Panagda Concept Test

THE PANAGDA Unlike the nocturnal dune people, these strange beings love the sunlight. They all bear the poxes Scales and Elemental Adaptation: Fire. In addition to their scaled skin, they also have the slitted golden eyes of serpents. Humans sometimes mistake the Panagda for snake beast- men, but the Scaled Folk lack fangs, poison, long snouts and other ophidian features; they owe their state to the Wyld alone, not the Lunar Exalted. The Panagda rule the day, just as the dune people stalk the night. Because the Panagda feel cold more severely than normal humans and their night vision is poor, the Scaled Folk retreat to mountain caverns and the lava tubes of extinct volcanoes during the night. Similar to the dune people, the Panagda are fierce cannibals who prey upon both caravans and any dune people they find. However, some Panagda tribes have learned other ways of life. Because they all live either within the Bor- dermarches or the tainted lands bordering them, the Panagda have great knowledge of the riches found there. Scaled Folk have learned the skill of permanently setting gemstones in their own scales: their chiefs and shamans often glitter with complex, jeweled patterns. After ceremonially devouring their own dead (with many reminiscences about the deceased’s excellent quali- ties), the Panagda dry the skulls and keep them as bowls. The skulls of chiefs and shamans are coated in gold and gems. The highest honor a Panagda can offer a guest is water from the skull of his mother or father. A few tribes trade some of their riches or act as guides to gemstone rivers and similar wonders—although they always keep the finest sources of treasure to themselves. Because of their love of ornament, Scaled Folk may trade large amounts of raw gems or lengthy service as guides for gemstones that civilized jewelers have faceted. The Panagda have raw gems in plenty—but not the tools and skills to produce such finished stones. Of course, they value food and water, too… and have learned that a handful of stones can buy a feast for an entire tribe. If the merchants prove weak or careless, the Scaled Folk get two feasts and keep the stones. As with all Wyld barbarians, however, dealing with the Panagda carries risk. The Scaled Folk have no concern for outsiders. Even tribes willing to trade with or otherwise aid well-defended caravans usually attack ill-defended caravans out of a mixture of greed and con- tempt. Panagda warriors also often challenge the most skilled caravan guards to duels that are supposed to be to first blood, but are actually lethal—refusing to answer such a challenge shows cowardice and often dooms an entire caravan.