Tembowatu (Loxodon/Pachydermion of Tangor)
by Marc SaindonI'm taking a different tangent than Treshold Magazine's issue 15, in which the Pachydermion is based more around the concept of the Asian elephant and Asian cultures, with the Elephant-Folk of Tangor being more rooted in African cultures.
The Tembowatu are stats-wise Loxodons in 5e, although they should count as Large creatures, not Medium. Eating a lot of vegetation, they would live in rural areas in the backwoods of Tangor Bay to sustain any community. Despite their size, most avoid careers as Fighters, opting for more intellectual roles like Clerics, Bards (especially College of Lore) and Wizards. Many would use Askari birds (mentioned in a previous post) as Familiars.
As for their origin story, they could keep the same suggested origin as a spacefaring race that ended up in Mystara a long time ago, only that they were a group of political dissidents (proto-socialists who wanted to write instead of committing everything to memory) who decided to land elsewhere from the main fleet after a successful mutiny. In Tangor, they developped Akinkra symbols, got real good at working Glyph magic and handed down their discoveries to allied humans. The spelljammer ship is no longer in working condition, but is kept in the House of Lore, a huge stone structure that serves as a museum, library and an archive.
The Tembowatu are strong supporters of the Empire of Tangor, adopting much of its culture and the language. They get along with Giff (Kiboko), although the Hippofolk are more practical-pragmatic and the Tembowatu tend to be more abstract and idealist, often creating a friendly rivalry.
Notes:
The Pachydermions
Adinkra symbols
Loxodon
Loxodon
Pachydermions: The Elephant-folk / Loxodons of Mystara
(Image from: https://www.deviantart.com/sophiekhara/art/Ngozi-Adaezi-Loxodon-Cleric-835489759)
possible placement for the Tembowatu
