Bugbears
From BelegarthWiki
Contents |
Lore
From ages beyond count, Bugbears have strode the face of this world, bringing war to the pointed hearts of elves, and the fallow hearts of Man. How can other races feel that world belong to any other race?? Only Bugbears have the passion in heart, the might in arm, and the wisdom in mind to hold this world, greatest of Marjack's creations and Marjacks gift to Bugbears! From the Lands Humankind calls Turkey do Bugbears sweep, driving fear and suffering to the weak lands of other races. 'Tis the right Marjack bestowed upon Bugbears, that Bugbears will straddle this world, standing as Colossus, with one foot on world, and other foot in the realms of spirit, for truly only Bugbears may see what lies beyond Marjack's veil. Hearken, and be told of the Tribes, and the structure that has endured many HUMAN inventions, and broken the might of ELVEN armies as dry kindling.
Social Structure in Detail
As shown above bugbears have a very militaristic culture, with a leveled structure that all of Marjack's children honor without question. This is that structure broken down:
Atan-Ashi "Highest Warrior" : This is the leader of the bugbear race. All listen to Atan-Ashi, and all bow to no other creature, for only Bugbear is fit to rule Bugbear. The Atan-Ashi leads tradesman, warrior, child, and orphan alike. This leader is centralized within the Syrian Desert during times of peace, and leads the entire army in times of war. The Atan-Ashi never leaves his people, and has thus far always been an Ashi. Because of this the realms of Belegarth have yet to see an Atan-Ashi. To see the Atan-Ashi is to meet the full force of the Bugbear army, and you don't want that.
Ashi "Warrior": All able Bugbears are warriors, but not all are held in the same esteem the Atan-Ashi are. This is the adult bugbear, raised in the art of both trade and slaughter. The Ashi stay with their tribe, providing their trade or their steel as the Atan-Ashi commands. Without Ashi, the tribe would die, like a cancerous tree, or be without art, as the Human tribes are. Like the Atan-Ashi, the Ashi have yet to be seen in the realms of Belegarth.
Su-Ashi "Tamed Warrior": Beneath Ashi fall the non-warring women and children. Even these are Ashi, forged in the grip of Marjack, but called Su-Ashi because they have yet to prove themselves on the field of battle. The Su-Ashi are taken care of and taught by Elders of the tribe as well as by their families. Female bugbears are uncommon in Belegarth, but if they are to be found, it is with the ranks of the Horde, who train them as their families would've had they any.
Gojun-Ashi "Lowest Warrior" : These are the orphans of the Bugbear nation. They have no home, save the one provided for them. Neither do they have family to teach them a trade. Because of this they are provided for by the tribe, and in return they learn war. In the Dance of Marjack, or battle, Gojun-Ashi are the first to bring war down, and the first to drive Human and Elves into the ground. Gojun-Ashi boots are the first to crush the fragile bones beneath hard heel, and Gojun-Ashi hands wield the weapons that draw first blood. Gojun-Ashi are also first to die, souls screaming to Marjack's torturing grasp if the Gojun-Ashi has failed. Considered pawns or currency by Bugbear society, Gojun-Ashi are often sold to other monster tribes when the Bugbear army is not marching. Bugbears in the Belegarth Realms are more often than not Gojun-Ashi, traded or sold to their unit.
Hidewalker: The Hidewalker is the carrier and vessel of bugbear lore. Strong and wise, this bugbear carries and shares our culture, and maintains it's purity. Hidewalkers are also the only Bugbears permitted to gaze upon Marjack's arm, the symbol of a Bugbear's strength. The last hidewalker was Nanga Doomspear, Gojun-Ashi and Headhunter of the Horde.
Homeland
Bugbears dwell in the Steppelands and Turkish Regions, originating from the Syrian Desert. They are known, however, to range as far north as Russia or as far east as China during times of war. It is common to see populated warcamps along this expanse even in times of peace.
Language
The spoken language of bugbears is Farsi, a common language in Central Asia and the Middle East.
The written language is also Farsi (known as Persian when written), though original ceremonial runes are accepted and encouraged. Just make sure it appears flowing or fluid when written.
Garb and Armour
The most important thing to remember about a Bugbear's garb is that their dominant arm must be covered at all times. You see, when a Bugbear is born, Marjack attends to the child. Marjack touches lightly the arm the child will use forever, and in that instant, Marjack gives the child strength and might. Because the arm is holy, it belongs not to the Bugbear that carry it, but to Marjack only. As such, no one save other Bugbear, and then ONLY Hidewalker, may see holy flesh of Marjack,
Beyond this, a bugbear's garb and armour has never been strict, but here are some commonly and widely used garb styles:
Fur hide: The veteran bugbears of the realms are often seen wearing fur mantles. This is usually a wizard or scholar's style mantle with rabbit or wolf fur covering the shoulders. Depending on summer heat where you fight, this might not be a good garb choice. However it does layer well for colder weather clothing.
Welder Sleeve: This is the original sleeve used to cover the dominant arm. Made from a welder's sleeve with the non-sword arm cut off. This, like the fur mantle, is a major hindrance in the heat. This can be reduced by wearing Underarmour, or by covering with a cloth sleeve instead.
Overtunic: A tan lightweight simple tunic has often been used in the past to bolster bugbear garb.
Canvas Pants: This is usually some type of canvas pants, tan with a thick red border from above the ankle to the bottom hem of the pants. This like the sleeve used to be a common identifier of a bugbear.
Warbraids: Adding warbraids to belts and helms is not individualistic to one monster race, but a generally accepted addition to any monsters attire.
Bone: Like above, this is a widely used addition to monster garb.
For ideas outside of these veteran guidelines, I suggest looking at the homeland of the bugbears. Try armour and garb styles similar to the desert or central Asian cultures, but altered to appear more monster-ish. This opens up quite a bit of possibilities for customizing your look while maintaining a definitive bugbear appearance. I notice it helps if you purposely do not armour your shield/non-dominant arm, if nothing else but for contrast.
Turkish, Mongolian, Arabic, and possibly even Russian medieval variants could produce good results.
Warpaint
The above event picture is a good example of various bugbear facepaint styles.
The Raccoon Mask: A full face paint with a solid black bar across the eyes. The bar is then accented by linear designs in various other colors. End result covers entire face.
The Bloodmouth: A ceremonial red paint applied from the bottom of the nose to the chin. The ending result is a slightly rounded upside down triangle, resembling a bloodstain from consuming the hearts of fallen enemies.
Hand of the Gods: The mark of the Gods is something given to any monster that feels blessed by their deity. A ceremonial bowl is filled with red paint ("blood") and a monster shaman dips the hand into the bowl, then applies it to those interested. The end result looking like a handprint. Bugbears sometimes wear this mark in honor of the strength given by Marjack.
Painting a skin tone is something that is rarely done. In the few times bugbears have painted their non dominant arm and exposed skin the color of choice has been a brownish tint.
Foes and Enemies
Any foolish, pink-hearted creature that would threaten or stand in the way of the will of the Atan-Ashi.
Reproduction
"Despite being highly xenophobic, a bugbear may procreate with anything. When the mating drive comes over them they may procreate with other bugbears, goblins, elvish women (although the amount of riverwater that one takes is amazing), farm implements such as scythes, tractors, or hammers, fauna (preferably trees), croplands, volcanoes, the air, etc. etc. The power of the bugbear seed is such that although there is no genetic connection between these things and the bugbear the sperm will force the object, plant, and/or sentient being to reproduce. The emotional/mental state of the bugbear and the bugbear's partner upon conception also affects the mental state of the bugbear upon birth and it will maintain that mental or emotional state once fully grown to adulthood as well. There are no known records of any Bugbear other than pure-breeds (those born of a coupling between a two bugbears) being born from anything other than anger and violence.
Unlike other races that produce half-breeds, the genetic materials of the bugbear are SO superior that it will always produce a bugbear. A few examples of this are as follows:
Vo'Kor, fathered by the coupling of a bugbear male and a dwarven steam powered locomotion machine. For the Pinkies it be called a "train".
Graavish Doomshield, birthed by the coupling of a bugbear female and a mountain.
Drago, fathered by a bugbear male and an ironwood tree that was on fire.
Ju'Dekei, born of a bugbear male and a canabis plant.
Zi'Gor, birthed by the coupling of a bugbear female and a lumberjack.
Ty, descended from a bugbear male and a female Githyanki warrior.
Hakan, born of a male bugbear's night of drunken rage with an erupting volcano
Khersi, Conceived from a Male Bugbear and a Female Macaque
However Nanga Doomspear, the Hidewalker of the Oldest tribe, was born of a coupling between a bugbear male and female."
Excerpt from Dr. Thomas P. Clark IV Esq. Ph.D, a renowned bugbear scholar, in his new book, Bugbears and You: "Run as fast as you can! For the love of god run before they get us": A study of the bugbear and it's culture.
