Thanks
Rakasta
Known as the “cat people” by its neighbors, the rakasta are a proud race of feline humanoids. Rakastan culture is unique, somewhat mystical, and concerned primarily with battle and honor. Rakastas are known to be some of the most efficient soldiers and warriors in all of the civilized lands.
Personality: Rakastas are a proud and emotional race. They are renowned for their quickness to anger if they feel that they have been wronged or insulted and for their great tenacity and bravery in battle. They also place a great value in honor and reputation. Rakastas seek to prove their own valor and skill in combat. They are extremely interested in the world at large and this translates into a wanderlust that demands they explore and experience all things for themselves.
Physical Description: Rakastas stand about 5 ½ feet tall and usually weight about 130 pounds. They look like a furry human with the head of a cat. Its short fur is usually soft and ranges in color from light tan to dark brown. Many rakastas have a darker hue on the ears and muzzle. Some specimens have white highlights and the ears and muzzle instead or even white or dark patches at the extremities (feet, hands, and tail). Older rakastas show whitening around the face and ears. The creatures have cat eyes, with vertical pupils. The irises are usually green, but some are yellow or even blue or hazel; a few rare individuals have two colors, most commonly one blue and one green.
Rakastan hands and feet are like those of humans, except for the fur and retractable claws. Rakastas also have non-prehensile four feet long tails, most are covered with short fur. Rakastas are very proud of their tails and spend a great deal of time each day grooming them.
Rakastas wear elaborate armor and use stylized weapons, but otherwise wear simple featureless clothing when not in battle. Rakastas reach the age of majority at 15 and live for just over a century.
Relations: Though rakastas usually consider themselves superior to members of most other races, elves are considered almost equal; humans and dwarves receive a somewhat grudging respect. Rakastas hate goblinoids passionately. In general, they form opinions on most other races on an individual basis.
Alignment: Most rakastas are usually neutral where law and order is concerned, and are indifferent about the affairs of good and evil as well.
Rakasta Lands: Rakastas live and form communities and cities similar to those of humans usually on flat or slightly hilly lands.
They have a feudal style of government mixed with their ancient ways, warrior traditions, and mystical predilection. Their architecture is elegant and ornate with light buildings, mostly made of wood. Their smiths are famous for the intricate and detailed tools, weapons, and armors they make. They are not miners so they rely heavily on ore trade between themselves and other nations in order to maintain a quality of life they demand.
Rakastas in human lands are generally warriors or smiths in search for ore.
Religion: Rakastas have a pantheon of their own. Two important immortals are Belbion, patron of pride, honor, war, and conquests, and Pax Bellanica, patron of rakastan justice and peace.
Language: The main language of the rakasta is Rakastan. This is an older language and seems entirely unrelated to those around them. Rakastas does not use the script of the Common tongue. Instead, it is composed of ideograms that roughly resemble the object being written about at the time. The language is very difficult to learn, as it has 3,000 such ideograms, all with different meanings.
Names: Rakastas use two names, a personal name and a clan name.
Male Names: Hirameki, Jiro, Kamaggi, Kaminari, Kenju, Myojo,
Female Names: Kitahara, Lyn, Tamokka
Clan Names: Fuurifesu, Katamura, Katayama, Tomokato
Adventurers: With war being important to them, most young rakastas will expect to spend some time training to be warriors. Others will travel in the pursuit of knowledge, and new fighting techniques. Some rakastas adventure due to owing a debt of honor to someone or seeking vengeance for a wrong that has been committed against them.
Rakasta Racial Traits
+2 Dexterity, -2 Wisdom: Rakastas have natural agility but they tend to act before thinking.
Medium-size: As Medium-size creatures, rakasta have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Rakasta base speed is 30 feet.
Low-light vision: Rakastas can see twice as far as humans in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail in these conditions.
+2 racial bonus on Balance checks. Rakastas have improved balance.
+2 racial bonus on a Craft of their choice. Rakastas are excellent crafters.
Keen Senses: Rakastas possess keen senses due to their superb hearing and sensitive whiskers. If these whiskers are ever damaged, they suffer 2 points of Dexterity damage and lose the abilities described below until the whiskers grow back (or are magically healed) which generally happens in 2d4 days.
These senses give them the following abilities:
+4 racial bonuses on Listen checks.
The Blind-Fight feat
When confronted with invisibility within 10 feet of them they get a +4 bonus on any checks made to detect it. This sensing is constant and they don’t need to concentrate to use it.
Sonic Sensitivity: The accurate senses of the rakasta come with a price. They suffer + 25% damage against sonic attacks [with the Sonic descriptor] regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or a failure and a -2 penalty to saving throws against sonic effects that don't deal damage (such as thunderstones, a harpy's song, and so on).
Cat fall: Rakastas have excellent balance and reflexes. They always suffer half damage from falls (minimum 1 point of damage).
Natural attacks: They have one-inch long retractable claws on their hands, which they may attack with in melee. Their claws deal 1d3 points of damage. Rakasta may also bite for 1d4 points of damage. When using these natural attacks, a Rakasta is not considered unarmed. A rakasta may take the full attack action to make all three attacks as if attacking with multiple weapons. The claws attacks are considered primary attacks and suffer no penalties (as per DMG rules), the bite attack is a secondary attack and suffers a –5 penalty on the attack roll and adds only half strength for damage. They can also attack with their claws unextented for 1d3 of subdual damage.
Automatic Languages: Common and Rakastan. Bonus Languages: Varies by setting, generally is any available in the area (except secret languages).
Favored Class: The preferred class of the Rakasta is Fighter. A multiclass rakasta's fighter class does not count when determining whether she suffers an XP penalty from multiclassing.
To be honest I think most people who are interested in race conversions go to Players' Handbook - Races, though I agree that this is on topic for here.
A few things I would like to change:
* Whiskers and damage done to them. I think this is sort of silly and could have been left out.
* Cat fall: Why not simply a bonus to tumbling instead? Seems more in line with the 3e logic
* Sonic sensitivity: Why not just stick with the -2 penalty? Figuring out percentages of bonus damage takes unneccesary time. Do not all sonic attacks include a save?
* +2 to crafts. Why? Id just leave that one out
* War Claws: I think all Rakasta should be proficient with this exotic weapon as part of their racial package.
The above might seem like alot of criticism, but actually its not that much and I like everything apart from that
Cheers!
Havard
For example, my attempt at conversion is at:
www.angelfire.com/games4/mystara/rakastas.html
Not to mention that the Vaults of Pandius also has about a dozen Rakasta conversions as well.
www.dnd.starflung.com
Originally posted by havard
A few things I would like to change:
* Whiskers and damage done to them. I think this is sort of silly and could have been left out.
It's a situation that will not come up in many sessions, it exists more as a balancing issue that a mechanical one.
* Cat fall: Why not simply a bonus to tumbling instead? Seems more in line with the 3e logic
Because tumbling its a trained only skill. This is a simply abilitie with no mechanic involved, why make it more complicated?
* Sonic sensitivity: Why not just stick with the -2 penalty? Figuring out percentages of bonus damage takes unneccesary time. Do not all sonic attacks include a save?
Sonic vulnerability already exists in 3.5 e but seems a little to much for them so they take half sonic vulnerability and the -2 on non damaging effects.
* +2 to crafts. Why? Id just leave that one out
Because they are described as excellent crafters in several sources.
* War Claws: I think all Rakasta should be proficient with this exotic weapon as part of their racial package.
Huuumm... perhaps weapon familiarity...
The above might seem like alot of criticism, but actually its not that much and I like everything apart from that
Cheers!
Without criticism (constructive one) nothing would really be improved.
;)
Havard [/b]
Originally posted by Goldrak
Without criticism (constructive one) nothing would really be improved.
[/b]
Hehe, I am glad you take it that way.
That said, I prefer Kata_One's conversion athttp://www.angelfire.com/games4/mystara/rakastas.html
It is actually quite similar to yours, with the exception of the 25% damage issue and the whiskers thing. Your's (Goldrak) version gives a +2 to balance though, which I like.
Also, isn't a +4 to listen a bit extreme? Both versions have this, but arent most racial skill bonuses limited to a +2?
I suppose I can be presuaded to leave the Cat Fall ability as it is (present in both examples).
Rakastas are an awsome race, I will include them in all future Mystara campaigns in addition to the standard races and the Lupin.
Havard
Both versions are really quite similar, the only diferences are in the skills, sonic vulnerability, whiskers and weapon proficiency.
The +4 on listen notonly reflects the 20% Hear Noise from previous editions but IMO they should have a Listen bonus superior to the elves.
Rakastas and Lupins are one of the things that clearly defines and makes mystara unique!!
:D
How common and well-accepted are Rakastas and Lupins in your campaigns?
IMC I won't even allow half-orcs because IMO they would get the crap beat out of them anywhere in the civilised world except amongst the poor in urban areas. I cannot even imagine how Soderfjord farmers or frontier settlers in Darokin would react to seeing a guy with a dog's og a cat's head ??
I use them on the Savage Coast but nowhere in the Known World. What do you do?
:-) Jesper
In the Northern Reaches these races aswell as half-orcs are not so common, and people tend to distrust strangers. However, regardless of appearance, the norsemen turn out to be quite accepting if the character proves to be honourable and competend.
Half-Orcs are mentioned in the Darokin Gaz. They are accepted there, but for the most belong to the lower class, doing only physical labour. The same is probably true for this race in Thyatis and Karameikos.
Havard
I'd like to introduce both Rakasta and Lupins , as they add a uniquely Mystaran flavour. However in a campaign set mostly in the Known World area there hasnt been an opportunity to include any. I just cant see a Rakasta walking the streets of Mirros.
Originally posted by Angry-Gibbon
IMC we use Half-Orcs , mostly because a few players have requested to play them. We had one PC Half-orc from Karameikos and one from Glantri.
I'd like to introduce both Rakasta and Lupins , as they add a uniquely Mystaran flavour. However in a campaign set mostly in the Known World area there hasnt been an opportunity to include any. I just cant see a Rakasta walking the streets of Mirros.
The Lupin article from Dragon Magazine, specifically mentions Lupin subraces placed in Karameikos, Heldann and Glantri IIRC. Lupins also fit well in Karameikos because of their connection with the Hutaakans.
Rakastas are found in Ylaruam, Heldann and Wendar to be sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few showed up in other KW countries aswell...
Havard
1) Pit bull fighters that in centuries past fought in the gladiator arenas of Thyatis. I left a few in Thyatis.
2) Four subraces of lupins in Ochalea, a few migrate to the mainland, including one PC I have.
3) A breed in Ylaruam, also followers of Al-Kalim who keep to themselves.
4) Several breeds in Glantri, each specific to one principality.
5) I believe one in the Northern Reaches.
Originally posted by havard
The Lupin article from Dragon Magazine, specifically mentions Lupin subraces placed in Karameikos, Heldann and Glantri IIRC. Lupins also fit well in Karameikos because of their connection with the Hutaakans.
Rakastas are found in Ylaruam, Heldann and Wendar to be sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few showed up in other KW countries aswell...
Havard
Thanks! I have that article somewhere so will have too have another look at it.
Its still going to be tricky to retro-fit Lupins/Rakasta into an ongoing cmapaign though. On of my players has been playing in my Mystaran campaigns for over 12 years. Back then we only had the Gazeteers for matierial , which never really included the other races. Easy enough to place them in areas the current players havent yet been too but hard to explain why no-one mentioned the Lupins living next door to the players Karameikan homes.
Perhaps a new migration from the Savage Coast?
Any suggestions would be helpfull.
Originally posted by Angry-Gibbon
Its still going to be tricky to retro-fit Lupins/Rakasta into an ongoing cmapaign though. On of my players has been playing in my Mystaran campaigns for over 12 years. Back then we only had the Gazeteers for matierial , which never really included the other races. Easy enough to place them in areas the current players havent yet been too but hard to explain why no-one mentioned the Lupins living next door to the players Karameikan homes.
Perhaps a new migration from the Savage Coast?
Any suggestions would be helpfull.
Hmmm...retro-fitting can be a challenge. If your campaign is set exclusively in Karameikos though, the Lupins and Rakastas wont have to have travelled all the way from the Savage Coast, but perhaps only from neighbouring countries. Perhaps a group of Lupin Were-hunters have just arrived in Karameikos to seek out some were-wolves, and seek the aid of the PCs? Or perhaps a group of Rakasta mercenaries have been hired by the Iron Ring as body guards, and must be convinced that the Iron Ring is an evil organization in order to end the supply of new Rakasta warriors every time the Iron Ring is in need of hired muscle?
Juts a couple of ideas.
Havard
The only other comment, and this is no slight to either of you (it goes back to the AD&D versions of the rakasta) is the whole "raking with the back claws" idea. This, to me, seems just physically unfeasible. Cats can do it, yes, because the way their back legs are... well, "designed" makes it very easy. For a rakasta (who presumably has human like legs) it would be very difficult, if not outright impossible, IMO. At any rate, it would require the rakasta to completely bowl his opponent over, which would certainly leave the rakasta vulnerable to attacks from other opponents.
Hmmm...retro-fitting can be a challenge. If your campaign is set exclusively in Karameikos though, the Lupins and Rakastas wont have to have travelled all the way from the Savage Coast, but perhaps only from neighbouring countries. Perhaps a group of Lupin Were-hunters have just arrived in Karameikos to seek out some were-wolves, and seek the aid of the PCs? Or perhaps a group of Rakasta mercenaries have been hired by the Iron Ring as body guards, and must be convinced that the Iron Ring is an evil organization in order to end the supply of new Rakasta warriors every time the Iron Ring is in need of hired muscle?
As far as this idea goes, IMO (and IMC) there are still rakasta on the island of Ochalea, and there are (according to Bruce Heard's Dragon article) rakasta on the Isle of Dawn as well. Not quite as distant from the KW as the Savage Coast.
I'd imagine lupins and rakasta might also be found in Sind, which is also close by. Heck, for that matter, if your players have never been to the lands of the Atruaghin Clans, why not make the Tiger Clan a more literal translation, and have them all be rakasta? And you could change the rest of the tribes as well (the bear clan could be bearlike folk- perhaps bugbears, the turtle clan could be tortles, the elk clan could be actaeons, and the horse clan could be centaurs).
Let's compare:
Elf (from 3.5 PH):
+2 DEX, -2 CON (net +0 stat adjustment)
Base speed 30ft
Immune sleep
+2 save vs. enchantments
low-light vision
weapon proficiency: longsword, rapier, longbow, shortbow
+2 bonus to Listen, Spot and Search
Secret door detection chance within 5ft
ECL: +0
Rakasta (from my site)
+2 DEX, -2 WIS (net +0 stat adjustment) - equal to elf
base speed 30ft - equal to elf
breakfall - more useful than immunity to sleep and +2 vs enchantments?
low-light vision - equal to elf
+4 bonus to listen only- elf gets +2 to 3 skills
-2 to all saves vs. sonic attack forms - elf has no save penalties
blindfighting - pretty useful, I must admit
Passive detect invisible/ethereal at +4 - comes up less often than secret door bonus on average, at least in my campaign
1 additional natural attack, and a damage type shift for unarmed attacks - another nice bonus
weapon proficiency in Kasas - elf gets 4 free proficiencies
So my Rakasta appears to come out just a little ahead of the elf from the Player's Handbook. But I'm not convinced that it is enough to warrant a +1 ECL. However, I am willing to entertain other opinions. Anyone else have thougts on this?
Originally posted by Cthulhudrew
Heck, for that matter, if your players have never been to the lands of the Atruaghin Clans, why not make the Tiger Clan a more literal translation, and have them all be rakasta? And you could change the rest of the tribes as well (the bear clan could be bearlike folk- perhaps bugbears, the turtle clan could be tortles, the elk clan could be actaeons, and the horse clan could be centaurs).
I like this idea. Although I would not make them ALL rakasra, tortle etc. The majority of the tribe might be human - and a small minority would be animal-like. This minority should have a sacred status in the tribe - since they are living embodiments of the tribe's totem-animal.
PS - IMC, there was also a tribe of Ethengari centaurs (but that's for another thread).
Originally posted by Lost Woodrake
I like this idea. Although I would not make them ALL rakasra, tortle etc. The majority of the tribe might be human - and a small minority would be animal-like. This minority should have a sacred status in the tribe - since they are living embodiments of the tribe's totem-animal.
PS - IMC, there was also a tribe of Ethengari centaurs (but that's for another thread).
I like having some relevant beast-men among the Children aswell., though I agree with Wood-drake that making them all beast-like might be pushing it. I might make the entire Children of the Horse into Centaurs though...
Ethengar Centaurs is also a must. Maybe I just like Centaurs
Havard
Originally posted by katana_one
As far as the +0 ECL, I think it works out ok.
Let's compare:
Elf (from 3.5 PH):
+2 DEX, -2 CON (net +0 stat adjustment)
Base speed 30ft
Immune sleep
+2 save vs. enchantments
low-light vision
weapon proficiency: longsword, rapier, longbow, shortbow
+2 bonus to Listen, Spot and Search
Secret door detection chance within 5ft
ECL: +0
Rakasta (from my site)
+2 DEX, -2 WIS (net +0 stat adjustment) - equal to elf
base speed 30ft - equal to elf
breakfall - more useful than immunity to sleep and +2 vs enchantments?
low-light vision - equal to elf
+4 bonus to listen only- elf gets +2 to 3 skills
-2 to all saves vs. sonic attack forms - elf has no save penalties
blindfighting - pretty useful, I must admit
Passive detect invisible/ethereal at +4 - comes up less often than secret door bonus on average, at least in my campaign
1 additional natural attack, and a damage type shift for unarmed attacks - another nice bonus
weapon proficiency in Kasas - elf gets 4 free proficiencies
So my Rakasta appears to come out just a little ahead of the elf from the Player's Handbook. But I'm not convinced that it is enough to warrant a +1 ECL. However, I am willing to entertain other opinions. Anyone else have thougts on this?
Well, there is nothing as to test them. In my current campaing i have one rakasta in the group. As i converted them above (and they are similar to yours) i couldn't see any reason to make them LA +1 , nor did the player of the rakasta and more importantly the other player's didn't see how the rakasta would be unbalanced comparing to their LA+0 races.
Ethengar Centaurs is also a must. Maybe I just like Centaurs
I definitely agree here. I've thought for some time now that it's strange the designers of various D&D worlds never used centaurs to replace their versions of the Mongolian cultures. It just seems natural to me, and fits more with the fantasy theme of D&D.
How much cooler would the Hordes trilogy (for FR) have been if the invaders had been centaur barbarians, rather than just being a run-of-the-mill nearly page for page recreation of the RW hordes of Genghis and his successors? (Don't get me wrong- the RW Mongols are probably my favorite culture, but it just seems... wrong, not to change them for placement in a fantasy culture. At least modify them somewhat, and when you have literal horse-men who could fill in for the horsemen? Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
Oh, and as for the beastmen of Atruaghin, I mentioned this somewhere in the minotaur thread, but you might place some minotaurs (an offshoot that looks more buffalo-ish) in the Clans as well.
Buffalo-ish Minotaurs also sounds cool. Actually, it would be fun to do a writeup for Minotaurs the way Bruce did his Rakasta/Lupin articles! I imagine there will be a huge potential for silly Mintaur subraces though... ;)
Come to think of it, what happened to Bruce's Tortle article?
Actually, what happened to Bruce?
Havard
Originally posted by havard
I agree! I a Horde-like nation of Centaurs would be awsome. Maybe we can develope one for Mystara at a later point (One project at a time, eh?).
Buffalo-ish Minotaurs also sounds cool. Actually, it would be fun to do a writeup for Minotaurs the way Bruce did his Rakasta/Lupin articles! I imagine there will be a huge potential for silly Mintaur subraces though... ;)
Come to think of it, what happened to Bruce's Tortle article?
Actually, what happened to Bruce?
Havard
A few months ago i e-mailed him to ask his oppinion about rakastas, if they should be a core race or a monstruous race with monster HD, and he replied me!! :D
Unfortunatly i haven't seen his name in any current rpg material...
Have any of you seen the Tortle conversion in Dragon #315?
I saw the Tortle conversions yeah. Hopefully we will see more Mystara stuff in upcoming issues! Are any of you guys planning on writing anything for Dragon?
Havard
Originally posted by havard
I like having some relevant beast-men among the Children aswell., though I agree with Wood-drake that making them all beast-like might be pushing it. I might make the entire Children of the Horse into Centaurs though...
I've been thinking:
Maybe the beast-men has been there before the Children have arrived to the Plateau. Living in primitive tribes etc. - and when the Atruaghin arrived, they arranged themselves arround the beast-men - whom they considered holy.
And that's how the specific tribes were formed: the tiger clan built themselves around the rakastas - and only then chose the tiger as totem; the turtle-clan around tortles etc.
Can that fit in Atruaghin history?
Originally posted by Lost Woodrake
...
Maybe the beast-men has been there before the Children have arrived to the Plateau...
...Can that fit in Atruaghin history?
Just offhand (and I've been thinking a bit about working in the minotaurs at least recently in a similar manner) I'd say a good way to connect them would be with Sind. Beastmen have been a big part of Sindhi history- well, depending on whether you take the Champions of Mystara version, or the "original" HWA3: Nightstorm version (or a combination of the two, as I've worked out).
I'd tie them in somehow with the chambahara (shapeshifters) who took over Sind for a period of time. Probably the reason the chambahara were able to insinuate themselves into Sindhi society so well was a preponderance of beastmen sorts of people living among the humans. All of which, of course, would change after the humans overthrew the chambahara.
But given the Atruaghin proximity to Sind, they might very well have had a different reaction- something akin to what you describe, particularly given their "totemic" tendencies.
We should probably try and find a better "bear" type of humanoid other than bugbears, though. I can't see the clans harboring any sort of respect for bugbears, not after the humanoids enslaved them for so long.
Are there are humanoid bear type creatures on Mystara? The closest I can think of are the Tyminids of the Savage Coast.
;)
Personally i use rakastas and lupins in my campaigns as i always used. They are trademarks of Mystara.
However i never used subraces mechanically. The quantity of information tends to be overwhelming...
So, i use one rakasta and one lupin mechanically and change the flavor in terms of appearance, behavior, etc.
Here's a little change to my initial post:
Rakasta Racial Traits
+2 Dexterity, -2 Wisdom: Rakastas have natural agility but they tend to act before thinking.
Medium-size: As Medium-size creatures, rakasta have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Rakasta base speed is 30 feet.
Low-light vision: Rakastas can see twice as far as humans in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail in these conditions.
+2 racial bonus on Balance checks. Rakastas have improved balance.
+2 racial bonus on a Craft of their choice. Rakastas are excellent crafters.
Keen Senses: Rakastas possess keen senses due to their superb hearing and sensitive whiskers. If these whiskers are ever damaged, they suffer 2 points of Dexterity damage and lose the abilities described below until the whiskers grow back (or are magically healed) which generally happens in 2d4 days.
These senses give them the following abilities:
+4 racial bonuses on Listen checks.
The Blind-Fight feat
When confronted with invisibility within 10 feet of them they get a +4 bonus on any checks made to detect it. This sensing is constant and they don’t need to concentrate to use it.
Sonic Sensitivity: The accurate senses of the rakasta come with a price. They suffer + 50% damage against sonic attacks [with the Sonic descriptor] regardless of whether a saving throw is allowed, or if the save is a success or a failure and a -2 penalty to saving throws against sonic effects that don't deal damage (such as thunderstones, a harpy's song, and so on).
Cat fall: Rakastas have excellent balance and reflexes. They always suffer half damage from falls (minimum 1 point of damage).
Weapons familiarity: Rakastas treat War Claws (Kasas) as a martial weapon instead of a exotic one.
Natural attacks: They have one-inch long retractable claws on their hands, which they may attack with in melee. Their claws deal 1d3 points of damage. Rakasta may also bite for 1d4 points of damage. When using these natural attacks, a Rakasta is not considered unarmed. A rakasta may take the full attack action to make all three attacks as if attacking with multiple weapons. The claws attacks are considered primary attacks and suffer no penalties (as per DMG rules), the bite attack is a secondary attack and suffers a –5 penalty on the attack roll and adds only half strength for damage. They can also attack with their claws unextented for 1d3 of subdual damage.
Automatic Languages: Common and Rakastan.
Bonus Languages: Varies by setting, generally is any available in the area (except secret languages).
Favored Class: The preferred class of the Rakasta is Fighter. A multiclass rakasta's fighter class does not count when determining whether she suffers an XP penalty from multiclassing.
I will soon post the Kasas. Well, a few more comments would be appreciated, so that i can soon post my lupin conversion.
Thanks
Well, the Bear Clan could be a little bit different from the other clans. Their totem animal could be represented by Were-Bears. In order to explain while the entire clan is not infected, you could establish that members of the tribe must accomplish certain goals or quests before being considered worthy of receiving the sacred gift of Lycanthropy.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Donald Eric Kesler
Originally posted by Cthulhudrew
We should probably try and find a better "bear" type of humanoid other than bugbears, though. I can't see the clans harboring any sort of respect for bugbears, not after the humanoids enslaved them for so long.
Are there are humanoid bear type creatures on Mystara? The closest I can think of are the Tyminids of the Savage Coast.
Originally posted by Lucus_Boneburner
Hello,
Well, the Bear Clan could be a little bit different from the other clans. Their totem animal could be represented by Were-Bears. In order to explain while the entire clan is not infected, you could establish that members of the tribe must accomplish certain goals or quests before being considered worthy of receiving the sacred gift of Lycanthropy.
I've been thinking of another option:
The pre-history of Atruaghin runs as follows: When the Children reached the Plateau - they killed most of the beast-men there, and left only a few of them as totem-animals. Why did they leave any at all?
a. Out of guilt (Sorry for the Freudian myth - I guess i do have "Totem and Taboo" lurking at the back of my head...)
b. The beast-men had special abilities in forest-survival and shamanisitic magic, that the children understood they had to learn from them in order to survive.
Anyways, there were also Bear-like humanoids in the past at the Plateau. But unlike the rakastas, tortles etc. - they were totally destoryed by the Children, and none of them is left.
So the Bear-clan has no humanoids amongst them.
Another idea: Bear-shaped Pookas.