[Information] Lore of the Elders (Resources, References, Etc)

[hallstadt]

Elder Dhomhnaill's eyes flashed in the firelight as he looked calmly but intently upon those assembled. Sparks flew from the fire, bright orange cinders crackling as they shot for an instant hot and bright into the cool night air. Above, a new sickle moon shone and many stars glowed bright and clear through wisps of cloud that spanned like strands of a spider's web throughout the cold night sky.

"So you have come to hear a tale of our people. Of the way things were before the good folk vanished and the firbolg were driven underground." His tone made the question a statement.

"Very well," he said, after pausing to watch the crackle and spark of the flames in the Great Hearth fire, "But be forewarned: though this tale tells of faeries and dragons and many things unknown to us today, it is no child's tale to fascinate, no swaddling's story to bring joy to the young and faint of heart. This is faerie tale, but it is no thing for a child's ears..."

Here you will find lore, maps, world information and other resources as I make them available (and as they are created).

[hallstadt]

1: Pallisade Gate

2: Central Hearth Fire

3: Chieftan's Quarters and Council Room

4: Watchtower

5: Clan Huts

PLEASE NOTE: This small collection of thatch roofed, daub and wattle houses really is the center of Haven's hold. Ancillary structures do, naturally, exist, but the village center shown in this map really is the hub of life for residents of Haven's Hold.

[hallstadt]

OOC Please find below the game mechanics for the Danaan, Faery-Blooded, and Firbolg races.   Danaan Appearance: Physically similar to elves from the D&D 3.5 core rules, Danaan usually bear some physical mark of their particular glamour (see below for more detail on selecting a glamour for your PC). There is, also, more variation between the physical traits of danaan than among members of other races. All are roughly human sized, but some are slightly smaller or larger than humans. Hair color is often most unusual, even multicolored, and the same is true of skin and eye colors among these strange beings. Some danaan even display animal characteristics (e.g. tails or wings) though these are, without exception, vestigial or underdeveloped—i.e. winged danaan’s wings are too small to allow flight and clawed danaan’s claws are too short too serve as natural weapons. Culture: Danaan PCs are generally rebels, outcasts, or simply youthful adventurers afflicted with wanderlust. As such, danaan PCs usually know (or remember) little of their peoples’ cultural practices, habits, or history due to the strict enforcement of the Mystery by elder danaans. The ancient code known as “the Mystery” is a strict commandment of total secrecy regarding danaan culture. One tenet of the Mystery involves an ancient ritual that blocks all memory of danaan culture from the minds of those danaan’s who choose to leave their peoples’ realms and wander in the world of man. The Mystery also dictates other aspects of danaan relationships with other culture. The rules of the mystery reflect an extremely insular, even xenophobic attitude toward non-danaans—for instance, marriages or breeding between danaans and non-danaans is a rigidly enforced cultural taboo among the danaan people. Danaan Lands: Due to the strictly upheld dictates of the Mystery, little is known about the danaan lands. Language: Danaan wanderers do not remember the written form of their language, though they are still able to speak in the complex, subtle language of their people. Non-danaan listeners have described the sound of this language as a blend between birdsong, a trickling river, and the sound of wind rustling in the treetops. Danaan Racial Traits: +2 to one of the following attributes: Dexterity, Charisma, or Wisdom; -2 to one of the following attributes: Constitution or Strength Medium Size Danaan base land speed is 30 ft. Low Light Vision as per elves Immunity to magic sleep effects and a +2 to saves vs. enchantment spells or effects (as per elves) Danaan PCs may also select one of the following Glamours (special magical traits) described below: +2 to listen, spot, and search checks and receive a free search check when passing by a secret passage. (This glamour is often indicated by large, even lucent eyes). +2 to move silently, hide, and tumble checks and are considered to have taken 20 on hide and sneak checks as they move through moderate to dense woodlands. (This glamour is often indicated by fox traits [e.g. a fox tail] or dusky, shadowy skin and hair). +2 to appraise, knowledge, and spellcraft, and bardic knowledge (if applicable). (This glamour is often indicated by birthmarks in the shape of celestial bodies [e.g. stars, moons] or eyes that change colors or glow subtly when the PC is deep in thought). +2 to bluff, diplomacy, and disguise checks and opponents receive a -2 to sense motive checks to oppose a bluff check and a -2 to spot checks to see through a disguise. (This glamour is often indicated by almost otherworldly attractiveness and a tendency to naturally mimic the traits, habits, and characteristics of others). Automatic Languages: Common and Danaan Favored Class: Druid, Ranger, or Bard   Faerie-blooded characters Appearance: Faerie-blooded characters usually look basically human and those who survive usually live undetected among human beings. Faerie-blooded characters invariably possess a “tell-tale,” however, related to the glamour they select, and usually they must keep this hidden if they wish to live long among humans. Common tell-tales include vestigial or underdeveloped animal traits (e.g. wings or tails), oddly colored eyes or hair, or unusual birth marks. Culture: Faerie-blooded characters are the result of a forbidden union between a danaan and a human (or, more rarely, a danaan and a halfling or gnome). Such unions are strictly forbidden by both races, and, as such, faerie-blooded characters usually fall into one of two categories: outcasts and those unaware of their unique lineage. Faerie-blooded are not common enough to have a unique culture of their own and instead usually live either as humans or, far more rarely, as danaans. Faerie-Blooded Racial Traits: Medium size Immunity to magic sleep effects and a +2 to saves vs. enchantment spells or effects (as per half-elves) Faerie-blooded base land speed is 30 ft. Low light vision (as per half-elves) One glamour—choices are the same as those for Danaan, but faerie-blood only receive a +1 to the relevant ability checks (and opponents only receive a -1 to opposed checks [if applicable]) Faerierie Blood: For all effects related to race, a faerie-blooded character is treated as a danaan. Automatic Languages: Common and Danaan Favored class: Any.   Firbolg Culture: A conquered people, the firbolg keep mainly to themselves, dwelling in exile from the rest of the world in caverns deep beneath the earth. When firbolg do wander to the surface—which happens quite commonly, human reactions to these folk vary widely, ranging from loathing, to fear, to shaky acceptance. Gnomes and Halflings respond to firbolgs in much the same way that humans do, but tend to show firbolgs more acceptance (and sometimes fear) due to a lack of historical contact. Danaan and dwarves do not often treat firbolgs so kindly. In ancient times, the danaan exiled the firbolg to a small kingdom on the eastern edge of the isle of Avon, and while the two people achieved a shaky alliance, danaans usually regard firbolg who wander into danaan lands as trespassers and enemies. Dwarves generally detest firbolg as they detest all giant races, though as with any cultural tendency there are exceptions to this rule. The small number of danaans dwelling in the world today makes the presence of firbolgs aboveground a more common occurrence than it was in ages past. Larger human settlements to the south often employ firbolgs as laborers or foot soldiers, and the rumors say that firbolgs have even begun to encroach upon the northern forests where some small number of danaans are said to dwell. Firbolg Racial Traits: Use the half-orc template but please apply the following changes: Replace “Orc Blood” with “Giant Blood” and Orcish language with “Firbolg” Gain a +4 to strength, a -2 to intelliegence, and a -4 to Charisma (firbolgs are truly frightening creatures to smaller races). Gain a +6 racial bonus to intimidate checks.

[Scaldin]

Are we using base dieties or do you have your own for the world

[hallstadt]

Originally Posted by Scaldin

Are we using base dieties or do you have your own for the world

Most major Forgotten Realms deities have their equivalents in Abred, so your knowledge of FR may come in handy. The Gods and Goddesses in Abred are drawn primarily from Celtic Mythology and the names of these with their equivalents appear below.

Celtic God---------------------------------FR God
Arianrhod (moon goddess; mother goddess). Selune

Badb (cauldrons, crows, enlightenment). Itishia

Bel (God of Druids and the Sun) Silvanus

Blodeuwedd (Flower Maiden) Lathander

Boan (Goddess of Rivers, Druid Groves) Eldath

Bran the Blessed (God of arts, music writing). Deneir

Branwen (Goddess of beauty). Sune

Brigit (Goddess of Inspiration, Eloquence) Milil

Cernunnos (Lord of animals, hunting) Shiallia, Silvanus, Mielikki

Dana (patroness of wizards, mother goddess) Mystra

Diancecht (god of healing, rejuvenation) Lathander

Domnu (Ruler of the Dead) Kelemvor

Druantia (Mother of Trees, passion, sex) Chaunteau, Sharess

Dylan (Fisherman’s Friend) Valkur

Fionnula (goddess of Rivers, Swans, Bounty, Good Cheer) Yondalla

Flidais (Goddess of Woodlands, Wild things) Chaunteau, Mielikki

Goibniu [dwarven name Krahg) (Gov-nu) (God of Smiths) Gond, Moradin

The Green Man (Another aspect of Cernunnos) Silvanus

Gwydion (Lord of Enchanters) Azuth, Mystra

Gwynn Ap Nudd (Gwin ap Neeth) (King of elves and fae) Corellon

Lugh (God of skill, crafts) Gond

Macha (Goddess of War) Torm, Helm

Manaan Mac Lir (Lord of the Seas) Itishia, Umberlee, Valkur

The Morrigu (Goddess of the dead, the underworld) Orcus

Ogma (God of signs and symbols, also knowledge) Oghma

Pwyll (God of the Dead, the underworld) Kelemvor

Taliesin (God of bards, poetry, knowledge). Milil, Oghma

This list is as complete as I can really imagine in most respects. I know a lot more about most of these deities than is listed here, and of course, the correlation between Abred and FR is not always 100%, but this should help people know what the people of Abred call their gods, and the FR equivalents (or near equivalence).

Please feel free to ad lib and don't be intimidated if you do not know much about these deities. Much lore has been lost to time, and any person's interpretation of the divine is as valid as another's. Have fun and get creative!

I realize some FR deities are not represented here, but barring some possible small oversights of lesser powers, that is intentional for one of two reasons. 1) The missing god does not fit with the setting, and as such has no equivalent, and/or 2) The god is so similar to another FR god in terms of abilites/ domains that I did not feel it necessary to include them.

[Connor]

Whoo! I choose the Green Man without even thinking!