Post by doc on Sept 13, 2009 15:55:29 GMT -6
Here's a series of (very) brief write-ups I've used to help define the different types of men on Carcosa. I've only included about half of them, as the other half have really not been seen much in play to date. I wanted them to be defnied by more than just the color of their skin.
Black Men
+1 Strength, -1 Charisma
Black Men stand taller and stronger than most others, their jet black skin heavy with muscle. They favor brightly colored clothing and weapons with long blades that can be used to impale their opponents. They value gold above all else and will change their allegiance in a heartbeat if there is a definite chance to make more money. They generally scoff at sorcery, believing magic to be a tool of those too weak to take action themselves.
Blue Men
+1 Intelligence, -1 Constitution
Blue Men are slender and wiry, moving with a fluid grace. Their features are delicate. They dress in somber finery, favoring sweeping capes, and gloves and boots bedazzled with jewels. They favor knives and poisons over heavy blades. They value power over all else, and their holdings are full of intrigue and subterfuge. Blue Men seem to produce a fair number of sorcerers, and several dynasties of Blue Men have arisen in the past due to dark magic.
Bone Men
+1 Constitution, -1 Charisma
The Bone Men are held in superstitious dread throughout Carcosa, reviled as a race of flesh eaters and slavers. They favor armor decorated with obscene patterns, though leave their heads bare to instill panic in others. They favor weapons with wicked serrated edges. They value dominance over all else. They produce a fair number of sorcerers, the Necromancer of the Blighted Lands being one of the most powerful sorcerers and psions in their history.
Brown Men
+1 Constitution, -1 Intelligence
The Brown Men are shorter than average, few over 5’3” or so. They are compact and strong for their size, having a reputation as reliable mercenaries and archers. They dress in nondescript hides and leathers. They favor distance weapons such as the recurve bow, but also are skilled with their short curved swords. They value respect and self-control. They tend to shun magic in all it’s forms, believing it to be the creation of Chaos.
Green Men
+1 Wisdom, -1 Strength
The Green Men are thin and sharp featured, with long fingers and bright eyes. They reside in hidden areas far from normal settlements. They dress in scant clothing and adorn their bodies with strange ululating glyphs. The Green Men have no favorite weapon, as they are not generally a warlike people. They value information over all else and are well known as spies and tomb robbers. They are wary of sorcery, but psionics are considered a great gift.
Purple Men
+1 Charisma, -1 Wisdom
The Purple Men are physically appealing and carnally voracious, but are known to be crazy. They act on impulse and do not seem to have a concept of consequences. They dress eclectically, often bizarrely. They favor weapons that have been taken from others, no matter what the sort. They value personal experience above all else and most are rootless wanderers. Purple Men sorcerers are common, but none have lived long enough to carve out a legend.
Red Men
+1 Charisma, -1 Wisdom
The Red Men are a handsome and well-formed race, their women commanding high prices as slaves. They dress in simple trousers and vests, although adorned with clan markings. They favor a sword and dagger style of combat. They value personal honor and loyalty to family almost to the exclusion of all else. They hate sorcery with a fiery passion and do not allow it in their lands.
White Men
+1 Dexterity, -1 Intelligence
White Men are lean and agile, their features aquiline. They dress in brightly dyed cloth and leather and tend to sport tattoos and ritual markings. They wield light, easily carried weapons such as short swords, short bows, knives, and slings. They value group unity above all else and their societies contain guilds, consortiums, and secret societies of all sorts. They view sorcery as a tool and will not hesitate to use it if they can.
Doc
Black Men
+1 Strength, -1 Charisma
Black Men stand taller and stronger than most others, their jet black skin heavy with muscle. They favor brightly colored clothing and weapons with long blades that can be used to impale their opponents. They value gold above all else and will change their allegiance in a heartbeat if there is a definite chance to make more money. They generally scoff at sorcery, believing magic to be a tool of those too weak to take action themselves.
Blue Men
+1 Intelligence, -1 Constitution
Blue Men are slender and wiry, moving with a fluid grace. Their features are delicate. They dress in somber finery, favoring sweeping capes, and gloves and boots bedazzled with jewels. They favor knives and poisons over heavy blades. They value power over all else, and their holdings are full of intrigue and subterfuge. Blue Men seem to produce a fair number of sorcerers, and several dynasties of Blue Men have arisen in the past due to dark magic.
Bone Men
+1 Constitution, -1 Charisma
The Bone Men are held in superstitious dread throughout Carcosa, reviled as a race of flesh eaters and slavers. They favor armor decorated with obscene patterns, though leave their heads bare to instill panic in others. They favor weapons with wicked serrated edges. They value dominance over all else. They produce a fair number of sorcerers, the Necromancer of the Blighted Lands being one of the most powerful sorcerers and psions in their history.
Brown Men
+1 Constitution, -1 Intelligence
The Brown Men are shorter than average, few over 5’3” or so. They are compact and strong for their size, having a reputation as reliable mercenaries and archers. They dress in nondescript hides and leathers. They favor distance weapons such as the recurve bow, but also are skilled with their short curved swords. They value respect and self-control. They tend to shun magic in all it’s forms, believing it to be the creation of Chaos.
Green Men
+1 Wisdom, -1 Strength
The Green Men are thin and sharp featured, with long fingers and bright eyes. They reside in hidden areas far from normal settlements. They dress in scant clothing and adorn their bodies with strange ululating glyphs. The Green Men have no favorite weapon, as they are not generally a warlike people. They value information over all else and are well known as spies and tomb robbers. They are wary of sorcery, but psionics are considered a great gift.
Purple Men
+1 Charisma, -1 Wisdom
The Purple Men are physically appealing and carnally voracious, but are known to be crazy. They act on impulse and do not seem to have a concept of consequences. They dress eclectically, often bizarrely. They favor weapons that have been taken from others, no matter what the sort. They value personal experience above all else and most are rootless wanderers. Purple Men sorcerers are common, but none have lived long enough to carve out a legend.
Red Men
+1 Charisma, -1 Wisdom
The Red Men are a handsome and well-formed race, their women commanding high prices as slaves. They dress in simple trousers and vests, although adorned with clan markings. They favor a sword and dagger style of combat. They value personal honor and loyalty to family almost to the exclusion of all else. They hate sorcery with a fiery passion and do not allow it in their lands.
White Men
+1 Dexterity, -1 Intelligence
White Men are lean and agile, their features aquiline. They dress in brightly dyed cloth and leather and tend to sport tattoos and ritual markings. They wield light, easily carried weapons such as short swords, short bows, knives, and slings. They value group unity above all else and their societies contain guilds, consortiums, and secret societies of all sorts. They view sorcery as a tool and will not hesitate to use it if they can.
Doc
