Editing Tosa/York

The Tosa/York shadow system is a major shadow system of Amber.  York is a fairly distant Shade of Amber where the Amber realm has fallen, and three other major realms exist, each having been created with the use of the Jewel of Judgment shadow from that realm.  The inscribed realms are York & Plymouth, and Tosa, each having been created while the Shade Amber still stood. Another construct, the Neutral Place, is connected to York and Tosa. 

=='''York'''==
*York-A minor primal realm, created by a Shadow of the Jewel of Judgment, existing in the remaining shadows of a fallen Shade of Amber; Amber al Atan.

In the shadows of Amber are many [[Shade]] realms and in them many things have happened. York is the center of its realm of existence with a royal family led by [[Tolknor]] of York.  It is a Primal Realm, created by [[Tolknor]] which existed before the Shade of Amber that was once the center of this shadow veil was destroyed.   

Before creating York [[Tolknor]] attempted to forge a new pattern, using the Jewel of Judgment of that [[Shade]] but failed in the attempt, creating a squiggle of order called [[Plymouth(T/Y]].  Plymouth was an incomplete creation, with millions of shadows devoid of animal life. 

Eventually [[Tolknor]] succeeded in creating York before the the war between Koob and and the Shade Amber. 

''*Koob and his war against a Shade Amber''. There is a long complex history of the wars between this Amber and High Lord Koob of Chaos.  In the end Random was defeated and chased into exile where he took the name Hazarda[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/H%26TE]]. He abdicated to [[Tolknor]] who lead a last ditch attempt to save the power artifacts of this Amber before creating a controlled destruction of the Pattern itself, transferring the powers of the pattern, with its permission, to the pattern of York. This allowed him to enact Founder's Right,  perfectly protecting York from further assaults by Koob of Chaos. 

Lord Koob gave Tolknor, the last King of Amber, permission to let the people leave as long as the pattern was destroyed. After the war a new High Lord took over Chaos, named [[Nur al Din El musifar]]- Nur the Traveler.  Nur has a blood relationship with Tolknor and has assayed the Pattern of York. 

*A connection between the Tosain worlds and the new realms was created because of its proximity in shadow by the two creations of [[Plymouth]] and York.
===Pattern of York===
*30 Basic Imprint
*60 Advanced imprint
*120 Master Imprint.

=='''[[Plymouth]]'''==
Plymouth is a squiggle created in the Shade Amber that developed into the Realm of York connected to the Toasian Sway. The general history is that Tolknor used the Shade gem of the Jewel of Judgment in an attempt to create a Pattern. Somehow he failed and the squiggle of Plymouth was created with 2/5 the power of a full pattern in that Shade. Sometime afterwards Tolknor created York. In time the Koob War occurred and the shade of Amber in that realm was destroyed. The Yorkian Shade remained since a Shade pattern and a Shade squiggle existed in it. 

For more information got to: [[Plymouth(T/Y)]]

=='''Tosa'''==

Cosmologically Tosa is a giant segment of shadow that probably interacted with the Shade of Amber that it is now linked to York. However, when Tosa is spoken of it is one particular shadow that is generally being spoken of.  Tosa Prime it is often called but that term is not used by its natives.  The dynastic rise and fall of nations, tribes and empires led to one conquerer taking control of the planet and in time the surrounding worlds, by magical and technological travel. This conquerer is [[Alexandir Kos Korag]].  Born a blacksmith's son he became an adventurer and gained companions who used their varied powers to aid his rise. The riegn of King Alexandir is currently 2000 years old. 

Tosa is a large world with a number of city sates that became the centers of first small nations, then through the process of war and conquest great nations.

It is the birth-world of [[Tolknor]], founder of ''York''.

The '''City of Wall, Tosa''' is the birthplace of the [[Palace Commons]] and [[CHAD]]
----

===[[Fairhand's Folly]]===
Fairhand's Folly is a massive Tavern complex in the Eldimor region of Itara, Tosa. Tosian-York It is a haven for adventurers heading into the Advernturer's Region.

===Duchy of the Reese===
The Reese is a section of the southeastern of the main continent of Tosa. Mostly a rural region providing grains and vegetables to much of the continent it has three large urban areas; Cable, Cantrin, and Sangoosa.  Sangoosa was destroyed in the Orc Wars and the region around it saw much of the worst ravages in the decade it took a group of adventurers to lead armies todestroy the Gray Hand Orc clans.  

After the Orc Wars were completed the Emperor of Wall, Emperor Alexandir, created the Reese as a duchy and bestowed it on Dame Harriet of the Reese.  While Harriet was not necessarily the hero of the wars her accolade came because of her fierce love for her homeland and the effort she mad convincing greater warriors to eradicate the Orc menace.

===the Principality of Ichil===
Covering most of the western edge of the main Tosian continent and many of the Western and Southern Isles, the Princiality of Ichl is the home of the Fairhands and Micholt the Red.

The rich region is the breadbasket of Tosa.  It is also the home of the Red Hand clan of Orcs.  During the long orc wars Dolki Fairhand led the way to the destruction of the entire Red Hand Clan. Among the main combatants besides Dolki was Jeremy Lockpick Fairhand and his son Venki. Micholt the Red Archer was born to a hunting family in the mountains and became the bane of orcs with long distance death so fierce when he touched the [[world Stone]] he became the god of Archers. 

Among the well known products of the region is the ''Ichilian Bow'', a short recurve bow suitable for use from hunting blinds and from horse back.  Traditionally a hunting bow it became the main weapon of Michotl's Red Band of Archers who provided the death blow to the Red Hand Clan.  since then they have become the main body of archers for the Empire of Tosa.

===Kingdom of Eldomior===
The Kingdom of Eldomior once spanned the secondary continent of Tosa and supported a empire that dealt in powerful magics.

==Bards of the Tosian Traditions==
===Bardic Colleges===
Spread across the various realms of the Tosian/York realms are 23 separate universities with an educational curriculum used by the Bard of Tosa, or the Tosian Tradition.  THe colleges may be taken in any order but once 23 of them are completed a bard receives a circlet and is titles a Crowned Bard[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Crowned_Bard]]

====Accepted Bardic Colleges====
===Bardic Colleges'''===
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|1. Wall the Great
|2. Telemu, Ichil
|3. Endala, Wall East
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===[[Crowned Bard]]===

=='''The Neutral Place'''==

Further cosmological connections exist that connect York and Tosa as well as thousands of other realms.  '''''The Neutral Place'''''.  This is a place certainly deep in shadow since it lacks elements outside itself like planets and worlds and such.  It is a 500 mile long building with bars spread through many different architectural styles.  Interior spaces, exterior spaces, different suns, different moons.  The proprietor is called Mac, but he is a deity of this realm with unlimited powers. He is invariably friendly.   

A main feature of The Neutral Place is each area has great doors or archways, clearly designated as portals that passing through delivers the traveler to a different world, or different places in a world.  The areas of the structure relate thematically to the doors available in a section.    The traveler can purchase a Neutral Place ring for a single copper coin.  In practice one passes through the door to transport to the planet, and calls on the ring to transport them to the Neutral Place.

Mac has one idiosyncrasy.  For reasons he refuses to discuss if a Xenomorph {creature in the Alien franchise} enters the Neutral Place it is immediately confiscated and pressed into service. They become scrupulously clean, polite, speak the common tongue. Realm lords have complained to no effect. ((GMs and Players learned to not test me on bringing them in))
[[Mac's Bar]]

=='''[[CHAD]]-Clean Halls and Dens'''==
This is a Mercenary Guild based in the City of Wall on the planet of New Wall, a realm connected to the Neutral Place.  It numbers millions of troops and hires troops with many specialties. Many of the members are Adventurers from a wide range of Gamer Worlds connected to the Neutral Place.



((GM-Note:  Clearly these were the game worlds of a dozen or so different GMs.  I worked in a game store in the  early to mid '80s and managed one from the early to mid 90s.  PCs from various worlds used the Neutral Place to travel from game world to game world.  Its how things get done.

=='''[[Saint of Battle]]'''==

[[File:Saintofbattle.gif]]

The Saints of Battle are warriors who have achieved a signature victorious battle or signature heroic defeat, considered mighty enough by the other Saints of Battle to accord them this peerage. It is considered a Knighthood in nearly all Tosain & York realms. In many realms the arrival of a Saint of Battle causes opposing warriors to rethink the question of conflict. 

Warriors can achieve many awards.  3 Awards are required to be invited to the Council of Battle and vote on new recipients.  Current members of the Council of Battle include King Alexandir KosKorag, Mitchot Kandif, Jake Whitetail, Kirgor the Red, Peredur, Conf, Grog, Mikon, and many others.

The only notification of an award is its sudden arrival, with the objects of the accolade.

===The accoutrement of the accolade===

The award comes in a box of rare woods of different kinds.  

*The main emblem is a solid gold "S" in the form of the Saint's insignia.

*There are a dozen "S" sigil that will affix to armor, clothes, equipment, and almost anything.  however, no more then the number of accolades the holder has will affix to any one item.  Such, that while a holder may affix a emblem to 4 clocks, he may not affix 2 to one cloak. 

*There is  utility knife  similar to a complicated swiss army knife. 
*There is a shoulder draped cloak with a full sized symbol-(Similar to a fencing cloak.)

*There is a signet ring.

=='''Crowned Bards'''==
*In the Tosian/York realms a Bard receives his first crown upon the completion of special rites.(23rd level) And the rank '''Crowned Bard'''
From there is was a matter of politics if further crowns were awarded.

*Another crown would be rewarded if one became the Arch-Bard of a realm.  Such as Venki Fairhand for The Empire of Tosa and Fortunadas Enright for  Kingdom of York. '''Twice Crown Bard'''

*A third crown, creating a '''Thrice Crowned Bard''', would mean the bard was the chief bard of a spacial realm, such as the Tosian Multiverse or the York Shadow Realms.  

Such titles might only be temporary but once awarded remained part of their Bardic legend.  As is the case for both Fotunadas and Venki, neither of whom are national or spacial prime bards any longer after achieving higher levels of awareness.  Both have stepped aside from the positions of leadership that the titles imply. This is similar to the case where retired presidents are still called Mr President.
===A conversation about Thrice Crowned Bards by Prince Martin of Amber to his daughter Silvana===
“As for Thrice Crowned Bards.... Crowned bards of any rank... Its not a rank recognized in Amber.  We don't have then like in Tosa.  Tosa is a large collection of shadows out by the Stone of Skulls worlds.  Look them up in the trump deck.  Bards are sort of Jacks of all trades.  Most start as warriors for a time, perhaps thieves.  Along the way most pick up a bit of magical skill.  In the Stone and Skull worlds are Adventurers of many descriptions with the main ones being the character classes of Fighter, Thief, Mage, & Cleric.  Some special ones are Ranger, Paladin, and Bards.  In the Tosian worlds are some special adventurers who have a mixture of  character classes like Fighter/Thief, Thief/Mage, Fighter/Cleric.  These have skills unique to each class.  Even rarer or triple class-Fighter/Mage/Cleric or Fighter/thief/Mage.  Int their worlds the rarest of these mixtures is a Quad: a Fighter/Thief/Mage/Cleric.  This is a person so voracious of knowledge and skills they learn talents in all 4.  Fortunadus is a Quad.   “

Martin sighs.

“Bards are educated.  There are 23 levels of colleges in the Stone of Skulls worlds.  I don't pretend to understand them or their difference but there are apparently thousands of colleges across the many shadows and they are all given accreditation.  You would have to talk to one of them to understand.  In these colleges they learn a wide variety of things.  Music, history, magic.  Many learn druidic magic as well as picking up cantripy and continuing as Mages and clerics.  These people are extraordinarily diverse in their knowledge and skills.  They seek out and gain powers almost everywhere they can in order to be allowed into the next level of colleges.  The system is incredibly complex and few rise high in it.  Most reach 10th or 11th before exhaustion or old age.”

“Some however reach the pinnacle of the system and become 23rd Level Bards.  By then they are advisors to kings and popes, world leaders.  They are leaders of colleges or thieves guilds or Warrior guilds.  Trusted and famous people.  Thats a 23rd Level Bard.  Often called a Bardic Dean.  

 
“Now we come to the crowns.  Occasionally in the Stone of Skulls worlds a Bardic Dean has become so trusted, so respected, so powerful, a keeper of such secret powers that the leaders of a world proclaim the the preeminent  Bard of the whole world and they grant them a Crown.  This gives them authority over the colleges in that world as well as a lot of other things.  Access to great powers.   They are styled Crowned Bard Tosa or Crowned Bard New Wall, depending on the granting world. “

“For reasons too complicated to understand some Crowned Bard become acclaimed in multiple worlds.   Twice Crowned and Thrice Crowned bards.  Fortunadus, and a thin almost elven man, Venki Fairhard, are both Thrisce Crowned Bards serving in CHAD.  As I understand it there are no Quad Crowned bards.  Except that Fortunadus has taken service under King Julian as his chief advisor and is installing the college system and is angling for a 4th crown.  So imagine a person so gluttonous of knowledge and powers, in command of millions of these adventurers, a confidant of kings, High Priest of some Tosian god,  husband of a Primal being I hear, and holder of secret powers.  And he just sent a halfling assassin to watch over you.  So I worry.”

=='''Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association'''==
The [[Warrior Core and Lord Gladiators Association]] are common throughout the Tosian/York realms and is found at many levels.  [[Gesheka]]is the center of this cultural activity and is considered by most participants and enthusiasts to be the top rung of the scale.

=='''God, Demi-Gods, and Heros of Tosa & York'''==
==='''[[Reverence of the Palace Commons]]'''===

=='''Realm Specific Elements and Magical Artifacts'''==
==='''Elemental Stones'''===
Among the shadows of York are deep and wide veins of gems that touch places of raw elemental power.  These stones can be forged into stones that can channel elemental attacks when properly mounted near a sentient creature's brain.  They look like a 1' wide stone.

Once mounted the wielder can channel significant amounts of the element the stone is connected to. Frequency of attacks depends on wielder's psyche.
**Red Stones channel fireballs. 
**Blue Stones channel water balls.  While the water is dramatically less damaging then other elements it has considerable force to move and sirupt the activities of targets.  Also water channeled is guaranteed pure and fresh and is an excellent way to fill barrels, and pools.  
**Green Stones channel a powerful corrosive acid.
**White Stones channel ice force, causing freezing damage as well as freezing small bodies of water.
**Purple Stones channel a thick choking smoke of a purple color. 

==='''Swords of Colossal Excavation'''===

[[File:Swordofcollassalexevaction1.jpg]]

*A Tosian weapon-maker of the Dolsin region, Ugala Nok, received a boon from a archmage and by mangling his request he gained the power to create one type of magical item in only two form.  The two forms were spade and sword.  The magic he could imbue was colossal excavation.  In a spade it could help create a hole quickly, though it was tiring to use. In a sword it had unexpected results.  The sword cut huge swaths from foes.  It tears apart armor at the rivets, shreds leather, passes through chainmail like butter, magical armors only slowing them a little.  On flesh it does something approximate to 5 times the damage a normal blade of its size and form.  The wielder of the blade received magical healing equal to the damage he inflicts.  Is immune to decapitation.  They receive energy, and a glee in battle.  Often the wielder is unable to stop fighting till all foes are defeated.  After which they often lapse into exhaustion. 
*The swords of Colossal Excavation became prized heirlooms.  Many families used them as swords of state.  
*A Pandybat is a weapon more dangerous to the user then the foe.  The Swords of Colossal Excavation have always had that reputation, but they still have a reputation as a weapon of terror on the field.

==='''Rearden Metal'''===

[[File:Reardenmetal.jpg]]

**Rearden Metal is a alloy of iron and copper processed to create an industrial metal far beyond the best high tensile steels. It has a tensile strength far beyond the best high grades of stainless steel, and is a quarter as light.  It is a difficult alloy to create for medieval style metal workers and most of it comes from highly technological worlds. Having arrived in magical realms in ingot, bar, or plate form, it can be worked magically.
**Rearden is created magically in some worlds.  There are many spells that cause metals to become malleable and Reardan is one of the most commonly used metals for this. 
**While not a precious metal in itself it is often used in jewelry and magical weapons and armor. 
**Rearden Metal has a certain cultural cache in Yorkian shadows where some groups idolize it for numerous reasons.   Jake Whitetail[[https://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/Jake_and_Kirgor]] has a hard shock troop of Centaurs armed in Rearden breastplates.

=='''Monsters of York'''==
==='''''Ravers'''''===
There are 3 elemental creatures that generate withing the realms despite being repeatedly destroyed. The Ravers Kagath, Dreal, and Gandat are beleived to be part of the divergence of the Pattern of York from the Shade of Amber-Fallen and its difference from the true pattern of Amber.
Beasts of great power, they are able to posses and control other creatures and are extraordinarily difficult to defeat. 
Once defeated the victor is imprinted by the forces of the universe with a green mithril tree on their forehead.  They can be removed by the King of York using the Yorkian Jewel of Judgment.

==='''''Jeweled Trolls'''''===
Jeweled Trolls, also known as Stone Trolls,  are war trolls that have a power stone mounted in their forehead. As an element of natural Earthmagic they are able to use magical attacks.  These stone eating Trolls live in a region where these powerful stones exist in nature.   As they devour stone shards move to the front of their head, melt and merge, and have a direct connection to their brain.  These are extremely dangerous creatures in and incredibly dangerous region.
*Red: Fire Balls-(1 d6 per level)
*Blue: Lighting Bolts
*Green: Acid Blast
*White: Freezing Blast
*Yellow: Noxious Cloud
*Crackled: a Mixture of 2 or 3 of the other stones.

The Stone Troll gems are highly prized because of their inherent magical nature.  When the stones are removed from the corpse of a Stone Troll they are the size of a pineapple.  While fresh and hot from removal a brutal surgical treatment that exposes at least an inch wide portion of a person's brain , can facilitate implementation of the stone in another creature.  Then, with practice, they are able to develop the power to use the stones as well as gain an absolute resistance to the stones effects if used by others.  

A person with a stone mounted is also immune from the elemental forces of such stones.  Red Stones make a person immune to burning.  White Stones make them immune to cold and freezing.   

In many realms that do not have magic these stones may still function.

==='''''Xenomorph'''''===
In the Tosian/York universes the creatures called xenomorphs, from the movie Aliens disappear as soon as the enter the realms by what ever method they come.  
*They immediately teleport to [[Mac's Bar]], where Mac uses his powers to clean them up and make them bartender/security guards/custodians.