"Never forget where you came from, or you’ll never know where you’re going."
— The Founders
| Precipere | |
|---|---|
| Settlement | |
| |
| RPG | Bara Magna (Series) |
| Type | Settlement |
| Residents | Ash Tribe |
| Status | Inhabited |
| Creator | Nato |
Precipere is the village of Ash Tribe.
Geography
Precipere is located to the East of Vulcanus, on the opposite side of the volcano.
The village is perched atop the cliffs of Iron Canyon, accessible only via a sturdy staircase carved into the canyon wall, and a small makeshift elevator – a simple wooden platform connected to a system of ropes and pulleys – which is used to carry larger cargo to-and-from the canyon floor.
A treacherous network of trails and tunnels also lead directly West, back to Vulcanus, though the volcanic terrain and bitter enmity between the two villages means these are rarely used.
Locations
Hunter’s Lodge
Situated next to the cargo elevator is the hunter’s lodge, which is utilised primarily by the tribe’s trackers and trappers. Equipment and supplies for hunts are stored here, with rooms set aside for slain creatures to be skinned and butchered afterwards.
The Guardhouse
Though the Ash Tribe have rarely been bothered by raiders, they aren’t complacent. A small contingent of Agori are trained to serve as defenders, with the Guardhouse near the hunter’s lodge serving as their base of operations. At least two guards and one healer are stationed in this building at all times so anyone in trouble in the village can reliably find aid. Two guards are usually stationed at the top of the stairs as well, with others being dispatched to the slopes to oversee workers.
The Maw
The village’s arena occupies centre stage in the heart of the village, a hollowed-out pit with a dirt floor and outcroppings of jagged obsidian encrusting its walls. Pillars and platforms of simple stone are arrayed around the arena, encouraging fighters to be assertive and creative in combat, lest they be driven back against the abrasive walls.
The arena has no formal stands, but is located in the lowest area of the village, allowing most locals to watch fights play out from the comfort of their front porches.
Residential District
The village’s residences are utilitarian structures hewn of stone sourced from the surrounding area, situated on elevated outcroppings of rock. Each structure is artistically adorned in some way with imagery or words honouring history of the resident family, often added to and expanded over several lifetimes.
Multiple generations of the same family will often occupy neighbouring huts, with their stories spilling across from one structure to the next.
Sculpture Fields
Situated near the stairwell are the sculpture fields, where statues and other large artworks are proudly displayed. Time has taken its toll on some of these structures, with maintenance and restoration work being ongoing efforts.
Hall Of The Honoured
Situated in a cavern below the village, the Hall Of The Honoured is the Ash Tribe’s closest approximation to a graveyard. It’s here that the armour, weapons, and other remains of ancestors are stored, with each family maintaining their own small chamber in the cavern.
Though there are some bone tools and weapons stored here, there are no actual bodies, with the Ash Tribe traditionally disposing of their dead by cremation after the family have taken anything they wish to use from the remains.
The Slopes
Beyond the village, the Ash Tribe maintain several small operations on and around the lower slopes of the volcano. It’s here that the Ash Tribe grow their food in the nutrient-rich soil, and mine obsidian from the surrounding rock to trade to other tribes.
History
Precipere was established generations ago by the founding families of the Ash Tribe, following their exile from Vulcanus. What began as little more than a handful of makeshift huts huddled on a windswept rock has become a small but thriving settlement, steeped in heritage and history.
Like the stones its structures are carved from, Precipere has withstood the test of time, and its inhabitants have every intention of enduring long into the future.