Graete

*"Nothing is as beautifully haunting as the Graetes marching in their desolate wood and carrying their dead to complete their ritualistic send off.."*

**- *Fernando Barboza*, *Denizens of a Desolate Vel.***

The **Graete** are a humanoid race from Vel and currently reside in Graete. They are known for being natural and family-orientated. They have proven to be skilled hunters, shamans, rangers, and masons.

## Statistics

* ***Ability Scores**+*2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence; The Graetes are hardy and resilient but are not as well-read as the other races.
* ***Age***Graetes who are not involved in shamanistic practice or rituals rarely live beyond 70 years.
* ***Speed***Your base speed is 30 feet.
* ***Size*** Medium
* ***Dark Vision***Graetescan see 60 feet away in the darkness.
* ***Languages*** You can speak, read, and write Grish and Velli.
* **Crescent Blades:** The Graetes gain a +1 to attacks and damage made with a sickle.
	+ Additionally, Graetes are proficient with the Crescent Scythe.
* **Death Ritual:** Graetes often handle deceased bodies and have a strong understanding of anatomy. They gain a misc +4 to heal.
* **Stonemastery:** Graetes are masters of utilizing stone thus they can easily determine things about unusual stonework or the origin of the stone. You get a +2 bonus to search checks involving stone or unusual stonework as well as a +2 bonus to knowledge of history checks to determine it's origin.
	+ Graetes always get knowledge (history) and craft (stonework) as class skills.
* **Toxic Lungs:** The poisonous fumes and toxins in Graete have caused the Graetes to adapt. They are immune to poison effects and can breathe similar toxins without issue.
* **Vision of the Three Sisters:** Once per day a Graete can ask the sisters how weak their foes are and gain the benefits similar to a deathwatch spell, however, it is a radius as opposed to a cone. It still lasts for ten minutes.

## Graete

Graete was once a beautiful land with varied forests, waterfalls, and crags. After the Vanquish they have leafless trees, areas full of green mists that are toxic and black waters. The Graete adapted to this as did many of the flora and fauna making it into a completely unrecognizable land. Graete is known for having a natural boundary surrounding it of crags.

## Physiology

The Graetes are broad-shouldered and hardy unlike their Vaeri and Aerdori cousins. After Graete was attacked by the Army of Vanquish Graetes have since become very pale or almost blue-toned in skin color. Their hair can range from black to white and sometimes they even have greenish hair that matches the toxic mists of Graete. They often have colorless egg-shell colored eyes as well.

## History

The Graetes have always believed in following a 'natural' course, this is something historians know even before Ardor began keeping history logs of Vel. Often Graete will interfere when they feel like a province or kingdom is threatening the natural course of things or dangering nature itself. The first example of this is when Graete entered the Aeling War simply because the Aerdori unleashed a spell-plague-- something the Graetes found unnatural and wicked.

In -2188 they would agree to the Velerose Agreement.

Graete explored Vel for some time leading them to meet the Faratae. The two went to war and Graete relied heavily on Ardor's assistance. Ultimately the war was short-lived and ended with an agreement to keep the Renwood neutral and protected. Faratae and Graete would not involve themselves with each besides minor trading until having a meeting about the human presence. Graete insisted that the Aer people and Faratae leave them to develop naturally.

Graete was very supportive of Kinshire in -670, which was a matter that divided the citizens. While ultimately Graete would teach the people of Kinshire ways of warfare and inspire them to march into Vaerland; many felt that Graete was betraying it's natural to allow things to unfold naturally.

During Gilosa's war Graete would be attacked by Harfolk which would be the first offensive action in the war. Graete would continue to fight until the end of the war, and ultimately be on the victorious side.

In -82 Graete's wilderness begins to die after the Army of Vanquish attacks. Graete was considered to have fallen this year however those who survived adapted to the poison in their land and would change their way of life. Despite not being a major political power anymore the Graete people are still active today.

## Culture

The Graetes lack a true school system and it is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children. Some towns have a small building to watch over the young during the day and teach them basics such as writing and reading, and most become fluent in Velli as well. However the towns all answer to the Council who has not implemented any rules about education.

Graete's are very family orientated. While they often get a darker reputation as their culture revolves around death, children are always considered a top priority in the family and everyone pitches in to help them grow. Elders will often move in with their children once they start a family to help in any way possible. Elders are also respected and have a day once a week dedicated to them.

Entertainment in Graete can be deemed archaic from other provinces, with many drum circles and chanting as a way to keep the spirits of the village high. Often these get-togethers are also used as wards or rituals to protect the town from outsiders. Graete has completely forgotten about the old ways though as they are still masters of stonework and building. The Graete boxy structure style has survived into the new age as well as their strong techniques for making buildings.

## Religion

Graete had always worshipped the gods of the Saeriser however after the environmental changes they partook in a ritual that supposedly split the Saeriser goddess of death into three. This created a new entity, or entities, to believe in known as the Three Sisters of Mellith. The ritual was to make Millethea, the goddess of death, able to look over more aspects of death which could give her more influence in Graete society. Various death marches, burials, and rituals are held in the sister's names.

## Military

The Graetes do not have an organized military like the other provinces of Vel, however, guerilla warriors can be summoned by various council members at the sign of attack. Graetes use trees, traps, and their knowledge of their decaying land to outmaneuver enemies.

The Mellith Knights and Shamans are truly what makes Graete scary as they are powerful shamans and summoners who lead rituals and often times command a group of armed forces.