Stygia

Starting Languages

When a player selects a culture, they automatically gain ability in the primary language associated with that culture. This language represents the common tongue or dominant language spoken in that cultural region. Each culture provides a pool of additional languages that players can choose from. This pool should include languages associated with neighboring regions, historical influences, or significant trade partners of that culture. The number of additional languages in the pool can vary based on the diversity and historical context of the culture. For example, a culture with extensive trade routes or a history of conquest might have a larger pool. You may select an additional language from this pool for each point of edge you have in Intellect, and another for each additional point you gain as you level up in your adventures.

Starting Arms & Armor

Players are afforded their starting weapons, clothing, & tool proficiencies by the age associated with their homeland. So Stone Age cultures and Dark Age cultures might both grant ability with a mace for example, but only the Dark Age culture would grant ability with guns, for example. Over the course of your adventures you may choose to use your progression to gain proficiency in a different age's tools.

Playing as a Stygian Adventurer

The modern ruling-caste Stygians are tall, broad and blackhaired, with dusky skin and handsome, straight features. Members of the ruling caste of the Stygians are hereditary warriors, though the Stygian deserts and cities are almost as famous for producing powerful sorcerers. Most have fairly dark skin, though a few of the most ancient noble families have skin the colour of pale ivory. Ordinary Stygians are a downtrodden mix of many different races, as most of them are descended from slaves. They should generally be treated as Kushites, Shemites, Southern Islanders, or even Hyborians, depending on their origins.

Culture

The Stygian society is essentially a theocracy. Heretics and criminals alike are punished with horrible torture, such as being skinned alive. According to legend, before the Lemurians arrived, the land of Stygia was inhabited by a race of giant-kings. The Lemurians bred with the giant-kings and, learning much of their ancient sorcery, became the Stygians. One Stygian priest says that some mummies have lain in their tombs for ‘ten thousand years’; this could be boasting to suggest Stygia is older than it is – or he may be referring to the tombs of the giant-kings.

Names

Stygian names are similar to Egyptian names. They are often combinations of several meaningful syllables, such as: Nafer, Nut, Thoth, Merkri, Ak, Mek, Amon, Mes, Ra, Mun, Ankh, Cris, Ri and Phon. Note that if additional names are researched, they should be derived from ancient Egyptian rather than modern Egyptian sources. Examples: (male) Ctesphon, Kutamun, Thoth-amon, Thothmekri, Thugra Khotan, Thutmekri, Thutothmes, Tothmekri, Totrasmek, Tuthamon, Tuthmes; (female) Thalis, Akivasha. Suggestions: (male) Bakt, Imhotep, Kamoses, Menes; (female) Ankhesenamun, Enehy, Hebeny, Imiu, Isetnophret, Kiya, Miw-Sher, Netikerty, Sadeh, Yunet.

Religion

By far the most widely worshipped Stygian god is Set, the Old Serpent. However, other dark ‘hideous halfbestial’ and ‘apish’ gods are worshipped as well, perhaps including Hanuman. There is a cult in Luxor that follows Derketo. There is a suggestion that Set’s enemy Ibis was once worshipped in Stygia or Acheron but was driven out. Like the later Egyptians, the Stygians believe in bodily resurrection and that the soul, or Ka, is separated from the body to pass into the afterlife on death.

Homeland Traits

Starting Arms & Armor: Bronze Ages
Automatic Languages: Stygian
Bonus Languages: Shemitish, Kushite, Keshani, Zembabwean, Puntan, Darfari, Khitan, Hyrkanian, Acheronian, Demonic, Old Stygian
Homeland Talent
Mystic Insights - You have learned the secrets of ancient magic that can be used to unravel mysteries or access hidden knowledge. Gain an asset when deciphering arcane symbols or divining cryptic meanings.