In the closing chapters of the Astarith, the War of Souls comes to an exhausted end. In the aftermath, those evil humans that had escaped death were driven into Minarra's wastelands. They would have perished there, were it not for one young woman who learned to appreciate the stark and terrible beauty of the desert. For her insight, the True God Sha'rhiz blessed all those exiles that could share Arlanni's love for his realm and transformed them into a new people: the Isak, "the Hardened Ones."
The isak thrive in the most inhospitable of climates: tundra, ice packs, and the most barren of deserts. These are lands where precipitation is rare, native plants are few and agriculture is impossible, and animals are the primary source of food and resources. As Minarra's ultimate survivalists, the isak flourish in environments that are shunned by most other races.
The True God Sha'rhiz (or Ooglik, if you prefer) took great care in preparing his people for their new homes. The offspring of the original isak were stronger and tougher than their forebears, their resistance to disease and physical duress greater than for any other New Race. In game terms, isak have a +1 bonus to all Strength and Constitution rolls, and initial Strength and Constitution scores of 19 are possible.
There is a trade-off, however. The combination of the isak's normally stoic mannerisms and their sudden emotional outbursts often make them hard to fathom and harder to deal with. Accordingly, a penalty of -2 is made to all Charisma rolls.
| Strength: |
|
| Dexterity: |
|
| Constitution: |
|
| Intelligence: |
|
| Wisdom: |
|
| Charisma: |
|
Despite their robust physiques, the withering environments the isak call home do take their toll. Isaki life spans are actually the shortest of all the New Races, with the attainment of venerable status at but 80 years. It seems, however, that Sha'rhiz foresaw this "problem" as well. Once born, isaki children develop very quickly, reaching both physical and emotional maturity by the age of 14.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are two distinct isaki subraces. The isak of the deserts, the Al'madi, are the most physically imposing of all the New Races. Often over six feet in height, the Al'madi are wiry and strong of build. Their skin colors range from olive to red to light brown to dark brown to black. Their eyes may be black, deep brown, tan, rust red, and even maroon. Al'madi faces and noses are long and narrow, giving them a rather hawkish expression. Male facial hair is confined to mustaches and goatee beards.
The isak of the frozen wastes, the Selawik, present quite a different sight. Reminiscent of dwarves in both girth and musculature, the Selawik average only five feet in height. Their skin, always very pale, is either white or yellow. A Selawik's eyes are nearly as pale as his skin, and range from blue to green to gray to yellow to lavender. Selawik faces are round and flat, particularly among the men, giving the beings the semblance of a seal or walrus. Though the men are beardless, both sexes have sideburns that are allowed to grow to the base of the neck.
When Sha'rhiz transformed the exiled humans in his realm into the first isak, he first cut a lock of hair from the mane of Zharnii, a Servitor in the form of a bronze warhorse. As he scattered the bronze strands to the winds, the hair of every new isak expanded into a mane that ran from the base of the skull to the middle of the back-a mark that every isak bears to this day. Al'madi hair and manes are black, red, or dark brown, and tends to be wavy and silken in texture. Selawik manes and hair are light blonde, white, gray, or silver, and is very straight, full, and thick.
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Al'madi |
|
|
|
|
| Selawik |
|
|
|
|
Sha'rhiz also saw to the vocational needs of his people. Through his priests, the True God not only instructed the isak in the skills necessary for their survival, he also insured that enough of his people would be gifted enough to achieve a character class. But the isak have a class restriction unique among the New Races: they may never be thieves-though a rare few may become bards.
| Warrior | |
|
Fighter |
|
|
|
|
|
Ranger |
|
| Wizard | |
|
Mage |
|
| Priest | |
|
Cleric |
|
|
|
|
| Rogue | |
|
Thief |
|
|
Bard |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multi-class isak are bound by all the restrictions described in the PH. Note the relatively high class level limits.
A note about isaki bards: for the same reasons (detailed later) that isak cannot be thieves, they are generally incapable of any act that is inherently larcenous. Therefore, the abilities in the PH are not valid for isaki bards. They will, however, possess the abilities listed below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isaki bards conform to the standard bard in all other respects. There are no isaki racial adjustments to bard thieving skills.
Like most waste dwellers in the Real World, the isak are nomadic tribesmen. Unable to take advantage of the blessings of agriculture, the isak have learned to exploit every animal and vegetable resource at their disposal. While the Al'madi have become expert herders and foragers, the Selawik, often lacking even the marginal grazing lands available to their desert brothers, have become expert hunters and trackers.
The Al'madi's favorite herd animals are sheep and goats, as their poor pasturelands simply cannot support cattle. Horses and camels, however, are vital for transportation and for the defense of the people. They have long since discovered the medicinal and culinary use of every withered shrub and shriveled berry that clings to life in the arid soil.
The Selawik, on the other hand, rely far more on hunting, since only the most bountiful tracts of land can support Minarra's great caribou, the frost deer. Selawik hunters cover vast distances by foot, dog sled, and kayak to track down their prey of seal, walrus, narwhal, and even polar bear. With their nets of animal gut and their bone fishhooks, these expert fishermen are able to harvest a rich variety of salt- and fresh-water fish.
Isaki clothing closely parallels that of their Real World counterparts, the Bedouin and Inuit in particular. Al'madi wear sturdy, coarse robes to keep out the blowing sand and dust of their deserts, while the Selawik dress in the skins of their prey. From a distance, an observer would be hard pressed to distinguish a resident of the African Sahara from a dweller of Miren's Urumi Desert.
Al'madi or Selawik, isaki society follows much the same pattern. Though strange to the outsider, isaki social customs are designed to keep the race strong and vital. They also reflect the inherent pragmatism of the race.
Apart from the family, the basic social unit is the alma, or tribe. An alma is composed of some 100 to 200 individuals, only about a third being children at any given time. Beyond the alma is the alma'pei (alma'PAY), the "Great Host", which includes all the isak in a given habitat, e.g., an entire desert or tundra. (Perhaps the closest analog to the alma'pei in the Real World would be the "nations" of the Native Americans.)
Regular intermarriage between members of different alma is a vital reinforcement of the social fabric. With everyone distantly related to everyone else, there exists a deep sense of extended family among the isak. A threat to one alma is a threat to its neighbors, and if war or sickness decimates an alma, its survivors are quickly integrated into others. The newcomers are made welcome, and the race survives.
The isak divide their lands into fixed regions called ka'an (ka-an). Each alma is assigned a ka'an, but only on a temporary basis. Every twenty years or so, an alma must relocate to a neighboring ka'an, while another occupies the one just vacated. This rotation may seem a waste of time and energy, but it serves a vital purpose. The isak realize that living too long in a relatively peaceful and abundant quarter can dull its instincts, and that this periodic migration shields an alma against a loss of vitality.
The temperament of the isak is legendary. They are by nature an aloof and taciturn lot, keeping their silence unless they have something to say. A long-tempered people, isak keep their cool in situations that would drive most other races to distraction. This stoic demeanor leads many derai (der-EYE), or "outsiders", to think of the isak are a cold, unfeeling people, but this is simply not true. The isak are as emotional as any other race, but the Transformation has radically altered the expression of their feelings. For example, they are not stone-faced, despite tales to the contrary. The isak have a number of subtle facial and gestural clues that reveal their feelings to an observer. Only another isak can read these signs with ease, though even a derai can learn to do so eventually.
But even isaki detachment has its limits. Pushed far enough, an isak will vent his emotions in an explosive display called the haj'kak. A haj'kak is not confined to fear or rage—any emotional state can set one off! Though hardly a cause for shame, many derai are embarrassed, even offended by the haj'kak. As a result, most derai think of isaki behavior as coldly aloof most of the time, and appallingly emotional the rest.
We have observed earlier that the isak cannot be thieves. The reason: the Transformation has purged the isak of every possessive and avaricious impulse in relation to the individual. For a race whose lands are as hostile and barren as the isak's, the virtual elimination of personal greed is a powerful weapon in their struggle to survive. So strong is this trait that that they're no more capable of theft as they are of existing without air.
To the isak, all property is communal, be it food, water, or goods. If your neighbor needs something from you, you hand it over without a thought, quite literally. Money and jewels, worthless in and of themselves, are valuable only in what they can buy. The isak are as close as they come to a classless society in the strictly economic sense.
The isak have a cardinal commandment that governs every aspect of their lives: Thou shalt not waste—anything! When any vital resource is discovered, their first instinct is to make the most of it as quickly as they can, and leaving as little of value behind as possible. No isak is ever free of this principle, not even in death; with the soul gone, the body is laid to rest with nothing that can be of service to the living. This injunction even extends to the labor, skills, and natural talents of the people.
If you asked an isak to name the fundamental pillars of his culture, the alma would be one, and the other would be the family.
Isaki marriages are profoundly loving and egalitarian unions. Their natural instincts encourage isak of both sexes to start seeking out a mate in early adolescence (say, 10 years old). In their rare and precious free time, boys and girls play together, enabling them to find a suitable partner for life. Marriages are made when both are fully adult at 14; quite often, an isak's coming of age and marriage ceremonies are held on the same day! Should a spouse die, an isak is encouraged to seek out another as soon as the sting of the loss has subsided, and this advice is usually taken.
Children are not as common among the isak as with humans, but certainly more common than for elves. Isak women are fertile only twice in their lives, at about 20 and 35 years of age. Unlike the other New Races, twins are the norm, while single births and triplets are uncommon.
This odd state of affairs is the will of Sha'rhiz. Not only does it prevent overpopulation, it allows an isaki couple to be free of one parental obligation before assuming another. Add to this equation the natural attrition suffered by any race, the end result is that the population of an alma'pei is kept essentially stable, barring any disaster.
Isaki children are much beloved by their parents, and they express their love by not allowing their lives to be easy. Isaki young are put to work as soon as they can walk, and are carefully scrutinized by their elders for signs of inherent talents. Once their aptitudes become clear, isaki young are then firmly guided into their future careers. But unlike human children, isaki youths rarely argue with their elders over future vocations; the vast majority are proud to give their best for the sake of their people.
Aside from this, isak parents are as affectionate with their children as any other. Their words and gestures of love, almost imperceptible by derai standards, are very meaningful and precious to the isak. At no time is the bond of family more clear than when a child is in danger. Essentially, if you threaten an isaki child, you'll have the entire alma to fight off...and may the True Gods have mercy upon you, for the isak will have none.
Play (as the other New Races know it) is uncommon for isak children. When familiar forms are practiced, they also serve to hone survival skills. Blindman's bluff, for example, sharpens the ears for the detection of hidden predators. Orienteering is popular among adolescents, as it familiarizes them with the less traveled parts of their world.
The isak have their own opinions, right or wrong, on the habits and customs of others races...and the derai ("outsiders") have their own thoughts on the isak.
Their closest ties are, of course, with their human forebears. The isak admire and respect the bands of humans who eke out a living on the fringes of their lands, and are thought of as kindred spirits. But for humans living in more civilized lands, the impression is very different. Farmers and city folk consider the isak to be little more than barbarians, and treat the rare isak they meet with disdain. The isak will bear this outrage only so long, and the inevitable indignant outbursts only serve to reinforce the stereotype.
There are many instances of isak and humans joining in marriage. These unions have two advantages over human and elven partnerships: not only does the couple live and age together, their offspring are not distinct hybrids like the half-elves (nor are they treated with the condescension and prejudice that so many half-elves endure). At their core, such children are either truly isaki or truly human, and the outward signs of mixed parentage are essentially cosmetic: a human child with maroon eyes and a vestigial mane, for example.
Isaki relations with the dwarven races are warm and cordial. The isak share much of dwarven reserve and hardiness, and respect their fierceness in battle and fondness for hard work. The isak will pay top prices for dwarven ironwork and weapons, no questions asked. About the only thing the isak can't understand is why the dwarves are so insistent on living in huge holes in the ground. Dwarves are also rather fond of the isak, and for much the same reasons.
Gnomes are another story. Though the isak find the little folk artistically gifted in metalwork and commendably tenacious in battle, they have one almost irredeemable fault: their loathsome penchant for practical jokes. Unfortunately, gnomes can't resist inflicting their humor on the "humorless" isak, a weakness that has led to many a sad incident.
But gnomes are downright charming when compared to elves. To the stern eye of the isak, elves are everything a sentient race should not be allowed to be: uncaring, languid, flighty, silly, haughty, and worst of all, lazy. The elven perspective is equally jaundiced: the isak are cold, sullen, ill-mannered, ill tempered, graceless, and irredeemably coarse—the very epitome of barbarism.
Half-elves, on the other hand, are objects of curiosity and the sincerest sympathy for the isak. No being born of man, after all, should have to be cursed with even a drop of elven blood. Though startled by the isak's warm acceptance at first, most half-elves come to appreciate these beings that treat them with dignity and respect.
Isaki leadership is based on the bakka, or triumvirate. One member is always the alma's senior priest of the God of the Wastes. Another is the alma's war leader, master hunter, or other skilled warrior. The last member is selected by an open vote, which is typically filled by a wizard or other literate layman.
Bakka do not make decisions in a vacuum. Whenever possible, a bakka will summon all the adults of the alma together and hold open meetings. When all the options are on the table, the bakka polls the assembly and gauges the support and merit of the various proposals. Once the bakka makes a final decision, compliance is expected.
Once every isaki generation, each alma elects twelve individuals to join the chief priest of Sha'rhiz to attend the tro'otha bakkan (tro'OWE-tha bak-KAN), the grand council of the alma'pei. The tro'otha bakkan decides issues such as inter-alma disputes, needed supplies for future trading ventures, methods for dealing with threats to the alma'pei, the equitable distribution of arcane resources, and so on. Derai observers and participants are extremely rare, and by invitation only.
Isaki religious life is dominated by the worship of Sha'rhiz. Ceremonies are conducted at the traditional Minarran times: the solstices, equinoxes, and above all New Year's Eve. The seasonal rites are tribal and are conducted by the tribal priest. The grand rites of the New Year are held at sacred and hidden places deep in the isaki territories, and all the clerics of the alma'pei are required to attend.
Al'madi sacrifices to Sha'rhiz are usually of fine bronze castings of horses, while Selawik offerings to Ooglik take the form of ivory carvings of caribou. The isak do not deign to waste either flesh or blood in worship; the only exception comes on the eve of the year, when the Al'madi kill and share the meat of a selected sheep, and the Selawik use a measure of the purest whale oil to fuel a sacred fire from dusk to dawn.
The isak are as aware and respectful of all the True Gods as any other New Race. In the larger alma'peis, one can usually find a few priests and/or Knights of True Gods other than Sha'rhiz. A cleric of Arzamark may preserve the few and precious records held by their people, a Lord Knight of Rifkis the Peacekeeper may serve as a battle leader, and a priestess of Emberyl may help keep isaki arts beautiful and vital.
Despite their "barbarian" nature, the isak have a rich and varied artistic heritage. While their most famous form is their magnificent leatherwork, it is hardly their only one.
The Al'madi have two favorite artistic forms: music and dance. Al'madi music is very expressive, played on flutes, small drums, and bagpipes, but is rarely accompanied by more than a single virtuoso vocalist. Much of Al'madi music is composed for a dance style known as shoké (show-KAY), a narrative form that recounts the history and legends of the desert dwellers. It is a stirring and dramatic method of recording the past.
The Selawik also value music and dance, but in different ways. The arctic dwellers prefer vocals, and delight in complex choral arrangements. Selawik dance is almost always for fun, with flutes, chimes, and drums always at the ready. Histories are kept by the Selawik in the form of long, narrative poems set to music.
The preservation of the isak's verbal and "musical" histories is the sobering duty of the isaki bard. Part of that duty is to scout out the musical and performing talent among the isaki young, and train them to become the future carriers of isaki culture. The isak also possess a rich and vibrant sculpture. Al'madi work is in bone and bronze, Selawik in bone, ivory, and horn. Some purely decorative pieces depict the local animals in active, vigorous poses, while others are common household goods turned into works of art.
Though the isak are incapable of greed, they are painfully aware that derai have and make certain things that the isak want and need. That means trade, and lots of it.
Those few ka'an along civilized borders that boast a permanent trading post are known as ka'an sterra. Thought of as a "city" by the average isak, a ka'an sterra is in reality a paltry collection of mud brick, wood, and/or stone structures. There is just enough space to house an alma and their derai guests, provide shelter for mounts, and store trade goods. Like all other ka'an, the residents of the ka'an sterra are obliged to migrate when the time comes.
The benefits of the ka'an sterra to the isak are several. Each alma is guaranteed a regular opportunity to profit from trade with the derai. It also gives the members of an alma the chance to learn about the outside world, for despite their relative isolation, the isak are actually quite curious about what lies beyond their wastelands.
The Al'madi have the edge in trade, since their desert homes generally offer more of value than the Selawik's empty tundras and ice shelves. The Al'madi are expert breeders and trainers of falcons, and sell only to those whom they consider worthy. Al'madi horses, bred for speed and endurance, form the backbone of light cavalry throughout the world. The deserts of Minarra also provide a fair variety of spices from the local scrub, some of which are rare and powerful drugs. The desert sheep give a coarse wool that is ideal for winter clothing. But the most famous of all Al'madi goods is their superb leatherwork, considered to be the most durable, supple, and artistic in all Minarra.
Though their environment leaves them at a disadvantage, the Selawik can hold their own when it comes to commerce. Like the Al'madi, the Selawik are highly skilled in tanning and tooling leather, and their work in ivory and bone never fails to bring top prices. Not all skins end up as leather; Selawik furs are highly prized for their rarity and quality. The Selawik are able to preserve the meat of arctic animals for months at a time, providing civilized palettes with exotic game. The oils of arctic mammals, expertly refined by the Selawik, become the base for some of Minarra's finest perfumes. But for sheer profit, nothing beats the Selawik's process-and art-called oomau.
Oomau are ivory weapons and bone tools that possess the hardness and strength of the finest dwarven steel. All that is known is that the salts of the arctic oceans and the arcane arts of the Selawik somehow combine to produce oomau. Scarce even among the Selawik, only a tiny number of such items are made available to the derai each year.
Compared to their own exotic wares, the goods that the isak desire most are rather mundane. The perennial favorites of the isak as a whole are steel weapons, iron tools, and finished articles of wood of all kinds and uses. The Al'madi are also keen on grain for their horses, small items of pottery, quality textiles, and bronze, while the Selawik crave steel runners for their sleds, iron cookware, bronze oil lamps, and lead shot for their slings.
The language of the isak is called simply Isaki. It is a roughhewn, oddly stressed tongue, as gravelly as elven is fluid. Its pronunciations and rhythms are far closer to dwarven or even orcish than most modern forms of Common. Isaki is so notoriously sharp that it inspires snide humor among the derai: "The only sound worse than two screeching dragons in mortal combat is two screeching isak in a domestic dispute."
As a people without a written tongue of their own, the isak place far greater stock in the integrity of the spoken word. Despite its coarseness, Isaki is actually the most direct and precise language spoken by any of the New Races. It is said, with some justification, that Isaki often sacrifices emotional expressiveness for abstractive clarity.
The isak are inherently distrustful of written contracts, seeing them as traps for the unwary as well as truly unnecessary-after all, an isak's word is his contract. The isak firmly believe that one should always say what he means and mean what he says. Living up to their own beliefs, isaki oaths are taken as seriously as dwarven ones, and the isak expect that derai be as sincere with their word.
If one should choose to think of it this way, it can be said that the isak do have a "written" language of sorts: called feijah (FAY-zhah), it is an ideographic system of trail markers left in important places along the various ka'ans. Feijah are always made of natural materials, ignored by derai eyes as simple debris.
The fighting spirit of the isak is respected and feared throughout all Minarra. Both subraces have honed dagger and knife fighting to a fine art (all isaki characters are +1 to hit with either weapon). The Al'madi favor swords, spears, nets, composite bows, and especially quarterstaffs; with the latter, all Al'madi are +1 to hit. The Selawik are keen on clubs, axes, slings, harpoons, and spears; Selawik characters have a +1 bonus to hit with either of the latter two, never both. The Al'madi prefer scale mail and leather armor, the Selawik leather and hide armor. Shields are dismissed as an unacceptable encumbrance.
The isak have a well-deserved reputation as cunning and vicious fighters, the women no less so than the men. Even children will not hesitate to kill an enemy if given the chance. When engaged in a decisive battle, the isak give no quarter and expect none. An orc war chieftain said it best: "When you fight the isak, you fight them all. You must even mind the babe, strapped to his mother's back. Slay them all, or the survivors will hound you to the Five Pits to gain their revenge."
The isak have no moral qualms about rifling the bodies of slain enemies; even here, the injunction against waste is paramount. In fact, enemy dead are the isak's main source of magical items. This practice, condemned by other races, only serves to breed innuendo about the isak "barbarians".