| Non-Player Races The Second Born Shar Kal The first of the Second Born races, the Shar Kal resemble closely the Elves. However, it is their breathing mechanism and other minute physical features that set them apart. Like all other beings, the Shar Kal have lungs and can breath air. However, they have two windpipes. The second leads to gills behind the Shar Kal’s pointed ears. When under water, the primary windpipe closes and water is filtered through the gills, allowing them to breath as fish do. Furthermore, aiding them underwater are their hands and feet, which are webbed between the digits. By far, the Shar Kal are the best swimmers in Illcara. They are relatively short in comparison to the other races; a male Shar Kal grows to be, on average, between 4.5 to 5.5 feet while a female can be between 4 and 5 feet in height. They are relatively lithe, though, like the Elves, females resting around 80 to 110 lbs. and males 130 to 160 lbs. Their small demeanour allows them to be relatively nimble, both in and out of the water. Shar Kal age until about 150 years, very few extending their lives beyond that number. Years before, the Shar Kal once boasted a proud kingdom on the Isle of Shar that was promptly overrun during the end of the War of Those Born by the Dark Elves. Now they live a life of slavery, digging in the mines for the glory of the First Born. Few escape through any means aside from death, while most have not seen the surface in years. They are a defeated people, living through the brutality to which they have been subjugated by any means necessary. The language of the Shar Kal is actually very complex, so much that no other race has yet been able to speak Aqwess. Writing the strange runes they use is simple enough, but pronouncing them is an entirely different matter. Their diction is very elaborate, choppy and quick, involving a great deal of clacking with the tongue. The Shar Kal worship their creator, Solaris, who they refer to as the ‘Sun Herder’ that walks the sky during the day, ushering it from its wakefulness to its eventual slumber. But, still many follow after Neutari, the ‘Even Tide.’ It is rare that devout follower of Vrakna is found amongst the Shar Kal. Aside from being proud sailors, the Shar Kal are proud fighters and steady with sword and spear alike. Minotaur Arguably the most primal and violent of the races are the Minotaur. Their large size easily proclaims their physical prowess over the other races of Illcara. They are physically the most definable race, looking nothing like any of the others. The Minotaur bear the head of a bull, torso, arms and hands of the humanoids, and legs of a bull, though the do not have the reverse joint like that of the animal. The average height for a male is between 6.5 and 8 feet, the female 6 to 7 feet. They are tight masses of muscle, the males weighing in at an average between 300 to 400 lbs. and females 250 to 325 lbs. The Minotaur are a truly intimidating race. The Minotaurs live a fairly long time, growing to ages averaging around 100 years. There was once a time when the Minotaur held possession of a large empire. However, in the War of Those Born, they fell to the collective might of the First Born Alliance. Those that survived the drawn out battles spread out across Illcara, and possibly regions unknown, to trade their skills as mercenaries and bounty hunters. Though, even then, they are a rare sight in any place, populated or no. Most are regarded with caution, and they generally keep to themselves. However, they are not welcome in any First Born settlement whatsoever, and seldom tolerated in the First Born controlled settlements of the Shattered Kingdom. In short, the Minotaur has crumbled in its entirety. To many in Illcara, the Minotaur language comes off as very barbaric and harsh. It is made of many guttural words that rumble when spoken. This is why their war cries are most intimidating when heard on the field of battle. Like the Shar Kal language, it is very difficult to speak, but some have succeeded in this case. The Minotaur alphabet is relatively brief, in comparison to those of the other races. The majority of minotaur favour Vrakna’s warlike ways, calling him the ‘Bringer of Blood’ and the ‘Battle Lord.’ Very few choose to side with Solaris or Neutari, seeing them as weak and indecisive. Obviously, in a culture based upon combat, the primary calling of the Minotaur is the warrior. In some instances, loyal priests of Darkness are also forged amongst Illcara’s most brutal race. Minotaur have never taken to the path of magic, seeing it as feeble and cowardly and due to their incapability to perform the intricate spells involving a more delicate touch, which their large hands are incapable of accomplishing. |
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