Iksar

## Iksars - Reptilian Tyrants

### **Background**

The Iksar are a tall reptilian race created by Cazic-Thule. Their major sphere of influence has always been on the continent of Kunark, where they have long been one of the primary cultures. The Iksar have a rich but painful heritage. At one time their Sebilisan Empire controlled Kunark with a fierceness and utter dominance comparable to that of the original Rallosian Empire on Antonica. Though they ruled Kunark with a might challenged only by the dragons themselves, the Iksar have also undergone long periods of enslavement and humiliation. This history has caused the race to despise outsiders and depend only on each other for strength.

As a race, the Iksar exemplify perhaps the purest form of evil on Norrath. Rather than wallowing in pettiness and corruption, Iksar embody orderly, direct wickedness. They do not hide intentions or practice subterfuge; they hate everyone openly and equally. The Iksar are a very strong race, well suited for the physical combat styles of the Fighter classes. Keen intellect allows them to be powerful Mages, with a definite emphasis on dark forms of magic. Cunning natures also allow them to be excellent Scouts.

### **Faith**

On Kunark, the Iksar maintained a fierce devotion to Cazic-Thule, basing their culture on his doctrines of Fear, honoring that primal influence in every aspect of their lives. Since being cut off from their home continent, however, the Iksar feel abandoned by their creator and have turned away from religion entirely. The rare exception to this philosophy is the Shadowknight, though he draws his power from the principles of Fear rather than the devotion to any specific god. But the days after the Shattering have seen the rise of a new religion that pays homage not to a god born in the planes, but a god born on Norrath! This god is called Syllokk.

Syllokk is a deity the present Iksar of have come to worship. They believe it to be a coalescence of the spiritual force of every Iksar that has passed on, an amorphous being with hints of a multitude of Iksar faces that appear and disappear constantly. Syllokk is of course a highly intelligent, divine, arrogant and callous deity, quite the epitome of an evil god. Syllokk was born of them and they shall all some day be Syllokk.

### **Effects of the Shattering**

The Iksar remaining on the ruins of Antonica are thoroughly and completely bitter. They see being forced to take refuge in the city of the soft-skinned Humans as the final humiliation their race can bear. While they agree to abide by the will of Lucan, they will look for any opportunity to dominate a lesser race and make the lives of others more miserable than their own. There are a small number of Iksar within the Shattered Lands who know of a secret Iksar outpost located along the coast of the Ocean of Tears. The outpost is named Visk and they know of it because they were en route to the outpost before they ended up in the Shattered Lands.

Visk was created as an advanced staging ground for a massive assault on the southern reaches of Faydwer. Unfortunately as the massive expeditionary unit was attempting to cross the deadly seas during the Age of Cataclysms, they were nearly all lost at sea. But a number of these mariners found themselves marooned upon the Shattered Lands.

### **Pros and Cons**

#### **Pros:**

* With their well rounded stats, Iksar are much like Humans … except much cooler looking and with aqua vision! Iksar is one of the best choices to make if you still aren’t sure what you want to be.
* Slightly above-average Wisdom and Agility; good for Priests and Scouts!
* The Iksar’s unique aquavision allows you to see underwater clearly — a big plus for anyone who wants to explore the ocean!

#### **Cons**

* While their stats are fairly balanced, Iksar do have below-average Stamina and Strength.
* Iksar have no outstanding stats (such as the High Elf’s Wisdom), meaning that they are less specialized in their roles.