat everything from small ani mals like spiders, worms and scorpions to leaves of palm trees and fruits. Bantos are im mune to most poisons. Bantos are main reason why most Brahjians live beduin life and tra vel from oasis to oasis searching food. Bantos' meat is very tasty and it is usually stew in Buijid together with palm oil and edible plants. Buijid resembles kettle and it has dome shaped cover which collects moistu re. Besides meat of banto, brahjians eat larvaes, spiders, scorpions and nearly all ani mals that they can find from the sand and oasis. Only members of Mahdi can hope to have excotic foods. Brahjians have one substance which is prized over all else because it is so rare, water. Brahjians drink mostly water and juice which can be squeezed from fruits. They don't have any alcohol drinks so alcohol affects very strongly to them should they ever have any. Water is so important that Brahjians use it to determine value of their money. "Dharya" which is quadrangular and about 20 fuad (about 20 grams) weighting piece of silver corres ponds to "Dhal" (a little over desiliter) water or piece of steel that weights 10 fuad. Fuad has hole in the middle and they are usually tied together with chain and carried as necklaces. While trade opportunities in desert seem to be very bad, Brahjians trade with eachothers as well as with other races of Eldiron. Twice in a year Brahjians form large caravans and travel to trade centre near the western part of desert. Brahjians sell mostly their magi cal goods such as magical tapestries and carpets, scrolls and items; rare poisons and herbs; excotic foods and fruits; oil, crystal sand, scarba and shurawari. They buy mostly water, metals, amber, excotic foods and fruits, precois gems, jewelry, scrolls, books and magical items. Brahjians need not to fear for they caravans for two reasons. First, figh ting in trading place is forbidden for no-one wants to take risk that Brahjians get insul ted and leave (or slaughter offenders). Second reason is that all Brahjians, even small childres, have ritualic daily weapon trainings so they are very cabaple defending themsel ves. 4. Religion Brahjians worship many gods but one remains above all others, Aluna, the Goddess of Sun which Brahjians call "Jahare Aheira" the Watching Eye of Sky or "Adare" which means the bright one. Other important gods for Brahjians are are: Shanta who is mistress of the sand; Ghadar, also called "Marad Shudare", the Dream Serpent, who is god of dreams, afterlife and water; Hadarah, whose name means undeath, is god of murdered souls, protec tor of religious cults and patron deity for Hadar-Dhare. Brahjians are very religious people, they have many sacred rituals which they perfom to please their gods. These rituals are either performed privately by sacrificing food, wa ter and other precious things or they can be important religious ceremonies performed by members of Habaru, usually whole tribe participates in these ceremonies for avoiding the se ceremonies without proper reason is considered to be punishable. the Most important personal daily rituals are: Tarad Aheira, hymn to sun, which is performed every morning; Tarad Adher, evening hymn, which is performed each evening and "Tara" which is prayer for water. Other daily prayers and hymns are usually performed by different castes in diffe rent situations: There is prayer for Shanta which is performed by Shantai Maharu, hymn of the the dead performed by Hadar-Dhare, hymn of life performed by Hantai-Dhare and prayer of dreams which is performed by Shaldun-Mahaire. In addition to these ceremonies there are many other personal rituals which are performed by need like Suhadare which is birth cere mony, Hadare which is ceremony of death. Larger religious ceremonies are: Ceremony of Sun which is performed weekly; Ceremony of Life, again performed weekly and Dreamtime which is performed once in a year and it's purpose is connect all Brahjians to spirit world and their ancestors. There are also ceremonies performed if need arises, for example when who le tribe is in danger. One common ritual which is often performed but doesn't have any cer tain time or place for it, is a sword dance, where Brahjians hone their fighting skills. Brahjians believe in heaven and hell. Heaven is a place where dream serpent rules, a pla ce where everything normally lacks substance and directions or distance have no meaning at all. It's a peaceful place where spirits of dead people build dream worlds and observe their living relatives. Brahjians believe that while dreaming, people enter to world of the dream serpent and if their mind is trained they can speak with their dead ancestors. However, living people should be careful not to anger their ancestors for they can appear in dreams and make these persons insane. Brahjians have one hell and that is world where they live in, however, all Brahjians make their best to live a long life in their cruel world for only those people have deserved place in the dream serpents world. Others will remain in the desert where these spinning mad spirits gather together in a large sand storm which is under command of Hadarah, the god of undeath. 5. Language n/a 6. Ghalimcar Ghalimcar consists mostly of a wide desert expanse, known as the Desert of Ghalimcar, or the Desert of Brahjian, depending on who you ask. The rainforest region of Zamurdi is al so considered to be part of Ghalimcar. This forest is a cursed remnant of the great rain forest that once covered the whole area, and is a dark place filled with evil magic where evil trees and creatures dwell and hunt for flesh and blood of those unfortunate souls who dare to enter. The desert itself is rumored to be be creation of goddess Aluna herself when she punished a jungle tribe that had killed innocent child. Aluna created two high mountain chains which cut off the desert from rain and wind from the oceans, and then dried out the land and killed the trees. The desert used to be most fertile part of Ghalimcar, a area where great rivers fed vast jungles full of much animal life, but nowadays the desert is an extremely dry and barren place, where moaning winds travel sadly over dunes of dry sand. It is also a dangerous place to live or travel through, because Shanta, the sand goddess, is said to move in the desert and live among the dunes, where her influence is rumored to destabilish the weat her so that at any moment the winds could pick up and a violent sandstorm could erupt, so me strong enough to tear the flesh off of the unwary. Desert is not completely dry however, for Aluna merely buried the rivers which fed the jungles, she did not remove them. A few of them still exist below the surface, feeding rare moving oasises and plants with fresh water. Because of these rivers, a few creatures can live and even flourish in the desert. A human tribe called Brahjians is one of these. They are the remnants of those tribes who used live in the area before Aluna cursed the area, and now dwell in the oasies or magical cities. The Desert has a few extraordinary features which do not appear in other places. The most well known are the travelling oasises which follow the under ground rivers. Hadarah Shas ta, "storm of the unliving" as Brajians call it, is large quiet sandstorm that travels around the desert following it's own paths whether it is windy or not. And last but not least, the centre of desert is inhabitated by giant scorpions and rumored to be home of Shanta herself. 7. Roleplaying Names: I demand names that has preferably have nothing to do with any real life languages. Structure of name must be suitable for their language (check words). If I, or preferably players of this race find some person using unsuitable names there will be punishment of some sort, like creation of new character. Should same person continue violating these ru les and I'll see personally that he or she won't play Majik anymore. Battle: Brahjians are honorable but still strict people. They won't kill anyone who surren ders in normal combat but there are often some religious rule which require him or her to kill opponent (such as religious assasinations, holy wars etc). It's highly encouraged for Brahjian not to use any other weapon than either Baggarat or Ghazali or both of them. They will anyway get benefits when they fight with these weapons and penalties when they don't. They won't use armors or shields except arm protectors because armor kills in desert and they are specialized in defensive arm combat. They can learn to use armors and/or shields but no-one in their own society teaches such skills. Their favourite battle tactic is to hide in sand and then surprise enemy who walk near them. Religion: Religion, together with magic, is the lifeblood of the society. I have mentioned a few rituals in this file, there should be more of these and I will require players to de sign them and perform then. Every Brahjian should know basic rituals and perform them and if one becames a priest (Shaldun Mahaire) he or she must know both previous rituals and those rituals which gods require. Roleplaying a priest is mainly performing these rituals and advicing members of the race. They may have also quests which come directly from the gods. Spellcasting is made with magical rituals which require either one or more priests. Priests should not be secretive about their powers but should not also brag with them. Most Brahjians have ability to make simple magical prayers because these powers come di rectly from gods so if a god decides to answer person who make prayer, god can for example heal some wounded. Ritual magic of priests is more complete. Magic: Magic, together with religion, is the lifeblood of the society. Spellcasting in the Brahjian society is a profession among all others. Spellcasters are required and do their job. In Sahid society there are no centres for learning, usually older mages teach younger ones. Mahdi societys then again are centres of magical learning and nearly everyone there can cast spells. Each society have usually many members of Tsuhad and there are always at least one of each type. Brahjian mages are respected as other members of society but they don't have any greater power than rest of the castes. It is more rarer that someone other than member of Tsuhad know magical symbols for they should spend much time to learn them. Philosophy: Brahjians are honorable people. They are suspicious towards strangers but not offensive - they simply seem to ignore strangers until they make something to reach their attention. They praise rituals, ceremonies and competitions which nature is such that it benefits the society. Brahjians are disciplined people, they have very strict rules about how to behave and live. Brahjians hide their emotions except in a few exceptional situa tions like holy wars and act of worshipping. They don't believe in marriage and usually live alone even if they have children. While Brahjians are honest to everyone they often decide not to say the truth aloud if they feel it is insulting.
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