Thralls: Stories, Songs, and Skalls
Stories and song serve a primary function in Thrall culture. These stories often serve as the main goal for any Thrall. Thralls believe they will be reincarnated again and again until they finally gain enough glory to be remembered in a song or story. For a Thrall, to be remembered in such a way is to gain immortality. An immortality bathed in glory.
The stories are also a deterrent. If a Thrall is cowardly or actswithout honor, they may not be reincarnated as a Thrall, but as another,non-warrior race. Those who commit the worst crimes, however, are alsoremembered in song, thus trapped in an immortality of shame.
The job of memorizing the stories and songs of the Thralls belongsto the Skalls. Skalls learn the stories and songs of old, on occasionmake new ones, and, especially, teach them to the populace.
These stories contain all the lessons of Thrall culture. Since Thralls are usually not literate, all of their culture is oral. Each story has a moral, ranging from "Keep your weapons in good repair" like in the story of The Rusted Garde. Or "Always keep your post" as in the songBallad of Rol and Druk.
Many are surprised that the Thralls have a cultural role that hasno obvious battle use. But watching Thralls in mass battle the war timeuse of Skalls becomes quite clear.
The Skalls will chant the songs they have taught everyone, recounting the deeds of past heroes often in similar circumstances, increasing the morale and fervour of the Thrall troops. Skalls also beat war drums, the rhythms telegraphing commands to the troops. A slow, steady beat means march, a swift, staccato beat means advance, and particular rhythms may mean move left or right, fall back, flank and so on. Usually the commander of any army will keep three or more Skalls with him, directing their rhythms, while the rest of the Skalls pick up any changes. Flag systems may also be used to give any Skall individual directions.
Skalls spend several years training. They first go from tribe totribe, learning under different Skalls, as Skalls must know the majorstories of all the tribes. They then will go wandering, to gather storiesand songs abroad. To truly become a Skall, a council of seven elderSkalls will test the novice to see if he knows the stories well. Then theinitiate Skall must perform a new story or song that he has either writtenor obtained. Passing these tests, the new Skall will usually settle downwith his or her own tribe again.
One does not have to be a Thrall to be remembered in a story, although non-Thrall stories are uncommon. The Kharakhan Talers and Thrall Skalls, however, especially like to exchange stories. The stories of one culture often pepper the others.
THRALL SKALL
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Size: 6' 8", 300 lbs. (male), 6' 4", 200 lbs. (female)
Physical Characteristics: Hairless, devoid of pigment, body covered incolorful tattoos, muscular build.
Attributes: INT -2, WILL +2, STR +4, DEX +1, CON +4, SPD +1
(Note INT is up a point, Skalls need to be smart, while DEX is down apoint, Skalls are warriors, but not as honed as many)
Hit Points: 16
Special Abilities: Immunity to fear; Inability to comprehend magic; War chant.
Skills: Primary combat, mounted combat, Tazian combat, Oratory, Song,Talislantan Culture and History (Thralls only).
Equipment/Possessions: Loincloth, sandals, dagger, greatsword withshoulder sheath, garde (parrying armor), war drum with mallet, mangonellizard or Greymane steed.
Wealth: 1d20 x 5 gold lumens in mixed coins.
Notes: Thralls can only learn of other cultures or histories if theyexist in a verbal format and he has access to a teacher.
War Chant: For every Skall for 25 Thralls in Mass Combat, add +2 to theThralls morale rating and subtract -1 from the opponent's morale.
For those who love a good warrior-bard,
Monk (")
{_+_}
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PS. Any feedback is wonderful. Go on, be cruel. Say things that insultmy intelligence or writing ability, I love it.
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(Endnote: monk was eaten by a thrall berserker and sent to Valhalla. ;)