Tales of Lost Omens: Chance Encounter

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Jiella, don’t run! It’s me, your sister! Come, listen. I’ve only an ounce of time.

First of all, why are you out here in the streets? Is it not time for your lessons? Taking after me, now, are we? Never mind!

Don’t cover your ears, sister. The aftermath of a revolution is a wonderfully loud thing. Look! That was Prince Haliad’s statue crashing to the ground. I think I see Bapa with those farmers dragging its ugly stone head to that catapult we stole. I hope they fling it at that stubborn pirate schooner that hasn’t taken the hint to leave port. There’s no way Anthusis will let them land on its shores.

Vidrian revolution. A large group of people stand at the base of a large building, people at the front of the crowd are using multiple ropes to pull down a statue from a tall pedestal

Illustration by Maichol Quinto from Pathfinder Lost Omens The Mwangi Expanse


What are you doing out here alone? Don’t get me wrong—I’m excited to see you amidst all this! Seeing that old statue fall in front of the embassy is a splendid reason to skip your studies. This is history in the making, sister! Let it fill your senses; a book won’t give you the same gift as these liberated streets. But how did you slip past Mielle? I know she’s gotten older, but with each year her senses have only sharpened—the old panther. Tell me how you escaped, and don’t say you learned it from me! I could never slip her gaze, and I’ve the welts to prove it.

Do you like my outfit? In truth it’s a bit Chelish for my taste, but it moves much better than what I left home with. When I have time, I’ll make use of Mielle’s needlepoint lessons and fashion something more reminiscent of home.

I don’t look like a Free Captain’s cohort, Jiella! Only a Firebrand would wear colors this loud, and this city could take more than a few cues from our fashion sense! I’d bet Bapa’s skiff that you’ve never even seen those privateers up close. I’ve had to cut through two of them in the past month.

Where did I get the sword? Promise you won’t tell—else I’ll never be able to come home! It belonged to Mama. I don’t know why she had it; all those diplomacies to nowhere she conducted in our living room could have been cut much shorter with this. It felt heavy at first, but after a couple months fighting on these shackled seas, my arm feels incomplete without it. That stain on my sleeve? It’s just a bit of wine. I may need a wash it—don’t give me that look, Jie!

Were Mama and Bapa home when you slipped out? There are some articles I’ve meant to procure from my room now that things have started to settle.

Mielle has been preparing full meals every night since the Hurricane Queen faffed off to the other side of Desperation Bay? I’ll have to stop home and grab a bottle of her kremas to share with my ship. It’s requisite for a Firebrand to know how to share—and the old panther owes me more than one drink for her rigor. Let’s get you home so I can collect my libationary toll.

You wear these clothes much better than I did. Most outfits suit me better after they’ve been thoroughly sea-bitten. I see that you’ve been eating well—as Mama and Bapa told you to, no doubt. I assume they give my share to you now that I’ve been gone a season. It seems like you’ve grown a half-foot! I bet you’ll be taller than me by year’s end.

I don’t mean to make them worry, you know. I just never fit what they needed. It’s embarrassing how much better you are with words than I was at your age. I think they can see that you fit them better, too. I hope they miss me. I miss them. I’ve been thinking of them a lot—and you, of course. I see you snuck out of your window to see what the crash was! You’re more like me than I thought. I’m a bad influence on you, Jiella! Let me boost you back up. I’ll be right behind you. Once we’re inside, give me for a moment to track down Mielle’s kremas stock—if she’s made multiple batches, she won’t be too upset if one of them goes missing.

May I fashion your hair like we used to do together? I’ve been working on a new style for the times; twelve braids fashioned like a crown: one for each month from now to keep Vidrian autonomous. If Mama asks who did your hair, just deflect with that. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the idea. I have a message for her and Bapa, too. They can’t trust the ‘Independent’ Banks of Vidrian, even if they can trust Mandla Dube. Please pass this onto them and say it came from the Vane—they’ll take it more seriously than from me.

I must go now, sister, but take this turquoise comb for your new crown. With it, you’ll look almost as dashing as me! In a few years, Mama and Bapa will want you with them in the Vidric Council—and you should join them when that time comes. Don’t forget about the streets, though! Look around, there’s so much to rebuild and replace. New homes to be made, new stores to spread the wealth, new dishes to define the taste of Vidrian as its own. No idols are going to show our nation the way forward, whether they’re deities or nobles, but our community can figure it out together. When the council dissolves into noise, go somewhere else to cut through it. Don’t fight, but be like a sword. Leave the sharp stuff to me as you rebuild this place. I’ll be in step with you—but first, I’m off to Smuggler’s Shiv to procure a donation to our new nation. Crying isn’t going to keep me from leaving! I’ll be back again before you know it. And not as one of that isle’s specters.

I love you, Jiella—Mama and Bapa, too. They’ll approve of my course in due time—and they’ll let you set yours. For now, you should listen to them. Eventually, they’ll see how much the future needs my blade and your words.
So don’t cry too long. I’m not dead yet.

About The Author

Jabari Weathers is an illustrator, writer, and tabletop role-playing game designer. They might also be a fey creature from beyond the veil, doing freelance work in this mortal realm to keep up the glamour hiding them from their pursuers. You, too, can help them continue this evasion by checking out their work in the Lost Omens Mwangi Expanse sourcebook, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, and other assorted works containing their words. Additionally, you may glean their illustration work at Goblinprincete.com, or on Instagram at Jmwillustration. Finally, if you want to confirm that they are, in fact, real, follow them on Twitter @goblinprincete. With patience, you will have your proof.

About Tales of Lost Omens

The Tales of Lost Omens series of web-based flash fiction provides an exciting glimpse into Pathfinder’s Age of Lost Omens setting. Written by some of the most celebrated authors in tie-in gaming fiction, including Paizo’s Pathfinder Tales line of novels and short fiction, the Tales of Lost Omens series promises to explore the characters, deities, history, locations, and organizations of the Pathfinder setting with engaging stories to inspire Game Masters and players alike.

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Tags: Mwangi Expanse Pathfinder Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Tales of Lost Omens Web Fiction

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Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

That's a heck of a monument for Elender Anthusis. I never pictured Elender to have that much marble monumental construction. And a sort of unusual Modernist architecture. (or is the building on the left supposed to be collapsing?)

Really excited for the Mwangi book; every picture I've seen is a work of art!

Paizo Employee Editor

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Love love love this. Such an intimate, insider's view of a revolution.

Horizon Hunters

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That one was sharp! The way it was written the words that were used gave me a good immersion! Love it!


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The revolution, will be live...

Great stuff.


Smartly and tightly written.

Grand Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

T_T
I'm crying. This is great. :3

Liberty's Edge

Love it. Thank you.

Silver Crusade

Sweet!


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Fantastic! The use of a Firebrand as narrator is a nice touch, and the narration gives a sense of intimacy that a differently constructed story might not. Thanks for writing this!


This is awesome! So personal! Really enjoyed the style.


I left this open all night so I wouldn't forget to read it today. Simply wonderful and I can't wait for the new book!

Second Seekers (Jadnura)

Well done!


While I applaud the victory of tribes of the Mwangi Expanse throwing off the chains of their oppressors, I do hope the other tribes can keep the Bekyar tribe in check. Golarion certainly doesn't need another Worldwound.

Liberty's Edge

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Berselius wrote:
While I applaud the victory of tribes of the Mwangi Expanse throwing off the chains of their oppressors, I do hope the other tribes can keep the Bekyar tribe in check. Golarion certainly doesn't need another Worldwound.

Sounds like the seeds of a pretty good AP for Mwangi characters. With hateful former oppressors supporting the demon-worshippers out of spite and with an eye to being the saviors that will put things back in their precious old order, chains and everything back in their proper places. I would love to be one of the PCs that sink such a hellish plan.


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Berselius wrote:
While I applaud the victory of tribes of the Mwangi Expanse throwing off the chains of their oppressors, I do hope the other tribes can keep the Bekyar tribe in check. Golarion certainly doesn't need another Worldwound.

The Bekyar aren't a tribe, and at this point neither are the Vidric people. Defaulting to a tribal view of the setting's fantasy Africa does no one any favors. They also aren't the type to do any kind of big drastic Worldwound-y magic; that wouldn't earn them anything. They're evil pragmatists, not rampaging cultists - that role is served by the folk of Usaro.


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The Raven Black wrote:
Berselius wrote:
While I applaud the victory of tribes of the Mwangi Expanse throwing off the chains of their oppressors, I do hope the other tribes can keep the Bekyar tribe in check. Golarion certainly doesn't need another Worldwound.
Sounds like the seeds of a pretty good AP for Mwangi characters. With hateful former oppressors supporting the demon-worshippers out of spite and with an eye to being the saviors that will put things back in their precious old order, chains and everything back in their proper places. I would love to be one of the PCs that sink such a hellish plan.

This AP would work a little better for followers of Walkena than any fiend, IMO; he's a potent anti-colonial force whose liberation is a poisoned chalice of oppression and xenophobia. You'd get a fun mix of Bright Lion urban espionage and dungeon-delving into the ancient temple ruins of the old solar deities, and at the end you get to slay a walking god!


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keftiu wrote:
The Bekyar aren't a tribe, and at this point neither are the Vidric people. Defaulting to a tribal view of the setting's fantasy Africa does no one any favors.

Tribe is another way I refer to ethnicity. I myself am part of the Miꞌkmaq tribe of the First Nations. I'm sorry if this offends you but it is not meant to offend nor is it meant to lower the status of any people in any way.

keftiu wrote:
They also aren't the type to do any kind of big drastic Worldwound-y magic; that wouldn't earn them anything. They're evil pragmatists, not rampaging cultists - that role is served by the folk of Usaro.

As for what the Bekyar might do, we'll have to see I guess. There might be a power vacuum the people of Vidrian will have to try and fill (or prevent other powers both in and outside the Expanse from filling).

keftiu wrote:
This AP would work a little better for followers of Walkena than any fiend, IMO; he's a potent anti-colonial force whose liberation is a poisoned chalice of oppression and xenophobia. You'd get a fun mix of Bright Lion urban espionage and dungeon-delving into the ancient temple ruins of the old solar deities, and at the end you get to slay a walking god!

That would be pretty cool!

What would you think about folk of Usaro working with the Bekyar to achieve some sinister goal (perhaps retrieving an ancient artifact of Angazhan's faith or possibly performing a summoning but needing a specific sacrifice to do so)?

Sovereign Court

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Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
keftiu wrote:
Berselius wrote:
The Bekyar aren't a tribe, and at this point neither are the Vidric people.

I believe they are referred to as a tribe by the Inner Sea world guide. They definitely are on the Pathfinder Wiki. And this group of people certainly meet the definition of a tribe. As a tribal person myself, Choctaw Nation, it seems from your response that you view "tribe" as an insulting or derogatory term. If that's true, then that itself is more problematic than someone using the reference in an obviously innocent manner.

I have travelled through Africa on several occasions and the people I met there more often than not identified themselves by their ancestral tribal affiliations. And they were quite happy to learn mine, and referred to me in that way far more often than as an "American". I am also well aware, personally, of the way that term can be used in a derogatory manner. But that is done by a narrow subset of ignorant people. But for us who actually identify, live, and function in tribal contexts it is something we cherish. We own that word as a moniker of pride. Unlike people who only have a country, I have an extended family that I can largely count on to aid me in times of trouble even as I aid them, connected by strong bonds of ancestry and culture. Tribe is a good thing.


I don’t view the term tribe as inherently fraught, and am glad to be chatting with First Nations folks! My concern and correction come from the most recent book; while a number of peoples are described as tribal (the Zenj, the Uomoto, and the Elephant People, chiefly), I don’t believe the term gets used for the Bekyar or Vidric populations of the Expanse - just trying to be aware that not every culture in a fantasy region with African inspiration is a tribe, as a lot of fraught older material has done in Pathfinder and elsewhere.

(And as for the other question, re: Usaro and the Bekyar - I don’t imagine that deal paying off well for the Bekyar! Angazhan’s cultists don’t seem like the type to honor a contract, and they’d clash a lot with the more methodical practices of Mephistopheles’ faith the Bekyar follow.)


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Also the use of the word "tribe" in reference to Africa isn't quite the same as the usage of the term to describe modern indigenous groups in the Americas. A lot of historians and anthropologists agree that in the context of Africa it's often (though not always) used inaccurately and tends to conflate many diverse forms of social organization. This article explains it better than I can.

To be clear I'm not trying to accuse anyone of offensive statements, or criticizing the use of the term in the book (which I haven't read and therefore cannot judge), just attempting to explain why some people might have an issue with that.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

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"Tribe," "clan," "ethnicity," "race," "ancestry," and many of other words come with a lot of real-world implications that are deeply personal to a lot of people. We try to be aware and sensitive to these concerns, and use the terms that most accurately, and least offensively, refer to what we're talking about.

While it's important to use the right words, and to know what the real-world meaning and implications of those words are, someone getting one wrong isn't reason to jump on them for being insensitive. While we try to hold our publications to the highest standards and consistency in this regard, the Paizo forums or other social spaces online are not the place to exact such stringent scrutiny.

Thanks to everyone for keeping the discussion of the issue civil, but remember that this is really a thread to discuss this piece of fiction specifically, and the Mwangi Expanse hardcover in general, rather than the intricacies of what the right word is to denote a particular group of people (in either the real or a fictional world.)

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