Narmen

Narmen are an ancient race that predates almost all others. Originally created to serve as the chosen warriors of Zovilla, the narmen have since fallen from grace though. The only surviving memebers of the race have spent the intervening years in isolation in their now flooded capital city of Yggdrasils studying the arcane arts.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Taller than humans, elves, or orcs, Narmen stand at an average of 7 feet tall with a build similar to an elf who has spent too much time sitting at their desk. Narmen have coal black skin with a network of grey scars that vaguely resemble arcane runes, a remnant of their ancient powers. Due to their arcane modification, Narmen have lack all hair and possess a single long tusk jutting straight out of their mouth which they are quite familiar with not running into things, much to the perplexing of other races.

Growth Rate & Stages

Narmen reach adulthood at age 15, at 35 they are considered middle aged, at 53 they are certainly old, and at age 70 they are quite venerable and close to end of their life, the oldest of which live to around 130.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The First Amospian Empire is organized with a High Emperor that rules over numerous Emperors of varying importance. The greatest of these rule over each of the major sects, the New World sect, Return sect, Scholar sect, and the Imperial sect. Beneath each Emperor are numerous High Kings each of which rule over several Kings. The many layered titles of the First Amospian Empire mean that approximately two-thirds of the population are part of the nobility and/or clergy.
The Imperial sect are those who live in Yggdrasils and the surrounding region. They hold some the most prominent positions recognized across the empire. They specialize in the creation of magic artifacts though are lacking in the way of innovation.
The Scholar sect have formed a colony surrounding the city of Kunthij. The nobility stand on the forefront of arcane research while the lower classes more or less resemble a standard medieval society, save the fact that every citizen knows at least a few cantrips. Among the nobility a sub-race has formed with a greater knock for the arcane.
The Return sect seek to regain the favor of Zovilla and most of the population have received her blessings forming an enlightened sub-race. They formed mostly of paladins and clerics and much of their internal organization and behavior resemble a large military organization. A rare few of them have also ascended to an semi-angelic state.
The New World sect seeks to take advantage of dark magics and most of them are in a partially demonic state. Loosely organized and chaotic they are only bound by a common philosophy that dark magic must be used if they are to defeat the demons. Some have transformed themselves into a type of demon to further enhance their powers.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Due to their magical properties, Narmen will often collect the tusk of a fallen ally or foe and may forge it into a blade that they will carry either to remember the sacrifice of a brother or to gloat the defeat of an enemy.

History

In ancient times the goddess Zovilla determined that there should be people in her world so three races were made. Among these were the Narmans. Skilled in the holy and arcane arts, they were to be her chosen race. Unlike the other races, the Narmans were led throughout their early years by the goddess. With the aid and care of her they grew into powerful beings with a great empire that covered the land. They even spread across the upper planes. Zovilla used the Narmans to chase out the demons and void gods, who ruled the lower dimensions, from the central dimension as well as many attacks back into the void. They created powerful weapons which shone with Zovilla's radiance. For ten thousand years they ruled under Zovilla's light but it could not last forever. Many of the Narmans began to fall away. The largest sect turned their focus to learning but others turned to the forbidden powers of darkness. Among the Dark Ones, as they were called, was a powerful general who fought on the front lines and experienced the full power of the void first hand. He grew envious of the void's forces as they fought with hundreds while he with thousands. The general, whose original name is unknown, wished for a larger portion of power akin to what the demons wielded, But he was denied his request, so he began studying the dark arts in secret and subtly employing them in his fight. Around this time a division of those who sought knowledge determined that they lacked knowledge of the dark side of magic and that it benefit them to know more about it. Along this line, they opened a portal into The Heart of the Void. This act attracted the attention of one of the more powerful void gods who, while the researchers were conducting tests, passed through the portal and wreaked havoc on the plane tearing it asunder. By the time Zovilla arrived, there was nothing left beyond few patches of dirt with one or two trees. Zovilla swiftly banished the void god and raised the plane, 2:1, out of the Narmans portals to prevent them from accessing the higher planes. She then sent a mighty flood across the world to wipe out the Narmans. A few took refuge on the tallest mountains to come down when the waters had receded though it never came down all the way. These were ancestors of race of man. Along with the flood Zovilla took away the Narmans divine magics leaving them defenseless except for the sect of those who sought knowledge and will skilled in the arcane arts. They erected a shield around the capital. But such a large shield could not last forever. Arcane magic was used both to make smaller more permanent shields around the entrances of buildings and to transform the inhabitants into an aquatic races able to withstand extended periods without air. Then, the great shield was carefully retracted to avoid further damage to the structures within. The Narmans now lived beneath the waves in their grand capital ignoring the fact that the rest of their empire was gone. But one escaped fate another way. The un-named general, upon hearing of the coming flood, knew that his time had come. He stood before his grand armies and unleashed his black magic turning the souls of his men into fuel for his magic. He then raised them into undeath, their bones blackened from the radiant darkness of his spell, and opened a grand portal to -1:-1 through which he sent his immortal warriors before following through himself. From here he grew in power ultimately sacrificing even his form to grow in might to become on of the most powerful demons in all the realms. With this power he has become known as the Dark Lord and commands legions of undead minions. After a few thousand years the Narmans were found by a race humanoid fungi demonstrating to them that the world had grown while they sat and pouted. They began to expand onto a nearby island to form a dock and onto a floating city. They then began to reach out to other nations forming alliances with the fungi as well as the U.C.B and Idgypt. They also shifted their focus in study. Instead of attempting to recreate their divine weapons of old they created new arcane wonders. As well they established a navy. many thousands strong of large vessels of massive sizes, the largest of which being the Muspell.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Narmen, Pre-Flood

Genetic Descendants

• Darkened Narmen
• Enlightened Narmen
• Narman Nobles

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

Males: 6' 1" - 7' 11"; Females: 5' 7" - 7' 7"

Average Weight

Males: 106 - 172 lb; Females: 96 - 162 lb

Related Materials

• Lightstone