Regrettably Caernwhyn VII's wives and Wendiharan X perished during the chaotic flight to Telantha and shortly after, during the first months after the Cataclysm. The fate of his two eldest daughters is yet unknown as they had been kidnapped some time before, it is assumed that they too are dead. Regrettably Caernwhyn has no heirs, nor wives to produce them and at present there is grave concern over the continuation of the House bloodline.

Family & Ages:

House History:

One of the largest and wealthiest merchant families, House Lamaran-thal dealt primarily in arms and armour in a time when wars or civil disputes were common place. House Lamaran-thal made vast sums of money selling the means to would be conquerors or rebellious towns folk alike, they made no distinction between race or creed or social status. Naturally, while this made them quite wealthy it made them several enemies, not least of all other families who sought to trade in the same market.

House Lamaran-thal maintained and actively sought to strengthen its alliance with the military powers of the Tyeni Empire however it could, through generous bribes and gifts to marriages between theirs and other influential families. And in return for their efforts they were comfortably rewarded with contracts to arm and outfit much of the Tyeni war-machine. Naturally it was in the House's best interests to back any military campaign planed by the Emperor, not only supplying the army with weapons and armour, but also investing substantial amounts of its wealth in ensuring that what few attempts at peace that were made between the Empire and foreign nations failed. It is widely suspected that House Lamaran-thal was one of the key players in the breakdown of the growing peace between the Tyeni Empire and the Viroth Alliance in the 8th year of Cumaill II's reign, though no clear evidence supports this claim.

Despite their clear interests in promoting war between the nations (and even between rival factions within the Empire) House Lamaran-thal had established trading companies throughout the known world, and Tyeni blades and armour could be purchased from Daar all the way to Urgat. Though unable to maintain a clear presence in many of the non-Tyen cities, House Lamaran-thal had built up a network of trade contacts among the natives who could help them move their wares without heavy taxation or harassment. Never the less, the House was occasionally forced to make sizable 'donations' to various private individuals to ensure that their business operated smoothly abroad.

Further suspicions were cast upon House Lamaran-thal during the attempted attack on the independent city-states that were once the eastern Tyeni Empire, who were publicly accused of supplying both the Empire and the Viroth Alliance with weapons. Though again, no solid evidence could be found to support the accusation and charges were eventually dropped, though no small amount of damage had been caused to the House's reputation, forcing the House into a period of relative inactivity. It maintained its various interests but was unable to expand without unwanted attention.

It was not long after the House had felt it safe to resume their business dealings abroad that the cataclysm happened. Fortunately a select few representatives of the house were in Viroth on business, attempting to strike contracts to supply the Virothian army with arms for their rumoured campaign against Yarsin. Unfortunately, the core of the Household was not among them.

Caernwhyn'radu VII barely managed to survive the flight to Telantha, which was made along with a vast caravan consisting of other Houses and other refugees who had been found along the way. Despite the size of the caravan, or perhaps because of it, conditions were terrible. People starved, died from exposure or infection, and not least of all they died in their hundreds to the relentless assault from the Darkness itself. Many of House Lamaran-thal perished, including Caernwhyn's three wives and countless close relations. By the time the refugees reached Telantha, House Lamaran-thal had been utterly devastated, Caernwhyn'radu the last living member of the main bloodline.

However, fortunately for the survivors from the refugee caravan, the few members of the house which had been in Telantha when the cataclysm had occurred, had already begun to make arrangements for the family (though none had expected any others to arrive so late.) Selling what wares they had brought with them, under the guidance of Vasteel'ddu IV, Caernwhyn'radu VII's second cousin, they had already purchased a residence. Though small, it was a welcome comfort for the family during a time when most were forced to live on the streets, lucky if they even had a lean-to to sleep under.

Once the initial chaos had begun to settle, House Lamaran-thal, again under the leadership of Caernwhyn'radu began to investigate the new social and economic landscape that they were forced to live in. The family's main skills were of no use to them here, and so the House was forced to adjust and soon found it self dealing in the black market. Through various means, few of which were legal, the family began to stockpile essentials, from food to medicine, which it made available to other refugees at extortionate (some might say cruel) prices. Never the less, the House was able to secure its immediate survival whilst moving its way through the underground circuit, soon becoming a key player, and once again able to dally in the market of weapons, though now rather than supplying armies, they would supply criminal gangs.

House Lamaran-thal has had a turbulent and difficult past few years, but it has managed to scrape through. However, currently it has fallen on hard times, the marketplace has become increasingly hostile as the city slips further and further under the ceaseless attacks of the Demons. There is much speculation as to whether or not Caernwhyn'radu VII will remarry and produce an heir, and if not, who will succeed him.

Messhemet IV has three wives: Lasrahara, Sashaamen III, and Nessrih VII. Messhemet V and Mostyn share the same mother (Lasrahara) who is Messhemet IV's first and most loved wife. Serathina II, Lemnithar and Samarrah were all conceived by Nessrih VII, and finally Sassrah's mother is Sashaamen III, the youngest and newest of Messhemet IV's wives.

Family & Ages:

House History:

House Niveneh-eth, as the name suggests, focused primarily on the government of the Empire, in which it held several key roles; notably favouring positions which had some control over the military. Indeed, several noteworthy members of the family have held high ranking military positions. In this way, while somewhat short of an advisory role to the Emperor himself, and all the benefits that would bring, the family nevertheless managed to keep its finger on the pulse of the Empire through the knowledge it was privy to in relation to planned military campaigns.

Through this knowledge and the employment of subtle political machination, House Niveneh-eth was able to secure significant stretches of land, which of course included many resources which allowed the house to grow not only in wealth, but also power. While all houses experience highs and lows, and House Niveneh-eth was no exception, the Niveneh-eth family tended to enjoy greater stability than most houses.

A strong supporter of the Empire's expansionistic policies, House Niveneh-eth could likely be blamed (or lauded) as a key player in the second, almost successful military campaign against the Viroth Kingdom. Though the House invested considerably in the campaign, whose failure ultimately dealt a crippling blow to the Empire as a whole, House Niveneh-eth, through shrewd political manoeuvring managed to emerge without the personal loss that many other Houses succumbed to, though it took several decades to fully restore the House to its former level of wealth and influence.

Due to its vast estates, House Niveneh-eth was a great employer of imported slaves from Sron and other countries to work the land. Though it's dallying in the slave market was a hobby at best, the House became well known for its slave breeding programme, often presenting extravagant gifts to other families and the Emperor himself, who it is said stocked several personal stables entirely from Niveneh-eth stock.

At the time of the cataclysm House Niveneh-eth was heavily involved in the planning stages of another campaign to recapture the now independent city states which sprinkled along the eastern border of the Empire. These plans were obviously rendered useless by the darkness and the House itself, like all other Tyen Houses suffered tragic losses during the first months after the cataclysm, and of course lost the majority of its wealth along with all of its land. Though thanks again to its position and influence, the main trunk of the Niveneh family were able to safely arrive at Telantha without casualties. Having committed much of its remaining wealth to ensuring the safety of the family on this journey, House Niveneh-eth arrived in Telantha and was immediately faced with uncertainty as to its future.

Using its remaining assets and what influence and respect it still commanded amongst the small community of Tyen which had survived to reach Telantha, the House quickly established itself and procured what supplies it needed to ensure the immediate survival and comfort of its remaining members, while setting itself up in a position of authority from which it was able to recover from the chaos. Without an Imperial House, or indeed, an Empire to speak of, the once structured hierarchy had been shattered and all surviving Tyen Houses were forced to struggle to cling onto their traditions and heritage. Though, despite the generally isolationist views of many of the remaining Houses, House Niveneh-eth decided to invest a vast amount of its remaining resources in procuring citizen status for its members and a pseudo official rank within the Virothian Feudal system.

While not noble by any stretch of the imagination, House Niveneh-eth enjoys an elevated status above common citizens, and is afforded some limited rights along with this station. The House then began to stabilise its position by establishing small businesses across the city. While this was not their traditional area of focus, the House had to quickly adapted to the new social landscape and soon began to supply the refugee population of Tyen whom the Telanthan merchants would often refuse to trade with, or only at crippling prices. Initially the House struggled to turn any profit, often loosing money in order to make basic wares available to fellow Tyen at reasonable prices. However, once the initial turmoil had passed and as more contacts were made in both Telantha's economic and political arenas as well as among the stabilising Tyen community, House Niveneh-eth found itself in a very advantageous position. Supplying Tyen with food and other common wares cheaply, as well as raw materials for its craftsmen and women, often accepting credit from its Tyen customers; in exchange many craftsmen and artisans traded exclusively through them, which quickly blossomed into a monopoly on supplying the often highly valued Tyeni crafts and luxury items to Telantha's merchants.

Reaching this comfortable position took nearly two years, but once House Niveneh-eth had established its position it was able to begin further expansion into otherwise unexploited areas, as well as invest in bettering the standards of living for the countless Tyeni forced to live as refugees; this it did in a continuing effort to vie for greater support among the Tyen population, in constant competition with the other fortunate Houses which had managed to establish themselves in Telantha's largely hostile environment.

With the House's immediate survival secured, as well as a steady income, the Niveneh family turned their attention back to their roots and their traditional interests. Through large sums of money applied to the right palm, as well as focusing their considerable political skill, the family gradually built up contacts among the Telanthan nobility which, through the use of suggestions, bribes, and even intimidation, allowed House Niveneh-eth to not only stifle the efforts of opposing Houses within the city, but also further expand its influence to include enterprises which might have drawn unwanted attention previously; once again the House began to trade in slaves, though this time as far more than a hobby. Making properly trained slaves, as well as other 'essentials' available to Tyeni at large greatly increased the families influence among their kinsmen and firmly established House Niveneh-eth as one of the Great Houses among the Tyen people, who looked increasingly to the Niveneh family for guidance.

Currently, House Niveneh-eth continues to further its influence where it can, especially in the political arena, while maintaining (and where possible expanding) its various enterprises. The House maintains a very active role in the Tyeni community and actively campaigns to improve the standards that most Tyen live by, either directly through making wares and services available and investing in Tyeni businesses and institutions, or using their political influence to protect Tyen interest and ease the tensions between Tyeni and other factions within and without the city.

Full Blood Races: Human, Skrel'eth, Tir, Tyen.
Half Bloods: Seari, Harch, Eruki, Rytha, Dvin.

Please keep in mind that due to their low numbers within Aagos, the Harch, Eruki, Rytha and Dvin - have a low chance of being accepted upon application.

The following is amount of accumulated roleplay points you need in order to play a non-human race:

25,000 TRPP = Skrel'eth, Seari
50,000 TRPP = Tyen, Tir

100,000 TRPP = Skrel'eth Half-Bloods, Tyen Half-Bloods

Note: TRPP is total accumulated roleplay points.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Height Range: --
Weight Range: --
Build: --
Hair Colour Ranges: --
Eye Colour Ranges: --
Skin Colour Ranges: --

The descriptions of Vek'pem Ahrye vary from story to story, race to race. Most versions agree that they have the ability to blend into whatever culture they like, though the 'how' or 'why' can be very different: the Tyeni commonly believe that Vek'pem Ahrye have no bodies of their own at all, and so borrow the bodies of others; the common Human myth is that they begin as normal people who are somehow changed; Tir and Skrel'eth myths describe Vek'pem Ahrye as not having bodies at all, but only lost souls that can look like bodies; there are members of all races who hold the opinion that Vek'pem Ahrye do no exist at all, or were all wiped out during the pre-historic Apocalypse of the Eye. 'Modern' Vek'pem Ahrye, these say, are nothing but dark mages who would like to be confused with the ancient monsters.

At any rate, if they do exist, most agree that Vek'pem Ahrye can look like anyone, sharing all the traits and shapes and colours of each particular pedestrian race.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Population prior cataclysm: --
Population post cataclysm: --

That Vek'pem Ahrye once existed is universally agreed upon; all myths about their pre-Apocalyptic culture generally run like this:

Belial, a demi-god and youngest brother to Elbahn and Melchior, rebelled for whatever reason against the natural order of life and death, the order which the gods had set for the world, creating in some way a small race of people that did not die (or could live without bodies, as Tir and Tyeni might put it). The gods reacted, of course, negatively, and sent Elbahn and Melchior on a crusade to destroy Belial and his children. There was a great war which ended, in one way or another, with the Apocalypse of the Eye -- the single continent the world once was was torn apart into many, and most people died.

Humans and Skrel'eth generally believe that Belial and his people were on the offensive, not the defensive, and that the Apocalypse was initiated by Cymur and/or Balor as a last resort; Tyeni generally believe that the Vek'pem Ahrye were on the defensive, and initiated the Apocalypse through powerful magic in an attempt to save themselves. Tir generally have no opinion about the cause: it happened, and that's that.

Whether or not the children of Belial survived is a matter of debate, but most agree that Belial himself did; as a demi-god, he probably can't die. As the myths go, the gods now call him 'Vek'pem Ahrye', which means 'cursed, hidden and removed'. The name is used, also, for what may or may not be the surviving members of his old, strange race.

INTERACTIONS:

According to everyone's myths, gods or no, Vek'pem Ahrye eat people, or sometimes just the souls of people, or sometimes just their blood. At any rate, they are obviously monsters and the enemy of all other races. It is therefore assumed that they hate 'normal' or 'mortal' people, just as they are hated, and scour the night (or the forest, or the mountains, or graveyards, or other scary places) for victims.

Also of note: it is commonly believed that, for whatever reason, Vek'pem Ahrye hate Dryth most of all, and seek out their absolute destruction in a kind of ongoing, secret war. Most people, of course, are worried about Dryth, too, and hope that if both 'races' do exist, they're busy with the business of wiping each other out.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Height Range: 167cm to 198cm
Weight Range: 72kg to 135kg
Build: Muscular
Hair Colour Ranges: Very dark blues to pale, ash blues
Eye Colour Ranges: Blues and Greens
Skin Colour Ranges: Slate blue to pale blues

The general appearance of the Skrel'eth is one of extreme physical fitness. Their bodies are often exceptionally well muscled; while especially true of the men it is not always the case for the women. They stand tall, tallest of all races on average, though the difference is seldom great enough to cause a Skrel'eth discomfort among other races. Their skin carries a strong bluish undertone, rather than a yellowish one, this means that while a Skrel'eth can tan much like a Human, his skin always appears blue, be it pale or dark. The same blue colours the hair of a Skrel'eth, even facial hair, though among young males it is common to dye their hair, especially before battle, when many Skrel'eth will dye their hair stark, bright colours such as vivid reds or bone white. Tattoos are also very popular with both male and female Skrel'eth, often in highly visible places, such as across the face, or the back of the hands and arms.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Life Span: Child 1 - 5, Young Adult 6 - 9, Adult 10 - 49, Old age 50 - 60
Population prior cataclysm: 3,750,000 (22%)
Population post cataclysm: 11,500 (11%)
Average No# of Offspring per family: 4
Type of Culture: Warriors

The Skrel'eth hierarchy is clan based, rather than having one ruler or rulers who govern the whole race; the race is fragmented, with each Skrel'eth belonging to one of many Clans. Within a clan there is one ruler with the title of 'Warlord' who commands absolute respect and whose word is law. Each clan warlord is chosen out of the best warriors of the clan upon the death of the previous warlord, and while it is less common it isn't entirely uncommon for a female to win this position by proving her superiority in battle. Second in the social hierarchy are the Clan elders, these are Skrel'eth who have lived to their old age (around 45+) as this is quite uncommon for Skrel'eth, whose lives tend to be very energetic, but typically cut short in battle and they often serve as advisors to the Warlord. Next in the clan comes the Shaman, of which there is typically only one, though it isn't unknown for a clan to have more, but this is quite rare. Skrel'eth have exceptionally keen familial bonds, as well as a well-developed sense of honour, and any acts, honorable or dishonorable, are often carried over to the whole family; who either become highly respected, or shunned.

INTERACTIONS:

Full Bloods:
Human - Liked
Tir - Neutral
Tyen - Disliked

Half-Bloods:
Depends on which culture they were brought up in. (i.e. half-bloods brought up by Humans are liked.)

HISTORY:

Skrel'eth have developed slowly compared to other races, they do not adopt change easily due to the segmentation of the race into tribes. What changes do come tend to arrive after decades of discussion between the tribal warlords, sometimes these changes can even take centuries, the discussions spanning two or several generations of warlords. The history of the Skrel'eth is a bloody one, full of wars between tribes or between other races, such as with the Humans early in their history. War with the Humans eventually gave way to trade, and the founding of an alliance. This alliance spread out quickly after its creation, and soon the Skrel'eth found a new home on another continent, most of the tribes trickled slowly through the alliance to this new land, Urgat, which due to the harsh environment was left largely to the Skrel'eth. During this expansion, the alliance met with the Tyen empire, and a bitter war followed with painful defeats on both sides before the empire was finally dealt a crushing blow at the hands of Cymur, leading to their slow decline and an eventual peace after much of their empire had been conquered. Skrel'eth played several important roles in this war, and many attribute the eventual defeat as much to the unceasing lust for battle and superior tactics employed by Skrel'eth generals during this war as to the eventual intervention of Cymur. After the war, Skrel'eth retreated back into their home-land for the most part, and to their tribes, and life continued as it had for centuries, the tribes waged small wars between each other and forged new alliances, but as a whole the position of the Skrel'eth within the alliance was sound, and trade with the Humans, and those Tir who had won their freedom from the Tyen empire, continued to benefit all involved.

When the cataclysm occurred, their stubbornness in refusing to retreat from battle until it was painfully obvious that the Darkness was a force that could not be combated through traditional means, meant that many lost their lives, perhaps needlessly. And once the decision to retreat south finally came, the population had already been decimated, however the strong bonds between Urgat and Viroth meant that there was no question about opening the northern borders and quickly dispatching aid to the arriving caravans of Skrel'eth. This perhaps is one of the main reasons so many Skrel'eth refugees actually made it to Telantha, and survived the early months of the cataclysm. Currently, Skrel'eth make up the second largest portion of all known survivors of the cataclysm, second only to Humans.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Height Range: 165cm to 188cm
Weight Range: 54kg to 83kg
Build: Tall and lean
Hair/Eye/Skin Colour Ranges: Gray through black, rarely albino

Tyeni share many similarities with the Tir: they tend to be tall and slim, with sharp features and tapered ears. Unlike the Tir, they sport monochrome pigmentation in their eyes, skin and hair. The darker the skin, the more appealing; the richest black is a sign of good breeding. Albino Tyen are incredibly rare, and are thought to somehow be weaker, or less intelligent. A configuration of two calcium 'horns' protrude from their brow; they tend to be more prominent in males, rarely exceeding 3cm in length. These begin to grow sometime after birth (like teeth), and begin a pearly white, growing darker throughout puberty to ebony at adulthood. The Tyeni physique, in comparison to humans, is somewhat weak, but more agile and dexterous. More often, Tyeni depend on speed and cunning - rather than brute strength - in combat.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Life Span: Child 1 - 15, Young Adult 16 - 29, Adult 30 - 89, Old age 90 - 120
Population prior cataclysm: 2,045,500 (12%)
Population post cataclysm: 5,500 ( 5%)
Average No# of Offspring per family: 1
Type of Culture: Politician-Warriors, Merchants

Tyen Culture:

The Tyen culture is one of the oldest and most developed cultures on Aagos. Founded in Daar by Hejdedros Tye, the Tyen Empire (House of Tye) has had a bloody past, with more than its share of political intrigue; this has naturally had an effect on the Tyen culture as a whole.

Aggressive and proud, Tyen are known for being ruthless in their dealings with other races, driven by a belief that all members of other races are physically, as well as spiritually inferior. Naturally this has led to very strained relations with the other peoples of Aagos, notably the Tir, whom along with their Elven ancestors were subjugated by the Tyen and forced to live as slaves, labouring to feed and house their Tyen masters and build their cities.

However, despite the aggressive and expansionistic nature of the race, Tyen culture is well defined and (some might say surprisingly) rich, with centuries of traditions and customs, which each Tyen is expected to observe to the letter with sometimes dire consequences for any deviation. Life to them is a well-rehearsed play, with each player knowing well their lines; what happens off-stage, stays off-stage. No word, action, or plot is particularly evil - unless it comes to light. Politics, therefore, are often subtle, secretive, and violent.

Tyen organise themselves into houses, bound by blood the houses represent families, though their membership often extends to cousins and distant relations, and as a result the houses can often be (and usually are) quite large. These houses are then organised into a strict hierarchy, with each house often supporting a specific role in the society, or a grouping of like roles (such as minor government officials, or merchants.) There is very little movement within this hierarchy, which means being born into a specific house will typically dictate the career (and to some degrees, the life) path open to a young Tyen. The 'rank' of a house is denoted by a suffix appended to the name of the house itself, at each level of the hierarchy there is a unique suffix, these are as follows:

The Imperial house -ra
The Imperial advisors -ras
Major government officials and military leaders -eth
Minor government officials -es
Major merchant families -thal
Minor merchant families -thor
Major land owners and skilled craftsmen & artisans -mer
Minor land owners and public services -mers
Unskilled craftsmen and farmers -sa

Tyen names follow the convention of (name)('radu or 'du or 'ddu) of House (name)(suffix), meaning Tyeni traditionally have only one name, with a great propensity for naming ones children after a particulary honoured ancestor, thus names such as 'Neven IX' are quite common. Also note the optional suffixes 'du and 'ddu for the Tyen's name (pronounced d-ee and th-ee respectively); this signifies that the Tyen is a close relation of the families main bloodline; 'du is given to children and other direct descendants of the head of the house, while 'ddu is given to first and second cousins of the head of the house. Finally the suffix 'radu (ra-d-ee) is given to the head of the house. i.e. Neven'radu IX of House Corith-es.

Naturally it is believed to be advantageous for a house to marry off its children to houses of a superior social rank, or at least other houses of an equal rank. However, when this is not possible it isn't uncommon for Tyen to marry within their house, a practice commonly believed to strengthen the bloodline. Understandably Tyen have no taboos against incest or marriage between siblings.

Tyeni family structure is complicated. They often practice polygamy; one male may have up to four wives and several mistresses, and each of their wives might have two or three other concubines or courtiers, male or female. Adoption is commonplace, and makes for mind-boggling family trees. It is worth noting, however, that while it is common for Tyeni to have several partners, it is considered deplorable to have children with anyone save their husband/wife, this is especially true for women, and it has been known for a woman to be stripped of her citizenship and enslaved, along with the child for breeding with one of her concubines.

Tyen believe strongly in the sanctity of their blood and the purity of their species. The act of polluting the blood is regarded as one of the greatest sins a Tyen can commit, and while Tyeni sometimes take foreign concubines, or slaves into their bed, to breed with one is a crime, for which the penalty is the execution of child and parents. This is a solemn duty and it would be extremely rare for any Tyen, even close family, to offer mercy to anyone known to have broken this law.

The difference between the genders among Tyen is significant. Males head family houses and rule over any significant decisions regarding the family, the head of he family must be consulted before marriage, and even the naming of children. This is mirrored in government, which is the sole arena of men. However, Tyen women are offered great respect and protection from their family; they are the epitome of grace and dignity and are revered by the men of the household. It is the women who typically turn their hand to crafts and business management, with the men and sons often doing the 'legwork'. Women are also subject to far stricter etiquette requirements.

Female Tyen are expected to dress and act in specific ways, and these requirements often span all social stations. In public Tyeni women wear veils to conceal their faces, these veils are often woven from extremely expensive fabrics and decorated with gems or beads and striking, though elegant patterns. Typically hanging from the horns the veils hide the full face, and some might wear several layers. To be unveiled in public is a disgrace, and many Tyen women would rather be stripped of all other clothing than go without their face veil. To unveil a Tyen in public, or make the attempt, is a dire insult to her and her house, the equivalent to accusing her of being no more than a slave, and has often been the match which has sparked family feuds. Beyond the veil, Tyen women and men to some degree, tend towards a more conservative dress code. They do not show much flesh, which is seen to be more fitting for slaves, a slave is an objects, something to be shown off, where as to see a free person is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, Tyen tend to attract attention through the rich fabrics they wear, and the elegant designs of their clothing and jewellery, and much of a Tyen's wealth might well be spent on their clothing above all else.

Slavery is a very big part of Tyeni lives, having helped to found the empire and fuel its economy it has had far reaching effects on the culture as well. Most Tyeni households employ servants and own slaves, though typically slavery is reserved for members of other races. Never the less, Tyen women are occasionally enslaved, sometimes as punishment for their crimes or as an attack on a house by a rival house. It is perhaps this threat of slavery which encourages most Tyen women to adopt a generally docile behaviour around Tyen males, though far from submissive it is rare for a woman to directly challenge a man. Male Tyen are secure from slavery however, at least within their own culture, as the idea of male Tyen being enslaved is considered repugnant and a disgrace to all involved. That isn't to say, however, that they are not enslaved by other races...

Having founded their empire on slave labour and the efforts of subjugated races, most Tyen have been freed from the tedium of agriculture and other mundane though essential tasks. The vast majority of Tyen have, thus, lived very relaxed lives, comparable to that of nobility from other cultures. A very high proportion of Tyen have been afforded an education, with many going on to study the arts of philosophy, and as such they consider themselves culturally superior to all other races, and in part this is true.

Household slaves are often cared for well, and are often dressed in fine clothes (though notably of a different, distinct design) with female slaves often wearing half veils, much like Tyen free-women; these veils hang down from the nose, covering the lower half of the face, leaving the eyes on show. However, unlike other cultures where slavery can sometimes be a temporary state, in Tyen eyes slavery is permanent. Once trained and conditioned to the life of a slave one can never again be free and in part this is true due to the rigours of Tyeni slave training. Any children born of a slave are slaves themselves, and Tyen masters often keep a stable of slaves for breeding purposes, selling the offspring on after training and conditioning.

INTERACTIONS:

Full Bloods:
Human - Neutral / Mildly Disliked
Tir - Strongly Disliked
Skel'reth - Disliked

Half-Bloods:
Strongly Disliked (Though Tyeni may keep 'foreign' concubines around, to breed with one is abhorred.)

HISTORY:

Hejdedros Tye I organized the scattered tribes into one nation early in world history, becoming the House of Tye's first Emperor. He handed down to his successors his same ambitious love of conquest; the direct line of Tyen emperors has not been broken in a thousand years. Likewise, the will of the empire to enforce Tyeni superiority over the other races Aagos remained whole - by guile, trade, or war. Early in the history of the empire, the Tir were first to be subjected, along with the historically elusive Elves. Eventually, they expanded north and west to meet Humans and Skrel'eth at the southern border of Viroth, a time which marked the height of the empire's glory. The petty human kingdoms in that region - and their clannish Skrel'eth allies - fell quickly to the massive onslaught. That is, until the humans and Skrel'eth organized themselves into the Viroth Alliance under the leadership of Cumaill, the first King of Viroth. The imperial Tyeni army was quickly repelled, and a wall was built between the two nations. The second campaign, some years later, was nearly a complete success. A series of decisive victories left the King's army crushed, and the last obstacle between the Tyeni and their coveted world-wide empire was nearly passed. It was then that Cymur himself intervened, devastating the invading army with an outpouring of holy wrath. Over the next few decades, more and more of the Tyen's once mighty empire was lost to the Viroth Alliance, civil war, and Tir revolts. The power and glory of the empire faded, until they were forced into a submissive peace. Eventually, the Tyeni turned their energies to wealth by trade and art; conservative imperialists whispered of a time when they would rule Aagos again. The Darkness brought those dreams short, as a huge majority of Tyeni were swallowed up in it.

The old capitol of Musahyet is far to the south of Telantha, and assumed to be lost. Despite, most Tyeni alive still count themselves as imperial citizens, attempting to cling to their sacred culture. An exception to these, of course, are those who had already been outcast by the empire for criminal reasons, or traders and artisans who had given up their citizenship for a 'Northern' lifestyle.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Height Range: 165cm to 190cm
Weight Range: 50kg to 82kg
Build: Tall and lean, toned.
Hair Ranges: blondes and light browns
Eye Ranges: blues and greens
Skin Ranges: pale cream to a chocolate brown

While Tir share some similarities with Tyeni: they are both tall and generally slim, the Tir tend to be more robust. Their most prominent feature is their long, narrow ears which can move independently and with a surprising amount of freedom, allowing them to track sounds without having to move their head. Like their Elven ancestors the Tir are a willowy, fair featured race, though after generations of living as gypsies in small caravan communities, exposed to the elements and having to work the land, they have grown far sturdier than the Elves from whom they evolved. While slim, most Tir are athletic, their muscles toned and again, unlike the Elves, Tir can develop a light tan; though there are no dark skinned Tir.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Life Span: Child 1 - 12, Young Adult 13 - 20, Adult 21 - 65, Old age 66 - 100
Population prior cataclysm: 1,193,000 ( 7%)
Population post cataclysm: 6,500 ( 6%)
Average No# of Offspring per family: 2
Type of Culture: Nomadic

The Tir are a race of nomads, gypsies. Prior to the cataclysm Tir could be found in most parts of the world in small groups, constantly on the move. Your average Tir would likely have never spent more than a year in one region, before their caravan decided to move; leaving not a single trace of their stay, even a prolonged one. The name Tir is actually derived from a slang term in Elvish, it literally means wanderer, though was often used in a negative sense by the Elves who found the activities or beliefs of some of their kin to be unbecoming.

There is no real structure to the Tirian culture, the race is highly segmented, and even within each group there is rarely any real framework for governing. There is a leader, though this title means comparatively little, and can change several times in one generation as the balance of power shifts. Tir have the most keen sense of self out of all the races, and tend to approach the world as a loosely bound group of individuals, rather than a single unit. This leads to a highly creative and inspired culture, full of song, art, games, anything that an individual can use to create an identity for themselves. But unfortunately this does not lend itself to a very successful culture in terms of war or government. Many Tir rebel against any defined form of authority, natural anarchists. Thus, far from ancsestor worshippers, like the Tyeni, Tir retain no surnames or titles.

INTERACTIONS:

Full Bloods:
Human - Neutral
Tyen - Hated
Skrel'eth - Respected / Liked

Half-Bloods:
Tolerated with the exception of Tyen half-bloods.

HISTORY:

Tir did not develop a written language until their forced submission into the Tyeni empire. Thus, there are no written records of Tirian history previous; it is a subject that belongs to often conflicting and confusing oral myths, muddled even more by their nomad lifestyle. The basis for these stories seem, as experts agree, to borrow much from their Elven ancestors - a secluded and cryptic race. So, from generation to generation, camp to camp, these legends change with each telling for purely aesthetic reasons, as the Tir put far more weight on the art of oral tradition, rather than academic acuracy.

What is known for sure about their past is that which coincides with Tyeni and Virothian history. Namely, they are a native people of Eastern Aagos who have suffered long years of conquest and servitude where they did not roam freely as elusive bandits and raiders. The former was more likely, as the Tir tend to be a peaceful and generally unproductive nation. Notable members pop up every so often in the history of more 'civilized' people, like Markoa, a charismatic slave-turned-warrior who led an uprising against his Tyen masters in Sron, creating a great distraction to the Empire during their Second Invasion that became, ultimately, a factor in their defeat.

The Tir in Yarsin and Sron are generally considered members of the Viroth Alliance, though without one particular figure head.

Height Range: 160cm - 195cm
Weight Range: 50-150 kg
Build:
Hair Ranges: blondes, browns, reds and black
Eye Ranges: blue, browns, greens and grey
Skin Ranges: pale cream to a chocolate brown

Overall General Appearance:

In appearance, the Humans of Aagos are not that much different from the humans of Earth; their colourings are as typical and similar. Of note: prior to the Cataclysm, all hair tones above were equally common. However, due to Telantha being the only known surviving city in the world, and Telanthans being 'red-heads' (more often than not), that colour is now, by far, the most copious.

Although they bear no prominent markings by birth, it is relatively common in many societies for Humans to adorn their bodies with both tattooes and piercings.

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Population prior cataclysm: 10,057,000 (22%)
Population post cataclysm: 84,500 (78%)
Life Span: Child 1-12, Young Adult 13-15, Adult 16-50, Old age 51-80

All through the history of Aagos, Humans have always been, by far, the most numerous of the races. This is more true now, since the Cataclysm, than ever. Like all other races, their numbers did suffer considerably, but Telantha was primarily human prior to the disastrous event; their population exceeds that of other races even further now. Scientifically, they are a very active race, and as such are often considered the most technologically advanced overall.

It could be said that there are three particular types of humans in Aagos: citizens and serfs of the Kingdom of Viroth (or Virothians); citizens of city-states in central and western Aagos (such as Yarsin, and the 'petty kingdoms' in Aartiru and the Western Islands); and a motley collection of nomadic tribes and wanderers that are scattered throughout the places in between. Of all these, Virothians are by far the most common, given the Cataclysm, with refugees from Yarsin coming in a distant second place.

VIROTHIANS
The Kingdom of Viroth spans most of the region of the same name. Viroth is -- and has been for two hundred years -- one of the three great military and political powers in Aagos. As a feudal monarchy, the nation is ruled by a single king over a system of noble houses. Together, they hold all the rights to land ownership, the land itself being primarily worked by serfs, though a strong merchant class is beginning to make its presence known. Viroth is mostly rural, though there exist a handful of large cities (Telantha included). Virothians are generally conservative in nature, wary of foreigners, and value their structure and traditions. Most see the intrusion of refugees into their lands as an offense -- or at least a necessary evil.

YARSANS
Yarsin, a city-state which once ruled much of the region of the same name, was almost completely obliterated in the Cataclysm. Most survivors, now refugees in Viroth, dwelled outside the city (called Yarsin-on-the-Mountain, or Mount Yarsin) in farms and villages. When it did exist, Yarsin was a capitalistic democracy, ruled by a senate. Yarsans are far more often interested in trade than tradition, and by myth was the center of a world-wide criminal underground. Though Yarsin and its territories are political allies with the Kingdom of Viroth, tensions between the two nations have been, traditionally, high. Yarsin, in its prime, was considered one of the three great political and military powers in Aagos.

OTHERS
Throughout the world, small kingdoms, nomadic tribes, and less-organized societies of Humans are (or were) scattered about, now considered lost to the Darkness. A handful of these also made their way to Telantha as refugees, though in comparison to Virothians and Yarsans, their numbers are very small.

HISTORY:
Since creation, humans have steadily increased in numbers and spread over the continent in a gradual Northerly direction. This can be, for the large part, due to their versatility and ease by which they adapt to their environment. Though many of the other races point the finger at the promiscuousness of many of the members of their species.

Conflicts between each other as well as with other races have been a common occurrence in Human history. For the most part, when coming head-to-head against other races, Humans have come out on top through ingenuity and sheer numbers.

INTERACTIONS:

Tir: Neutral
Tyen: Disliked
Skrel'eth: Liked
Seari: Neutral