THE MRALOTI

Introduction

The Mraloti boar-people are natives of western Wenelia, and the great majority now live within the borders of the kingdom of Ramalia. Two distinct, although related, cultures refer to themselves as Mraloti. The larger, with a total population of around 90,000, are the 'Pure' Mraloti, whose culture has remained relatively unchanged since at least the Second Age. They subsist by hunting and by animal herding, but are prevented by religious taboos from tilling the soil. Second are the so-called 'Fallen' Mraloti, who number about half as many as their Pure brethren. They have abandoned their old religion in favour of the Ramalian form of Malkionism, and have taken up agriculture and a relatively close cooperation with the Slontan overlords of the country. Although they cannot be considered true Hsunchen any longer, they still retain elements of the old Mraloti culture in their social structures and mores.

Mraloti live in 'sounders' of between 6-30 adults and a similar number of children. Sounders are matriarchal kin-groups, with the oldest healthy woman being the chieftain. They are founded by groups of sisters or (less commonly) other close female relatives whenever an existing community grows too large. Marriage is exogamous and matrilocal, and is also based around groups of sisters. A given man is married not just to a single woman but to all her sisters too, so long as no marriage-group contains more men than women (although the reverse is acceptable).

Each sounder owns a small village and a herd of pigs, which are the primary source of sustenance for the community. Traditionally, hunting by the men and foraging by the women supplement this diet with a wider range of foods. Fallen Mraloti also practice primitive agriculture and may herd a limited number of other animals, such as goats, cows and chickens.

Pure Mraloti Shamans may be of either gender, and, as with most Hsunchen, are permitted to perform tasks that would normally be restricted to the other sex. Not all sounders have shamans, although the majority do. The shaman must spend much of their time dealing with spirits, so that the actual job of ruling is given to the chieftain. Shamans are not permitted to marry, but in order to remain close to the earth/fertility powers of Mralot, they have no taboos against adultery. Children of female shamans are raised by a married group nominated by the mother.

Appearance

Mraloti are Wareran folk whose pale skin is sharply offset by black or dark brown hair. They have a stocky build, and are unusually hirsute compared with typical Wareran people of their gender. Eyes are usually brown or grey.

Pure Mraloti men wear short sleeved thigh length pigskin-leather tunics with wide belts and sandals. They usually wear their hair shoulder length and have short, bushy beards. Women wear long sleeved ankle length dresses, also of leather and with belts and sandals. They never cut their hair, which is braided at the side to keep the face free, but otherwise allowed to hang loose (although it may be tied into a pony-tail when loose hair would be a hindrance). Male shamans also do not cut their hair, and normally have long and very bushy beards as a result.

The clothing of both sexes is rarely decorated, although talismans made of bone or ivory are common, and may be carved into runic or animal shapes. These talismans may be worn on thongs about the neck, sewn into belts or worn on straps both outside and underneath the main garment.

Fallen Mraloti are more likely to wear Western clothing of cloth or linen, or at least to imitate such styles with whatever materials come to hand. The wearing of talismans is much less common.

WILD BOARS

Sus scrofa

Natural habitat: broad leaved forests and open grassland
Distribution: Ralios, Maniria, Peloria, Seshnela, southern Fronela, southern Pent, north/central Kralorela
Male adult size: 90-180 cm head/body length, 50-200 kg

This is the commonest form of wild pig in Genertela, although related species are found instead in Teshnos and Fethlon. Males are somewhat larger than females. Adult boars have a coat of brownish-grey bristles, which is denser in winter. Females give birth to up to 12 striped piglets after a 17 week gestation. Mating occurs in late Earthseason, so that farrowing is normally in the Sacred Time. Wild boars live in non-territorial matriarchal groups of up to several dozen members, or as solitary males. They eat a wide range of plants, including fungi and fruits as well as leaves, roots and grasses. They are very adaptable, however, and will eat worms, insect larvae and even frogs and mice if the opportunity presents itself.

Stats

RQ3

STR	4d6+16	30		Move 8
CON	3d6+9	19-20		HP 39
SIZ	3d6+9	19-20		Fatigue 50
INT	4	4
POW	3d6	10-11
DEX	3d6	10-11

Tusks   SR6   30+5%   2d6+2d6
Stomp  SR6   30+5%   4d6 to downed foe

Armour: 2 point hide
Skills: Smell 30-6, Listen 25-6, Hide 35-16
Hit locations as a typical quadruped. Sows subtract 3 from STR and SIZ.

GURPS: (see GURPS Bestiary p38)