This doesn’t mean that they’re above politics. They have their own extremely complex machinations they play out amongst themselves. Being immortal, dragon politics are long-range and labyrinthian. Sometimes, even the Great Houses become entangled in them, but that’s more incidental than by design; even then the focus remains on the others of their own kind. Dragon politics can also be extremely deadly–they may be immortal, but they’re not unkillable.

Having a dragon visit your hearth is considered a great blessing, unless she becomes offended or angered (usually as the result of poor hospitality). In that case, they can leave behind a terrible curse, if they so choose. Dragons are the original sorcerers and those with magical ability usually have at least a drop or two of dragon blood in their veins. Being shapeshifters, dragons may (and often do) mate with whatever species strikes their fancy. Thus, it is possible to find dragon blood in all the known races of Guang Keshar.

Those known to have dragon blood are often treated as semi-divine, or at least having been “touched” by divinity.

[Photo Courtesy of Richard Fischer via Flickr Creative Commons]

Other Related Posts:

• In the Beginning
• Religion of the Common Folk
• Shapeshifting

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Babila Makika Thintail (Bard)

Even as a small child, Babila loved to travel. Her parents were a rare kind of richichi: traders who earned their living traveling from one market fair to another, trading in various rare and imported curios along the way. Home for her was small caravan wagon pulled by the family’s two ponies.

Babila has continued her parents’ footloose ways, only her stock-in-trade are songs and stories. She has a minor aptitude for magics, small spells to make everyday life on the road more comfortable. Her collection is also her profession: Bablia collects songs and stories from the lands she passes through, carefully recording them to preserve them for future generations. Her many friends say she has one other collection: languages. She learns languages quickly and easily and is always eager to practice what she knows.

She considers herself a pacifist and would rather talk her way out of situation, but if push comes to shove, she is quite capable of defending herself. She carries a short sword (small sized) and a short bow as well as her favorite instrument, a lap harp.

Kakio Shakka Blackfur (Knight)

Few richichi adventure. Even fewer of these become warriors. Still fewer achieve any renown for it. Only one has ever been knighted. Many legends talk of Kakio Shakka Blackfur, the man who saved the life of a prince.

The Blackfur family has traditionally served as valets, stewards, ladies-in-waiting, and companions of several families in House Kotish. While growing up, Kakio showed an early and unusual (for a richichi) interest in weapons and warfare. His mother, Shakka Malika Blackfur was steward of House Kotish at the time and thus in a position to indulge her only son. Kakio was allowed to train with the younger sons of House Kotish and soon showed great skill with a wide variety of weapons.

During that training, Kakio became friends with Katsir,  the youngest son of the then Lord Kotish, Shatim, and baby brother of the Kotish heir, Klimia. As the youngest child with five brothers and one sister in-line for the throne well ahead of him, Katsir was left to do pretty much as he wished. As a teenager, he set his mind on exploring the world and seeing all the marvelous things in it. Despite extensive arms training, Katsir wasn’t as skilled a warrior as he thought, so Kakio went with him, acting as a bodyguard. Kakio was a reluctant explorer, but he swore to do all he could to protect Lady Klimia’s favorite brother.

One evening, in a tavern far from Kotish lands, Katsir found himself the target of a drunk’s insults. To save face, Katsir demanded satisfaction via a duel. Kakio, knowing that the drunk was a fighter of much greater skill than Katsir, offered to fight in his friend’s place (“He’s not worthy of your attentions, my lord. Let me take care of him for you…”). Katsir agreed. The actual duel was long and grueling and nearly killed Kakio. He survived and defeated his opponent, but lost his left eye in the process. He refused to have it restored, saying it was a reminder to himself not to be so rash in the future.

The story of the duel spread, eventually reaching Lady Klimia, who’d just succeeded her father to the Seat of Leadership. She was impressed by how Kakio had not only saved Katsir’s life, but his honor as well. She knighted the young richichi for his bravery and loyalty.

Kakio finally retired from his adventures in his late 40’s — well advanced in years for a richichi. By that point, in addition to his eye, he also lost half of one ear and gained many battle-scars, giving him the look of a grizzled warrior in his later years. He lived to the almost unheard of age of 51 (average lifespan of a richichi is 35-40 years). His only child, a son named Taktako, now serves as Lady Kotish’s personal assistant. Kakio was pleased at his son’s choice of profession and the honor it brought to the family, saying that he was happy his son had more sense than he did.

After Kakio’s death, his body was given a place of honor with the Kotish family crypt.

Other Richichi Posts

• Introducing the Richichi: A New player Race
• Richichi Adventure Seeds
• Richichi Town Life
• Richichi as Adventurers
• Of Squirrels and Men: Richichi and Other Races

• Dwarves: Dwarves and richichi generally get along very well. Both appreciate underground dwellings and superb craftsmanship, particularly involving precious metals and gems. Where they differ, though, has to do with their views of the surface world. Richichi love the natural world around them, whereas most dwarves could happily spend their lives never setting foot outside their caves. The richichi also don’t share the dwarves’ dour outlook. Still, the two races have a long history of trade and mutual respect.
• Elves: Despite both races having a love of nature, most richichi find elves difficult to understand. Richichi like to focus on the here and now, the real and concrete, quite unlike the elves’ more mystical mind-set. Many richichi view elves with the same awe and reverence reserved for dragons on Guang Keshar: as quasi-divine beings who can bestow blessings or curses, depending on how they’re treated.
• Gnomes: If ever there were two races meant to get along, they’re the richichi and gnomes. Both share a love of burrows and skilled handiwork. It’s not unheard of for a richichi clan to adopt a gnomish family and visa versa. Most richichi view gnomes as little brothers or siblings (despite the fact that the gnomish life span is three times the richichi one), since they never seem to outgrow their love of “childish” pranks.
• Half-Elves: Richichi don’t see half-elves as a separate race. The treat them as either human on elven, depending on which race they look more like.
• Half-Orcs: Like most other races, the richichi hate and fear orcs. Orcs raid and destroy richichi farms and settlements, destroying not only lives, but also livelihoods. Because of this, richichi view anything resembling an orc as an orc. A half-orc has a long haul ahead of him if he seeks to befriend a richichi.
• Halflings: Unlike with gnomes, richichi tend to look at halflings with suspicion. Richichi don’t understand the halfling’s wanderlust and tend to count the items in their collections before, during, and after a halfling visit. The halfling’s reputation for having “sticky fingers” precedes them and many richichi won’t give a halfling the chance to prove his honesty.
• Humans: The richichi and human-kind have long lived side-by-side. While most richichi are distrustful of humans they don’t know, in general they manage to be good neighbors.

Other Richichi Posts:

• Introducing the Richichi: A New player Race
• Richichi Adventure Seeds
• Richichi Town Life
• Richichi as Adventurers

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• Class And Race Combinations That Break The Mold from Dungeon’s Master (dungeonsmaster.com)

But it hasn’t been a total wash. I’ve managed to do some writing, including expanding more on the holidays of the richichi, as well as their adventuring professions.

Richichi as Adventurers

Very few richichi take up the adventuring life, but some do have a restless wanderlust or are inspired by non-richichi tales of daring-do. These are generally youths who eventually tire of the constant adversity and trials of the adventuring life and settle down in their middle age. The few richichi adventurers tend towards professions or classes requiring wit and intelligence, such as bards.

Only extremely rarely do any richichi show any aptitude for magic. While they would make excellent thieves and rogues, most are much too law-abiding to enter those professions. Those that do are considered mentally ill. Occasionally, you can find a richichi who has taken up a fighting profession such as a fighter or warrior. Those few who do become fierce and loyal warriors. Far more rare is the richichi with the single-minded focus of a paladin.

Other Richichi Posts

• Introducing the Richichi: A New player Race
• Richichi Adventure Seeds
• Richichi Town Life
• Of Squirrels and Men: Richichi and Other Races

Guang Keshar’s first official release will cover the richichi, both as new player race and as NPCs.  In it you’ll find information about their life, beliefs and society. What do richichi eat? What’s their religion? What do their houses look like? You ‘ll find all of that in the richichi book, along with ideas on how to incorporate this new race into your game, as well as suggestions on adapting them to your favorite game system.

Until it’s ready for publication, I’ll continue to post excerpts from the book. Please feel free to post questions or comments, ideas and any suggestions you may have.

Shopkeepers and tradesmen have their store fronts on the ground floor of their houses, while they and their families live on the floor(s) above the shop. A poor tradesman will usually rent out the rooms on the floors above the one(s) he and his family uses.

Every able-bodies adult owes the town two days work out of every month. This kabu sa (“gift work”) is part of the taxes owed to the town and kingdom the person lives in. During their kabu sa, people work on repair roads and bridges, keeping the town clean, maintaining administrative buildings, keeping fire watch and some light town guard duties.

The richichi take great pride in their homes and that extends to their towns and cities, as well, which they view as part of their home.

To get around town, most richichi walk. Many streets, even in a large city, are simply too narrow to pass through otherwise. The wealthy may travel in richichi-sized palanquins, rickshaws, or in small carriages pulled by tiny horses especially bred by the richichi. Middle-class and well-off peasants frequently travel in carts pulled by their beloved dogs. Riding is difficult for the richichi because of the anatomy of their hips and leg, but some richichi performers do so, standing or squatting on dog-back.

Other Richichi Posts

• Introducing the Richichi: A New player Race
• Richichi Adventure Seeds
• Richichi as Adventurers
• Of Squirrels and Men: Richichi and Other Races

While attendance at religious functions (which are also state functions and visa versa) isn’t mandatory, per se, not attending would definitely be a matter for gossip, particularly in a city such as Lia Tsashu. So while attendance is (for all intents and purposes) require, belief isn’t. Like the Roman state church of our own world, as long as the rites are observed, the Empire will be safely guarded by the Jade Serpent and her offspring. Belief is a matter for the clergy.

In a town like Lia Tsashu, the highest resident member of the clergy would be a full priest. Priests are not required to be celibate—indeed, they are encouraged to marry. They do, however, take vows of poverty and they (and their families) are expected to live on church grounds, supported by tithes from the faithful. They may own no more than their family needs for it’s day-to-day sustenance.

Religion is woven into everyday life in Guang Keshar. Every household has their own guardian spirit who, along with the family’s ancestors, watches over and guides those who live there. A portion of every meal is set aside and placed on the family altar. Fresh flowers, seasonal fruits and nuts, and miniature replicas of the tools of the family’s trade are also placed there so that the family’s daily activities may be blessed and fruitful.

Before preparation for the next meal, a member of the family takes the food offerings from the last meal and sets them outside in a bowl for the fey spirits, the “little people” who are considered to be Huang Ti’s helpers. Not placing an offering is considered stingy and is likely to bring bad luck. Before big events in the family’s life, the family spirits are given a special offering and asked for guidance, which usually comes in the form of dreams or seemingly chance events. The family also shares a portion of its good fortune with the family spirits and also shares a small portion of their income (5%) with the local priest.

Public religious rites are far from dreary and quite unlike the “church services” of our Christian world. High holy days involve games and feasting.

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D&D 3.5/Pathfinder

Probably the best way to render the seafarers’ Guild in d20 terms is to make it a prestige class. Seafarers would be arcane casters with minimal magical abilities (probably not gaining higher than 3^rd level spells.) and shapeshifting would be one ability they gain as they increase levels. While not every Seafarer is a shapeshifter or is magically inclined, there is something to be said for making the PCs (who are supposed to be extraordinary) a member of that privileged minority.

Ars Magica

While it would be up to individual storyguides to determine how well Seafarers would fit into their version of Mythic Europe (or any other setting they run using the system), one way of handling them would be to make the Guild a group of hedge wizards with strong Aquam abilities and make shapeshifting a Virtue or modify the ability and use the “Skinchanger” Virtue.

Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game

Very little adaptation would be required to add the Guild to an ADRPG game. Those PCs could purchase the Shapeshifting power and Power Words or Sorcery if they also choose to have magical abilities. The Guild itself would simply be background, unless you wished to make it an Artifact under the control of one of the characters, where it would be Horde, Shadow-wide, or Ubiquitous, depending on how wide-spread you want the Guild to be.

Classic World of Darkness

The Guild itself would be represented as Allies (for guild member characters) or Contacts (for characters with strong guild connections who aren’t actually members). The shapeshifting ability could be handled a variety of different ways, depending on which set of mechanics you’re using. In Vampire, for example, you could make it a variation on the Vicissitude Discipline; in Mage it would be Life Sphere magick (in which case you could introduce the Seafarers as a new Tradition or use them as a type of hedge wizard)

These are just examples and suggestions, of course. Feel free to implement the Guild any way that works for your game.

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Shapeshifting is taxing. Even automatic shifts have a small endurance cost. Full shifting causes fatigue. Staying in a shifted form for more than a few requires great endurance and a daily expenditure of fatigue/endurance points.

Every shapeshifter has a “natural form”. That’s the form his body was born to. When a character falls unconscious or his body performs an automatic shift, he reverts to his natural form. A shifter can only take the form of something of his approximate mass. He cannot get larger or smaller than he naturally is.

A shapeshifter’s body will adjust to keep a character alive, even if the character is unconscious or near death. If a character is bleeding out, the wounds will close (but further healing requires the usual procedures) and keep the character from dying. If the character suddenly falls into the water, say from the mast of a ship, her body will automatically shift gills. A character in danger of freezing will grow a thick coat of fur, etc. This takes no thought on the part of character and the endurance cost is minimal. If the character was in another form before she automatically shifted, her body will revert to her natural form as part of the survival process. As soon as the body is out of danger, the character reverts to her natural form (not any form she was in before). This is the body’s natural protection; if a character wants to prevent an automatic shift, she must be conscious and make a Will save to prevent the change.

The shifter may shift a single body part, but his takes practice and skill. For example, he may change a hand into a claw or grow wings. He may imitate any animal feature he’s seen, with practice. But he doesn’t automatically get that animal’s abilities. A winged character may learn to fly, but it’ll take practice and many, many falls before he can get it right.

A shapeshifter may also find herself hunted. Shapeshifter blood is magically potent and is often used to power magical effects or spells.

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• The guild reports to no one and is following the will of Admiral Limani without supervision or accountability
• A new Emperor has been selected, but refuses to come forward while Emperor Hotashen lives. The guild actually reports to the new Emperor.
• Emperor Hotashen isn’t really sick; the Guild still reports to him.
• The Guild has captured the Emperor and hidden him away. The Harbingers Council made up the story of his illness to cover his disappearance. The want to put Lord Kenlo Ling on the Imperial seat because of his ties with the Guild.
• The Council has kidnapped the Emperor and made up the story of his illness to cover it. The Guild is doing his best to find him.
• The Guild and the Council are working together to overthrow the Emperor and have the Moot of Harbingers become the sole ruling body of Guang Keshar
• The Guild has found a cure for the Emperor’s illness, but is withholding it for their own reasons.
• The Guild is searching the world for a cure to the Emperor’s illness.
• The Guild has found a cure, but it’s on the other side of the world in the hands of barbarians who won’t give it up for anything less than the hand of the Emperor’s daughter in marriage. Because the Emperor has no daughter, this is a problem.
• Emperor Hotashen has named Admiral Limani as his heir, he just hasn’t made it publicly known yet. The Council knows this and is looking for a way to subvert it.

Which one of these should be true and why? Do you have any other suggestions for rumors? Please leave a comment below. What you suggest could become an official part of Lia Tsashu.

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