Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 megatherion Feb 03, 2006 11:39:58	The last but not least subgroup of the Wind Rider Clan. The fighters, scouts and brave pioneers, they hunt for drakes and fight as ones. This is the story of the Land Scourges, the famed Sail-cart pilots and raiders. Repetition of necessary fluff: Hailing from the Bandit states on the far north, comes the Wind Rider clan. Attuned to the element of air they soar the skies, and present a particular danger to the merchant caravan wagons in the monsoon season. The monsoon season features a strong north wind that blows for the a period of 20-30 days. At that time the entire Wind Rider clan descends upon the tablelands where they attack mostly water caravans, but no other caravan or traveler is truly safe. At the end of the season the north wind is replaced by a strong south one, which indicates the Wind Riders will depart soon and return to their northern homes. Their entire society is based on the concept of wind riding, and the Wind Master is an important part of it. The Wind Master is the one shaping the wind and providing the subtle air thrust needed for the rest of his clan to either travel or attack. The Wind Master, usually the oldest air cleric in the clan, is a powerful individual. He senses the wind changes and leads his people to 'where the wind blows stronger'. Rarely is one bestowed the honor of joining the Wind Riders. Their clan is composed only of humans, with some exceptions if that person did a great favor to them. Though, they won't ask if that person is good or evil, just this: "Does he worship air?" Their dislike to other elements goes so far that they will not willingly speak to or listen to a non-air worshiping person. The clan is divided into three separate groups, though when they travel they do it always together, one looking after another: - the Drake Riders, which glide through the sky on their "Drake-wings", the powerful triangular kite-like wings. - the Land Scourges, a subgroup that travels on wheeled Sail-boards, using air sails to propel them, - and finally the Beast Tuggers, which use all manner of beasts to pull their enormous carts and wagons. The Land Scourge PrC "That dune over there. That's where we dig in. Be ready to attack on my mark." - Yarol, Scourge Wind to his Land Scourge squad. Land Scourges are the main strike force of the Wind Rider clan. Whenever the clan attacks caravans, small settlements or fortified oases, the Land Scourges are the ones handling the main of the fight, while Drake Riders provide aerial support. They are stealthy in approach, the Sail-carts disguised using natural desert patterns, and the Land Scourges can put up a good fight with or without their vehicles. When they perform raids, a part of them goes into melee combat, while the other part keeps distance and uses ranged weaponry to shoot down any mounted resistance. They are led by the Scourge Wind, who is in charge of the deployment, and is usually the best fighter of the group. New additions are preferred to come from the ranks of the Beast Tuggers than from strangers looking to join them. They value their life style greatly and feel that strangers would introduce chaos and wouldn't understand "the wind whisper", which is an important concept to them. Therefore, they are almost without exception humans and will not gladly suffer a non-human amongst their ranks. The Scourge Wind has the last say on any recruitment, plans, or tactics. To become one, one has to Scourge alone in search of a non-air Drake, and then to lead the Beast Tuggers and attack it. If he succeeds without massive casualties, he may be promoted to the status of a leader. NPC Land scourges can be found alone scouting for the great Drakes, or finding appropriate targets for the clan to raid. They may talk to the non-air worshipers but only in order to locate the Drakes more quickly. They are very closed people and will never reveal the location of their clan, not even when threatened by death. Land Scourges that tried to scout alone and failed to produce evidence of a Drake within the appointed time (usually one year) are cast out in shame, and the Sail-cart is taken from them. They may rig another one but without access to the precious Drake Skin to be used as sail, their Sail-carts are sub-par. Requirements: Skills: Balance 5 ranks, Craft (Sail-cart) 5 ranks, Hide 8 ranks. Feats: Weapon Focus (Light Crossbow), Rapid Reload, Sneak Attack ability Special: Must exclusively worship the element of air. Special: Must have been born or be accepted into the Wind Rider clan. The Land Scourge has these class skills: Balance, Craft, Climb, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Listen, Move silently, Search, Spot, Survival, Tumble Hit points Per level: d8 Skill points Per level: 6 + Int modifier.
#2 zombiegleemax Feb 03, 2006 16:06:01	I would suggest some revisions and the use of stormwrack...and the speed should be done by the wind speed. like 40xwind cat '. so a strong day you can get bookin'...but that's just a suggestion
#3 megatherion Feb 03, 2006 16:11:06	I would suggest some revisions and the use of stormwrack...and the speed should be done by the wind speed. like 40xwind cat '. so a strong day you can get bookin'...but that's just a suggestion I envisioned the Wind Master giving all the air thrust any of the subgroups need, be it Drake Riders or Land Scourges. Basically, they all are effective within 5 miles of the Wind Master and they always get maximum wind thrust they or their contraptions can handle. Thus the prerequisite. If the Land Scourge exits the range then it would be calculated by the rules found in the Arms and Equipment guide - they have explicit rules for wind strength and how it affects a certain class of manuverbility.
#4 megatherion Feb 03, 2006 16:42:39	I know it's still early and that I'm posting 2 PrCs a day, but what can I say? I'm impatient! :D Any comments/suggestions? :D How do you like the slick manuvers? Ripping the sail out and jamming the foot in while dual shooting? LOL!
#5 megatherion Feb 05, 2006 13:55:10	*sigh*, 2 days and not a comment. Either it's so bad noone wants to prod it with a 10 foot retractable pole, or it's so mediocre noone thinks twice once he reads it. Well, I'll leave it hanging for some more days and then ice it.