Post by brendur on Sept 16, 2011 8:44:25 GMT -8
It is a fickle matter to call someone who descends from the Wayferers a Wayfarer. Some are flattered, others are disgusted, others still are offended to the point of asking for a duel to the death. This is perhaps because no living descendant today considers themselves a Wayfarer, either because they are not worthy of the title, or because the Wayfarers represent how those who quickly ascend to power can fall with like speed. To spare the world the confusion of the distinction, the four families or tribes that exist in Obouron today have taken on the title of the Lost.
It is an apt description, for they have lost everything, with Arch's disappearance the other four Wayfarer cities fell in short time to the opportunistic, and for a time those that survived their fall collected into wandering nomadic tribes. It is only recently that the majority of the families have cast off their nomadic ways in an attempt to rejoin the modern world, each for their own varied goals and purposes. The only thing they share in common is the Wayfarer's aptitude for travel.
In Game: A member of the Lost must take Teleportation as one of their skills.
The House and Tribes
House Northerly
Sigil: The Fox
Creed: “ Victory to the Quick and Clever”
House Head: Maze Northerly - a shrewd and clever man, approaching his autumn years. He tends to view House Northerly summarily rather than see it for its individuals, because of this the younger generation of Northerly’s see him as impossible to please, however every move he makes is for the betterment of his house.
Summary: House Northerly was the first of its Ilk to begin casting aside the vestiges of the nomadic lifestyle, Joan Mac’tir Northerly, Maze’s forbear began to see a staling of the bloodline where others canted tradition. Fearing that time would eventually march over her ilk, she began establishing ties with the cities they passed in their travels, with patience and guile ties became trade agreements, and soon coin became the power that the Northerly’s wielded. With the influx of coin Joan began entrenching her people in the town of Shirewin. Once a slumbering farming community, under the influence of the Northerlys it has become a bustling trade port, and while the Northerly’s do not rule it in name, they rule it in every other sense. Shirewin however wasn’t the only thing to change under Joan’s guile and wit, she saw to in that the Northerlys themselves were changed to meet the challenges of the future. Where once flew arrows and spears now flitted handshakes and contracts, no longer was the fastest runner granted favor, but those of the most glib tongue and agile mind. Joan also saw fit to instill a competitive air among the children of her house, feeling that those who didn’t know opposition didn’t really know their own worth, an air that Maze has encouraged to this day and age.
As added incentive to this competition, those among the ranks of the Notherly’s that do exceptionally well are granted the rank of Proxy among their fellows. As a Proxy, it is their duty to travel the roads of Obouron in the name of House Notherly in search of Wayfarer artifacts and texts, using any and all methods to obtain them for their house. Cities are wary of a Proxy’s presence because it often means something troublesome or valuable rests within their walls, and while a Proxy’s manner is all smiles, contracts, and handshakes, if a city resists in giving them what they want…well there are always more unpleasant paths to take.
The Eastele Tribe
Sigil: The Lark
Creed: “In song we are Lost, in song we are found.”
Tribe Leader: Vera Eastele – strangely young to be found in the position of tribe leader, Vera is never the less passionate about seeing to the care of her people, her people respond to this passion and love her dearly for the sacrifices that she makes for them. This love sometimes even extends to holy reverence, some in the tribe whispering that she is the goddess of the east wind come in human form to guide them in these troubled times, Vera of course modestly denies such claims when she hears of them.
Summary: The only sect of the Lost who has still clung to their tribal vestiges, the Eastele tribe has in the face of all other prediction, flourished in the modern world of Obouron. This is perhaps due to the fact that they are the most accepted of the Lost in the cities of Obouron. Where their brother and sister tribes are accepted with caution and a grain of salt, they’re invited with open arms and a glass of wine. It’s considered a blessing to have them come to your gate, because no matter what night of the year it happens, that will be a night of stories, dancing, drinking, and celebration. Thus does the Eastele tribe make their way through the roads of Obouron.
Believing that the burning of Arch was punishment enough for the crimes of the Wayfarers, they live now only to exalt the five gods of the Lost and to find themselves in the songs they sing. They are led by the Many Stringed Sisters, women who encompass all they hold dear. To be a Many Stringed Sister is considered the highest honor of the tribe, for while they lead the tribe, they are also its welfare. In a rather ingenious move of diplomacy, the Eastele tribe always sends runners ahead to cities within traveling distance, upon arrival the cities will begin to “bid” for the Eastele tribe’s favor. The city with the most impressive bid is often the one who will receive them when they pass through, and once there nobility will then pay for the company of a Many Stringed Sister at their celebrations.
They are the life of the party, and to have one on your arm is influence divine, they’ll always whisper the right words into your friends ears, and shun your enemies at just the right time, to have a Many Stringed Sister in your company isn’t just a service, it’s an experience.
House Southun
Sigil: The Crow
Creed: “Keep to the Roads, we are watching”
House Head: Thistle Southun – a rigid, fire hardened woman, Thistle leads her house with an iron fist and in as prickly a manner as her namesake. However this causes little descent in her ranks, mostly because she rarely asks anyone to do something she will not, and she can be found on the field of battle alongside the foot soldiers just as often as she’s found in the war tent planning strategy. She rewards for service fairly, and punishes betrayal with little forgiveness.
Summary: The most militaristic of the four sects, Southun was right on the heels of Northerly in organizing its members into a house structure. Kargin Southun, the leader before Thistle’s day, however did not have the betterment of his tribe in mind when he made the decision to do so. Instead he did it in anticipation of Joan Northerly’s vie for power, aware of her ambition and suspicious of the end result. Unlike his distant cousin, he believed that the burning of Arch was just punishment for the Wayfarer’s arrogance, and if he had been behind it he would have taken it further. So he set about the forging of his house as a threat to keep her in line, no one’s really sure as to whether or not it worked, but neither does anyone argue that Southun is now one of the more impressive military functions in Obouron. Appointing themselves as the policing sect of the Lost, they keep close tabs on the actions of the other three sects from the city of Ravensmark, looking for whatever excuse they need to send a war band to settle the matter at sword point.
Unlike the other houses Southun’s fighting force doesn’t just consist of those in the house or tribe, they contract mercenaries to fight alongside them, with the house heads each commanding their own mercenary bands. To fund their efforts against the other houses, they will hire out their services to supplement a lands own forces, and a troupe of Lost swordsmen is a prized possession on the battlefield. The Members of the house will begin their career on the lowest rungs of footsoldier, and if they prove themselves in battle will gain their own command, those who prove themselves further still will be given the rank of Justicar, the answer to House Notherly’s Proxies. Like Proxies they also hunt the face of Obouron for artifacts of Wayfarer power, however unlike the Proxies it is a Justicar’s duty to destroy them.
Both Notherly and Southun do little to hide their loathing of one another, however they both abstain from open warfare, both fearing that even if their house survived such a battle the kingdom who’s lands it devastated would extinguish the survivor, leaving its work undone.
House Wester
Sigil: The Otter
Creed: “To the Edge and back, it’s the only way.”
House Head: Brennon Wester – A stout individual in both body and spirit, also a “real cheeky blighter” according to some of the admirals who’ve had the pleasure of his company. A rogue by any definition, and often accused of not taking his duty as house head seriously, an accusation which he still hasn’t answered to in his 12 years of leading house Wester. His antics however keep the members of his house eagerly on his heels, and when tempted with other leadership, they’ll often answer “Fuck you, we’ll follow who we like.”
Summary- House Wester was the last of the sects to lose its tribal nature, and many are sure it was to thumb their nose at house Southun, whom they’ve never been particularly fond of, because they’re a “bunch of nosy gits”. Even then the conversion to a house structure seems to be barely that, the Wester family is still largely nomadic, taking their houses with them in the form of a veritable fleet of floating barges. Seen as contrary rabble rousers by most of the outside world, House Wester often plays to the very image, if only to be left alone to their own devices. They are fiercely independent, and very protective of their own, having no trouble with hiding one of the family in trouble and vanishing from sight should the locals threaten violence. For the most part they are self sufficient fishermen and herbalists, however they have been known from time to time to sell their swords or skills to a town in need, if said town is desperate enough to ask them for help. Woe to any town in such dire straits.
It may seem with such an attitude that House Wester is aimless and drifting, but nothing could be farther from the truth. House Wester has a single goal in mind, and that’s to find the Edge of Obouron. Believing that the Wayfarers found the right answer, but simply asked the wrong question, each member of Wester believes with a fervor that the Edge is the answer for them. It’s because of this that Wester’s prize maps above all other commodities, and they themselves have some of the best Mapmakers in all of Obouron.
It is an apt description, for they have lost everything, with Arch's disappearance the other four Wayfarer cities fell in short time to the opportunistic, and for a time those that survived their fall collected into wandering nomadic tribes. It is only recently that the majority of the families have cast off their nomadic ways in an attempt to rejoin the modern world, each for their own varied goals and purposes. The only thing they share in common is the Wayfarer's aptitude for travel.
In Game: A member of the Lost must take Teleportation as one of their skills.
The House and Tribes
House Northerly
Sigil: The Fox
Creed: “ Victory to the Quick and Clever”
House Head: Maze Northerly - a shrewd and clever man, approaching his autumn years. He tends to view House Northerly summarily rather than see it for its individuals, because of this the younger generation of Northerly’s see him as impossible to please, however every move he makes is for the betterment of his house.
Summary: House Northerly was the first of its Ilk to begin casting aside the vestiges of the nomadic lifestyle, Joan Mac’tir Northerly, Maze’s forbear began to see a staling of the bloodline where others canted tradition. Fearing that time would eventually march over her ilk, she began establishing ties with the cities they passed in their travels, with patience and guile ties became trade agreements, and soon coin became the power that the Northerly’s wielded. With the influx of coin Joan began entrenching her people in the town of Shirewin. Once a slumbering farming community, under the influence of the Northerlys it has become a bustling trade port, and while the Northerly’s do not rule it in name, they rule it in every other sense. Shirewin however wasn’t the only thing to change under Joan’s guile and wit, she saw to in that the Northerlys themselves were changed to meet the challenges of the future. Where once flew arrows and spears now flitted handshakes and contracts, no longer was the fastest runner granted favor, but those of the most glib tongue and agile mind. Joan also saw fit to instill a competitive air among the children of her house, feeling that those who didn’t know opposition didn’t really know their own worth, an air that Maze has encouraged to this day and age.
As added incentive to this competition, those among the ranks of the Notherly’s that do exceptionally well are granted the rank of Proxy among their fellows. As a Proxy, it is their duty to travel the roads of Obouron in the name of House Notherly in search of Wayfarer artifacts and texts, using any and all methods to obtain them for their house. Cities are wary of a Proxy’s presence because it often means something troublesome or valuable rests within their walls, and while a Proxy’s manner is all smiles, contracts, and handshakes, if a city resists in giving them what they want…well there are always more unpleasant paths to take.
The Eastele Tribe
Sigil: The Lark
Creed: “In song we are Lost, in song we are found.”
Tribe Leader: Vera Eastele – strangely young to be found in the position of tribe leader, Vera is never the less passionate about seeing to the care of her people, her people respond to this passion and love her dearly for the sacrifices that she makes for them. This love sometimes even extends to holy reverence, some in the tribe whispering that she is the goddess of the east wind come in human form to guide them in these troubled times, Vera of course modestly denies such claims when she hears of them.
Summary: The only sect of the Lost who has still clung to their tribal vestiges, the Eastele tribe has in the face of all other prediction, flourished in the modern world of Obouron. This is perhaps due to the fact that they are the most accepted of the Lost in the cities of Obouron. Where their brother and sister tribes are accepted with caution and a grain of salt, they’re invited with open arms and a glass of wine. It’s considered a blessing to have them come to your gate, because no matter what night of the year it happens, that will be a night of stories, dancing, drinking, and celebration. Thus does the Eastele tribe make their way through the roads of Obouron.
Believing that the burning of Arch was punishment enough for the crimes of the Wayfarers, they live now only to exalt the five gods of the Lost and to find themselves in the songs they sing. They are led by the Many Stringed Sisters, women who encompass all they hold dear. To be a Many Stringed Sister is considered the highest honor of the tribe, for while they lead the tribe, they are also its welfare. In a rather ingenious move of diplomacy, the Eastele tribe always sends runners ahead to cities within traveling distance, upon arrival the cities will begin to “bid” for the Eastele tribe’s favor. The city with the most impressive bid is often the one who will receive them when they pass through, and once there nobility will then pay for the company of a Many Stringed Sister at their celebrations.
They are the life of the party, and to have one on your arm is influence divine, they’ll always whisper the right words into your friends ears, and shun your enemies at just the right time, to have a Many Stringed Sister in your company isn’t just a service, it’s an experience.
House Southun
Sigil: The Crow
Creed: “Keep to the Roads, we are watching”
House Head: Thistle Southun – a rigid, fire hardened woman, Thistle leads her house with an iron fist and in as prickly a manner as her namesake. However this causes little descent in her ranks, mostly because she rarely asks anyone to do something she will not, and she can be found on the field of battle alongside the foot soldiers just as often as she’s found in the war tent planning strategy. She rewards for service fairly, and punishes betrayal with little forgiveness.
Summary: The most militaristic of the four sects, Southun was right on the heels of Northerly in organizing its members into a house structure. Kargin Southun, the leader before Thistle’s day, however did not have the betterment of his tribe in mind when he made the decision to do so. Instead he did it in anticipation of Joan Northerly’s vie for power, aware of her ambition and suspicious of the end result. Unlike his distant cousin, he believed that the burning of Arch was just punishment for the Wayfarer’s arrogance, and if he had been behind it he would have taken it further. So he set about the forging of his house as a threat to keep her in line, no one’s really sure as to whether or not it worked, but neither does anyone argue that Southun is now one of the more impressive military functions in Obouron. Appointing themselves as the policing sect of the Lost, they keep close tabs on the actions of the other three sects from the city of Ravensmark, looking for whatever excuse they need to send a war band to settle the matter at sword point.
Unlike the other houses Southun’s fighting force doesn’t just consist of those in the house or tribe, they contract mercenaries to fight alongside them, with the house heads each commanding their own mercenary bands. To fund their efforts against the other houses, they will hire out their services to supplement a lands own forces, and a troupe of Lost swordsmen is a prized possession on the battlefield. The Members of the house will begin their career on the lowest rungs of footsoldier, and if they prove themselves in battle will gain their own command, those who prove themselves further still will be given the rank of Justicar, the answer to House Notherly’s Proxies. Like Proxies they also hunt the face of Obouron for artifacts of Wayfarer power, however unlike the Proxies it is a Justicar’s duty to destroy them.
Both Notherly and Southun do little to hide their loathing of one another, however they both abstain from open warfare, both fearing that even if their house survived such a battle the kingdom who’s lands it devastated would extinguish the survivor, leaving its work undone.
House Wester
Sigil: The Otter
Creed: “To the Edge and back, it’s the only way.”
House Head: Brennon Wester – A stout individual in both body and spirit, also a “real cheeky blighter” according to some of the admirals who’ve had the pleasure of his company. A rogue by any definition, and often accused of not taking his duty as house head seriously, an accusation which he still hasn’t answered to in his 12 years of leading house Wester. His antics however keep the members of his house eagerly on his heels, and when tempted with other leadership, they’ll often answer “Fuck you, we’ll follow who we like.”
Summary- House Wester was the last of the sects to lose its tribal nature, and many are sure it was to thumb their nose at house Southun, whom they’ve never been particularly fond of, because they’re a “bunch of nosy gits”. Even then the conversion to a house structure seems to be barely that, the Wester family is still largely nomadic, taking their houses with them in the form of a veritable fleet of floating barges. Seen as contrary rabble rousers by most of the outside world, House Wester often plays to the very image, if only to be left alone to their own devices. They are fiercely independent, and very protective of their own, having no trouble with hiding one of the family in trouble and vanishing from sight should the locals threaten violence. For the most part they are self sufficient fishermen and herbalists, however they have been known from time to time to sell their swords or skills to a town in need, if said town is desperate enough to ask them for help. Woe to any town in such dire straits.
It may seem with such an attitude that House Wester is aimless and drifting, but nothing could be farther from the truth. House Wester has a single goal in mind, and that’s to find the Edge of Obouron. Believing that the Wayfarers found the right answer, but simply asked the wrong question, each member of Wester believes with a fervor that the Edge is the answer for them. It’s because of this that Wester’s prize maps above all other commodities, and they themselves have some of the best Mapmakers in all of Obouron.
