Riders of the Black Steppe

[Sam Polak]

This seems like a great opportunity to thank everyone who commented and voted. I stayed quiet during this round, but I'd like everyone who took the time to stop and give me feedback know I appreciate it and I have been reading every comment.

On the matter of literary inspiration:

I would recommend reading The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath, even if you don't consider yourself a Lovecraft fan. I think it's one of his most accessible stories.

I haven't read a Conan novel yet, but it sounds like People of the Black Circle would be a good place to start.

[Jacob Trier]

Congratulations, Sam. Your organization fully deserves the praise it has gotten from both judges and voters. I'll certainly be coming back here to remind myself of what a top notch Superstar entry looks like, and I look forward to competing against you in the monster round.

[Ask A RPGSupersuccubus]

Sam Polak wrote:

Riders of the Black Steppe

Alignment: LE
Headquarters: Nomadic
Leader: Medekgu Khan
Structure: Tribal hierarchy
Scope: National

Disclaimer:

You should know the drill by now, but in case you missed it the first time round, Ask A RPGSupersuccubus is posting from the point of view of a CE aligned succubus:

Spoiler:

Fairness is an adjective applicable to hair coloration, balance is what a couple of mortals rapidly losing it on opposite ends of a plank pivoted on a rocky spire a couple of hundred feet above a slowly rising pool of molten basalt try to do, and logic is one of those things which you could swear is there when you rattle the piggybank but if anyone other than a demon opens it the contents turn out to be a couple of dead wasps and a six week old ‘to do (in)’ list.

;)

Important Note:
There’s a difference between late and fashionably late. The former is what most other beings manage. The latter is what sophisticated, (very advanced) succubi manage.

First impressions always being important, do members of this organization wear nifty robes or uniforms when out on formal business?
Although none is specified, as members of a disciplined cavalry regiment, it seems likely that they have some sort of snappy uniforms.

Does membership of this organisation seem likely to involve regular tea or dinner parties or other appropriate social occasions?
Sadly the nomadic feel to the organization probably precludes anything except the occasional (possible) tea ceremony.

Is the cost of being a member of this organisation likely to be acceptable to a succubus?
Whilst Denizens of Leng are excellent fun, being on the wrong end of a tribute arrangement involving them is... a tad unwise, let us say. Until or unless the arrangement between the riders and the Denizens gets revised, I would advise succubi to steer clear of involvement, even though shantaks are quite good fun too and useful when one needs air speed for some reason.

Other comments?
Despite their (l)awful tendencies, since the riders associate with Denizens of Leng, thy can't be too bad...

Rating:
Organizations are not being rated except under special circumstances. Although since this one involves Denizens of Leng, I shall rate this organization as top-notch.

[Stormrunner]

Ian Eastmond wrote:

Not too familiar with Dragon Empires yet, so not sure if this is an issue, but naming the leader of a (incredibly awesome) band of 'Mongols' (Something) Khan seems a wee bit cliche, but as I said I could be wrong and this ties into canon already established with a family named Khan in the Dragon Empires.
:-)

Khan is not a name, but a title, like "Baron" or "Prince".

About the changed names: I agree that just saying "I'm gonna call myself 'Nemo' from now on" wouldn't do much to fool divinations, BUT - I could definitely see some sort of ritual magic, where the old name is symbolically 'destroyed' and the person invested with the new name; give it a permanent, irrevocable cost (loss of one or more levels, say) to discourage PC abuse...