Slegorians (Near Humans)

The Slegorians believe that their bloodlines originated by the coupling of two divinely empowered beings from the Old Deck (The Champion and the Marshall). All Slegorians are descendants of this woman, who was called Slegor, First Matron, the Mother of all Champions. Most Slegorians dwell in the floating city of Irrestadt when not under contract for mercenary work.

### Lifespan

Physical maturity around 12, living into their late 70s. Fertile until early 60s.

### Culture

Due to the brutal social structure that focuses completely on warrior pride the population is rarely large. They divide themselves into matriarchal Broods, each named after a fantastical beast or monster. It is a complicated, caste based society made up of four distinct levels.

The lowest caste comprises two distinct classes, the Unbrooded and the Unblooded. The Unbrooded are the least fortunate of the Slegorians for they are doomed to a life lacking in glory. This class is primarily made up of those not fit to be warriors either due to specific breeding or because they are born of pairings not requested by the Matron. In certain circumstances, a Slegorian who proves themselves too weak to complete their training will be barred from achieving warrior status and will instead be forced to face life as an Unbrooded. While they are not considered full members of the Brood, they are not mistreated. They fill in the many non-warrior roles looked down upon by the Slegorians such as crafters, fishermen, and merchants. They are barred from reproducing but in rare circumstances a Breeder will sleep with a skilled craftsman to add an Unblooded to their House.

In contrast, the Unblooded are those Slegorians born in matches approved of by the Matron to produce the strongest generation of warriors. From a young age young Slegorians are trained to sail the seas and to fight the monsters beneath its waves. This training is so rigorous that most do not survive to see their Polemistis, the presentation of their warrior name. Only in exceptional circumstances are the deaths of the young mourned for as the Slegorians only find excellence worthy of attention. Upon completing their training they are tasked with bringing a pound of worthy flesh back to their Brood. This flesh must be taken from either a great beast of the sea or from an enemy of the Slegorians. Once this task has been completed, they are brought before the Matron and given a warrior’s name.  These Slegorians are now considered Blooded.

Blooded and are tasked with bringing glory to both themselves and their Brood. This is true for both men and women as every Slegorian must prove their worth through combat. The birthrate of Slegorian women is significantly lower than men and only a handful of girls are born into each generation. Due to their status as potential Matrons within a Brood, they are given the best training.

The third caste are the Slegorians who have survived long enough to physically be able to breed and have earned enough honor to be allowed to do so by their Matron. When a Slegorian woman receives the gift of Toketos, her first moon flow generally around the age of 26, she becomes either a Breeder within her own Brood with intent to take her Matron’s place or, for younger daughters, they join the Anatorfi with their male counterparts where aging Matrons without daughters of their own can adopt them into their Broods. Similarly, male warriors who achieve the age of 30 and have proven their strength through many exploits are chosen by their Matron to represent their Brood during the Anatrofi and earn the right to father young warriors.

The Anatrofi occurs twice a year upon the rise and fall of the largest moon when the Broods gather to compare their strength, resolve disputes through blood sports, and ensure their lines do not become stagnant. In the same way Breeders are chosen by daughterless Matrons, the chosen males regale themselves in trophies proving both their might and cunning and are inspected and auctioned to become the Brooded, whose job is to sire children with their new Matron and her Breeders and train them up in the ways of the warrior. Some outsiders see this tradition as slavery, but it is a goal for most Brooded to earn the pampered life promised to them if they are found worthy.

Men can rise no higher than being a Brooded but those few Breeders who prove both their ability in battle and in bearing strong children may be raised to the role of Matron, the highest caste, who are responsible for the Broods standing in Slegorian culture and the management of its stock. Marriage is unheard of in this society as all matings are dictated by the Matron between her Breeders and the Brooded. Any offspring born outside the established pairings for the season are forced to be Unbrooded. Often this means a Breeder found a lover in either a Blooded or an Unbrooded but some Brooded and Breeder pairings grow too attached and try to defy their Matron’s desire for them to have children with others. In rare circumstances, a young Unbrooded has performed some outstanding act, proving their worth and earning them the chance to become a Blooded. Brood pride is considered a commendable trait but most warriors will come together and fight for their nation.

Few laws govern the Slegorians, but when a law is broken they are exacting in their retribution. If a Matron is found guilty of treason, breeding with a non-Slegorian, or using treachery instead of her brood to solve conflicts, all who share blood with her in any Brood, no matter how remote, are put to the sword. The Matron’s punishment is even greater. The gift that let her rise to her rank is forcibly taken as she is sterilized and exiled to the Thirio Trench where it is said the vilest of the depths lay in wait. Little history is recorded of the place as none, until recently, have ever returned.

These Slegorians are said to have formed fiendish pacts with terrible monsters of the deep, promising their allegiance in exchange for gruesome gifts and foul mutations of the flesh. Sailing under prominent black sails in a sea filled with marine beasts most foul, they are the terror of the seas.

During Entfall the Deep Callers fell upon the Slegorian Islands in a surprise attack and drove the Broods onto their ships. The surviving Matrons took their broods to the continent and in the mouth of a massive river lashed them together and built upon them a giant pitch covered fortress they named Irrestadt. It is from here they work to reestablish their numbers and plot the recapturing of their homeland.

### Physical Appearance

Indistinguishable from humans except for abnormally large hands (Which makes them excellent swimmers).. They prefer to wear loud colors, such as orange, yellow, and bright blue, especially in combination. Due to the warm climate of their island they wear baggy pants that help keep them cool and tight, normally sleeveless shirts that do not interfere with their movement. Jewelry is normally spoils of war and hunting trophies.

### Faith

With the Old Deck shattered, many Slegorians now honor the memory of Slegor herself. It is unclear if any prayers have been answered yet.

### Slegorians of Irrestadt Stereotypical views

#### Refugees/Neppen

“Fresh talent into the mix. New Warlords. New Warriors. New ways to do battle. Once they settle down we need to learn as much as we can from them.”

#### Truefolk

“These are petty little men and women. But they love conflict. They think they are using us, but it is us who are using them. We use their wars to sharpen our blades and skills and improve the Broods. No one will blame us for these wars. It is too easy to believe it is all their fault.”

#### The Dwarven People of Bridge City

“They have found their fire, after all these years. They have set down the plow of the obsidian blade. A new wet stone for us to sharpen ourselves against.”

#### First Elves

“Some of them are skilled beyond belief. Some are utterly useless. But don’t let your Matron bring one into your brood. Her womb will become…. Inconsistent.”

#### Wracked Elves

“They learn fast. They learn scary fast. They say the greatest sword in the world was a Wracked Elf. No Slegorian ever managed to defeat him. No Slegorian managed to blood him. He sharpened his blade on our bones until he became the Ferryman. Remember him. He was a foe worth having. Saint George of Burns, the Man-God of Myr will never be forgotten as long as a Slegorian walks this world.”

#### Unliving of Myr

“It is hard to provoke them into battle. That is why we march often with the Eternal Empire. Their knights are like little pockets of death incarnate. Laying a Death Knight’s helm at a Brood mother’s feet will bring you pleasure beyond the pain it took to take it.”

#### Lizardfolk

“What the Kobolds lack in size they make up for in religious fervor. Their ability to work together is almost eerie. One will die on your sword just so they one behind can bite your throat. Kill enough, you may get the honor of taking a crack at one of their Kings.”

#### Tarabuthian

“Bring them to your table. Feed them the flesh of your latest conquest. When he turns, fight a foe worth fighting.”

#### Lizardfolk

The Lizardfolk are so closely tied to their God-Kings that their views/origins are inseparable. For information on Lizardfolk read the section Nation section, Draconic Theocracies.