Race in the Realms based of Africans [Archive] - Wizards Community

Race in the Realms based of Africans [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
creyzi4zb12
06-12-07, 11:44 AM Okay, so the last title of the last thread was a bad idea. Sorry. So I tried changing it to something proper.
Is there a race in the Realms that has black skin and was based on the Africans?
Fabius Maximus
06-12-07, 12:08 PM No.
The Ubbergeek
06-12-07, 12:26 PM If by 'race' you means an ethnical group of humans, yes - Chult.
creyzi4zb12
06-12-07, 12:35 PM Yes!! Sorry about that. I meant ethnical group of humans that's myhtology is based on Africans or South Americans.
Do they practice magic similar to the weird voodoo thingy of the South Americans and Africans? That'd be cool
MarkusTay63
06-12-07, 12:42 PM The Thinguth had black skin. They were (most likely) the pre-cursors of such people as the Tabaxi, Eshadow, Turami, Tashalans, Lapaliyans, and Turmish (amongst others). Some of those groups are no longer ethnically pure, but all have dark skin. The Chultans are a group of Tabaxi (and perhaps others) that were brought over from Katashaka by Ubtao, but the original Tabaxi tribe was located on the proto-continent Merrouroboros (south of the Leviathan Sea), so all of these people were originally related before the sundering.

So yes, there are MANY races in the realms that have their roots in an African-style race, but the only one that probably still looks the most distinctively 'African' would be the Chultans. In the Heartlands, the Turmish peoples (Turami) would be an example of a medieval level culture with African racial features.

Further afield, there are DOZENS of different tribal African-style cultures in katashaka, and if you use the highly reccomended Nyambe rules for the region there is even a race of black Amazons! How cool is that? :D

There are at least three other jungle regions on Abeir Toril - Malatra, The Sempadan, and Maztica - but NONE of them are based on RW Africa.

*Note: Nyambe is NOT canon, but Katashaka soon will be.

EDIT: If Voodoo is practiced anywhere, I would place it somewhere on an island chain off the coast of Maztica, and figure the island chain was settled by tribes from Katashaka some time in the past. Also, it would be located Southeast of Nimbral on the world map, and most likely would have had large plantations settled by that nation some time in the past. Not official, but probably the best area to place a 'VooDoo' cult.
The Ubbergeek
06-12-07, 01:59 PM On a related note - one day, I should make a pantheon based on the Yoruba believes and 'daughter religions' - like Candomblé.
TomCosta
06-12-07, 02:41 PM It's been suggested before, but many folks have used the fabulous Nyambe campaign setting (Afican-esque D&D, though it is 3E) for a continent to the SW of the Realms where the Chultans originate from because we know from Powers and Pantheons and the Anaconda mercenaries in Gold & Glory that Chultans are not original Faerunians. In any case, if you can still get your hands on the setting, I highly recommend it.
XHereticX
06-12-07, 08:26 PM The shaarans seem pretty African to me.
MerrikCale
06-12-07, 09:16 PM It's been suggested before, but many folks have used the fabulous Nyambe campaign setting (Afican-esque D&D, though it is 3E) for a continent to the SW of the Realms where the Chultans originate from because we know from Powers and Pantheons and the Anaconda mercenaries in Gold & Glory that Chultans are not original Faerunians. In any case, if you can still get your hands on the setting, I highly recommend it.

I've seen used copies of that on various sites. Is it worth it and why?
Fabius Maximus
06-13-07, 07:41 AM The shaarans seem pretty African to me.
They are more like the north-american tribes, IMO.
MarkusTay63
06-13-07, 09:53 PM I've seen used copies of that on various sites. Is it worth it and why?WELL worth it. I usually make changes to anything I buy, but I would use that setting EXACTLY as is... it's THAT good.

When I get to that part of my world map, I will use the continental outline found on pg.231 of the FRCS, buuuut use all of the geographic features from the Nyambe map. I feel it is perfect as is, and fits on Toril admirably.

They are more like the north-american tribes, IMO.Exactly so.

They're depicted that way in illustrations, and their culture is highly reminiscent of Plains Amerinds.
XHereticX
06-13-07, 09:55 PM Hmm, I always thought the Arukiuns of Dambranth looked a lot more like Native Americans.
MarkusTay63
06-13-07, 10:44 PM The Arukiuns were of Nar stock, from up north, but mixed with the local Sharrans and adopted much of their culture.

Considering the Nar are avid horsemen, and the Sharrans are a nomadic plains people, it is easy to see a possible hybrid people resulting appearing very much like the Amerinds of the American west. In much the same way that the Amerinds embraced the horse when Europeans brought them to America, I can see the Sharrans doing much the same with the Narran horses.

So although the cultures were similar, I see the Arukiuns as being far more mobile and warlike.
Prince Indirian
06-14-07, 12:20 AM Ehem the op should be more specifik. As far I as know Africa is continent with thousands of different cultures some whom may very well be fit Chult other not so much. Ye have (supposedly) have black skin.
The_Shaman
06-14-07, 10:00 AM Mulhorand, of course. Egypt is African. IIRC Anauroch had tribes that could approximate pre-Islamic Bedouines and Berbers. Apart from that, I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to know, but between Chult, Zakhara and Maztica (just how much do we know about them, anyway?) I would not be surprised if you could insert pretty much anything. Venerating spirits of any kind is hardly alien to the realms - heck, look at Rashemen, they worship the Three but venerate anything that has a little ectoplasm ;)
MarkusTay63
06-14-07, 11:40 AM The southern races of Kara-Tur are very dark, but the do not have the other features which would define them as 'Negro" (Last time I checked, that was a racial term and not an insult. If it insults you in any way then I am sorry). If you are simply looking for dark skin, then you have the Midani of Zakhara, Calishites, the Mar peoples who include the Dupari and the cultures of the Utter east, Mulhorand along with its satelite states Murghôm and Semphar, pretty much ALL the desert peoples, Mazticans, etc....

The original 'African-like' stock that lived on the proto-continent split into MANY different cultural groups. The only surviving group of this nature currently in Faerûn are the Chultans, who are decended from Tabaxi. There was at least one other tribe from Katashaka present in Chult at one point, the Eshowe, but they were wiped out in a 300 year war with the Tabaxi. Some of the Eshowe, along with any other tribes brought to Chult, were assimilated by the Tabaxi, creating the Chultan race, who unlike true African tribes all appear of similar height and build. The other people who could be described as having 'African features' are numerous, but are no longer living in a primitive tribal state.

The original Tabaxi, and probably Eshowe and MANY others, still dwell in Katashaka, and probably quite a few on that large island south-west of Zakhara, as mentioned on pg.106 in RoF.
TomCosta
06-18-07, 05:34 PM Sorry for the delayed response. Nyambe is just an incredibly well thought out setting. I might drop the part of the continent that has an Egyptian feel since the Realms already has that, but otherwise, I would use it as is.

Checkout the player's lorebook for free here: http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/ and then check out the fan page here: http://www.nyambe.com/index.htm and you should get a real good feel for what you'd be getting.
MerrikCale
06-19-07, 09:33 PM Sorry for the delayed response. Nyambe is just an incredibly well thought out setting. I might drop the part of the continent that has an Egyptian feel since the Realms already has that, but otherwise, I would use it as is.

Checkout the player's lorebook for free here: http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/ and then check out the fan page here: http://www.nyambe.com/index.htm and you should get a real good feel for what you'd be getting.

Thanks for the links consider them "checked out"

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
creyzi4zb12 06-12-07, 11:44 AM	Okay, so the last title of the last thread was a bad idea. Sorry. So I tried changing it to something proper. Is there a race in the Realms that has black skin and was based on the Africans?
Fabius Maximus 06-12-07, 12:08 PM	No.
The Ubbergeek 06-12-07, 12:26 PM	If by 'race' you means an ethnical group of humans, yes - Chult.
creyzi4zb12 06-12-07, 12:35 PM	Yes!! Sorry about that. I meant ethnical group of humans that's myhtology is based on Africans or South Americans. Do they practice magic similar to the weird voodoo thingy of the South Americans and Africans? That'd be cool
MarkusTay63 06-12-07, 12:42 PM	The Thinguth had black skin. They were (most likely) the pre-cursors of such people as the Tabaxi, Eshadow, Turami, Tashalans, Lapaliyans, and Turmish (amongst others). Some of those groups are no longer ethnically pure, but all have dark skin. The Chultans are a group of Tabaxi (and perhaps others) that were brought over from Katashaka by Ubtao, but the original Tabaxi tribe was located on the proto-continent Merrouroboros (south of the Leviathan Sea), so all of these people were originally related before the sundering. So yes, there are MANY races in the realms that have their roots in an African-style race, but the only one that probably still looks the most distinctively 'African' would be the Chultans. In the Heartlands, the Turmish peoples (Turami) would be an example of a medieval level culture with African racial features. Further afield, there are DOZENS of different tribal African-style cultures in katashaka, and if you use the highly reccomended Nyambe rules for the region there is even a race of black Amazons! How cool is that? :D There are at least three other jungle regions on Abeir Toril - Malatra, The Sempadan, and Maztica - but NONE of them are based on RW Africa. *Note: Nyambe is NOT canon, but Katashaka soon will be. EDIT: If Voodoo is practiced anywhere, I would place it somewhere on an island chain off the coast of Maztica, and figure the island chain was settled by tribes from Katashaka some time in the past. Also, it would be located Southeast of Nimbral on the world map, and most likely would have had large plantations settled by that nation some time in the past. Not official, but probably the best area to place a 'VooDoo' cult.
The Ubbergeek 06-12-07, 01:59 PM	On a related note - one day, I should make a pantheon based on the Yoruba believes and 'daughter religions' - like Candomblé.
TomCosta 06-12-07, 02:41 PM	It's been suggested before, but many folks have used the fabulous Nyambe campaign setting (Afican-esque D&D, though it is 3E) for a continent to the SW of the Realms where the Chultans originate from because we know from Powers and Pantheons and the Anaconda mercenaries in Gold & Glory that Chultans are not original Faerunians. In any case, if you can still get your hands on the setting, I highly recommend it.
XHereticX 06-12-07, 08:26 PM	The shaarans seem pretty African to me.
MerrikCale 06-12-07, 09:16 PM	It's been suggested before, but many folks have used the fabulous Nyambe campaign setting (Afican-esque D&D, though it is 3E) for a continent to the SW of the Realms where the Chultans originate from because we know from Powers and Pantheons and the Anaconda mercenaries in Gold & Glory that Chultans are not original Faerunians. In any case, if you can still get your hands on the setting, I highly recommend it. I've seen used copies of that on various sites. Is it worth it and why?
Fabius Maximus 06-13-07, 07:41 AM	The shaarans seem pretty African to me. They are more like the north-american tribes, IMO.
MarkusTay63 06-13-07, 09:53 PM	I've seen used copies of that on various sites. Is it worth it and why?WELL worth it. I usually make changes to anything I buy, but I would use that setting EXACTLY as is... it's THAT good. When I get to that part of my world map, I will use the continental outline found on pg.231 of the FRCS, buuuut use all of the geographic features from the Nyambe map. I feel it is perfect as is, and fits on Toril admirably. They are more like the north-american tribes, IMO.Exactly so. They're depicted that way in illustrations, and their culture is highly reminiscent of Plains Amerinds.
XHereticX 06-13-07, 09:55 PM	Hmm, I always thought the Arukiuns of Dambranth looked a lot more like Native Americans.
MarkusTay63 06-13-07, 10:44 PM	The Arukiuns were of Nar stock, from up north, but mixed with the local Sharrans and adopted much of their culture. Considering the Nar are avid horsemen, and the Sharrans are a nomadic plains people, it is easy to see a possible hybrid people resulting appearing very much like the Amerinds of the American west. In much the same way that the Amerinds embraced the horse when Europeans brought them to America, I can see the Sharrans doing much the same with the Narran horses. So although the cultures were similar, I see the Arukiuns as being far more mobile and warlike.
Prince Indirian 06-14-07, 12:20 AM	Ehem the op should be more specifik. As far I as know Africa is continent with thousands of different cultures some whom may very well be fit Chult other not so much. Ye have (supposedly) have black skin.
The_Shaman 06-14-07, 10:00 AM	Mulhorand, of course. Egypt is African. IIRC Anauroch had tribes that could approximate pre-Islamic Bedouines and Berbers. Apart from that, I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to know, but between Chult, Zakhara and Maztica (just how much do we know about them, anyway?) I would not be surprised if you could insert pretty much anything. Venerating spirits of any kind is hardly alien to the realms - heck, look at Rashemen, they worship the Three but venerate anything that has a little ectoplasm ;)
MarkusTay63 06-14-07, 11:40 AM	The southern races of Kara-Tur are very dark, but the do not have the other features which would define them as 'Negro" (Last time I checked, that was a racial term and not an insult. If it insults you in any way then I am sorry). If you are simply looking for dark skin, then you have the Midani of Zakhara, Calishites, the Mar peoples who include the Dupari and the cultures of the Utter east, Mulhorand along with its satelite states Murghôm and Semphar, pretty much ALL the desert peoples, Mazticans, etc.... The original 'African-like' stock that lived on the proto-continent split into MANY different cultural groups. The only surviving group of this nature currently in Faerûn are the Chultans, who are decended from Tabaxi. There was at least one other tribe from Katashaka present in Chult at one point, the Eshowe, but they were wiped out in a 300 year war with the Tabaxi. Some of the Eshowe, along with any other tribes brought to Chult, were assimilated by the Tabaxi, creating the Chultan race, who unlike true African tribes all appear of similar height and build. The other people who could be described as having 'African features' are numerous, but are no longer living in a primitive tribal state. The original Tabaxi, and probably Eshowe and MANY others, still dwell in Katashaka, and probably quite a few on that large island south-west of Zakhara, as mentioned on pg.106 in RoF.
TomCosta 06-18-07, 05:34 PM	Sorry for the delayed response. Nyambe is just an incredibly well thought out setting. I might drop the part of the continent that has an Egyptian feel since the Realms already has that, but otherwise, I would use it as is. Checkout the player's lorebook for free here: http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/ and then check out the fan page here: http://www.nyambe.com/index.htm and you should get a real good feel for what you'd be getting.
MerrikCale 06-19-07, 09:33 PM	Sorry for the delayed response. Nyambe is just an incredibly well thought out setting. I might drop the part of the continent that has an Egyptian feel since the Realms already has that, but otherwise, I would use it as is. Checkout the player's lorebook for free here: http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/ and then check out the fan page here: http://www.nyambe.com/index.htm and you should get a real good feel for what you'd be getting. Thanks for the links consider them "checked out"