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Mysrra
Mysrrae are fur-covered, bipedal feline carnivores, displaying many colors and
patterns of fur. As a race, they are slightly below average in size and in
strength, but are quick and highly agile. Mysrrae tend towards egotism, and
usually maintain a fierce sense of personal independence. Most mysrrae consider
fervent dedication to an idealized way of living to be one of the highest
virtues, though some cannot cope with the intensity of such a life. They are
usually very religious, and often believe with great fervor in the moral
superiority of their race; this wins them few friends among neighboring
cultures, though mysrrae can prove excellent allies for those that can tolerate
their ideals. They possess a slightly above average aptitude for magic.
How to roleplay a mysrra
Roleplaying a convincing mysrra character successfully is difficult but
rewarding.
Mysrrae were magically created by the rowans
to serve as fast, effective shock troops, rowan bodyguards, and enforcers -
fanatically loyal soldiers with high mobility, effective training, and unmatched
discipline. The myssran ethos revolves around their religion, or Way: an
all-encompassing, racially-centered philosophy. Parts of it were developed by
the manipulative rowans, who found these philosophies perfectly suited for
producing dependable and useful bondsmen (an irony which seems to be lost on
today's mysrrae, who treasure their autonomy).
During the third of the great Wars, with the rowans in disarray due to the
kiisic's introduction of the
(gargoyles), a contingent of mysrrae
turned against their rowan masters, hastening the end of the war and setting a
precedent for the future.
Covert proselytizing by free mysrrae among the still-enslaved mysrran ranks that
were spread out across the breadth of the continent fomented further revolts,
effectively hampering rowan war efforts and rendering their motley ranks of
rag-tag goblin conscripts and
human mercenaries virtually useless.
After the chaos of the Breaking, the formerly-overarching rowan empire was
effectively finished.
Although enslaved myssrae still fervently serve rowans in isolated places around
Terrinor (in locations few, if any, players have ever managed to reach), a
myssra character should be played as a freeman from the Windsong Plains that
encircle Dalara.
Care should be taken to use IC resources, especially those in Dalara proper, to
learn about myssra habits and philosophy/religion. Myssrae should be proud,
completely convinced of their superiority, and not particularly afraid to show
their contempt for all things not mysrra. Myssra -- as an intellectual
construct rather than simply the name of a race -- is all things pure, true,
good, wholesome, and worthy of respect. All else is khashi. A faithful myssra
character will have an absolute hatred of slavery and all things associated with
it; slavery, that is, of fellow adherents to the Way - mysrran concern for other
races is not particularly keen. Myssra pride is the outward manifestation of
their commitment to freedom and their determination to rely only on themselves
and other faithful myssrae. All four paths of the Way of the Faithful lead to
self-reliance.
If you are unwilling to roleplay a faithful adherent to the myssran Way, you
should roleplay a khashi - a disgraced myssra that is barred entry to Dalara
itself and ostracized by all faithful myssrae.
Mysrrae are not scared of magic, but in their view of the world it is not an
essential element of mysrra self-actualization. It is possible for certain rare
mysrra characters to justify the use of magic, but it would have to be in
service to a higher purpose: warfare, for instance.
Mysrrae are NOT cats; they are a magically-created meld of humans and an
unspecified felinoid. Although they display some feline characteristics, any
player who decides to roleplay a myssra in order to get a kick out of purring,
emoting the motions of the tail, acting like a typical housecat, et cetera, is
doing a disservice to the AL community.
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