Haruchai - Revision history

Bennettj: /* History */

2026-05-22T17:48:52Z

History

Tao alexis at 12:58, 6 June 2022

2022-06-06T12:58:50Z

Tao alexis at 12:58, 6 June 2022

2022-06-06T12:58:21Z

Tao alexis at 23:26, 31 December 2021

2021-12-31T23:26:08Z

Tao alexis at 05:58, 21 October 2021

2021-10-21T05:58:29Z

Tao alexis at 19:25, 20 October 2021

2021-10-20T19:25:06Z

Tao alexis at 18:59, 20 October 2021

2021-10-20T18:59:36Z

Tao alexis at 16:32, 15 October 2021

2021-10-15T16:32:11Z

Tao alexis at 22:46, 4 October 2021

2021-10-04T22:46:38Z

Tao alexis at 21:09, 3 April 2021

2021-04-03T21:09:09Z

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 [[File:Haruchai.jpg|left|385px]]
 == History ==
-Haruchai settlements began to emerge about 8,000 years ago with the development of the [[Yurt|yurt]] and [[Cattle (domestic)|domesticated cattle]] and [[Yak|yak-raising]].  With the practice of agriculture about 2500-3000, their number increased.  A series of wars in the early Bronze Age, circa 2200, with northern [[Hobgoblin|hobgoblins]] and [[Flind|flinds]], and with the [[Dwarf Race & Physiology|dwarves]] of [[Kingdom of Altslok|Altslok]].  Chinese to the south described them as "northern barbarians" beginning with the 8th century BC.  During this period they were called the Donghu by outsiders.  Between that period and the 300s AD, various confederations and dynasties arose among the haruchai, as they spread westward towards Sinkiang and later through the Dzungarian Gate.
+Haruchai settlements began to emerge about 8,000 years ago with the development of the [[Yurt|yurt]] and [[Cattle (domestic)|domesticated cattle]] and [[Yak|yak-raising]].  With the practice of [[Agriculture (technology)|agriculture]] about 2500-3000, their number increased.  A series of wars in the early Bronze Age, circa 2200, with northern [[Hobgoblin|hobgoblins]] and [[Flind|flinds]], and with the [[Dwarf Race & Physiology|dwarves]] of [[Kingdom of Altslok|Altslok]].  Chinese to the south described them as "northern barbarians" beginning with the 8th century BC.  During this period they were called the Donghu by outsiders.  Between that period and the 300s AD, various confederations and dynasties arose among the haruchai, as they spread westward towards Sinkiang and later through the Dzungarian Gate.
 Warring with Turks and other groups, the western haruchai (Oirots) drove these peoples out and occupied their lands.  This initiated a wave of barbarians migrating across the Asian steppe, pushing forward Huns, Slavs, Avars and Khazars, later Cumans and Pechenegs, and finally the Turks themselves.  In the 10th century, the orcish Khitan peoples were broken and fled west; they settled along the Balkhash between 1100 and 1200, but their presence infuriated the haruchai.  Following a 20-year war with Altslok, in which the dwarves held their own, the "Mongol haruchai" were organized under Genghis Khan — who, turning west, destroyed the Khitai along with other lesser peoples.  Khwarezmia, Samarkand, Georgia, Kiev, Russia and the Volga Bulgars were smashed and conquered in their turn, establishing haruchai as foreign Padishahs over Persia, Russia and the consolidated Jagatai Empire.  By 1279, they had conquered the Song dynasty, bringing China under the control of haruchai overlords until 1368.

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 Warring with Turks and other groups, the western haruchai (Oirots) drove these peoples out and occupied their lands.  This initiated a wave of barbarians migrating across the Asian steppe, pushing forward Huns, Slavs, Avars and Khazars, later Cumans and Pechenegs, and finally the Turks themselves.  In the 10th century, the orcish Khitan peoples were broken and fled west; they settled along the Balkhash between 1100 and 1200, but their presence infuriated the haruchai.  Following a 20-year war with Altslok, in which the dwarves held their own, the "Mongol haruchai" were organized under Genghis Khan — who, turning west, destroyed the Khitai along with other lesser peoples.  Khwarezmia, Samarkand, Georgia, Kiev, Russia and the Volga Bulgars were smashed and conquered in their turn, establishing haruchai as foreign Padishahs over Persia, Russia and the consolidated Jagatai Empire.  By 1279, they had conquered the Song dynasty, bringing China under the control of haruchai overlords until 1368.
-The main outward regions of this vast empire have collapsed in the last two hundred years; [[Grand Duchy of Moskovy|Moskovy]] continues to defend its frontier along the Volga against haruchai-orc lands, having failed to hurl these peoples back across the Ural mountains.  Persia has been consolidated under the [[Safavid Empire|Safavids]].  Following the conquest of Afghanistan and Central Asia by Tamerlane, a haruchai, these regions have been consolidated under the Mughals, founded by Tamerlane's great-great-great-grandson Babur (who, with his descendents, are a mixed human and orcish bloodline, with the latter much diminished through breeding).  Yet in Central Asia, there remain many independent empires and kingdoms that, though lacking unity, continue to hold a tight grip upon a vast area.  In each of these, the warring spirit of haruchai continues to foment border wars and unrest in a wide circle of potentially peaceful nations, due to the fear that another Genghis or Tamerlane may arise with each new generation.
+The main outward regions of this vast empire have collapsed in the last two hundred years; [[Grand Duchy of Moskva|Moskovy]] continues to defend its frontier along the Volga against haruchai-orc lands, having failed to hurl these peoples back across the Ural mountains.  Persia has been consolidated under the [[Safavid Empire|Safavids]].  Following the conquest of Afghanistan and Central Asia by Tamerlane, a haruchai, these regions have been consolidated under the Mughals, founded by Tamerlane's great-great-great-grandson Babur (who, with his descendents, are a mixed human and orcish bloodline, with the latter much diminished through breeding).  Yet in Central Asia, there remain many independent empires and kingdoms that, though lacking unity, continue to hold a tight grip upon a vast area.  In each of these, the warring spirit of haruchai continues to foment border wars and unrest in a wide circle of potentially peaceful nations, due to the fear that another Genghis or Tamerlane may arise with each new generation.
 == Biology ==

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 Warring with Turks and other groups, the western haruchai (Oirots) drove these peoples out and occupied their lands.  This initiated a wave of barbarians migrating across the Asian steppe, pushing forward Huns, Slavs, Avars and Khazars, later Cumans and Pechenegs, and finally the Turks themselves.  In the 10th century, the orcish Khitan peoples were broken and fled west; they settled along the Balkhash between 1100 and 1200, but their presence infuriated the haruchai.  Following a 20-year war with Altslok, in which the dwarves held their own, the "Mongol haruchai" were organized under Genghis Khan — who, turning west, destroyed the Khitai along with other lesser peoples.  Khwarezmia, Samarkand, Georgia, Kiev, Russia and the Volga Bulgars were smashed and conquered in their turn, establishing haruchai as foreign Padishahs over Persia, Russia and the consolidated Jagatai Empire.  By 1279, they had conquered the Song dynasty, bringing China under the control of haruchai overlords until 1368.
-The main outward regions of this vast empire have collapsed in the last two hundred years; [[Grand Duchy of Moscovy|Moscovy]] continues to defend its frontier along the Volga against haruchai-orc lands, having failed to hurl these peoples back across the Ural mountains.  Persia has been consolidated under the [[Safavid Empire|Safavids]].  Following the conquest of Afghanistan and Central Asia by Tamerlane, a haruchai, these regions have been consolidated under the Mughals, founded by Tamerlane's great-great-great-grandson Babur (who, with his descendents, are a mixed human and orcish bloodline, with the latter much diminished through breeding).  Yet in Central Asia, there remain many independent empires and kingdoms that, though lacking unity, continue to hold a tight grip upon a vast area.  In each of these, the warring spirit of haruchai continues to foment border wars and unrest in a wide circle of potentially peaceful nations, due to the fear that another Genghis or Tamerlane may arise with each new generation.
+The main outward regions of this vast empire have collapsed in the last two hundred years; [[Grand Duchy of Moskovy|Moskovy]] continues to defend its frontier along the Volga against haruchai-orc lands, having failed to hurl these peoples back across the Ural mountains.  Persia has been consolidated under the [[Safavid Empire|Safavids]].  Following the conquest of Afghanistan and Central Asia by Tamerlane, a haruchai, these regions have been consolidated under the Mughals, founded by Tamerlane's great-great-great-grandson Babur (who, with his descendents, are a mixed human and orcish bloodline, with the latter much diminished through breeding).  Yet in Central Asia, there remain many independent empires and kingdoms that, though lacking unity, continue to hold a tight grip upon a vast area.  In each of these, the warring spirit of haruchai continues to foment border wars and unrest in a wide circle of potentially peaceful nations, due to the fear that another Genghis or Tamerlane may arise with each new generation.
 == Biology ==

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 == Behaviour ==
-Though organized as clans, haruchai identify themselves more often with their tribe than with their immediate family.  Hunting parties often consist of more than one clan acting together, so that the number of hunters may be 40 or more.  Their tactics often involve killing more than the clan can eat, as the amount of food brought it offers prestige.  Several tribes together form a [[Chiefdom (entity)|chiefdom]] called a "banner."  Banners may wage war independently against small groups, or several banners may join together under a [[Khan|khan]] to wage war on a massive scale.
+Though organized as clans, haruchai identify themselves more often with their tribe than with their immediate family.  Hunting parties often consist of more than one clan acting together, so that the number of hunters may be 40 or more.  Their tactics often involve killing more than the clan can eat, as the amount of [[Food|food]] brought it offers prestige.  Several tribes together form a [[Chiefdom (entity)|chiefdom]] called a "banner."  Banners may wage war independently against small groups, or several banners may join together under a [[Khan|khan]] to wage war on a massive scale.
 When at war, they will unhesitatingly kill innocent persons, often en masse, gathering them together in groups and then indulging in a killing ecstasy that may last for several days, if the number of victims allows.  It is for this reason that they are feared by outsiders.  They have no kindness or loyalty towards the lesser races that serve them, and especially are fond of bullying orcs; they have great respect for the cleverness and cruelty of cavewights, who often act as [[Chieftain|chieftains]] over a tribe of haruchai.

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 | THAC0 = 20
 | hpdie = 2d4
-| attack = [[claw (attack)|claw]] or by weapon type
+| attack = [[Claw (attack)|claw]] or by weapon type
 | dmg = 2–8 or by weapon type
 | special = [[Strength (ability stat)|strength]] 18

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 | species = [[Humanoid|humanoid]] (orcish)
 | noapp = 15-150
-| behaviour = clan
+| behaviour = [[Clan (group)|clan]]
 | range = [[Alpine (range)|alpine]], [[Desert (range)|desert]], [[Steppe (range)|steppe]]
 | size = 6 ft., 6-9 in. tall

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 == Fighting ==
-'''Common haruchai''' will be [[Weapon Proficiencies|proficient]] in two [[Weapons List|weapons]].  As [[Troop (unit)|troops]] will almost always be mounted on horses, these weapons will be [[Spear (weapon)|spear]] and [[Bow (weapon)|short bow]], with about one quarter being able to [[Horse-mounted Combat II (sage ability)|fire their bow from the saddle]].  [[Horse Handling I (sage ability)|Riding a mount]] should be treated as a minimum requirement for haruchai.  In combat, most will wear [[Leather Armour|leather armour]] without a [[Shield (armour)|shield]], adjusting their natural armour class (AC) to 3.
+'''Common haruchai''' will be [[Weapon Proficiencies|proficient]] in two [[Weapons List|weapons]].  As [[Troop (unit)|troops]] will almost always be mounted on horses, these weapons will be [[Spear (weapon)|spear]] and [[Bow (weapon)|short bow]], with about one quarter being able to [[Horse-mounted Combat II (sage ability)|fire their bow from the saddle]].  [[Horse Handling I (sage ability)|Riding a mount]] should be treated as a minimum requirement for haruchai.  In combat, most will wear [[Leather Armour|leather armour]] without a [[Shield (armour)|shield]], adjusting their natural [[Armour Class|armour class]] (AC) to 3.
 '''Leaders''' and other levelled haruchai will be [[Assassin (class)|assassins]], [[Fighter (class)|fighters]] and [[Ranger (class)|rangers]], and will most likely choose to study [[Murder (sage study)|murder]], [[Puissance (sage study)|puissance]] and [[Scouting (sage study)|scouting]], each of which will define their roles, and the roles of their clans and tribes, during times of warfare.  Leaders will have either three or four proficiencies, favouring a [[Glaive (weapon)|glaive]], [[Long Sword (weapon)|long sword]] (2-8 [[Damage (hit points)|damage]]) or [[Dagger (weapon)|dagger]] in addition to spear and short bow.  All will be able to fight with bow from horseback, as will stronger haruchai.  Their horses will be light to medium [[Warhorse|warhorses]] and will possess leather [[Barding (armour)|barding]].  Haruchai leaders will dress in [[Studded Leather (armour)|studded leather armour]] (called the "kuyak").  Half their number will also be attended by 1-3 [[War Dog|war dogs]], which are trained to run alongside horses.