Beastfolk

"We do not look down. We only turn our eyes towards the sky... Towards mighty Diaseeth. We see her. We know her. We are her. And when the time is right... you will lead this family. And you will need to teach the next generation, why we frolic under Her light." -Beastfolk Patriarch to Progeny

## The Beastfolk

We were not always as we are. There was a time when we were not of Diaseeth. We were hunters, travellers, but most of all... seekers. And we never did find what we were looking for. Instead, something else found us.

Under the pale light of Diaseeth, we caught a Ringfall. A single piece of our beloved sister world. And it was prophecy. She gave unto us, the beginning. We began to mark our flesh. Make metallic ink from the ores of the ring. We tattooed ourselves. With the arcane images of the forest. The forest beat within us. Fed us. And now we are the forest. We wait for Ringfall. We wait for the end of this world, and our reunion with Diaseeth.

## Home

The beastfolk of Antiok hail from deep within the Ogre Kingdoms. Secreted away into their mighty forest, which sprung from the beginning of the Ogres' mighty river. Their true origins are still unclear, but what is sure, is that they are not human, and may never were.

Within their forest home, they are one of the smallest races of the world, but still number in the tens of thousands. Each person sharing their morphology with some kind of forest dwelling creature. Cats, bears, tigers, and more. There are so many different kinds of people there, but they all call each other brother. And they all worship the massive world, always in view, hanging in our sky.

Tensions have built to an all time high, as Beastfolk numbers multiplied, and ogres grew wary of their might. Ogres are no accustomed to being pushed around, and a massive dire bear beastman in his true form, can easily overtake a layman ogre. And so they began the breaking of their culture, and the subjugation of their people.

Their forest is in shambles. Slaver camps set up just outside of its tree lined boarders. But hope yet remains. For all have heard of the northerners. Who come, freeing slaves, and raising the downtrodden. The propaganda machine churns out hope, but so do the Nekarian actions. And on more than one occasion, during a slave's public execution, said slave has yelled out of the rose to quell all slavers. All who think people are not born equal.

## Morphology

The beastfolk of Antiok share several characteristics with other creatures. While remaining predominantly human, they also have bestial traits. Strange animistic ears, eyes, claws, and/or markings. Some more than others, but all share some kind of physical marker, making them a 'sub-species' in the eyes of many. But this perceived discrepancy, is also their greatest strength. For when Diaseeth sends ring to soil, these creatures gain the ability to become more than their bestial counterparts. Stories have been told of beasts the size of houses roaming the forests... Creatures whose ferocity rivals none.

Those beatfolk in servitude and made sure they are not given a window... But when they rest, all eyes, even if blocked by wall or stone, are pointed up. At Diaseeth. And the magic in their veins beats louder than a thousand drums. It will be difficult for them to ever make peace with ogres. Let us hope true heroes arise to change the nigh implosion of a bloody fate.