Ogre, Ailaed

Ogre-kin, Ailaed

CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Sub-arctic FREQUENCY: Rare ORGANIZATION: Clan ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any DIET: Omnivore INTELLIGENCE: Very (9-16) TREASURE: G (R, S) ALIGNMENT: Any NO. APPEARING: 1-6 ARMOUR CLASS: 4 MOVEMENT: 12 HIT DICE: 5+2 THAC0: 15 NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10 (or by weapon +6) SPECIAL ATTACKS: Berserk Rage SPECIAL DEFENCES: Nil MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil SIZE: L (9’+) MORALE: Elite (13-14) XP VALUE: 650

Shaman: 975

The "Ailaed" or "beautiful ones" are an incredibly advanced race of seafaring ogres who raid the western and Northern Coasts of the Edarlands. They look like large humans with dark brown skin and purple hair ranging from violet to almost black. Their eyes are also shades of purple, and have black fingernails and toenails.

Suffering no ill effects from the cold, their preferred choice of dress in fur leggings and a loincloth, they also loath wearing armour seeing it as a trait of the weaker races. Ailaed will often paint or tattoo their chest, arms and face with special symbols, which they believe enhances their skill in battle.

The Ailaed speak their own language (a more sophisticated variation of the ogre tongue) as well as Orcish and Hobgoblin, who often serve as their allies in times of war.

Combat: For the Ailaed battle is both an honour and a birthright. That coupled with their typical ogre avaricious nature leads them to frequently raid coastal areas for treasure, foodstuffs, and tools. They travel in huge longships and drakkars rowed by their thrall cousins. The typical strategy is for Ogres is to Have the more numerous common ogres to charge the beaches en masse, and then have the Ailaed wander about the field creating random chaos in the enemy ranks.

The reason they are able to create chaos in battle is due to their incredible beserk rage, which can be summoned in 5 rounds after they first engage combat. The beserk rage gives them all the benefits and penalties of the beserker kit in the Complete Fighter's Handbook.

Habitat/Society: Despite their animalistic rages in battle, they are incredibly civilized, with accomplishments in wine-making and brewing, with a particular fondness for mead. They have also developed their own alphabet, written several stories of heroes and gods in poetic verse. Women, while not considered to be the equal of men, have several rights and privileges, including the right to divorce.

The Ailaed form the nobility of the ogre species, forming the upper ruling class. They rule over the common ogres, who are the peasants and free farmers of their society.

Ecology: While more intelligent and sophisticated than their cousins, Ailaed are just as greedy and avoricious. Thus, they have an almost spiritual need to raid and plunder the coasts in search of gold, slaves, and other items of value.