H'yuun

*"As the two red warriors hooked blades clashed, they continued to shed blood of one another. Any other warrior would have bled out by now, but these two continue as if this is the last fight they will partake in...yet I know they will get up and do the same tomorrow."*

**- *Marcario Moorehome*, "Warriors of the Volcano."**

The **H'yuun** are a humanoid race from Waesyn and reside in the volcanic region of Nossia. The H'yuun are typically strong and honor-bound. Being a warrior culture H'yuun excel at all aspects of warfare such as physical prowess, weaponsmithing and tactics.

## Statistics

* ***Ability Scores***+2 Strength, -2 Charisma; H'yuun are immensely strong but are off-putting as they often lack the understanding of basic social cues and take things at face value too often
* ***Age***A H'yuun is considered an adult at 14. H'yuun have the capacity to live until 75 or so but most never become an elder as they prefer to die in battle.
* ***Speed*** Your base speed is 30 feet.
* ***Size*** Medium
* ***Languages*** You can speak, read, and write Nossian and Dahlian.
* **Coward's Punishment:** Once per day after making a successful attack of opportunity you may choose to end the opponent's movement. You gain a +1 to all attacks made against this opponent until the end of the battle.
* **Fearless:**H'yuun are immune to fear effects. Any allies within a 60-foot radius gain a +1 to resist fear effects.
* **Ritual Warfare:** All H'yuun are proficient with the *Nossian Hooked Blade.*
* **Stern:**H'yuun have a strong presence despite not being "charismatic." They gain a +4 to intimidate checks and always have intimidate as a class skill
	+ Additionally, H'yuun may use their strength as opposed to charisma in regards to determining their intimidate score.
* **Volcanic Warrior:**H'yuun exist comfortably in hot conditions and this has caused them to build a resistance to fire and hot attacks. They gain Damage Reduction 5/Fire.

## Nossia

*Main article: Nossia*

Nossia is in eastern Waesyn. Nossia has many active volcanoes throughout the region making it a barren and rocky land with rivers of lava being common at times. The north sees huge volcanoes that act as barriers between Nossia and Lokradahl as well as valleys of ash. The south may have the most fertile areas but h'yuun still find themselves relying more on hunting and raising livestock as a food source due to poor conditions for growing crops.

## Physiology

H'yuun have rough dark-red skin. It looks like their skin is coated with small black "cracks" and while they aren't as smooth as many of the other races' skin-- it is actually just their veins. They are the tallest of the Waesynian races with some members of the species nearing seven feet.

Some H'yuun are born as "pales"-- those with this light complexion are usually killed at birth but some have migrated to live with other light complexion H'yuun to make their own society.

## History

The H'yuun did not begin recording history until they met the dahlians during the second cycle. Originally planning to devour the "weaklings" until they realized they could offer the volcanic people goods that they would never find in Nossia. The two became allies-at-odds for some time with h'yuun only hearing stories about the other races in Waesyn for some time. Eventually the Dahlians told them about the Karthynians to the south-- which prompted the h'yuun to sail south and wage war. The karthynians managed to be an even match for the h'yuun and the two agreed to be trade partners, both being honorable groups of people.

one hundred some years into the third cycle the eladrin of Kes Nalore cleared a passage that originally blocked the h'yuun from integrating into greater Waesyn. This has caused the h'yuun to start attracting attention by the other regions of Waesyn and informed the h'yuun that the dahlians have been giving the h'yuun abysmal deals in regards to trade and has since created a huge rift between the two. H'yuun typically hate the "weak" dahlians on sight and dahlians mock them to their face-- if they believe they are in a safe environment to do so, that is.

## Culture

H'yuun are warriors. Battle is a part of everyday life for a h'yuun. Finding a source of water, hunting, marriage, bartering-- all of these things are viewed in the same vein as warfare. While the dahlians have taught h'yuun things such as how different people barter that doesn't mean they let down their guarded warrior demeanor. H'yuun are taught honor and discipline in school and the most successful students approach schooling as if it was a war with academics. Those who aren't as physically gifted especially take time during their studies to excel.

Since being integrated in Waesyn more, h'yuun have put efforts into trying to get more information of the other races-- primarily their combat prowess. Using the knowledge gained from the dahlians on how to barter they have procured many history books and weaponry of various kingdoms and people and have transitioned their education to be more international. Many schools have started teaching Sotteran as a second language instead of Dahlian and military academies prepare soldiers for what to expect from each race of Waesyn.

H'yuun counties are ruled by the dominant "Frit." A Frit used to refer to a family but is since a group of family-like h'yuun. Each frit has a leader who usually only steps down when defeated by another member of their frit in a duel. Whether the duel is to the death or not depends on the frit and circumstances of the battle. Due to the cultural power of a frit each county is controlled by a frit and smaller towns may be awarded to the frit leaders children, siblings or close friends. Frits still challenge on another for land though this has decreased during the third cycle as the threat of greater horizons loom due to the new western passage.

## Religion

*Main article: Efriteous*

H'yuun understand that the volcanoes dictate life in Nossia. If they are not treated with respect various flora will be burnt and destroyed before they can be harvested. They believe that Efriteous, the horned god of the volcanoes, looks over the h'yuun as a judge of their worth based on their honor, status and courage in battle. The practice of filling scars with a magma substance after battle or even spars is something h'yuun warriors do to please their god believing that his magma protects their well-earned wounds. Many h'yuun are burnt alive is possible and those wounded on the battle always seek to die with a weapon in hand but the most devout and exalted h'yuun are thrown into volcanoes to become part of the lava that flows through the veins of Nossia.

## Military

The h'yuun have mastered their own style of combat and study the warfare of others. While the Nossian Hooked blade is the preferred weapon of the military and every h'yuun at least knows how to handle the weapon, the mastery of many different styles of combat and weapons is important so the h'yuun can always be flexible in regards to squaring off with various opponents. Because of this every single division of a h'yuun army is well equipped and trained. Though h'yuun culture has always been dismissive of archery and arcane magic-- it is understood that these are tools needed to fight against other kingdoms if the time comes.

H'yuun marshals are greatly respected as they not only master the weapons they carry but also the art of tactics. Most marshals work their way up the ranks but often a Paladin of Efriteous will find it better to serve the lord of volcanoes by leading the army instead of sparing with clergy-in-training.