Post by Harkovast on Feb 1, 2018 18:13:13 GMT
The Gooraf live in the interior of Rhoadira and resemble Pangolins. Their magical elements are light and stone.
Gooraf society is almost entirely underground, in a series of ancient caverns and tunnels, carved from the rock in ages past and kept warm by thermal vents from below. The Gooraf rarely go to the surface, and when they do it is almost exclusively at night.
Bizarrely, the Gooraf view the sun as an evil, looming threat they call Nekiel, looking down on them menacingly. Their legends tell that in ages past Nekiel became jealous of other celestial bodies, consumed them, reducing them to dimly twinkling stars. It’s fire and fury was such that it threatened to destroy the Gooraf who fled underground, barely escaping disaster.
The Gooraf see the world as a place filled with threats and danger, from the burning hate of Nekiel, to unspeakable monsters in the jungle and all manner of other curses and sinister forces.
So far the Gooraf have survived this hostile world, but they are keenly aware of how easily they could be destroyed. The fact the Gooraf have endured this long shows that their ways are the correct ones, and any deviation from their traditions risks bringing about total ruination. While many cultures might reward risk takers and explorers, the Gooraf view this as dangerous and unnecessary and potentially imperils them all.
The world below ground is safe, controlled and organised. Venturing to the surface is a terrible danger, to be avoided if at all possible. The need for resources makes such journeys above essential, but they are never undertaken lightly.
The Gooraf have little knowledge of the rest of Rhoadira, and aren’t really aware that is surrounded by water and most have never even considered the idea that there might be other races in the world.
The Gooraf are technologically quite primitive, lacking metal crafts, but they compensate for this with their powerful magic.
Gooraf dig up special diamonds which they imbue with their light and stone magic, placing a magical ‘charge’ inside them that can then be used later when required. Light magical is high adaptable, allowing Gooraf to stow powers of various elements. Only Dark and Air magic are unknown to them.
Pyromancy can be stored to create fires later, Ecomancy to drive back encroaching tree roots, Geomancy to shape tunnels etc.
Most of these charms cause relatively small, weak effects, and are easily used by all Gooraf.
The Gooraf’s dim domain is illuminated by glowing crystals held in hanging lanterns that form a central part of their culture and is closely tied to their division of gender roles.
Men’s primary roles are digging for gems, farming underground fungus, foraging the surface at night and acting as warriors.
Women’s roles including raising children, shaping and polishing gems and building the lanterns to contain them.
Though Gooraf technology is limited, they take their crafts very seriously and their gem cutting skills are exceptional. The lanterns that house the gems are each an individual work of art, beautifully crafted from stone and wood, often depicted images of Gooraf mythology.
Most Gooraf are expected to marry someone of the opposite gender, produce off spring and adhere to societies expectations. Disruption to the social order is actively frightening to the Gooraf, and is seen as potentially bringing dangerous.
The Gooraf’s have numerous large number ground cities, which are connected through tunnels which are used for trade but also for warfare. The Gooraf fear of upsetting the social order is seen a threat, so minor variations in culture and attitude between cities and lead to sudden outbreaks of violence.
Gooraf men will arm themselves with wooden clubs, tipped with crystals, often imbued with magic, and strap scaled armour to the fronts of their bodies (Their backs being naturally armoured). The scale armour is made from the scales of slain Goorafs, fitted together onto a leather backing. Usually these are taken from the bravest and mightiest Gooraf fighters. The Gooraf do not consider this morbid but instead as it is seen as an act of passing on strength to the next generation.
The phrase “Ready to wear his fathers scales” is used by the Gooraf to describe a man in middle age.
Fully equipped, the Gooraf warriors will fight behind walls of animal hide shields and batter each other with their maces.
These short fierce battles go on until one side is pushed back and relents.
Gooraf warriors rarely press their tactical advantage too much, and allow their enemies to flee. To escalate a battle further would risk provoking the cities rulers…
The Gooraf have a ruling caste, but it is not hereditary. Members of it can be selected from anyone in society. Some Gooraf are born strongly imbued with magic, to the point that they sometimes glow faintly with Spectromancy.
These children are handed over to the Overseers, an all female priest caste. If the child is female, it is destined to join the Overseers. If they are male they will join the ruling caste of Sorcerer Kings and Princes.
The Sorcerer Kings are one of the few parts of Gooraf society expected to experiment and discover new things, though this relates entirely to their Gem magic.
The Kings are expected to master Gooraf magic, their magical power being the symbol of their office. They are the protectors of the society, with their remarkable abilities being the ultimate safe guard of the Gooraf.
The magic they concentrate in their gems is incredibly powerful, to the extent that most Gooraf could not safely use the gems they create. They can unleash massive fireballs, devastating lightning bolts, or all manner of other awesome magical effects.
Each year, each King is expected to go before the people and make a display of his magical abilities, along with any Prince hoping to improve his status. This is to reassure the people and convince the Overseers. Though they rarely do so, the Overseers have the power to depose a monarch if they feel he can no longer carry out his duties properly, or if another Prince would be more suitable. A King who refuses to relinquish power risks being exhiled.
During these magical displays Princes will hope to out do the ruling monarch, and take his position of leadership, though this is very difficult to do and would require the Prince to put in an exceptional performance and the King a substandard one. It is quite possible for leadership to pass back and forth between leaders in this manner repeatedly, though many of the most powerful kings rule for many years, even extending their own lives via crystals imbued with life magic.
While the King’s and Prince set policy for society and act as its ultimate protectors, the Overseers act as judges that adjudicate disputes and ensure that societies rules are adhered too by everyone. The King is obeyed without question, but the Overseers create a limit on his powers, making the Gooraf government surprisingly sophisticated with it’s checks on royal power.
The Overseers role is more advisory, acting as legal experts and teachers, they are forbidden to give directives or order society themselves. They do not focus on honing their magic powers any more than average members of society.
The Sorcerer Kings are not allowed to take wives, and homosexual relations between them are expected. It is believed that a ruler should only care for his duties, so the only people he can have a close bond with must share those responsibilities, so the ruler will never be side lined from his purpose, such as a wife or children. A King who was found to have a secret wife or children would be a great scandal indeed!
Overseers do not have such harsh restrictions on what relationships they are allowed, even other women. They can have children if they wish, but do not have to. Though they carry a heavy responsibility they have some of the most social freedom of any Gooraf, even compared to the rulers.
The Kings are served by elite body guards, who though not born with the magical aura, but train intensively in the use of magical crystals for combat, often create and esoteric fighting techniques. They are the only professional warriors amongst the Gooraf, and are fully dedicated to their calling. These body guards are totally devoted to defending their lords, but should the Overseers declare a King unfit they will turn on him immediately if he will not give up his office when the Overseers demand it.
The Gooraf Sorcerer Kings have become ever more powerful over time, recording great amounts of knowledge about magical crystals and their use. They have pushed the boundaries of what is possible to the point that what they do is an entirely different order of magic to that of most races.
Their magic has become so extreme it has begun to manifest physically in the bodies of some of the most powerful rulers.
King Manati the Glorious is known to have a particularly strong glow, with remains around him at all times, becoming almost blinding when he is enraged.
King Kahuronga, has become known as the Gem-Backed, because the scales on his back have transformed into diamond, giving him a dazzling appearance and the ability to store magical energy upon his own body. His is known to be very vain about his beautiful appearance, though his citizens consider this entirely justified.
King Hikahua the Uncompromising, a harsh and feared ruler, has so infused his body with magic that growths of jagged crystal grow from the side of his face and body, turning his left army into a jagged claw and causing him to walk with a limp on a misshapen, crystal enclosed leg. None are so foolish as to take these disfigurements as a sign of weakness, for his powers are so great and his wrath terrible that even other Sorcerer Kings think carefully before crossing him.
The Gooraf citizens consider this strange traits to be a mark of power. A Kings body becoming a reflection of his power means he must truly be destined to lead.
They are concealed underground, separate from the world, and so have gone unnoticed by Eldex. The Wizards would not take kindly to people pushing their magic in such extreme directions, but the extent of the Gooraf Kings power remains unknown outside of their underground realm.
On rare occasions, when matters have escalated beyond what normal warriors can settle, Sorcerer Kings will go out to fight their rivals personally, bringing with them their full arsenal of enchanted gems. Such battles are rare, but the devastating powers unleashed are such that even people on the surface can feel the tremors through the ground.
Gooraf do not have gods, though their rulers are often venerated in a way that is close to worship. Gooraf traditions are important to keep their people safe and are carried out with great zeal.
The Gooraf have many superstitions and beliefs, with legends attached to their surroundings, explaining physical things on the surface. A mountain range might be a sleeping giant, a dense section of jungle sprouted up from a flying demons blood dripping onto the earth etc All these stories carry an air of menace and danger. All warnings of possible dangers.
Gooraf see themselves as under threat in a dangerous world, but are not a selfish people. They are concerned for each other as much if not more than themselves. Keeping to societies strict rules keeps everyone safe, and one who refuses to do so is not just being foolhardy but selfish, putting others in danger.
Gooraf are content in their safe, ordered world, where each day that is the same as the last is another day when disaster was avoided.
The main Gooraf punishment for serious crimes is exhile, as to be cast out into the dangerous surface world is a horrifying fate for any Gooraf, as is being apart from the controls of their safe communities.
A few of these exiles have come into contact with settlers on the Rhoadira cost, acting as guides in exchange for food or supplies. Usually the exiles end up avoiding outsiders, as their disregard for danger is horrifying to a Gooraf. Their warnings of the great evils that lurk in the jungle go unheeded by these strange, foreign savages, who seem happy to invite constant disaster.
Foreigners also find the guides are often more trouble then they are worth. Their endless weird demands and strange concerns are baffling to none-Gooraf. The settlers view Gooraf as odd stragglers, as that is all they have encountered, and have no idea of the larger culture that remains hidden under the jungle.
These occasional encounters are the main contact between outsiders and the Gooraf, with the main population remaining oblivious to the new arrivals.
When Gooraf foraging parties have seen outsiders at a distance while foraging, they have mostly just dismissed them as some kind of jungle monster and avoided investigating further (as is their way.)
However, as settlers become ever more aware of the vast mineral wealth of Rhoadira, they push further into the Outback. Of particular interest are the many precious diamonds and gems, which could make a prospector extremely rich.
How the Gooraf will react to an entire foreign nation moving close to their settlements and taking the gems that are so vital to their culture, remains to be seen, but it will no doubt bring great disorder to the carefully controlled world the Gooraf have built for themselves.
It is curious that a culture would go such strange lengths and endures such difficulties is there was not some original reason, obscured now through time and legend. But surely Rhoadira could not be as dangerous as the Gooraf think...could it?
Gooraf society is almost entirely underground, in a series of ancient caverns and tunnels, carved from the rock in ages past and kept warm by thermal vents from below. The Gooraf rarely go to the surface, and when they do it is almost exclusively at night.
Bizarrely, the Gooraf view the sun as an evil, looming threat they call Nekiel, looking down on them menacingly. Their legends tell that in ages past Nekiel became jealous of other celestial bodies, consumed them, reducing them to dimly twinkling stars. It’s fire and fury was such that it threatened to destroy the Gooraf who fled underground, barely escaping disaster.
The Gooraf see the world as a place filled with threats and danger, from the burning hate of Nekiel, to unspeakable monsters in the jungle and all manner of other curses and sinister forces.
So far the Gooraf have survived this hostile world, but they are keenly aware of how easily they could be destroyed. The fact the Gooraf have endured this long shows that their ways are the correct ones, and any deviation from their traditions risks bringing about total ruination. While many cultures might reward risk takers and explorers, the Gooraf view this as dangerous and unnecessary and potentially imperils them all.
The world below ground is safe, controlled and organised. Venturing to the surface is a terrible danger, to be avoided if at all possible. The need for resources makes such journeys above essential, but they are never undertaken lightly.
The Gooraf have little knowledge of the rest of Rhoadira, and aren’t really aware that is surrounded by water and most have never even considered the idea that there might be other races in the world.
The Gooraf are technologically quite primitive, lacking metal crafts, but they compensate for this with their powerful magic.
Gooraf dig up special diamonds which they imbue with their light and stone magic, placing a magical ‘charge’ inside them that can then be used later when required. Light magical is high adaptable, allowing Gooraf to stow powers of various elements. Only Dark and Air magic are unknown to them.
Pyromancy can be stored to create fires later, Ecomancy to drive back encroaching tree roots, Geomancy to shape tunnels etc.
Most of these charms cause relatively small, weak effects, and are easily used by all Gooraf.
The Gooraf’s dim domain is illuminated by glowing crystals held in hanging lanterns that form a central part of their culture and is closely tied to their division of gender roles.
Men’s primary roles are digging for gems, farming underground fungus, foraging the surface at night and acting as warriors.
Women’s roles including raising children, shaping and polishing gems and building the lanterns to contain them.
Though Gooraf technology is limited, they take their crafts very seriously and their gem cutting skills are exceptional. The lanterns that house the gems are each an individual work of art, beautifully crafted from stone and wood, often depicted images of Gooraf mythology.
Most Gooraf are expected to marry someone of the opposite gender, produce off spring and adhere to societies expectations. Disruption to the social order is actively frightening to the Gooraf, and is seen as potentially bringing dangerous.
The Gooraf’s have numerous large number ground cities, which are connected through tunnels which are used for trade but also for warfare. The Gooraf fear of upsetting the social order is seen a threat, so minor variations in culture and attitude between cities and lead to sudden outbreaks of violence.
Gooraf men will arm themselves with wooden clubs, tipped with crystals, often imbued with magic, and strap scaled armour to the fronts of their bodies (Their backs being naturally armoured). The scale armour is made from the scales of slain Goorafs, fitted together onto a leather backing. Usually these are taken from the bravest and mightiest Gooraf fighters. The Gooraf do not consider this morbid but instead as it is seen as an act of passing on strength to the next generation.
The phrase “Ready to wear his fathers scales” is used by the Gooraf to describe a man in middle age.
Fully equipped, the Gooraf warriors will fight behind walls of animal hide shields and batter each other with their maces.
These short fierce battles go on until one side is pushed back and relents.
Gooraf warriors rarely press their tactical advantage too much, and allow their enemies to flee. To escalate a battle further would risk provoking the cities rulers…
The Gooraf have a ruling caste, but it is not hereditary. Members of it can be selected from anyone in society. Some Gooraf are born strongly imbued with magic, to the point that they sometimes glow faintly with Spectromancy.
These children are handed over to the Overseers, an all female priest caste. If the child is female, it is destined to join the Overseers. If they are male they will join the ruling caste of Sorcerer Kings and Princes.
The Sorcerer Kings are one of the few parts of Gooraf society expected to experiment and discover new things, though this relates entirely to their Gem magic.
The Kings are expected to master Gooraf magic, their magical power being the symbol of their office. They are the protectors of the society, with their remarkable abilities being the ultimate safe guard of the Gooraf.
The magic they concentrate in their gems is incredibly powerful, to the extent that most Gooraf could not safely use the gems they create. They can unleash massive fireballs, devastating lightning bolts, or all manner of other awesome magical effects.
Each year, each King is expected to go before the people and make a display of his magical abilities, along with any Prince hoping to improve his status. This is to reassure the people and convince the Overseers. Though they rarely do so, the Overseers have the power to depose a monarch if they feel he can no longer carry out his duties properly, or if another Prince would be more suitable. A King who refuses to relinquish power risks being exhiled.
During these magical displays Princes will hope to out do the ruling monarch, and take his position of leadership, though this is very difficult to do and would require the Prince to put in an exceptional performance and the King a substandard one. It is quite possible for leadership to pass back and forth between leaders in this manner repeatedly, though many of the most powerful kings rule for many years, even extending their own lives via crystals imbued with life magic.
While the King’s and Prince set policy for society and act as its ultimate protectors, the Overseers act as judges that adjudicate disputes and ensure that societies rules are adhered too by everyone. The King is obeyed without question, but the Overseers create a limit on his powers, making the Gooraf government surprisingly sophisticated with it’s checks on royal power.
The Overseers role is more advisory, acting as legal experts and teachers, they are forbidden to give directives or order society themselves. They do not focus on honing their magic powers any more than average members of society.
The Sorcerer Kings are not allowed to take wives, and homosexual relations between them are expected. It is believed that a ruler should only care for his duties, so the only people he can have a close bond with must share those responsibilities, so the ruler will never be side lined from his purpose, such as a wife or children. A King who was found to have a secret wife or children would be a great scandal indeed!
Overseers do not have such harsh restrictions on what relationships they are allowed, even other women. They can have children if they wish, but do not have to. Though they carry a heavy responsibility they have some of the most social freedom of any Gooraf, even compared to the rulers.
The Kings are served by elite body guards, who though not born with the magical aura, but train intensively in the use of magical crystals for combat, often create and esoteric fighting techniques. They are the only professional warriors amongst the Gooraf, and are fully dedicated to their calling. These body guards are totally devoted to defending their lords, but should the Overseers declare a King unfit they will turn on him immediately if he will not give up his office when the Overseers demand it.
The Gooraf Sorcerer Kings have become ever more powerful over time, recording great amounts of knowledge about magical crystals and their use. They have pushed the boundaries of what is possible to the point that what they do is an entirely different order of magic to that of most races.
Their magic has become so extreme it has begun to manifest physically in the bodies of some of the most powerful rulers.
King Manati the Glorious is known to have a particularly strong glow, with remains around him at all times, becoming almost blinding when he is enraged.
King Kahuronga, has become known as the Gem-Backed, because the scales on his back have transformed into diamond, giving him a dazzling appearance and the ability to store magical energy upon his own body. His is known to be very vain about his beautiful appearance, though his citizens consider this entirely justified.
King Hikahua the Uncompromising, a harsh and feared ruler, has so infused his body with magic that growths of jagged crystal grow from the side of his face and body, turning his left army into a jagged claw and causing him to walk with a limp on a misshapen, crystal enclosed leg. None are so foolish as to take these disfigurements as a sign of weakness, for his powers are so great and his wrath terrible that even other Sorcerer Kings think carefully before crossing him.
The Gooraf citizens consider this strange traits to be a mark of power. A Kings body becoming a reflection of his power means he must truly be destined to lead.
They are concealed underground, separate from the world, and so have gone unnoticed by Eldex. The Wizards would not take kindly to people pushing their magic in such extreme directions, but the extent of the Gooraf Kings power remains unknown outside of their underground realm.
On rare occasions, when matters have escalated beyond what normal warriors can settle, Sorcerer Kings will go out to fight their rivals personally, bringing with them their full arsenal of enchanted gems. Such battles are rare, but the devastating powers unleashed are such that even people on the surface can feel the tremors through the ground.
Gooraf do not have gods, though their rulers are often venerated in a way that is close to worship. Gooraf traditions are important to keep their people safe and are carried out with great zeal.
The Gooraf have many superstitions and beliefs, with legends attached to their surroundings, explaining physical things on the surface. A mountain range might be a sleeping giant, a dense section of jungle sprouted up from a flying demons blood dripping onto the earth etc All these stories carry an air of menace and danger. All warnings of possible dangers.
Gooraf see themselves as under threat in a dangerous world, but are not a selfish people. They are concerned for each other as much if not more than themselves. Keeping to societies strict rules keeps everyone safe, and one who refuses to do so is not just being foolhardy but selfish, putting others in danger.
Gooraf are content in their safe, ordered world, where each day that is the same as the last is another day when disaster was avoided.
The main Gooraf punishment for serious crimes is exhile, as to be cast out into the dangerous surface world is a horrifying fate for any Gooraf, as is being apart from the controls of their safe communities.
A few of these exiles have come into contact with settlers on the Rhoadira cost, acting as guides in exchange for food or supplies. Usually the exiles end up avoiding outsiders, as their disregard for danger is horrifying to a Gooraf. Their warnings of the great evils that lurk in the jungle go unheeded by these strange, foreign savages, who seem happy to invite constant disaster.
Foreigners also find the guides are often more trouble then they are worth. Their endless weird demands and strange concerns are baffling to none-Gooraf. The settlers view Gooraf as odd stragglers, as that is all they have encountered, and have no idea of the larger culture that remains hidden under the jungle.
These occasional encounters are the main contact between outsiders and the Gooraf, with the main population remaining oblivious to the new arrivals.
When Gooraf foraging parties have seen outsiders at a distance while foraging, they have mostly just dismissed them as some kind of jungle monster and avoided investigating further (as is their way.)
However, as settlers become ever more aware of the vast mineral wealth of Rhoadira, they push further into the Outback. Of particular interest are the many precious diamonds and gems, which could make a prospector extremely rich.
How the Gooraf will react to an entire foreign nation moving close to their settlements and taking the gems that are so vital to their culture, remains to be seen, but it will no doubt bring great disorder to the carefully controlled world the Gooraf have built for themselves.
It is curious that a culture would go such strange lengths and endures such difficulties is there was not some original reason, obscured now through time and legend. But surely Rhoadira could not be as dangerous as the Gooraf think...could it?