Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Arco Versipellis 07-31-07, 02:49 AM	My players were not very familiar with the maenad, which dominate a smallcluster of islads full of psionic life in my campaign world. I began working on this. It isn't complete, but I am interested in feedback because I have a limited knowledge of the maenad (I only know the little bit in the XPH), and I would be greatly interested in hearing ome others' ideas about the race. Much of the following shows how them fit into my homebrew campaign world. However, I did use the knowledge I had of them (sch as the fact that they live in coastal villages) to develope this area. The area they live in is known as the Gem-Dust Isles. It is a primitive place where the dinosaurs still roam, and psionics are very common here. The gods are represented by the Heavinly Bodies, but there are also land and cosmic deities, as well as hero detities. Futhermore, two homebrew classes of mine, the chemist and the engineer, mean that firearms and grenades are available, but very rare. A Day in the Life The sun shined brightly down on the small village of domed huts that was hidden among the cliffs of the sparkling shore. Waves violently crashed upon the rocks, sending a surging mist into the air, which reflected the morning light. Ragnor Valentin stirred in his hammock and then sat up. The maenad slipped out of his hammock and pulled on some loose breeches and then a light tank top. It had been hot last night, so he had not worn his nightclothes. He combed his dark brown hair, and then set to work braiding a long strand on the left side of his head. Outside the village was bustling with activity. He lived near to the dock, neighbor to a growing family. The young children were outside that morning. They had finished their morning chores early and were playing with their pet tylus, which is a small chicken like creature whose features were reptilian. Its fore arms were actually small leathery wings. They had been trimmed, so that the creature could only fly a short distance. The children giggled, and their skin reflected the sunlight brilliantly. On the way to the docks, Ragnor encountered Jozef, one of the village farmers, Jozef leading along a hyspil. The hyspil is a green-skinned dinosaur than stand about as tall as a maenad and has a brilliant blue face. The animal is unthreatening. Jozef also carries a bundle of eggs. “I’m making my way to the market to make a sell.” The two walked together until the came up upon the docks. Jozef says goodbye to Ragnor and continues on to the market. “A fine day for fishing,” one of his fellow fishermen greets him. “That it is,” Ragnor says as he looks to the sky. “Let us be on our way then.” Ragnor gathers the nets and the short spears, setting them in before him and his partner get on the light, two man craft. They fish for several hours, bringing in several small fish, but encounter no large aquatic dinosaurs. “I’m not sure whether to be glad or unsatisfied,” Ragnor jokes. They trail the fish on lines and in a net. When the return to the dock, they place their catch in large tubs of saltwater. They will remain here until they are sold, when they will be prepared and eaten that night for dinner. Description Maenads tend to be very tall and lean, and generally fit enough to survive in their rugged home. They most often stand around six feet tall and weigh around two hundred pounds, with males being slightly heavier than females. Their hair is nearly universally dark, and often worn in braids. Their bodies are hairless other than the hair on the top of their head. Their most peculiar feature is their skin. It has an unusual sparkle, as if coated with gem dust, giving them a striking luster in the right light. Clothing Maenads prefer clothes that are light and breezy. It is not unusual for their outfits to be revealing, since they live in a warm climate. Often these clothes are made from the fur of animals or even the hide of dinosaurs. Generally, maenads find light armor better suited to their natural dependence on the ocean, but they also use heavy armor when practical, such as when battling dinosaurs far inland. Grooming Grooming is very important to maenads. Their skin looses its brilliant shimmer when they are not clean. However, they are a practical people, and they understand that sometimes one must get dirty. Fresh water is abundant throughout the islands, so even coastal villages find fresh water baths. Sometimes, pools of fresh water are heated by geothermal energy, which creates hot tubs. Psychology Self-Discipline and Outbursts No matter what else, self-discipline is necessary for a maenad. Their intense emotions would doom the entire race if it were not for their discipline. However, the maenads also know the value of a surge of emotion and the outburst of adrenaline. Maenads believe in a balance of the two, but controlling these outbursts they can be beneficial rather than troublesome. Maenad Values Maenads value self-control. They believe that it is foolish to waste intense emotion on all aspects of life, because it lessens the instances when emotion really matters. In turn, because each maenad idealizes self-control, privacy is also a key value to her. One is left to consider one’s own thoughts. This comes with a heft weight, because discipline means that one can never do anything to intentionally harm the tribe, for it is only because of the strength of the whole tribe that it can exist. Maenad Life Arts and Crafts Maenads enjoy the arts as much as any race. Their music is often very rhythmic and consists mainly of simple folk melodies. They also developed a polyphonic chant style for vocal artists as well. Concerts are festive events, often tied to feasts. Given the unusual natural resources of the isle, maenads do not use stone and steel as the other races do. Instead, they are the master workers of coral and crystal. The unusual coral of the isles runs rampant across the isles, growing up onto the sandy beaches, through the thick jungles, and then up into the great mountains. The maenads use this in place of stone for building and other things. The crystal that be harvested from the coral is as strong as steel, making fine weapons and tools. The maenads have developed a technique for building that causes all of the other societies of the world to pale in comparison. They gather chunks of coral, placing the largest by pushing them up earthen ramps. They place the stones according to their natural shape, and chisel away only what is necessary. They chisel using crystal hammers twisting motion to flake off pieces of the coral. Crystal smiths are just as accomplished as the coral workers. Often, the color of the crystal and runes carved into them denote what island, clan, and smith the work comes from. While the maenads certainly want practical designs, but they also place a high value on how a crystal items reacts to the sun. They see this as the sign of good material and skilled hands. Technology and Psionics Maenads among the coastal villages have little use for technology. They are very reliant upon their inborn psionic abilities to overcome obstacles. This is true of city-dwelling maenads as well. They believe that they are only as good as their selves. Maenads have not qualms about using guns, for example, but they know they the weapon is only as good as they are. Love ? Reproduction Maenad villages cannot sustain a very high population. Luckily, maenad birth rates are low in these areas. In cities, however, birth rates are on par with human birth rates in Airmed. Additionally, pregnancy last nearly a year for maenads. Maenads at War War is a complex topic for maenads. In one sense, survival is a war for them. They often have to deal with terrible thunderstorms and hunting dinosaurs. In the past, separate war bands would war with each other, but Invasion of the Serpents brought the warrior tribes against a new type of enemy. This was only the third major war in maenad history. Aging and Death As a psionic people, maenads do not fear age. Though they lose their strength, their spirit grows. They are a long-lived people, and as they age the glimmer of their skin glows until they have an aura of sorts. As they age, maenads turn away from the pursuits of youth and towards the role of mentor or leader. Facing danger on a daily basis, maenads do not gamble with their lives, but they do not fear death. In fact, death in battle is honorable, but never sought after. Funerals often involve sending the body out to sea in a burning canoe. This sends the body into the heavens to be with the spirit. Maenad Society and Culture The majority of maenad settlements are along the coast of the islands. Further inland, thick jungles are full of dangerous dinosaurs and worse; no maenad settlements exist here. High on the surface of the coral mountains, however, there are the ruins of mountain cities of the maenad. For centuries, the maenad dwelt here at the top of steep stairways despite a lack of natural resources and no easy way to bring them in. However, their vulnerability to attack made them an easy target for the Brood of the jungle, and they were cast into ruin. Leaders Community Structure * Maenad Families * Maenads and Other Races Dromites: The dromites and the maenad may live bear each other, but they rarely interact. The dromites live beneath the shore of the most treacherous section of the coast, where maenads could never settle. They are accepting of each other. Duergar: The maenad hate the duergar. They will not tolerate their existence on the surface. After the follower of Nicneven, the duergar are the maenad’s most hated enemy. Dwarves: These sea people have several similarities with the maenad. However, they look like the duergar. Maenads haved mixed feelings about the dwarves, but they rarely come into contact with them anyways. Elans: Unlike many races, maenads hold nothing against élans. They know a bit about these strange humans, and they accept them in there societs as long as they behave. Elves: Maenads are taken with elves, they find the light touch of an elf to be quite soothing. Their ties with the Shrine support this Gnolls: The gnolls were once overlooked by the maenad, but that changed when the Blood Brothers began raiding the coastal villages. Maenads dislike gnolls, but they have worse enemies. Gnomes: The maenads regard the gnomes as curious, but they have a respect for their fellow sea people. The reputation gnomes have as pearl divers and gem cutters impress most maenad. Halfling: Having a bit of history on the island, maenads enjoy the company of halflings, most of them time. The halflings light hearted nature touches the maenad’s emotional side, but can aggravate a maenad trying to keep control. Hadozee: Another seafaring race, the hadozee inspire the maenad with their loyalty. They two get along fine of ships and in port cities, but have few real ties. Half-Elves: Maenads like half-elves because of their ancestry. They combine what the maenads regard as the best of the elves with the best of the humans. Half-Giants: Maenads, while put off by the size and heritage of half-giants, have come to realize that half-giants are not to be feared without cause. Humans: Maenads find the temperaments of human to fit in well with theirs. However, a flood of humans is not welcome among the isles. Kenku: Kenku rarely come to the island, so the maenad rarely see them except for in the ports. Their shady reputation make maenads reseved in dealing with them. Kobolds: Unlike many of the other reptilian races, the kobolds are not strict followers of Nicneven nor are they members of the Brood. However, maenads remain distrustful of the kobold, which is wise. Mystics: The grandure nature of the mystics tickles the maenads. They recognize their somber nature as a front for their own private fantasies. The mystics are the head of the Shrine, which the maenads respect. Thri-keen: The maenad regard the thri-keen to be respectful, but also dangerous hunters. Distance is the best way to deal with them. Xephs: They maenad have a hard time understanding the xephs and their carefree nature. Religion The maenads believe they were created by a union between Kegan and Shela, making them the children of the sun and the moon. This tends to cause them to view the moon gods as aspects of a single being they refer to as Luna. They do not believe that any of these aspects will come to dominate Luna. Among all tribes there are those trained to chant in harmony from sunrise to sunset on holy days. Then, all the members of the tribe will raise their hands to the sun. They then tie it to a post of stone, so that it will have to return. Many holy sites use windows and stones marked with a line to measure holy days, such as the solstices. The maenads believe that powerful spirits reside in the coral mountains of the isle. This leads some to worship Caer the Earth Mother of the betohoh. Manannan mac Lir’s influence is also strong on the island, surrounded by the ocean and plagued with storms. Tailtiu also has many worshipers among the maenads, but less so than the others mentioned. Maenads loathe Nicneven and his reptilian followers. They don’t believe that the dinosaurs are tied with Nicneven, but are instead ruled by Caer. However, most of their enemies are tied to the Scaled Tyrant. Maenad History and Folklore * Children of the Sun and Moon In the early days of Alles, when the elves were still young, Kegan was lustful. He charmed Luna, and she bore him children. These children were the maenad. Legends - - Language The language of the maenad is full of strict rules relating to grammar, often tied to formal and casual use of words. Chanting is important for both song and literature. Script The maenad language uses the elven script. Naming Every maenad has at least one given name and one family name. The island one hails from is used when traveling through the isles, added like a suffix to the name.
Malcaor 07-31-07, 07:52 AM	This is pretty cool, and well written. The onyl problem I have with it, is that the Maenad seem to be like the ideal society from yoru description. I think it would be mor einteresting if there were a few thigns in there that didn't make the maenad seem good. You know a skeleton in the closet. maybe they commit genocide in the past, maybe they ritually sacrafice a baby to the seas eveyr few years. Somehting like that.
kyeudo 08-01-07, 01:14 AM	This is pretty cool, and well written. The onyl problem I have with it, is that the Maenad seem to be like the ideal society from yoru description. I think it would be mor einteresting if there were a few thigns in there that didn't make the maenad seem good. You know a skeleton in the closet. maybe they commit genocide in the past, maybe they ritually sacrafice a baby to the seas eveyr few years. Somehting like that. You mean like elves have the perfect society?
Malcaor 08-01-07, 10:37 AM	Elves are really stuck up and look down on other people. They also tend to be stuck in their ways and it takes extreme events for them to change them. They have not good quirks too.
Oregwath 08-01-07, 12:02 PM	Wait... did you just compare being stuck up and stubborn to committing genicide and killing babies? That has me worried... :(
SilentOne 08-01-07, 04:07 PM	Yeah... I noticed that too. Then again, you never see an elf baby, and they do have that intense hatred of orcs (reciprocated, of course), so maybe it's a package deal?
Malcaor 08-01-07, 10:06 PM	My maenad examples were coming fromt eh extreme side of things, they could have simpler ones like the elves too.
Oregwath 08-03-07, 02:15 PM	Sorry, I just had a mental image going something like this.... Dwarf #1: Did you see that Maenad? I hear they eat their babies. Dwarf #2: Really? Well, at least they aren't conceded about it, like those snooty elves! It made me laugh. :D