Heritage: Dreaming a Better Tomorrow

By Nick Huggins

Players: 10

Genre: Fantasy

In the beginning, there was Anat – The first Man. Anat created five wives for himself that he would not know loneliness, but his wives were unfaithful to him because he divided his love amongst them – Only the one named Klara stayed forever true to him. In his anger at his wives infidelity, Anat cursed all but Klara, mutating their progeny forever into different forms. From that moment, Man was separated into the lumbering and animalistic Bestials, the terrifying and chaotic Wildkin, the stunted and penitent Dwarflings and Humans who bore no curse. Those humans descended from Klara alone bear Heritage, and are destined to lead. Some of those with Heritage bear a shred of Anat’s power – The Wyrd. These few have abilities and powers beyond the comprehension of mortal folk.

Over time, the term "bestial" has come to mean anything that does not clearly conform to the ideals of Humanity. Although it’s true that the Bestials of modern times look slightly more human, and are more intelligent that their forebears, it’s also true that Humanity has a dim view of what constitutes “bestial.” Children might level the insult of “you’re as stupid as a bestial” at each other in play. Tales abound of children, born to rich families and sent into slavery for being particularly hirsute. Or having a hunched back - Or a clubfoot. However – That’s the exception to the rule. The vast majority of Bestials encountered in the cities are likely to have some degree of animal features and be of lesser intelligence than their human cousins.

Bestials are always bipedal. Their stature varies greatly – Some Bestials can be hulking brutes nearly seven feet tall. Others are very slight. Muscle mass, like height can vary greatly around Human standards. While it is rare for Bestials to sport extra appendages, some do – Tails and horns being the most common. Eye color and hair color tends to follow human norms, though occasionally the depth of color will be surprisingly different – One might encounter a bestial with piercing blue eyes, or hair that is startlingly orange. Patterns in hair are more common among Bestials also, much like the patterns in animals’ pelts.

It is eight years since a Bestial slave girl named Mara was found with the marks of Heritage bestowed by Anat. She proved the legends untrue – No Bestial should bear the marks. She was killed for her accident of birth by King Bora of Alara. From that day onward it was decreed that all Bestials with the mark in Alara are to become the property of the King. It is an unspoken belief that all Bestials with the Mark who become the property of the King are put to death. Following the trial of Mara, a witch-hunt began – No Bestials with the Mark were found, but many feared for their lives and fled Alrara into the Wilderness.

This is their story.

Cost: free

Available from: http://www.irishgaming.com/scenario_storage/nh/dabt.zip