Chthonian

Chthonians are the elementals of earth and stone. They dwell deep underground and shape rock with their touch.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Elementals

• Alignment: Aetherial

• Energy: Kazaddarean

• Lifespan: 200 years

• Diet: Subterranean fare - water, fungi, subterranean plants and animals

• Habitat: Underground

Origins

In the early days of the world, a stone became aware. The stone was cloven by the shifting of the earth, and thus was two stones, both aware. From these two stones more stones were cleaved, and as many eons passed, the stone took form, and became a mortal person, and thus were the chthonians born.

Description

Chthonians have skin like earth but softer and malleable, with as many colors as there are colors of soil or stone. They stand, on average, about 5' tall, and have brown, grey, or black hair, all of which is filled with a metallic lustre. Their eyes are grey or gold and flecked as if splinters of gemstones are within, and their voices are very deep. Culturally, they are known for their beards and braided hair. Their bones are made of stone.

Procreation

Chthonians reproduce sexually, but birth is a process known, in loose translation, as cleaving, where the new chthonian is cut from the parent after growing as a rounded stone form. This stone is then incubated until it takes the shape of a mortal person, a chthonian child.

Powers

Chthonians can shape stone with their touch, though it drains them of the kazaddarean that they embody. They live in the dark of caves and can see with very little light. They have an innate sense of direction and can sense caves up to a mile away by ear. If they can see a stone, they can identify it unless it is otherwise supernaturally affected to be unrecognizable (i.e., stones imbued with arcane shadow can still be occluded). They also have a sensitivity to kazaddarean, so those who live or work near raw aether are often shaped by it. As long as they are standing on earth or stone, their balance is supernaturally strong - they cannot easily be knocked over if both feet are planted. Their earthen skin and bones of stone give them a natural toughness.

Stone Affiliation

Every chthonian bonds with a type of stone when they come of age. For most chthonians, the stone is chosen for them by the culture they are raised in (one of the 12 nations), but some choose a different type of stone. Any stone that is not afflicted by brown aether or industrial pollution can be bonded with, and once they have bonded with that stone, they are able to draw power from it when they touch it without diminishing the stone. They can draw power from other stones as well, but this will drain the stone of aether. Aetherless stone has no life and loses all its natural properties, turning into a dust called eghadkhan, which can be reconstituted into stone by adding kazaddarean to it, but otherwise is seen the same way rust is seen - as a blight upon stone.

Affiliation with different types of stone causes the chthonians to take on different physical features, usually a shift in skin tone, hair color, or body shape, but sometimes something more dramatic if the stone is supernatural in some way.

Weaknesses

Brown aether is potent poison for chthontians.

Twelve Nations

There are twelve great nations of chthonians, each of them bonded to a different kind of stone that is sacred to them:

1. Geode: Avgaudans are known for their love of jewels and crystals, for their works of art and beauty. They dwell in the upper regions of Akazad mostly, but can be found in every layer of the world.

2. Khreoc (bauxite): Khreochans are known for their mining works and extraction of metals, their foundries and smithing and aetherial industries. They dwell in the lower levels of Akazad and work the furnaces. Khreoc is a form of bauxite rich in kazaddarean, and so they are able to extract and founder it without as much industrial waste.

3. Galena: Mhaulphdas Asym are known for their mining and extraction of metals, but also for keeping up appearances, using galena in makeup as well as a source of lead and silver. As galena is mundane, they do little of the industrial processing of it, simply exporting the ore. This has made them a rich nation. They dwell in the lower regions.

4. Umgyead: Shau’kharaghs (sometimes called Shaukhs by outsiders) are known for their petrologers, chthonians who are master shapers of stone, dwelling deep underground, but above the fiery regions. Umgyead is a very rare rock that contains few impurities. It is better for shaping or drawing power from than for quarrying or building with.

5. Schist: Schaukzarans are known for their great variety of crafts, reflecting the stone they bond with. Schist is a category of stone that is known for containing many different minerals, with varying forms, and the Schaukzarans bond to it and reflect its variety. They also have the reputation of having the best medical resources of all chthonians. They dwell at every layer, but more in the upper layers than lower.

6. Granite: Grasytharans are the largest population of chthonians, existing in every layer and even in other parts of the world. They are known as builders and generally seen as lower class, especially since very few are part of the nobility. They take pride in their craftsmanship. They see themselves as rivals to the Khyrythysans.

7. Flint: Khyrythysans are the second largest population of chthonians, existing mostly in the upper layers of Akazad. They are known as artisans, makers of tools and weapons, makers of fine crafts. They are seen as lower class as well, but slightly more respected than the Grasytharans, whom they see themselves as rivals to. They are over-represented in the Akazadian military.

8. Ianthinis (jasper/quartz): Chalazarans are known for their beautiful works, often fine wares, works of art, and jewelry. Ianthinis is a form of jasper with a rich reddish brown hue. It is potent with kazaddarean. Chalazarans dwell in the middle regions of Akazad and are mostly noble families. They are very rich and very powerful with esoterica.

9. Nekhuar (flint): Nekhuarans are known for their military strength. They are great warriors with supernatural abilities, the core of the Akazadian military - the baurukh - wielders of flint weapons that can break stone and steel. They are among the elite of Akazad and live at every layer.

10. Akaz (viridianite): Akazadians consider themselves the only true Akazadians and make up the heart of the nobility. They are bonded to viridianites, pure elementals, of stone and earth, and they are the most powerful of earth mages among the chthonians. They shaped the original Akazadian cities and are known for their shaping abilities in general. They live at every layer, usually in finely shaped mansions.

11. Odzib (diamond): Maurachadans are extremely rare chthonians bonded to a form of diamond that is rich with kazaddarean. They live in the lower layers of Akazad and keep to themselves, hoarding wealth and power. They control diamond mines and are extremely rich. They qualify as a separate nation due to their distinct dialect and cultural norms, but they are small enough in number that some consider them a large, extended family.

12. Alatyr (unique): Omphalydans are a mysterious nation of chthonians who dwell in a valley in Akazad known as the navel of the world. They bond to the unique rock there known to the outside world as Alatyr (they themselves call it Omphal). They are known for their esoteric powers - earth magic and worship of Abad Zabad, the Lord of Stones - and removal from the secular world. They are extremely powerful esotericists and priests, but they interact little with the outside world.

Culture

The twelve nations dwell within Akazad, the kingdom of the chthonians, which spans from the surface of the world in the Akazadian Mountains in southeastern Lyrilla, downward through the layers of the Subterranean Realm, ending in the fiery, molten region known as Barathrum.

Akazad is ruled by a noble class who control the land throughout the vertical kingdom, called landlords or thanes. While there is a hierarchy among them, the title “thane” or “landlord” is the common translation used for all ranks, and rank is determined and known among chthonians based on knowledge of the families and their wealth and power. The ruler of all of Akazad is called “king” or “high thane”, but their title more directly translates to “twelve-stone-lord”, meaning he commands all 12 nations and is bonded to all 12 stones. In truth, no ruler of Akazad has actually bonded to more than one kind of stone since before the Fall, but the title remains. Legends say the Lord of the 12 Stones is inmortal and will one day return, heralded by the wielding of hammer, ax, and crown, but the rulers of Akazad try to suppress it.

The noble class controls the land of Akazad, but while agriculture is a significant part of their economy, mining, quarrying, and crafts are much greater. The mines and quarries are controlled by the noble families, but the crafts are controlled by guilds - the smiths, masons, shapers, armorers, jewellers, and traders all have powerful associations that have great political power if not control of the land. All noble families draw garrisons from the populace on their lands to form the Akazadian military, and each noble family is expected to send at least one member to lead their forces.

The artisans and military are a mix of commoners and nobles, with the nobles having prestige status in both groups, and commoners of note among them gaining more privilege and respect in society because of their roles. However, the bulk of chthonians in the 12 nations are peasants, serfs, and workers, toiling away in mines, farms, and quarries.

Chthonian children are raised by their extended families. Each family is headed by elders who make sure the traditions of their families and nations are kept, including the heirloom kazadallhek, the piece of stone that each family member bonds to when they come of age. Children are taught the family craft or business if they are commoners, taught to work the land or mines if they are peasants or serfs, and taught to rule if they are nobles.

When they come of age at 20, they are subjected to a ceremony during which they bond to the kazadallhek or an equivalent stone. In rare cases, they are allowed to (or in even rarer cases, encouraged to) bond to a different stone if they seek a different purpose. In other cases, they choose a different stone to bond to in rebellion against their families, but this usually results in disowning, abuse, or at the very least, disapproval.

Chthonian arts vary by nation, but usually revolve around earth and stone. Music is percussive and deep. Food is heavy with fungi, root vegetables, and subterranean animal meat. Though they are stereotyped as lovers of alcohol, it plays no heavier a role in their cultures than others. They simply have very distinct and strong liquors.

National Cultures

The 12 nations have a complex interplay between one another that is over-complicated by internal rivalries, prejudices, feuds, alliances, and deals.

The Avgaudans are a small nation. There are few of them in the nobility, but they control the jewellers guilds. They are also well known for their trading families. They consider themselves better than the Maurachadans and have a rivalry with them that the Maurachadans do not acknowledge - after all, even their richest families are much poorer than the poor Maurachadans. They bond to geodes and favor the secret beauty within them. The poorer Avdaudans are usually miners and quarriers, but some are powerful petrologers and lapidarists. Art is highly valued in their culture - they create colorful works, especially sculpting and mosaic, but they are also known to hoard their own art and keep it in their families rather than share it with the world. Crystal gardens are a common in their homes.

The Khreochans are a powerful nation who control mines and foundries in the lower regions of Akazad. Their richest and most powerful families are nobles who own the mines and crafters who own the foundries. There is no founders guild, for the Khreochans are the only nation who engage in industrial works; the industrial businesses are all family owned. They also control the chimneys that funnel the smoke and soot up out of the deeps and into the air, avoiding the chthonian lands entirely to do so, using aetherial arts to scrub it clean before it pollutes the world above or below. The workers among the Khreochans are either serfs working the mines or workers in the foundries. They are known for having greater heat resistance than other chthonians. They are often recruited into the military. They bond to khreoc, an aetherial form of bauxite that allows them to extract metals from it (aluminum and gallium) without polluting the world. They have a rivalry with the Akazadians and consider themselves truer representative sof the chthonian species than their cousins.

The Mhaulphdas Asym live in the lower regions and bond to galena, a mundane ore that contains silver and lead. They are known mostly for mining, owning few foundries or other industrial places to extract from the ore they mine. Instead, they export it, sending it out to the industrial world abroad. This has made their noble families and traders very rich and their workers and serfs very poor. Few are peasants among them - mostly, they are serfs working the mines. They are known for valuing appearances - other chthonians consider them vain - and creating makeup using galena. All Mhaulphdas Asym wear makeup regardless of gender. They are often considered “fey” or “weak” by other nations.

The Shau’kharaghs bond to umgyead, a rare stone rich with kazaddarean, which makes them very powerful petrologers and shapers of earth. They dwell above the fiery regions but still very deep, and they are known for their great tunnels and passages ways. They are considered the keepers of the highways and stairs, including the famous Alkor Stair that connects all layers of Akazad. Their richest families are either heads of guilds or traders or nobles who control the stair and thus charge tolls for travel and trade. Their poorest families patrol the stairs or passages as guards or work as shapers-for-hire. Their dialect of Akazadian is considered the lingua franca in Akazad, as they travel the most, and most official documents are written in it as well as “true Akazadian” in order to be read by all. They are also known for their poetry.

The Schaukzarans bond to the many forms of schist and pride themselves on how varied they are. They boast of being jacks-of-all-trades, of having families in every guild, of having nobles owning every kind of land there is to own in Akazad, of having a cousin who practices every esoteric or mundane art valued in the kingdom, of knowing someone who can do this that or the other. They founded the first schools in Akazad open to all, and their doctors, healers, and medicians are second to none among chthonians. Nobles among them are considered less cruel and more generous with their serfs and peasants, allowing their children to go to school and train their way into crafts guilds rather than live forever as servants and serfs. They also encourage all among their families to serve some time in the military. Other nations consider them frivolous and foolish, though they do not speak those prejudices when they seek medicines or surgeries.

The Grasytharans are the largest nation in terms of population. They are mostly commoners, serfs, and peasants, but their most powerful members are leaders in the guilds of builders. They are known as builders primarily, but there are Grasytharans in many crafts guilds. They are also workers on the largest number of farms, and some say they are the finest cooks and brewers. If an outsider thinks of chthonians, they often picture Grasytharans or Khyrythysans, and thus, they are considered the stereotypical chthonian. The few Grasytharan nobles are generally lower ranking nobles - rarely in their history has one risen to the rank of ruler of all Akazad, and those few who have had a reputation as reformers. Grasytharans bond to granite. There are always rebellions among the Grasytharan serfs and commoners.

The Khyrythysans are the second largest population of chthonians. They bond to flint and consider themselves the “bones of Akazad”, the force that makes Akazad strong. They have a rivalry with the Grasytharans and are also often considered the “stereotypical chthonian” in the minds of outsiders. They are often members of the military and known for the weapons their crafters make. They are makers of tools while the Grasytharans are makers of buildings. Others describe Grasytharans as the hammers of Akazad and the Khyrythysans as the axes of Akazad. They value combat skill and the warriors among them are often elite. There are more noble families among them than the Grasytharans, but the Khyrythysan nobles all claim they “earned” their nobility on the battlefield. They always have many members among the military leadership.

The Chalazarans bond to the aetherial form of jasper known as ianthinis. This beautiful semi-precious stone is used in jewelry and objects of mystical power, and the Chalazarans are known for their involvement in the jewellers guilds as well as their patronage of the arts. Many of them are noble families, and those few who aren’t are still often well off. They are known for their esotericists, especially earth mages and petrologers, as well as their involvement in religion. They almost never send more than the bare minimum to serve in the military. They love works of beauty and pay handsomely for artworks, which they display in galleries they shape in their great palaces and cities. They dislike Avgaudans’ habit of keeping art to themselves. They view other chthonian nations as uncouth.

The Nekhuarans see the Khyrythysans as their inferior cousins, pretenders to military strength, those who use quantity instead of quality. They pride themselves for being powerful esoteric warriors, and from among come most of the baurukh, the elite earth magic-wielding warriors of the Akazadian military. They bond to an aetherial form of flint called nekhuar that they fashion into great blades used in axes, spears, and swords. They see anyone who is not a warrior as lesser, and those among them who do not serve in the military somehow are often disowned from their families. Each family’s kazadallhek is often a stone weapon made of nakhuar instead of a basic stone or fragment. They are haughty and proud, but they will fight to the death for Akazad. They boast that Nekhuaran blood fills the Akazadian streams. There are many Nekhuaran noble families, and like their cousins, they claim they “earned” their nobility as warriors. Nekhuarans count the second most rulers of all Akazad next to the Akazadians themselves, and the most powerful Nekhuaran family, the Khenakhadh, own the legendary axe Khaddanzael (“Skull-Cleaver”), said to have once belonged to the Lord of the 12 Stones.

The Akazadians bond to akaz, pure, living elemental stone viridianites - earth elementals. This makes them much more able to shape stone and use their natural abilities than other chthonians, and therefore, they believe themselves to be the truest chthonians and rightful rulers of Akazad. They shaped the first cities, it is said, and the Lord of the 12 Stones was said to have originated their nation (though this is disputed). The kingdom is named for them, and more rulers of all Akazad have been Akazadian than any other nation by a large margin. They value sculpture and masonry above all other arts and crafts, and they control vast swaths of land. Most Akazadians are from noble families, and those few who aren’t are usually powerful esotericist families with privileged positions. Other chthonians are often heard to bitterly cite that they never met a poor Akazadian, often said with derision to suggest Akazadians never do real work (which is not entirely untrue). The most powerful Akazadian family, the one with the strongest claim to being descended from the Lord of the 12 Stones, is the Kazkaladan family, and they own the warhammer Ak’maldans (“Bone-Crusher”), said to have belonged to him.

The Maurachadans bond to odzib, an aetherial form of diamond found only in the Low Mines. They own little land, but all of it contains diamond mines, and they control the mining, selling, and trading of these diamonds. They are obscenely rich and, though few in number, have great influence in Akazad. They run the traders guilds and not a single Maurachadan is not a noble. Those who do the work of mining are always of other nations, whom they view as inferior. They are known for using their wealth to build splendor and ostentation, and they fund arts and media that spreads their influence. They are the only nation who has ever owned slaves, though the practice is now outlawed. The richest Maurachadan family, the Mannachaldas, own the jeweled crown Na-Akaz-Mrythinar (“12-Stone-Crown”), once worn by the Lord of the 12 Stones, which they bought Ages ago. They are, however, much more complex than their reputation as diamond miners - amongst them are powerful petrologers who wield the odzib in ways that preserve and protect the world that few others can match. These are hushed up by the more powerful noble families, however.

The Omphalydans are the smallest nation, but their power derives entirely from their access to the Alatyr, the Omphal, the navel of the world, the father of all stones, a powerful aetherial stone in a valley on the surface of the world, in the heart of Akazad. All other chthonians respect them and view them as great masters of earth magic and religious figures. No Omphalydan has ever been a noble, entered the military, owned land outside of their valley, or made claim to power beyond their practice of earth magic and worship of Abad Zabad. They have special dispensation from the ruler of all Akazad that protects their valley from ownership, and they work and share the land in common (technically considered a protectorate of the church). They are considered old fashioned but greatly honored. When a new ruler is declared, they anoint them in the dirt of the valley and bless them. In history, twice they have refused to recognize a ruler, and twice that ruler was then stripped of power entirely and banished from Akazad. Both times, these potential rulers were found to have connections to industrialists outside of the country that were seen as a threat to the sovereignty of the kingdom. Omphalydans consider themselves simple, religious folk who honor the earth itself above all else. They have a much more communal social structure than the rest of Akazad.

Nobility

The nobility of Akazad are made up of powerful landowning families from most of the 12 nations. There are hundreds of these families, but far fewer than commoner families. These families control the land and most of the guilds and businesses. Though there are no differentiations in titles for the majority of noble families, they do have ranks and hierarchy, mostly derived from their prestige, military history, and most of all, wealth. The highest ranking noble is the lord of all Akazad, called the high thane or king. This ruler is determined by the vote of all noble families in the kingdom and rules for life. As such, the noble families seek to curry favor amongst themselves and build major support. This is the political life of the kingdom.

In the past, the high thane ruled and held three symbols: the hammer, the axe, and the crown. These each were taken by different noble families, however, and now the symbol of office is the sceptre which has the 12 stones within it called Rhycharyl, Jewelled Splendor.

The high thane makes decrees in order to create new laws, but these laws are almost always submitted by either nobles, guild masters, or some other group lobbying for change in the kingdom, usually backed by wealth. In times of war, the high thane may call upon the Akazadian military and become its absolute commander, though he usually delegates command to the military leaders already in place and serves as a symbolic leader.

The high thane’s other responsibilities are to keep peace between the nations, guilds, landowners, and other countries, though for this there are also many to whom the responsibility is delegated. Ultimately, the high thane serves as an ultimate authority who rarely uses that authority except when absolutely necessary, due mostly to pressure from below to keep the peace. The few high thanes who have exercised their authority outside times when the nobility and/or the people call for it have either been deposed or been remembered later as tyrants.

Esoterica

Chthonians are beings of kazaddarean, earth magic made manifest, and they are its greatest users. Earth mages and petrologers are a common and well-respected part of chthonian cultures. Other forms of aether are also wielded commonly, especially genesis, bailaohu jinghua, viridian aether, true shadow, lahab al’qalb, sonic aether, tmakikan, poarta, and ashar. Any energy that helps them craft, shape stone, or dwell beneath the earth is favored. They are also sometimes users of spirit energy, mijjit, cu’ucuch’ik, menab’e, mashoaab, gebvel, kakraohy, shavev mashkalran, d’qiarsea, oalkhaylaoataa, unfugl, tahalana, kutsegula, ethereal essence, symbolism, stagma, and vonzot. Infernal and celestial energies are also sometimes used - the former by nobles and warriors, the latter by commoners and serfs - except for brown aether, which would kill them if they tried to wield it.

Religion

The common faith of the chthonian nations is the worship of Abad Zabad, the Lord of Stones (not to be confused with the Lord of the 12 Stones, Macalma Abad Na-Zabad, legendary ruler of Akazad), who embodies the mountains, caves, and earth itself, the favored steward of Mother Shem. They also honor Mother Shem herself, but she is not directly worshiped by most chthonians. Abad Zabad is seen as a fatherly figure, though he has no gender truly, and it is believed that earthquakes signify his wrath. He is said to be slow to move, but when he does, the world trembles. He gave unto the chthonians the three symbols of power that mark the true ruler of Akazad.

The Akazadian church is run by vulridir, priests of Abad Zabad, who administer the work of the faith, preserve the earth itself, keep sacred stones, and lead prayers and religious rites and services. Each nation has some variation in how they conduct their faith, but all but the Omphalydans are part of the church itself. The Omphalydans practice a form of druidism instead, though some are shamans (called bomoh in other places and delcharn in Akazad) or stone-readers (a form of prophet). The vulridir wear heavy robes laced with stone threads, caps made from the skin of subterranean beasts, and jeweled glasses that allow them to see elemental energies. They are responsible for teaching and guiding the population. Most vulridir are from wealthier common families, though some are low-ranking nobles.

The head of the church is the high vulridir, and he is considered the liaison directly to Abad Zabad. He is always of noble birth, though this often means he is corrupt and false in his faith. It is a position of considerable political power. Unlike the high thane, this position is not subject the blessings of the Omphalydans, and therefore, it is more coveted even than high thane. However, in times of religious crisis, most chthonians will look to the Omphalydans long before they do the high vulridir.

Gender

There are four genders in most chthonian cultures: krula (male), arkrula (female), nakrula (pangender), and zelkrula (agender). Most chthonian nations are patriarchal and favor krula over the other genders. Among the Maurachadans, Nekhuarans, Khreochans, and Chalazarans, the latter two genders are not recognized officially but still accepted socially. Among the Akazadians, a fifth gender, krekrula is recognized for intersex individuals. Among the Omphalydans, no one is assigned a gender and all are free to express themselves freely, taking gendered descriptions outside the valley only for the sake of convenience. They find the concept generally silly, as stone has no gender. Most consider themselves zelkrula amongst other chthonians. Overall, in Akazad, the country is patriarchal and krula are favored. Only krula or zelkrula may be priests, and only krula may be high thane or high vulridir. The military is also mostly krula or zelkrula.

Economy

The economy of Akazad is mostly feudal with some capitalist features, except for the Valley of the Alatyr, which is matriarchal.

Military

The military of Akazad is made up of garrisons provided by the noble families, usually conscripted from commoners, though some join voluntarily. The bulk of the army is just foot-soldiers wielding axe, spear, and warhammer. They do not have cavalry, navy, or airforce, but they do have tunnelers and sappers.

The military is led by nobles, some of whom are capable commanders and some of whom are just fools looking for glory. They answer all to the high thane, who delegates real command to a council of strategists and warriors chosen from the capable noble commanders.

The core of the Akazadian military are the baurukh, or stone-axe-wielding esoteric warriors. They wield kazaddarean in order to protect themselves and to make their weapons nigh indestructible. Among them are the baurhaug, who instead use catapults launching powerful aetherial stones; the baurkhalakh, or musketeers, who fire aetherial pebble-bullets; and the bauknar, or those who wield stone warhammers instead of axes.

Below them are the common soldiers, siege engineers, riflemen, and tunnelers.

Language

The chthonian languages are what happens if you took Greek, married it to Tolkienian dwarven languages, and then made it entirely a language spoken by stones.

Trade

The traders guilds have a monopoly on trade outside of Akazad, with some exceptions granted by the high thane to favored nobles. They trade raw materials mined, quarried, or grown in the kingdom, or products finely crafted by artisans.

Occupations

Occupations specific to chthonians include

• Aukhlaukhaus: earth magic stone armorers.

• Baughan: bards of Akazad.

• Bauknar: wielders of aetherial stone warhammers.

• Baurhaug: wielders of siege engines using aetherial stones.

• Baurkhalakh: wielders of aetherial muskets.

• Baurukh: wielders of stone axes in the military.

• Brahukkan: earth magic percussionists.

• Dakhaddha: earth magic sculptors

• Delcharn: earth magic shamans who channel akaz.

• Druid: channeling the power of the mountains and caves.

• Earth mage: those who draw upon kazaddarean to wield the power of earth and stone.

• Felakgundu: earth magic masons.

• Gemfinder: earth mage who finds gemstones for powerful chthonian families.

• Geologer: an earth mage who studies earth science.

• Ghunaukh: an earth mage who investigates cave-ins for foul play.

• Hankhorikh: traders.

• Hurgkhaurgan: monks who serve Abad Zabad.

• Karlandik: earth mage who keeps archives of ancient writings, usually a geologer.

• Kunzekfulk: earth magic stoneshapers.

• Melchanakh: tunnelers.

• Nuchaaz-dalluw: petrologer jewelers.

• Petrologer: those who tap directly into the power of a stone.

• Qalhauran: earth magic quarriers.

• Rhu’dharakh: appraisers of gemstones.

• Runkazal: earth magic architects.

• Shakkhau: extortionists using the same powers as a baurukh.

• Stone reader: a prophet of Abad Zabad.

• Stonespeaker: one whose voice makes stones move and the earth rumble.

• Thandaguull: earth magic games makers.

• Thane: landowner noble.

• Thrauckhan: tunnel pirates.

• Trukharg: earth magic smiths.

• Vulridir: priests of Abad Zabad.

• Zandaukh: part of one of the crime syndicate families in Upper Akazad.

Outside View

Chthonians are viewed as rigid and dour, drunkards, and greedy by outsiders, usually. They have a reputation as great artisans and their products are valued the world over. Their ability to and devotion to preserving earth and stone as a natural resource is often overlooked by most in favor of viewing them as stingy and stoic.

Notables

Some notable chthonians include

• Ostrum Baurhaas, Chthonian Manifest, Father of All Chthonians, Most Ancient Omphaldyan, bonded to alatyr

• Armaurak Urikh, Hand of the Champion of Abad Zabad (deceased), Akazadian Vulridir, bonded to akaz

• Macalma, Abad Na-Zabad, Lord of the 12 Stones, legendary ruler of all Akazad who was bonded to all 12 stones, Aeonian, son of Abad Zabad

• Rochar the Red, legendary and much-feared pirate, bonded to basalt, whereabouts unknown

• Aldo Murgen, Priest of Emelcuil, Maraddonian citizen, retired to the Akazadian mountains, brewer and medician, bonded to marble, Aeonian

Estimated Populations

• Avgaudans: 1 million

• Khreochans: 500,000

• Mhaulphdas Asym: 1 million

• Shau’kharaghs: 250,000

• Schaukzarans: 1 million

• Grasytharans: 5 million

• Khyrythysans: 4 million

• Chalazarans: 250,000

• Nekhuarans: 250,000

• Akazadians: 500,000

• Maurachadans: 1,200

• Omphalydans: 5,000

• Other: 1 million (mostly part of other species’ nations or countries or ex-patriates)

Sample Stats

PRO 9
ATH 8
STR 8
AWA 8
WIL 9
PRS 7
STH 9