Strider Enclaves

Impressions: The moon writ large, looming and filled with distorted reflections of the otherworld below. Plains of glittering ice, weathered and spiderwebbed by ancient cracks. The pale glow of witchlights, dividing the enclave from the moonlit gloom. Strider homes, their gentle eaves and moon-drinking flowers in stark contrast to the harsh realm beyond the village.

The striders were not of this world. Oh, they certainly are nowadays. After all, you can find striders living on just about every inhabited island in the Archipelago. Originally, though, they came from elsewhere - and many of their kind dwell there still.

The entrances to these places, the strider enclaves, are found in secluded groves all over the world. Only under the light of the full moon do the spaces between the trees thicken, giving way to a deeper darkness. Follow that darkness and it will lead you to an icy otherworld of endless night, suspended under an enormous moon who rises and sets but never wanes. There, living in quiet moonlit villages, you will find striders. Content with simplicity, they observe the messiness of the Archipelago from a safe remove.

Striders throughout the Archipelago have a reputation for being slow to action, but those in the enclaves take this to an extreme. Their homes are far from the concerns of the outside world; in times of hardship, they can seal the entrance and cut themselves off entirely. Only the destruction of the entrance grove can truly threaten an enclave, severing their connection to the outside world entirely.

1d6	Anchor
1	The Burden. Striders who wish to leave the enclave and wander the world are given a sacred burden to fulfil. For example, they may be tasked to bear witness, to mend with kindness, or to share in hardships. They cannot return without satisfying the elders that they have done their duty.
2	The Obligation. Every enclave swears to preserve one particular kind of thing, such as memories, weapons or poetry. They will keep such a thing safe for anyone who asks, as long as you are willing to tell them what it means to you and why it must be kept safe.
3	Patience. Every rudder leaves a wake, and every word leaves an echo. Better to let the roof fall on your head than to open a door you do not understand.
4	The Long Walk. When the entrance to an enclave is destroyed, the entire community must brave the icy otherworld and seek refuge with another enclave. Often, only a few survive the journey. Many enclaves have members who remember life in a different enclave, on a different island, with different obligations.
5	Greywhiskers. A keeper of records and chronicles. The only deity venerated in strider enclaves, with a saucer of milk below his shrine at moonrise. Most enclaves are absolutely infested with cats.
6	Mushrooms. Mushrooms are a staple of the enclaves. Strider mycologists cultivate a dizzying variety of funghi, using them for everything from sustenance to seasoning to medicine. There are even mushrooms that can be carved or burned like wood! Mycologists sometimes organise expeditions into the shadowy otherworld to find new varieties.