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 Wind Master PrC
- "Go to that dune over there. Sit there and listen to the sound of one hand."
- "But Master, I already know the answer to that riddle.", Sela said and snapped her fingers with a loud click.
- "You disappoint me yet again! Go, and do not return until you hear it."
- Swamay the Wind Master, while teaching his apprentice.
Wind Master is the leader of the Wind Riders. He is alpha and omega of their existence. If he is ever lost in battle the clan would have suffered a great setback, and his death would without any doubt cause the death of many many other clan members. This is because the entire clan depends on the Wind Master to control the wind that is the very essence of not only their culture, but their existence as well. He leads the people on the yearly monsoon migrations, he shapes the wind that is necessary for them to travel at all, be it flying the great skies in Drake-wings or roaming the dunes with Sail-carts, he is the one that counters the vile whirl-storms Air Drakes cause and he, above all else, protects his people from outside influence. No living being that does not worship air shall be suffered in the Wind Master's vicinity. He will blow the infidel away and the winds will tear him apart. There is one element above all others, he teaches, and that is the element of air.
The Wind Master is without exception always human. Since only a handful of demi-humans can be found in the entire Wind Rider clan, this is not surprising. He is always chosen from the ranks of Beast Tuggers, to indicate that the Beast Tugger inability to fly makes them no less valuable to the welfare of the clan. To become the Wind Master one has to train the entire life. Shaping winds is an enormously daunting task and the Wind Master on occasions must do it for days without rest. He does have assistants, but he regularly overpowers all of them combined together. Only when an apprentice becomes powerful enough to fuel and shape the winds for the entire clan alone, shall he voluntarily and gladly step down from the leader's position and take a well deserved rest.
When one sees the Wind Master or one of his apprentices, he recognizes them. Having been blessed by the winds they look as if they almost float above the ground. Their hair constantly whirls around them and their clothes reflect a slight breeze wherever they go. The long beard and long grey hair indicates the Wind Master, the most powerful of all Wind Riders. He will not speak to any outsider, except in an order for them to go away. Only the most persistent ones will, perhaps, be allowed in the Beast Tugger ranks, and after a long period of time will the clan accept them as one of their own. This is the way of the Wind Riders, and this is the way the Wind Master teaches them is right.
Requirements:
Skills: Concentration 8 ranks, Knowledge (Religion) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 5 ranks
Feats: Endurance, Extend Spell, Spell Focus (Evocation)
Special: Must be a Cleric of Air.
Special: Must have been chosen by the Wind Master as an apprentice.
The Wind Master has these class skills: Concentration, Heal, Knowledge (all, taken individually), Sense Motive, Spellcraft
Hit Points per level: d4
Skill points Per level: 2 + Int modifier.
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