Bristlebelly

A raider warrior tribe living on the back of a megaboar. The boar himself has plates of armor made from stolen metals around his neck, shoulders, and haunches. Under the metal plates, the huts of the raiders hang like weaver bird nests. The only unprotected location of Bristlebelly led to the naming of the city. Unable to strap plates under the boar’s gut, Bristlebelly is often pierced by ballistae, arrows, and spears from below. These projectiles stick out from the skin, and tends to be the last thing defenders see before dying. Atop the boar's back and shoulders sit the chieftain's tent. It is a massive and fairly luxuriant yurt, filled with the best of the raiders' spoils.

Defences

Thick iron and steel armor protects Bristlebelly.

Industry & Trade

Bristlebelly has long been a pirate city, harassing smaller and weaker cities.
After the defeat of Soaring Eagle, its status as a raider is unclear.

History

The previous Warlord was an orc named Soaring Eagle. Bristlebelly has taken on three lionesses from Hodari's tribe, who were early allies of Adhama. The lionesses have convinced Soaring Eagle that Hodari is a traitor and kinslayer, who must be brought down. Soaring Eagle, influenced by the lioness witch-hag Owome, blamed the party for the death of his favorite prey: the great turtle of Burrhenge. Believing his “seer” and his scouting leader, he began to hunt for the town of Gundrir Boll. He quickly caught up to the mostly defenceless city, but the party was still off in Thywicket, so he took the city captive and awaited their return. When the party returned, they slew many of the raiders, including the dread chieftain himself. He had not known about Owome’s connection to the Chapel of Light, and was unprepared when she summoned the creature to the battle. Leaderless and assaulted by Bos Taurum and the Chapel, Bristlebelly fled deep into the plains.
Now, the most intelligent and powerful creature left alive on the boar is a Snake With a Hundred Mage Hands, an ally to the party after being taken out of the Temple of Mamuk. Given time, this snake has managed to take control of the city, ruling over it and its new inhabitants with an iron spectral fist.

Architecture

Chieftains of the city live in a huge yurt atop the back of Bristlebelly. Other citizens live in woven huts made of grass, which hang behind the armored pauldrons of the boar.

Climate

Bristlebelly creates its own climate, exuding a constant fog cloud. A combination of steaming sweat and magic condenses in the air around the beast, giving the ciity its own ominous, stinking cloud cover. The boar also uses this fog for ambushing weaker cities. As the fog rolls in, the inhabitants are blinded and disoriented, and make an easy target for the raiders. On hot days, the sweaty mist sometimes swells then collapses into a dismal rain. As the rain combines with the dust on the plains, it can create a mud wallow that Bristlebelly will happily roll in. These mudbaths have resulted in many raiders being crushed, not that the obstinate beast notices or cares about the loss of life.