Sample file Denizens of Barsaive Volume Two

Sample file

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Denizens of Barsaive™ Volume Two pathfinder roleplaying game edition Line Developer: Hank Woon Writing and Development: Hank Woon Editing and Additional Development: Ira Mertes, James Sutton Product Director: James Sutton Administration: Dawn Sutton Layout: Dawn Sutton, James Sutton Cover Artwork: Janet Aulisio, Dawn Sutton Interior Artwork: Darrell Midgette, Earl Geier, Janet Aulisio, Jeff Laubenstein, Jim Nelson, Joel Biske, Larry MacDougall, Liz Danforth, Mike Nielsen, Steve Bryant, Tom Baxa, Tony Szczudlo Earthdawn First Edition Material: Andrew Ragland, Carl Meadows, Carl Sargent, Carsten Damm, Danielle Mallette, Diane Piron-Gelman, Donovan Winch, Eike-Christian Bertram, Graeme Lindsell, James Sutton, Jason Wallace, Jeremiah Schwennen, Jim Nelson, John Terra, John Carter, Joshua Harrison, Lars Heitmann, Louis Prosperi, Marc Gasgoine, Mike Mulvihill, Mike Nielsen, Nigel Findley, Robert Charrette, Robert Cruz, Robin Laws, Sean Rhoades, Seth Feierstein, Shane Lacy Hensley, Steven Black, Tim Reynolds, Tom Dowd Playtesters: Craig Guarisco, Justin Carson, Katherine Fang Dedication: [Hank] For Yuri and Yuzu, for their outstanding patience and support—ありがとうございました (arigatou gozaimashita!). Internet: www.redbrickllc.com Contact: [email protected] Edition: July 2012 Earthdawn is a registered trademark of FASASample Corporation. Earthdawn file Player’s Guide, and Denizens of Barsaive are trademarks of FASA Corporation. Earthdawn First Edition Material copyright © 1993–2012 FASA Corporation. Published by RedBrick LLC under license from FASA Corporation—Made in the USA. Copyright © 2012 FASA Corporation, RedBrick LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. Permission to copy the Character Sheet is granted for personal use only. Pathfinder is a registered trademark of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility Logo are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatibility License. See http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/compatibility for more information on the compatibility license. Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks, proper names (characters, creatures, dragons, spirits, entities, deities, treasures, places, etc.), dialogue, plots, fiction, background, storylines, language, incidents, locations, setting information, characters, maps, artwork, logos, graphic design, and trade dress. Open Content: Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the contents of this game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Gaming License version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission. To learn more about the Open Game License and the d20 System License, please visit wizards.com/ d20.

2 Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction 7 Chapter 3: Obsidimen 30 On the Writing of the Denizens of On that Curious Race Known as Barsaive 7 Obsidimen 30 A First Encounter with an Chapter 2: Dwarfs 9 Obsidiman 31 On that Remarkable People On the Nature of Obsidimen 32 Known as Dwarfs 9 On Appearance and Physical Nature 33 On Being a Dwarf in Barsaive 9 On Feelings and Behavior Among On Dwarfs as Builders 10 Obsidimen 34 On the Making of Tools 10 On the Reason for Venturing On the Importance of Building Into the World 36 All Things in One’s Home 10 On the Obsidiman Way of Life 37 On Connections Between Craftsmanship An Obsidiman Myth of Creation 37 and Artistry 10 On the Brotherhood as Family 38 On the Reasons and Source of Trade 12 On the Significance of the Liferock 39 Building the Intangible 12 On Birth and Coming of Age 41 On Loyalty Among the Dwarfs 13 On the Time Known as the Dreaming 44 On the Claims of Family 13 On the Final Return to the Liferock 45 On Tribal Loyalties 14 On Obsidiman Culture and Myths 47 On Loyalty to Nations 15 Concerning the Valley of the On Fealty to the Kingdom Sample16 Eldersfile and the Council of Four 48 On the Place of the Dwarfs in On Artistic Endeavor 49 Barsaive 17 On Obsidiman Craft 50 On the Meaning of Dwarf Fables 17 On Meaningful Adornments 53 On the Manner of Dwarfs Toward Other On the Complexities of Obsidiman Name-Givers 19 Language 53 On the Culture of Dwarfs 20 On How the Perception of On Artistic Endeavor and Craftsmanship 20 Time Shapes the Spoken Word 53 On Rituals Marking the Passage of Life 20 On the Structure of the Obsidiman On How Affinity for the Earth Shapes Tongue 53 Behavior 22 A Discourse on Writing Among the On the Importance of Language and the Obsidimen 55 Law 22 On Dealings With the World and its On the Fascinating Ways of the Khavro’am 24 Residents 57 Game Information 26 On Obsidimen and the Disciplines 59 Roleplaying Hints 26 On Obsidimen and Thera 61 Questors 28 On Obsidimen and the Passions 61 Special Rules 28 On Diverse Customs Among Glossary 28 Obsidimen 62

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Regarding the Custom of the Sending 62 The Society of Trolls 88 Observations on Gatherings 62 On the Ways of Highland Trolls 88 On Customs Common to Obsidimen in On Lowland Trolls 93 Towns and Cities 63 On the Various Rituals of Life 95 Game Information 65 On the Ordeal of Birth 95 Roleplaying Hints 65 On Names and Naming 96 Questors 66 On the Age of Passage and its Rites 97 Special Rules 66 On Marriage Customs 98 Glossary 67 On the Troll Acceptance of Death 99 On Diverse Aspects of Troll Chapter 4: Orks 68 Culture 100 Revelations on the Nature of Orks 68 On Tales and Heroes 100 On Prizing Freedom Above All 69 On the Creation of Art 104 On Living and Dying Well 70 On Craftsmanship Among Trolls 105 On Seizing Life and Shaking It 71 On Matters of Manners and Social On Rebellion and Change 71 Custom 107 On the Three Ways of Orks 72 On Finding Privacy Within 107 On the Burning Heart of Gahad 73 On the Significance of Horns 108 On Orks and the Passions 74 On Greetings and Partings 108 On Ork Ways and Customs 76 On the Curious Custom of Boasting 109 On Arts Among Orks 76 On Trolls’ Views of Other Races 110 On Ork Craftsmanship 77 Game Information 112 On Styles of Dress 77 Roleplaying Hints 112 On Weapons and Armor 77 Questors 112 On Ork Architecture 78 Special Rules 112 On Mannerly Behavior Among Orks Sample78 Glossary file 113 On Customs of Love, Marriage and Family 79 Chapter 6: Adepts 115 On the Ways of Men and Women 79 Discipline Feats 115 On How Orks View Other Races 79 Liberator Adept 116 On Food and Drink Dear to Orks 80 Outcast Warrior Adept 116 Game Information 81 Purifier Adept 117 Roleplaying Hints 81 Traveled Scholar Adept 117 Questors 81 On the Rebellious Rage of the Special Rules 81 Liberator 118 Glossary 82 On Hope’s Champion 118 On the Spark of Rebellion 118 Chapter 5: Trolls 84 On Lochost’s Children 119 On the Remarkable Nature On the Severance of the Outcast and Way of Trolls 84 Warrior 121 A Word on Generalizations 85 On the Severance 121 On the Dual Nature of Trolls 86 On Life in Exile 122 On the Many Meanings of Honor 86 On The Path of the Outcast 122 On Spirituality Among Trolls 87 On Training 123

4 Contents

On the Cleansing Path of the New Adept Feats 133 Purifier 123 Focused Strike 133 On the Truth of the Earth 124 Freedom Search 133 On Our Role in the World 124 Heal Slave 133 On the Need for Balance 125 Hoard Blows 133 Regarding the Blood Wood 125 Impossible Hide 134 On Purifiers and the Passions 125 Mind Armor 134 To See For Yourself: The Traveled Mind Blade 134 Scholar 126 Shackle Shrug 134 On the Importance of Patrons 126 On the Joys of Traveling 127 Chapter 8: Equipment 135 On Seeking the Truth 127 Armor 135 On The Dark Side of Academia 129 Bone Mail 135 In Conclusion 129 Skeleton 135 Stone Disk 135 Chapter 7: Skills & Feats 130 Stone Net 136 New Adept Skills 130 Thundra Skin 136 Body Control (NA) 130 Blood Charms 136 Escape Divination (Int) 130 Bind Will 136 False Shackles (Dex) 130 Potions 136 Free Mind (NA) 130 Fire Water 136 Freedom Song (Int) 131 Ice Water 136 Heart of Freedom (Int) 131 Weapons 137 Heart of Rebellion (Cha) 131 Charge Swords 137 Immense Knowledge (NA) 132 Scythan Axes 137 Power Mask (Int) Sample132 Stonefile Mauls 137 Prison Call (Int) 132 Throalic Ornamental Daggers 137 Ritual of Atonement (Wis) 132 Shout of Justice (Cha) 133 Index 139

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Sample file

6 Chapter 1: Introduction On the Writing of the Denizens of Barsaive How many of us can claim friends or acquaintances of every Namegiver race other than our own? Indeed, in the aftermath of the Scourge that isolated many of us in our own ra- cial enclaves, how many of us have any knowledge of another race other than the superfi- cial? Who but the t’skrang understand the true meaning of haropas? Do any folk but the elves truly feel the tragedy of Blood Wood’s dreadful transformation? Do any but humans see the human race’s worth? Who but a windling knows what it feels like to fly? Few Bar- saivians can answer these questions, but all of us should have such knowledge. In order to give us a truer understanding of each other, I and my assistants have created this remark- able work, entitled Denizens of Barsaive. During the compilation of An Explorer’s Guide to Barsaive, my colleague Jerriv Forrim and I traveled extensively throughout the land and met many Namegivers of whose ways we knew little or nothing. It came to Jerriv and I that our ignorance of our fellow Namegiv- ers was no less inexcusable than our former ignorance of the wonders and dangers of Bar- saive, and so we determined to somehow correct that fault. Together, we conceived the idea of writing several volumes on the nature and ways of Barsaive’s Namegiver races, each vol- ume devoted to a particular people. We presented our idea to Merrox, Master of the Hall of Records, who swiftly saw the wisdom of our proposal and graciouslySample acceded file to it. Undaunted by the magnitude of the task before us, we fell to with a will. To my great sorrow, poor Jerriv soon found the long hours and hard work too much for his frail constitution. Though he went to great lengths to deny the seriousness of his condition, often insisting on working almost as late as I did in an effort to prove his fitness, it became clear to me after only a few weeks that his health could not bear the strain. Indeed, it was not long after the last meal we shared that he col- lapsed—his health had become so precarious that even a simple meal of baked t’skrang fish did not agree with him. I took him at once to the healers, with whom he yet remains. He was so weak he could barely talk, but could not be induced to lie down quietly and take his medicine until he had extracted a promise from me that I would take on the bur- den of completing our great work. Finding myself solely responsible for this great project, I spent many months sifting through countless historical records, travelers’ journals, treatises, scholarly essays, and firsthand ac- counts, attempting to distill these diverse sources into accurate, interesting, and complete portrayals of each Namegiver race. I have labored to decipher and read a veritable moun- tain of documents, both in the Library of Throal and outside it. Though King Varulus III once again refused permission to visit the Eternal Library at Thera, I have managed to obtain one document from a Theran source that mysteriously found its way to our Great

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Library. Such a find is miraculous indeed and only serves to prove that the Passions truly love the work of the scholar above the petty considerations of politics. Though the task has been grueling, I can say with confidence that the information in these volumes constitutes an informative, complete, and fascinating record of the nature and ways of the Namegiv- ers of our world. If anyone in Barsaive cares to know something of a race other than his own, I bid him come to the Great Library and peruse this great work—he will find no bet- ter source in all the land. The eight volumes of Denizens of Barsaive describe the races of our land in alphabetical order: from Volumes One to Eight, their subjects are dwarfs, elves, humans, obsidimen, orks, trolls, t’skrang, and windlings. I remind all readers of this work that every individual sees the world through his own eyes. Though I have tried to pass on only verifiable facts, the na- ture of the material is such that facts cannot be separated from the attitudes of the writers. During the final stages of the compilation of this work, I was most ably assisted by many of the archivists and scribes who were my colleagues in the creation of An Explorer’s Guide to Barsaive. It is with great gratitude that I acknowledge their contributions. As with the aforementioned work, myself and my colleagues—and occasionally other readers—have added marginal notes where appropriate to clarify points made in the text. The greatest measure of my gratitude, of course, goes to my poor friend Jerriv Forrim, whom sad circumstance has relegated to a relatively minor role in the very work he helped bring to fruition. I believe that he will be more than happy with the final form of this work, and I wish him the good health in which to read it for many years to come. —Thom Edrull, Archivist and Scribe of the Hall of Records, 1506 TH

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