Ethengar "air power" scenario
by Sharon Dornhoff These remarks about the influence
of "air power" and magic in general on Mystaran warcraft remind me
of something I thought of, while poring over the MML Digest Archive
-- specifically, all those posts about how hard it would be for the
Ethengar to run roughshod over any of their neighbour-states, the
way the IRL Mongols mopped the floor with anyone who got in their
way. The discussion on the mailing list centred on the fact that
all the adjacent countries to the Khanates are either mountainous
(miserable terrain for horses), or gifted with too much "air power"
(HK warbirds, Glantrian archmages on aerial mounts), for the Golden
Khan to give his followers the victories they've been hoping for.
Even the Almanacs haven't been able to give the Ethengarians much
in the way of butt-kicking to do, AFAIK.
But what if we gave the Khanates a chance to muster a bit of "air
power", themselves....?
So for all those Genghis Khan buffs out there, who are sick of the
Ethengarians' only making quick forays into other regions and
getting knocked back to square one, consider this for a
scenario:
1009 AC -- As the continent of Alphatia sinks into the sea, many
flying steeds (whose magical control had been dispelled during the
week of no magic, and had not yet been re-established) break loose
and escape their corrals, thus avoiding the fate of the land-bound
populace. Among the escapees are several hundred pegasi, who flee
to nearby Bellissaria.
1010-1015 AC -- In the monster-free backwoods of Bellissaria, the
feral pegasi breed like rabbits, much like wild mustangs in the
American west or brumbies in Australia. Able to elude humans who
try to recapture them, they undergo a population explosion and
spread out to many of the adjacent islands and Esterhold, seeking
anywhere there is open grassland. Frequently harassed by local
humans, who try to seize them or drive them out of croplands, the
once-lethargic pegasi become fiery, suspicious, and
temperamental.
1015 AC (spring) -- To the astonishment and initial dismay of the
Ethengarians, the Sea of Flowers is invaded by thousands of wild
pegasus mares and their stallion escorts. Unlike the effete white
steeds of the Glantrians, which the rugged steppe-dwellers hold in
contempt, these feral- born herds have grown hard-bitten, scruffy
and aggressive since escaping the Alphatians, swiftly impressing
the Golden Khan with their spiritedness. He immediately claims the
winged horses as his personal property, and forbids any harm be
done to them.
Satisfied that the presence of so many equines marks the steppe as
ideal birthing-land, the winged horses accept the close proximity
of the humans as an acceptable inconvenience. Although fearing to
return to captivity, the pegasi soon learn to trust the
steppe-dwellers; they look and dress very different from the
Alphatians or Bellisarians, and do not attempt to enspell the
pegasi to service. More importantly, they live with horses, smell
like horses, and don't seem to abuse their equine companions.
Gradually, the feral pegasi accept the humans' and wingless horses'
company.
As the pegasus mares give birth, the Ethengars assist distressed
foals and keep predators from the flightless young. Stallions who
are injured in fights over females also receive doctoring, and
herds with young are especially provisioned by servants of the
Golden Khan, who dig water- holes and set out salt licks. These
acts of generosity by the forward- thinking Khan cement the
alliance between human and wild pegasus, and begin a new era in
Ethengarian history: the era of the sky raiders.
1016 AC -- The first yearling pegasi born in the Khanates are
fledged and ready for riding. Eager volunteers - human and pegasus
- begin vigorous training in aerial riding and archery, learning to
work as a team. By summer, they're ready for action.