The Vase of Katzu Part 3

The Vase of Katzu
The ruins of this city rise out of the jungle all of the sudden. A lot of the buildings are intact, though the walls and the roofs are slightly holey. The jungle has grown up on the roads and through the buildings which are painted in once beautiful frescoes that have faded with time.  There doesn't appear to be any people, but there are sounds of wildlife from inside.

For the GM the ruins are huge, so you can have as many, or as few intact buildings as you wish.  The ruins will hold all sorts of pottery, day to day objects, some statuettes and even a few coins here are there.  There is also a lot of wildlife, so you can have as many, or few, encounters as you want or need. In the center of the ruins is a mansion of huge proportions, (which I will describe in the following posts), and this is where the fun will begin.  You should also be rolling for a small chance for encounters with the "natives".  They are descendants of the people who lived in the city, who do not want anything to do with the ruins but don't want anyone else disturbing them.  Until they group goes into the ruins, the natives will not harm them. But if they go into the ruins, the natives may follow and attack the group.

Races of Martapa Part XVI

Wood Elf Description: Wood Elves stand around five foot in height, though they can be taller, with ears which taper.  Hair color can range from white to purple, brown to black and everything in between, with one exception.  Only the elves of the Sunstar line have red hair.  Eye color also range, usually matching their color, though not always, especially for the odd colors like white or red.

There are two major subsets of Wood Elves, northern and southern.  The northern are more pale skinned and do actually live in the woods. the southern elves are black skinned and live more in the open plains and foothills.  The only difference in the subsets is the skin color.

The Grand Library of Notitia's Gardens

Outside the library, but behind a huge, protecting wall, are the gardens of Notitia.  The gardens hold exotic plants, animals and statuary. Old trees dot the landscape, herbs from all over the world grow here and there are many small animals and birds that populate the area.  There are a few magical creatures, such as fairy dragons and sprites, but they are in the gardens on their own volition.  If they are harmed, the wrath of the Empire falls upon the violator.   There is a crew of forty that cares for the gardens and animals and live just off site with their families in a small little village against the wall.  They have their own gate to enter and exit through, though it is guarded, day and night.  Each year advisors try to outdo each other and give the emperor a rare and exotic gift of a plant or animal.  It's getting harder, but the Emperor loves the competition.

Love and Marriage Part V

Elves have very elaborate, and drawn out, weddings.  Elven weddings last a full week starting on the 1st day of the month, to give blessing to the couple.

1)Day 1 through Day 3: The soon to be bride and groom meditate in the temple of either Targon, Aiyana, or Catiana, (their choice) and think upon their lives and the lives they will have together.  During this time neither take water or food so they can be more pure as they speak with their Gods.

2) Day 4: A small feast of salads, fruits, vegetable dishes and wine are given to the couple and their close families.  (In some case this is the whole community, even if they are not "close" family.)  Both families get to know each other, if they don't already, and plans for where the couple will live and what professions they will pursue, if they haven't already, are discussed.

3) Day 5: This is an elaborate exchange of gifts between families and with the community.  Each family tries to up stage the other by giving very fine gifts to the other family, as well as to prominent community members.  Some families give gifts to even the smallest of children in the community to show how well off they are and how willing they are to give back to the community.

4) Day 6: The wedding itself.  This hours long ceremony is exchange of vows to each other, to their families and to their Gods.  Testimonials are given about the couples' virtues and small speeches are given about how well the community wishes the couple to do in their lives together.

5) Day 7:  The feast.  The feast has several dozen courses, starting with soups, and ending with trays of deserts that have been prepared all week.  The best wines and meats are given at this time, as well.

Players can be part of the wedding, because the groom or bride is a family member, or they can be invited because, perhaps, they helped the couple out.  Very rarely are outsiders allowed to witness if they haven't done something for the family in the past.

Outfits of Martapa Part 2

Not to feel left out, let's discuss elves and dwarves and their clothes.

1)Dwarves usually wear stout woolen clothes with leather harnesses and belts, as well as leather boots.  Colors vary on clan colors, so anywhere in the dwarven cities are bright and beautiful with color.  All dwarves that can get around, whether from the very young to the very old, have a weapon of some sort upon their bodies, even if it's only a little dagger.

2)Elves dress in either mute colors or bright, joyful colors.  There is no in between.  They wear hunting leathers if they are scouts and Clan Warriors.  They wear fine, shear silks if they are city dwellers.  Few, except scouts and Warriors, carry weapons upon their person and when they do, a lot of them are more ornamental then functional.  Most elves match their cloth color to their hair color.

Chay Sunstar

Though no where in my High King's Sword, Chay was a pivotal point in my original series of books upon Martapa.  I needed a character for our new friend at college (I loved making characters after my friends) and though he despised elves, a very long story, I couldn't help but make him one. 

Chay is a Wolf Warrior without a charge, who is trying to rebuild the Wolf Warriors after the previous Clan Leader disappeared.  He is honor bound, fights with a curved blade which looks very Japanese like (another influnence of my friend), and has a shock of red hair kept in a partial top knot.  He is tanned, muscular and has a quick wit.  He strives to help his fellow elves as well as be true to his own core values, which sometimes conflict.

He meets the Chosen as they go in search of clues for Amber's past which will help save the world from Shaniko.  He jumps right into the fray with relish and holds little back.

If you are playing an elven campaign in the time of the Chosen he will be encountered in Qalataqa, the capital of the elves.  If the party is elven (or mostly elven) they will be greeted with open arms and aid.  If there are a few humans (or other races) his attitude will be stiff, though he will not hold their race against them unless the players do something to cause him to dislike them.  He will give aid or information if asked, though he may ask for a favor in turn.