Races

Humans of Imarel and Ishaela - by T.A. Saunders ©2009 v1.7

Racial Articles Palathians “Reverents, The Pious”

Separated by time, war and sea, the Palathians (pronounced Pala-thay-in) are direct descendants of refugees that fled Sengaard during the initial invasion by Khavos and his vampires. Led by Half-Sivanoshei exile, known only as Alastria the Accused, and her Kaal'kor companion, Benjak Aleswehl, of Glantheel, the Humans, and handful of Shei deserters set out across continents and the sea to find a place away from what they felt was a power struggle between two equally oppressive figures, in the King-Priest, and in Khavos.

While neither Alastria or Benjak were under any illusion that they could keep running forever, it was important to those who followed them that wars should be fought for freedom, not to supplant one dictator for another. Alastria, a ranger of Jadaia and Benjak, a priest of Hiron had strong belief systems and, as they traveled, they also served as a pair of traveling preachers (Benjak was actually an ordained minister of Hiron) to their proverbial flock. They did not preach of their personal beliefs however, but rather the power of faith and belief in and of themselves. They encouraged their ‘congregation' of followers to find their own gods, and worship how they deemed fit.

By the time the refugees hit the shores of Palathia in 454 BC, they as a group became a ferocious band of guerilla-fighters, with nearly zealot-levels of loyalty for the two heroes, that had given them hope in a truly dark time in Ishaela's history. Palathia had been, up until this point, heavily populated with tribes of Moul, a primitive race of amphibian people. These tribes were already quite intent on killing each other, so there was little thought in attacking Alastria, Benjak and their refugees on their first encounter.

It didn't take long for the group of three hundred or so, to begin cutting deep swathes into the population of Moul; even as beleaguered as their were, superior tactics and greater mastery over sorcery proved to be an overwhelming advantage against the the tribes. With the Moul properly frightened of the Sengaardian refugees, settling the continent could proceed.

Thousands of years later, the Palathians have become a deeply religious and industrious people, who value hard work and faith over fame and glory. They are deeply religious, but have no set ‘state faith,' save Xosian deities are forbidden in any form. The Palathian people have a naturally ruddy complexion, lighter hair, and broader, sturdier frames than the Sengaardians they descended from, though like them, tend to be of slightly above average height.

Palathians have a theocratic government, but rather than having a King-Priest, who is given their station by birthright, the Divine Council is a composite of the five major faiths of Palathia: Kaal, Zorah, Jadaia, Hiron and Trentarius. This council is comprised of all the Immaculates of the faiths, who are given their position by their respective churches. The will of the Divine Council is not absolute however; there is also a Parliament comprised of Speakers, elected by the people of each town and city, that can challenge decrees given by the Divine Council.