The Recondite: A Primer

[Ser Shroom]

I will toil with you
'till we're still

-Traditional Recondite Greeting

Hello all. This is somewhat of a hybrid recruitment thread / informational regarding the Recondite sub-race. Information on them is somewhat sparse, which I suspect makes it difficult for people to think of concepts which fit. I wanted therefore to provide a few additional teasers, expand a little on their hierarchy and offer a few sample concepts in hopes it may entice some people to give this Association a try.

The Basics

The Recondite are a Gnome subrace linked with an association of the same name. A Recondite PC may be rolled up without an application, however at present you should seek to have a chat with a DM to provide a small bit of info regarding your character (alignment, class, brief idea of goals)

They have a faction hub in the Mongrelwoods that is rather out of the way, but you will probably spend most of your time in the Ponds with other 'outcast' type PC's.

Recondite are known to be enemies of the King. This in turn makes them naturally antagonist towards, and disdained by, Peerage characters. Whilst the exact nature of this scorn towards the King is not widely known, it is understood in general terms that the Recondite believe the King is somehow harming the city through his rule.

Recondite are known to be in service of 'The City' and are widely known to have a incredibly protective relationship with the Golems of the City.  They are also known to repair these Golems.

Finally, Recondite are all afflicted with a condition known as 'Ringcallus'.  This is considered a terrible disease by outsiders, and a great blessing by the Recondite themselves. This condition is known to take the form of large, blotchy, stone-like areas of skin on the Recondite themselves which grow over time.


Faction Organisation, Culture, Recommended Classes & Recommended Alignments


The association itself have what might be considered two 'branches' to it, those being the Miners and the Menders.

Miners

The Miners are predominantly the martial arm of the Recondite. They are, as the name suggests, those who toil within the great mines of the Recondite in order to obtain veins of a stone substance coveted by all Recondite and which is used in the repairing of City Golems.

Miners will predominantly be drawn from martial classes. The 'favoured weapon' of the Recondite is a Warhammer, which is analogous with the tools they use within the mines themselves. Though there is scope here for diversion, this is the kind of weapon loot you'll find in their faction shop.

Suggested Classes:- Fighter, Ranger, Paladin, Rogue, Cleric



Menders

The Menders are responsible for maintaining, servicing and repairing the Golems of the City. They are  caster classes who make no great distinction between arcane or druidic magics, and they are known to have secret methods by which to work the stone that the Miners obtain for the benefit of City Golems.

Suggested Classes:- Wizard, Druid, Sorcerer, Bard



Culture

The Recondite are an incredibly lawful-aligned faction. They favour strict adherence to hierarchy above all else. Obedience to ones superiors is central to the Recondite ethos. In the absence of a superior, groups of Recondite will aim to achieve reasoned consensus with their kin.

Recondite culture is not naturally inclined towards selfishness or self-interest. The good of the collective is considered of paramount importance  over the the good of any individual Recondite.

Recondite are taught from birth that idleness is unacceptable. Recondite 'toil' from a young age, and their responsibilities increase with age. Laziness or uselessness is an offence punishable by exile.

Recondite do not live very long lives. It is very unusual for a Recondite to live more than 40 years. Those that are not slain will eventually become 'still', with their Ringcallus condition having made them entirely immobile. Recondite readily embrace this process.

Whilst there are a number of Recondite traditions, laws and cultural norms, in general terms there are strict taboos around harming City Golems, the slaying of other Recondite, and Necromancy. Ringrunning is fully encouraged and is part of the Associations aims.

Recondite faith is centred on the City itself and it is the City that tends to be the object of their worship.  Recondite Clerics exist, though the particulars of the Recondite faith  have yet to fully fleshed out by a player character.

Recommended Alignments:- Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral. With an emphasis on the Lawful aspect of the alignment.



Naming Conventions

Recondite tend to have a vaguely Slavic first name (e.g. Yalena, Lisenya / Aleksander, Nikolay)

Their surname however is an expression of their function to Recondite society. A few examples of this:-

Finds-The-Vein = A Recondite scout who prospects for new veins of stone

Lights-The-Wick = A Recondite who coordinates demolition and explosions within the mines

Makes-The-Bunks =  You get the idea



Concept Ideas

By no means exhaustive, but I just wanted to add a few bare bones concept ideas below to finish:-

Peerless Recondite Hammerer - Following in the footsteps of those who took up the hammer in defence of your people, your Miner emerges to the rings with intention to prove their immovable martial might against the horrors of the Mongrelwoods, the deeper rings, and the best that the retainers of the Peerage ward have to offer. You will demonstrate to the profligate Peers how weak they have become in their luxury and indulgence. Finally, you will cement your reputation as an immovable wall and warrior in defence of the Recondite and advancing of their interests .  (Possibilities exist in the faction to earn the Dwarven (Recondite) Defender or Weaponmaster  PrC through sufficiently exceptional feats of heroism and prowess)

Mender Physician - Understanding the mechanics of the Ringcallus is the driving force of your PC. Whether you think the answers lay in the blood of yourself and others, or through magical means, you will seek experimentation upon the enemies of the Recondite in order to establish the mechanisms and truth of the Ringcallus blessing.

Recondite Ringbarred - Whether joining onto a group of other Ringrunners or as part of a wider Recondite group, your character has decided to focus on Running the Rings in order to learn more of the history of the city, the Golems, and your people. More than that however, you toil to ensure that the Retainers of the Peerage Ward have no place within the Rings. You oppose them wherever they are found within the deep rings, and ensure they will never have the opportunity to look upon the hated King.

Mad Bomber - The Recondite of Ring 98 will never have peace until the Peerage Ward is utterly destroyed. Through alchemical means, shady deals, underworld connections and criminal allies you commit to a campaign of terror upon the Peerage Ward. You will destroy it piece by piece - and building by building.

Zealous  Propagandist - A good opportunity to play a cleric or a bard. As a cleric, you draw your power directly from worship of The City itself. You have emerged from the Mines in order to spread the message of the plight of the City. You will teach all who will listen about its splendour and beauty, the truth of its suffering, and ultimately convince them to join the Recondite in their campaign against the King and the Peerage Ward.


I hope people have found this helpful. DM Arc or myself are a good choice to hit up on Discord if you have any further questions or concept ideas you want to discuss.

Toil on dudes