Ussura Regional Advantages

Gallenia

The peoples of Gallenia are nomadic, with thousands of miles of open country that has remained unchanged for centuries, to call their home. They are traditionally open and welcoming of travelers, even so far as giving them their own bed to sleep. The Gallenia are very horse-wise and many say that they are all but born on the saddle of a horse.

7th Sea™ Mechanics

• Must take Background: Traditions 2 or spend 4 HP not to have it.

• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission

Traditions (7^th Sea^™ Background)

Following the Old Ways of offering food, shelter and friendship is not some archaic foolery to be bandied about by the old women of the people; it is the right and truthful Way of things. You will follow the tradition of the Old Ways of offering food, shelter, friendship and even your tent to the strangest of wanderers. You will greet such travelers with a hearty welcome, warm smile and a generosity fitting the nature of your Traditions. The number of points you invest in this background determines how far (no matter how strange or undesirable the person might be) you are willing to go along with the Old Ways.

d20™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Fighters, Noble, Rangers

• Typical Prestige Classes: Buslayevich Bowman, Pyeryem, Stelet

• Class Skill: Ride

• Automatic Language: Ussuran

• Bonus Languages: Fhideli, Crescent, Cathayan, Kosars

Molhyna

The homeland of immortal Koshchei, Molhyna is remote, even for Ussura, and its crops and fishing industry are its only real ties to the rest of Matushka’s domain. As of late, Molhyna has suffered greatly under ill born tyranny and Kosars raids. Most recently the revolt of the Kosar has brought about even more hostility, tension and outright war to the region.

7th Sea^™Mechanics

• Lose one Reputation Die when interacting with the world outside of Molhyna. You may purchase the Worldly Arcana, but at the cost of 12 HP.

• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Ranger, Fighters, Noble, Spy
• Typical Prestige Classes: Bogatyr Hatchet Fighter, Dobrynya Wrestler, Pyeryem, Stelets
• Class Skill: Profession (farmer) or Profession (fisherman)
• Automatic Language: Ussura
• Bonus Languages: Fhideli, Kosars

Pavtlow

The jewel of Ussura, Pavtlow is the social and cultural epicenter of Matushka’s domain. It is a city of great architectural achievement, cobbled streets and political intrigues the likes of which would be unimagined by the Montaigne.

7th Sea^™ Mechanics

• When dealing with any foreign Court (save Vesten) you have a +5 penalty to your TN due to their perceived notion of your backwardness. Also when dealing with any overtly “rural situation” you have a +5 penalty to your TN as your urban upbringing is of little use.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Bards, Cleric (Ussura Orthodox), Courtier, Noble, Rogue, Spy 
• Typical Prestige Classes: Bogatyr Hatchet Fighter, Pyeryem, Stelets 
• Class Skill: Diplomacy or Bluff
• Automatic Language: Ussuran
• Bonus Languages: Avalon, Eisen, Montaigne, Théan

Rurik

This grand province was, until the recent march of Montague’s army, one of the richest and most prosperous of the Knias Douma. It has the best access to the Trade Sea and secures ambassadors (and trade) from Avalon, Eisen and Vendel alike. Taxes are high, but Rurik peasants secure about twice the yearly wealth of their counterparts in other Douma do.

7th Sea^™ Mechanics

• If you take Arrogant, Greedy, Proud or Righteous Hubris you only receive 6 HP. Taking the Altruistic, Fortunate, Passionate and Victorious Virtues cost you 14 HP.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Courtier, Fighter, Noble
• Typical Prestige Classes: Bogatyr Hatchet Fighter, Buslayevich Bowman, Pyeryem, Saboteur, Stelets
• Class Skill: Appraise or Speak Language
• Automatic Language: Ussura
• Bonus Languages: Avalon, Eisen, Montaigne, Vendel

Somojez

Somojez, the “Wall of Ussura,” is a land composed nearly completely of mountains, whether it is the Drachenburg Mountains or the Bolshoi Mountains. The people of Somojez are a hardy and stoic people who have a formidable trust in the Ussuran Orthodoxy tenants.

7th Sea^™ Mechanics

• The people of Somojez are, in general, the most adamant about their faith in Ussuran Orthodoxy. You receive one less die (-1k0) when dealing with members of the Vaticine Church and the Objectionist Church as well as with the Church of Avalon in any social manner, including Repartee.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes:  Clerics (Ussura Orthodox), Fighters, Nobles, Rangers,
• Typical Prestige Classes: Bogatyr Hatchet Fighter, Pyeryem, Stelets, Tyomny Swordsmen
• Class Skill: Climb or Diplomacy
• Automatic Language: Ussura
• Bonus Languages: Crescent, Eisen, Théan, Teodoran

Veche

The lands of Veche seem to be nothing less then the physical representative of nature’s (perhaps even Matushka’s) dark and predatory temperament. Veche still bleeds under the sword and presence of dark tyranny and is an unkind land filled with Kosar raids, sadistic overlords, and bloodfeasts.

7th Sea^™ Mechanics

• The dark and tyrannical evil that has blanketed the lands has all but smothered the Heroic qualities of Man in Veche. You must spend 13 HP to gain a Virtue. Should you take the Cowardly Hubris you only receive 7HP.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes:  Clerics (Ussura Orthodox), Fighters, Nobles, Rangers, Rogues
• Typical Prestige Classes: Bogatyr Hatchet Fighter, Dobrynya Wrestler, Pyeryem, Stelets
• Class Skill: Spot or Wilderness Lore
• Automatic Language: Ussura
• Bonus Languages: Crescent, Fhideli, Teodoran

Fhideli

The Tibesti are a fiercely independent wanderer-people who are known as Fhideli by the Ussuran. They travel about Ussura (and sometimes Eisen, when the “Iron Land” is not embroiled in a thirty year war) in brightly colored wagons. They are known for their festive music, daring acrobatics as well as their trickster hearts. Lands other then Ussura nearly always view them with scorn and treat them like the criminals they view them to be. It is said, however, that Matushka favors the Tibesti and often comes to them and shares their fires.

7th Sea™ Mechanics

• You must take the Scoundrel Advantage. When you interact with anyone outside of Ussura you receive +10 to the TN. This is due to the fact that most everyone has an ill view of your people. If the GM feels that the specific person or people you are dealing with know you and will judge what you say based on you, he may allow a reduction in this penalty or offer no penalty at all, but this is a situation-by-situation call.
• You may not take the Courtier Skill under any circumstance during character generation (you may take it after character generation with the GM’s approval, of course) and you must spend at least 4 HP on any assortment of the following Skills: Acrobat, Artist, Criminal or Performer Skill.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission, each Vitzi (clan) has two possible options in addition to a special, if minor, favor from Matushka:

Basulade

If a Pyeryem Sorcerer you can re-roll, once per scene, a failed attempt to transform into or out of the spirit skin of a Cat.

• 01-50:  Gain 1 free Rank in Musician if either the Artist or Performer Skill is taken and gain the Musical Ear Advantage for free.
• 51-100:  Gain 1 free Rank in Drive Carriage if either the Servant or Merchant Skill is taken and gain the Barter Advantage for free.

Curara

If a Pyeryem Sorcerer you can re-roll, once per scene, a failed attempt to transform into or out of the spirit skin of a Bear.

• 01-50:  Gain Fencing or Heavy Weapons Knack for free and receive a superbly crafted sword of your tribe’s making. Receive a 2 HP discount on one of the blade types listed in the Castillian Blade Advantage (Castille^™, page 102). Note, that this is not a Castillian blade, but one of your people’s works, and the use of the Castille book if simply from a mechanics point.
• 51-100:  You may take the Dracheneisen Advantage. (This will likely have repercussions should you go into Eisen.)  You may not purchase Eisen Nobility at Character Generation.

Munit

If a Pyeryem Sorcerer you can re-roll, once per scene, a failed attempt to transform into or out of the spirit skin of an Eagle.

• 01-50:  You may purchase the Adaptable, Intuitive Perceptive or Uncanny Arcana for 6 HP.
• 51-100:  You gain Fortune Teller for free as well as 1 free Rank in Cold Read.

Ursari

If a Pyeryem Sorcerer you can re-roll, once per scene, a failed attempt to transform into or out of the spirit skin of a Wolf.

• 01-50:  Gain 1 free Rank in Animal Training either the Falconer or Performer Skill is taken and gain the Animal Affinity Advantage for free.
• 51-100:  You may purchase the Pyeryem Sorcery for 5 HP less then normal.

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Bards, Fighters, Rogues, Wanderer, Witch
• Typical Prestige Classes: Daring Fool, Pyeryem
• Class Skill: Bluff
• Automatic Language: Fhideli and Ussura
• Bonus Languages: Crescent, Eisen, Kosar

Musical Ear

7th Sea^™ Mechanics (2 pt. Advantage)

• Two free raises to all checks involving the composition of music or the playing, from memory, of pieces before heard. Also one free raise to determine any pattern or unnatural influence (Sorte, Invisible College Code, etc.) in the music heard.

d20^™ System Mechanics (General Feat)

• +4 competence bonus to Perform checks involving playing music and +2 competence bonus to attempts to discern code(s), etc. hidden in the music.

Kosar

These brigands and marauders of mainly Cathayan ancestry give their loyalty only to themselves and do not bow knee or neck to the Gaius or the Knias Douma. The Kosars are a dangerous, self-reliant people who rarely travel outside Molhyna. Although few would dare say so, to many Ussuran the Kosar are worse then even the lowliest slave.

7th Sea^™ Mechanics

• Kosars rarely travel form their homeland, so you must get your GM’s approval before selecting a Kosar Hero. Matushka does not hold your people in favor and her blessing (Pyeryem Sorcery) can only be allowed with your GM’s approval.
• You must take the Scoundrel Advantage. You receive +10 to the TN to interact favorably (for you) with anyone outside the Kosar people who does not like or trust you (which is everyone). If the GM feels that the specific person or people you are dealing with know you and will judge what you say on you, he may allow a reduction in the penalty or offer no penalty, but this is a situation-by-situation call.
• Roll percentile dice (%) or choose with GM’s permission:

d20^™ System Mechanics

• Favored Classes: Barbarians, Fighters, Rangers, Rogues
• Typical Prestige Classes:
• Class Skill: Intimidate
• Automatic Language: Kosar, Ussura
• Bonus Languages:  Fhideli

Written by Floyd Wesel