I. With another teammate, create two creature cards, one for each of your races, that combos with each other. Individual players will be critiqued with both cards.
I. Create a creature card that combos with one of your teammates' races, either tribally or by interacting with one of their themes or mechanics.
II. With another teammate, create one creature card that is a combination of both races, such as a pair or a hybrid. The card will be used to critique both players.
III. As a team, create an uncommon or rare set of "elite" versions of each of your races. Individual players will be critiqued for their own card only, but with the cycle in mind.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
I. At least one card per player must have flavor text that is a quote from another teammate's race.
II. Entries can only be uncommons and rares.
Jannik had the worst luck.
Out of all the people to contact, he got them.
Heck, the Vassav swamps would be better then going to Vezung Island.
But no, Jannik did get chosen to go to the Vezung jungle, and he had be chosen to contact the Griosk.
Jannik had been running for 3 days now, stopping only to rest at the occasional onite village, they were a peculiar folk, the onites, very different values from the ursk, but he couldn't say their simpler way of life didn't have an allure to it. Graggek had been chosen to act as the contact for the onites, reaching them would be the easy part, convincing the onites to actually do something organized was another issue entirely. The Ursk War Council had sent out ten emissaries bearing scrolls from King Grazmark telling of the oncoming Grubblin invasion, one to each of Kielra's major races. Nobody knew how many would return. Kielra is an unforgiving land, and the people had learned from it. Jannik just prayed that Kiele would see it that he be one of them.
Ducking under an elevated root, Jannik cursed the sight, shoreline, it meant he was near, the last time an ursk had set foot on Vezung he had been killed. He pushed the thought from his head, that had been years ago, after all maybe they've changed. no luck, that didn't even sound convincing in the the young ursk's head. But this was necessary, as much as the ursk and the griosk hated one another, they needed each other right now, neither could stand against the coming war alone.
A raft rested on the beach, The island seemed so near, it looked like he should be able to swim there, but he had been warned. The currents of the Nerrin trench were deceiving and exhausting, he would have to use the raft.
"Well, here goes everything" he muttered pushing the small craft out into the water.The greeting party lingered at the edge of the jungle, peering out between the trees at the rocky shore, where the light shined intensely and their territory ended. The group was silent, nervously awaiting the arrival of an Ursk. One of their number spoke, in a low voice, "I don't like this. We should not accept an invitation requested by a heretic."
Another replied, "Indeed, and you heard the stories of the last of these creatures to come here? It took down three warriors by itself! We should slit it's throat while we have the chance, else we might fall and give it the chance to set up a forward--"
"Silence, the both of you," their leader cut across them, "Even if my daughter is a heretic, she wouldn't send a bat with the single highest level of urgency unless this... Ursk," he fumbled with the word, "truly needed to come here. Besides, we brought a larger than usual group for this visitor specifically." He was a tall male Griosk by the name of Ksata, and a member of the high council of the Griosk theocracy. He had decided to personally see to the greeting of this beast, as it had been his daughter that asked for his right to enter the island. Though, no sooner had he finished speaking, but the first sight of the visitor appeared in the distance. A raft bobbing on the waves. They moved forward, into the light, so that Jannik might see where to land, and waited. Some of their number commented on how fast the beast had gotten here.
The raft ground to a halt on the stone coast of the island, and Ksata slithered forward, speaking in a rough accent, an ever present hiss in his voice, "Welkom, Jannikk, we heard you were koming. I am Ksata, a member of the high kouncil. Lodgings for you are being prepared as we speak, based on what we know of your kind, we hope they will be akkeptable. Though, the kouncil's home is still a day and a half travel away, and others have diffikulty in travel through our lands, sometimes, so we should begin to moving. Please to follow me," and with that, Ksata would turn, beckoning with a hand as he moved back into the trees, the other Griosk moving apart so they could flank the Ursk as they moved though the jungle.
The Vezung Rainforest was completely devoid of light, but for Jannik, this was no issue, though it was naturally a bit disconcreting to catch a glimpse of a star-like eye behind a veil of vines in the darkness. The Griosk were not very talkative, though, they would speak if Jannik tried to make conversation. Ksata wouldn't, however, as he stayed at the front of the group, leading their path through the jungle. They passed under two villages as they made their way forward. Several Griosk looking down from the huts suspended high in the trees to catch a glimpse of the first Ursk to set foot in their home in a long, long time.
The second day began with a downpour. The rain itself was no different than the storms in the Ursk's rainforest, but the result, the mud underfoot, was horrendously magnified. This didn't slow the Griosk down much, but it might have been an issue for Jannik. That is, if the snake-creatures weren't helping him as they went.
It felt like most of the day was gone when the rain finally let up, and they arrived under the high council's city. Almost every single one of the vast tree's in this place supported dozens of buildings, some even high up enough as to break through the canopy itself. Now was the first time that Ksata spoke since the greeting on the shore, "I will show you to your lodgings, Jannik," before escorting the Ursk to a stone hut on the forest floor. A few Griosk workers there eyed Jannik with jealousy. To have a home on the forest floor was a great honor. Ksata turned to Jannik then, "The kouncil will be waiting on your arrival. Make preparations and kome in your own time."
When Jannik would decide to go to the council, he would find it simply enough, as it in the lowest point in the city, and surrounded on all sides by towering trees. He hadn't see it clearly before, but at the top of the trees, the canopy was broken, allowing a single pillar of light shone down from the sky above, revealing that it was still only noon, despite the fact that the trip had felt like it had taken so long. The council circle was a stone platform, raised out of a murky pond that encompassed all of the titanic trees around it.
As he walked out onto the platform, the blinding light of the sun high above shocked his eyes, making the darkness look far darker. He wasn't even aware that there were others around him until someone spoke, Ksata, loud in the shadows before Jannik, "What is the purpose of your visit into our lands?"One of the largest Onite villages the Ursk new about sat on the coast, near where the river where they were first found poured into the ocean. The first sun was setting when Graggek walked into the village, onto the main road. Several children, some who had never seen an Ursk, immediately swarmed him, curiosity in the furry guy getting the better of them. Some of the adults around set to work reigning the children back, knowing that the Ursk was quite capable of hurting them if he wanted.
He plodded into the center of the street, to the crossroads, where he noted a small bridge was carrying water uphill to the roofs of the stone houses. The village had a magician or two, obviously. He cleared his throat, seeing some older Onites sitting in basins of slime outside their houses.
"The War is coming!"
The Onites, he knew, had no concept of War. They did of Fights and Fleeing, but not of War. But he managed to catch their attention, as they knew that when something is coming there is trouble.
"We need to band together and take up arms, if we are to stand a chance!"
One of the older Onites lifted himself out of his basin. His green skin flexed as he walked up to the Ursk and raised a hand in greeting. Graggek grabbed his wrist, and the Onite grabbed back, and they released. The Onite then addressed the dignatary, his 4 arms on his sides.
"I am Did, a Priest of Water for this village. We know not what the War is. Does it have claws like yours?"
Graggek smiled. Of course, the Onites would interpret it as a creature. They had been driven out by large beasts before. Now would come the hard part.
"No, War is not a beast of the land or sky. It is like a Fight. But a big fight."
Did frowned. He put a hand on his triple chin, scratching his head with another. Finally, he called over to another older Onite, "Gad, Is he Right?"
Gad lifted a tentacle out of his basin, dragging it on the ground to draw a few lines in the dust. There was a small glow, and Gad nodded. Did asked, "Not beast? But how can it be fight? You need beasts to fight."
Sighing, Graggek patiently responded, "This fight is with lots of beasts. Though they are not beasts." He waits for Did to ask, "What does this mean?" Before continuing, "The Grubblin have started this fight with us. It won't be long before they attack you too."
This is too much for Did to comprehend, so he kind of whines a little. "Gad..." Gad hauls himself out of the basin, and he waddles over on his four feet. Gad speaks to the Ursk, " I am Gad, a Priest of Water for this village. A fight is here now? Should we Flee?"
"No," Graggek replies. "A War is coming. War is not just one fight, and fleeing does no good."
Now it's Gad's turn to whine a little. "Did.... How is a fight not one fight?" Did shakes his head, not sure himself, and he guesses. "It is everywhere?"
Graggek waits for them to come to this conclusion for themselves, remarkable insightful for Onites, and elaborates. "A war is a fight that never ends, and follows you. It is everywhere, because it is anywhere that you are. The only way to stop it is to fight hard yourselves."
The two magicians nod. They finally understand. Graggek would be praised for his ability to describe War to a pair of Onites. It was why he was sent, though. He smiles, in a way such as only an Ursk can smile. Onites are so child like. "OK," he continues, "Can you tell the others what I told you? To prepare for many fights?"
That done, Graggek started loping off to the next village, trying to remember how he explained that so he could explain it again.
The Tail of the Traitor About a Decade Ago... "Oh, it's you again. Look, for the last time, there is no entry into the Gladeren capital, especially for your kind."
Zask lifted her chin defiantly. A young Griosk, only 28 years old, still a teenager, thin, even for a Griosk. She'd been on her pilgrimage for about a year and half now. She was determined to get into the city, partial to spread the message she was supposed to be spreading, but mostly because she was curious about what was in there.
She had been trying for the past two weeks, stopping by every day. It seemed they'd begun to take notice. After two weeks of being denied entry, and even being talked down to by the guards, however, she was not going to take no for an answer this time. Her curiosity had to be sated. "Please allow me to enter. I weell not akkept no for an answer dis time."
The imposing Ursk merely rolled his eyes and snorted, "Really? You? How do you plan on enforcing that statement?"
Zask set her jaw behind her veil of vines. She'd been thinking about how to go about this fight for two days now. She couldn't doubt herself now, "However I need to."
This actually made the Ursk laugh, "I have to give you that. You have balls, lady," before he stepped forward, towering over her, about to make another statement. However, Zask had locked onto the motion of his leg. That was her chance!
Her tail streaked forward and snapped around his ankle, yanking it out from under him, but in the instant as he dropped to two knees, he was responding, his ax out and making a horizontal slash at her. Well, he was put on guard duty for a reason, it seems. Regardless, the blades were out now, only one way out: finish the fight.
Zask bent backwards to avoid the blade as fast as she could, still just barely getting out of the way in time, the edge of the blade lightly brushing a bit of her shawl as it trailed behind her. She snapped up just as fast, and used this moment of over extension on the Ursk's part, on his knees and his leading arm fully extended, to get a foothold, snaking up his arm in an instant and latching onto his back. Another arm came questing up to his back to grab her, but she was expecting this, and her snake tail whipped around his wrist as she pushed off his back and, in the arc of her fall, nabbed one of his hind leg with both arms, pulling as hard as she could once she had a good grip. This awkward position lasted only a moment longer before, with a sickening pop and a roar of pain, the Ursk's arm was suddenly dislocated.
Zask clambered back up onto the bison-like hindquarters and drew her spear, pointing it at the base of the Ursk's bear-like skull as he grimaced in the pain of his arm. "I weell not take no for an answer..."Inside the Cube The Ursk Emmesary to the Asura
Stepping into the portal Hagger found himself surrounded by waist high Asura. They didn't look much too him, but the Ursk measured a persons worth by what he could bring to battle, and he'd heard the ways these people could spin a spell, and Hagger didn't want to test it. Stepping to the edge of the floor Hagger nearly fainted, he was up higher than he'd ever been in his life, he could even make out Riggnoth in the distance with the Kine Gates circling above. Off to one side a small window that colored the land strangely caught Hagger's attention. Upon closer inspection he realized that it was focused on the Grisok capitol, it shown bright red in contrast to the deep blue around it, and suddenly he realized two very important things, the first being the value of the Asura, the second, that they already knew the Grubblin were here.
"Krewe, when can I meet with your leaders, I think we both have information that the other needs, and I suddenly have somewhere I need to be after this"An Open Invitation The Ursk Emmesary to the Lisans
"The Ursk weren't aware of any alliances you might have" started Razon, "but it sounds like you already know at least some of the news I am here to bring"
Retrieving a scroll from his pack, Razon slid the document across the table to Daros "King Grazmark wishes to bring the people of Kielra together, we have invaders on our shores as you no doubt know if you are preparing for war. The Grubblin have attacked 8 of our brothers, all in a single night, only one of them managed to escape with his life. I don't know if there have been any other attacks, but we've heard of these bugs before, they won't just stop with us, they will grow an consume all of our homes, as we see it, our only hope is to band together."Midday Showdown
Armor glinted in the setting sun. A compact breastplate, complete with shoulder guards, a razor sharp hatchet, and a long, pure hartwire spear. She crouched low to the ground, coiled and prepared for whatever came, before the 12 foot tall Ursk brute in full, brazen battle armor, wielding a polished axe as big as she was.
Like lightning the axe was up, and began to streak towards her poised form, but she was just as fast, and the nigh indestructible spear intercepted the blow, sending the blade off to one side as she swept in the other direction, her tail whipping around a single bison leg as she threaded the spear up into the currently straightened arm guard of the giant, effectively locking his leading arm into an unusable position until he could dislodge it. Even before the beast could realize his disadvantage, though, she placed a hand on his haunch, and yanked his leg out from under him. The warrior tumbled to his side, but, as one of the advantages of having 4 legs, he was up again in barely an instant.
In that instant, however, the Griosk had swept back, drawn her second hatchet, and tensed, instantly poised to strike once the Ursk regained his posture. When he did, she leaped, uncoiling in an instant and flying through the air, straight for the warrior's head. He tried to intercept her path, only to find that something was preventing his axe arm from moving. Still, he was fast, and caught the girl with his other hand, attempting to swat her out of the air. She didn't plan on this slowing her down any, however, and half-coiled around his fore-arm, slithering past the blow and leaping from that vantage point, her two arms encircling the Ursk's neck, in the perfect position to decapitate him...
"That's it, I'm calling this one. That's the third time she's beat you, Parrof," the practice yard overseer announced.
Zask hung from Parrof's neck for a moment longer, before giggling, "Told you I kould beet you," and dropping to the dusty training yard below, extracting her very expensive spear from his armor as she continued to gloat, "Oh, what will all the other men think? Mighty giant Parrof taken down by the little girl! Imagine the embarrassment!"
"Oh shut it, would you!" Parrof attempted to retort.
Zask patted her friend on the haunch, "There there, you big baby. Now, you owe me a drink. See you at the pub after you get to unarmored."Negotiations Nonetheless The Ursk Emmesary to the Griosk
Stepping into the center of the stage Jannik cleared his throat, "People of Vezung, A war has be brought to our lands, the Grubblin from Thanreus have come and attacked 4 of our patrols and only one of my brothers managed to escape with his life, and we've no idea how many others have fallen to them"
He turned on the platform to face another section of the dark, his eyes adjusting to the canopy starting to see the outlines on the multitude of Griosk in the darkness. "They have threatened our lands, the land of Kiele, the land of your ancient totems. They are out there now, we've heard tails of their numbers on Thanreus, they grow, and consume, they aren't going to stop here, and neither of us are going to be able to withstand them. Our people have never been friends, but we are not your enemies either, and at least for now we need to stand together."
Fumbling in his pack he pulled out a scroll "Our King has sent out messengers just like myself to all the races of Kielra bearing these scrolls as an open invitation to join our efforts, and stand against these invaders." he finished as he turned back to the center of the amphitheater waiting for their response, and praying they would make the right choice.A feminine voice came from higher above, "When these 'Grubblins' attakked, how did your warriors fare, traveler?"
When Jannik responded that one returned badly wounded, a third, booming voice came from behind him to the left, "And how many other attakks have there been?"
When Jannik's confirmed that there were four attacks in the same night, a second female voice, a willowy whisper that seemed to carry a long ways, spoke, "There was only the one survivor out of the four? He didn't even manage to finish off the group that attakked them?"
When the messenger confirm that was indeed the case, a slight murmur spread through the amassed Griosk. Once it silenced itself, a moment of silence passed and Ksata spoke again, "That is troubling news for you. We've heard of your military prowess through those of us wandering through the land. If several of your patrols fell in the single night, it must have been a konserted effort. Though, I am not sure why you have desided to kome all this way. Surely the mighty Ursk kould at least try to fight their own fight alone before koming for reinforsements. For, it is still just your fight, and as long as this war does not kome to our holy land, we have no reason to fight it. Asking us to leave our land in the great numbers is like us going to you and asking you to help us with the defending of this, our great home. Surely this simple matter kannot be your true purpose here. Why is the real reason you kome to our kounsil?"
I posted some challenge 0 stuff on my race, it's under Lore & Life, but there is also History right above it that I already had written up. Any ideas on how to tie the races together?
The Onites are kind of pudding... or came from it, at least. I like Legacy Pudding.
I'm thinking, how can we synergize? Pods, Vodniks, and Onites all like water. We have two centaur-like (tauric) races, the Primataurs and Ursk. And the Suspyrs are sort of an undead-being-of-pure-mana thing.
Onites build with stone. Pods look like stone. Pods are colonizing and interacting with races more now. Onites could be adopting some pods as leaders, since they are rather dumb (The Onites, though they're not stupid. Just not smart)? Other than that, I have no ideas of how to set up alliances.
The main population of Ursks live in a kingdom in a rainforested area, the Primataurs live in jungle (a rainforest by any other name), seems like a nice and wet place for our water friends, other then that... the Suspyrs go everywhere so why not the rainforest?
If we need more water we can be a coastal rainforest, or have a large lake/river
as far as the Ursks go, they are a proud and noble race, they typically don't strike out unless you give them a reason to. For the most part they are cautious of war despite being prepared for it at all times (they didn't like how close they got to being overrun during the angle's war) So, they should be able to get along with everyone as long as they aren't practicing necromancy, plus they love nature, so any race that has that in common is a welcome friend.
Edit:
After reading some more, the only problems Ursks might have would be the Vodnik's soulsnare ability, and the Pod's mind control. Messing with ones soul or free will is considered taboo to the Ursk.
An estimate of how the Onites first came to settle down. I'll edit it into my race post when it's polished a little more.
The first Onite was seen by a river running through Gurro (the jungle) roughly about 2000 BCE, though the exact year is unsure.
Around 1600 BCE, Onites discovered the water that keeps their slime moist (so that their children may be born) and that they all but worship flows into little pits and channels they dig. The channels attract the attention of other Onites, who join them, and start making big webs of water into the jungle.
It takes about a year, but they discover that by laying stones down on the bottom of their channels keeps the water cleaner. This attracts more Onites, who devise ways to gather stones from big holes, which in turn leads to their curiosity of what else they could build out of it.
1550 BCE, A group of onites hunting for animals to kill stumbles on a <race> settlement. They come back with tales of structures not like trees, but with canopies like trees, AKA roofs of buildings. They try building some themselves. It's an outstanding success.
1500 BCE their little community is found by the <Race, likely Ursk>. They bring the ideas of irragation to this race, that race brings the idea of organization.
1480 BCE, second settlement of Onites created, upstream, as they were expanding their first little village too quickly.
Actually I almost wrote up something like Primataurs as hosts for the Pods in the jungles, if LnGrrrrR is cool with it I would like to have them be one of the main thrall races of the Pods, perhaps willingly. Looks like we are mostly slimy and also hairy brutes, so the idea of mental control protected by physical power is the main thing I think.
I had a vision, there should be this huge slab of granite like thing with all these columns that extends out over the sea for hundreds of miles, so that parts of it are broken off tower islands and other parts are mainland but they have all these caves that leave to the sea below, and maybe around there is where we meet.
Hey GentleMons. My race, the Guaroga (in my sig) were only just plopped onto the plane abought 30 years before the current day. They're reclusive hunters with a knack for death (and life) magic. Might the Ursk or Primataurs be willing to share a 'home' jungle with the Guaroga so that our races have reasons to conflict in the future? I do like the name of the Gurro jungle.
U// Sedris and the Traitor Kings U// G Seshiro, the Appointed G B// Vaevictus Asmadi - "I'm 'exy and I know it" B// W// Treva, The Renewerer W// B/ Rakdos, Lord of Grouphate B/ W//// Cromat the Charmer W////
I'm at work, can't really be counted on to chat. I just noticed Flabort's comment about Pods controlling Onites, that's fine, I hadn't pictured them on oozes but it should work. The Vodnik seemed more temperate swamp than tropical, is it ok to get them into our area? I like the idea of this really dense ecosystem of stone, water, and forest, maybe the Ursk are towards the interior edge of the jungle (where it breaks into grassland), with the Onites starting off close to them (I'm thinking southwest, with the coast being on the west), and Pods starting to cooperate with a couple of coastal Onite villages. Maybe this is the southern hemisphere, so north is a little bit cooler, and the northern reaches are where the Vodnik dwell, as the high jungle slopes down into a more temperate marshland. The Primataurs and the Ursk are aware of the Vodnik, but I guess they don't have much interaction yet. A common threat to the Vodnik from outside will be necessary to get them to ally with our races. I think the Pods should be able to communicate telepathically with Suspyr, and maybe the oozy bodies of the Onite appeal to the Suspyr who search for physical form, so these three could interact somehow. Also, queensauce's Guaroga can be a little inland, sort of bordering the Primataurs and the Ursk, and in conflict with them.
An army made up of these races would have the Onites and Primataurs being controlled/enhanced by Pods and Suspyr, with Vodnik acting more as scouts and the Ursk kind of as heavy cavalry.
I could try to draw a terrible map of this at some point.
Also, just for future reference, I think I am going to try asymmetrical soulbond as a major mechanic for the Pods, so they can enhance someone else at the expense of themselves, or vice versa. Mechanically, it is similar to what avatarz wants to do with haunt, but with some different versatility and vulnerability.
So, most Onite colonies/settlements are of a marxist-like bent, because they don't really realize there's any other way. They just help each other out. Cardz described them as "toddlers leaving piles of blocks half built", which describes their mental facilities, while not quite perfectly (they did manage to build aqueducts), pretty accurately. They don't have any system of government or organization, because no other race has managed to succesfully describe one to them.
("You need a leader, who will organize you, so you can do great things!" "What's a leader?" "a person who leads." "Leads? Is that like hunts?" "No, it's... nevermind." "OK. What's organize? Is that like hunts?")
Certain settlements may have advanced a little, with the advent of Pod-Onite interaction. These settlements would work a little differently than the others, actually be organized. They'd be capable of withstanding an attack, rather than fleeing and settling elsewhere (leaving behind complicated irrigation systems that would be great for conquering) like previous generations of Onites have done when hostile monsters or races attack.
Sure, Flabort. It also occurred to me that maybe the Vodnik tolerate the Onites, since they are not very threatening? Who wants to roleplay a diplomatic negotiation between frog people and mind-controlled oozes...:p
If we really want to integrate, we could have the Pods be some vein of Suspyr that have managed to find hosts, and the Ursk and Primataurs be related by some sort of taurish ancestor.
The Primataurs and Vodnik have been CUT! Once Brofaux gives me his race, he'll be joining your team. In the meantime, welcome Rithaniel, and his race, the Griosk.
Quote from Rithaniel »
WWW GGThe GrioskGG BBB
Fifteen days. Fifteen days since Eclar Nill and his men had begun the expedition into this damnable jungle, and it was beginning to take it's toll. You couldn't see the sun through all the trees high above, except for the occasional splotch of blinding brightness among the pitch-black shadows. Most of his men carried torches because of this, but all the moisture in the air, along with the suffocating heat of this place made the fires almost worse than stumbling about in the dark.
Presently, they were trudging through something of a bog, a low point in the terrain, where the constant rain had accumulated. The men were trying to keep close to the trunks of trees, so they might walk on roots, and avoid the unknown depths of water and muck around them. However, even as they made their way forward, something else made it's way towards them...
Devon was the first to vanish, suddenly gone into the shadow of the tree, his torch splashing into the water below. Before the rest of the men could even register that something had just happened, two more men were gone with but the faintest disturbance of water. Confusion quickly turned to panic as Franklin, Termund, and Crian vanished. Olifar, Howard, and Tress. Men vanished until all that was left was Eclar, stumbling, trying to simply get out of the bog.
A root caught his foot and he tumbled, face first into the water. As he tried to pull himself up, he came face to face with a pair of eyes, two points of light shining withing a snake-like hood. Eclar didn't even have time to scream before his life had ended.
The Griosk are a very secluded race, seeing trespassing into their territory without asking first as a graver offense than virtually any other crime. As a result, they are not a very well know race, only having any stable relations with other races that live within the Vezung Rainforest. The territory they claim for themselves is mainly a region of the jungle that is famed for being as dark during the day as it is during the night. There are many fungi-filled bogs in this region and the canopy is thick enough that a person could actually walk across it without risking falling through.
The reason the Griosk put such a heavy weight on trespassing is because they see themselves as protectors of the natural order, druids. Not only this, but they specifically believe they are the wardens of the most beautiful and powerful land that exists, safeguarding it from the greeds of other races for a time of need.
There are three different branches of the Griosk religion, each focused on where the fabled 'power of the land' originates. There are those who worship the land and the trees themselves, those who believe the pitch black darkness that permeates everything within their land is itself power, and those who believe that it is light that is the power, and the land simply hides it, holding it back, as they themselves hide the land.
The Griosk stand around five and a half to six and a half feet tall, and appear to be made entire out of wood matted with mud. They have a slightly stooped posture and move with a silent grace, leaving only a whisper of motion in their wake. Their faces are hidden by a cobra-like hood, trailing several thin vines over their face like a veil. It is clear that their body carries some manner of bio-luminescence, however, as their eyes glint with clear light from beyond their veil, and, when they're cut, their blood glows in the stifling dark of their home.
Their wood-like skin offers enough protection that they don't usually need armor, or clothing in general, leaving them to usually just wear loincloths, or, for their priests and leaders, shawls. Their warriors appear like savages most of the time, carrying around spears, but this is but a ruse, as the said spears are dripping with advanced magics, which the race's witch doctors have refined over the many years.
The governing body of the Griosk civilization is a theocracy, with leaders of the church also being the leaders of the race. The three different branches of the religion each concern themselves with different matters of importance. Those who worship the land are in charge of food and of building houses, staking out their land so they might protect the power within it. Those who worship the darkness are part warriors and part witch doctors, refining what power they can find in the shadows for use in their endless protection of the infinite darkness. Those who believe that light is the source of power in their land take the role of politicians, heralds, who go forward to other lands, warning them to not trespass, lest the powerful light hidden within their land strike them down.
Griosk dwellings are often huts suspended among the branches of trees. Only those of highest ranking are granted the privilege of building a home on the land itself, or atop the canopy, where the light is abundant.
Griosk rely on subterfuge and misdirection in combat, or upon the shadows of their land to keep them hidden. They are also masters of illusion. One of their most devious tricks is to make their foe believe they have been defeated when they've lost advantage, feigning death, just to get back up and begin tracking their opponent again when they've left. They are agile in a battle, often compared to snakes as they move within their bark-like skin.
Evergreen Mechanics
Landwalk
Hexproof
Flash
New Mechanics
Land matters theme
Permission theme (Rule of Law, Pacifism)
Sacrifice theme
Retrace on creatures
Sup all. I'm off reposting my race description in the Race Compendium. There will be a few minor changes. Like, they will have naga-esque lower-bodies, and I will specify that their skin is grey-looking bark. Also, social organization will be a little more detailed.
Talky data:
The Griosk will shoot anyone who comes too close to their turf, but this isn't intended to be from xenophobia so much as it is from prejudice. The vast majority of the race keeps to their territory, in the heart of the Jungle (If you guys are cool with it, I'd like to keep the name I threw out there: "Vezung Rainforest"), which is more of a "dark and muddy jungle hell", where you guys are doing things with the "temperature jungle paradise" style right now. This leaves me thinking that there would be some physical distance between the two areas.
Clearly, I was thinking that the Griosk don't play nice with others most of the time. They guard their territory cause it's sacred to them (They think it's kind of the "heart of the world", and there's no doubt that the land there is extremely fertile, if hellish). Their religion would rule their every move. Also, I had an idea to bridge the gap of "I'll kill you if you come close" that results from their mentality: Perhaps there are Evangelist who take on the role of ambassadors, going out to spread the word, and warn others not to trespass. With these guys we can start some talks for relations. Maybe one takes up residence in an Ursk city, or communes with some Pods. Maybe the Griosk are welcoming to members of other races, as long as said individuals were invited.
If we can get relatively calm talks up and going between a couple of races, the Griosk can have a lot of stuff to offer in regards to trade, including advanced medicine, religious diversity (might actually have some friction with the Onites there), compact farming techniques, and lots of diversionary magicks. They'd like to be the undisputed ones in charge, but naturally they're not going to get that, and they aren't likely to go on a conquering crusade, so, while they might come across as haughty or superior, there's nothing really to fear.
My creatures are up, but could use some balancing.
I'm also considering adding: CARD NAME2U
Creature - Onite Wizard (Uncommon) T: Target land becomes an island in addition to it's other types until end of turn. (It gains "T: Add U to your mana pool") "We all provide what we can. I provide water."
0/2
Though it uses what my Hunter uses, so...
Perhaps I can mark my hunter as a bonus card.
Fight as you eat my sons. Strike out alone in battles' morn, together at it's peak, and celebrate as it comes to pass
[2/3]
Ursk Spellcaster: They don't have many mages, so clerics and priests are going to be my main "spellcasters"
War Priest of Kiele
:symw::symg:
Creature - Ursk Cleric
{U}
Lifelink, Bolster 2 (Whenever this blocks a creature, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn for each other creature blocking that creature.)
Whenever War Priest of Kiele blocks, you may prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn.
II. Entries can only be uncommons and rares.
Out of all the people to contact, he got them.
Heck, the Vassav swamps would be better then going to Vezung Island.
But no, Jannik did get chosen to go to the Vezung jungle, and he had be chosen to contact the Griosk.
Jannik had been running for 3 days now, stopping only to rest at the occasional onite village, they were a peculiar folk, the onites, very different values from the ursk, but he couldn't say their simpler way of life didn't have an allure to it. Graggek had been chosen to act as the contact for the onites, reaching them would be the easy part, convincing the onites to actually do something organized was another issue entirely. The Ursk War Council had sent out ten emissaries bearing scrolls from King Grazmark telling of the oncoming Grubblin invasion, one to each of Kielra's major races. Nobody knew how many would return. Kielra is an unforgiving land, and the people had learned from it. Jannik just prayed that Kiele would see it that he be one of them.
Ducking under an elevated root, Jannik cursed the sight, shoreline, it meant he was near, the last time an ursk had set foot on Vezung he had been killed. He pushed the thought from his head, that had been years ago, after all maybe they've changed. no luck, that didn't even sound convincing in the the young ursk's head. But this was necessary, as much as the ursk and the griosk hated one another, they needed each other right now, neither could stand against the coming war alone.
A raft rested on the beach, The island seemed so near, it looked like he should be able to swim there, but he had been warned. The currents of the Nerrin trench were deceiving and exhausting, he would have to use the raft.
"Well, here goes everything" he muttered pushing the small craft out into the water.
The greeting party lingered at the edge of the jungle, peering out between the trees at the rocky shore, where the light shined intensely and their territory ended. The group was silent, nervously awaiting the arrival of an Ursk. One of their number spoke, in a low voice, "I don't like this. We should not accept an invitation requested by a heretic."
Another replied, "Indeed, and you heard the stories of the last of these creatures to come here? It took down three warriors by itself! We should slit it's throat while we have the chance, else we might fall and give it the chance to set up a forward--"
"Silence, the both of you," their leader cut across them, "Even if my daughter is a heretic, she wouldn't send a bat with the single highest level of urgency unless this... Ursk," he fumbled with the word, "truly needed to come here. Besides, we brought a larger than usual group for this visitor specifically." He was a tall male Griosk by the name of Ksata, and a member of the high council of the Griosk theocracy. He had decided to personally see to the greeting of this beast, as it had been his daughter that asked for his right to enter the island. Though, no sooner had he finished speaking, but the first sight of the visitor appeared in the distance. A raft bobbing on the waves. They moved forward, into the light, so that Jannik might see where to land, and waited. Some of their number commented on how fast the beast had gotten here.
The raft ground to a halt on the stone coast of the island, and Ksata slithered forward, speaking in a rough accent, an ever present hiss in his voice, "Welkom, Jannikk, we heard you were koming. I am Ksata, a member of the high kouncil. Lodgings for you are being prepared as we speak, based on what we know of your kind, we hope they will be akkeptable. Though, the kouncil's home is still a day and a half travel away, and others have diffikulty in travel through our lands, sometimes, so we should begin to moving. Please to follow me," and with that, Ksata would turn, beckoning with a hand as he moved back into the trees, the other Griosk moving apart so they could flank the Ursk as they moved though the jungle.
The Vezung Rainforest was completely devoid of light, but for Jannik, this was no issue, though it was naturally a bit disconcreting to catch a glimpse of a star-like eye behind a veil of vines in the darkness. The Griosk were not very talkative, though, they would speak if Jannik tried to make conversation. Ksata wouldn't, however, as he stayed at the front of the group, leading their path through the jungle. They passed under two villages as they made their way forward. Several Griosk looking down from the huts suspended high in the trees to catch a glimpse of the first Ursk to set foot in their home in a long, long time.
The second day began with a downpour. The rain itself was no different than the storms in the Ursk's rainforest, but the result, the mud underfoot, was horrendously magnified. This didn't slow the Griosk down much, but it might have been an issue for Jannik. That is, if the snake-creatures weren't helping him as they went.
It felt like most of the day was gone when the rain finally let up, and they arrived under the high council's city. Almost every single one of the vast tree's in this place supported dozens of buildings, some even high up enough as to break through the canopy itself. Now was the first time that Ksata spoke since the greeting on the shore, "I will show you to your lodgings, Jannik," before escorting the Ursk to a stone hut on the forest floor. A few Griosk workers there eyed Jannik with jealousy. To have a home on the forest floor was a great honor. Ksata turned to Jannik then, "The kouncil will be waiting on your arrival. Make preparations and kome in your own time."
When Jannik would decide to go to the council, he would find it simply enough, as it in the lowest point in the city, and surrounded on all sides by towering trees. He hadn't see it clearly before, but at the top of the trees, the canopy was broken, allowing a single pillar of light shone down from the sky above, revealing that it was still only noon, despite the fact that the trip had felt like it had taken so long. The council circle was a stone platform, raised out of a murky pond that encompassed all of the titanic trees around it.
As he walked out onto the platform, the blinding light of the sun high above shocked his eyes, making the darkness look far darker. He wasn't even aware that there were others around him until someone spoke, Ksata, loud in the shadows before Jannik, "What is the purpose of your visit into our lands?"
One of the largest Onite villages the Ursk new about sat on the coast, near where the river where they were first found poured into the ocean. The first sun was setting when Graggek walked into the village, onto the main road. Several children, some who had never seen an Ursk, immediately swarmed him, curiosity in the furry guy getting the better of them. Some of the adults around set to work reigning the children back, knowing that the Ursk was quite capable of hurting them if he wanted.
He plodded into the center of the street, to the crossroads, where he noted a small bridge was carrying water uphill to the roofs of the stone houses. The village had a magician or two, obviously. He cleared his throat, seeing some older Onites sitting in basins of slime outside their houses.
"The War is coming!"
The Onites, he knew, had no concept of War. They did of Fights and Fleeing, but not of War. But he managed to catch their attention, as they knew that when something is coming there is trouble.
"We need to band together and take up arms, if we are to stand a chance!"
One of the older Onites lifted himself out of his basin. His green skin flexed as he walked up to the Ursk and raised a hand in greeting. Graggek grabbed his wrist, and the Onite grabbed back, and they released. The Onite then addressed the dignatary, his 4 arms on his sides.
"I am Did, a Priest of Water for this village. We know not what the War is. Does it have claws like yours?"
Graggek smiled. Of course, the Onites would interpret it as a creature. They had been driven out by large beasts before. Now would come the hard part.
"No, War is not a beast of the land or sky. It is like a Fight. But a big fight."
Did frowned. He put a hand on his triple chin, scratching his head with another. Finally, he called over to another older Onite, "Gad, Is he Right?"
Gad lifted a tentacle out of his basin, dragging it on the ground to draw a few lines in the dust. There was a small glow, and Gad nodded. Did asked, "Not beast? But how can it be fight? You need beasts to fight."
Sighing, Graggek patiently responded, "This fight is with lots of beasts. Though they are not beasts." He waits for Did to ask, "What does this mean?" Before continuing, "The Grubblin have started this fight with us. It won't be long before they attack you too."
This is too much for Did to comprehend, so he kind of whines a little. "Gad..." Gad hauls himself out of the basin, and he waddles over on his four feet. Gad speaks to the Ursk, " I am Gad, a Priest of Water for this village. A fight is here now? Should we Flee?"
"No," Graggek replies. "A War is coming. War is not just one fight, and fleeing does no good."
Now it's Gad's turn to whine a little. "Did.... How is a fight not one fight?" Did shakes his head, not sure himself, and he guesses. "It is everywhere?"
Graggek waits for them to come to this conclusion for themselves, remarkable insightful for Onites, and elaborates. "A war is a fight that never ends, and follows you. It is everywhere, because it is anywhere that you are. The only way to stop it is to fight hard yourselves."
The two magicians nod. They finally understand. Graggek would be praised for his ability to describe War to a pair of Onites. It was why he was sent, though. He smiles, in a way such as only an Ursk can smile. Onites are so child like. "OK," he continues, "Can you tell the others what I told you? To prepare for many fights?"
That done, Graggek started loping off to the next village, trying to remember how he explained that so he could explain it again.
The Tail of the Traitor
About a Decade Ago...
"Oh, it's you again. Look, for the last time, there is no entry into the Gladeren capital, especially for your kind."
Zask lifted her chin defiantly. A young Griosk, only 28 years old, still a teenager, thin, even for a Griosk. She'd been on her pilgrimage for about a year and half now. She was determined to get into the city, partial to spread the message she was supposed to be spreading, but mostly because she was curious about what was in there.
She had been trying for the past two weeks, stopping by every day. It seemed they'd begun to take notice. After two weeks of being denied entry, and even being talked down to by the guards, however, she was not going to take no for an answer this time. Her curiosity had to be sated. "Please allow me to enter. I weell not akkept no for an answer dis time."
The imposing Ursk merely rolled his eyes and snorted, "Really? You? How do you plan on enforcing that statement?"
Zask set her jaw behind her veil of vines. She'd been thinking about how to go about this fight for two days now. She couldn't doubt herself now, "However I need to."
This actually made the Ursk laugh, "I have to give you that. You have balls, lady," before he stepped forward, towering over her, about to make another statement. However, Zask had locked onto the motion of his leg. That was her chance!
Her tail streaked forward and snapped around his ankle, yanking it out from under him, but in the instant as he dropped to two knees, he was responding, his ax out and making a horizontal slash at her. Well, he was put on guard duty for a reason, it seems. Regardless, the blades were out now, only one way out: finish the fight.
Zask bent backwards to avoid the blade as fast as she could, still just barely getting out of the way in time, the edge of the blade lightly brushing a bit of her shawl as it trailed behind her. She snapped up just as fast, and used this moment of over extension on the Ursk's part, on his knees and his leading arm fully extended, to get a foothold, snaking up his arm in an instant and latching onto his back. Another arm came questing up to his back to grab her, but she was expecting this, and her snake tail whipped around his wrist as she pushed off his back and, in the arc of her fall, nabbed one of his hind leg with both arms, pulling as hard as she could once she had a good grip. This awkward position lasted only a moment longer before, with a sickening pop and a roar of pain, the Ursk's arm was suddenly dislocated.
Zask clambered back up onto the bison-like hindquarters and drew her spear, pointing it at the base of the Ursk's bear-like skull as he grimaced in the pain of his arm. "I weell not take no for an answer..."
Inside the Cube
The Ursk Emmesary to the Asura
Stepping into the portal Hagger found himself surrounded by waist high Asura. They didn't look much too him, but the Ursk measured a persons worth by what he could bring to battle, and he'd heard the ways these people could spin a spell, and Hagger didn't want to test it. Stepping to the edge of the floor Hagger nearly fainted, he was up higher than he'd ever been in his life, he could even make out Riggnoth in the distance with the Kine Gates circling above. Off to one side a small window that colored the land strangely caught Hagger's attention. Upon closer inspection he realized that it was focused on the Grisok capitol, it shown bright red in contrast to the deep blue around it, and suddenly he realized two very important things, the first being the value of the Asura, the second, that they already knew the Grubblin were here.
"Krewe, when can I meet with your leaders, I think we both have information that the other needs, and I suddenly have somewhere I need to be after this"
An Open Invitation
The Ursk Emmesary to the Lisans
"The Ursk weren't aware of any alliances you might have" started Razon, "but it sounds like you already know at least some of the news I am here to bring"
Retrieving a scroll from his pack, Razon slid the document across the table to Daros "King Grazmark wishes to bring the people of Kielra together, we have invaders on our shores as you no doubt know if you are preparing for war. The Grubblin have attacked 8 of our brothers, all in a single night, only one of them managed to escape with his life. I don't know if there have been any other attacks, but we've heard of these bugs before, they won't just stop with us, they will grow an consume all of our homes, as we see it, our only hope is to band together."
Midday Showdown
Armor glinted in the setting sun. A compact breastplate, complete with shoulder guards, a razor sharp hatchet, and a long, pure hartwire spear. She crouched low to the ground, coiled and prepared for whatever came, before the 12 foot tall Ursk brute in full, brazen battle armor, wielding a polished axe as big as she was.
Like lightning the axe was up, and began to streak towards her poised form, but she was just as fast, and the nigh indestructible spear intercepted the blow, sending the blade off to one side as she swept in the other direction, her tail whipping around a single bison leg as she threaded the spear up into the currently straightened arm guard of the giant, effectively locking his leading arm into an unusable position until he could dislodge it. Even before the beast could realize his disadvantage, though, she placed a hand on his haunch, and yanked his leg out from under him. The warrior tumbled to his side, but, as one of the advantages of having 4 legs, he was up again in barely an instant.
In that instant, however, the Griosk had swept back, drawn her second hatchet, and tensed, instantly poised to strike once the Ursk regained his posture. When he did, she leaped, uncoiling in an instant and flying through the air, straight for the warrior's head. He tried to intercept her path, only to find that something was preventing his axe arm from moving. Still, he was fast, and caught the girl with his other hand, attempting to swat her out of the air. She didn't plan on this slowing her down any, however, and half-coiled around his fore-arm, slithering past the blow and leaping from that vantage point, her two arms encircling the Ursk's neck, in the perfect position to decapitate him...
"That's it, I'm calling this one. That's the third time she's beat you, Parrof," the practice yard overseer announced.
Zask hung from Parrof's neck for a moment longer, before giggling, "Told you I kould beet you," and dropping to the dusty training yard below, extracting her very expensive spear from his armor as she continued to gloat, "Oh, what will all the other men think? Mighty giant Parrof taken down by the little girl! Imagine the embarrassment!"
"Oh shut it, would you!" Parrof attempted to retort.
Zask patted her friend on the haunch, "There there, you big baby. Now, you owe me a drink. See you at the pub after you get to unarmored."
Negotiations Nonetheless
The Ursk Emmesary to the Griosk
Stepping into the center of the stage Jannik cleared his throat, "People of Vezung, A war has be brought to our lands, the Grubblin from Thanreus have come and attacked 4 of our patrols and only one of my brothers managed to escape with his life, and we've no idea how many others have fallen to them"
He turned on the platform to face another section of the dark, his eyes adjusting to the canopy starting to see the outlines on the multitude of Griosk in the darkness. "They have threatened our lands, the land of Kiele, the land of your ancient totems. They are out there now, we've heard tails of their numbers on Thanreus, they grow, and consume, they aren't going to stop here, and neither of us are going to be able to withstand them. Our people have never been friends, but we are not your enemies either, and at least for now we need to stand together."
Fumbling in his pack he pulled out a scroll "Our King has sent out messengers just like myself to all the races of Kielra bearing these scrolls as an open invitation to join our efforts, and stand against these invaders." he finished as he turned back to the center of the amphitheater waiting for their response, and praying they would make the right choice.
A feminine voice came from higher above, "When these 'Grubblins' attakked, how did your warriors fare, traveler?"
When Jannik responded that one returned badly wounded, a third, booming voice came from behind him to the left, "And how many other attakks have there been?"
When Jannik's confirmed that there were four attacks in the same night, a second female voice, a willowy whisper that seemed to carry a long ways, spoke, "There was only the one survivor out of the four? He didn't even manage to finish off the group that attakked them?"
When the messenger confirm that was indeed the case, a slight murmur spread through the amassed Griosk. Once it silenced itself, a moment of silence passed and Ksata spoke again, "That is troubling news for you. We've heard of your military prowess through those of us wandering through the land. If several of your patrols fell in the single night, it must have been a konserted effort. Though, I am not sure why you have desided to kome all this way. Surely the mighty Ursk kould at least try to fight their own fight alone before koming for reinforsements. For, it is still just your fight, and as long as this war does not kome to our holy land, we have no reason to fight it. Asking us to leave our land in the great numbers is like us going to you and asking you to help us with the defending of this, our great home. Surely this simple matter kannot be your true purpose here. Why is the real reason you kome to our kounsil?"
I'm thinking, how can we synergize? Pods, Vodniks, and Onites all like water. We have two centaur-like (tauric) races, the Primataurs and Ursk. And the Suspyrs are sort of an undead-being-of-pure-mana thing.
Onites build with stone. Pods look like stone. Pods are colonizing and interacting with races more now. Onites could be adopting some pods as leaders, since they are rather dumb (The Onites, though they're not stupid. Just not smart)? Other than that, I have no ideas of how to set up alliances.
Ashamed of posts from years ago.
If we need more water we can be a coastal rainforest, or have a large lake/river
as far as the Ursks go, they are a proud and noble race, they typically don't strike out unless you give them a reason to. For the most part they are cautious of war despite being prepared for it at all times (they didn't like how close they got to being overrun during the angle's war) So, they should be able to get along with everyone as long as they aren't practicing necromancy, plus they love nature, so any race that has that in common is a welcome friend.
Edit:
After reading some more, the only problems Ursks might have would be the Vodnik's soulsnare ability, and the Pod's mind control. Messing with ones soul or free will is considered taboo to the Ursk.
Ashamed of posts from years ago.
Around 1600 BCE, Onites discovered the water that keeps their slime moist (so that their children may be born) and that they all but worship flows into little pits and channels they dig. The channels attract the attention of other Onites, who join them, and start making big webs of water into the jungle.
It takes about a year, but they discover that by laying stones down on the bottom of their channels keeps the water cleaner. This attracts more Onites, who devise ways to gather stones from big holes, which in turn leads to their curiosity of what else they could build out of it.
1550 BCE, A group of onites hunting for animals to kill stumbles on a <race> settlement. They come back with tales of structures not like trees, but with canopies like trees, AKA roofs of buildings. They try building some themselves. It's an outstanding success.
1500 BCE their little community is found by the <Race, likely Ursk>. They bring the ideas of irragation to this race, that race brings the idea of organization.
1480 BCE, second settlement of Onites created, upstream, as they were expanding their first little village too quickly.
Ashamed of posts from years ago.
I had a vision, there should be this huge slab of granite like thing with all these columns that extends out over the sea for hundreds of miles, so that parts of it are broken off tower islands and other parts are mainland but they have all these caves that leave to the sea below, and maybe around there is where we meet.
Custom Race: Guaroga
G Seshiro, the Appointed G
B// Vaevictus Asmadi - "I'm 'exy and I know it" B//
W// Treva, The Renewerer W//
B/ Rakdos, Lord of Grouphate B/
W//// Cromat the Charmer W////
An army made up of these races would have the Onites and Primataurs being controlled/enhanced by Pods and Suspyr, with Vodnik acting more as scouts and the Ursk kind of as heavy cavalry.
I could try to draw a terrible map of this at some point.
Also, just for future reference, I think I am going to try asymmetrical soulbond as a major mechanic for the Pods, so they can enhance someone else at the expense of themselves, or vice versa. Mechanically, it is similar to what avatarz wants to do with haunt, but with some different versatility and vulnerability.
("You need a leader, who will organize you, so you can do great things!" "What's a leader?" "a person who leads." "Leads? Is that like hunts?" "No, it's... nevermind." "OK. What's organize? Is that like hunts?")
Certain settlements may have advanced a little, with the advent of Pod-Onite interaction. These settlements would work a little differently than the others, actually be organized. They'd be capable of withstanding an attack, rather than fleeing and settling elsewhere (leaving behind complicated irrigation systems that would be great for conquering) like previous generations of Onites have done when hostile monsters or races attack.
Ashamed of posts from years ago.
My Pauper Cube ♤ The Pauper Cube Thread Common Knowledge — 1 2
If we really want to integrate, we could have the Pods be some vein of Suspyr that have managed to find hosts, and the Ursk and Primataurs be related by some sort of taurish ancestor.
Talky data:
The Griosk will shoot anyone who comes too close to their turf, but this isn't intended to be from xenophobia so much as it is from prejudice. The vast majority of the race keeps to their territory, in the heart of the Jungle (If you guys are cool with it, I'd like to keep the name I threw out there: "Vezung Rainforest"), which is more of a "dark and muddy jungle hell", where you guys are doing things with the "temperature jungle paradise" style right now. This leaves me thinking that there would be some physical distance between the two areas.
Clearly, I was thinking that the Griosk don't play nice with others most of the time. They guard their territory cause it's sacred to them (They think it's kind of the "heart of the world", and there's no doubt that the land there is extremely fertile, if hellish). Their religion would rule their every move. Also, I had an idea to bridge the gap of "I'll kill you if you come close" that results from their mentality: Perhaps there are Evangelist who take on the role of ambassadors, going out to spread the word, and warn others not to trespass. With these guys we can start some talks for relations. Maybe one takes up residence in an Ursk city, or communes with some Pods. Maybe the Griosk are welcoming to members of other races, as long as said individuals were invited.
If we can get relatively calm talks up and going between a couple of races, the Griosk can have a lot of stuff to offer in regards to trade, including advanced medicine, religious diversity (might actually have some friction with the Onites there), compact farming techniques, and lots of diversionary magicks. They'd like to be the undisputed ones in charge, but naturally they're not going to get that, and they aren't likely to go on a conquering crusade, so, while they might come across as haughty or superior, there's nothing really to fear.
I'll be posting mine in a bit, just wanted to get us back in business. I'm also going to edit the first post with the challange
I'm also considering adding:
CARD NAME 2U
Creature - Onite Wizard (Uncommon)
T: Target land becomes an island in addition to it's other types until end of turn. (It gains "T: Add U to your mana pool")
"We all provide what we can. I provide water."
0/2
Though it uses what my Hunter uses, so...
Perhaps I can mark my hunter as a bonus card.
Ashamed of posts from years ago.
Creature - Ursk Soldier
Battle Cry, Exalted
Fight as you eat my sons. Strike out alone in battles' morn, together at it's peak, and celebrate as it comes to pass
Creature - Ursk Cleric
Lifelink, Bolster 2 (Whenever this blocks a creature, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn for each other creature blocking that creature.)
Whenever War Priest of Kiele blocks, you may prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn.