The Far-Away Tree

A tribe of Hylophagi dwell within a magically-awakened village-tree. Initially content with wandering through the Hylophagi territory, the tribe has now set its eyes on the lush Nile Valley. The juggernaut of living wood is virtually unstoppable by mundane means: its rubbery bark and fibrous wood makes it immune to most weapons, and it can stomp flat houses and armies with equal ease. Add to this a village of Hylophagi living among its branches armed with clubs and thrown rocks, and it is no wonder that the locals turn to the player magi for help. If they lack the capacity for direct assault, the characters should determine why the village has suddenly set its eyes northward — could it have something to do with the tribe's new witch-doctor?

The Hunters or Cynegi occupy the inland region, which is not suitable for agriculture. They sleep in trees to avoid the wild beasts that infest this land, and during the day they approach watering holes as suitable places to bring down game. They use clubs hardened by fire, as well as bows and arrows, and spears with bone blades. They make leather from the hides of the beasts they kill, which they form into the minimal clothing they wear; leather is also used as their currency, with hides from more dangerous animals accorded a higher value.

The Elephant Hunters are a western group of the Cynegi, who specialize in bringing down the great beasts of their homeland. These they hunt in a remarkable manner: grabbing the creature by its tail and planting their feet on its thighs, they hack away at its hind legs with an axe.

Struthophagi are highly prized as light cavalry. Not only are their ostriches swift and hardy, but they can also hurl stones at the opponents while their riders fling spears.

Intrinsic Virtue & Flaw: Puissant Ride; Small Frame

South and west of the Cynegi are a people called the Struthophagi ("bird eaters"). They are a small-bodied people, and very hard working. Every Struthophagus home is filled with evidence of their industry: carefully woven baskets; ingenious furniture made without sawing or jointing the wood; delicately-painted pottery; extensive vegetable gardens; and so forth.They regret sleeping, since it wastes time they could be spending making, building, and improving their homes. The Struthophagi raise the immense birds called ostriches, and use them for meat, leather, and as mounts. A common legend among the Struthophagi is that the ostrich was first entrusted with fire, which it hid beneath its wing. The first Struthophagus convinced the ostrich it could fly, and when it stretched out its wings, he stole the fire. He later felt guilty for the despondent bird, and vowed to care for it, as his descendants still do. The feathers of these birds are highly prized, and are one of Nubia's principal exports to Egypt. The Struthophagi are a peaceful race, and suffer greatly at the hands of the slavers.

The Cynegi trade skins with the Rhizophagi in return for the manufacture of a substance called kombè. This sticky black venom attacks the vital spirit, causing breathlessness, chest pains, and paralysis. Anyone struck with an arrow laced with kombè must make a Stamina roll against an Ease Factor of 12, or be rendered immobile within five minutes. After ten minutes the victim cannot breathe, and must make Deprivation rolls until he eventually suffocates (ArM5, page 180). Cynegi have the Profession: Prepare Kombè Ability which allows them to safely and correctly charge an arrow with kombè; characters should roll Dexterity + Pro-

fession: Prepare Kombè against an Ease Factor of (usually) 6 after shooting each arrow. Failure means that no toxin is administered to the victim; a botch means that the poisoner accidentally envenoms himself. Characters without this Ability cannot succeed, but must still roll to check for a botch (and have the usual three extra botch dice for an untrained Ability). The Rhizophagi also manufacture an antidote to kombè poisoning, but this antidote requires copious amounts of water, and most Cynegi carry only a few doses to cut down on encumbrance.

Intrinsic Virtue & Flaw: Puissant Hunt; Reckless

their bodies. The infection begins with

A short distance from the Struthophagi, on the very edge of the desert dwell the Acridophagi, or "locust-eaters," who are leaner than other humans, and very dark in color. During the spring, the deserts generate winged vermin called locusts, which descend upon the lands of the Acridophagi in dense swarms. The tribesmen drive them into ravines with fire, and kill them in vast numbers using smoke; the locusts are then salted and provide them with food for the rest of the year. Accordingly, the Acridophagi grow no crops and raise no livestock. The Acridophagi have short lives, where forty years is considered venerable. As they age, loathsome winged lice infest a terrible itching and progresses to a discharge of an acrid thin humor. The vermin soon burrow their way to the surface and pour forth from wounds, each taking away a portion of the person's flesh until there is nothing left. The lice spontaneously generate within the flesh of the Acridophagi, and cannot be cured or excluded, even with magic. The lice do not seem to have a taste for the flesh of other races.

To the south of Ethiopia stretches a great country rich in pastures, but it is without inhabitants due to the abundance

Intrinsic Virtue & Flaw: Greater Immunity to Thirst; Greater Malediction*

*The Acridophagus curse causes them to start making Aging rolls at 15, when the louse infestation begins.

Story Seed: Famine of Ages

A group of Acridophagi travel into the Nile Valley to try find someone who can help them, but are are treated with contempt. Maybe the characters will help them instead? Many years ago, a sorcerer bound a famine demon into an Acridophagus child, inking spells of binding onto his skin. In return for this terrible fate, he was treated like a king and kept safe from harm. When he eventually was to die of old age, the winged lice would each take a piece of the demon away with it, destroying it for ever. However, the tribe now believe that the sorcerer they employed may have been corrupt, and harbor the terrible suspicion that upon the man's imminent death, the demon will be multiplied and carried to the ends of the earth. Undoing this evil might involve finding the original sorcerer (undoubtedly now very powerful), or it could be as simple as killing the demonic vessel.

A Cynamolgus has a strong connection to his pack of dogs, who treat him as their leader. Since they train together to defeat predators, a Cynamolgus can act as the leader of a trained group of dogs, using his Animal Handling in place of Leadership. These tribesmen rarely have the Animal Companion or Magical Animal Companion Flaws, since they are equally bonded to all animals in their pack.

Intrinsic Virtue & Flaw: Puissant Animal Handling; Compulsion (protect his pack)