Nyambe: African Adventures (D20 System)(d20 Fantasy Roleplaying)

255 Pages·2002·39.49 MB·English

by  Christopher W. Dolunt

C
REDITS
Author: Art Director & Graphic Designer:
Christopher W. Dolunt Scott Reeves
Contributing Authors: Cover Illustrator:
David Howery (monsters), Mike Dutton
Travis Laney (tropical diseases, monsters),
and Frédéric Leneuf-Magaud (Magic Eater) Interior Illustrators:
Kurt Brugel, Michael Clarke, Shane Coppage,
Editor: John Davis, Steven Ekholm, Brian Figur,
Michelle A. Brown Nephew Steven Sanders, Brendon Fraim, Brian Fraim,
Lee Moyer, Chris Schott, Chris Seaman,
Publisher & Proofreader: Chad Sergesketter, and Helena Wickberg
John Nephew (Phoenix Studios)
Editorial Assistance: Author’s Special Thanks:
Mary Dolunt Dominique Crouzet, Vincent Darlage,
Chimezie Joseph, Eric Noah, Keith Nelson,
Playtesting and QA: Antal Molnar, Russell Morrissey, Sean Muder,
Brad Meng, Lorcan Murphy, Melissa Smith, and Patrick Murphy
Patrick Taylor, and Rachel Taylor
Publisher’s Special Thanks:
Jerry Corrick and Alex Knapik
About the Author:
Chris Dolunt lives in Michigan with his wife Mary, their two loyal dogs Loki and Freya, and
a baby on the way. When not gaming he works as a database programmer for a market
research company.
Dedicated to Mary:
You make everything perfect.
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The Atlas Games logo is a trademark of JohnNephew and Trident, Inc., d/b/a Atlas Games.
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Copyright ©2002Trident, Inc., d/b/a Atlas Games. Reproduction of non-Open Game Content from this work by any
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This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Open Game Content
Digital Edition Nyambe: African Adventuresis published under the Open Game License. We hereby identify all of the text on pages 24
– 251 inclusive as Open Game Content, and designate the following as product identity: Adamu Dwa, Arabo, Baroka,
Version 1.0
Bashar’ka, bIda, Boha-Boha, Boroko, Bugundo, Caliph Ragheb, Child of Dead Marak Island, Chuku, D’ok, D’okan Desert,
Dagamar, Darak-Lar, Desert of Watery Sky, Dogar, Dogar Plateau, Drogo River, Drum of Tarango, Dutama, Eye of N!ok,
Forge of the Kosans, Ghana Bashar, Giko Taaba Mountains, Great Mangrove Marsh, Great Udamalore, Gudu Ji Pingu
Atlas Games
Desert, Halak Island, Hungering Lion, Isili, Isle of the Overpower, JamIkadi Kimah, Jolo, Kalayu Island, Kalimara River,
Saint Paul, Kaya Vua Samaki, Kisi, Kogo, Kosa Empire, Kuba Taaba, Kwo, Kwo’s Shield, Lake Gomala, Lake Tugo, Lord Rag’g DoGa ,
Mabwe, Mademba, Mansa Wahibreteni, Marak’ka-land, Marak’pInga Island, Mask of Nyambe, mbUi-land, Molembe,
Minnesota Mura’ka, Mwanamutapa Faouzi of Taumau-Boha, Nibomay, Nyambe, Nyambe-tanda, Nyambe: African Adventures,
Oba Dunsai, Oba Thabiti, Opon TuIda, Overchief Bomani, Queen Nyathera, Risu Island, Samara, Shomari of T’ombo,
Shombe-land, Shomo, Silwane-manzi-water, Skin of Zombi, Sueta, T’ombo, Tabu-Taabu Mountain, Tamago-Dugu,
www.atlas- Taumau, Taumau-Boha, Throne of the Overpower, Tobuyho, tUbI, Water People, Z’idan, Zulo.
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2
C
ONTENTS
3
Hewa-hewa!I am Shomari of T’ombo, a teacher at the great school of T’ombo. I have been
selected to guide you through the lands of Nyambe-tanda, a daunting task indeed.
Nyambe-tanda — sometimes simply called Nyambe — is a land in transition. Though we have
never been completely isolated, recent events have brought us to the attention of the outside
world, and I fear that our way of life is about to change for the worse.
As a stranger, you do not know our ways. Pay careful attention and I shall teach them to you.
If you wish to walk beneath our sky, you must learn to walk as we do, or you will surely die.
Forgive my gravity, but this is a serious matter. Nyambe is not a safe place for the unwary.
Vicious monsters, black-hearted tyrants, and foul magic await you at every turn, and the spirits
cry out for brave heroes to fight the evil.
This is not to say that Nyambe is devoid of peace or beauty. To the contrary, we believe that
our land is the most blessed in the entire world. But do not take my word for it, read on and
decide for yourself.
OVERVIEW
Nyambe: African Adventuresis a campaign sourcebook designed for use with the D20
System. The default setting used in this sourcebook is a continent called Nyambe-tanda(neye-
AHM-bay TAHN-dah), a place that combines African mythology, legend, and history with ele-
ments of high fantasy to create an exotic land with a distinctly African flavor. Nyambe is an epic,
historic setting. It is a place where you are more likely to find someone like Mansa Sundiata, the
physically handicapped warrior-sorcerer who became the first king of Mali in the 13th century,
rather than a stereotypical “noble savage” like Tarzan.
The continent of Nyambe-tanda is not located in any particular game world, so GMs can eas-
ily insert it into their own campaigns. There are references to other parts of the world, but the
details are intentionally left vague so you can substitute existing cultures of your own design
where appropriate. Specifically, the Near East is a generic Middle Eastern land, the Far East is an
Asian land, and the North is a European land. There are also references to the Water People, an
Egyptian culture.
Nyambe: African Adventuresincludes a significant amount of new game material and rules.
These include new location-specific races, core class variants, prestige classes, spells, diseases,
monsters, and new categories of magic items. These elements can easily be lifted from this book
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and transplanted into your home campaign, adding a great deal of depth to any land with an
African feel. Conversely, you could use only the extensive history and background presented for
Nyambe, disregarding the new rules completely. Either way, your roleplaying experience will be
greatly enriched.
The mythology and history of Nyambe-tanda was inspired by the folklore of real-world
Africa. If you’d like to create your own fantasy Africa campaign setting, you may want to build
its history around similar themes. A list of reference materials that you might find useful are
available in the Suggested Reading list in this book, and on-line at www.nyambe.com.
The languages used by the fantasy Africans in Nyambe are loosely based on a number of real
African languages, especially those of the Bantu family, such as Kiswahili. The first time a for-
eign term appears in the text, it will include the pronunciation in parentheses. In many African
languages, plural words are formed by changing the beginning of the singular form — for exam-
ple, utuchekulu is the plural of akachekulu — but for the sake of clarity, the singular and plural
forms of most Nyamban words are identical. Finally, some Nyamban words include sounds that
will be unfamiliar to many readers. These sounds are represented by either a “!” — click your
tongue against the roof of your mouth — or a “/” — click your tongue against your teeth as in
the first part of the sound sometimes written as “tsk-tsk.”
NYAMBE-TANDA
The full name of our continent is Nyambe-tanda. The name comes from Kordo(KOR-
doh), the common tongue of the land, and roughly translates to “Land of the Overpower.”
According to Nyamban beliefs, the creator of the world, known as Nyambe or “the
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Overpower,” once lived amongst the
mortal races, and so the land bears the
Overpower’s name.
Nyambe is just southwest of an area
called the Near East, west of an area
called the Far East, and far to the
south of a region simply known as the
North.
The continent is located completely
within the world’s tropical zones.
Because of the resulting heat, armor
sees little use here; most warriors wear
no armor at all. Due to the lack of
armor, Nyamban warriors excel at
dodging attacks, an art known as san-
guar(SAHN-gwar). In addition, shield
use is common, as are ranged weapons
of all sorts.
Nyambe-tanda supports highly var-
ied terrain, including scrub plains,
marsh, grassland, rainforest, moun-
tains, and deserts. Much of this terrain
is hostile, and large areas of the conti-
nent are only sparsely inhabited. Cities
are rare, and those that exist tend to
be relatively small.
HUMANS
OF NYAMBE
As in most lands, humans are the
dominant race of Nyambe-tanda.
Differences between Nyamban
humans and those of other lands are
superficial at best. As a general rule,
Nyamban humans have dark skin,
brown eyes, and curly black hair, while
the humans of other lands tend to
have lighter skin, lighter eyes and
straighter and lighter hair. However,
there are plenty of exceptions, and
Nyamban humans demonstrate a vari-
ety of physical appearances. These
variations have been further increased
by intermarriage with Near Easterners
and Far Easterners, making the
Nyambans a very diverse group
indeed.
The humans of Nyambe are divided
into twelve major ethnic groups, and
dozens of minor ones. Occasionally the
structure of these groups change.
Groups break apart, merge, or are
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sometimes even driven to extinction. However, the following twelve groups are currently
the most prominent.
•The Azzazza(ah-ZAH-zah) are an agricultural people with a highly ritualized society.
Most Azzazza live in the United Kingdom of Taumau-Boha.
•The Hutali(hoo-TAH-lee) are semi-nomadic mountain-dwellers who live amongst the
active volcanoes of the Giko Taaba Mountains, in a dwarf-dominated region known as
Utuchekulu-land.
•The Marak’ka(mah-rahk-KAH) are nomadic desert-dwellers with a love of music and
dance. They live in a harsh desert called the Gudu Ji Pingu, in the region known as
Marak’ka-land.
•The Mbanta (m-BAHN-tah) are homeless nomads with a reputation for magical
prowess. As nomads, the Mbanta are evenly distributed amongst the lands of Nyambe.
•The NaBula(nah-BOO-lah) are masters of unarmed combat, and have recently adopt-
ed many aspects of Near Eastern culture. Most NaBula live in the Caliphate of Boroko.
•The Nghoi(ng-HOHY) are diminutive humans who live amongst the elves of the bIda
Rainforest, in a region known as Wakyambi-land.
•The Shombe(SHAWM-bay) are cattle-herders with a strong warrior ethic. They live
within the tUbI Grassland, in a region known as Shombe-land.
•The Tembu(TEHM-boo) are merchants with a reputation for flamboyance. They are
the dominant ethnic group in the Empire of Mabwe.
•The Tisambe(tee-SAHM-bay) are a strong-willed people best known for their matriar-
chal traditions and “Amazon” warrior women. They are the dominant culture of the
Empire of Nibomay.
•The Tuslan(TOOS-lahn) are hunter-gatherers with a great reverence for nature. They
live in the Empire of Nibomay, but are an oppressed minority.
•The Xon’mo(zohn-MOH) are an offshoot of the Marak’ka, and have developed a soci-
ety controlled by fire priests. Most Xon’mo live in the kingdom of Bashar’ka.
•The Zamara(zah-MAH-rah) are obsessed with fighting witchcraft, and have recently
adopted many aspects of Far Eastern culture. Most Zamara live in a series of coastal
city-states known as the Kaya Vua Samaki.
NON-HUMAN RACES
Nyambe-tanda does not support the wide variety of humanoid races found in other
lands. Most noticeable is the absence of goblinoid species. Nyambe has no goblins, hob-
goblins, or bugbears of any sort. Orcs, while once common, are now (supposedly) extinct.
Due to a lack of hostile humanoid invasions, Nyamban kingdoms are very stable, and some
have remained intact for thousands of years.
This is not to say that there are no humanoid races. Over a dozen non-human races
exist, some co-existing with humans, others opposing them. The races that co-exist with
humans are known as the demihumanraces, while the races that oppose humans are
known as the savageraces.
DEMIHUMAN RACES
The demihumans have much in common with humans, and the demihuman races tend
to get along well with both humans and each other.
•The agogwe(ah-GAWG-way) are furred nomads with powerful claws and a propensity
for burrowing. Agogwe seem to be a warrior offshoot of the halfling race, and live in
the Wakyambi-land region of the bIda Rainforest.
•The kitunusi(kih-too-NOO-see) of Mademba are a diminutive race with strong ties to
the Shadow World. Kitunusi are related to gnomes, but lack both the humor and inven-
tiveness found amongst other members of their species.
•The ngoloko(ng-oh-LOH-koh) are a wizardly race of human-orc crossbreeds. Though
similar to the half-orcs of other lands, ngoloko are far more intelligent than their back-
ward cousins and live in isolated communities.
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•The unthlatu(oonth-LAH-too) are a reclusive race of dragon-blooded spellcasters. The
unthlatu were once humanoid sorcerers, but evolved into a new race while exiled in the
Great Mangrove Marsh.
•The utuchekulu(oo-too-cheh-KOO-loo) are a race of subterranean warrior-cannibals
inhabiting the Kuba Taaba and Giko Taaba mountain ranges. Utuchekulu are descend-
ed from a race of dark dwarves, but do not show any particular tendency toward evil
behavior.
•And finally, the wakyambi(wahk-YHAM-bee) are an arboreal race with strong druidic
tendencies and prehensile tails suited for their home in the bIda Rainforest. Wakyambi
are related to elves, but unlike the elves of other lands, wakyambi cannot interbreed
with humans to produce half-elves.
SAVAGE RACES
The savage races tend to be self-centered and evil, making peaceful co-existence with
the human and demihuman races all but impossible.
•The entare(en-TAH-ray) are dangerous predators with the head of a lion, the upper
torso and arms of a human, and the four-legged lower torso of a lion. The majority of
the entare prowl the tUbI Grassland, though a few have been known to venture into
the nearby D’okan Desert.
•The getiet(geh-TEE-eht) are race of degenerate kosan orcs, physically powerful, but
stupid and despised by all civilized beings. They live as bandits on the fringes of many
settled lands.
•The ingogo(ihn-GOH-goh) are another race descended from the kosan orcs. They are
smaller and weaker than the getiet, but far more cunning. They are the most hated of
all the savage races, and live almost exclusively in the tUbI Grassland.
•The kosans(KOH-sahns) were an ancient race of wizardly orcs that once dominated all
of Nyambe-tanda. Though they are extinct now, the kosans had a major impact upon
Nyamban history, and spawned the getiet, ngoloko, and ingogo.
•The mbUi(mb-OO-ee) are a race of cowardly scavengers descended from human were-
hyenas, and appear much like gnolls. The mbUi live in the foothills of the Giko Taaba
Mountains.
•The silwane-manzi(sihl-WAH-nay MAHN-zee), cousins to the sahuagin, are a shark-
like race of amphibians notorious for devouring sailors. They live in sunken cities off
Nyambe’s northern coast.
•The yuan-tiare a race of serpent-folk recently arrived from the Far East, who now
dominate the western portion of the bIda Rainforest.
There may be other savage races beyond those listed here, but if such creatures exist,
they are both rare and secretive.
ANIMALS
Nyambe is perhaps best known for its stunning array of large animals, such as apes,
cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, gazelles, giraffes, hippopotami, hyenas, jackals, leopards,
lions, monkeys, rhinos, and zebras. Two animals that many foreigners expect to find here
but do not are bears and tigers.
Many of these animals can also found in dire versions, and though they lack magical
powers, such beasts can pose a formidable challenge to an adventuring party. The most
famous of all Nyamban dire animals is the dire lion. These creatures are rare, and often
have unusual coloration, such as black, green, red, or white. Seeing a dire lion is considered
an omen, but the exact meaning of the omen depends on the lion’s color and the circum-
stances under which it was observed. Individuals who encounter a dire lion are encouraged
to visit a diviner so as to learn the meaning of the omen.
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Not all Nyamban wildlife is so impressive or famous. Few foreigners would recognize
the cichlid fish, known here as the marakely, though it is a common sight in the nets of
Nyamban fishermen. Even fewer would recognize the bird known as the black-headed
gonolek, or realize that seeing one is an ill omen.
PLANTS
Though many foreigners are familiar with Nyamban fauna, few know anything about
our flora.
Commonly grown foodstuffs include beans, cassava, chickpeas, barley, calabash gourds,
figs, millet, onions, peanuts, plantains, taro, sorghum, teffwheat, and nyami(nah-YAHM-
ee), or yams as foreigners call them. More recently introduced crops include bananas,
coconuts, and rice, all of which have been brought from the Far East.
Common cash crops include cotton, tea transplanted from the Far East, and especially
palm trees. There are many different types of palm trees, but the two with the most eco-
nomic value are the oil palm and the wine palm.
The oil palm is valued for its nuts, which are crushed to
produce meca(MEH-cah), also known as palm oil. These
nuts, called diga(DEE-gah), are gathered and crushed
to extract the oil. Once the oil has been removed,
the husks can be boiled and eaten, or burned to
make charcoal.
The wine palm is valued for its sap, which is
fermented and used to make palm wine, also
called jana(JAH-nah), a common drink which I
am told tastes much like the rice wine of the
Far Eastern people. Palm wine is a milky-white
liquid, and is very dry. Most people don’t like it
the first time they try it — it is an acquired
taste. Visitors to our land are advised to try
banana beer instead.
Nyamban wild plants are extremely diverse.
Some of the more commonly encountered
wild plants include flowers like iris-
es, geraniums, gladioli, orchids,
and violets, and grasses like
common thatch, devilgrass,
pangolagrass, and weeping
lovegrass. Some of the better-
known Nyamban trees are the
thorny acacia, ambatch tree,
baobab, kapok tree, and
mahogany. Vines are also
numerous, and include jas-
mine, liana vines, pink
trumpet vines, and the
ubiquitous strangler
figs.
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MONSTERS
The monsters of Nyambe-tanda take a variety of forms. Though certain ones are not
found in Nyambe, there are more than enough monsters unique to this continent to com-
pensate for any loss. Many monsters date back to the time of the ancient kosan orcs, and
were either created in diabolic magical experiments or brought here from other lands.
No creature limited to temperate or arctic climates (or with the cold subtype) appears
in Nyambe-tanda. The only known exceptions are several white dragons rumored to lair in
the highest peaks of the Kuba Taaba mountain range.
• Beasts:The vast majority of Nyamban monsters are non-magical beasts, and a wide
variety of beasts make their home in this land. The best-known beast is the mokele
m’bembe(moh-KEH-leh m-BEHM-beh), a dinosaur-like creature of tremendous size
and power.
•Dragons: Most of the standard dragon races can be found in the Land of the
Overpower; even cold-loving white dragons have been reported living on the peaks of
the highest mountains. Winged “proto-dragons” known as kongamato (kohn-gah-
MAH-toh) are also native to Nyambe. They have a reputation for attacking fishing
boats, and are among the weakest of all dragon species.
• Elementals:Elementals of all sorts are quite common in Nyambe-tanda, acting as the
servants of the elemental orisha spirits.
• Fey:According to Nyamban beliefs, fey are creatures native to the Shadow World. The
most commonly encountered fey in Nyambe-tanda are servants of the natural orisha
spirits.
• Giants:With the exception of frost giants, many of the standard giant races can be
found in Nyambe. Nyambe-tanda also has its own race of giant known as the sao
(SAHW), and a race of undead giants known as the rom(RAWM).
• Magical Beasts:While many magical beasts can be found in Nyambe-tanda, most have
physical differences from their counterparts in other parts of the world. For example,
the Nyamban cockatrice, called the “crowing crested cobra,” appears to be a cobra with
wings and a cock’s comb. Rather than hissing, the Nyamban cockatrice crows like a
rooster at sunrise. It sometimes uses this sound to attract unsuspecting prey.
• Outsiders:Since outsiders are native to the Spirit World and not the Material Plane, in
theory any sort of outsider could visit Nyambe-tanda. In practice, the only outsiders
that appear are servants of the orisha spirits.
• Plants:As might be expected from a land with a giant rainforest at its center, plant
monsters abound in Nyambe.
• Shapechangers:Nyambe has an above-average concentration of shapechangers. The
best-known shapechangers in the Land of the Overpower are the mysterious leopard
cultists.
• Undead:The most commonly encountered undead in Nyambe-tanda are true zombis
and ancestor spirits — monsters not found in other parts of the world. Other common
undead include ghouls, mummies, shadows, and common zombies. The only sort of
undead completely unknown in Nyambe is the vampire. Unfortunately, Nyambe has its
own version of the vampire — a skinless monstrosity known as the terkow(ter-KOH).
• Vermin:Not only can all known vermin be found in Nyambe-tanda, but the heat and
humidity are ideal conditions for these creatures to grow to incredible sizes.
RELIGION
If you do not understand the orisha(oh-REE-shah) you cannot understand Nyamban
religions. Belief in the orisha permeates every aspect of every race and culture. They are
so commonly encountered that no sane creature doubts their existence.
The orisha are immortal spirits that act as the intermediaries between the mortal races
and the Overpower, and can be good, evil, or neutral. There are many different kinds of
orisha. They include the celestial orisha (spirits of good), fiendish orisha (spirits of evil),
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