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Mora Gypsies

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We are not bound by walls or kings; we are bound by the Land and the wheel, whose spokes carry the stars.
—Madame Sosostris (from an Unknown text, recovered Posthumously)

The Mora Gypsies are a nomadic people whose lineage, scholars believe, intertwines with the High People themselves. They are an ancient culture with a presence in every corner of the world, from the warm plains of Altea to the wintry forests of Mordavia. Despite their wide dispersion, Mora communities share a deep reverence for the Mora, a tripartite deity they believe governs fate, nature, and time.

Unlike most societies, the Mora Gypsies reject the permanence of fixed settlements. They travel in tightly knit caravans, sustaining themselves through their deep connection to the land. Skilled hunters, foragers, and artisans, they embody the principle of harmony with nature, often thriving where others would struggle. This wandering lifestyle, while isolating them from the larger realms, also shields them from the turmoil of wars and political conflicts.

Central to Mora culture is their prophetic gift, which they attribute to their faith in the Mora. Seers among the Mora are believed to possess a third sight, a prophetic vision that allows them to glimpse into the future. These seers are revered for their cryptic predictions, which often shape the fates of those who seek their counsel. It is said that a true Mora seer can see not only the future, but the unspoken truths hidden in the hearts of others.

The Mora’s origins are mysterious, at best. Mordavia, known as the Old Country, is often cited as their ancestral home. Some believe they are the descendants of High People who forsook their immortality to live among Midworlders, while others suggest they are a special people blessed by the Mora itself. Whatever their origin, the Mora Gypsies are a people apart, their faith and wandering ways setting them at odds with the rest of society.

Adventure Hook

The Mora gypsies are not a monolith, though they share a common mythology that revolves around the Mora goddesses. Because they can be found all over the world, you can make them as varied culturally as all the geographical locations they may reside in.

The two key locations in the world where the Mora are most active are Idania and the Old Country. In Idania, the Mora are persecuted by Imperial Inquisitors for their belief in the Elder gods, and rebel against the Emperor by serving the disgraced nobles Lady Katreus and Lord Zoltan. In the Old Country, they struggle to protect ancient secrets from prying eyes, while being subject to the vindictive whims of the rulers of the Barony. If there’s anything the Mora have in common across multiple realms, it’s their perseverance.

Consider this scenario: A Mora seer divines the location of a secret ley line that runs through Mordavia and is said to grant visions to those who follow it. However, the path has become dangerous, overrun by unnatural creatures who are drawn to its power. Perhaps the party are Mora themselves, and must escort a caravan of their fellows with the seer through the path to protect them and uncover the mystery of the ley line’s resurgence.

What has caused the ley line to reawaken, and what power lies at its end?
How will the party balance the needs of the community with their own pursuit of knowledge or treasure?
What happens if the ley line’s power is claimed—or disrupted—along the journey?

Tags: Peoples

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Mora Gypsies

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The First-Order Gods

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