Lake City buzzes with commerce and opportunities for all but the lazy, who may nonetheless be conscripted by the municipal government for city upkeep. The homeless are given a place to sleep, food, and half a day’s pay. There are many nobles who began this very way. There is opportunity to be had in Philos for those who are willing to work for it. To accommodate all citizens, an extensive city water system provides for all needs. There are also bathing facilities in every area. Many of the noble’s houses have the luxury of indoor water for drinking and bathing. The city also has an extensive sewer system, funneling the sewer out to the desert.
The Raphad
Description: 20-25 feet tall, All natural hair colors and gold or silver, blue brown green grey eyes, Light to dark color skin, Muscular Body Type
Enemies: The Kalat have made themselves enemies of the Raphad because of King Erestar’s adoption of a Kalat child.
The Raphad are also always at war with the Drakoni due to the closeness of Drakonge to Philos.
Natural Abilities: Detect Hidden (creatures using stealth to hide), 7d8 physical strength attribute, -2 agility attribute, -2 manual dexterity attribute Cultural Facts
Raphad warriors keep a knot in their long hair for every Drakoni they have slain in battle. All Raphad are treated as royalty in Philos, where most Raphad men become warriors and join the Giant Guard of Lake City in Philos.
Origin: The Raphad come from a family of giants that lived on another world. The Creator evacuated the family from this world 100 years before he flooded it for its wickedness. The Raphad is the only race on Soterion that knows its origin. They keep and guard their origins as a secret.
“Interesting lot, the Raphad. I have found that they are a lot smarter than they admit. Ask yourself this question: why do the Raphad serve King Erestar Lurin with so much loyalty? There is some common ground that binds them. When I inquired about it I was told that there were some things best kept secret. Interesting.” ~The Elder
Culture: Raphad have a reverence of water which seems odd to outsiders who do not understand that the Raphad remember the destruction by water. They treat it as precious. As to personality , Raphad behave in a manner more like Adam. But just being around a Raphad certainly brings the best out of people, purposefully or not. There is a certain awe they inspire which is due to more than their physical stature. Yes, there have been “evil” Raphad, but most tend to have the better qualities all races strive for. They are often natural leaders.
Life span:
Average life span: The average Raphad lives 720 years. Child – 0 through 13 years
Adolescent – 14 through 20 years
Young Adult – 21 years through 199 years Mature Adult – 200 years through 399 years Older Adult – 400 years through 599 years Senior Citizen – 600 years through 679 years Elderly – 680 years through 720 years The Showrad
Description: 12-15 feet tall, Grey Red Black or Brown hair, Brown or Black eyes, Brown skin, Muscular Body Type
Enemies: The Great Red Dragon once enslaved the Showrad. Naturally, the Drakoni are also the enemies of the Showrad
Racial Dislikes: None
Natural Abilities: 5d8 physical strength attribute, +2 health attribute, Sacrifice (may willingly sacrifice life in battle to ensure victory. Character will not die until the specific engage- ment is over); ability to learn Craft: Weapon regardless of class.
Cultural Facts
The Showrad are tribal, yet civilized. Showradam, the home of the Showrad, is run by the Sheriff (the oldest of the Showrad). They live in thatched homes and work on farm lands all their lives. Showrad travel in threes because their nearness to the Drakoni border means attack is always imminent.
Origin:
Not even the Showrad know the secret of their origin. The Sheriff knows it well and holds it as a secret to be revealed at the right time. LOST KNOWLEDGE (Showrad are Adam who were taken from Suchikos to Mt. Drakonge by the Drakoni. Once inside Mount Drakonge the Dragon breathed smoke on them, putting them into a deep sleep. It was then the Dragon used his dark magic to alter their bodies. He did this to try to create a warrior race to plague the creatures of Soterion. But though the Dragon is powerful, he does not have the power to create. The newly formed Showrad, except for the Sheriff, had no memory of their former lives. When they refused to serve, the Dragon had them enslaved. They were kept inside Mount Drakonge until they were rescued during the Battle of Epher. The Sheriff has kept the Showrad’s beginning a secret, knowing that the Adam of Suchikos would never accept them. There was no “going home”.)
The Words of King Erestar Lurin
“The Showrad have proven to be my most loyal subjects and valuable allies in the war against Drakonge.” Culture:
Showrad, if left to themselves, would be content as farmers. They have a deep desire
for simplicity. Unfortunately, the Drakoni have made it a personal goal to destroy all Showrad.
Their demeanor has a wide range: from jovial, happy-go-lucky to serious, methodical,
and cold. Though they don’t see it, Showrad have a tendency to be stubborn and unyielding.
They have a high sense of honor and a strong desire for independence.
Showradam is a rural settlement of thatched, one-room houses and open fields. Its peaceful
demeanor is often broken by Drakoni attacks and Showrad duels. While duels may be seen
as violent and barbaric to Miyka aristocrats, they serve an important purpose for Showrad society by honing their combat ability. Drakoni offer them little else. A lone Showrad is also a
rare sight. Years of Drakoniof Drakoni attacks have taught them to stay in groups usually no
fewer than three. In society, Showrad are tight- knit and good team players, but only with
other Showrad. To other races, they seem positively antisocial and isolationist. No one knows the Showrads’ natural life expectancy, since no Showrad has been
known to die from either natural causes or old age. What is known is that young Showrad
mature rapidly. The child is able to walk after the first day of life. By a week’s time, the
child is the equivalent to two- year- old Adam child. A Showrad child is considered an adolescent by the age of six months and a young adult after a year.
The Sheriff is the oldest living Showrad. His age is measured not in years but in the
time since the Showrad’s escape from Drakonge, 224 years ago. While his form carries the
scars of abuse, torment, and combat, his physical prowess is no less than a young Showrad.
This characteristic causes some to believe that Showrad have a long life span. It is hard to
verify, however, since the next oldest living Showrad is 35 years.
While the Showrad physically develop quickly, their mental capacity does not advance as fast. At game start (Adam equivalent of 12 years old), the Showrad have mastered
their own language, their motor coordination, and simple understanding. Thus, Showrad
only receive two skill points per level for levels 1 through 4. They receive normal skill
points once they are guilded.
Showrad generally become Warriors or Rangers due to a constant life of fighting.
They dislike the concept of being a rogue simply because they’re not good at it due to their
size and physical make up. Because they cannot grasp the fundamentals of science, tThey
cannot become Magi. It isn’t that they would not want to, but they cannot grasp the fundamentals of science. Showrad cannot become Magi .
Races not indigenous to Philos While Philos is a home to all races, most of those races are not welcomed home. Those Akhair’ (others) living among the Raphad and Showrad are Adam, Akana ‘Am Mayim, Daqad, Gabad, Kat-Ken, Miyka, Nepsah, Remmy, and Yaarma.
Adam – Suchikos classifies their citizens as those who call Suchikos home. Adam who live elsewhere (either by choice or by exile) are shunned. Those who left by choice are seen as renegades
but are tolerated if they should return. Those who are exiled are dead to Suchikos
-their bodies just have not been put into the ground yet.
Akana and ‘Am Mayim – There is very little stigma for those who call Philos home. Daqad – The place for Daqad is Marasimlah for good honest work. Daqad who live elsewhere are considered strange. They are distrusted by those in their “homeland” and can have a bit of trouble with the locals.
Gabad – There is very little stigma for Gabad who call Philos home. While there is a preference for Caelsis, Gabad are not despised for living elsewhere, since Miyka generally look down upon Gabad anyway.
Kat-Ken – Outside of Caelsis, Kat-Ken are often mistaken for pets. The Adam child was very confused when she picked up the stray cat in the alley. It was cute wearing clothes. She seemed frightened when the Kat-Ken talked but took him home anyway.
Miyka – Loefel Meren is the Miyka’s rightful home. Those who are on extended vacations or have “summer” homes for reasons of nobility are considered within their rights. Regard- less of heritage, Miyka who live outside of Loefel Meren have no more value than a commoner.
Nepsah – Nepsah receive no penalty for living outside of Caelsis other than the fact that many races find their odd behavior a nuisance.
Remmy – Much like Nepsah, Remmy receive no penalty for living outside Caelsis or the Emerald Forest. They are seen as odd little things that can often provide amusement. Yaarma – Yaarma, by nature, are creatures of the open. It is odd enough to see one dwelling in a city for any extended amount of time. Yaarma consider themselves protectors of the Emerald Forest. Those who have traveled elsewhere might be considered toconsidered to be shirking their duty. But Yaarma traveling abroad normally greet any other Yaarma theyYaarma they meet as friends.
An Abbreviated History of Philos and Drakonge
LOST KNOWLEDGE 999 B.E. Emerailda dispersed - Migdal Migdalah had always been a leader within the Raphad race. He was said to be the oldest of all the Raphad and held the secrets of their origins. It was no surprise that the Raphad named him their King when they left Emerailda. King Migdal led his people to the coastal lands east of Emerailda. It was there that the Raphad built giant ships and sailed off to find a new country.
The History of the Raphad after leaving Emerailda is kept a secret among the Raphad. King Migdal led the Raphad out to sea and anchored his fleet in a new land, a land thatland that was perfect for giants like the Raphad. There were giant animals for them to hunt and eat; even giant plants that bore giant vegetables and fruits. This land was full of all kinds of creatures large and small that the Raphad had never seen before. The Raphad traveled this new continent until they met the Drakoni.
A Drakoni Warlord named Kazab asked for a meeting with King Migdal, at which the Raphad and Drakoni signed a peace treaty. But several hundred years after the treaty was signed, and after many Raphad went missing. , King Migdal learned that the Drakoni were sacrificing Raphad to their god. King Migdal declared war on the Drakoni, and defeated the Drakoni in a huge battle. That night a star fell from the heavens. King Migdal had a vision of seven lamp stands burning to ash. Later, a giant purple dragon calling himself Gabriyel appeared before the Raphad camp. He warned King Migdal that the vision was from Adonai. The lamp stands were the seven future kingdoms of Soterion, and a great evil was going to burn the armies of Soterion. He was told by the dragon to return to Emerailda with the Raphad and travel south where they would find mountains. There they would live and protect Soterion.
Gabriyel warned King Migdal to take nothing from this land which he called Tanniyn’erets. King Migdal instructed his people to take no food or possessions that they had gained while there and took his fleet back to Emerailda. But Migdal’s son Apeitheo hid a Drakoni pet (a subsurface Drakoni) on board a ship and took it back with him.
724 B.E. Drakonge - After 275 years away the Raphad returned. They went and dwelled in the mountain land south of Emerailda. The Raphad built a beautiful towering castle at the top of Mount Drakonge. The valley below the mountain was a dry sand pit where nothing flour- ished, but the Raphad saw promise. They dug a well in the valley below the mountain and made pools where the ground would collect rain. They found many underground springs. The land flourished and they called it the Valley of Baca.
657 B.E. - Prince Apeitheo disappears - Under the mental influence of the subsurface Dra- koni that he had kept in direct disobedience to his father, the prince stole away in the middle of the night and took a ship back to Tanniyn’erets. King Migdal sent search parties looking everywhere for his son, but they returned empty-handed.
ARCANE KNOWLEDGE 226 B.E. Erestar Lurin - A traveling giant by the name of Erestar Lurin approached the castle on the top of Mount Drakonge and asked to speak with the King. None could find a record of a Raphad family with the name of “Lurin.”. Erestar was put in the dungeons on suspicion of intent to harm the King. The King met with Erestar privately in the dungeons, where in the darkness of the dungeon they shared many secrets. Later that day Erestar was released and introduced to the Raphad as a kind stranger from a far away land. The Raphad immediately accepted him as one of their own. Two days later Erestar was made the chief advisor to the King.
225 B.E. The assassination of King Migdal and the Battle of Mount Drakonge Prince Apeitheo returned to Drakonge claiming that he had been kidnapped by Kazab the Drakoni Overlord. The guards escorted him to King Migdal, where Apeitheo asked to speak to his father in private. King Migdal dismissed the courtiers, and, as he greeted his son with tears and a warm embrace, Prince Apeitheo stabbed his father in the back with a poison dagger he had received from Lord Kazab. Apeitheo laughed as his father fell to the floor. A guard, Gurth, heard the laughter and entered the throne room to find Apeitheo standing over the King’s dead body with the knife still in his hand. Pointing the dagger at Gurth, Apeitheo yelled, “Kneel to your rightful King!” But Gurth rushed upon Apeitheo with a battle cry that could have been heard in the street outside.
Hundreds of Drakoni emerged from the ground throughout Drakonge, joining battle with the surface dwellers as Apeitheo and Gurth fought to the death. As Erestar entered the throne room, Gurth cried out to him, “The King is dead! We cannot win this fight! Take the women and children. Find a place surrounded by water and wait there. Go!” Erestar took all the women and children of the Raphad to a place southwest of Drakonge, where they found a lake with an island in the middle. They swam across the lake to the island and waited several days. On the third day some children saw Gurth approaching the lake. He collapsed there on the sand, nearly dead. Reviving at last, he told the story of the fall of Drakonge. Having slain Apeitheo, Gurth fought the Drakoni until he was the last Raphad standing, whereupon thewhereupon the Drakoni captured him and kept him in a giant cage. Lord Kazab wanted to torture Gurth to death but a dark and haunting voice came from the center of the mountain, instructing Lord Kazab to release Gurth. So they beat him unconscious and left him several miles from the lake.
The now-leaderless Raphad looked to Gurth to become king, but he refused, preferring the life of the soldier to that of the statesman. The people then looked to Erestar for leadership.
173 B.E. Erestar the Magi - The Order of the Magi was founded in Caelsis. Queen Ariana and Omar Metzger sent Myles Callaghan to Erestar with an invitation to join the Magi. Erestar, with his love for knowledge, left for Caelsis to join the Magi. Gurth became Erestar’s regent until his return. Hope Migdalah (the daughter of King Migdal) also left to join the Magi.
171 B.E. A wife for Erestar - Erestar returned from Caelsis with a new wife (Hope Lurin) and a friend named Sabriel (a 5–foot-tall golden praying mantis). Sabriel became Erestar’s messenger throughout the village.
170 B.E. Castle Lurin - As a wedding gift to Erestar and his new wife, the Raphad came together to build an elaborate castle on the island.
56 B.E. King Erestar - A prophet came from Suchikos and anointed Erestar as King before Adonai.
50 B.E.
Philos - Erestar named his Kingdom Philos.
43 B.E. Open Kingdom - Philos is opened to all peaceful races of Soterion.
42 B.E. Immigration - People from races of all over Soterion traveled to join this new Kingdom.
30 B.E. Lake City - The races of Philos came together to build Lake City
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
THE BATTLE OF EPHER (See History of Emerailda)
1 P.E. (Post Epher) (See History of Emerailda) 1 P.E. The Showrad - On the day of the Great Battle Prince Seux of Caelsis led a reconnaissance mission to Mount Drakonge. Seux infiltrated Mt. Drakonge and helped the Showrad escape their cages.
2 P.E.
Showradam and The Sheriff - The Showrad joined the Kingdom of Philos, founded their own town between Drakonge and Lake City, and named it Showradam (after their own race). Erestar appointed over Showradam a Showrad governor, who is locally styled as “The Sher- iff.”
10 B.E. Keep Solstice - Keep Solstice was built as a buffer against any future attacks from Drakonge
20 P.E. Philos Law - Erestar changed all Philos law to one common law. All who have commited a crime serve 5 years in jail and then are exiled
20-40 P.E. The Guild Infiltration(See History of Loefel Meren) 179 P.E. Alice and the Sigil - Erestar began a quest seeking knowledge of the origins of Soterion. His quest led him to a maze where a man named Nekar gave him a little Kalat girl named Alice to take care of. It was in the maze that Erestar encountered the Shepherd of Soterion again and was instructed to change his house sigil to that of the Phoenix.
220 P.E. Battle of Keep Solstice - Drakoni invaded Keep Solstice (the Keep is lost) The year was is 225 P.E. Philos continued its struggle with Drakonge. Many within Lake City called for Erestar to rebuild Keep Solstice to shield Showradam from increasing Drakoni attacks.
Bridge Worlds: Soterion Page 5