Xaarat

### Ethnicities

Shaavani (55%), Skinmen (30%), Others (4.5%), Yihanese (3%), Ming (2.9%) Keshen (2%), Deepwalker (1.5%), Onya (1%), Xaarians (0.1%),

## Introduction

The Rogue-Prefectum of Xaarat is inhabited by the Shaavani and ruled by their Sorcerer-Priests. The have mastered the arts of sorcery and Bornweaving. The majority of their populace consists of Bornclones that serve as soldiers, craftsmen or farmers.

## History

It was during the civil war that followed the Chayalic Plague that the nation of Xaarat would be forged.

Rathror Halfblood, firstborn son of the last Xyrillian Cor, was born nineteen years before Eoam fell. He was a Habescori, born of a Pratonian father and a human mother. Although their tradition dictated that the firstborn child would inherit the Celestial Throne, it was all unthinkable that a bastard would claim it. This greatly angered Rathror whose ambition exceeded that of most of his kin. Since he could not prevail under the classic laws of nobility he turned towards sorcery and bornweaving. He studied the arts of the Gathali and took another Habescori from their bloodline, named Naitha.

When the skies above Xyrillia ignited and Eoam fell, the Titan (...) began to move under the soil. The lands that had yielded plentiful harvest before now brought fourth disease and rot. For the first time Xyrillias Titan began to taint the land with his destructive influence. What became known as the Chayalic Plague killed almost a thrid of Xyrillias population, including most of Rathors brothers and his beloved wife.

The Habescori quickly overcame his grief and ceased this opportunity. He murdered his father, Cor of all Xyrillia, during his sleep and consumed his body. This granted him the blood of a full Pratonian and the power he had always craved. At the next morning he proclaimed his father had succame to the plague aswell. A few days later Rathror took the throne as the next Cor of Xilian. His reign lasted only for a single month though. The Plague had rid Xyrillia from the majority of its nobility and Pratonian masters. The few that survived saw this as an opportunity for power and the fact that Halfblood was despised by his kin contributed to the ensuing chaos.

Rathror was forced to retreat with only a small force of soliders he had bound to his will. His host fled to Yihan and simply killed the remaining nobility. Again, Rathror claimed a throne, this time that of Saoleng. He lacked support and military power to hold his position for long, but he had a single trump. Vishcar, also known as the Phoenixwarrior, joined his cause. Vishcar was a renowned warrior and duellist across all of Xyrillia. He had pratonian blood of his own although it ran thin through his veines. Yet he was physically superior to most opponents and his legandary skill was so great he had not lost a single battle. Rathror ensured his loyalty through claiming the mind of his lover. Should Vishcar betray him, he would also betray her.

With this formidable bodyguard and a constantly growing yihanese militia he set out to conquer all of Saoleng. Although he could hold on to his walled heartlands, the outer parts of Saoleng proved to be quite challenging. He made ruthless of the pandemic and sent infected scouts into enemy camps to poison their supplies and water. The plague ensured victory most of the time and like a miracle he and his nobles escaped infection every time. He quickly assembled a host of sorcerers from all across Xyrillia under his reign. His newly founded empire that now strechted across the majority of Saoleng began to expant northwards. He made treaties with the human rulers of the Kaianai. Through using his powers to restore the crippled son of their Khorrul to fulth health and large sums of money, Rathror made many Keshen join his forces. The rest would join his army when conquering the Osho highlands. While he got to keep the conquered regions, the Otogaoi where handed over the spoils of battle. Later he encouraged them to start an invasion in Caowei, opening the southern wall.

For a few years Rathror controlled almost a thrid of the Xyrillian continent. It was atlast his alliegence with the Keshen that caused his downfall. Kaijin the conquerer decided to betray their treaty and attack his provinces. The Keshen carved a bloody path into the heart of Saoleng and ceased Yihan from his hands. Rathror and his sorcerers retreated to the Osho highlands he had fully ceased. Yet his regions where completly raided and destroyed and the remaining populace was plagueridden and weakened. For thirty years he ruled over his mountainous region, slowly expanding eastwards to the Osho valley that should later become known as Xaarat.

The Keshen had launched several attacks into his land but found their cavalry and bows quite useless in the narrow valleys and the hot, humid climate. It was an (...) army in their service that attacked from the north and rushed to Rathrors capital. They where supported by a small and elite army of Keshen lead by Kaijin himself. On the burning palace the otogian warlord and Vishcar duelled. The legendary warrior managed to kill Kaijin but was mortally wounded himself. Rathror took him and the majority of his forces to the east. In the safety of Xaarian jungles he established a new empire and capital. He used his magic to bring Vishcar back from the dead and soon, with a set of rituals, managed to repeat this process until he had several copies of his bodyguard living at the same time. He and his sorcerers had only very little manpower on their sides but alot of dead bodies and forbidden magic. They forged a new Born in the city of Vaashan and used this newly found technique to clone chosen workers. With these new forms of artifical life became known as Shaavani.

Rathror himself would not live to see his empire rise in the east again. He was infected by the Chayalic Plague atlast. His sorcerers did not know how to heal him and his spirit could not be brought back without risking to infect their entire Born. For that reason they set his body into a gnavic sleep. With the old forms of magic they bound the spirits of Xaarat to his sleeping body. His mind and soul are now connected to the land, creating a (...), a Spirit God lead by Rathrors conciousness.

## Xaarat

The land of Xaarat is encircled by the Osho mountains which completly block it from the rest of Xyrillia. The only way to reach the west are through the nothern coast of the heavily guarded *Nightlight Pass.* The land itself is very warm and humid, almost completly covered in jungle and swamps. It is also known as the *land of tigers* and indeed no other place in Xyrillia hosts that many or large cats. They hunt the large jungle-elks, monkeys or elephants. The jungles are adapted to the extremly hot summers and the freezing winds of winter, painting the large farns, maples, mangroves and palm trees white with frost.

The Shaavani have carved a large path across the heart of Xaarat, surrounding the *Blackblood River*. They did so to create open fields for agriculture. There they harvest rice, vegetables, morels and mysterious herbs. It is more enough to feed their large castes of servants and their voracious masters.

### Cities

Xaarat hosts only very few villages or smaller cities. The lords of Vaashan do not like to have their servants out of their reach. For that reason most of the populace lives in Xaarats four large cities. Each of them has a huge temple at its core, heavily fortified. There the Xaarian sorcerers reside with their chosen servants and concubines. On the peak of every temple lie the Bornchambers where new clones and creations are crafted. The surrounding city has always (...) districts. One for every major caste and a last one for outlanders and mercenaries.

**Vaashan**

Also known as the Black City, Vashan hosts over a million inhabitants. It is the seat of the dreadgod Rathror and his chosen sorcerers. The central temple is among the largest structures ever build in Xyrillia, second only to the Imperial Palace and possibly better defendet. It has many nicknames including *forge of flesh* or *palace of pain*; but none do the maze of corridors and alleys of black jade and onyx, the large halls of golden depravity and forbidden desires and the lightless dungeons of crawling abominations that is the heart of Xaarat justice. In the depts of this impossibly obscure temple lies the god Rathror and his Archspirits, watching their servants from the dark and guarding their sleeping bodies.

The gigantic city surrounding the temple is full of wonders and unkown horrors. Black markets, hidden hubs and cathouses grow like pus in an infected wound. The black streets are patrolled by a legion of mindless Guardians, malign spirits enslaved in the Deathjungles and armored Skinmen.

**Rum Shai**

The city of sorcery has the infamous nickname *Fleshmarket*. It is here that the sorcerer-priests are most cruel and commence the most attrocious of experiments. The worship of the Valakai is openly practiced in Rum Shai and the majority of Xaarians are Fleshcrafters to perfect their twisted art of Bornweaving. In their halls of jasper and hematite they mend man and beast into unholy creations, which heed their will with uncounted limbs, driven by a cannibalistic hunger. The majority of Rum Shais population consists of slaves while Skinmen or ghulish creations enact the will of their masters.

**Shadowkeep**

The infamous pale tower, made entirely from silver and white jade, casts a shadow on the large city no matter where the suns stand. While it appears rather small on the surface; nothing but a large temple surrounded by a few districts, the majority of the population lives in the caves underneath. The former Geungaoi colony now hosts Xaarats great mines and countless warlocks and initiates studying the secrets of these arcane insects. They are the masters of the Path of Mind and rumors say they have unlocked the secret of the Ley-Stone and how to produce it.

**Khabad**

On the shores of the nothern Jade sea lies Khabad, the grand port of Xaarat. Seawards the city is heavily fortified with gigantic walls. The only way for ships to reach the city is through a large canal with eight iron gates. This canal functions as a Zwinger during attacks, raining down death from all sides on potential invaders while they are imobalised. The city itself is known for its huge outlander district which is almost larger then the rest of the city. Here live countless merchants, thugs and smugglers. Khabad is the hub of trade for Xaarat and the place where they sell their goods to the rest of Xyrillia. Although no one officially trades with Xaarat their magical goods are highly demanded and many smugglers make good money with sneaking them into the ports of the rest of Xyrillia. Yet for every good they carry they will atleast transport ten agents and spies of Xaarat to the outside world, mostly without knowing so.

### The Deathjungle

Xaarat is inhabited by especially strong spirits. It lies close to the boarders of Xyrillia and the proximity to the worldwalls increases the flow of magical energies and weakens the laws of reality. The Deathjungle is the place where reality and the chaotic eather meet. Here rule the spirits, walking woods and whispering waters. No man can survive in its depts nor has anyone returned that ventured too deep into this forest. It is said that it even grows beyond the Worldwalls, streching far into the void. In this jungle, the animals grow gigantic and monstrous and the trees higher then the towers of Sheiley. The incorporeal entities that rule this jungle where so strong not even Rathror and his sorcerers managed to bend all of them to their will. Some ambitious sorcerers make journeys into this accursed realm. Some come back with new powers, others with immatrial servants bound to their will, most do not come back at all.

## Shaavani

The Shaavani are a unique race of Bornclones. All of them used to be former mortals that where captured by the Xaarian or their servants. Once the bornessence of a target is preserved, it can be used to create unlimited copies. These age far faster then normal humans and reach their former age in 1 to 10 years before aging regularly. Although almost every Xaarian has a few individuals, be they former enemies or beloved servants, they copied and bound into servitude. It is a common practice to bring defeated enemies back to life just to assign them humiliating tasks or use them as meatshields during the next attack. Over time a set of individuals has been captured that was so skilled at their arts that they would be reawoken and copied again and again before forming a caste.

### Warrior castes

**Lancers-** Formerly Vishcar, bodyguard of Rathror himself, this legendary warrior became the most common of Shaavani. As the military backbone of Xaarat, the most skilled fighter of the Second Celestial Empire was turned to the prime foot soldier of the Xaarian. Over countless generations of Bornadaption and magical commands Vishcars will has been utterly broken. Each of them is perfect vessel for their masters will, having lost every form of passion or will to resist. The only thing abe to arouse their feelings is their love and former lover *Aneira*, an Asguri slave. She too is recreated by the Xaarian once in a while to serve as motiviation for their armies.

**Riders-** The Wolfqueen of Kaianai is mentioned in the same breath as *Jejin the Great* or *Kaijin the conquerer* among the Otogaoi. *Kinai* is seen as one of the greatest warriors the Keshen ever brought fourth. In life she unified and conquered half of Xyrillia. She was a master of the two-handed scimitar and never lost a duell, neither in armed nor unarmed combat. Like all Keshen Kinai was raised on horseback and mastered the arts of riding and fighting on a mount. She was infected by the Mooncraze shortly before turning her gaze upon Xaarat. Although she was about to recover from this, the Xaarians send an assassin to end her and claim her lifeforce. Her clones now enforce their ranks and serve as local commanders. Riders are the only cavalry in the Xaarian armies.

**Guardians-** The Vulu Kai are widely regarded the best bodyguards money can buy. Each of them is fiercly loyal to their chosen master, dies on their command and fights with the strength of 50 men. *Adisor* exceeded these already high expectations by any means. The three meters tall Onya was by many considered greatest of his kind before he came into the service of empress *Jilaia*. In his life he slew almost 100 Xaaratian soldiers and one of their sorcerers before he succambe to his mortal wounds. He gave his life to protect his empress from the forces of Xaarat only to be raised a few years later as their servant and protector. Adisors will could never be broken, no matter what form of mental or physical torture the Xaarian warlocks attempted. Yet his skills are so great none of them was willing to forgo him back into the waters of the Born. For that reason each of them wears an armor made from Ley-Stone that puts them under the full controll of their assigned master.

**Archers-** *Leilia* was a (...) of low birth. She quickly rose in the ranks of their military during the time of Xaarian occupation. Like Rathror himself she was given the title Halfblood as her father was of Jatger blood while her mother was a Xyrillian. This granted her irregular size and strength and made her a master of the longbow. She was so skilled in archery that she could pin objects thrown in the air against walls and hit the eye of a flying falcon from more then a hundread meter range. Her outstanding firing rate and accuracy made her famous among her kind. She was not only a skileld archer, Leilia also proved herself loyal to her masters even without the help of Ley-Stone or magical commands. All she wished for was immortality and the sorcerers granted it to her through making her one of the four warrior castes.

### Servant castes

**Menials-** The lowest caste is reserved for the man Xaarians despise the most: former Ethyrion *Jan Jai,* also known as *Jan Jai the Wise*. He had forseen their invasion in the year 12.560 AP and send three brigades (including the first) down to the Nightlight Pass. He did not only deliver them a crushing defeat but also managed to breach their defenses and invade Xaarat itself for the first and only time. His armies besieged Vaashan and almost destroyed Rathrors resting body, the anchor of their entire empire. Although they drove his men out in a set of pyrrhic victories, they never forgot what this leader from a far away land did to them. Furthermore his self infatuation sickened them as he melt their captured weapons and armor into statues of himself he erected all across the surrounding country side. After his death they send scouts to his tomb near Xilian and stole his body. Jan Jai was recreated and copied into a few hundred individuals. Due to the old age and recreation of their source are physically weak and have lost their magical powers. Their only duty is to perform the lowest and most humiliating of duties like cleaning chamber pots or serving as litter carriers; much to the amusement of their new masters.

**Valets-** *Kuzo*, son of empress Jilaia, had to go into hiding after his mother lost the Celestial Throne. He masked himself as a simple servant in the court of Yihan and mastered his new craft within a few years. Kuzo was soon allocated to Xaarian ambassadors in the royal halls. They where quite pleased by his cleanliness, discipline and politeness. One of them discovered his heritage and decided to take him to Xaarat. He was killed and reborn countless times in Khabad and soon spread across all of Xaarat. If only out of spite for his heritage or because of appreceation for his skills is unkown. Nowdays Valets serve in every city as cleaners, servants and street sweepers.

**Workers-** Liu Fei was a simple hard working soldier in the Yihanese army during the reign of Rathror himself. He had little experience in fighting and was a craftsman in the army. Before he joined the army he was but a simple peasent. Yet he managed to survive the entire trip from Saoleng to Xaarat. He was among the first to be cloned when the Rathrors sorcerers ran out of men and he was soon found useful due to his skills in crafting, building and farming. In modern times most farmers and simple craftsmen belong are copies of this ancient man.

**Skinmen-** Skinmen, also known as *flawed ones* or *failures* are the most common type of servant and present all across Xaarat. Depending on the caste, every fifth to every second attempt of cloning results in a failure. The outcome is an abomination with a mask like face that misses a nose and all too often eyes. Skinmen gained their name from the pale, leathry skin that covers their flesh. Skinmen grow no hair and look closer to puppets or figures strung with human skin then real people. These failed experiments are still very useful to the Xaarian. They are immedeatly stripped from their will and are the ultimate servants. They can not speak or learn anything. They are just vessels that move when they are given orders. Even servants can ask them to perform orders. Some can be dedicated to a task or trained to only obey a single voice. Skinmen function as farmers, craftsmen, servants or even soldiers. Skinmen are always worse then human counterparts as their movements are rather slow and clumsy. Yet they keep the economy of Xaarat functioning and are a workforce with no other demands then food and a few hours of sleep once a week.

**Consorts-** Pratonians and the Xyrillian nobility both attach great importance to the physical appereance of their servants. Both see it as an insult to be served by an physically displeasing servant and both define their esteem over the size and beauty of their harem. Xu Lian served as a concubine of the emperor and quickly rose to become his favorite. Her beauty and skills where of renown across all of Xyrillia. Most considered her the most charming women of the entire Celestial Empire. (...), Arch-priest of Khabad, envied such a lovely companion and wanted her for himself. He send out a small force to capture her during the emperors visit in Osho. She did not survive her abduction but her remains where sufficient to recreate her. It was one of (...) rivals who cloned her however, to claim this price for herself and spite him. Xu Lian quickly was reincarnated countless times all across Xaarat. Now she is the favoured concubine, goblet and waiter of more or less every Xaarian across the four cities.

Smiths, weavers, architects and carpenters could never form a caste in Xaarat. Each of these professions is carried out by up to 20 legendary individuals who reached mastery in their craft during the times of Xyrillias propserity.

### Administrative castes

**Commanders-** Perhabs one of the greatest enemies of Xaarat was the infamous General Yinoa. She was a student of the ancient arts of war and the Asrai Eriador as was she a battlehardened general. It was during the thrid outbreak of Mooncraze in Saoleng that she roamed the country with only 1000 men under her command, supressing each of the numerically far superior rebellions. Later she was send to advise the Master of the Third Brigade in his fight against a Xaarian invasion. After his death by an assassin she took over the command and lead the dwindeling numbers with a firm grip. Under her administration the battalions where brought back to their initial strength and delivered a set of crushing defeats against the Shaavani hordes. Even when outnumbered 1 to 100 she managed to claim victory due to ruthless subterfuge and a military genius. Yinoa was finally attacked and kidnapped by a group of agents. Although she was quickly executed, her remains where send to Vaashan to make use of this capable commander. Neither torture nor tempation could push her to serve, nor was she of any use with a broken will. In the end it was (...) who convinced her to join their cause. Through the gift of their sorcery, her genius could live on forever and recieve far more appreciation then under the Yihanese. In the end she was swayed, yet the Xaarians need to treat her reincarnations with care and luxury. She is the only Shaavani with authority over her brethren.

**Stewards-** *Gaaien Jiminata* was an outstandingly capable administrator in Xilian, serving under the Ethyrions direct supervision. He managed to save the imperial court from bankruptcy three times before loosing his post due to a political intriuge. He was send to the garrison guarding the Nightlight Pass to serve as a mere foot soldier. He used the first opportunity to leave the army, surrendering himself to Xaarian scouts. Although he was almost killed he managed to convince them of his worth. Since that day he and his reincarnations manage Xaarats finances and bureaucracy.

## Xaarians

The sorcers of Xaarat are known as Xaarians. Long ago they have surrendered their humanity for immortality and occult powers. Each of them has used the Born to extend their lifespan to no end. They are widely considered the best casters in all of Xyrillia if not across any dimension. Next to the Path of the Mind and the Path of the Spirits, which are already very common in Xyrillia, they have invented a new lore of magic known as Path of the Flesh. It represents the mastery of Bornweaving, not only making them able to recreate chosen individuals without end and ressurecting long dead, it also enables them to gain controll over the flesh of other through sacrificng their own.

The Path of Flesh requires their studends to offer their own blood, flesh and limbs to unleash its power which is truly without equal. To compensate for these losses, their body are constantly growing in size and scope. Xaarians are not muscular like other Godkings. The curse that is their existence forces them to grow flesh without end, an unnatural growth that can only be compelled by the sacrifical magic of the Path of Flesh. Many of them are so overgrown that they cant stand upright or move on their own.

Almost every Xaarian is carried on a palanquin when leaving their residence. They are born with rather dark skin that quickly turns pale after years locked away from the sunlight. They display many pratonian features and their skin often takes a stitch of grey.

### Arch Spirits

Sorcerer Tyrants may under go a painful and increadibly dangerous process. Each of their limbs will be severed exept the head. While they bleed out, surrounding warlocks enact a ritual born from the combination of the Path of Flesh with the Path of Spirits. The mortal remains are set into a comatose state while their mind and souls are elevated to join the god Rathror. They are given a new incorporeal form and rule with their god as undying lords. The only way to kill them now is to find their body and destroy it. Although Arch spirits wield terrible sorcerous might they are mostly unable to cast spells from the Path of the Flesh as they have none to offer.

### Vishar

The bastards of Xaarians, offsprings of their human concubines or lovers, are incapable of magic. Yet they wield great power and are naturally obedient. They skin is pale but turns to a dark grey when exposed to the sunlight. The Vishar undergo a painful transformation to turn them into what the Xaarians believe to be the perfection of the human form. They grow large and their nails are replaced by claws and develop a second pair of arms. Vishar are strong enough to bend metal or climb smooth walls and yet their mind is governed by a terrible intellect. They seek the appreceation of their Xaarian fathers and mothers more then anything else in this world while casting of everything that makes them human. It is not uncommon for them to kill their human parent to complete their transformation.

## Armies

### Units

#### Infantry

**Abomination horde-** During every battle, the sorcerers let their Skinmen, failed experiments, form the front line. They are set into a feeding freenzy close to that of Ghuls before the battle starts. In mindless hunger they storm towards the enemy. No command or spell is able to redirect or controll them in this stage. They are not able to hold any weapons during this reckless hunger. Their purpose is only to terrify and weaken the enemy before the real assault begins.

**Skinmen cohort-** To enforce their ranks Xaarians often deploy armored Skinmen armed with long spears. They are inferior to any men in combat but they feel neither fear nor pain and their distortet appereance is often enough to terrify even the most brave soldier.

**Lancers**

**Guardians**

**Archers**

#### Cavalry

**Riders-** Riding on black Quilians, Riders are masters of mounted warfare. The legendary Wolfqueen, armed with blade and bow, rides again in a thousandfold thunder of her former self.

**Amirai-** The sorcerers of Rum Shai are masters of bending and reforming flesh according to their needs. One of their most dreadful creations is the Amirai. They have the torso of a man and the head and body of a tiger. They grow to enourmous sizes, sometimes larger then small elephants. The have no fur but leathry skin stretched across their muscular bodies. They often wield glaives or ballista sized warbows when riding into battle. Their force is strong enough to slice through metal and fire projectiles with more impact then a small cannon.

#### Engines of War

**Witcheye tower-** Perhabs the most dreaded tool in the Xaarians arsenal is the witcheye tower. This monstrous construction of onyx and steel is up to twenty meters high. Emporered by the vile spirits of Xaarat, it crawls forward on twelve spider like legs. Its seven leves are filled with countless entities controlled by the sorcerer on top. This one does not only controll the spirits to either move the tower or thresh out and attack nearby foes, he has also mastered one of the three commands of destruction known to the Xaarians.

**Altar of sacrifice-** This huge construct hosts a central palanquin, carrying a sorcerer-priest. Below him lies a tank filled with spikes or large blades. It is moved by spirits and hosts several skinmen, Menials or prisoners. The Altar can be used to cast spells from the Path of Flesh with far larger range. Due to the living sacrifices surrounding the tank, it is possible to kill or maim them instead of the sorcerer. During battle, more and more vessels will be thrown into the tank until it is filled with flesh and blood. Whenever the sorcerer ontop casts one of his spells, the tank begins to boil and produce large clouds of red smoke carrying the stink of flesh across the battlefield.

**Tripple Arcuballista-** Lacking the gunpowder or steam arsenal of the west, the Xaarian have put their efforts into more traditional weapons. The tripple Arcuballista is a medium sized siege weapon that fires bolds at a rapid paste across large distances.

**Dreadfire catapult-** This enhanced catapult is build mostly from metal and based on ancient pratonian constructions. Although Xaarians lack the knowledge to produce Titanfire, they still have acess to a gigantic arsenal of stored amphorae filled with the deadly substance. They use it only in the most desperate battles to rain death on the enemy. Its flames do not only burn any living thing, anyone who looks to deep into them might loose their sanity.

#### Command

**Sorcerers-** Commanding Xaarians, be they sorcerer-tyrants, -prophets, -priests or simple warlocks, will ride into battle on a palanquin. It is either carried by skinmen or servants. More powerful sorcerers build palanquins from metal and stone and animate it with spirits to move or float across the ground. Other might build palanquines which are drawn by four giant tigers which they controll through Ley-Stones. Some may even be carried on a *Witcheye Tower* or *Altar of sacrifice*. Each of them is surrounded by atleast two *Guardians* and several skinmen in heavy armor.

**Vishar**

## Notable characters

* Xar Naartal, Visira of Vaashan
* Thorash the Hallowed, Lord of Shadowkeep
* Lord Vor, Sorcerer Tyrant of Rum Shai