---------------Notes on the Vistani-----------
--The Vistani--
Protected in Barovia, persecuted in Invidia, the Vistani are not so simply what one can call gipsy, they are not even all the same groups, even if they may be confused for such by the uneducated.
To be Vistana is a birthright, one cannot become a Vistana but one can stop being a Vistana. A single drop of non Vistani blood means an individual won't ever be accepted completely by the Vistani and half Vistani are called Giomorgo. Non Vistani are referred to as Giorgio.
Vistani wander and must do so lest they lose those curious abilities which set them apart from mere gipsies and Giorgio. Vistani who, for what ever reason, cease to wander and remain in one place for too long, are called Mortu and are no longer considered Vistani.
Darklings, such as those encountered in the Forest Fane near the Village of Barovia, are Vistani who have been sent away from their tribe, sometimes as a result of a Vishnadd, a trial for disputes.
All Vistani have some commonalities and abilities shared among them regardless of Tasque or tribe. They speak the same language, called Patterna, perform certain rituals such as the Prastonata, have the ability to walk the mistways, to see into the future, otherwise known as 'The Sight', to lay curses upon those who have wronged them and possess a capacity to find who they need whenever they have need of them. Vistani tribes are led by a Raunie, a female possessing The Sight who arbitrates disputes and passes judgement, and a Captain, a male leader reponsible for the more day to day aspects of tending to camp such as procuring supplies, scouting camp locations, overseeing the setting up and breaking down of the camp.
------Vistani Tasques----
There are three Tasques or nations of Vistani; the Kaldresh, the Manusa and the Boemian. These Tasques are further divided into tribes.
-The Kaldresh-
Those members of the Kaldresh Tasque are known for being providors of goods and services, builders and craftsmen beyond the skill of Giorgio master smiths. They often trade with Giorgio and have been known to follow the armies of outsiders or Giorgio merchants or mercenery caravans ready to sell or build what people need. The Kaldresh are often found where wars are fought and their tribes are large, sometimes having as many as forty members. Their garb is less colourful than other Vistani Tasques and tribes as well as more practical. Some of their women even wear trousers. The Kaldresh are the most melancholy of all the Tasques and the most likely to be encountered due to their trade with and following of Giogoto caravans.
The kaldresh are further divided into the tribes known as Kamii, Equaar and Vatraska. The Kamii are primarily blacksmiths who make tools, weapons, just about anything, and some say the items made by them are far more easily used as a catalyst for magic.
The Equaar tame wild animals and train warhorses, sheperd dogs and tracking hounds. The Vatraska are healers and might be found following Giorgio army caravans offering their services. The Vatraska heal primarily via the use of balms which are created from poisons and soups such as chicken.
The Kaldresh Origin Myth is known as The Tale of Vistan.
-The Manusa-
The Manusa are the rarest of Vistani Tasques to be encountered around the core but are most common in Barovia where Vistani enjoy the protection of that realm's Count Strahd XI. The Raunie of those Vistani who are known to camp near Tser Falls Pool in Barovia, Madame Eva, is of the Manusa Tasque amd Zarovan tribe. They are known for their abilities in magical arts. The Manusa are further divided into two tribes, the Canjar and the Zarovan.
-The Boemian-
Members of the Boemian Tasque are known for their skill in entertainments for their dancing and musical abilities. They are further divided into the tribes of Naiat and Corvara, and for outsiders it is very hard to tell these two tribes apart. Both males and females have pierced noses and ears, wear bright coloured outfits and jewelry made from glittering stones. The women tend to go barefoot. The Boemians are more passionate, merry and embrace with joy their lot of being eternal nomads. Occasionally they organize carnivals. Boemian vardos are highly decorated and colourful, as are the outfits and jewels of the Boemians themselves.
Of the Corvara it has been said, be wary of them, they can do harm even when they mean to do good.
-------Vistani Abilities Shared by all Tasques------
1. Viastani can lay curses.
2. Vistani can see into the future via various means of divination such as; The Tarokka Cards, Chiromancy, Astrology, Sortilege, Haruspication, Geomancy, Pyromancy and the casting of dice or gazing into a flawless crystal ball.
3. Mist Travel
4. A capacity to find who they need when they need them. Akin to some sort of uniquel tracking ability.
--Vistani Camps---
Vistani camps are rarely attacked and Giorgio are tolerated in a camp so long as they do not cause problems for the Vistani. Perhaps because they see themselves as so removed from all other groups, this tolerance is given equally to all outsiders. There is no perceived difference in regard towards; a human, dwarf, or any other race, or even to those of mixed blood such as the Demonlets, or those considered Caliban, by any Vistana I have observed. All outsiders seem to be regarded with the same seeming distant curiosity and wry mirth. A Vistani camp may include various Tasques and tribes such as the large encampent in the mists but generally they are much smaller.
Vistani will even allow Giorgio to observe some of their rituals such as the Pastronata and Doroq but others like the Lunaset are exclusive to Vistani and closely guarded.
-Vistani Weddings-
Vistani weddings are arranged. The ceremony taking place during the full moon. The husband joins his wife's family and all his possessions pass into her family as well.
--The Dukkar--
Dukkar means roughly translated 'the one who is hunted by death' and it seems that only by becoming horribly evil can the Dukkar escape death. Said to be a male Vistani born with 'The Sight', there are many Doroqs, or stories, about the Dukkar. Generally he is born to a Darkling tribe or among the Vistani but to a mother too loving to put him to death. According to the stories a Dukkar has all the power of a Vistani, possessing of The Sight but also has some fiendish powers such as the summoning of beast or aberrations, or that he eats children.
-Known Dukkar-
Hysoksa is claimed by the Vistani to have caused the Great Upheaval in 740. It is said Hysoksa was escaping death but death found and took him, but before death took him Hysoksa had time enough to cause a most terrible thing.
Malocchio Aderre- The Ruler of Invidia, responsible for the persecution of Vistani in that land and possessing a great and burning hatred for the Vistani.
See also the tome The Threat of the Dukkar (author unknown) for additional information and lore.
Glossary of Vistani Related Words:
Boemian- One of the three main Tasques of the Vistani, skilled entertainers, dancers and musicians. This nation is further divided into the tribes of Naiat and Corvara.
Captain- The captain of a Vistani tribe is to my knowledge always male. They deal with the practical matters of the camp; supplies, scouting, setting and breaking camp, supervising trade matters.
Darklings- These are outcast Vistani. Those Vistani who were sent away from the tribe, possibly as a result of a Vishnadd decision.
Doroq- The ritualized sharing of tales between Vistani. The tales have various themes common to most tales; love, jealousy, heroes, tragedy, time, origin myths of the Vistani and so on. They are commonly a part of a ritual of socialization after the camp has been secured, following the evening meal. Giorgio are welcome to listen to these tales but it is said will likely have a harder time understanding their true meaning to the Vistani.
Dukkar- When translated this word means roughly "The one who is hunted by death". There are many stories about (Doroqs) about the Dukkar. According to some of the tales a Drukkar has all the power of a Vistani but also some fiendish powers as well. Male Vistani possessing 'The Sight' are put to death at an early age and various tales explain how the Dukkar escaped this fate as a male with 'The Sight'.
Endari-vitir - "All paths converge". The parting words when a large tribe splits into two smaller ones. The Raunie of the original tribe decides the new tribe's raunie and captain.
Giogoto- The term means "enlightened but not of the blood".
Giomorgo- a Half-Vistani. Even a single drop of non Vistani blood means such an individual won't ever be accepted as Vistani.
Giorgio- Non Vistani.
Kaldresh- One of the three main Tasques of the Vistani, known for being providers of goods. This nation is further divided into the tribes of Kamii who are known for their skill in weaponcraft, Equaar who are renown animal tamers and Vatroska who are skilled healers. They are somewhat more melancholy and the least 'Vistani' of all the Tasques for their close interactions with Giogoto.
Lunadi- means it 'is done by the next new moon'.
Manusa- One of the three main Tasques of the Vistani, the Manusa are the rarest of Vistana nations around the core, but are most commonly found in Barovia. Manusa are known for their arcane talents. This nation is further divided into the tribes of Canjar and Zarovan. Canjars are known for their jewels which are more than just a form of craftsmanship and such jewels are not sold.
Mortu- Are Vistani who have stopped wandering for any reason to stay in the same place for too long, and as such are no longer considered Vistani. They are almost giorgio in regards as to how Vistani see the Mortu.
Patterna- The Vistani language.
Prastonata- A Vistani ritual of free dance. The musicians follow the movements of the dancers and the Prastonata ends when the dancers are exhausted. Only a portion of a larger and more complex ritual, the Prastonana preceeds the Doroq.
Raunie- The most important figure in any Vistani camp. Female leader of a Vistani tribe who posesses The Sight. The Raunie is also the matriarch who makes decisions and judgements in discussions for the tribe.
Sight, 'The'- A Vistani's ability to see into the future. The Sight is almost exclusive to female Vistani, however, once every few generations a male Vistani is born with The Sight. Such males are known as Dukkar and are considered a bad omen by the Vistani.
Tarokka- A deck of cards used by many Vistani to fortell the future. These cards resemble playing cards, having various suits but different than the more mundane sort common to gambling. The suits are Glyphs, Coins, Swords and Stars and number from one or the ace, to ten. There are additional cards, more significant when appearing in a reading known as the Major Arcana. These cards represent entities or things, having names such as The Artifact, The Marionnette, The Beast, The Dojon, The Raven, The Hangman and others.
Tasques- The Vistani Nations, which are further divided into tribes. There are three main Tasques; Boemian, Manusa and the Kadresh. Tasques are characterized by a specific 'craft' or set of skills or talents; Boemian are known as entertainers, Manusa for their arcane arts and Kadresh as providors of goods.
Vardo- The grand, wooden and covered wagons common to any Vistani camp. To the Vistani a vardo is a symbol of their status, the Boemian Tasque having the most colorful and elaborately decorated vardos.
Vishandd- Trial for disputes.