Dahlian

*"People come prepared to ignore their silver-tongue and charm but leave with empty coin-purses. Dahlians have the reputation of being shady opportunist but that reputation seems to fade as soon as they wheel-and-deal. "*

**- *Marcario Moorehome*, "*The Monumental Land of Waesyn"***

The **Dahlians,** sometimes referred to the Dahl people, are a humanoid race from Waesyn and reside in Lokradahl. Dahlians are known for being masters of trade and profit. As long as their is a means to finding profit a dahlian is likely near-- thus they are commonly found throughout Waesyn.

## Statistics

* ***Ability Scores*** +2 Charisma, -2 Dexterity; Dahlians are cunning and silver-tongued but lack coordination and are somewhat clumsy.
* ***Age*** Dahlians mature at the age of 13 and live past a century often making it to 120 or so.
* ***Speed*** Your base speed is 25 feet.
* ***Size*** Medium
* ***Languages*** You can speak, read, and write Dahl and Sotteran.
* **Daggermaster:**Dahlians gain a +1 to damage done with any *dagger* or *punching dagger*.

* **Dahlian Dodge:**Once per day if a Dahlian is targeted by a melee or touch attack they can hide behind a nearby ally without provoking an attack of opportunity. They ally must be within 10 ft and you can move no more than 15.

* **Glib:**Dahlians *always* consider appraise, bluff and diplomacy class skills. They also get a +2 miscellaneous bonus to these skills.
* **Opportunist:**Dahlians are masters of gauging the economic landscape. Dahlians may add their level to a gather information check when entering a new town, area or applicable landscape to make the check-- and in half the time.
	+ Additionally, this "Opportunist" also grants a follow-up sense motive check allowing the Dahlian to find an individual who perhaps has too much coin for their own good, or someone who can't resist a deal. Unfortunately, these can lead to bothersome adventures from time to time. This follow up check is not granted a "try again."
* **Thick Braincase:** Dahlians are highly resistant to enchantments and another mind-affecting magic. They gain a +2 bonus to resist any enchantment or spell with *Mind-Affecting* in the description. Additionally, they are completely resistant to any spell that allows the user to detect their thoughts or read their mind.

## Lokradahl

*Main article: Lokradahl*

Lokradahl is located in northeastern Waesyn. Lokradahl has torrential rainstorms and mucky marshes. It has frost regions further north and close to Leta and the marshes dry out in southernmost Lokradahl towards Nossia as the landscape becomes Valleys of Ash from the Nossian Volcanoes.

## Physiology

Dahlians are not but instead are a part of the rodentia order. Ancient Dahlian ancestors have been found to have longer claws for burrowing, whisker-like hairs and cheek pouches for carrying food. They no longer have these features but evidence of them can be found on the modern dahlian such as having short and fat fingers and rather expansive cheeks. Modern dahlians still retain some features though such as incisor styled teeth. Historically dahlians would practice a form of facultative hibernation and while they no longer do this it is assumed their biology would still allow this process if necessary.

Dahlians have very different bone structure from other species in Waesyn. They only have eight ribs with the bottom rib being false. This is likely why dahlians move rather stiffly compared to other species. Dahlians have the lowest bone count of any species in Waesyn and their bones are also much thicker. While this does make them less agile compared to others-- it isn't without it's benefits. The unique bone density found in dahlians has given them a unique skull structure. What is referred to as the dahlian *braincase* has given them a strong resistance to enchantments and immune to many others.

Typically a dahlian stands somewhere between 4'8" and 5'5" give or take a few inches though it should be noted that they have a natural "hunched" posture that isn't accounted for during measurement by their standards. While they are mostly similar to other humanoids externally they often times appear rather pot-bellied due to their weight distribution. Not only do they have much larger eyes than sotterans but their iris and pupils are quite large as well-- with very little scelra left to be shown. Dahlian hair is unique as the only hair they grow is guard hairs given it a very coarse and broom-like texture. Dahlians also have large whisker-like eyebrows that dangle off their face. Besides the hair on their head-- most of their body hair, if any, is very patchy.

Dahlians cannot mate with other species. Dahlian newborns are precocial, like the H'yuun and Saureete, and are born fairly developed. They also learn to speak faster than any other species. The average length of a dahlian gestation period is 334 days or 11 months.

## History

Noted as being one of the few species to actively keep records before the first cycle the Dahlians already had mapped, settled and of course; developed an economy in Lokradahl before the Sotteran Empire. The dahlians famously declined to join the treaty proposed by the Sotterans to fight the Monumentals as the giant beings were great customers. Notably Lokradahl did eventually aid the Sotterans, Zutonesse and Velesse by ceasing to continue trade with the Monumentals. The move was controversial and clearly a strategy to be able to establish trade with the then-new empire. Lokradahl never strongly supports other nations outside of trading nor do they show bias. This is effectively why the D.A.C., Lokradahls government, is often considered a simultaneous ally and rival.

The many wars and conflicts of Waesyn have been nothing but profitable for Lokradahl. The feuds of the velesse kingdoms were nothing but lucrative as they constantly needed arms, supplies and resources beyond what they had available in their own lands-- and Lokradahl readily accepted the trade offers. Rhoda stubbornly refused to buy from a nation that didn't side with a individual buyer which is often thought to be part of their decline. Lokradahl is notably one of the only countries that actively trades with both Nossia and Lakaria as they are somewhat alienated from the rest of Waesyn. In fact the only known treaties that Lokradahl has ever agreed to involve both Nossia and Lakaria.

Villia suspects that the Dahlians are supplying eladrin with resources and other material support however Lokradahl has denied this. Nor do they believe it would be a problem if they did.

## Culture

Despite the Sotteran Empire no longer being in power the gold system they devised is still used throughout Waesyn. Lokradahl does not follow the gold system. Instead of using the Sotteran Aur system, Lokradahl uses the Hadron system. Hadron is a liquid mined from dahlian mines that is then pressed into an alloy to allow physical trading.

Torathim preaches to *"Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity."* And all dahlians are raised with this notion. Parents still show some sort of love for their children and vice-versa but at the end of the day children are an investment and when an investment stops being lucrative it is often re-accessed or even abandoned. Dahlians do not use surnames. You have to make your own name. However noble children or those who have successful or rich parents often will say "NanDi" (meaning child of) and state their parents name after stating their name as a symbol of pride.

Everything that can be priced or taxed in Lokradahl will be. A restaurant may charge you for the chair, utensils and the tablecloth. In particularly rough Dahlian cities it may cost money just to enter a store. Despite all of this music is rarely accompanied by a fee. Dahlians love music and believe it should accompany dining, gambling, shopping, battle, etc. Any chance a business owner can get a band of Dahlians to play they will.

## Religion

*Main article: Torathim*

Tora Principality is a way of life and backbone for Dahlian beliefs. The god Torota claims that material possession is of the utmost importance. Torathim doesn't delve deeply into creation mythos but preaches more about how a Dahlian who makes profit and accumulates wealth will easily succeed in the next life. Those who are unsuccessful are locked away in an infernal vault and never let out.

Torathim has a list of principles for Dahlians to follow to succeed in their life. While the complete list is incredibly long, some notable ones include:

* *"Opportunity plus instinct equals profit"*
* *"A Dahlian without profit is no Dahlian at all"*
* *"Peace is good for business"*
* *"Nothing is more important than your health-- except for your money"*
* *"Never place friendship above proft"*
* *"Treat people in your debt like family-- exploit them."*
* *"War is good for business"*
* *"You can't make a deal if you are dead."*
* "A contract is a contract is a contract-- but only between dahlians."

## Military

Lokradahl has a quasi-military at best. They have guards in place to protect towns but they do not build an army to wage war-- only to protect merchants and commerce. The Dahlian Executive of government usually keeps up to date on military events throughout Waesyn but does not engage in ways beyond trade, however, if necessary some troops are deployable. Throughout Lokradahl's history the motto has been *"The best way to win a war is to win their wallets."*

Lokradahl's military does not rely on heavy armor or large weapons as Dahlians are not as hardy as many other races and usually move in small strike forces if possible. Simply weapons such as spears, daggers and crossbows are usually bought-- and the best are bought to make up for the lack of advanced training.

The exception is the Dahlian Liquidators who serve the LCA (Lokradahl Commerce Authority). Dahlian merchants throughout Waesyn as a part still expected to follow Dahlian Trade By-laws and code, especially if they want the LCA seal of approval on their business and want access to Dahlian trade-route and caravans. The By-laws are legal code that is expected to be followed and if they are broken Liquidators can strip a business of LCA goods, services, and officiality. Liquidators are expertly trained due to having to deal with various forms of delinquency and business owners who fight their authority. Though they are just as likely to take a bribe and overlook things as any other Dahlian-- which is almost expected.