Occitanians

Occitania is the region of southern Gaul, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. It has survived much of the ravaging that destroyed Roman influences in northern Gaul (France). The land is rich and beautiful, the weather is gorgeous and conducive to good crops, and the local lifestyle is informed, creative and liberal in its outlooks.

Occitanians as such don’t appear in the literature, though individuals from regions therein (Toulouse, etc.) do. (Occitania is often historically part of Aquitainia.) But the peculiarities of their feudalism and the nature of their heresies require representation in a knightly game.

### Noble Vocabulary

Lord & Lady: Signore e Signora

Knight: Cavaliere

Lord: Sir

King: the: El Re

## Personal Information

### Homeland

Occitania has several Homelands within it. The names given in the Homeland Table are those in the local Occitan language, given here for local color purposes. Toulouse is a wide region, overseen by a grand old Roman city of the same name. Catalonia, though south of the Pyrenees Mountains, is more similar to Occitania than Iberia. Languedoc is a wealthy, urban region on the Mediterranean coast. Its city of Narbonne is well known for its thriving Jewish community. Provence is another, and had deep roots within the old Roman empire. Delfinat is the upriver region of the Rhône Valley. Its greatest city of Lyons is the object of Burgundian desire.

d20 Region

01-03 Delfinat [Dauphiné]

04 Liyon [Lyons]\*

05-06 Lengadoc [Languedoc]

07 Carcasona\* [Carcassone]

08 Narbonne\*

09-10 Provença [Provence]

11 Marseilles\*

12-14 Catalonha [Catalonia]

15 Barcino [Barcelona]\*

16-19 Tolosa [Toulouse]

20 Toulouse\*

\*See Urban Roman culture, above.

### Culture

#### Self Image

“We are Occitanians, heirs of a proud history of conquest and growing wealth. We live in the best part of the world for weather, for food and for trade. We have learned from the city dwellers how to enjoy life, and many of us are free-holders.”

#### Urban Roman

The cities in Occitania are actually Roman/Roman Christian, and the Visigoths have left them intact, and been heavily influenced by their culture. For characters from here, use the information for the Roman/Roman Christian people.

#### Names

##### Male

Aimes, Amalaric, Antonin, Athalaric, Guilbert, Guillem, Isoartz, Laurent, Theodehad, Theoderic, Theudis, Uc, Ugs.

##### Female

Alazais, Brunhilda, Elena, Florentina, Gaucelis.

#### Religions

##### Arian Christian

“Saint Arius taught to us the way of the true Christ, who is unlike the Father, and because we are true to that way, then God watches over us.”

##### Catharism

The Cathars, sometimes called Albigensians, believe there is a good God, but It is entirely removed from the world and humankind, and that the created world is ruled by Satan.

“The world is an evil place ruled over by the Archon. The only solution to the misery of human life is to live purely. We abjure all clergy, treat men and women equally, and refrain from all excess.”

##### Judaism

According to a Medieval legend some of the lords of Narbonne were Jewish. Their presence as equals is one of the many signs of Occitan’s sophisticated culture.

“God oversees us and our tradition. Three of the Nine Worthies, those paragons of chivalry, are Jews. Everyone admires the soldierly qualities and chivalry of Sir Joshua, who brought down Jericho; Sir David, the slinger who became King; and Sir Judas Maccabeus, who drove out the Romans.”

### Your Lord

d20 Roll Lord

01-10 Banneret

11-19 Count

20 The (Visigothic) Royal Household

### Father’s Class

Occitanian Father’s Class

Cavalryman

### Equipment

#### Cavalry

Chain mail and open helm (10 points), Shield (6 points), Sword, 5 spears, dagger; Charger, rouncy, sumpter

## Traits and Passions

### Occitanian (Arian Christian)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful

Generous 10/10 Selfish

Honest 13/7 Deceitful

Just 13/7 Arbitrary

Merciful 13/7 Cruel

Modest 10/10 Proud

Pious 10/10 Worldly

Prudent 10/10 Reckless

Temperate\* 13/7 Indulgent\*

Trusting 10/10 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

### Occitanian (Cathar)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 10/10 Lazy

Forgiving 11/9 Vengeful

Generous 13/7 Selfish

Honest 11/9 Deceitful

Just 11/9 Arbitrary

Merciful 11/9 Cruel

Modest 13/7 Proud

Pious 13/7 Worldly

Prudent 10/10 Reckless

Temperate\* 13/7 Indulgent\*

Trusting 10/10 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

### Occitanian (Jewish)

Chaste 13/7 Lustful

Energetic 13/7 Lazy

Forgiving 10/10 Vengeful

Generous 10/10 Selfish

Honest 10/10 Deceitful

Just 13/7 Arbitrary

Merciful 10/10 Cruel

Modest 10/10 Proud

Pious 10/10 Worldly

Prudent 13/7 Reckless

Temperate\* 15/5 Indulgent\*

Trusting 10/10 Suspicious

Valorous 15/5 Cowardly

\* May use special Oinology Directed Trait to replace either value, as desired.

### Religious Bonuses

If all the underlined Traits are 16 or higher, then the appropriate bonus applies

### Special Directed Trait: Oinology

Oinology is a Directed Trait that can be added to either Temperate or Indulgent. The decision to apply it to one Trait or the other, as well as the decision to use the Directed Trait value or to add its value to the chosen Trait, is entirely up to the player. The starting value of this Directed Trait is 5.

### Starting Passions

Loyalty (Lord) 2d6+5

Love (Family) 2d6+5

Hospitality 2d6+5

Honor 2d6+5

## Attributes & Statistics

### Men

Roll 3d6+4 for SIZ, and 3d6+1 for each other attribute.

### Women

Roll 2d6+2 for SIZ and STR; 3d6+1 for DEX and CON; and 3d6+5 for APP.

## Skills & Combat Skills

### Starting Skills

Skill Male Female

Awareness (5) (2)

Boating (0) (0)

Chirurgery ― (10)

Compose (5) (3)

Courtesy (8) (5)

Dancing (2) (2)

Faerie Lore (2) (1)

Falconry (2) (2)

Fashion ― (10)

First Aid (7) (10)

Flirting (4) (6)

Folklore (2) (1)

Gaming (2) (2)

Heraldry (2) (3)

Hunting (5) (1)

Industry ― (5)

Intrigue (2) (2)

Orate (2) (2)

Play (harp) (2) (4)

Read (Latin) (2) (2)

Recognize (2) (2)

Religion (varies) (5) (1)

Romance (5) (7)

Singing (2) (4)

Stewardship (2) (6)

Swimming (1) (1)

Tourney (3) (2)

Combat Skills

Battle (2) (1)

Siege (2) (2)

Horsemanship (8) (3)

Sword (6) (0)

Lance (8) (0)

Spear (2) (0)

Dagger (2) (3)

Note: The Occitanians have no specialty skill, but instead they have the special Directed Trait of Oinology.

Don’t forget to add Individual Skill Choices!

## Luck & Glory

### Occitanian Luck

d20 Roll Result

01 Money: £15 in Roman coin.

02 Money: £3d6+5 in Roman coin.

03 Money: £5d6 in Roman coin.

04 Dark Candle: when lit, gives no visible light, but allows the owner to see in the dark. After each use, roll d20: 01-06 indicates the candle was all used up.

05 Elixir of Song: a throat spray which grants +3 to Sing rolls.

06 Family Sword: a successful Love (family) roll grants +1 to Sword skill and +1 to damage. combat.

07 Protective Ring: Grants +1 armor, but also +3 Selfish.

08 Luxurious Cloak: Worth £2, grants +5 APP. After each wearing, roll d20, where a result of 01-05 indicates it has fallen to pieces.

09 Silver Love Ring: When worn, this silver ring grants +3 to a man’s Flirting Skill, and +6 to a woman’s.

10 Physiologus: a book of animals. Requires Reading roll, but when consulted on the morning before a hunt, grants +2 to the Hunting skill of the reader .

11 Troubadour’s Book of Poetry: Requires a successful Read roll, then grants +3 to Compose when consulted.

12 The Expedition (Anabasis): A book. When consulted with a successful Read roll on the morning before a battle, grants the reader +3 to Battle.

13 Fantastic Helmet: give +2 armor.

14 Ring of Chastity: Grants +3 to Chaste.

15 Ring of Beasts: Gives +3 armor against animal attacks.

16-17 Andalusian Charger

17-18 Charger and a Camargue ambler

20 Destrier

## Knighting

### Warrior Tradition

Occitanian warriors are typical Visigoth heavy cavalry, opening battle with a lance charge. These soldiers are the social elite. Upon becoming an adult the warriors undergo initiation rites, acceptance by their warlord, an oath of loyalty, then blessing by the priests. This does not qualify for the 1000 Glory of being knighted.

## Previous Experience

Get 50 Glory for witnessing each non-battle event. For each battle, get 1d6 x 50 Glory