The Ram Riders

From: Oliver D. Bernuetz <bernuetz_at_...>
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 19:55:43 -0000


Hi there,

Although this opens me to accusation to sheep favortism again I present the Ram Riders to you.

The Ram Riders
"The Sky is Ours!"

The Ram Riders are a group of Heler worshippers each of whom has befriended a Urothtrorol (also known as Storm, Wind or Cloud Rams).  They ride their wooly steeds through the air and help to defend the Heortling way of life. Each member has suffered from the rejection Orlanthi can sometimes show people who follow the Helering kind of life so freedom of choice and lifestyle is very important to them.

Note: Since they don't technically fly (the Cloud Rams run on the air) the Ram Riders do have a bit of an inferiority complex towards people and creatures that actually do fly.

Common Names: The Wooly Boys, The High Flyers, The Rough and Readies.

Form: Crazy freedom loving flyboys (and or girls)..

Ideology: Heler has made it possible for us to befriend such wonderful creatures as the Cloud Rams and we must use this for the betterment of the Heortling Way of Life!

Look and Feel: Rough and ready, roguish flyboys.  (There's a fair bit of cross-dressing and gender ambiguity among the members as befits true followers of Heler).

Purpose: To serve Heler and freedom!

Headquarters: Wherever the winds go.

Reactions: Bemused appreciation from Heortlings (not that you'd want your daughter marrying one mind you...)  Enemies of freedom laugh at them until they get a good swift butt up the backside or a lightning bolt up the whatsit.  Then they're more respectful. They have standard relations with Heortling society. They are admired for their combat abilities and praised for their rain bringing abilities.

Resources

Leader: The leader, and originator of the band is Rostakos "Mad Ram" Jarstakusson. A devotee of Ereltharol the Black Ram, he is 45 years old and mad as a hatter. Mad Ram was one of the first heroes to learn the secrets of befriending the Cloud Rams. He heroquested and learned the feat of Estavi Sheepfriend that allows the Ram Riders to befriend the Cloud Rams. He rides a rare blue Cloud Ram named Stinky. It is rumoured that Stinky who acts as the band's guardian is the de facto leader.

Renowned Members: Kagrada Rollasdotter, devotee of Tarena the Blue Woman, rides a golden Cloud Ewe (most members' steeds are white or gray) called Sky Runner. "She" has ridden "her" ewe into the storm and is a famous beauty. Ortossi Orlkarlmansson is the odd man out. Unlike the rest of the unit he rides a Zarur (or sky bull) called Bonecrusher that he quested for long ago. His personal lifestyle choices made him more of a candidate for the unit than his religious leanings since he's a devotee of Orlanth Thunderous.

Membership: Any follower of Heler or one of his sub-cults is free to join. They have to learn Estavi's Sheepfriend feat though and must swear to never harm their wooly steeds. Like all Helerings they are accepting and open to others.

Other Contacts: They have contacts all over Dragon Pass wherever people love freedom.

Organization

Mad Ram (or Stinky) is the leader and Ortossi and Kagrada are his lieutenants.

Membership Keyword

Membership Requirements: Must be accepted by the unit. Virtually all are followers of Heler or one of his sub-cults. Members must be openminded  and tolerant and swear to never hurt a Cloud Ram.

Mundane Abilities: Ride Cloud Ram, Look After Cloud Ram.

Typical Personality: Brave, Open-minded, Accepting, Loyal

Magic: Estavi's Sheepfriend feat. Any magic of Heler is acceptable of course.

Stinky (Guardian)

Stinky is the name Mad Ram's cloud ram goes by among mortals. He takes great offense if anyone suggests this hasn't always been his name as he is very fond of Mad Ram.

Method: Manifestation. 

Form: Stinky appears as a great blue Cloud Ram.

Communication: Any member of the unit can understand Stinky's baaing.. 

Guardian Requirements: Love freedom, accept others and obey Mad Ram (the unit members are very good at interpreting orders. So far Stinky hasn't objected).

Functions:

Awareness: See Through Clouds.

Blessing: Direct Lightning.

Defense: Sheepswool

Combat abilities:

Like most good Helerings they prefer to fight with magic rather than weapons. Their preferred tactics are to wait for cloudy weather and then ride in on their rams directing the lightining, hail and rain to their foes distress. The sheep and riders work together and the odd occassional wild sheep helps out. Stinky normally directs the unit.

Oliver

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