MoleMage
2010-07-25, 09:02 PM
I've been reading these books and I like the clan lores as a character element. So, just for fun, let's make them into a game effect!
For those who have read these books, how would you turn the lores into a mechanical game effect? I'm thinking background feat, with different effects depending on the lore.
For those who haven't, a quick summary is that every child born into the clanholds (a territory held by culturally similar but distinct clans, something like 15 of them, with three main ones) is given a lore based on a 'dreaming' by their clan guide. These lores are supposed to protect and guide the clansperson, as well as represent some attributes of that person.
Here's a list of which lores I can remember off the top of my head, as well as characters who have them:
Eagle: Inigar Stoop, Raina Blackhail
Fox: Anwyn Bird
Bear: Tem Sevrance, Drey Sevrance
Wolf: Mace Blackhail
Stone: Effie Sevrance (this lore is odd to the point of intolerance)
Raven: Raif Sevrance (though an animal like other lores, poorly regarded)
Deer: Unknown grandaughter of Vaylo Bludd
Dog: Vaylo Bludd
Owl: no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance and Inigar Stoop
Fish: no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance internal monologue
Trees: rare, no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance internal monologue
I also suspect that Bram Cormac was born to the hawk lore or eagle lore, and that Stillborn of the Rift Brothers to the bull lore; due to a taboo on asking another's lore, these characters have never had their lores mentioned.
And traits which seem to be associated with each of these lores:
Eagle: Foresight, Awareness
Fox: Home, Work, Action
Bear: Strength, Loyalty, Protection, Patience
Wolf: Deceit, Cunning
Stone: Steadfastness, Mysticism; Effie's Stone Lore often warns her of danger to her or loved ones.
Raven: Death, Endurance, Cleverness; Raif is marked by a unique ability to hit living targets in the heart, and also has had conversations with "Death".
Deer: Grace, Innocence
Dog: Loyalty, Leadership
Owl: Night Vision, Foresight, Good (it is mentioned with reference to its ability to see in 'dark times')
Fish: ?
Trees: ?
Hawk: Eyesight? Intelligence?
Bull: Strength?
So, how would you implement it, and what specific effects should be associated with each lore? Does the player choose the lore or is it determined randomly?
For those who have read these books, how would you turn the lores into a mechanical game effect? I'm thinking background feat, with different effects depending on the lore.
For those who haven't, a quick summary is that every child born into the clanholds (a territory held by culturally similar but distinct clans, something like 15 of them, with three main ones) is given a lore based on a 'dreaming' by their clan guide. These lores are supposed to protect and guide the clansperson, as well as represent some attributes of that person.
Here's a list of which lores I can remember off the top of my head, as well as characters who have them:
Eagle: Inigar Stoop, Raina Blackhail
Fox: Anwyn Bird
Bear: Tem Sevrance, Drey Sevrance
Wolf: Mace Blackhail
Stone: Effie Sevrance (this lore is odd to the point of intolerance)
Raven: Raif Sevrance (though an animal like other lores, poorly regarded)
Deer: Unknown grandaughter of Vaylo Bludd
Dog: Vaylo Bludd
Owl: no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance and Inigar Stoop
Fish: no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance internal monologue
Trees: rare, no known characters, mentioned by Effie Sevrance internal monologue
I also suspect that Bram Cormac was born to the hawk lore or eagle lore, and that Stillborn of the Rift Brothers to the bull lore; due to a taboo on asking another's lore, these characters have never had their lores mentioned.
And traits which seem to be associated with each of these lores:
Eagle: Foresight, Awareness
Fox: Home, Work, Action
Bear: Strength, Loyalty, Protection, Patience
Wolf: Deceit, Cunning
Stone: Steadfastness, Mysticism; Effie's Stone Lore often warns her of danger to her or loved ones.
Raven: Death, Endurance, Cleverness; Raif is marked by a unique ability to hit living targets in the heart, and also has had conversations with "Death".
Deer: Grace, Innocence
Dog: Loyalty, Leadership
Owl: Night Vision, Foresight, Good (it is mentioned with reference to its ability to see in 'dark times')
Fish: ?
Trees: ?
Hawk: Eyesight? Intelligence?
Bull: Strength?
So, how would you implement it, and what specific effects should be associated with each lore? Does the player choose the lore or is it determined randomly?