| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Seethyr |
Posted - 18 Oct 2019 : 21:22:25
Is there any speculations as to what has gone down in Malatra in the time of the Spellplague and subsequent Sundering? I believe it remained on Toril, but would the Spellplague have caused some of the wards that protect it to fizzle out? Is it open now with the "low magic" theme gone or lessened? |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 02:47:22
this appears to be useful for bearing in mind what materials are available
https://web.archive.org/web/20020220204525/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_003.asp
Agriculture, Invention And Society Living Jungle Guidelines For Players And Authors By Stephen H. Jay
The Living Jungle setting is unique in that only the most primitive of technologies are allowed. Yet that very term, "Primitive Technologies", has been open to various players and authors interpretation. In order to define this term more clearly, real world history and sociology is used to determine what is available and what is not.
Malatra has no exact counter-part in the real world. Presumably, an abundance of food and inter- tribal competition has resulted in spiritual and ritualistic peoples with a relatively primitive technology but an advanced knowledge of magic (advanced because, unlike our world, their magic works). In order to add depth, background, and color to the culture of the Living Jungle, authors and players should use the following list as a guide for what is available in Malatra.
Agriculture
Cotton, Hemp - Used for woven cloth. Found wild, but can be raised in small quantities. Cotton cloth used as a sign of rank or for important ceremonies. Cultivated Plants - Rudra, Wise Ones, Lacerials. Wild Plants -Any
Cocoa Plant, Coffee Plant, Tobacco Plant - All grown wild. Used for ritual and ceremony . Available to all tribes. Note- Cocoa plant used for bitter chocolate drink. Sugar Cane, Tropical Fruits - Generally available in all areas except swamps. Large patches or groves tend to attract animals eager to feed and predators eager to hunt them. Available to all tribes
Rubber - Derived from rubber trees. Only used to make rubber balls for games/childrens toys. Available to all tribes.
Vanilla - just one example of a natural scent used for perfume or rituals. Any Nubari. Can be confusing to Lacerials.
Agricultural items should be limited to those items naturally occuring in tropical environments. Although irrigation has existed for centuries in some primitive jungle cultures, it is not a technology known in Malatra. None of these items will require certificates, but Heros should only acquire them by bartering with the listed indigineous tribes.
Art
Amber, Jade, Obsidian, Turquoise - Exclusively used for jewelry and carvings by everyone except the Tribe of Chief Bagoomba which can make knives and axeheads from obsidian. Tribe Of Big Chief Bagoomba, Huroola, Wise Ones, Koshiva, Kobokuru, Shu.
Inks and paints - From plants and animals. Used in tattooing for rituals and ceremony. Temporary and semi-permanent varieties. Nubari, Shu, Lacerial
Gold, Silver - No known ore deposits. Any found in ruins, etc could be worked like copper or brass. Lacerials, Oscray.
Iron Pyrite - Ground or whole, used as decoration. Any Nubari
Art materials are limited to those easily attainable in tropical settings. Creating art requires a proficiency in that art form. Amber, obsidian, iron pyrite, inks and paints are relatively easy to acquire and do not require certs, though Heros should only acquire them by bartering with the listed indigineous tribes. Gold, silver, jade, and turqouise are the rarest and will require certificates. Art and jewelry made from these materials typically depict important spiritual or life events. All art created by Malatrans has strong personal or tribal significance.
Other
Hide Armor - Introduced by Lacerials. Lacerials, any Nubari.
Copper - Certain shamans practice the smelting of copper for symbols of rank or office, or for ceremony. The ore is picked up off the ground in small amounts from the Howling Mountains. Lacerials know how to forge tools. High grade ore is very rare. Tribe Of Big Chief, Bagoomba, Huroola, Lacerials, Oscray.
Brass - Fashioned from the rare copper and rarer zinc. Lacerials, Oscray.
Iron - None.
Ceramics - Not the quality of that used by the ancients, primitive ceramics are still available for upper scale household use. Korobokuru, Wise Ones, Koshiva, Tribe Of Big Chief Bagoomba.
Advanced Ceramics - Pieces found in Ancients ruins can be fashioned into durable weapons, such as knives, spearheads, and axeheads. Tribe Of Big Chief Bagoomba
Hide armor and ceramics will not require certificates but Heros should only acquire them by bartering with the listed indigenous tribes. Copper, brass, and advanced ceramics used as weapons require certificates.
The important thing for players and authors to remember is that the Living Jungle is less about material possessions and more about the stories and significance behind the possessions. Only items that fit a jungle setting and add richness and variety to Malatran culture should be used in the Living Jungle. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 01:38:35
Also, in looking at the "history" presented... from a metagame perspective, I would say that the Ancient Nubari had used something akin to the awaken spell on many of the gorillas ... but a variation that allowed them to pass on the awakened nature to their offspring as well, and probably one that involved something akin to cooperative casting so as to affect multiple individuals at once OR to spread through them like an infection. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 01:22:45
so I see this in Jungle Tales #9 ...
https://web.archive.org/web/20020417040309/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_009.asp
JUNGLE DRUMS
Tales of heroic deeds. Submissions welcome.
Legend Of The Blue Scale - A Lacerial Story
by Stephen H. Jay
"The Council Of Elders has gone too far," the snake man hissed. "They have dared to mark some of your tribe with this ‘Blue Hand’. Yours is a greater destiny. Reject them!"
The lacerial leader Trueblood looked coolly at the snake man. "Your brother Leuren spoke as you do. Yet when the time came, it was Leuren who sacrificed his life for the council. Leuren protected the nubari and shu and tamhi that were with him, and paid the ultimate price. Why can you not see, Ky-tan, the mammals for what they are: true peoples who are worthy of our friendship."
Ky-tan flicked his tongue in agitation. "Leuren sacrificed himself for the Snake-Mother. It is for her that we do all things. The Snake-Mother says we need these mammals, and so we obey. Do not mistake loyalty to her for loyalty to these filthy animals. They are tools, nothing else."
Trueblood shook his head sadly and Ky-tan could taste roses in the air. "Ky-tan, it is through the mammals that all our salvations lie. It is through a korobokuru that the spirit of Lion shall survive. It is through a tamhi that the spirits of the jungle shall come to our aid. It is through a tiny shu and a nubari that my people shall learn to live. Even the snake-men have an intertwined destiny with the saru. The Snake-Mother has divined this."
Ky-tan lowered his head. "I yield to the will of the Snake-Mother, but even one as lowly as I know that tomorrow is not an absolute. We all have our fates, but we still decide our destinies." Reverting to the old tongue, Ky-tan said, " The destiny of the Yuan-ti, and the Lacerials, should be without the warm-bloods."
Trueblood thought a moment, then said. "I will tell you why I tolerate the Blue Hand the council has put upon some of our heroes. The council of elders calls it a mark of disobedience, for violating their taboos. I see it as prophecy. Starr, our greatest prophet, agrees. This mark of shame could be our salvation."
"There is a legend," Trueblood began, "as old as my people. It talks of isolation, despair and rebirth. Throughout my peoples history the story recurs over and over again."
"It is said that when my people first became a people, the gods that created us were fickle, even irresponsible. They were good gods, but not bound by the traditions and obligations that bind other gods. They were followers of whim and could not be relied upon to protect and teach us what we needed to know. Yet they were wise, these fickle gods. They knew their own nature and were loathe to turn us out into a sometimes hostile multiverse. For our protection, they gave us three gifts."
"The first gift was that of isolation. Our home realm is hidden from all but the most powerful of creatures. No spell can find it and few can make the journey. Those that visit us often forget us when they leave. Malatra is much like it, in fact. It took a powerful and evil god to find us, capture us, and steal us away. This gift of isolation had its price and its covenant. The price was that we risked stagnation because of our isolation. The covenant placed upon us by the creator gods was that we cannot ignore the suffering of any good creature. We must aid them wherever we find them. That is why our holy warriors travel the multiverse and always fight for the cause of good instead of for a specific god. Though their powers have deserted them in this isolated jungle, still our holy warriors are what they are - champions of all that is good."
"Bah!" Ky-tan exclaimed. "‘Champions Of Good’. What a useless concept. What furthers ones own people is what is good. If your warriors are such champions, why do they accept this alliance with the Snake-Mother. Is she not evil to the mammals that infest Malatra? Noble cousin, it is good that we found you. The Yuan-Ti need to save you from yourselves."
Trueblood looked at the snake-man a moment. "You trust and obey the Snake Mother because she has protected you and strengthened you throughout the centuries. Your people, too, became isolated when Malatra was separated from the lands around it, so know this - the snake mother is wiser then even you know. Her one and only priority is that the Yuan-Ti survive. To do that, change will have to occur. Of all the peoples of Malatra, it is the Yuan-Ti who will have to change the most."
Trueblood continued. "Now, I have a story to finish and the day grows long. The second gift was the gift of knowledge. In the earliest of my people the gods placed a small part of their own essences into a handful of individuals. The individuals became the first, and most powerful, of their kind. The first was a mighty warrior. The second was a great healer. The third was a powerful mage. The fourth was a soul-singer. The fifth was a dream-speaker. The covenant for these gifts is that we are to be teachers to any good creature that wishes knowledge. We cannot deny them, though we may deem that some individuals are not ready for all the knowledge we have to teach."
"The third gift was that of infinite rebirth. It was promised that in our greatest time of need, the five greatest of our race shall be reborn to us. The warrior, healer, and mage shall manifest in an already living lacerial. The soul-singer and the dream-speaker shall be born unto us as children, so they may grow up and learn the spirits and dreams of a given generation. The covenant is that these five may only come to us in our darkest moments when despair has us in its grip. Only in great pain is great change possible."
"So you believe that time has come," Ky-tan surmised. "But why?"
"We are dying. Our greatest leaders, Whiteheart and Blackflame, are dead. In the recent past we actually killed each other - killed each other! There is no greater sin. Since coming to Malatra, no clutches have been filled with eggs. We travel about childless."
"That is your only reason?" Ky-tan asked incredulously. "Because things are at their worst, you expect the best? Again, cousin, I say it: You are lucky we found you."
"No," Trueblood said quietly. "There is more."
"Once every generation special children are hatched to us. They are known by the blue scales on their backs, and by the blue tint to their eggs. Sometimes they become the incarnated essences of our creators. Always they are great teachers and leaders. They embody hope for our people when they come."
"But you said that your clutches were empty. No eggs," Ky-tan pointed out.
"Yes," Trueblood agreed. "But the spirits of the great warrior, healer, and mage are to be born into the current generation. They must come first to protect the soul-singer and dream-speaker that are hatched later." Trueblood paused. "I believe that the mark of the Blue Hand heralds their approach."
Ky-tan sat in disbelief for a moment, then shouted, "What!? Cousin, have you lost all sense? The Blue Hands are nothing more than paint, put there by a degenerate mammal council that dares think of themselves as your betters. You would bet the future of your people on blue paint?"
"No," Trueblood said quietly. "I put my faith in the wisdom of those that created my ancestors. How the mark came about is irrelevant. What it is made of or who put it there is unimportant. The Blue Hands are here, now, in this place and at the time of our greatest need. The rest is faith."
Ky-tan stood up. "This is ridiculous. Trueblood, you are the leader of the Lacerials. You have a responsibility to lead them, not put your faith in some silly superstition. Would you have them lay down their weapons and await these ‘incarnations’?"
"No," Trueblood said, still sitting. "I would have my people follow their hearts. The essence of the gods that created us flows in all our veins. All my people are heroes and all are teachers. As you say, this is our fate. The decisions my people make will determine their destinies. As do mine. I do not wait idly by. Even now I work to recover devices that may yet get us home. But I recognize that returning home may not be in our future. We may be fated to stay in Malatra and carry out some other role. Our second covenant was that of teacher. We may yet fulfill it."
Ky-tan moved to leave the hut. "Cousin, I think you put your faith in shadows. It is a sad thing that I must work against you, but the lives of all your people are at stake. I will tell them they must fight, they must win, and, with the Yuan-Ti, they must rule." Angrily, Ky-tan left.
Trueblood sat for a moment, thinking. Then, breathing deeply, he said quietly, "Yes, Ky-tan, I rather thought you would. Even the teacher must spend time as a student. That, too, is our fate."
|
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 01:05:40
So, I'm still digging, but what I see so far the Ancients/Nubari/Vizerathi/"Sarxen who turned good" were challenged by the Tamara who were formerly the Tarn and they had "opened themselves to the realm of evil spirits" and had changed themselves to more resemble "the totem of the tiger". My first thoughts on this.... link them to powerful Rakshasa Rajah. This might mean that the Tarn were essentially cat folk (possibly even the rakasta). |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 00:25:55
Now what I posted above said "continued from Jungle Tales Vol. 8" so I went searching for that
http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_008.asp
VOICES OF THE SPIRITS
Spoiler Notice! The following contains information intended for DM’s, authors. And anyone wanting to know what’s going on "behind the scenes."
The Ancients Of Malatra
Their Origin And Their Fate
By Stephen H. Jay
Bengoukee sat huddled next to a small fire, burning incense and sipping hemp beer. For the moment he was lost in his thoughts, but he was not alone. The entire council of elders had gathered around Bengoukee and his fire. Standing or sitting quietly, they waited for him to speak.
"Elders," Bengoukee began. "It is time I told you all I know of Tiger and his servants, of the birth of Malatra and the source of many of our peoples stories and legends. It is also time, I think, to talk plainly and openly about our chances against the coming war with Tiger, about the true nature of the Lion, and what the prophecies portend. Such stories would take me many nights if I knew them all. As it stands, I have much knowledge, but I must depend on Syanya of the Simbara and Old Root of the Plant People to tell some of the stories in the coming nights."
Bengoukee continued. "Tonight we start with the Ancients themselves. First, who they were before they came to Malatra. Second, what happened once they got here. Tonight, through my magics, we will begin by hearing the words of Trueheart, Mage of the silent and noble Lacerials."
Trueheart began to speak in the scents and shrill whistles of his race, yet all the elders heard his words in clear Malatran Common. "You all know, my brothers, that my people came from outside Malatra. Our travels were a long and sorrowful one. Suffice to say that there are other worlds beyond the edges of your jungles and skies, and in some of those worlds, your Ancients are known. They called themselves ‘Sarxens’ in their own language. In the languages of the peoples they visited, they were called ‘The Stealers’."
"The Ancients were never a numerous people, but for many millenia they were an aggressive people powerful in the ways of magics and alchemy. They moved from world to world in great ships, gathering knowledge and learning the secrets of each realm. They built great cities, created mighty magics and machines, and became the keepers of tremendous knowledge. They were a proud and mighty people. They were also arrogant."
"With their greatness came a blinding belief in their own abilities. They ranged over hundreds of worlds and treated them as objects to be manipulated. Land masses would be raised or sunk below the oceans on a whim. Entire species of plants or animals would be annihilated or changed in some way just to see what would happen. Sometimes animals were abducted and changed in ways found useful to the Ancients. Some creatures were made stronger to carry great weights. Others were made smaller to work in the tunnels beneath their cities. There were dozens of different unnaturally altered animals ‘stolen’ from their homes and made to serve the Sarxen."
Trueheart paused and looked at the shocked expressions of the elders around him. A few of the elders looked angry, for the Ancients were revered by some of the tribes of Malatra. "Your own legends," Trueheart said, "talks of the folly of the Ancients, though the old stories aren’t very specific as to what actually happened. I tell you now of the Sarxens greatest arrogance, an arrogance that resulted, eventually, in the extermination of their entire race."
"The Sarxen became so proud of their abilities and knowledge, they began to abduct and alter intelligent creatures. Other peoples. Nubari-like people. The Sarxen experimented with making them smarter and stronger. It is whispered that the Sarxen were trying to make a race unto themsleves. A new people in the Sarxen’s image. Just as the Sarxen were about to achieve this final, hideous goal, the sins of their pride finally caught up with them."
"One of the peoples stolen by the Sarxen were called the Tarn. The Tarn were mentally unremarkable but physically powerful warriors. The Sarxen took the Tarn and worked to focus their natural aggressiveness. They made the Tarn bigger, stronger, and faster. They taught them how to make and use weapons. How to wage war on a massive scale. Finally, the Sarxen gave the Tarn the ability to survive tremendous wounds, to endure extreme physical hardship, and to resist magical attacks. In the end, the Tarn became the ultimate warriors."
"The Sarxen were not interested in wars of conquest, but they were interested in what they called ‘War Games’. You see, the Tarn were not created to face the enemies of the Sarxen. No, nothing so noble as that. The Tarn were created to fight each other. With different Sarxen leading different groups of Tarn, the Sarxen would try to best each other in games of strategy and tactics. Thousands of Tarn died in these ‘war games’ that raged across their world, all while their Sarxen masters remained safe."
"After a few centuries the Sarxen tired of their games. They left the still warring Tarn to their own devices and abandoned the Tarn homeworld. It was a world decimated, polluted, and pillaged. After all their hideous treatment, the Tarn were apparently doomed to extinction."
"Thirty generations of the nubari passed. A small group of Sarxens began to question the ways of their people. They saw what they had done to other peoples and other worlds and proclaimed it evil. They were persecuted for their ‘hereasy’, ridiculed, branded traitors, even killed at times. Yet eventually their philosophy of peace and harmony with others began to have an affect on the Sarxen. This group called themselves the ‘Vizerathi’s’, and they spoke the message of strength, courage, wisdom, and compassion. They lived the totem of the Lion. They were the best of the Ancients as you know them, my jungle brothers. They were truly creatures of light."
Trueheart paused and looked around at the council of elders. "This is the lesson that no evil goes unpunished, no trespass is ever forgotten. We Lacerials know that the sins of the past always catch up with us, as they eventually did with the Ancients."
"Amidst this birth of consciousness, the Sarxens past finally caught up with them. An enemy arose and began to attack and destroy Sarxen cities and worlds all over their empire. This enemy came by the thousands, died by the thousands, and killed by the tens of thousands. They were fearless, ferocious, resistant to many weapons and magics, and knew absolutely no fear."
"I see that many of you have already made the connection. Yes, they were the Tarn. They had not died out but had instead been reborn. They had learned how to work together instead of fighting each other. They had taken apart the great machines the Sarxen had left behind, studied the tomes and magics, and had reinvented themselves. There was a suspicion by some of the Ancients that the Tarn had been influenced by the realms of evil spirits, for their very appearance had changed. The Tarn had even changed their name to the Tamara, the people of the Tiger. Tiger is the eternal enemy of Lion, and so great was the Tamara’s hatred of the Sarxen that they had even altered their own bodies to look more like their Tiger totem."
"The past sins of the Sarxens were visited upon the Ancients. Many stayed and fought the Tamara to the bitter end. A few of the Ancients fled, crashed in this jungle, and lived in peace here for a hundred years until the Tamara hunted them down and destroyed them. The Tamara would have destroyed all that the Ancients had touched, which would have included the entire jungle, but their time was short. The doorways between our jungle and their hate-filled world were drawing apart. The Tamara had to retreat quickly or risk being stranded in our world. But they vowed to return and finish their task."
"Now their promise comes close to fruition. The doorways draw near and soon the Tamaras servants will open the Blood Bridge that spans the spaces between our worlds. We must stop this from happening. If the Blood Bridge is conjured, then nothing will stop the Tamara from finishing their quest to obliterate all that the Ancients ever touched."
When Trueheart paused, the great hunter Mali spoke. "The Ancients brought many changes to the Jungle during their time here. Throughout every part of our land I have seen their mark. Perhaps, honored one, before we speak more of the Tamara, we should talk about the one hundred years that the ancients were here. We should make it plain what they did to prepare for Tigers arrival, and why they failed."
Bengoukee nodded. "Yes, that would be wise. Though I warn you brothers, the knowledge of the things they did here will bring some of you pain." As Trueheart sat down the Plantman sage, Old Root, stood up. "This is a story that only Old Root can tell," Bengoukee said. "For his people were one of the few that lived in the Jungle when the Ancients came. The rest......" Bengoukee paused. "The rest of the peoples of the jungle......came after."
True Root began to talk.
|
| sleyvas |
Posted - 10 May 2025 : 00:22:07
So, I have a renewed interest in the area, and I was going to start another thread, but this one seems to work. My interest here is in gathering what I would like to call "good lore". By that I mean lore that gets heavily into the overall history of the region, etc... to try and gather what went on. I'd like to stay aware from the "jokish lore" where people do things just playing on words (i.e. I read one story for instance that talks about Boo two and Boo dos and Boo deux, etc...).
To start this off, I found this on the wayback machine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010617055023/http://www.wizards.com/rpga/LJ/stories_011.asp
Note, at the end of this it says "to be continued" but I can't find that it was as of yet
VOICES OF THE SPIRITS
Spoiler Notice! The following contains information intended for DM’s, authors. And anyone wanting to know what’s going on "behind the scenes."
The Ancients Of Malatra - Their Origin And Their Fate
By Stephen H. Jay
Continued from Jungle Tales vol. 8
Old Roots voice sounded like the rustle of dry leaves, yet through his magic he was understood by all.
"My people venerate a power within the dark jungles of this land, a power unknown to many of you. It is not that it hides, for it is represented everywhere in the very jungle itself. Yet it is a subtle power, and you flesh creatures often fail to see things as they really are, especially if those things do not support your beliefs. No matter."
"Within the jungle is a group of beings called the ‘Council Of Trees’. They are the largest, tallest and wisest of the grandfather trees. They are so tall that they seem to touch the sky. They are so old that they have seen almost everything that has ever happened in Malatra. So old that they are wise enough not to tell any but the plant people. Do you understand what I mean by this?" Old Root looked at the puzzled expressions before him. "No, I see you do not. That, too, is no matter. It is enough to know that only the plant people can hear their stories for the time it takes to tell them. The grandfather trees say that everything in this world needs its own space, and that includes their stories. The story of all the good peoples of Malatra was long and long again. It took the grandfather trees ten years to tell it, as it took me ten years to hear it."
Old Root shook his body in agitation, the leaves rustling as if in a wind. "It is a bad thing to tell what they said to me so quickly, but I know the way of flesh creatures. You have not the patience to listen to a story properly. To reduce the history of an entire people to a few brief sentences - it is obscene. But I will do it."
Old Root paused, then he spoke calmly and succinctly. "The nubari people are the children of both the ancients and the savage nubari that were living in the jungle when the ancients came. Though the ancients would have preferred to have the jungle to themselves, several attempts to drive away the native peoples failed. Eventually the ancients raised their barriers around Malatra and trapped the native peoples within them. Though the ancients has forsworn tampering with others, the native peoples were curious and intelligent, and begin to learn from the ancients by observing what the ancients did or by stealing their tools. In the end, the ancients relented and begin to teach the natives some of their secrets. It is the blood of the ancients that have gifted the nubari tribes with magic, artistry, and invention. I believe the ancients felt guilty about how they had thrown the natives lives into upheaval and wanted to make amends."
"The korobokuru came from beneath the jungle. Their ancestors lived in the ground and were forced to migrate above ground when the ancients began to work their magics on the jungle. The ancients didn’t know the korobokuru ancestors lived there and very nearly annihilated them when their underground homes collapsed. When the korobokuru arrived they had virtually no possessions, no food or water, and most of their adults had been killed. They swore never to live underground again. Though the garuda killed many of them before finally being banished by the ancients, the korobokuru proved to be a hearty people."
"The shu were here when the ancients arrived. They hid in the jungle so well that even we did not see them for many months as a time. The ancients, I believe, never saw them, though they knew the shu were there. Yet the shu, for all their small stature and timidity, held true to the teachings of their ancestors. They worked together always and listened to the spirits of the jungle. They flourished and today live in greater numbers then many of you know."
"The saru were created by the ancients from native gorillas that lived in the jungle. Again, this went against the ancients vow not to interfere with a species natural development, but the garuda were decimating the gorillas and the ancients felt sorry for them. The ancients made them smarter and gave them the ability to talk and make tools. When the garuda were banished, the ancients even used a few of the saru as laborers. They never enslaved the saru and allowed them to come and go as they pleased, but the saru learned quickly that for a little bit of lifting they could earn a steady supply of food and water. When the ancients were destroyed by the tamara, the saru were in the ancients city and saw what the tamara did. Though the saru have forgotten their history, it is the reason, I think, they fear flashy magic and never form permanent settlements."
"The Tam’hi ..... well, the Tam’hi have a very complex history. Their story is among the most difficult to put into a few sentences. There lived among the jungle two tribes of people who were nubari-like but not nubari. They witnessed the arrival of the ancients and saw their coming as a disaster, as indeed it was for many peoples. They foresaw the changes the ancients would make to Malatra, the earthshakes and upheavals, the garuda, and even the ancients inevitable destruction and the betrayal by one of their own number. In desperation, these tribes of not-nubari made a great pact with the spirits of the jungle. 100 of the warriors from the first tribe dedicated themselves to the jungle while 100 warriors from the second tribe dedicated themselves to the rivers, lakes, and swamps. All pledged eternal care and protection for the land and waters they loved so much. In an act of supreme sacrifice, they gave themselves to the spirits and became the oldest of the stone statutes found throughout the jungle and in the River Of Laughing Idols. In return, the spirits of the waters and the jungle joined with the rest of their tribesmen, running strong in their blood and in the lines of their children. They became the tam’hi, a people in their own right, but also a people equal part not-nubari and equal part forest and river spirit."
Old Root paused, looking carefully at each elder as he spoke. "Of all the flesh creatures in Malatra, plantmen feel the strongest bond with the tam’hi. They live only for the well-being of the jungle, and are not distracted by ambition or personal ego. Once there was an ancient that foolishly began to experiment with the old destructive magics, magics that turned part of the jungle into the Yaku Plain, the plain of ash. It was the tam’hi and the plant people that confronted the ancients ruling council. Together we rose up and demanded they put a stop to this ancients magics. The tam’hi were already known by the ancients, for it did not seem to overly surprise them when hundreds of tam’hi came out of the forest and entered the ancients city. Of we plantmen they knew little, so we revealed little of ourselves to the ancients."
"No, the ancients did not seem overly surprised to see us, though I suspect they knew not of our numbers. To their credit, they were already taking action against the one who was delving into their old, and it was revealed, forbidden magics. Yet when the stone statues pulled themselves from the rivers, swamps, and jungle and marched into the ancients city, it is said there was fear in their eyes.
Old Root stopped a moment and let the elders consider this a moment. "I tell you this to make this point: so long as the councils interests coincide with the jungles, you may count on the tam’hi and the plant people for help. That is all that is promised."
"Now, who have I forgotten? The Oscray and Lacerials are new to our land and their arrival is known to you. Of the plant people I can say we were here before the ancients came, though it was uncommon for us to go through the change and become self-aware. The magics the ancients used seems to have made my people much more likely to emerge from our sporing caves and walk the lands as you do. For this we owe the ancients a debt of gratitude, for it made us a true people."
"Oh yes, the katanga. They were here before the ancients came, but not in the numbers or variety that one now finds them. I do not, in truth, understand them very well, nor do I understand what was told me by the Council of Trees. What is important to know is that the katanga started out as jungle spirits, both evil and good, that inhabited certain animals for reasons of their own. The animals they inhabited were the most intelligent, the strongest, the most cunning of their species, and the jungle spirits brought into them their own knowledge and capabilities."
"That began to change when the ancients wrought their changes upon Malatra. When Malatra was separate from the rest of the world around it, the katanga changed also. They became a people unto themselves, at times intermingling with nubari and at other times isolating themselves from them. Whereas the tam’hi seem to favor the not-nubari side of their nature, the katanga have stronger ties to the jungle spirit side of their nature. Beyond that, I do not know what the katanga are."
Old Root fell silent and for a long time none of the council spoke. Eventually, Ffft, the sage of the jungle, said, "I do not know if I can accept everything you have told us, Old Root. I think you tell us the truth as you know it, but you may not know the whole truth."
Old Root said simply, "No one knows the whole truth of anything. Not even you, oh Sage."
Ffft smiled cooly. Old Root was not known for his humor, even among the plant people. He was known as a diplomat, however, and Ffft took his remark for the rebuff it was. "If I may be so bold, I believe I take meaning from your words. You are saying that all of our peoples, even the ones who were here before the ancients arrived, are the living legacy of the ancients. With the exception of the shu, all our peoples were touched and changed by the ancients. For that reason, the Tamara cannot help but hate us all."
"Yes," Old Root said, "but there is more. Not only do the Tamara feel compelled to destroy all our peoples, they burn with the desire to destroy Malatra itself. For Malatra was raised from the surrounding jungle and shaped as the ancients saw fit. Our jungle is as much a part of the ancients work as the city they lived in. The Tamara are pledged to destroy the very jungle itself."
"What of the shu?" Ffft asked. "According to you, they were not touched by the ancients. Will the Tamara ignore them?"
"Ignore the shu?" Old Root sounded taken aback. "Hardly! For it was the shu that led the Tamara to Malatra in the first place. Without the shu, the Tamara might never have found our jungle. Let me tell you what they did."
To be continued..... |
| shades of eternity |
Posted - 22 Oct 2019 : 02:50:50
ha yup
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Deep within the Malatra Jungle is a breed of Saurials that returned to Toril independently of their return to the Western Heartlands. Known as Lacerials, they are mostly found along the River Of Lost Idols, 100 miles east of the tribe of Rudra. They have become two tribes, the Whitehearts and the Blackflames.
The Saurials do not openly talk about this split, just that it was filled with shame at a time when Saurial killed Saurial. They have rejoined along the river, but still wear markings that denote their faction. They do not want to forget.
They have abandoned their gods and now worship nature spirits. Despite an alliance with the local Yuan-ti and a sect of chaotic evil leopard hengeyokai, they aren’t actively hostile to most races.
The tribe is led by Trueblood, a young Hornhead who was the apprentice to the former wizard apprentice of Whiteheart. While untested, he is The Saurials of the Lost Vale Page 9 of 96 aided by a Bladeback shaman named Starr, a Flyer rogue named Quickwing and a Finhead fighter named Strongarm. This council of four dictates policy with the outside world and is responsible for
their policy of isolation.
Despite being polite and tolerant of other species, they like their secrets. They do not offer visitors lodging and outsiders are banned from viewing any of their rituals. In spite of this, they are willing to trade and assist their neighbors; proven friends earn strong loyalties at the personal and communal level.
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Saurials are a particular favorite. :) |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 21 Oct 2019 : 22:21:00
The area was particularly known for having saurials (known there as Lacerials). In fact, I know that the Saurial Paladin dragonbait was down in Chult searching for the city of Mezro with Artus Cimber. We don't necessarily know Dragonbait's motives for searching for this city. What if the city of Mezro has portal links to the Saurial's location in Malatra (as a way to link these two far flung but similar areas). Given Ubtao's affinity for dinosaurs, I could see the Saurial's growing to accept him as their deity.
This is an adventurer's league adventure featuring Dragonbait and Artus Cimber. It might be interesting if there were a portal in Mezro linking to Malatra.
https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/dragon/18/DRA18_RisenMists.pdf |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 20 Oct 2019 : 23:31:09
quote:
Originally posted by Zeromaru X
If you have access to it, the Aberrant dragonmark from Eberron can work perfectly as spellscars in 5e.
Actually, since spellscars were introduced, I've thought the dragonmark mechanic would be a good way to do them -- not just for one dragonmark, but for most of them. |
| Seethyr |
Posted - 20 Oct 2019 : 21:57:02
Looks like I have some Polyhedrons to pick up lol |
| Zeromaru X |
Posted - 20 Oct 2019 : 18:28:45
If you have access to it, the Aberrant dragonmark from Eberron can work perfectly as spellscars in 5e.
As for Malatra's one unique thing, I'm not knowledgeable about these "Hollywood-esque real world anslogues" on the Realms, but I remember reading somewhere that Malatra has something ancient aliens civilization with an old Asian flavor (Angkor wat and that stuff). |
| shades of eternity |
Posted - 20 Oct 2019 : 16:10:46
okay starting up this engine again.
best I can tell, it's essentially an indochina analogue, especially if you split off the Kuong Kingdom.
Now mix in a bit of "lost world" and here are some rough ideas that may or may work:
1. the spell plague happened, so many people fled to the jungle for comparative safety. There are "quarentine villages" that might be losely supported by outside sponsors (thinking tu lung) but these are entire towns of spell scarred. The side effect of this happening is that they learn from each other and learn how to use their powers by learning each other. Since 5e doesn't use the spell scarred, I would use the sorcerer as a basis.
2. The resundering dropped off magical energy and displaced creatures from other worlds. Besides a great place to grow Kaiju, these include dinosaurs.
3. the local species would be affected by Butu (goatman), Lizardman, Plantman, Aarakocra, and apparently some sort of Hengyokai based on ostriches.
So I ask the following questions
- what is Malatra one unique thing?
- would there be hidden temples from the beginning of time? Perhaps some sort of Serpent Kingdom that we can fiddle with.
- What critters must absolutely be in Malatra?
- Is the setting pretty much tribe vs tribe, or is there space for some change in civilization? |
| shades of eternity |
Posted - 19 Oct 2019 : 13:13:02
including previous references to make it easier to stew:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Malatra
http://www.identicalsoftware.com/rpg/dnd/living_jungle/LivingJungleBook_web.pdf
http://www.identicalsoftware.com/rpg/dnd/living_jungle/
https://malatraredux.obsidianportal.com/
http://www.thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3067
Polyhedron #121 "Living Jungle Special, Updated Malatra Map"
and apparently
http://www.thepiazza.org.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=16055
there was a controversy involving the map. :p
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| Zeromaru X |
Posted - 19 Oct 2019 : 01:43:53
There is no mention of Malatra in that article. Just a general Kara-turan update, and from the point of view of the hengeyokai race.
That said, the Spellplague did cause some unrest in Kara-tur, forcing a lot of hengeyokai to migrate to Faerûn. Perhaps some of them ended up in Malatra. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 18 Oct 2019 : 23:45:31
Dragon 404 had some stuff about Kara-Tur. I haven't read it. That being said when I open it and search on the text Malatra, I don't see any entries. |
| shades of eternity |
Posted - 18 Oct 2019 : 22:55:17
okay I haven't done much, but did do a quickie write up when I did my own musings on kara-tur
To quote myself
"
Malatra: This area is now the home of the Saurial Tribes (because dinosaur people are awesome) who live in the land of the Kaiju. Great megafauna and dinosaurs roam this land and often go on rampages that go far beyond their borders. This may have been influenced by a Godzilla marathon. :p
Come to think of it, saurials already kinda have a caste system, so another point for using them in this area (that and their official standing in the area)."
https://breadthofpopsanity.blogspot.com/2018/03/kara-tur-some-thoughts-part-1-overview.html
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