The Highblooded Biata of the Rachis Mountains
Location
The Biata live on the side of the Rachis Mountains, a mountain chain that extends on both sides into the Mists. A mile up the side of the tallest mountain, where the Mists do not reach, the Biata have built a small civilization. This civilization expands across the western side of the mountain stopping in the east where the terrain becomes treacherous. The Dark Elves make their home at the summit of this mountain, and the Stone Elves live to the east. Though the Biata do not interact much with these other cultures, they are reliant on the Dark Elves for resurrection as the only earth circle sits at the peak of the Rachis Mountain.
At the highest reach of the Biata settlement are the High Libraries, ornate towers that overlook the settlement and house the High Scholars and their physical records. The High Scholars are both the ruling class and curators of knowledge. Part of the library is open to the public, with a wide variety of physical books containing mundane tales and practical guides. The majority of the records are open exclusively to the High Scholars, shared to others only with the High Scholars’ permission. The most notable of these records are the Prime Lessons, which all Biata have viewed at least once, shortly after their birth.
In the center of the settlement are the Markets of Vane. Within this village center are many market stalls, community spaces, and taverns along the sloped cobblestone streets. The Markets are peaceful, insulated from the dangers of the Mists. Some farming can be done at the edges of the markets, but the terrain is rock-filled and heavily inclined.
At the foot of the settlement, the Mists recede and advance, occasionally far enough to envelop homes. These areas known as “the Mist’s Edge” are much more rural, sparsely populated, and covered in farms and pastures. Dirt roads and signposts mark the verdant, flat, and dangerous valley.
History and Power
The earliest known memory kept by the High Scholars is the shattering of the Homestone, a large hematite stone where the memories of all Biata were once stored, and the loss of the Gryphons. Lost to the shattering of that stone are memories of the initial construction of Vane, the early days of the Biata, the fate of the Gryphons, and the cause of the Homestone’s shattering.
In trying to prevent a tragedy like that from happening again, the Biata formed a culture around preventing the consolidation of their memories. By keeping knowledge spread among the populace, there was no longer a central artifact to be destroyed. Those who held the most knowledge had an advantage, eventually rose to power, and formed the High Scholars. The High Scholars, through painful trial and error, discovered what was most vital to know to protect Vane from the Mists, distilled that information into The Prime Lessons, and now teach that to every single Biata, so that this information can never be lost again.
The Prime Lessons
The Prime Lessons are a series of philosophical teachings contained in a fist-sized piece of hematite presented to you at the High Library when you were born or reeducated. It is notable that though each Biata experiences the memories of the Prime Lessons, almost none can recall what the specifics of the memories are. The actual details of what a Biata experiences while undertaking the Prime Lessons become hazy after the fact, leaving only the knowledge that the lessons imparted, but not the memory itself.
Those who have recently reviewed the Prime Lessons at the High Library (i.e. the young and the recently reeducated) treat them very seriously. Those with more life experience may eventually discover portions they disagree with, and may even store these arguments in their own Lode Stones. Even so, open dissent on the Lessons is rare among the Biata, and those who voice their disagreements with the Prime Lessons are dismissed as foolish.
Class, Law, and Society
Between the common set of beliefs taught to every Biata and the persistent and real threat of the Mists, Biata culture has a very strong sense of camaraderie. The Biata of Vane care for each other first and foremost, regardless of their past or their ability to repay that help.
Not all Biata are equal however, and there is still a class structure within Vane. The most clearly delineated class is the High Scholars, the ruling body of Vane. Their central goal is to preserve knowledge and the lives of their fellow Biata from the dangers in the Mist. Treated both collectively and individually as absolute authorities, they appoint other High Scholars from among the brightest and bravest of the populace. Matters of law and order are brought to High Scholars, and it is their responsibility to pass judgement. The High Scholars are also the upper management of Vane, and they ensure the operation and defense of the settlement.
Those who live in the the village tend to be wealthy merchants, successful artisans, and skilled ritualists. With enough wealth to live away from the Mist’s Edge, they live in relative safety and develop a skill set more suited for trade and economy than military affairs. Those who are successful at the Mist’s Edge often take their fortune and retire to the center of Vane in their old age.
In the rural valley of the Mist’s Edge are mostly farmers, gatherers, and craftsmen. Since living so close to the Mists is dangerous, the Biata who thrive tend to be brave, martially adept, and mentally resilient. Since it contains the greatest source of farmland and resources that Vane has available, the proposition of living within the Mist’s Edge is seen as high risk and high reward. Since the creatures of the Mist attack frequently, many who live here become skilled in swordplay, celestial magic, or Necromancy. While Necromancy is not forbidden by the High Scholars’ laws, there is a cultural understanding as to where it should be used. Since it is seen as a battle magic, it is cast only on the monsters of the Mists by those who live within the Mist’s Edge. Higher Necromancy and the creation of undead are not widely practiced.
Aside from the traditional crimes and taboos one might expect such as murder, theft, and fraud, there is an powerful taboo against modifying another’s memories or another’s Lode Stone. Since those memories exist to safeguard a person’s identity, even the appearance of tampering with memories is seen as terrible. Modifying another Biata’s memories is a crime more dire than murder; Biata can resurrect after being murdered, but if they lose their memories and their Lode Stone, there’s no way to recover them.
Entering the Mists is seen as incredibly foolhardy, akin to suicide. Biata do not return from The Mists, so even those most upset with the status quo are encouraged to discuss their misgivings with others, possibly with the High Scholars, or any solution less dangerous than leaving. Nevertheless, Biata who dissent strongly enough and are not convinced to be complicit do sometimes leave. As expected, they either descend from the earth circle with no recollection of their previous lives, or do not return at all.
The Mists, and Survivors of the Mists
The Mists, and the monsters within, are a persistent threat to the Biata. The fear of these creatures runs incredibly deep. Any creature who comes directly from the Mists is often met with violence, sometimes even if they are friendly or recognized. The Biata believe these monsters can change shape to kidnap and murder people. As such, those who are lost to the Mists often have one of two fates: to come down the from the Earth Circle at the summit, or to never return.
Those who come down the mountain occasionally retain their memories, having been killed by a creature less dangerous than the Fae. Many return without any sense of who they are, or what happened to them in the Mist. In these cases, the Dark Elves help the amnesiac Biata make it to Vane safely, where they are then turned over to the High Scholars. After the High Scholars assess the damage, they help rehabilitate the victim through review of the Prime Lessons. If the victim’s Lode Stone can be located by those who were close to them, they will then be instructed to meditate on their previous memories as part of their rehabilitation. Many who keep Lode Stones often have success returning to their original mental state. Those without Lode Stones are assisted by the community in starting life as a Biata of Vane once again.
Playing a Biata
This is one of the two cultures of Biata in the Shattered Realms. They live in different areas, and are culturally divided similarly to the “Highblood” and “Lowblood” options in the National Packet. Neither culture knows anything about the other as the campaign begins.
You should consider playing a Highblooded Biata if you are interested in playing a character with significant mental abilities, a character that’s cautious about the damage that too much knowledge can bring, or a character who is adamant about fighting the insanity of the Mists. Also consider playing a Highblooded Biata if you are interested in subverting the rule of an elite class with an iron grip on the populace’s minds.
Players of Highblood Biata are in a unique position to engage in roleplay where their character gains or loses memories, even to the point of questioning their own identity. Though all races have these avenues of roleplay available to them, and heavy memory-deletion roleplay will not be forced on anyone, consider playing a different culture if this is not the sort of roleplay you are seeking.
Location
The Biata live on the side of the Rachis Mountains, a mountain chain that extends on both sides into the Mists. A mile up the side of the tallest mountain, where the Mists do not reach, the Biata have built a small civilization. This civilization expands across the western side of the mountain stopping in the east where the terrain becomes treacherous. The Dark Elves make their home at the summit of this mountain, and the Stone Elves live to the east. Though the Biata do not interact much with these other cultures, they are reliant on the Dark Elves for resurrection as the only earth circle sits at the peak of the Rachis Mountain.
At the highest reach of the Biata settlement are the High Libraries, ornate towers that overlook the settlement and house the High Scholars and their physical records. The High Scholars are both the ruling class and curators of knowledge. Part of the library is open to the public, with a wide variety of physical books containing mundane tales and practical guides. The majority of the records are open exclusively to the High Scholars, shared to others only with the High Scholars’ permission. The most notable of these records are the Prime Lessons, which all Biata have viewed at least once, shortly after their birth.
In the center of the settlement are the Markets of Vane. Within this village center are many market stalls, community spaces, and taverns along the sloped cobblestone streets. The Markets are peaceful, insulated from the dangers of the Mists. Some farming can be done at the edges of the markets, but the terrain is rock-filled and heavily inclined.
At the foot of the settlement, the Mists recede and advance, occasionally far enough to envelop homes. These areas known as “the Mist’s Edge” are much more rural, sparsely populated, and covered in farms and pastures. Dirt roads and signposts mark the verdant, flat, and dangerous valley.
History and Power
The earliest known memory kept by the High Scholars is the shattering of the Homestone, a large hematite stone where the memories of all Biata were once stored, and the loss of the Gryphons. Lost to the shattering of that stone are memories of the initial construction of Vane, the early days of the Biata, the fate of the Gryphons, and the cause of the Homestone’s shattering.
In trying to prevent a tragedy like that from happening again, the Biata formed a culture around preventing the consolidation of their memories. By keeping knowledge spread among the populace, there was no longer a central artifact to be destroyed. Those who held the most knowledge had an advantage, eventually rose to power, and formed the High Scholars. The High Scholars, through painful trial and error, discovered what was most vital to know to protect Vane from the Mists, distilled that information into The Prime Lessons, and now teach that to every single Biata, so that this information can never be lost again.
The Prime Lessons
The Prime Lessons are a series of philosophical teachings contained in a fist-sized piece of hematite presented to you at the High Library when you were born or reeducated. It is notable that though each Biata experiences the memories of the Prime Lessons, almost none can recall what the specifics of the memories are. The actual details of what a Biata experiences while undertaking the Prime Lessons become hazy after the fact, leaving only the knowledge that the lessons imparted, but not the memory itself.
Those who have recently reviewed the Prime Lessons at the High Library (i.e. the young and the recently reeducated) treat them very seriously. Those with more life experience may eventually discover portions they disagree with, and may even store these arguments in their own Lode Stones. Even so, open dissent on the Lessons is rare among the Biata, and those who voice their disagreements with the Prime Lessons are dismissed as foolish.
Class, Law, and Society
Between the common set of beliefs taught to every Biata and the persistent and real threat of the Mists, Biata culture has a very strong sense of camaraderie. The Biata of Vane care for each other first and foremost, regardless of their past or their ability to repay that help.
Not all Biata are equal however, and there is still a class structure within Vane. The most clearly delineated class is the High Scholars, the ruling body of Vane. Their central goal is to preserve knowledge and the lives of their fellow Biata from the dangers in the Mist. Treated both collectively and individually as absolute authorities, they appoint other High Scholars from among the brightest and bravest of the populace. Matters of law and order are brought to High Scholars, and it is their responsibility to pass judgement. The High Scholars are also the upper management of Vane, and they ensure the operation and defense of the settlement.
Those who live in the the village tend to be wealthy merchants, successful artisans, and skilled ritualists. With enough wealth to live away from the Mist’s Edge, they live in relative safety and develop a skill set more suited for trade and economy than military affairs. Those who are successful at the Mist’s Edge often take their fortune and retire to the center of Vane in their old age.
In the rural valley of the Mist’s Edge are mostly farmers, gatherers, and craftsmen. Since living so close to the Mists is dangerous, the Biata who thrive tend to be brave, martially adept, and mentally resilient. Since it contains the greatest source of farmland and resources that Vane has available, the proposition of living within the Mist’s Edge is seen as high risk and high reward. Since the creatures of the Mist attack frequently, many who live here become skilled in swordplay, celestial magic, or Necromancy. While Necromancy is not forbidden by the High Scholars’ laws, there is a cultural understanding as to where it should be used. Since it is seen as a battle magic, it is cast only on the monsters of the Mists by those who live within the Mist’s Edge. Higher Necromancy and the creation of undead are not widely practiced.
Aside from the traditional crimes and taboos one might expect such as murder, theft, and fraud, there is an powerful taboo against modifying another’s memories or another’s Lode Stone. Since those memories exist to safeguard a person’s identity, even the appearance of tampering with memories is seen as terrible. Modifying another Biata’s memories is a crime more dire than murder; Biata can resurrect after being murdered, but if they lose their memories and their Lode Stone, there’s no way to recover them.
Entering the Mists is seen as incredibly foolhardy, akin to suicide. Biata do not return from The Mists, so even those most upset with the status quo are encouraged to discuss their misgivings with others, possibly with the High Scholars, or any solution less dangerous than leaving. Nevertheless, Biata who dissent strongly enough and are not convinced to be complicit do sometimes leave. As expected, they either descend from the earth circle with no recollection of their previous lives, or do not return at all.
The Mists, and Survivors of the Mists
The Mists, and the monsters within, are a persistent threat to the Biata. The fear of these creatures runs incredibly deep. Any creature who comes directly from the Mists is often met with violence, sometimes even if they are friendly or recognized. The Biata believe these monsters can change shape to kidnap and murder people. As such, those who are lost to the Mists often have one of two fates: to come down the from the Earth Circle at the summit, or to never return.
Those who come down the mountain occasionally retain their memories, having been killed by a creature less dangerous than the Fae. Many return without any sense of who they are, or what happened to them in the Mist. In these cases, the Dark Elves help the amnesiac Biata make it to Vane safely, where they are then turned over to the High Scholars. After the High Scholars assess the damage, they help rehabilitate the victim through review of the Prime Lessons. If the victim’s Lode Stone can be located by those who were close to them, they will then be instructed to meditate on their previous memories as part of their rehabilitation. Many who keep Lode Stones often have success returning to their original mental state. Those without Lode Stones are assisted by the community in starting life as a Biata of Vane once again.
Playing a Biata
This is one of the two cultures of Biata in the Shattered Realms. They live in different areas, and are culturally divided similarly to the “Highblood” and “Lowblood” options in the National Packet. Neither culture knows anything about the other as the campaign begins.
You should consider playing a Highblooded Biata if you are interested in playing a character with significant mental abilities, a character that’s cautious about the damage that too much knowledge can bring, or a character who is adamant about fighting the insanity of the Mists. Also consider playing a Highblooded Biata if you are interested in subverting the rule of an elite class with an iron grip on the populace’s minds.
Players of Highblood Biata are in a unique position to engage in roleplay where their character gains or loses memories, even to the point of questioning their own identity. Though all races have these avenues of roleplay available to them, and heavy memory-deletion roleplay will not be forced on anyone, consider playing a different culture if this is not the sort of roleplay you are seeking.
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