Post by kihaku on Jan 10, 2009 2:52:35 GMT
History:
The Bedoean people had always been proud, their ability to scrape a living out of the frozen tundra of the mountainous continent a source of ever-present strength. The rest of the world was, for the most part, kept at bay by the impassable mountains and constant, driving snow. They needed no assistance from the outside world, and no one believed that they had anything to offer in exchange. Over time, the people of Bedoe became an introverted people. Travelers were mostly ignored, not through spite or feelings of distrust, but simply because they wanted nothing to do with the troubles of outsiders.
The quake that immediately followed the impact of the Meteor rocked the immovable mountains to their very roots, but the Bedoeans stood strong and resolute, rebuilding their homes of stone almost as quickly as they fell. As the world burned around the cold continent, the nation began to experience a warming period that caused the flooding of certain agricultural plateaus, dozens of mudslides, but also plenty of fresh, flowing water that could be stored for future use. The pack-ice melt also revealed geological formations hidden for God-knows how long; ravines longer than any defensive wall ever constructed, and caves that ran deeper and more complex than anyone had believed possible.
Explorers went spelunking, and came back with handfuls of a transparent mineral never before seen by Dragonian eyes. Soon after its discovery, an alien substance began to fall from the sky: ash. It floated down like snow, blanketed the ground and the roofs of buildings, and seemed almost like a God-send. With a good amount of their crops rotted from flooding, the nutrient-rich ash was caught in tarps and set in rooms to dry to be used to help the soil once it dried out. A foolish hope.
After the ash fall, the following winter was unbelievably harsh, the worst any of the elders could remember. The sick, the very young, and very old, simply couldn’t make it through the winter. With failed crops the previous season and a chill so sharp it permeated even thick stone walls, a few settlements were nearly frozen completely. A few even escaped into the nearby cave networks, and managed to eek out a warmer existence than the rest. Though cold travels down, the heat of dozens of bodies managed to counter it. Once the secret was out that this situation could work temporarily, the technique spread until all of Bedoe was now hidden amongst the miles of tunnels. Several settlements even combined in a single network to maximize heat.
Originally believed temporary, the modificiations made to certain chambers made living down below easier than originally believed. With their nutrient-rich ash dry, it made a perfect base to grow limited crops. Shafts would be cut from the surface to allow sunlight in, and though it was nothing like it had been before the warm up, it was still better than trying to live on the surface. From then on, the inhabitants identified themselves as something more than Bedoeans, something that had withstood the freezing cold and come through stronger than before. Their were Rajorans, inhabitants of Brada, master carvers of earth, and fierce defenders of their home.
Culture:
With nothing but one another to survive, the Rajoran social structure is lead by a single individual who issues commands and advice to his or her Clan. Each family keeps to themselves with their problems, however that is not to say no one ever speaks to one another. Each network of tunnels is the territory of a different Clan, however there is a single, unifying underground ravine that links nearly all the networks together. With minimal effort, it was converted into an underground highway for each Clan to trade freely amongst one another. Within the Clan, jobs are delegated to those who possess the necessary skills to perform them. Wages are paid by the governmental figures who take in revenue from trade taxes.
At the base of the ravine lies the reason the Rajorans are able to survive underground without the need to venture to the surface for months at a time: special crystals that seemed to have lain dormant for millennia before the fall of the Meteor. They are able to refract light perfectly and not lose a single iota of the beneficial aspects of the sun’s rays. With a complicated system of lenses and prisms, light is captured at the surface and drawn down to the warmer areas where crops are grown and herd animals are kept. As for soil nutrition, manure is often recycled into the soil, as well as plant matter harvested at the south-western edge of the nation. Vents bored through the rock allow for the passage of ammonia and methane back to the surface.
There are few, however, that do not work as the others do. The Rajorans, unlike most others, are on good terms with the Arcane nation, and as such often send young children who possess a talent with their mother or father to the University for teaching. Upon returning, their spells become the most beneficial and valuable commodity any Clan may possess. They then work just the same as any other, though their talent lends them far more respect than the average person. Often, their commissions are given from the government, and as such their quarters are nearer the top of the mountain along with the other highest-ranking officials.
The surface entries to their networks, too, are not fiercely guarded, but are purposefully well-hidden. They do not fear other peoples, but if one knows where to find them, then they will not deny them a chance to enter. Outsiders within the Ravine are mostly ignored, as they would have had to get past the entry guards anyway. If approached, they are curt and polite, but not overly friendly. For the most part, the Rajorans are pragmatics. They do not believe in a unifying purpose or all-powerful omnipotence, however they cannot deny that there is something beyond rational explanation that has brought everything together. Whether it is fate, God, spirits, or whatever anyone else may believe, all a Rajoran knows is that, here and now, they exist, and they will not allow it to go to waste.
Physical Characteristics:
As to be expected, life under the earth has altered the appearance of the average Rajoran. To start with, their diminutive stature, averaging four and a half feet for males, four for females, can be explained by the often cramped spaces of their cave homes. Though underground, their odd crystals do allow for good lighting within homes and tunnels, so their skin, though paler than most other species, is still a healthy color. As well their hair has changed to a range of blonde to a light, sandy brown, with blue, brown, or hazel eyes to match. Their eyes, too, are only a little bit larger to allow more light, lending the Rajorans a more innocent, child-like appearance.
One must take care, however, not to underestimate a Rajoran warrior. Constant work keeps their bodies lean and fit, and the grip of any male will hurt just as much as any other species. Their light, agile bodies also make for quick limbs, and as such they have a particular liking of hammers, short-swords, and daggers.
Race-specific abilities:
- Indifference: harsh weather, either extreme cold or heat, does not greatly affect a Rajoran as it might another species.
- Alignment: A Rajoran may have a spiritual affinity for an element, which may allow them special characteristics. Often, it will influence one’s personality and fighting style, and most specifically magical talent, if they possess it. (Earth or Ice affinity)
- Instill: If a Rajoran’s Alignment is strong enough to border on a talent for magic, a Rajoran may have the ability to “instill” qualities of their affinity into their weapon. An Earth Instilled weapon will have an increased momentum when swung, without a change in size. An Ice Instilled weapon will increase a Rajoran’s reaction time and precision when handled. (Momentous Slash or Accelerated Chill ability)
- Spark of Talent: A Rajoran, when very young, often displays an ability to perform magic through very small elemental manipulations, often with dust or droplets of water. When this happens, they are sent to the Arcane to nurse this spark to life. This gives a Rajoran magician an increased ability to learn and produce magic spells. (Can be a Potential-level Alchemist for free.)
The Bedoean people had always been proud, their ability to scrape a living out of the frozen tundra of the mountainous continent a source of ever-present strength. The rest of the world was, for the most part, kept at bay by the impassable mountains and constant, driving snow. They needed no assistance from the outside world, and no one believed that they had anything to offer in exchange. Over time, the people of Bedoe became an introverted people. Travelers were mostly ignored, not through spite or feelings of distrust, but simply because they wanted nothing to do with the troubles of outsiders.
The quake that immediately followed the impact of the Meteor rocked the immovable mountains to their very roots, but the Bedoeans stood strong and resolute, rebuilding their homes of stone almost as quickly as they fell. As the world burned around the cold continent, the nation began to experience a warming period that caused the flooding of certain agricultural plateaus, dozens of mudslides, but also plenty of fresh, flowing water that could be stored for future use. The pack-ice melt also revealed geological formations hidden for God-knows how long; ravines longer than any defensive wall ever constructed, and caves that ran deeper and more complex than anyone had believed possible.
Explorers went spelunking, and came back with handfuls of a transparent mineral never before seen by Dragonian eyes. Soon after its discovery, an alien substance began to fall from the sky: ash. It floated down like snow, blanketed the ground and the roofs of buildings, and seemed almost like a God-send. With a good amount of their crops rotted from flooding, the nutrient-rich ash was caught in tarps and set in rooms to dry to be used to help the soil once it dried out. A foolish hope.
After the ash fall, the following winter was unbelievably harsh, the worst any of the elders could remember. The sick, the very young, and very old, simply couldn’t make it through the winter. With failed crops the previous season and a chill so sharp it permeated even thick stone walls, a few settlements were nearly frozen completely. A few even escaped into the nearby cave networks, and managed to eek out a warmer existence than the rest. Though cold travels down, the heat of dozens of bodies managed to counter it. Once the secret was out that this situation could work temporarily, the technique spread until all of Bedoe was now hidden amongst the miles of tunnels. Several settlements even combined in a single network to maximize heat.
Originally believed temporary, the modificiations made to certain chambers made living down below easier than originally believed. With their nutrient-rich ash dry, it made a perfect base to grow limited crops. Shafts would be cut from the surface to allow sunlight in, and though it was nothing like it had been before the warm up, it was still better than trying to live on the surface. From then on, the inhabitants identified themselves as something more than Bedoeans, something that had withstood the freezing cold and come through stronger than before. Their were Rajorans, inhabitants of Brada, master carvers of earth, and fierce defenders of their home.
Culture:
With nothing but one another to survive, the Rajoran social structure is lead by a single individual who issues commands and advice to his or her Clan. Each family keeps to themselves with their problems, however that is not to say no one ever speaks to one another. Each network of tunnels is the territory of a different Clan, however there is a single, unifying underground ravine that links nearly all the networks together. With minimal effort, it was converted into an underground highway for each Clan to trade freely amongst one another. Within the Clan, jobs are delegated to those who possess the necessary skills to perform them. Wages are paid by the governmental figures who take in revenue from trade taxes.
At the base of the ravine lies the reason the Rajorans are able to survive underground without the need to venture to the surface for months at a time: special crystals that seemed to have lain dormant for millennia before the fall of the Meteor. They are able to refract light perfectly and not lose a single iota of the beneficial aspects of the sun’s rays. With a complicated system of lenses and prisms, light is captured at the surface and drawn down to the warmer areas where crops are grown and herd animals are kept. As for soil nutrition, manure is often recycled into the soil, as well as plant matter harvested at the south-western edge of the nation. Vents bored through the rock allow for the passage of ammonia and methane back to the surface.
There are few, however, that do not work as the others do. The Rajorans, unlike most others, are on good terms with the Arcane nation, and as such often send young children who possess a talent with their mother or father to the University for teaching. Upon returning, their spells become the most beneficial and valuable commodity any Clan may possess. They then work just the same as any other, though their talent lends them far more respect than the average person. Often, their commissions are given from the government, and as such their quarters are nearer the top of the mountain along with the other highest-ranking officials.
The surface entries to their networks, too, are not fiercely guarded, but are purposefully well-hidden. They do not fear other peoples, but if one knows where to find them, then they will not deny them a chance to enter. Outsiders within the Ravine are mostly ignored, as they would have had to get past the entry guards anyway. If approached, they are curt and polite, but not overly friendly. For the most part, the Rajorans are pragmatics. They do not believe in a unifying purpose or all-powerful omnipotence, however they cannot deny that there is something beyond rational explanation that has brought everything together. Whether it is fate, God, spirits, or whatever anyone else may believe, all a Rajoran knows is that, here and now, they exist, and they will not allow it to go to waste.
Physical Characteristics:
As to be expected, life under the earth has altered the appearance of the average Rajoran. To start with, their diminutive stature, averaging four and a half feet for males, four for females, can be explained by the often cramped spaces of their cave homes. Though underground, their odd crystals do allow for good lighting within homes and tunnels, so their skin, though paler than most other species, is still a healthy color. As well their hair has changed to a range of blonde to a light, sandy brown, with blue, brown, or hazel eyes to match. Their eyes, too, are only a little bit larger to allow more light, lending the Rajorans a more innocent, child-like appearance.
One must take care, however, not to underestimate a Rajoran warrior. Constant work keeps their bodies lean and fit, and the grip of any male will hurt just as much as any other species. Their light, agile bodies also make for quick limbs, and as such they have a particular liking of hammers, short-swords, and daggers.
Race-specific abilities:
- Indifference: harsh weather, either extreme cold or heat, does not greatly affect a Rajoran as it might another species.
- Alignment: A Rajoran may have a spiritual affinity for an element, which may allow them special characteristics. Often, it will influence one’s personality and fighting style, and most specifically magical talent, if they possess it. (Earth or Ice affinity)
- Instill: If a Rajoran’s Alignment is strong enough to border on a talent for magic, a Rajoran may have the ability to “instill” qualities of their affinity into their weapon. An Earth Instilled weapon will have an increased momentum when swung, without a change in size. An Ice Instilled weapon will increase a Rajoran’s reaction time and precision when handled. (Momentous Slash or Accelerated Chill ability)
- Spark of Talent: A Rajoran, when very young, often displays an ability to perform magic through very small elemental manipulations, often with dust or droplets of water. When this happens, they are sent to the Arcane to nurse this spark to life. This gives a Rajoran magician an increased ability to learn and produce magic spells. (Can be a Potential-level Alchemist for free.)