Mosswart Lore: Difference between revisions

From Drunkapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
imported>Sanddh
imported>Sanddh
mNo edit summary
Line 11: Line 11:
{{Related|Cultures|Mosswart|:Category:Mosswart}}
{{Related|Cultures|Mosswart|:Category:Mosswart}}


Mosswarts are humanoids from the same world as [[Drudge]]s, [[Tumerok]]s and [[Banderling]]s. In Dereth, they live in various swamps and marshes, particularly in the [[Blackmire Swamp]] between the Sho and Aluvian lands. They have also infested many ruins and damp catacombs. They are small, fight with claws, spears, swords and javelins, and are fearless when cornered. Some colonies also have magic-using shamans.<ref name=AC:DMBestiaryMosswarts>2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM_CD_Lore/Bestiary/Derethian_Bestiary#Mosswarts|Bestiary: Mosswarts]]</ref>
Mosswarts are humanoids from the same world as [[Drudge]]s, [[Tumerok]]s and [[Banderling]]s. In Dereth, they live in various swamps and marshes, particularly in the [[Blackmire Swamp]] between the Sho and Aluvian lands. They have also infested many ruins and damp catacombs. They are small, fight with claws, spears, swords and javelins, and are fearless when cornered. Some colonies also have magic-using shamans.<ref name=AC:DMBestiaryMosswarts>2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM_CD_Lore/Bestiary/Derethian_Bestiary#Mosswarts|Bestiary: Mosswarts]]</ref><ref name=SageEncounter>1999/11 [[Release]] - [[Mosswarts: A Sage's Mosswart Encounter]]</ref>


Their coloring makes it easy for them to hide among the plants and sneak up on you. Of course, you almost never find one by itself, they always travel in groups. Most Mosswarts are about four feet tall but Chieftains are almost man-sized, with skin more of a foul yellow than a rotting green. They're about twice as tough and strong as the lesser warriors. And they occasionally cast spells like the Shamans.  
The first thing you'd notice would probably be the smell. Their senses are very keen. Their coloring makes it easy for them to hide among the plants and sneak up on you. Of course, you almost never find one by itself, they always travel in groups. Most Mosswarts are about four feet tall but Chieftains are almost man-sized, with skin more of a foul yellow than a rotting green. They're about twice as tough and strong as the lesser warriors. And they occasionally cast spells like the Shamans.<ref name=SageEncounter/>


== History ==
== History ==
Line 25: Line 25:
=== On Dereth ===
=== On Dereth ===


The vendetta between Mosswarts and Banderlings goes back a long way and they seek to obtain each others holy or ceremonial items through trickery, trade or warfare,.<ref>2001/02 [[Lonely In The World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> However, this changed after the Shadow Spires disappeared. A wave of fierce portal-energy squalls slid down the length of the Direlands, bringing with them fiercer varieties of banderling, shreth, and other familiar creatures. <ref> 2000/06 [[The Paths of Destruction]] - [[Announcements - 2000/06 - The Paths of Destruction#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref> Banderlings have learned to do bully lesser creatures. Reports came of mosswarts gathered under the banner of banderling camp chieftains.  Banderlings and Mosswarts started working together to attack human settlements, and established camps throughout Dereth.<ref name=Gathering>2000/10 [[A Gathering of Monsters]]</ref>  
Portals to [[Dereth]] appeared on Ezereth, and a few mosswart tribes, including a tribe protecting a special Tribal Shroud, depicting the first free Mosswart who had escaped from his alien captors and freed the rest of his people, went into this portal.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> One of the first Mosswarts to walk through the portal to [[Dereth]] where they made their home in the swamps, and who befriended the native Gromnies, was the Mosswart Hero [Kreerg]]. He was later killed by a Virindi altered Mosswart, named [[Greearghk]].<ref name=Gratitude>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[Bleeargh's Gratitude#Lore&Dialog]]</ref>


This did not last long however, since Banderlings attacked a band of Mosswarts which were involved in the kidnapping of [[Candeth Martine]] and stole some ceremonial Banderling items.<ref name=MaceExplorer>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[Mace of the Explorer Quest#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Battered Leather Journal]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Dry Withered Leather Bound Journal]]</ref> Main instrument in Martine's capture was the Mosswart Chieftain [[Arrgkh Mearrgkh]] and his tribe, who was promised great powers by the Virindi in exchange for a captive human.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref><ref>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Sir Martine's Journal]]</ref><br>
The vendetta between Mosswarts and Banderlings goes back a long way and they seek to obtain each others holy or ceremonial items through trickery, trade or warfare,.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 [[Lonely In The World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> However, this changed after the Shadow Spires disappeared. A wave of fierce portal-energy squalls slid down the length of the Direlands, bringing with them fiercer varieties of banderling, shreth, and other familiar creatures. <ref> 2000/06 [[The Paths of Destruction]] - [[Announcements - 2000/06 - The Paths of Destruction#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref> Banderlings have learned to do bully lesser creatures. Reports came of mosswarts gathered under the banner of banderling camp chieftains.  Banderlings and Mosswarts started working together to attack human settlements, and established camps throughout Dereth.<ref name=Gathering>2000/10 [[A Gathering of Monsters]]</ref>  


[[Aerbax]] experimented with the concept of "Worship", using [[Idol]]s, when trying to gain control of the Mosswarts.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> Mosswarts (referred to as "croakers") were one of the creatures experimented on by [[Aerbax]] during its early experiments with the"Energy Source".<ref>2003/01 [[The Slumbering Giant]] - [[Research Notes: Mosswart]]</ref>
This did not last long however, since Banderlings attacked a band of Mosswarts which were involved in the kidnapping of [[Candeth Martine]] and stole some ceremonial Banderling items.<ref name=MaceExplorer>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[Mace of the Explorer Quest#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Battered Leather Journal]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Dry Withered Leather Bound Journal]]</ref> Main instrument in Martine's capture was the Mosswart Chieftain [[Arrgkh Mearrgkh]] and his tribe, who was promised great powers by the Virindi in exchange for a captive human.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref><ref>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Sir Martine's Journal]]</ref><br> Another deal he made with the Virindi was to deliver them Mosswarts of his tribe to be altered. Though at first he thought this was a great deal, later he got doubts because it became less easier to rule the altered Mosswarts, and he didn't want to share his power.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> The Virindi, most notable [[Aerbax]], experimented with the concept of "Worship", using [[Idol]]s, when trying to gain control of the Mosswarts.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> Mosswarts (referred to as "croakers") were one of the creatures experimented on by [[Aerbax]] during its early experiments with the"Energy Source".<ref>2003/01 [[The Slumbering Giant]] - [[Research Notes: Mosswart]]</ref>Arrgkh stopped sending his subjects to the Virindi. He took his people, now strong with Mire-Witches and Soultrappers away from their stronghold in which they had been staying after the delivery of the prisoner, and found a new lair.<ref name=Storytelling/> There he was found by [[Candeth Martine]] after Martine escaped the Virindi, and, being forced to give up the Shroud, died a painful dead at Martine's hands. The Shroud was ripped to pieces.<ref name=Storytelling/><ref>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - description of [[Torn Mosswart Shroud]]</ref> Most probably, he was succeeded by [[Gragghk]], since this Mosswart Chieftain drops the now [[Torn Mosswart Shroud]] and [[Storytelling]].


Aerbax later, "Prodigal" experiments resulted in the Mosswarts showing an increased degree of organization and they besieged the town of [[Kryst]], directed by [[Bragara, the Chosen One]], the Prodigal Mosswart, who was supposed to inspire a kind of "worship" amongst his kin.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> <ref name=ProdigalTeaser>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Announcements - 2007/05 - Prodigal Sons#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Aerbax's Prodigal Mosswart]]</ref> The experiment was considered a partial success, since while [[Bragara, the Chosen One]] was able to unify a force of Mosswarts, they were fraught with dissension in the ranks, they were inclined to believe a range of things, which sometimes made sense and sometimes didn't. They were inclined to be confused, and would not have worked as a stable organized force to conquer the neighboring human town.<ref name=PiecePaper/>
Aerbax's later, "Prodigal", experiments resulted in the Mosswarts showing an increased degree of organization and they besieged the town of [[Kryst]], directed by [[Bragara, the Chosen One]], the Prodigal Mosswart, who was supposed to inspire a kind of "worship" amongst his kin.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> <ref name=ProdigalTeaser>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Announcements - 2007/05 - Prodigal Sons#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Aerbax's Prodigal Mosswart]]</ref> The experiment was considered a partial success, since while [[Bragara, the Chosen One]] was able to unify a force of Mosswarts, they were fraught with dissension in the ranks, they were inclined to believe a range of things, which sometimes made sense and sometimes didn't. They were inclined to be confused, and would not have worked as a stable organized force to conquer the neighboring human town.<ref name=PiecePaper/>


== Culture ==
== Culture ==


=== Rulers ===
=== Rulers ===
Mosswarts do not have one, single ruler. They are organized in tribes, originally led by "Chieftains" and "Shamans".


=== Religions and Beliefs ===
=== Religions and Beliefs ===
Over the many years that Mosswarts have been on Auberean, they have worshipped a multitude of gods - enough that their true gods have become faded memories. Still, some Mosswarts retain faith in the old ways.<ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Blessed Spear of the Mosswart Gods]]</ref>
Mosswart Shamans exists, who rely on magic and cast like there's no tomorrow. They seem to favor elemental war spells. The existence of Shamans implies that mosswarts have a religion. Little however is known about their modes of worship and their cosmology?<ref name=SageEncounter/>
Over the many years that Mosswarts have been on Auberean, they have worshipped a multitude of gods - enough that their true gods have become faded memories. Still, some Mosswarts retain faith in the old ways.<ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Blessed Spear of the Mosswart Gods]]</ref>  


=== Customs and Traditions ===
=== Customs and Traditions ===
Mosswarts are known for scavenging and stealing.<ref>2004/12 [[The Calm]] - [[Lou Ka's Stolen Items#Lore&Dialog]]</ref><ref>2005/08 [[Friend and Foe]] - [[Hagra's Treaty]]</ref> They are literate, but not able to express themselves as good as the other creatures from [[Ezheret]].
Mosswarts are known for scavenging and stealing.<ref>2004/12 [[The Calm]] - [[Lou Ka's Stolen Items#Lore&Dialog]]</ref><ref>2005/08 [[Friend and Foe]] - [[Hagra's Treaty]]</ref> They are somewhat literate and have a language, but they do seem to communicate with each other mostly through grunting and gesturing.<ref name=SageEncounter/> Mosswarts sometimes perform a strangely endearing little dance which involves waggling their heads with a bizarre rhythm as moving their limbs to an unheard beat. <ref name=SageEncounter/>


=== Real World Basis ===
=== Real World Basis ===
Line 55: Line 57:
== Factions ==
== Factions ==
* [[Dark Mosswarts]]
* [[Dark Mosswarts]]
* [[Merwart]]


== Items ==
== Items ==
Line 103: Line 106:
* [[Gateway to the Deep]]
* [[Gateway to the Deep]]
* [[Green Mire Grave Quest]]
* [[Green Mire Grave Quest]]
* [[King Toad Idol Quest]]
* [[Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task]]
* [[Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task]]
* [[Mosswart Worshipper Kill Task]]
* [[Mosswart Worshipper Kill Task]]
Line 123: Line 127:
[[Category:Lore Database Entry]]
[[Category:Lore Database Entry]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:In Progress]]

Revision as of 14:47, 16 November 2011

Related topics: Cultures, Mosswart, Category:Mosswart

Mosswarts are humanoids from the same world as Drudges, Tumeroks and Banderlings. In Dereth, they live in various swamps and marshes, particularly in the Blackmire Swamp between the Sho and Aluvian lands. They have also infested many ruins and damp catacombs. They are small, fight with claws, spears, swords and javelins, and are fearless when cornered. Some colonies also have magic-using shamans.[1][2]

The first thing you'd notice would probably be the smell. Their senses are very keen. Their coloring makes it easy for them to hide among the plants and sneak up on you. Of course, you almost never find one by itself, they always travel in groups. Most Mosswarts are about four feet tall but Chieftains are almost man-sized, with skin more of a foul yellow than a rotting green. They're about twice as tough and strong as the lesser warriors. And they occasionally cast spells like the Shamans.[2]

History

On Ezheret

Mosswarts originate from the world the Tumeroks call Ezheret-Hazahtu, although they only live on the body they call Ezheret. This requires some explanation. While a sun does rise and fall in the sky, Ezheret actually orbits another, larger planet called Hazahtu. Hazahtu, or “The Blind Eye,” is an enormous, cloud-shrouded grey-blue orb. Ezheret is hot, humid, and prone to extended periods of foul weather. Gales and hurricanes are frequent, perhaps due to the unusual sparseness of dry land.[3] Ezheret is a moon world capable of supporting several species. Three of these species appear to have better than animal intelligence, capable of crafting rudimentary tools and sustaining a limited form of speech.[4]

The Mosswart share Ezheret with the Tumeroks, as well as the Banderlings and Drudges.[3][4]


On Dereth

Portals to Dereth appeared on Ezereth, and a few mosswart tribes, including a tribe protecting a special Tribal Shroud, depicting the first free Mosswart who had escaped from his alien captors and freed the rest of his people, went into this portal.[5] One of the first Mosswarts to walk through the portal to Dereth where they made their home in the swamps, and who befriended the native Gromnies, was the Mosswart Hero [Kreerg]]. He was later killed by a Virindi altered Mosswart, named Greearghk.[6]

The vendetta between Mosswarts and Banderlings goes back a long way and they seek to obtain each others holy or ceremonial items through trickery, trade or warfare,.[5] However, this changed after the Shadow Spires disappeared. A wave of fierce portal-energy squalls slid down the length of the Direlands, bringing with them fiercer varieties of banderling, shreth, and other familiar creatures. [7] Banderlings have learned to do bully lesser creatures. Reports came of mosswarts gathered under the banner of banderling camp chieftains. Banderlings and Mosswarts started working together to attack human settlements, and established camps throughout Dereth.[8]

This did not last long however, since Banderlings attacked a band of Mosswarts which were involved in the kidnapping of Candeth Martine and stole some ceremonial Banderling items.[9][10][11] Main instrument in Martine's capture was the Mosswart Chieftain Arrgkh Mearrgkh and his tribe, who was promised great powers by the Virindi in exchange for a captive human.[5][12]
Another deal he made with the Virindi was to deliver them Mosswarts of his tribe to be altered. Though at first he thought this was a great deal, later he got doubts because it became less easier to rule the altered Mosswarts, and he didn't want to share his power.[5] The Virindi, most notable Aerbax, experimented with the concept of "Worship", using Idols, when trying to gain control of the Mosswarts.[13] Mosswarts (referred to as "croakers") were one of the creatures experimented on by Aerbax during its early experiments with the"Energy Source".[14]Arrgkh stopped sending his subjects to the Virindi. He took his people, now strong with Mire-Witches and Soultrappers away from their stronghold in which they had been staying after the delivery of the prisoner, and found a new lair.[5] There he was found by Candeth Martine after Martine escaped the Virindi, and, being forced to give up the Shroud, died a painful dead at Martine's hands. The Shroud was ripped to pieces.[5][15] Most probably, he was succeeded by Gragghk, since this Mosswart Chieftain drops the now Torn Mosswart Shroud and Storytelling.

Aerbax's later, "Prodigal", experiments resulted in the Mosswarts showing an increased degree of organization and they besieged the town of Kryst, directed by Bragara, the Chosen One, the Prodigal Mosswart, who was supposed to inspire a kind of "worship" amongst his kin.[13] [16][17][18] The experiment was considered a partial success, since while Bragara, the Chosen One was able to unify a force of Mosswarts, they were fraught with dissension in the ranks, they were inclined to believe a range of things, which sometimes made sense and sometimes didn't. They were inclined to be confused, and would not have worked as a stable organized force to conquer the neighboring human town.[13]

Culture

Rulers

Mosswarts do not have one, single ruler. They are organized in tribes, originally led by "Chieftains" and "Shamans".

Religions and Beliefs

Mosswart Shamans exists, who rely on magic and cast like there's no tomorrow. They seem to favor elemental war spells. The existence of Shamans implies that mosswarts have a religion. Little however is known about their modes of worship and their cosmology?[2] Over the many years that Mosswarts have been on Auberean, they have worshipped a multitude of gods - enough that their true gods have become faded memories. Still, some Mosswarts retain faith in the old ways.[19]

Customs and Traditions

Mosswarts are known for scavenging and stealing.[20][21] They are somewhat literate and have a language, but they do seem to communicate with each other mostly through grunting and gesturing.[2] Mosswarts sometimes perform a strangely endearing little dance which involves waggling their heads with a bizarre rhythm as moving their limbs to an unheard beat. [2]

Real World Basis

Texts

Hagra's Treaty

Internet Articles

Factions

Items

Armor

Gauntlets of Marksmanship Homunculus Mask Mire Witch's Loincloth Swamp Lord's War Paint Mosswart Mask

Weapons

Blessed Spear of the Mosswart Gods Head of the Homunculus (Casting Orb - 2 Eyes) Kreerg's Spear Ice Tachi Rumuba's Jade Spear The Eye of Drageerg

Miscellaneous

Head of Big Chief Hagra Head of the Homunculus Idol Gem Mosswart Armband (Elder) Mosswart Armband (Worshipper) Mosswart Thanking Stone Rumuba's Jade Spearhead Leerargh's Necklace Swamp Stone Torn Mosswart Shroud Spear of Kreerg Hand of Vagurat Necklace of Leerargh Eye of Drageerg Mire Witch Loincloth Mosswart War Paint Tattered Virindi Cloak Pack Mosswart

Quests

Art & Images

Click image for full size version.

References

  1. 2001/11 Dark Majesty - Bestiary: Mosswarts
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 1999/11 Release - Mosswarts: A Sage's Mosswart Encounter
  3. 3.0 3.1 2001/11 Dark Majesty - Bestiary: Tumeroks
  4. 4.0 4.1 2003/05 Discoveries - Theories of Ezheret
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 2001/02 - Lonely in the World - Storytelling Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Storytelling" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Storytelling" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Storytelling" defined multiple times with different content
  6. 2004/08 From the Darkness Born - Bleeargh's Gratitude#Lore&Dialog
  7. 2000/06 The Paths of Destruction - Teaser
  8. 2000/10 A Gathering of Monsters
  9. 2000/10 Hollow Victory - Mace of the Explorer Quest#Lore & Dialog
  10. 2000/10 Hollow Victory - A Battered Leather Journal
  11. 2000/10 Hollow Victory - A Dry Withered Leather Bound Journal
  12. 2001/02 - Lonely in the World - Sir Martine's Journal
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons] - Piece of Paper Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "PiecePaper" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 2003/01 The Slumbering Giant - Research Notes: Mosswart
  15. 2001/02 - Lonely in the World - description of Torn Mosswart Shroud
  16. 2007/05 Prodigal Sons - Teaser
  17. 2007/05 Prodigal Sons - Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task#Lore & Dialog
  18. 2007/05 Prodigal Sons - Aerbax's Prodigal Mosswart
  19. 2007/05 Prodigal Sons - Blessed Spear of the Mosswart Gods
  20. 2004/12 The Calm - Lou Ka's Stolen Items#Lore&Dialog
  21. 2005/08 Friend and Foe - Hagra's Treaty