Children of the Moon

[Numinous]

Alright folks, another idea I've been working on today.  As always, feedback is welcome, but please be gentle and suggest solutions to the questions you raise if at all possible.  This is my interpretation of Shifters and Lycanthropes.

In the foothills below the western peaks, a dense forest covers much of the land. Interspersed with beautiful groves, barren outcrops, silent lakes and crisp streams, it is a land of primal magnificence. Despite all efforts to harvest wood or build settlements in the old forest, humans have been unable to penetrate the border regions of this land. The denizens do not look kindly on intruders and stand guard over their homes with vigilance, giving this place the title of the beastlands.

Within this territory, six tribes live off of the bounty of the land, content merely to survive and experience the beauty of this natural world. These clans are descended from an ancient people who lived so close to the natural world that the spirits of the land granted them abilities and an appearance more suitable to their wild ways and simple lifestyle. These bestial clans now live scattered throughout their territory, always in opposition to each other. Tensions between the clans are always high, though actual conflict rarely arises. Only when a child of the moon, a true bestial champion is born does a tribe seek war for the glory of domination and the taste of blood. These Lycanthropes are seen as a divine gift to the tribes and a sign of great things to come. A blessing to their clan, Lycanthropes are almost always champions of their people, fighting for glory and a better life for the tribe.

Recently, with the encroaching threat of Man in the borderlands, the clans have forged an fragile alliance. Recognizing the threat the invaders pose, elder druids from each of the clans have come together to form a mystical order bent on protecting their ancient homeland.  Recruiting promising youth from all the clans, they seek to form a unified defense for their people.

It is of note that the tribes all follow the same religion, with their pantheon consisting of a family of beastfolk known as the Children of the Moon. Each clan holds alliance and perhaps the blood of one of the mighty animal gods, bear, boar, tiger, rat, wolf, or wolverine. Each of these ancient spirits is referred to as family, with a title of either "brother" or "sister" given of respect. The great ancestors preside over the aspects of life amongst the clans, seeking to protect and nurture their favored progeny.  An ancient disagreement between the siblings is said to have sparked the enmity which pervades life today, and the feud is carried on by their followers, even though nobody can seem to actually recall the source of the conflict.

So, what does everybody think?

[Raelifin]

Two things:
1) War implies active conflict. What you're looking at is tensions fueled by hatred. Also, your wording makes it seem that they are currently at "war" when in fact they are allied.

2) You use the word "given" twice. The first is to describe what seems to me to be a divine gift, the seccond what seems to be a sacrifice. That's way confusing.

[CYMRO]

So, a lycanthrope is a reasonably rare genetic marker in these tribes?  

How many are around at any given time?  One in each clan?  More or less?

[Numinous]

How many are around at any given time?  One in each clan?  More or less?

I'm toying with the idea of making them in a cycle, a lycanthrope is born to each tribe in some sort of established order, and when one is defeated, the next is born.  not sure yet though, so one in each clan is a reasonable assumption, yes.  I might advance all Lycanthropes to make them worthy of their place as divine heralds of providence.

[CYMRO]

not sure yet though, so one in each clan is a reasonable assumption, yes.

That seems natural.  A lycanthrope leader for each.  Maybe the birth of a second while the elder is alive is a sign of favor...

[Raelifin]

I love lycanthropes. :)

[Túrin]

Of what race are the tribesmen? You seem to imply they are bestial and speak of the "threat of Man" coming from the outside so it appears they aren't human themselves.

Also, I like your format of posting ideas one bit at a time. At least for me, this is much more comfortable reading than Godswalk.

Túrin

[Numinous]

Yeah, I also get more feedback this way.

I guess I never actually said it anywhere, but the Tribesmen are the race known as Shifters.  They're in the Eberron Campaign Setting, and are listed theirin as having Lycanthrope blood.  I didn't like how they did it, so I rewrote them.  So, now you see the results.

[Túrin]

Ah, of course. I never liked shifters in Eberron either. This is very flavourful though. Good job!

[Numinous]

Ah, of course. I never liked shifters in Eberron either. This is very flavourful though. Good job!

...and that ladies and gentlemen, is what keeps me working :cool:

[Tybalt]

I like it too, I think it has good potential. Do the tribes have involvement with the totem animals in question too? Are those also the spirits their shamans/priesthood are involved with?

[Numinous]

I like it too, I think it has good potential. Do the tribes have involvement with the totem animals in question too? Are those also the spirits their shamans/priesthood are involved with?

Yes, and as mentioned, they follow a pantheon of creator spirits represented by each animal.  Their shamans gain power from the spirits of the land they inhabit, as technically the spirits of living beings pass on after death.

[Yair]

Maybe the birth of a second while the elder is alive is a sign of favor...

or of disfavor for actions/decisions the current elder had made?

They're in the Eberron Campaign Setting, and are listed theirin as having Lycanthrope blood. I didn't like how they did it, so I rewrote them.

Here! Here!

[CYMRO]

Maybe the birth of a second while the elder is alive is a sign of favor...

or of disfavor for actions/decisions the current elder had made?

That'll throw the old spanner into the political works.