Strolen\s Citadel content. 
Society/ Organization
Ethnic/Cultural
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6 Votes

22xp

ID:2518
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Comments: 7
Ideas: 0
Rating:4
Condition: Normal

Submitted:
April 11, 2006, 3:52 pm
Updated:
April 11, 2006, 3:52 pm





The Bosques
By: Scrasamax

Isolated at the southern most portion of Falhath, the Bosques are considered bumpkins and backwater-folk

History/Background
The Bosques (boss-keys) have been living their quiet lives well south of the excitement of Ozea and Sangreal, even beyond the long arm of Dreifach, the provincial capital of the Satrap of Falhath. Named after the lazy and meandering Bosque River, they are a quiet agrarian folk. Most Imperial records list the Bosques as having settled the southern peninsula nearly 1400 years ago. For the most part the records indicate that they were political and religious dissidents who were upset by the excesses of the Old World.

They gained several charters and settled along the southern part of the region and settled into a number of loosely joined communes. When the Nightmare War washed across the country, almost none of it was felt in the Bosque region. There were no supplemental sorceries to fail, and no magical items to detonate from geomantic feedback. Life continued as it had for them, with hard work and the harvest.

The Bosques are firm believers in the evil of magic, and the corruption that it engenders in those who use and benefit from it. To that end, it is considered taboo to even talk about magic or say the word magic in polite company. Some more pious women might even swoon at the mention of the word, while the menfolk might become a little hostile. It was this lack of magic that engendered Baron Holmestead of Buzzard\‘s Bay to invade the region. The Militias of the Bay were unprepared for the stoic discipline of the Bosques, and after six months, Holmestead was forced to retreat with heavy losses.

Appearance
The average Bosque is human with no outside, non-human heritage. They tend towards medium to olive skin tones, dakr hair, and tend to have rather hairy arms and legs. Bosque women are vivacious and friendly, though as they age, they have problems with unpleasant facial hair. The term Old Goat applies to both men and women with this affliction.

Special Equipment
The Bosque are known for their abhorrence of magic, and when they find magic items they tend to find ways to eliminate them, or destroy them. Some adventurers have come to raid the secret loot of the Bosque Valley, but are sorely dissappointed when they find there is none. Most Bosque wares are of good quality, and Bosque steel is of excellent quality as the smiths refuse to cut corners or shave supplies to save on cost.

Roleplaying Notes
The Bosque temperament is generally a positive one. They spend their leisure time fishing the Bosque River, hunting for red deer, and drinking healthy amounts of wine. There is very little ale, or beer in the region.



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Comments ( 7 )
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 Scrasamax

2006-04-11 03:53 PM
Link: [2518#14331|text]
0xp
Moved from NPCs/Extra-Horde as suggested by Moonhunter
Voted Ancient Gamer

2006-04-12 04:02 PM
Link: [2518#14367|text]
0xp
Normally I would have given such a sub 3.5, but I found the little references in this tale exciting. Although it was a very short post, the constant references to places and events lent it a richness I found fitting. A good achievement for a short cultural post.
Voted Murometz

2006-04-12 04:05 PM
Link: [2518#14368|text]
0xp
2 things make them unique. Well 3. Their strong distaste for magic is sublime! I like that they are heavy wine drinkers, but ale eludes them. Facial hair immediately makes me picture them. Thats a nice touch Nice details! Am I supposed to mention their Basqueness or not?

I have mentioned my love for LOW magic campaigns several times in previous comments, so I tend to think of Bosques as "My Peeps!"
Voted Pariah

2006-04-12 08:59 PM
Link: [2518#14374|text]
0xp
I pat you on the back for doing these 'peeps' so well. Interesting people.
Voted Roack

2006-04-12 08:59 PM
Link: [2518#14375|text]
0xp
Strong post, great name, unique... but short. I'd love it if you either fleshed it out more or posted the numerous references and linked them.
Voted Cheka Man

2006-04-13 12:06 PM
Link: [2518#14385|text]
0xp
Nice-a low/no magic people.
Voted Michael Jotne Slayer

2011-01-31 11:10 AM
Link: [2518#76452|text]
0xp

A solid portrayal. 

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THE COVEN When the characters approach a clearing in the forest, they will see 4 ogres who are guarding, and preventing from escape, 4 human males, and 3 human females. The ogres will see the party and leap to attack. The females will scream "OUR SAVIORS!!" and run screaming straight across the currently forming battlefield, in between ogres and party members, to hide behind the rearmost party members. They will be safe there. The males will try to skirt the battle to the north side to join the women. To the south, giants will be hiding in the thick underbrush until the party has engaged the ogres and then attack the most opportune target EXCEPT the ones that the females are next to. It should be noted that the female commoners are not female commoners at all, nor are the male commoners actually male commoners. The female commoners are the hags, who have polymorphed themselves as the commoners in their stewpot to escape detection. The males skirting the battle are actually MORE ogres, the hags were in the process of polymorphing ALL the ogres into regular humans for ambush purposes. The REAL commoners are already dead, having found their way into the coven's cauldron for dinner. The hags (the women) will position themselves near to any spellcasters in the rear first, and then near anyone else in the back of the fight. The ogres (the men) will wait until the hags shift form, and then attack first the rear folks, then shift into the melee. It is possible that the characters, as they approach the ogres, will notice the giants in the bush, and be able to warn the others of the ambush. GAME NOTES: If you sell the screaming women correctly, they will not even be suspected until it is too late. Therein lay the problem. This encounter is ESPECIALLY deadly to the rear eschelon of the party. It is entirely possible that the hags will finish off half the party before they even realize they have been duped. Caution is required if the game master wishes to avoid a TPK(total party kill).
By: Monument | UpVote