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Posted by : LeonDelgado domingo, 2 de diciembre de 2018

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Were Sethra as bleak and barren as tales of its trackless plains and vast deserts suggest, there would be little opportunity for adventurous spirits to take up arms and seek fame amid such merciless wilds. As any Solku guardsman or Sethra trader can relate, such is not the case. Gnolls, rocs, and beasts of legend from the Brazen Peaks prey upon the unwitting residents of the central veldt, and in the cities stalk beings from ancient lore and countless strange lands. Sethra is a land of mystery and menace, yet there is no end to the number of brave souls who rise to confront such dangers.

The Region of Masir is one of the eastern region of Sethra, close to the frontier with the kingdom of Elsmore and next to the Baridatan Sea.

The central of commerce and culture of Masir is the cityt of Katapesh - the bronze city, that in the old legendary times were the capital of all the region. In the present many cities in Masir are independent states, but the bronze city remains as the biggest city, under the control of the mysterious Packlords, after those take control of the city from the Dragon caliph Hurzett.

- Disclaimer-

This is the adaptation of the Pathfinder Adventure Path: Legacy of Fire, that I plan to run in the following months, this amazing adventure is being adapted here or "localize" to the world of Arcadia, so some changes and names will be made but I will try to keep the original spirit intact and at the same time make this campaing my "own".

L. Delgado.


The People of Sethra
The Land of Fate is a true melting pot, peopled by men in all shapes, sizes, and colors (and both genders, too). Here the generalized “men” refers not only to humans—the most common race—but also to elves, half-elves, dwarves, Visgan, Gnomeran, Mutawas, and even ogres. For the most part, Sethra lacks the racial prejudice and segregation of less civilized realms. For instance, the concept of a separate “elven” society is foreign here. While there are indeed a few areas where elves outnumber humans, the elves don’t consider themselves a separate nation or people. Nor do humans view the elves that way. Not even ogres are shunned in Sethra. Although some ogres are brutes, as surly and crude as their foreign counterparts, Sethrans do not allow the rough-tempered minority to color their opinions of the entire group.

Lifestyle—not race—tends to separate Sethrans. In the Land of Fate, people fall into one of two broad groups: those who are nomads and those who are not. The nomads, or Al-Badia (ahl-BAH-dee-ya), dwell in the most hostile areas of Sethra, where men are as near to the gods as they are to death. They are driven  by the search for simple necessities: water, food, and grazing land to sustain their herds. As a result, the nomads are a sinewy breed with keen senses. Sloth and obesity are virtually unknown to them; many subsist on a little more than few dates and a flask of sour milk each day. With so little food, and only a goat’s-hair tent to provide shelter, the Al-Badia are more impoverished than many can imagine. Yet they consider themselves to be the richest of all Sethrans. Their wealth lies not in possessions. Nomads do not value gaudy clothing, a warm house, or a mass of personal fortune. They value their independence.

Although nomadic life is fairly insular, the necessity of trade brings the Al-Badia into contact with the “other half”, of Sethra’s culture: the Al-Hadhar (ahl- HAH-dar), whose lifestyles are stationary. Artisans, merchants, craftsmen—all are Al-Hadhar. Even the wandering tinker belongs to this group, because his life is inexorably linked to the village or city bazaar, and therefore to the trappings of settled men.

Virtually all Al-Hadhar know more creature comforts than the nomads. Only a few, however, are truly flush with silver, belonging to the Al-Hadhar’s upper class. Such wealthy men and women usually dwell in cities, though many own land in far-flung towns. The sweat and labor of the lower classes makes their existence possible.

For the most part, the Al-Hadhar are poor. Their homes are small and simple, made of mud brick or thatch, huddled around an oasis or a single well. Some are laborers. Others are farmers, residing on land that belongs to another, tending dates, wheat, and other paltry crops in exchange for a small share of the harvest. Their plots are small. In comparison to the farmers of other realms, most are little more than gardeners. But from a tiny patch of desert, they can create a paradise.

The Al-Badia and the Al-Hadhar tend to view one another with pity if not with a touch of disdain. Even the poorest villagers believe themselves to be more culture and more civilized than the nomads. Through the eyes of the Al-Hadhar, the nomads “madly” choose an austere existence, while the Al-Hadhar dwell in luxury. (Certainly most villagers can boast a roof over their heads, fresh water, and a full stomach, as well as a regular bath.) Further, the Al-Hadhar worship their gods in impressive mosques, with the benefit of “educated” priests to guide them. Hence, the settled Sethrans believe themselves to be more pious than the Al-Badia, and therefore closer to the gods.

The nomads, of course, maintain the opposite opinion. After all, what could be holier than living beneath the expanse of the heavens and placing oneself directly at the mercy of the gods? The Al-Badia pity the Al-Hadhar for their softness, which results from their ardent pursuit of material comforts. Moreover, the nomads pity the Al-Hadhar for their lack of freedom and their inequality.

The nomads bow down to no one but the gods, while the Al-Hadhar, say the nomads, must kneel to other men. All nomads believe themselves equal before the gods and before Fate. The same cannot be said for the Al-Hadhar. Though some disparities in nomadic wealth exist, they are small compared to that of city dwellers, and a sheikh who is not generous with his tribe does not retain his position.

Nomadic women also know greater freedom than their settled counterparts. The family cannot survive without every nomad’s work; in turn, the women share equally in the rewards. In contrast, many city-dwelling women live like prisoners or slaves. The fact that they are “pampered” slaves only brings further pity or disdain from the nomads.

Despite these differences in lifestyle, the Al-Badia and Al-Hadhar coexist in peace. Ultimately, both the nomads and the city dwellers believe that a man and a woman should be judged on their own merit—not by the construction of their house. At least in principle, a person’s ability and strength of character outweigh any other distinction.

Races
One of Sethra’s greatest wonders is the size and exotic nature of its incredible markets. Yet for all of the treasures up for sale, it’s the diversity of people and merging of cultures from across Arcadia that make the cities of Sethra and the lands beyond true wonders.

Traditional Standard races of Arcadia (those found in the Legend of Arcadia book) are present all over Sethra, being the humans one of the most common.

Classes
With demand comes opportunity, drawing peoples of all walks to the wild frontiers and bustling cities of Sethra. Whether as sojourners seeking to tame the rugged wilds, or as opportunists chasing fame and fortune, in this land of riches and wonders, anyone with skill and tenacity might become a legend.

Barbarians
For all of Sethra’s endless markets and gold-lined streets, many of the country’s natives still live their lives simply, adhering to ancient traditions and the whims of nature. Sethrans nomads travel the country’s central deserts and plains, journeying from oasis to oasis, ever on the defensive against the deadly creatures of those bleak wilds. For centuries the nomads have defended their territories against interlopers and each other—the varied clans holding tightly to an elaborate hierarchy of grudges and alliances— becoming skilled in the art of battle. Several tribes claim fertile lands and bountiful oases as theirs, and woe to the unwary who would unwittingly steal from these proud people. Aside from the nomads of Sethra’s interior, the gnolls of the Brazen Peaks and wild elves from the Mwangi Expanse both occasionally wander among the country’s more civilized peoples, bringing with them skills and savagery unknown to everyday guards and mercenaries.

Minstrels (Bards)
Sethra has a long tradition of skilled entertainers. From incredible storytellers capable of bringing ancient fantasies to life, to the veiled dancers of incense-filled courts, the exotic and entrancing ways of the Sethrans marvel audiences the world over.. Storytelling holds a vaunted place among the region’s art forms, with accomplished tale tellers winning respect and great honor, especially among the country’s native peoples. Lords, sailors, and wide-eyed wanderers venture into steamy dens to watch the silk-shrouded gyrations of ecdysiasts and listen to the philosophizing orators. Musicians hone their craft, mastering age-old melodies on stringed ouds, recorderlike zurnas, finely decorated qanuns, or simple zills. Entertainers of all types find high demand throughout the country, with the best enjoying incredible luxuries among the entourages of wealthy nobles and merchant lords. The most exceptional of these are the elven minstrels who abilities are almost magical, and are blessed by the goddess Atma.

Clerics
Few can ignore the priests of Mitra as they move through the crowded streets, their robes like woven silver and their turbans adorned with gems. Easily the most spread religion in the east, the Mitrans work to assure that trade continues smoothly and fairly, while their Silver-domed temple-banks attract hordes of adherents and merchants on a daily basis. In the east, Ra’s following holds greater sway, all natives knowing to fear and respect the power of the scorching sun. The Sethrans view the Supreme king as a more demanding god than most, praying for her mercy and aid, yet wisely not expecting her intervention. From Solku, the church of Heres attracts the faith of those who face the dangers of the Brazen Peaks and other wilds. Faira and Anubis find significant followings throughout the country, as worshipers seek to unlock secrets of both the mind and body through ancient art forms and drugenhanced meditations.
  
Druids
Although arid deserts and featureless veldts typify the nation’s interior, Sethra is far from a barren land. From the rugged coasts to the sheer mountains, the cracked uplands to verdant desert oases, strange beasts and exotic plants form a harshly beautiful ecology, one stoically guarded by the nation’s few druids. Committed to protecting their homelands, members of Sethra’s nomadic tribes occasionally leave their people to “stare the lion in the eyes,” a journey into the wilderness that proves both literal and figurative as the traveller confronts the region’s deadliest beasts. Those who survive often form bonds with the animals of the land, claiming whole territories or prides of beasts as being under their protection. Water druids hold the respect of those in Sethra’s most parched environs, valued for their skill in sustaining those creatures and respectful peoples who struggle to make the deserts their home.

Fighters
Capable warriors never lack for work in Sethra. In the cities, wary merchants hire trustworthy watchmen while fearful nobles employ mercenary armies to serve as their personal guards. Bands of thieves and brigands take on muscle for all manner of capers, and in the dens below the bustle of city streets, pit fighters and brawlers of all sorts spar in brutal blood sports. Outside of Sethra’s city walls, the nomads of the barrens hone lethal skills, whirling scimitars with deadly expertise, while on the trade roads caravans place their fortunes in the hands of guards who are often more daring than skilled. Farther east, the rural communities and frontier villages endlessly want for skilled hunters, soldiers, and protectors to fend off the hordes of gnolls and even deadlier beasts.

Paladins
To combat the decadence of a country steeped in vices, the holy warriors of numerous faiths maintain dutiful vigil over their deities’ interests in Sethra. As the patron of cities and trade, Mitra sends Silver-armored soldiers to Sethra to guard his temple-banks, encourage commerce, and weed out corruption. Ra supports an especially active knighthood in the region, though her warriors are more altruistic, seeking to aid those who settle in dangerous lands and keeping the roads safe from ravening beasts. Of special note are the crusaders of Solku’s Dawn Vigil, who serve the God Ra in fighting back bands of gnolls and other deadly creatures on Sethra’s western frontiers. Perhaps most famous are Here’s paladins, who in recent years turned back the gnoll siege of Solku at the Battle of Red Hail, and remain heroes throughout the realm.

Psion and Psionic Warriors
Masters of the mind, for most creatures on Sethra, becoming a psion is not a destiny, but a discovery. Some psions, it is true, showed their first signs of mental powers from the age of a few years old, and a greater number began to manifest their psionic powers in puberty. But many psions, if not most, lack the time, inclination, tutelage, or will to develop their latent power. Most first-level psions do not consider themselves psionicists at all, but bearers of a freak psionic “gift” or “knack” that may come in handy, but is hardly the focus of their lives.

When Psion develop their powers become powerful rulers and conquerors, sometime being also advisors of great Sultans or traveler adventurers. Many Wizards learn how to face this estrange "spellcasters" in the cities of Sethra.

Some Psion develop a more physical power, where their mind bend their bodies and realities, learning how to fight and survive, this being a common in the Psion's that live in the poor streets of Sethra and never find a tutor that help them to develop their powers in a more structure way, thus becoming Psionic warriors or in some cases Wilders.


Mechanics
Mechanics thrive in Sethra, their machines are well appreciated by the people of the cities and in some cases the caravans of merchants that could use better transportations means on the hard desert.

Only one guild of Mechanics exist in Sethra and that is the Copper hats on the city of Katapesh, but some mechanics learn their trade from tutors or family members.

Rangers
Hunters of beasts and men find easy work in Sethra. In the west, the deadly monsters and savage humanoids of the Brazen Peaks place skilled rangers in high demand, and some travel from village to village selling their abilities and the fabulous pelts of their more exotic kills. In the east, within the city of Katapesh and its ever-changing crowds, those able to track people and find lost souls command high prices, freeing kidnapped slaves, hunting thieves, and dealing with creatures like undead and vermin that infest populous communities. There are also those distrustful of Sethra’s more exotic visitors, remembering tales of fiery wars and fiendish incursions; such hunters stand ready to defend their country from outsiders and elementals.

Rogues
Those with deft tongues, light fingers, and quick feet find endless opportunities in the cities of Sethra and beyond. Whether as solo pickpockets and confidence men or among organized guilds of thieves, the criminals of the city of Katapesh are legion, and in some markets—like the Nightstalls—there’s little difference between the merchants and the crooks. Yet not all sharp-witted Katapeshi are criminals. Wealthy newcomers to the city pay high prices for the talents of guides who know the local ins and outs, and even lifelong residents hire personal buyers and bargainers who know where to procure anything. Outside the city, skilled spies and scouts keep tabs on dangerous savages and search for new opportunities in the metal-rich mountains and plains fertile enough to raise pesh or other valuable crops.

Sorcerers
Although rare, genies and their power over the elements feature prominently in the legends and folklore of Sethra. Thus, it is no surprise that many sorcerers claim to have genie blood. Where in many countries such assertions would sound like foolish boasting, in Sethra there’s a chance it’s true. While sorcerers might be found throughout the country, native sorcerers usually rise from the west, typically among rural communities and nomads—many of whom claim to be ancestors of great heroes from magical lands. Traders from far and wide bring their own arcane heritages to the cities, from fiend-blooded tieflings to the naga-kin of Vudra and the sea-speakers of the distant south. Sorcery is pervasive in Sethra, but never common.

Wizards
The magic of Sethra borrows much from the arcane traditions of its neighbors. Mystical scholars delve deep into the cultic lore of ancient Celestial empire, attempting to tap into secrets lost to the deserts long ago. The arcane societies of the south influence the studies of native wizards, with bombastic Elsmore transmuters and stoic Ditian necromancers trading their secrets for veiled arcana. Sethra -born wizards have their own traditions, with control over weather, taming of the elements, and creation of supplies especially vaunted. The greatest Sethra wizards are the genie-binders—summoners possessing their nation’s talent for haggling—who ensnare powerful genies and can remake the world through the wishes of their elemental slaves.



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