Races

Voraath - by T.A. Saunders ©2003 v1.7

Over the next hundred years, the Voraath grew as a culture in this relative time of peace. The original survivors of the Shar'Vaire cataclysm had grown strong and plenty. Traditions were formed in this time that stressed honor, vigilance, strength and reverence to their ancestors above all else. The Wild Moon (Zorah) and the Watching Sun (Kaal) were also honored for their gifts they granted the Voraath people. The Voraath language was also made in this time.

The staple form of Voraath government was also formed in this era of peace and growth. The Voraath have a tribal elder that has proven his or herself both as a spiritual individual (meaning they are either a practicing shaman or druid) and as a warrior. This elder has four other elders he or she chooses and they decide the direction of the tribe through talk and mysticism.

Voraath do not differentiate between genders; males and females are equal in all things and abilities. They grow to be the same size, they grow to have the same potential for intelligence and strength. The only difference between them is reproductive organs and the allowances to the bodily structure to carry a child. Females tend to be sleeker in build, with more gentle curves, while the males tend to be more brutish.

As stated however, this sleeker build is not a lessening of the female gender. Such is proven with both the Khash-Drahk, which is a hand to hand combat match between male and female, for the male to prove his worth to the female and the Vach-Gao, which is a wrestling match between male and female to determine head of household.

Because of the way the Shar'Vaire crafted the first Voraath, sexuality is simply not a strong sense with them…except for during the four warmest months of the Imarel year that they can mate. Women are as aggressive as men during this time to seek the affection of their mate. With sexual maturation occurring at the eighteenth year of life, most Voraath are selecting their life mates during this time as well.

Those who are without mate and end up the odd Voraath out, usually take this time to go on sojourns into the wildest regions of Zoda to prove their worth to themselves and to their ancestors. This spiritual journey is called the Jhaga. Partaking of the Jhaga is considered honorable and it is expected that many such Jhaga are to be taken in the life of a Voraath. Some will mate, some will learn, it is a time of growth and knowledge for all Voraath.

Overall there are seventeen distinct Voraath tribes across Zoda. They all live in relative peace with one another, due to having a very strict edict of no warfare with their brothers and sisters. When disputes do arise (and they do arise often enough over hunting land and other things) it is first up to the Elders of each tribe to resolve the issue.

If no resolution can be met, then each tribe chooses a champion. These champions meet in a fight to the death (though mercy maybe granted as a sign of respect). These champions symbolize the war that could have been fought between the tribes and it is taken as both a deep honor and a very serious matter.

There are two tribes of Voraath; the Vakar Nas (Crushing Fist) and the Khag-Jaht (Demon-Eaters) that do not follow this particular edict and will wage war on other Voraath and anybody else they come across. They are considered dishonorable and are given no quarter when encountered, nor is quarter given. It was the Vakar Nas and and the Khag-Jaht that assaulted the human city of Blackgate and brought it to ruin.

The majority of Voraath travelers will encounter however will be stoic and trustworthy, strong beyond measure and honorable to a fault. It is said the only thing a Voraath cannot break is his or her word of oath. There are tales of battles fought in far off lands where Voraath have stood on the battlefield alongside Humans, Elves and even Shar'Vaire once in recent past that when all other warriors had fallen or retreated, it was the Voraath who stood their ground onto death.

There are few honors greater for a Voraath than to die in combat, for one's tribe or for one's honor. While it is considered dishonorable for tribes to war amongst each other, personal fights of honor; even to the death are considered acceptable and even expected.

Without honor, a Voraath truly has little else and with a loss of honor severe enough his or her family may abandon them or they may be shunned from the tribe. Such Voraath are known as Khaag, or Lost. There are often great tasks one may do to remove the dishonor of a Khaag title; more than one adventuring Voraath one may encounter maybe on such a task to regain his or her honor.