Sarista
The Sarista are a slender, nomadic people with topaz-colored skin, dark eyes, and jet-black hair. They are renowned for their love of ornamentation, frequently adorning themselves with ear bangles, facial tattoos, and gaudy, colorful raiment.
Appearance and Dress
- Men: Often sport colorful capes, berets, sashes, and high boots.
- Women: Typically wear sultry and provocative attire in a variety of vibrant hues.
- Style: Their clothing and decoration are designed to be as eye-catching as possible.
History and Origins
The history of the Sarista is preserved in a baffling collection of anecdotes, fables, and bawdy ballads.
- Lineage: Scholars believe they are descended from the Phaedrans, making them distant relatives of the Aamanians and Zandir.
- Kinship: Some theories suggest a connection to the Dhuna witch-covens of Werewood.
Society and Upbringing
Sarista families are close-knit and often quite large.
- Caravans: They travel in loose-knit tribal groups, roaming the Western Lands and the Seven Kingdoms in brightly painted wagons.
- Education: Lacking written records, they rely on elders to pass down the secret lore of their people, including minor magics, herb lore, and "Sarista culture"—a euphemism for thievery. [^1]
- Maturity: By age seven, a Sarista child is expected to know every woodland trail in Silvanus.
Sarista Characters
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | 5’–6’, 80–180 lbs. Topaz skin, black hair, facial tattoos. |
| Base Attributes | CHA +2, DEX +2, SPD +1 |
| Hit Points | 20 |
| Combat/Magic | CR +1, RC +1, MR +1 |
- Skills: Language (Low Talislan - native), Language (Sarisa - native), Cultures (Sarista) +5, Fashion (Sarista) +2, Deception +1, Ride (equs) +1.
- Quirks: Sarista add Tantara to their available Quirks regardless of Path.
- Starting Equipment: Colorful garments, cape/beret, dagger, ear bangles, 15 gold lumens.
Religion and Music
- Faith: Their religion revolves around Fortuna (goddess of luck) and Death. They revere Fortuna but mock Death, striving to cheat the entity at every turn.
- Burial: The dead are dressed in their finest baubles and buried standing up—a final act of defiance against Death.
- Arts: Music is one of the few things the Sarista are deeply sentimental about. They are skilled dancers, musicians, and craftsmen (metalworking, weaving, pottery).
Language and Names
- Tongue: They speak a version of Low Talislan that uses subtle gestures and inflections to convey hidden meanings.
- Names: Colorful and varied (e.g., Romaro, Salvagio, Esmeralle, Kataea).
[^1]: To most other Talislantans, the Sarista are regarded interchangeably as folk healers and performers or as mountebanks and tricksters.