Post by Harkovast on Feb 3, 2015 18:54:07 GMT
The Brorg-Dao are perhaps the most feared and hated of all the races native to Harkovast.
They are known as raiders, pirates and ferocious, monstrous fighters who live only for battle.
As is often the case, this reputation tells only half the story.
The Brorg-Dao live on a collection of Islands to the south west of Vellastrom, ruled by various closely allied Kingdoms. The area is often subject to fierce storms and driving rains that my them impassable to most ships. The Brorg-Dao, however, are master sailors. With a combination of magic and skill, their long boats can break through terrifying waves and winds unharmed.
The Brorg-Dao are a warrior culture, who value strength and courage (what they term "a warriors heart".)
They are physically large and have thick scales covering their bodies, making them extremely durable.
Brorg-Dao are very physical when they interact, often seeming violent to other races.
The scene of a Brorg-Dao husband and wife striking each other in the arm with no warning or provocation, or friends unexpectedly slapping each other on the back of the head can be shock to outsiders, but the Brorg-Dao consider these signs of playful affection. For less durable outsider, Brorg-Dao friendliness can leave one quite bruised.
When Brorg-Dao seriously want to hurt each, their great strength, claws and sharp teeth mean that serious and playful violence are rarely confused.
What Brorg-Dao do not mind a little playful sucker punching, insults are viewed far more seriously. To insult a Brorg-Dao, especially regarding his courage or to imply the tales of his or her exploits are false, is to greatly incur their wrath.
Brorg-Dao consider it vital to apologise when you have wronged someone or insulted them, and to fail to do so is to invite angry retribution.
Other races see Brorg-Dao raiding as no more than pillaging to acquire loot and captives. While these are undoubtedly a motivation for the Brorg-Dao, more important to them is a list of historical slights for which they feel they have not received correct apology from the leaders of other nations.
The raids and attacks the Brorg-Dao perform are (in their view) righteous retaliation on arrogant nations that have wronged them previously in some way.
Of course, most nations would find the idea of their leaders apologising to (in their view) vicious raiders like the Brorg-Dao offensive, which to the Brorg-Dao is a sign that the other nations lack in moral fibre and good character.
Brorg-Dao have strict codes of conduct for their warriors, but these are not always understood by other nations.
What is more, the Brorg-Dao lack a single centralised leadership, with each small kingdom having its own attitudes to what conduct is and isn't acceptable.
Generally speaking, Brorg-Dao capture rather than kill non combatants or surrendering enemies and ransom them back to their nations.
However, attitudes here vary, with some considering it reasonable to sell captives to slavers or kill them if it proves more convenient.
Due to a great deal of captive taking over the years, the Brorg-Dao home lands are now surprisingly cosmopolitan, with descendents of captives who either decided to stay or failed to receive a ransom living amongst the Brorg-Dao majority.
While the Brorg-Dao often express contempt for the weakness and cowardice of "furskins", they are open to the idea of other races proving themselves and have no issue with half castes. Many none Brorg-Dao and halfcastes lead quite successful lives amongst the Brorg-Dao.
The famous Shulway jester Nashath is very well regarded amongst the Brorg-Dao for his witty remarks and clever insults. While the Brorg-Dao would take offense at a slight from a rival warrior, from a deliberate comedian they find the absurdity of a small and seemingly harmless individual openly mocking them very funny.
Brorg-Dao appreciate people who are good at what they do, and though other races mainly experience this in the form of their skilled sailors and ferocious warriors, they extend this to all areas of life.
Great bards who can record sagas of heroic deeds, craftsmen who can forge fine weapons and jewellery, a healer who can bind the warriors wounds and of course a skilled chief who can keep a crew well fed and ready for battle are all greatly honoured amongst Brorg-Dao society.
The Brorg-Dao diet consists primarily of sea food and is often considered unpalatable to outsiders. Slabs of putrified shark meat and roasted blubber can seem unappetising to none Brorg-Dao, as can Brorg-Dao table manners.
Brorg-Dao consider it proper to serve food in large, heaped bowls that the guests then tear into as aggressively as possible. It would be an insult to the guests for the chef to try to tell them what amount to eat, or what order food should be served in. Equally, if the guests didn't tear into the food aggressively, grabbing everything they can and ramming it in their mouths are fast as possible, leaving as little as possible, they would be insulting the chefs cooking.
Brorg-Dao immortalise great deeds and battles in epic sagas, which are remembered and recited throughout the ages.
Brorg-Dao laws are often quite loosely defined and tend to be based on social shame. To be written out of saga and socially ostracised is a terrifying prospect to most Brorg-Dao, as earning glory and prestige is what gives their lives meaning.
Brorg-Dao worship a vast pantheon of warrior gods (with the exception of the entirely unwarlike god of rain, who receives more acknowledgement than worship.)
The recognised gods total 149 beings, though most Brorg-Dao can only name a handful and even Soothsayers are usually not familiar with every deity.
Long ago, the ancient sagas tell of a time when the world was young and, in their arrogance, the Brorg-Dao mocked the Gods, resulting in a terrible battle between the Brorg-Dao and their gods. Eventually, the mighty Warleader of the Brorg-Dao realised his own arrogance had led to the conflict and offered an apology to the Gods.
The Gods accepted this and the two sides made peace. The Brorg-Dao are now careful to avoid offending their Gods and (as the Brorg-Dao are quick to point out), the Gods are careful to avoid offending the Brorg-Dao.
Brorg-Dao society has great equality between genders and makes holds no prejudice against homosexual relations
There are few things the mighty Brorg-Dao will admitted to fearing to face in battle.
Even without a formal alliance with any other races, the Brorg-Dao attacked nameless vessels coming from the West throughout the first nameless invasion.
But there is one being that they fear to cross and speak of in hushed tones.
On an isolated island in their territory, a being they know as the Sea Witch has dwelt for some fifteen years.
Her ultimate motivations are unknown, but the Brorg-Dao always work to placate her wishes, lest she unleash her terrible mastery of the thunder and waves against the Brorg-Dao's islands.
They are known as raiders, pirates and ferocious, monstrous fighters who live only for battle.
As is often the case, this reputation tells only half the story.
The Brorg-Dao live on a collection of Islands to the south west of Vellastrom, ruled by various closely allied Kingdoms. The area is often subject to fierce storms and driving rains that my them impassable to most ships. The Brorg-Dao, however, are master sailors. With a combination of magic and skill, their long boats can break through terrifying waves and winds unharmed.
The Brorg-Dao are a warrior culture, who value strength and courage (what they term "a warriors heart".)
They are physically large and have thick scales covering their bodies, making them extremely durable.
Brorg-Dao are very physical when they interact, often seeming violent to other races.
The scene of a Brorg-Dao husband and wife striking each other in the arm with no warning or provocation, or friends unexpectedly slapping each other on the back of the head can be shock to outsiders, but the Brorg-Dao consider these signs of playful affection. For less durable outsider, Brorg-Dao friendliness can leave one quite bruised.
When Brorg-Dao seriously want to hurt each, their great strength, claws and sharp teeth mean that serious and playful violence are rarely confused.
What Brorg-Dao do not mind a little playful sucker punching, insults are viewed far more seriously. To insult a Brorg-Dao, especially regarding his courage or to imply the tales of his or her exploits are false, is to greatly incur their wrath.
Brorg-Dao consider it vital to apologise when you have wronged someone or insulted them, and to fail to do so is to invite angry retribution.
Other races see Brorg-Dao raiding as no more than pillaging to acquire loot and captives. While these are undoubtedly a motivation for the Brorg-Dao, more important to them is a list of historical slights for which they feel they have not received correct apology from the leaders of other nations.
The raids and attacks the Brorg-Dao perform are (in their view) righteous retaliation on arrogant nations that have wronged them previously in some way.
Of course, most nations would find the idea of their leaders apologising to (in their view) vicious raiders like the Brorg-Dao offensive, which to the Brorg-Dao is a sign that the other nations lack in moral fibre and good character.
Brorg-Dao have strict codes of conduct for their warriors, but these are not always understood by other nations.
What is more, the Brorg-Dao lack a single centralised leadership, with each small kingdom having its own attitudes to what conduct is and isn't acceptable.
Generally speaking, Brorg-Dao capture rather than kill non combatants or surrendering enemies and ransom them back to their nations.
However, attitudes here vary, with some considering it reasonable to sell captives to slavers or kill them if it proves more convenient.
Due to a great deal of captive taking over the years, the Brorg-Dao home lands are now surprisingly cosmopolitan, with descendents of captives who either decided to stay or failed to receive a ransom living amongst the Brorg-Dao majority.
While the Brorg-Dao often express contempt for the weakness and cowardice of "furskins", they are open to the idea of other races proving themselves and have no issue with half castes. Many none Brorg-Dao and halfcastes lead quite successful lives amongst the Brorg-Dao.
The famous Shulway jester Nashath is very well regarded amongst the Brorg-Dao for his witty remarks and clever insults. While the Brorg-Dao would take offense at a slight from a rival warrior, from a deliberate comedian they find the absurdity of a small and seemingly harmless individual openly mocking them very funny.
Brorg-Dao appreciate people who are good at what they do, and though other races mainly experience this in the form of their skilled sailors and ferocious warriors, they extend this to all areas of life.
Great bards who can record sagas of heroic deeds, craftsmen who can forge fine weapons and jewellery, a healer who can bind the warriors wounds and of course a skilled chief who can keep a crew well fed and ready for battle are all greatly honoured amongst Brorg-Dao society.
The Brorg-Dao diet consists primarily of sea food and is often considered unpalatable to outsiders. Slabs of putrified shark meat and roasted blubber can seem unappetising to none Brorg-Dao, as can Brorg-Dao table manners.
Brorg-Dao consider it proper to serve food in large, heaped bowls that the guests then tear into as aggressively as possible. It would be an insult to the guests for the chef to try to tell them what amount to eat, or what order food should be served in. Equally, if the guests didn't tear into the food aggressively, grabbing everything they can and ramming it in their mouths are fast as possible, leaving as little as possible, they would be insulting the chefs cooking.
Brorg-Dao immortalise great deeds and battles in epic sagas, which are remembered and recited throughout the ages.
Brorg-Dao laws are often quite loosely defined and tend to be based on social shame. To be written out of saga and socially ostracised is a terrifying prospect to most Brorg-Dao, as earning glory and prestige is what gives their lives meaning.
Brorg-Dao worship a vast pantheon of warrior gods (with the exception of the entirely unwarlike god of rain, who receives more acknowledgement than worship.)
The recognised gods total 149 beings, though most Brorg-Dao can only name a handful and even Soothsayers are usually not familiar with every deity.
Long ago, the ancient sagas tell of a time when the world was young and, in their arrogance, the Brorg-Dao mocked the Gods, resulting in a terrible battle between the Brorg-Dao and their gods. Eventually, the mighty Warleader of the Brorg-Dao realised his own arrogance had led to the conflict and offered an apology to the Gods.
The Gods accepted this and the two sides made peace. The Brorg-Dao are now careful to avoid offending their Gods and (as the Brorg-Dao are quick to point out), the Gods are careful to avoid offending the Brorg-Dao.
Brorg-Dao society has great equality between genders and makes holds no prejudice against homosexual relations
There are few things the mighty Brorg-Dao will admitted to fearing to face in battle.
Even without a formal alliance with any other races, the Brorg-Dao attacked nameless vessels coming from the West throughout the first nameless invasion.
But there is one being that they fear to cross and speak of in hushed tones.
On an isolated island in their territory, a being they know as the Sea Witch has dwelt for some fifteen years.
Her ultimate motivations are unknown, but the Brorg-Dao always work to placate her wishes, lest she unleash her terrible mastery of the thunder and waves against the Brorg-Dao's islands.