Castles In The Sky

To: Trader Nirveli Visolela of the Silver Chimera Trading Company
From: Wakiza N’Uzmoa of the Silver Shadow Keep Explorers

 

Dearest Aunt,

        I am writing to you from the small town of Starrymallow Bridge on the border of the Plains of Kalahara where we had ventured for new tracking hounds. The open spaces of Kalahara were a relief after the cramped and noisy confines of the railroad cars.

Kalahara is a large underground city, much like Shadowfell. The center of the city consists mainly of Nabunahri Keep, a twenty-one story pyramid of black obsidian decorated by a quartet of diamond moons that cycle through the changes as if real.

Sunspires crystals crown the top to poke through to the surface. Radiating away from the keep like spokes on a wheel are the city’s famous arenas, bars, gaming dens, gentleman’s clubs, kennels, armories, weapon shops, stables and other forms of entertainment. 

The City is a dark, smoky place filled with the cheers of the audiences as well as the groans of the losers and the screams of the wounded and dying. The sounds of hundreds of animals echo through the closed confines along with their smells.

 I felt like a country farmer, visiting my first big city as we made our way past the gaudily-dressed barkers, the blood-soaked fighters and the frantic revelers. Slipping through the crowds were the natives; tall, pale beings with the grace and cautious movements of a spider. Each Ragarian was unremarkable except for their slow walk and tiny fangs that poked under their thin lips.

 We sought out the dwelling of one Ragarian, a Huntmaster of some note, inside Nabunahri Keep. It was from Tayari Adannaya that we wanted to purchase the hounds from. She accommodated us quite splendidly in her quarters, which proved to be as luxurious and spacious as any manor house.

 The next day, after courteously requesting we rest and refresh ourselves, Huntmaster Tayari took us to her kennels. Near the surface of the city we examined the sleek hounds and selected a healthy dozen to take back with us. As we were returning a ruckus drew our attention.

 With a bright light in her pale eyes, the Huntemaster indulged our interest. A large iron cage was being transported to the surface filled with various beings shrieking and moaning in terror. When I expressed concern for these captives, Tayari assured me they were violent, condemned criminals (being a debtor is a crime in Kalahara but, is hardly a violent crime) who had been given a choice to win their freedom.

Behind them rode a trio of apprentice Huntmasters mounted on powerfully muscled boars as tall as a warhorse. Short tawny-orange fur spotted with dark rosettes. Over their shoulders and haunches were patches of long, golden quills. Sharp-looking bristles poked up from their backs and along their jaws. Thick claws edged the forepaws and tusks jutted out from the wrinkled snout.

They were controlled by rings through their nostrils connected to reins. The pressure of their riders’ legs guided them forward. Each squealed and grunted in porcine anger as they strained against their restraints. Their bat-like ears swiveled constantly around on their heads as if glancing around.

We followed the strange procession to the surface, curious and afraid of what we would see. The cage of prisoners was released in the middle of a square marked by small stones while the strange cheetah-spotted boars were held some distance away.

After pronouncing the crimes of each person and promising their freedom if they avoided the boars, the prisoners were released with no more than the clothes on their backs and a flask of water.

A large mural in front of us flickered into life as the prisoners ran, allowing us a view of their escape. After the last of their dust had faded from view, the boars were released to follow. Though not as fast as a cheetah, they coursed through the tall grass with the barreling run of a forest pig and easily caught the trail of the prisoners. I learned that their high-pitched squealed and grunts worked much the same way as a bat’s cry; the sound bounced off their surroundings to give the boars an image of their surroundings. No tree, nor rock nor hole could conceal their prey from the sight of sound.

My heart hammered in my throat as I watched with fascinated illness as the boars chased down each prisoner. Their tusks tossed strong men into the air, only to rip their innards out as they fell and crush the mangled body under their back hooves. Thick claws raked open soft flesh, dug out those who would hide and even cut up crude shield and armor. Sharp teeth gobbled up their victims.

They seemed unaware of their own injuries or fatigue as they pursued their prey with a single-minded ferocity.  One by one the prisoners fell to their rampages until only one remained. Cleverly, the last prisoner used her lead to mark a trail to wash where she used the advantage of height to lob homemade spears through the rings glimmering in their nostrils. Strips of scavenged clothing knotted together served as tethers to hold the boars to stakes made from chipped obsidian and sunk deeply into the ground.

After she had crossed the line and vanished from sight, the boars were retrieved. A Keep healer tended to their wounds after a heavy dosing of sedatives while blood and dirt was cleaned off their thick hides. When the boars were tended to, they were led off by their handlers as docile as any warhorse after a battle.

I was so impressed with them, especially with their size, that I negotiated for a litter of suckling piglets. I spent the last two weeks, longer than anticipated, learning how to care for them. It would be a tragedy to secure such interesting specimens only to have them die of neglect a few days later. Already they have thick gold rings through their noses.

When my favorite is old enough to ride, I must return so we both can learn the intricate dance of pressure that is used for riding. Sadly, the Kalaharans neuter the piglets they sell but, I am content to have my own fine sow to ride. Now if only I can keep her away from the folk of Starrymellow Bridge who seem to think she is destined for a roasting spit.

The hounds are in excellent health and are responding well to training. I look forward to seeing if they will hunt well with their larger companions.  Shaeun is impatient to be off to some deserted island to chase after another elusive mage. I will see you soon, aunt. Send my love to mother and my respects to our lady.

I’ll be home soon.

 

Love,
Wakiza
First-month, Year of the Silver Claw

 

Kalaharan Spotted Boar 

Size/Type: Large Animal

Hit Dice: 7d8+21 (52 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (-1 size, +6 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+17
Attack: Gore +12 melee (1d8+12)
Full Attack: Gore +12 melee (1d8+12), Trample + 5 Melee 1d10, 2 Claws  +1 Melee 1d4
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Ferocity
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +5, Will +8
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 10, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Skills: Listen +8, Spot +8 . Move Silently +6
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Iron Will
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary or herd (5-8)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 8-16 HD (Large); 17-21 HD (Huge) 

Description: Designed by the Fleshweavers of Kalahara these gigantic boars stand between 5 and 6 feet tall at the shoulder, with a length of 4 ½ to 5 feet in length not including their 2-3 foot long fox-like tail. They weigh between 1100 and 1500 lbs.

The coat of the Kalahara Spotted boar ranges from reddish wheaten to pale gold in tone with black or charcoal rosettes liberally sprinkled from muzzle to tail. Golden yellow spines, resembling the quills of a porcupine, are clumped around the upper thigh and may run along the abdomen.

Powerfully muscled shoulders end in a hump over the thick neck with a thin line of quills often edging its upper back. Trainers usually discourage the formation of quills around the back and abdomen on boars trained for riding.  Bristly black hairs poke out through the short body hair around the legs and head.

Thick tusks protrude out of the lower jaw framing its wrinkled muzzle. Gold or brass rings are usually pierced through the wide, sensitive nostrils in order to control the beast. Short, bat-like ears jut out from the top of its skull above small eyes in hues of amber or brown.

The Kalahara Spotted Boar emits high-pitched squeals and grunts almost continuously which bounce off objects around it. By listening to the echoes (echolocation) the boars are able to sense objects around them and locate creatures around them. Their sense of smell, taste and eyesight are excellent. They can see as well as a sight hound, smell as well as a bloodhound and have a palate comparable to a trained gourmet.

Sharp claws protrude from their forepaws much like a cheetah’s while thick toenails protect the hindpaws. The boars are not as swift as the cheetahs they resemble, but their speed is comparable to a fast horse.

Highly intelligent, the boars can be taught several dozen short commands either vocal (5 words or less) or non-verbal, they can be ridden, and they can be taught tricks.

 

Combat: Like normal boars, Kalaharan Spotted boars are capable of using their tusks to gore their opponents. They prefer attack from ambush to bowl over their opponent before trampling and/or goring them. They can also rake their opponent with their sharp claws or kick out with their back feet.

The boars rely on a series of hit and run attacks, rarely staying engaged at melee unless their opponent is prone. Their spotted coat makes it easy for them to blend into grasslands or forest, making them hard to see despite their bulk.

The echolocation allows them to spot opponents out of normal visual range, giving them an advantage over most species. Those with sensitive hearing may be able to hear their high-pitched squeals and grunts which are often the only warning of an attack.

Kalaharan Spotted Boars work well in small groups (2-4). They are able to communicate over long distances (up to 10 miles) even through dense forests.

Fortunately for their prey, these boars are poor climbers and swimmers. They are not reluctant to get wet though and often enjoy a good wallow in mud. They are good diggers and are unafraid of caves or underground warrens.

Their single-minded pursuit of prey and ferocity in combat allow the Boars to continue to fight even if badly injured. They will break off an attack if reduced by ¼ hitpoints but will only give up tracking their prey if taught or commanded to. Boars may enter into a blood frenzy if cornered or to protect their mate and young. When in blood frenzy the boars gain a +4 initiative and will continue to be able to fight at full effectiveness until reduced to zero hitpoints.

Society: Kalaharan Spotted Boars were artificially created by the Ragarian Fleshweavers and Huntmasters to provide reliable mounts and trackers. Kalahara Spotted Boars are surprisingly gentle and loyal to their trainers while ferocious on the hunt.

Sows mature at the age of 3 years and go into a regular heat cycle every four months that lasts a week. During the week, males will compete with each other in ritualized combat to win the right to breed. Young are produced after a pregnancy of six months, litters range from 8-12. The young are not spotted at birth, though the dark patches where spots will appear are marked on their skin.

Sows are fiercely protective of their young and their nesting area. Young are birthed in underground nests with a single tunnel leading to the surface. Males are tolerated on the edges of the female’s territory and will race to respond to cries of distress from any young or female. The young can walk soon after birth and within days follow their dam around on her constant foraging for food.

Young Boars stay with their mothers for another six months before being completely weaned. Trainers often neuter them at three months of age and begin rudimentary training. Young Boars are sold between the age of 4 and 6 months since they bond quickly to a single person. Neutered males are preferred as mounts for the more docile behavior.

Breeding females and males are normally not ridden or trained beyond the bare fundamentals. Their young will bond quickly to their first master (The master must take care of them for 1d3 weeks before the bonding process begins. Bonding is not complete for 1d4 months, if during this time the first bond is shattered they require 1d6 weeks to re-bond with a new master).

Training commences around their sixth month. Boars are able to be ridden safely at 2 years of age. The rings put in their nostrils on their third month control them by putting pressure on their sensitive snouts. Specially designed saddles and harnesses allow them to be ridden much like a horse with commands being communicated via leg pressure. They can be hitched to a cart or buggy though they are poor draft animals.

Kalaharan Spotted Boars require dust or mud wallows to bathe in, both for practical purposes of ridding themselves of dead skin and parasites and also for relaxation. They are omnivores that enjoy fruits, nuts, tubers, fungi and vegetables as well as freshly killed meat. They do not eat carrion or grass.

Being porcine, they are susceptible to many Humanoid diseases including but not limited to cholera, typhoid fever, influenza, measles, smallpox, common cold, tuberculosis, leprosy and anthrax. They are also plagued by ticks, mites, mange, ringworm and internal parasites that can sap their health and strength if not properly cared for. Broken teeth or tusks can cause them great agony, reducing their strength by 1d3 points until fixed. Their claws and hooves must be taken care of to avoid fungal infestations and infections.