Setting Explanations & Questions
Setting Explanations & Questions
I know this exercise is about the rules but the Harn setting is more popular then the rules and the rules are usually used with the setting. We won't be going deep into the setting but some of it will show up in character generation. Any questions are fair game.
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
The most common "monster" on Harn is the Gargun.
Approximately 610 years ago the renegade mage Lothrim either imported or created the Gargun in attempt to breed an army to take over the Isle of Harn. He was eventually defeated by the Khuzdul, leaving behind the Gargun. There population now runs about 50,000 on Harn.
Gargun is the name that scholars and other educated humans use, attaching the names Gargu-Arak, Gargu-Kyani, Gargu-Hyeka, Gargu-Viasal, and Gargu-Khanu to the five subspecies.
The majority of humans simply refer to them as the "Foulspawn".
The Khuzdul refer to them as Orcs, naming the subspecies as The Small or Streaked Orc, The White Orc, The Brown Orc, The Red Orc, and The Black Orc.
The Sindarin refer to them as simply Goblins, not bothering to differentiate between the sub-species.
Biology
The subspecies are not capable of cross-breeding. They are unlike any other Species known, with the majority of births thankfully being males (about 99%) and live only about 25 years maximum. The reproduce similar to some insects. A female once fertilized will lay up to 80 eggs and if conditions are right they will hatch in 3 to 6 months. They can lay sometimes as many as 4 hatches per year. Gargun are born with a full racial memory and can fully interact with their tribe within a day and obtain adulthood within a year. Due to their unchanging racial memory Gargun society is very fixed and virtually unchanging.
Society
A tribe will tolerate only 1 queen (breeder) at a time. The other females are segregated from the males and function as an elite queens guard. Females are larger and even more aggressive then the males, making them the most feared gargun to face in battle. They are irreligious, worshiping no Gods, their racial memory informs them that all the Gods have forsaken them. They generally accept only the principle of Might makes Right (with the exception of the Gargu-Kyani or White Orc, who have their own strange code of honor). Gargun are nocturnal with superior senses to humans. Gargun only eat meat, do not hesitate to practice cannibalism and seem to prefer the meat of sentient species. Sometimes they cook or kill their food before dining.
Hatred
The Khuzdul and Orcs hate each other. Both sides will often continue to attack as long as only a glimmer of a chance of success remains. It is said that the fastest way to please a Khazdul is to present him the gift of an Orcs head.
The Civil War/Swarm
When a colony becomes to overcrowded one of two things occur. Civil war, usually only lasting an hour or two and resulting in a massive number of deaths (up to 80% of the population). Or A swarm, which results when a group of males (sometimes as many as 40% of the colony) grab the queen or more likely one of her princess guards and make an escape to establish a new colony.
Approximately 610 years ago the renegade mage Lothrim either imported or created the Gargun in attempt to breed an army to take over the Isle of Harn. He was eventually defeated by the Khuzdul, leaving behind the Gargun. There population now runs about 50,000 on Harn.
Gargun is the name that scholars and other educated humans use, attaching the names Gargu-Arak, Gargu-Kyani, Gargu-Hyeka, Gargu-Viasal, and Gargu-Khanu to the five subspecies.
The majority of humans simply refer to them as the "Foulspawn".
The Khuzdul refer to them as Orcs, naming the subspecies as The Small or Streaked Orc, The White Orc, The Brown Orc, The Red Orc, and The Black Orc.
The Sindarin refer to them as simply Goblins, not bothering to differentiate between the sub-species.
Biology
The subspecies are not capable of cross-breeding. They are unlike any other Species known, with the majority of births thankfully being males (about 99%) and live only about 25 years maximum. The reproduce similar to some insects. A female once fertilized will lay up to 80 eggs and if conditions are right they will hatch in 3 to 6 months. They can lay sometimes as many as 4 hatches per year. Gargun are born with a full racial memory and can fully interact with their tribe within a day and obtain adulthood within a year. Due to their unchanging racial memory Gargun society is very fixed and virtually unchanging.
Society
A tribe will tolerate only 1 queen (breeder) at a time. The other females are segregated from the males and function as an elite queens guard. Females are larger and even more aggressive then the males, making them the most feared gargun to face in battle. They are irreligious, worshiping no Gods, their racial memory informs them that all the Gods have forsaken them. They generally accept only the principle of Might makes Right (with the exception of the Gargu-Kyani or White Orc, who have their own strange code of honor). Gargun are nocturnal with superior senses to humans. Gargun only eat meat, do not hesitate to practice cannibalism and seem to prefer the meat of sentient species. Sometimes they cook or kill their food before dining.
Hatred
The Khuzdul and Orcs hate each other. Both sides will often continue to attack as long as only a glimmer of a chance of success remains. It is said that the fastest way to please a Khazdul is to present him the gift of an Orcs head.
The Civil War/Swarm
When a colony becomes to overcrowded one of two things occur. Civil war, usually only lasting an hour or two and resulting in a massive number of deaths (up to 80% of the population). Or A swarm, which results when a group of males (sometimes as many as 40% of the colony) grab the queen or more likely one of her princess guards and make an escape to establish a new colony.
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
The Sub-Species
Gargu-Arak (The Small or Streaked Orc)
Average 3' 2" tall. Have tawny fur streaked with darker browns, gray, and black. Dwell mostly in nomadic tribes of 40-240 with a nation being 2 plus tribes banded together. They are the most feared nocturnal predator on Harn. The second most common sub-species.
Gargu-Kyani (The White Orc)
Average 3' 10" tall. Have white to tawny fur. Dwell mostly in high alpine ravines or cave complexes in tribes of 200-1200 in number, but occasionally in smaller nomadic groups like the Arak (except they prefer mountainous regions). They have their own code of honor (centered around courage), keep dogs and wolves as pets and trade with non-Gargun. They are the best craftsman among the Gargun and prefer silver to all other metals.
Gargu-Hyeka (The Brown Orc)
Average 3' 11" tall. Have auburn to black fur. Dwell mostly in large cave complexes in tribes of 1000-2000 in number, but occasionally in smaller nomadic groups like the Arak. As mining engineers and miners they are second only to the Khuzdul. They actively mine and produce passable weapons and armor. They keep livestock in large external pens. They are the most common sub-species, accounting for about half of all Gargun on Harn.
Gargu-Viasal (The Red Orc)
Average 4' tall. Have auburn to red fur. Dwell mostly in large cave complexes in tribes of 700-1200 in number. They are second most aggressive and the most cannibalistic of the sub-species. Practicing cannibalism in a ritualistic manner with their elderly and those who showed courage in battle but are to injured to survive. They burn the bodies of those who have shown cowardice. They often enslave lesser Gargun species.
Gargu-Khanu (The Black or Great Orc)
Average 4' 2" tall. Have dark brown to black fur. Dwell rarely alone in cave complexes or in small nomadic tribes, but more often in larger cave complexes in a hybrid culture with Gargu-Arak and or Garg-Hyeka as slaves. They are the most aggressive and murderous of the Gargun. They are nearly fearless and all are capable of reaching a berserk state in combat. Thankfully they are the slowest to breed of all sub-species and the most likely to kill each other, although this means they are also the least likely sub-species to swarm.
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Average 3' 2" tall. Have tawny fur streaked with darker browns, gray, and black. Dwell mostly in nomadic tribes of 40-240 with a nation being 2 plus tribes banded together. They are the most feared nocturnal predator on Harn. The second most common sub-species.
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Average 3' 10" tall. Have white to tawny fur. Dwell mostly in high alpine ravines or cave complexes in tribes of 200-1200 in number, but occasionally in smaller nomadic groups like the Arak (except they prefer mountainous regions). They have their own code of honor (centered around courage), keep dogs and wolves as pets and trade with non-Gargun. They are the best craftsman among the Gargun and prefer silver to all other metals.
Gargu-Hyeka (The Brown Orc)
Average 3' 11" tall. Have auburn to black fur. Dwell mostly in large cave complexes in tribes of 1000-2000 in number, but occasionally in smaller nomadic groups like the Arak. As mining engineers and miners they are second only to the Khuzdul. They actively mine and produce passable weapons and armor. They keep livestock in large external pens. They are the most common sub-species, accounting for about half of all Gargun on Harn.
Gargu-Viasal (The Red Orc)
Average 4' tall. Have auburn to red fur. Dwell mostly in large cave complexes in tribes of 700-1200 in number. They are second most aggressive and the most cannibalistic of the sub-species. Practicing cannibalism in a ritualistic manner with their elderly and those who showed courage in battle but are to injured to survive. They burn the bodies of those who have shown cowardice. They often enslave lesser Gargun species.
Gargu-Khanu (The Black or Great Orc)
Average 4' 2" tall. Have dark brown to black fur. Dwell rarely alone in cave complexes or in small nomadic tribes, but more often in larger cave complexes in a hybrid culture with Gargu-Arak and or Garg-Hyeka as slaves. They are the most aggressive and murderous of the Gargun. They are nearly fearless and all are capable of reaching a berserk state in combat. Thankfully they are the slowest to breed of all sub-species and the most likely to kill each other, although this means they are also the least likely sub-species to swarm.
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
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Last edited by Rex on Sun Jun 12, 2022 4:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
Aklash
Hru
Nolah
Umbath
Vlasta
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- Vlasta.jpg (33.04 KiB) Viewed 608 times
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
Rex wrote: ↑Sat Aug 27, 2022 1:17 pm Some information Algrim would know.
The outpost would have at least 1, more likely 2 chimneys. If they had time when abandoning it they would have disassembled the chimneys and somehow covered/hidden the hole(s).
There would be a "back" entrance. Well hidden even if not abandoned, could be extra-well hidden once abandoned, but probably not locked from within as it would be the exit they used when leaving.
The main entrance is likely sealed from within and therefore very difficult to breach.
Algrim and Idril both would know that stone and psychic energy combined almost certainly means "Pseudo Stone", which was left behind by the Earthmasters, the people/race who proceeded the coming of the elves. The Khuzdul of Kiraz and now Azadmere after the fall of Kiraz have a Earthmaster item that allows them to create Pseudo Stone.
Pseudo Stone is impervious to all known magic and physical force. To damage a door made of it you would need to destroy the "frame" to get the door out.
You now know where the entrance to the outpost is and thus the outpost location, but Algrim doubts you can get in through the main entrance itself.
Re: Setting Explanations & Questions
About Vlasta
Also known as The Swift Ones and The Eaters of Eyes, Vlasta are small pack-hunters, with a strange predeliction for consuming eyes.
Vlasta
Vlasta are among the smallest of Ivashu, rarely exceeding 18" tall. They possess an exceptionally strong tail and hind legs, which enable them to make great extraordinary leaps of up to 20 feet long and 7-8 feet high.
Vlasta also have a protruding, beaklike snout, which they use, in combination with their fine-fingered hands, to rip out other creatures' eyes— their favorite delicacy.
Also known as The Swift Ones and The Eaters of Eyes, Vlasta are small pack-hunters, with a strange predeliction for consuming eyes.
Vlasta
Vlasta are among the smallest of Ivashu, rarely exceeding 18" tall. They possess an exceptionally strong tail and hind legs, which enable them to make great extraordinary leaps of up to 20 feet long and 7-8 feet high.
Vlasta also have a protruding, beaklike snout, which they use, in combination with their fine-fingered hands, to rip out other creatures' eyes— their favorite delicacy.