Description:
They stand at roughly 5’ 3”, the shortest of the derevo tribes. They have dark skin and angular features, at times seeming gaunt and in ill health. While their skin is dark, tanned from exposure to the sun, it occasionally has an ashy appearance to it. This is associated with a powder, similar to talc, that the find in the islands caverns. Their eyes are small and uniformly grey with dark hair. Their teeth are filed to points in a ceremony of age, when the youths are fully accepted into the clan as family.

History:
When they were cast out of their ancestral homes they fled the wrath of their cousins and went east, to the coast and beyond. Vamiar-Gretalia took his people to their new home with the hope of building up their tribe strong enough to return and take what he felt was rightfully theirs. They built small, shallow boats and fled to the isolated islands off the coast. There they spent many years in seclusion that led to their first attempts at cannibalism to survive. Part of this change was due to the lack of edible food on the island as well as the hidden secret they unearthed in their search of their new home.

The island where they chose as their new home weren’t as deserted as once thought. There were abandoned temples dotting the islands expanse, large stone temples hidden by the overgrowth of the forest as if nature itself tried vainly to hide their existence. They searched the island yet found no one. Nothing moved on the island except the occasional biting insect and the occasional lizard and wild boar. One of the dangers of the island is the Burrow Dragons, a large lizard like creature that digs its home in the ground to wait for passing prey. The emptiness is the main reason they began resorting to cannibalism. The temples were not deserted however, not all of them.

The largest temple on the island was positioned at the top of the centermost peak. The cool air kept the gretalia at bay for only so long until they could not hold their curiosity in any more. When Vamiar entered the temple with his protective guard what they found was never spoken of again. The temple enclosed about them like a tomb, the entrance closed off to them completely. No light broke through a single crack in the stone walls, it even seemed as if sound itself was denied entry as their voices were soft and dull, stopping long before a usual echo. They traveled through the corridors with a single vine taunt branch used as a torch. They traveled until the torch was completely gone and then traveled by touch.

When fear began breaking their hearts, they fell into a room alight with treasures and warmth. The diffuse light had no source, but was everywhere at once. The glitter of gold was unimportant to them; the artwork fell on dead eyes as they couldn’t find the beauty in them. What gathered their attention and horded it, was a dais of bone and blood. Erected in the center of the treasure, blood could be seen draping off the edges and on to the gold beneath it. What was not seen were six upright tombs held open by a dusted skeleton, fallen to the age of time.

Vamiar knelt before the alter of bone and began praying a prayer that had never crossed his or any of his peoples lips before. It bespoke of power and age, of strength and blood. The six guards that followed Vamiar into the temple also knelt, only they encircled him as if in reverence and began a low hum to echo his prayers. A voice spoke in the heads of the guards, telling them to follow their leader to the grave, that the rewards of the afterlife would surpass that of the flesh. To accept this they took their Khanjar daggers from their waist and sliced their own tongues, lest they speak of their pact and betray their leader.

Vamiar also heard a voice. It was booming in his head, encompassing. It threatened to separate his skull in two yet it soothed his ills and his fears at the same time. It learned his sorrows, his fears, his loss, but most of all; his hatred. It took this in and used it. Learned from it, and gave it back to Vamiar. He told him of his rightful place of power was at It’s side, as the Hand of Redemption, the Caller of Ash, and the Taker of Blood. It showed him the truth of power and the way to gain it through the blood and soul of ones enemy.

As eager as Vamiar was to get this power and gain his revenge on his cousins, the voice spoke of patience. To build their strength so their enemies would not be able to repel them. Reluctantly he agreed, but as he listened to the voice he began to see it had the truth he had been searching for when leaving his banished home with his kin. The worship of the Lost God had begun anew and It’s power increase with ever sacrifice, every poor soul who washed up on the beach from a ship wreck or sailed searching for treasure from the stony temples, all fell before the tribal rituals of the gretalia and Vamiar. Ages have past since their arrival; they have used their boats and those stolen from those who were foolish enough to come to their home. They reach out to other coastal towns, raiding for the flesh. Sacrifices and for food, all is needed in their venture for revenge. One thing has not changed in the many years of their banishment, Vamiar and his six guards still walk the island preaching their practice and calling out that the Coming of Blood is near.

Religion:
They practice a form of tribal religion based on their beliefs that the temple gods decree. They found these abandoned temples in the jungles and began learning the script, deciphering the rituals and incantations written on the stone walls. What they didn’t know is, the temples were prisons built to house demons and the religion of Caedmon. The main temple within the islands center has a Demon Gate below it. The voice Vamiar heard in his head was that of the Dark Lord, one of the four faces of Ishchali. It used the Demon Gate as a way to enter Vamiar’s mind and alter his beliefs.

Race : Derevo/ Novotie  
Appearance : Dark hair and eyes, skin ranges from dark to light brown. Slightly large ears and eyes. 
Average Height : 7’ 3” 
Average Weight : 230 lbs
Average Lifespan : 530 years
Typical Climate : Forest, Jungle, Temperate/ Sub-Tropical

Description : They can average to be around 225 - 240 lbs, but their bodies portray grace and beauty not muscular obesity. Their ears are larger than a human‘s ears, allowing them exceptional hearing. Their small facial features gives them a childlike look that their constant smiles do little to hide. The color of their skin ranges multiple shades of brown, giving them the ability to almost vanish in any woodland surrounding if similarly clothed.

Distinguished Traits : The Novotie are the oldest lived race in the forest as well as most of the known world. Their closeness to the spirit of the forests and their God has given them a few abilities that are special and thought of as gifts from Berakas. They have a powerful form of infravison that can see up to 65’ in total darkness, and can speak to all of natures creatures. They will seldom get lost outdoors, even on the cloudiest of nights.

Personality : Their love for the natural order of things has made their jovial society artistic, and lovers of music, song, and dance. Their skill with instruments is as astounding as their skill with the bow and other woodland weapons. They see any steel weapon as a pure killing tool and will have no business with one, unless forced to fight or defend for their lives. They do however, use daggers or knives, but only to hunt and skin animals with, not to kill or maim a person. If backed into a corner, however, this could change. They also have a high regard for all things living and if they need to hunt for food, they use all parts of the animal that they can and properly giving respect to the parts they cannot. This is normally done by burying them and never done just for its pelt or for pleasure.

Home : Being nomadic, they seldom stay in the same place for more than a few nights. Although this is the case, quite a few have actually traveled out into the civilized lands for a short period in their lives to see other wonders. Their non-aggressive behavior has made their lives in perfect harmony with nature and their wild surroundings. Not out of place in a city however, but they are at home in their element when in the forests.

Relations : Everyone in the tribe is considered an equal and never treated as beneath another. Whether the person is ten years or three hundred years of age does not matter to them. Full respect, though, is given to their Elders of the tribe, but only the Eldest is seen as all wise and knowing and considered the voice for the whole of the people. They are very nonaggressive and extremely polite, but they are fierce opponents when pushed to defending themselves and others.

Religion : They love nature to the fullest possible potential, and will do everything in their power to protect what they feel is a gift from Berakas, their God and way of life, and should be taken care of. They respect the other Gods, but Berakas holds their faith. Their priests are held nearly as high as their Elders in their level of deference and respect. Most of the Elders become priests at one point in their live span however, so they tend to have a number of Priests within their Elder group.
Language : Their spoken language is very melodic and soothing. It is said one nearly sings when they say hello in their language, which isn‘t far from the truth. Their vocabulary is extensive and precise and one must nearly sing it to get the tone right. Their written language has been accepted by most scribes throughout the lands as a universal text script. Very smooth and flowing and easy to read.

Favored Profession : They have no favored profession, however most Novotie become a Priest at some point in their life.

Race : Derevo/ Sladiva
Appearance : Pale colored hair and eyes, pale skin tones. Slightly large ears.
Average Height : 5’ 6”
Average Weight : 170 lbs
Average Lifespan : 450 years
Typical Climate : Temperate/ Sub-Arctic: Mountain

Description: They average to be around 165 - 175 lbs, with short and stocky bodies. Their ears are larger than a human’s, allowing them superior hearing. Their face is angular and hard, usually showing a despotic disposition. The color of their skin is usually pale and chalky. Their features are sharp and defined, showing them to be a hard emotional race with fewer emotions outside of anger. This is due more than a racial image of their banishment then any actual occurance to them personally, as the original cousins of the other Derevo tribes are now long gone.

Distinguished Traits: The Sladiva are the cousin race to the Novotie. The chiefs of each tribe were brothers once, long ago when the four tribes were united. Since their departure from the lands of their blood, they have changed and lost their natural affinity to the wilderness. Instead they have grown accustomed to the depths of the mountains of the north, seldom visiting the green forests of long ago. With their new homes being in a northern mountain region they have grown accustomed to a darker environment. The winter months forcing them to travel underground to stay warm and out of the harsh sun, their day vision is sub par, but their dark vision is superb. Able to see up to 60’ in darkness with clarity, they view the world in sub tones of black, white, and grey.

Personality: They are the opposite of their long lost brothers, nature mocks them. The sun scorns them. They feel the world above is for their tree hugging cousins that should be burned for their weakness. They have no art or music, seeing it as a waste of time and energy. Instead they value history and deeds. The longer a persons’ deeds, the more they are seen with respect, grudging respect. The respect other cultures art and music, but they are inferior and can not expect to produce a master piece.

They have taken on a darker side of live than the Novotie and Yakaram. They view weakness as a sickness that must be purged. The weak are there for the strong to command. If you are weak you should be culled and forced to provide for your betters. They have adopted a slaving mentality. They will often raid settlements and caravans both human and other races to force them into providing labor for them. To fashion their homes, mend their clothing, provide entertainment. What ever is desired. The wealth of a family can be judged by the number of slaves they maintain and control.

Because slavery is important to them they will often go on slaving parties to villages and small towns to restock their labor force. Those unwilling to become their cattle are taught a quick lesson that to fail to obey results not in death, but extended torture of the most greivous kind. Often extending for weeks before death is uncontrollable. They prolong the punishment as long as they can and force the other slaves to witness it to remove all ideas of freedom and choice from their minds. Few who have a fighting spirit keep it after seeing a ‘Leason’ of theirs.

Home: They have gone to live in the mountain passes of the north, well away from their nature loving brethren. Their homes are built into the sides and the depths of the mountains. While not extravagant, they are fortified and easily maintained and defended. With walls to ward off the elements and enemies alike. A few outposts have sprung up along the borders of the forests and the mountains range, but any further than that is not yet accomplished.

Some of the slaves they have captured over the years have been a boon, and while they do not do it often, when they find a skileld slave they treat them far better. With the rare event of them being set free after a period of indentured servitude. Some of their past slaves have been trolls and gison, able to work in their homes to build and work armor and weapons of quality. The gison are sought after for their knowledge of building stone fortresses out of the mountains. Gison are usually not kept for more than a few decades and are set free. They are treated fairly well and offered minor comforts during their stay.

Relations: In the realm of the Sladiva, the strongest survive, and the powerful rule. Often times plotting the downfall of a rival or enemy isn’t enough, but their accidental death or murder is. The shadows are their friend and family. They band together in groups of clans that have similar intentions to gain power and authority over the others. They do not see each other as being equal, but they do not see the opposite sex as inferior, they are of the mindset that if they are strong enough then they are worthy to respect.

The women will raise the children for a number of years until basic functions are taught. Speech and movement among the most important. When they are old enough to pick up a stick, they are given over to the men who teach them to fight. Those that make it return to the women later to learn the social functions of the cutlure while the weaker ones end up as slaves or dead.

Religion: They have a misguided though to religion. The strongest survive in their world and therefore requires a strong and powerful form to keep them in check. Their chaotic nature tends to make them difficult to deal with in large groups; however, they do fear their Chieftains who are seen as Warrior Priests, gaining their strength and powers from the Gods themselves.

Language: Their spoken language is very short and simple. It has tones of their cousin’s, the Yakaram, but has evolved to simpler forms. Using fewer words they can have shorter conversations that mean as much if not more than that of other languages. It sounds odd when first hearing it, like a tune off melody, but it is easy to learn. Their written language is much the same as their verbal tongue, symbols having a broader meaning than single letters.

Favored Profession: They are more physical then their cousins. They tend to enjoy violence more so then the others like them. They choose professions that use their strength and cunning to an advantage. You will find more warriors and rogues in this racial tribe than the other three.

Race : Derevo/ Yakaram   
Appearance : Almost identical to the Novotie yet their features are not as angular, seeming to be broader then their cousins.
Average Height : 6’ 2” 
Average Weight : 215 lbs
Average Lifespan : 150 years
Typical Climate : Forest edge, Plains, Temperate, Tropical

Description : They are very slim and frail looking, yet are healthy and extremely physical. They can average around 210 - 220 lbs and can average to about 150 years old before they lay down and let the earth consume them. They have a human diversity in appearance where no two individuals look alike. Their hair color tends to be natural browns or blonds, with few with hair darker. Their eyes are almost a universal color green, just different shades for each individual. Their ears are smaller than the Novotie and not as pronounced, yet still stick out.

Distinguished Traits : Having an affinity to their natural surroundings they have developed a limited form of infravison They can see heat patterns that distinguish a being in the darkness. While they can not gather specifics about they person, they can tell if they are hiding. If they are very familiar with the individual then they can determine who they are. They can only see 15’ in darkness with their infravision, but can see blurred movement up to 30’ in darkness.

Personality : When dealing with the outside world, they still keep their segregated opinions that their tribe has implanted into their minds. While they will work with members of the opposite sex, they will do so under the strictest of terms and the shortest time necessary. They are cordial to other races and tend to hire themselves out as embassadors for the other races to mediate disputes. They do so only at the request of one of the parties involved and they always carry a superior attitude to these meetings. They are constant advisors to the Novotie however, and show them their utmost respect regardless of the sex of the person in question.

Home : They live in small villages on the border of the Brelean Forest. The men and woman live separately in different villages, although not far from each other, are rarely visited by either group unless it is absolutely necessary, and even then they have a meeting place somewhere not in their respective villages. They do this because they have a very segregated view of each other, willing to live separately as they have done for centuries.
              
Relations : They are very segregated and will rarely spend any time with a member of the opposite sex, since their culture is broken down into casts of society, then by gender. They will only spend time together during war and festivals of procreation. At no other time will they congregate, unless it is important. They are almost like two separate cultures in this respect. Their females are just as strong and as opinionated as the men, never are they subservient. They raise the male children until they can walk, then let them free. Those that find the male encampments grow strong as part of the tribe. Those that get lost in the forests are not even mourned as they were not worthy to be with the tribe. 

At one point the Yakaram were very male superior. The women at home and hearth where the men worked and protected the family. During the infighting and the war between the tribes, the women were forced to protect the families at home while the men were fighting abroad. This led to a little unknown time similar to affirmative action. The women forced the men to see they were as equal as they were. When that failed they seperated. They realize that each side needs the other but refuse to give ground and admit it. This has been going on for centuries. Being that they are of the longer lived, they have time to sit back and wait for the other to see the err of their ways. They respect each other because they see a need for the others, but they also see that each group is important. Whether more important is up to individual interpretation. I hope taht helps and doesn’t raise more questions.  

Religion : Each village has a High Priest that they listen to for guidance and that travel to speak with one another frequently to discuss matters of religion, but there is not one single God that they believe in more than any others except when it comes to the sex.. They respect and fear all the Gods fully, but their view on them is different depending on the individual God. The females of the Yakaram, while they respect the male Gods will not worship them outright. They may thank them in passing for an event that they know only that God could have done, but that is the extent of their belief. The men are the same, while they worship and respect the male Gods, they have a large problem believing that Idehund is a Goddess and refuse to accept her as one.

Language : Their language is very aggressive and specific, often omitting words normally in a conversation to make it shorter. This isn’t by personal choice but by having done it throughout the years they have made their language useful yet to the point of their meaning. Nothing is wasted when they speak. Their written language is the same, with only thirty character like pictures they mean multiple things when grouped together in certain patterns.

Favored Profession : While all of the Yakaram are aggressive and physically capable of physically defending themself and their culture, they tend to have softer professions. They have great success when becoming a rogue however, with their natural grace.