Organizations · Ethnic/Cultural · Area
The Bosques
Isolated at the southern most portion of Falhath, the Bosques are considered bumpkins and backwater-folk
History/Background
The Bosques (boss-keys) have been living their quiet lives well south of the excitement of Ozea and Sangreal, even beyond the long arm of Dreifach, the provincial capital of the Satrap of Falhath. Named after the lazy and meandering Bosque River, they are a quiet agrarian folk. Most Imperial records list the Bosques as having settled the southern peninsula nearly 1400 years ago. For the most part the records indicate that they were political and religious dissidents who were upset by the excesses of the Old World.
They gained several charters and settled along the southern part of the region and settled into a number of loosely joined communes. When the Nightmare War washed across the country, almost none of it was felt in the Bosque region. There were no supplemental sorceries to fail, and no magical items to detonate from geomantic feedback. Life continued as it had for them, with hard work and the harvest.
The Bosques are firm believers in the evil of magic, and the corruption that it engenders in those who use and benefit from it. To that end, it is considered taboo to even talk about magic or say the word magic in polite company. Some more pious women might even swoon at the mention of the word, while the menfolk might become a little hostile. It was this lack of magic that engendered Baron Holmestead of Buzzard\'s Bay to invade the region. The Militias of the Bay were unprepared for the stoic discipline of the Bosques, and after six months, Holmestead was forced to retreat with heavy losses.
Appearance
The average Bosque is human with no outside, non-human heritage. They tend towards medium to olive skin tones, dakr hair, and tend to have rather hairy arms and legs. Bosque women are vivacious and friendly, though as they age, they have problems with unpleasant facial hair. The term Old Goat applies to both men and women with this affliction.
Special Equipment
The Bosque are known for their abhorrence of magic, and when they find magic items they tend to find ways to eliminate them, or destroy them. Some adventurers have come to raid the secret loot of the Bosque Valley, but are sorely dissappointed when they find there is none. Most Bosque wares are of good quality, and Bosque steel is of excellent quality as the smiths refuse to cut corners or shave supplies to save on cost.
Roleplaying Notes
The Bosque temperament is generally a positive one. They spend their leisure time fishing the Bosque River, hunting for red deer, and drinking healthy amounts of wine. There is very little ale, or beer in the region.
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Links to this article 2
- Buzzards Bay Scrasamax linked by Scrasamax
- Falhath Scrasamax linked by Scrasamax
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Moved from NPCs/Extra-Horde as suggested by Moonhunter
Normally I would have given such a sub 3.5, but I found the little references in this tale exciting. Although it was a very short post, the constant references to places and events lent it a richness I found fitting. A good achievement for a short cultural post.
2 things make them unique. Well 3. Their strong distaste for magic is sublime! I like that they are heavy wine drinkers, but ale eludes them. Facial hair immediately makes me picture them. Thats a nice touch Nice details! Am I supposed to mention their Basqueness or not?
I have mentioned my love for LOW magic campaigns several times in previous comments, so I tend to think of Bosques as 'My Peeps!'
I pat you on the back for doing these 'peeps' so well. Interesting people.
Strong post, great name, unique... but short. I'd love it if you either fleshed it out more or posted the numerous references and linked them.
Nice-a low/no magic people.
A solid portrayal.
I think this is good candidate for your hundred word treatment. I also think you would get further at communicating the nature of these people you envisioned if you used the same number of words to write a short story about an encounter with the Bosques. I have to assume that you imagined more to these people then what is listed. They are a nice enough idea, but it lacks any real imagery or transporting detail.
The first paragraph list a bunch of facts, but has no hook. I will follow the link, but still just a bunch of facts that suggest a larger world. This is a plus I find, in that it gives the post the feel of in an game write up or an in world voice. So that is nice.
The second paragraph I think should be switched with the third paragraph. It would explain why they had no magic and it would assert that the culture came before the location. If you want to assert some other relationship between the culture and the location than you should do so.
The second half of the third paragraph should be its own paragraph as it is making an additional point. You then state that Bosques have a 'stoic discipline'. So I guess that being named after a lazy meandering river was undeserved and that this stoic discipline does not extend to vivacious swooning women.
The rest of the information is also rather sparse, if this was part of a list of cultures, than perhaps that would justify its brevity.
I am beginning to appreciate shorter submissions, and I think this one accomplishes the job of quickly painting a people.