Yakfolk

Yak-folk are a race inhabiting the remote mountains of Southern Riyū near the coast. ,They refer to themselves as the Yikaria, which is translated as Lucky Chosen in their language. Yak-men was another common name for them among the natives of Suh'laan.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Yak-folk are ogre-sized humanoids. Their heads resembled those of a yak and their bodies are covered in coarse fur. They prefer to wear robes and wield staves, some of which are magical. The only distinguishing feature between females and males are that the females were only slightly smaller. Their feet are hoofed but their arms possess hands with five digits.

Ecology and Habitats

All yak-folk possess an inherent thirst for knowledge, especially if they could use it to gain more power. Any knowledge inaccessible to them is to be destroyed in order to deny others. Yak-folk have no family bonds. Instead, they hold loyalty to their god and their race as a whole. The young are sent to communal societies once they are weaned from their mother.
Outsiders know little about the reclusive yak-folk, save those who entered their lands and were killed or enslaved. Those from North Riyū and Suh'laan treat them as "boogie men". Yak-folk are particularly fond of enslaving Dao.
Through their sheer ingenuity, the yak-folk used their Dao slaves to create a new race of tasked genie called Miner Genie.  These miner genies were put to work deep beneath the earth to find riches for their Forgotten God.
Rumors surfaced that dao leaders were working with the Forgotten God to help him defeat other genie lords and enslave the other genie races, potentially granting the yak-folk power over other genies as well.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Omnivores

Additional Information

Social Structure

As a race, the Yak-folk are a "malignant theocracy", fanatically following their Forgotten God in all aspects of their lives. The entire race claims to be descended from this deity. The Forgotten God was pleased with sacrifice. The yak-folk satisfied this by performing slave sacrifices for each of the prime elements, including immolation (fire), live burial (earth), drowning (water), and tossing a victim from a cliff (air). These sacrifices were performed daily. They served to tighten the bond with their god, but also to remind slaves that any who disobeyed would likely be the next sacrifice made.

Facial characteristics

Heads of a Yax. Hands of a human, feet of a Yak.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Mountains, underground, grasslands near the mountains

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Common Yikarian Suh'laanii

Common Dress Code

They preferred to wear robes and wield staves, some of which were magical.

Historical Figures

• Cloud Wizard
• Coral Princess
• Elder
• Emperor of the Lotus Throne
• Guardian
• Kartha-Kaya
• Little Fox
• Mother Millstone
• Mountain Prince
• Old Goatbeard
• Storm KingUnspeakable
• Unspeakable
• Watcher

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

They maintain good relations with the azer, the wind walkers and the xorn, and were also involved in the administration of the realm of the elemental lord Grumbar. The yak-folk were on good terms with the marrash, who helped maintain control and order in their empire.

Origin/Ancestry

Their Forgotten God

Average Height

8ft.

Average Physique

Ogre Size

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Various. Covered in coarse fur.

Geographic Distribution

• Suh'laan