Graakhalian thoughts
by Matteohere are some consideration I made writing down some preliminary ideas for my campaign in Graakhalian's region.
I found that all the stuff, from the
location to the story and behaviour, as described in the Explorer
manual of Champions of Mystara boxed set, are perfectly suitable
for a melting between usual fantasy underground atmosphere with a
post-holocaust situation flavour. like the movies of Mad Max
series.
the Graakhalian are a cultures of survivors in a terrible hostile
environments. so as the shadow elves cut their way with the
creation of a strictly organised stantial society, the Graakhalians
had chosen the way of demi-nomadism in order to survive.
so what I picture in my mind is a society of survivors that know
that its only chance to avoid oblivion is to remain survivors all
the times.
the Graakhalian regions are so harsh and hard that everyone must
act in every moment of his life thinking what's the best way to
life another bit.
I speak about tribes of skilled hunter and scout, hardened by
centuries of struggle and fight, that is in some way wild, but only
in the aspects in which a certain grade of wilderness id best
suited for survive.
in this way also the semi-permanent encampment are built in a very
practical way, what everything could be used, in the most clever
way possible.
the post apocalyptic flavour given by the use of rudimentary fire
weapons, or the use of remains of old technology can easily be
changed in a particular use of magic.
in Graakhalian society there aren't many powerful spellcaster
(elves and shaman are not so skilled as wizard and priest), but
surely, every one that have the gift of magic will use it in the
daily struggle for life. so we will have a great number of spells
created in order to help the everyday tasks ( such hunt, gathering,
harvest, defence and control of the natural ambient). I suppose,
also, that in century of isolation the magic of the Graakhalian
elves has lost great part of its former delicacy. the Graakhalian
spell often act in very direct rudimentary way with loud effect,
this doesn't mean that a fireball would be more effective, but that
every spell is studied and cast with two base idea: minimum
possible not necessary effects and maximum possible
effectiveness.
the hard life that they had brought
up for century, had eradicated in Graakhalian mind the believing
that every decision has to be taken in the minutest time possible.
because the risk of a wrong decision are more faceable that the
risk that come from indecision and waiting. this custom has
radiated so deep in their culture that every dispute of a certain
importance that arrives at a stall position will be solved by a
Duel.
in the first century the Duel was a real fight between the two
contestants that often ended with a death. again the practical mind
of the Graakhalian brought them to view the death of some valid
members of the tribe as a risk for the sopravvivence of the tribe
itself. so the Duel slowly changed form and became what now is Know
as the Race. the race is a test the will prove every aspect and
skill that a Graakhalian need for survive. the reason is on the
side of who is the best Graakhalian, this the same as say who have
the best skill to assure his life and the life of the tribe. So the
race is a challenge in which two Graakhalians try to arrive first
in a determined places and accomplish a task. this travel must be
done alone, without the help of no one else.
the two contestants stand up in face of all the tribe when they
declare that a race is called. the chieftain of the tribe then
consults his counsellors and the shamans present in the encampment
and decide a route that the two racer must accomplish, and the same
for the task. The travel can take many days, and sometimes weeks.
in this travel the Graakhalian will manage to survive and move
faster than the other using all his abilities for orienteering in
the maze of tunnels, defend himself for the thousand danger of
underground, and gathering the food, as the tradition want that the
racer will start they run without any rations.
an example of race could be descend in lower regions and arrive in
a cavern used by the tribe as granary or deposit, control the state
of the situation, and come back with a proof.
the practical mind of this people again has done that every race in
some way could be considered a risky mission for the tribe. their
common sense says: if someone want run at his own risk in the
tunnel, let them run, but in a useful way.
very important race, like a challenge between chieftain could take
much time, long and dangerous tunnels, and a very hard task to
performs. more is important the race, more is difficult the
success.
the races are called only for motivations of honour or treason,
that in Graakhalian culture are strictly connected with the
effectiveness of collaborations and duty inside the
community.
I was also wondering what immortals
could be interested in Graakhalians, they have shamans both gnoll
and elves, so they probably have some immortals.
maybe Mealiden once became immortal, had found and rediscovered
this branch of the Sheyallia elves, and intrigued by their strong
willpower had chosen to patronise them. I don't remember the period
in which Mealiden became immortal so if someone could give an
advice I'll can try to set better this idea. I think the Mealiden
could see in the gnoll component of Graakhalian culture some good
points and so he can put an eyes also upon them.
I want put Ilsundal out of all. for a time in the Mystara history I
would give to the poor Mealiden the chance to step out from his
friend's shadow. probably Ilsundal know of Graakhalian elves, but
for they alliance with gnoll skip them, leaving the camp to his
lieutenant.
another immortal that can be became interested with them could be
Rafiel. maybe for his dedication to subterranean elves, Rafiel can
watch also on these. I'm thinking also that in the century a small
group of shadow elves had travelled until reached the most eastern
tunnels of Graakhalian region, and for some reason was not able to
get back. maybe they were absorbed in some Graakhalian tribe that
lives quite isolated from their brethren and have create a
subculture by the melting of shadow elves with the other two races.
maybe are they that had brought the cult of Rafiel in this regions.
of course there will be also Ranivorus, the will be the patron of
the most ferocious gnoll in Graakhalian but I see him as a figure
disgusted by the way chosen by the Graakhalian gnoll. they don't
plunder, destroy and kill for survive, they had forged a strong
bound with the hated elves. so I think the Graakhalians are a torn
for him.
and that he will happily patronise everyone would bring the gnoll
on the good old ways of slaughter and bloodthirsty. maybe he is
helping Bozdogan in supporting the move of the master, bringing
even more humanoid in Graakhalian regions. maybe the gnoll will
follow the example of more proper humanoids. this bring me to
think, that if the Graakhalians gnoll are a torn for Ranivorus,
Pflarr could have cast a benevolent eye upon them. I think that the
main concern for Pflarr are still the Hutaakan, but from times to
times, he look upon this strange elf-gnoll culture.