Post by Nazerine on Mar 31, 2012 12:05:46 GMT 10
"Do battle with me now, mortal. Unlike you, I am reincarnate. I have been born many times, and from my past lives, that experience will transcend that of your own. You cannot match a few decades of training to a millennia of devotion." - Khall Zinchaad, Favoured Soul of Ouroboros. |
| Name: Desert Baysaad. Pronounced 'Baey-saad'. Plural form:- Baysaad. Nicknames: Tthul, Lizards, Serpents, Raptors, Wyrms, Hunters. Lifespan: 300 - 500 years. Reputation: Honourable, spiritual, serious. Common Classes: Warriors, Berserkers, Guardians. Racial Gods: Ouroboros. Racial Attributes: +8 Strength, 2+ Agility. * Gain frenzy, a temporary increase to attack speed. * Possess the best sense of smell. * Slight resistance to heat. City: Ekytol |
Origins
The Baysaad are said to have been descendants of dragons. From the beginning, their presence upon Verenthia has been recorded, spanning back thousands of years, and even eras. The people lived in separate tribes throughout the Uktari ranges, their communities spread and each upholding different traditions and laws. Some of these tribes expanded to the south, beyond the Uktari region and pouring into the Humad, in the south.
The Baysaad of the south are said to have taken after the serpent dragons whom resembled lizards with the head of dogs. These tribes, with their thick coats of hair, were able to embrace the sandstorms that lashed the outer borders, allowing them to migrate even further to the oasis-lands near the coast. Settlements and temples were built in the lush green lands that centred around lonely pools and lakes of water. Ekytol, the largest monument of Ouroboros to ever be built, was established during the late age of earth.
Presently, the desert baysaad live in the various oasis and green coastal regions of Humad, sharing a kindred relationship with the Kaseem humans who were later discovered inhabiting the Kas oasis to the east. Due to the human influence in their culture, the desert baysaad have changed some of their traditional customs.
Biology
It is hard to discern how the desert baysaad and forest baysaad are related, regarding their huge physical differences. Their skin is coarse and thick, having a rubbery consistency. The skin of the species ranges in the dark colours, usually being displayed in browns, blacks, and whites. The colouration is uneven and tends to patch lighter around the eyes, snout and belly. Jagged stripes and spots are common markings, though their tint is usually darker than the skin. This gives the desert baysaad a natural camouflage, making them difficult to see if hidden well.
Thick yet soft hair rund down the spine and tail, predominantly more common in males. Females are known to be less furry than the opposite sex. The colour of the hair is usually matched to the patches decorating body.
Their eyes are wild and fierce in nature, having a feline or canine quality. Coming in tints of gold, amber, white and red, they are predatory and narrow into slits when angered. The nose of the desert baysaad is not a snout, but a leathery nose that lays flat and wide against the face.
The claws and teeth reflect that same dog-like, cat-like trait. The fangs point beyond the muzzle, pressing curved against the chin. Their claws are not as long nor as sharp as their cousins.
Age and Reproduction
Desert Baysaad follow the same mating traditions as their forest cousins, by planning the impregnation of the women at the mating season period. The males uphold a series of fighting and hunting tournaments to sift out the weaker and unworthy. Those who triumph claim the rites to mate and will bed the female for a series of days in a private location.
Once pregnant, the female will wait throughout the gestation period and will lay the eggs in a nest. However, the desert baysaad are much less hostile, and males are allowed to help in attending the nest and caring for the eggs. Usually, the eggs are fanned and cooled with leaves to keep them at an even temperature. Once laid, the female and her selection of matrons or patrons keep watch over the eggs until they are ready to hatch.
Once the young are brought into the world, each one is given a ceremonial bath and fed their first live meal, having been gathered before-hand for the hatching. Usually there are 5-8 hatchlings per nest, giving the mother or selective relative to choose with children to keep. Out of the pack, they will select 4 individuals that they claim parentship over. The others are slain. The selection is based on genetics, gender balance and physical and mental prowess. There is no space in their society for the weak.
As the lucky chosen hatchlings are grown alongside their mother and/or father or otherwise, they are taught to hunt, kill and train for the harsh life in the desert plains. The training is extensive and overwhelming, often killing those who cannot keep up with their energetic ways and leaving only the strong to face the trials.
The trials is the final event where all young baysaad must attend to prove their worth. They duel other youngsters in various techniques, showcasing their superiority though strength, wit and cunning. The genders are separated to keep the occasion fare and evenly matched.
After the trials, those claimed victorious are paired with their closest rival and are assigned as life-long partners. Named 'Erkai' in the baysaad tongue, the two partners will decide together what they are to make of their life, such as opening a business, entering a profession or travelling together. The bond is made final in a blood pact, that signifies their relation as brothers and sisters.
Psychology
Their ways of emotion are considered cold. Their emotions can only be clearly understood by one of their own species. Some say they are heartless, as their cold nature leads them to making companions of those outside of their race difficult, when in reality they are simply misunderstood.
Tthul are calculative beings, whom respect honour, strength, endurance and wit. They do not know of love, the closest emotion in their psyche being affection which is shared damply. They are serious beings, whom do not perceive conversation as a necessity. They will only speak when it is truly required to do so. Being blunt in nature can make them seem offensive, as they will speak the rational truth without any regard for emotion. Insulting a baysaad verbally will not affect them, as such disputes are settled in their society through other means.
Racial Traits
The striped, dotted and coloured patches of skin across their body naturally aid them to conceal themselves in the forests and sands of the desert of illusions. This natural camouflage will only work if the baysaad wears nothing and knows how to mimic the ways of low branches swaying or sand grains blowing.
They gather their energy from the sun, requiring them to at least sun bake once a day in order to make it through the night if they wish to stay awake. Without sunlight, they become lax and fatigued. Another racial trait they possess is their blood, which has until just recently found to have an adrenalin-like effect when consumed. This allows the desert baysaad to go into a frenzy when angered, allowing their movements to become swift and light. The frenzy is temporary, but it supplies enough blood to the body to cause a light suppression of pain throughout the spree.
Clothing, Art and Industry
Architectural accomplishments of the desert baysaad have proven them to be efficient builders. Following the same archetype of the bone carving techniques demonstrated in the forest baysaad, the desert baysaad follow their ways but apply it to stone. Heavy rocks of stone are chiselled down with picks and bone, until they are slotted and formed into simple but sturdy geometric frames. The pride of their people, Ekytol, the monolith devoted to their god, showcases their remarkable ability to stack stone. Every surface of their buildings is covered in patterns of squares and circles, usually with skulls, animals and jagged patterns etched into them.
Defence such as armour and weapons have changed from the traditional minimalist approach. Since their ties with the Kaseem, the baysaad have imported metal to craft and mould their weapons from. Forged from the precious ores, the armour design itself is based on Imperial standard, though altered so that sharp fins are accented across the plated forearms and calves. Axes and halberds still stand as the most popular weapons, though they have taken a recent liking into crossbows, no doubtingly being another human influence. The most lethal weapons of their kind are the blades forged in churning hot sands. Said to be the sharpest of all blades and able to cut through the thickest of armour and stone, they are sought after by many but very few can afford them.
Common clothing is seen as silken cloth strung across the body and decorated with tassels. This cloth is usually light in colour and variation, many upholding simple shamanistic designs such as birds, serpents or eyes. Head shrouds are common to keep the sand away from the eyes. Scarves are also a formality, and are wrapped over the muzzle to keep any stray pieces of dirt and the hot wind from searing the sensitive nostrils.
Glasswork, made by heating sand to a high temperature and mixing it with other precious minerals is a rare resource. The Kaseem are their main customers when it comes to baysaad glasswork, who import the material to be shipped to the other human settlements beyond the border.
Religion
Desert baysaad follow the belief of their main racial religion and submit the will of their sun god, Ouroboros, into their daily lives. They believe passionately in reincarnation as their social structure is based strongly on this philosophy. Leaders and aspirants are said to be the souls of ancients, having walked Verenthia for thousands of years.
The human impression on their culture have converted a few Tthul to the ways of celestial atonement while others have taken to following human deities.
Though not written into their religion formally, Tthul are believers in honour and power. Those whom acquire both in their lifetime have more success to possess a more powerful body in their next life. Tthul believe that true strength lies in the physical, having prompted them into shunning their old magical ways into embracing a more warrioresque lifestyle. Only the minorities pursue the path of magic, with most having converted into becoming warriors.
The significance of blood is hugely important, as it is used to create bonds in their society. The blood pacts have served their people well, by uniting them under one banner instead of many.