The Material Plane is surrounded on all sides by the churning chaos of the elements. This elemental power is invisible to most, but in some places, the veil between this world and the Elemental Planes grows thin—and sometimes is torn entirely asunder. These places where the Elemental Planes bleed into the world are called rifts, and they first appeared on a long-ago Celestial Solstice when the planes aligned. That day, elemental rifts of untold proportions burst open across Exandria. Wildfires, tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes ravaged the lands, and the people of the world struggled to combat the elemental beings that poured forth from the rifts. The tide of rampaging elementals was eventually stemmed, but the world was gripped by fear—what would happen on the next solstice?
In the wake of the planar disturbance, a society of druids called the Ashari made a covenant to divide and form four separate orders to seal and watch over the sources of these unleashed energies. Most of the lesser rifts that opened in that time have been healed, but one rift to each of the four Elemental Planes remains in Exandria. The four orders of the Ashari settled near these rifts, watching over them and soothing them when they grow volatile. Of these orders, two are in Tal’Dorei, where they watch over the rift of earth and the rift of air. A dozen generations later, the Ashari still hold watch over these tumultuous locations.
Ashari Culture
Though the Ashari began as a single group of elementalists, their individual orders have each developed their own ways of living over the centuries.
The people of Pyrah value reactivity and coolness under pressure, for panic is death during an eruption. The Ashari of Vesrah have a close relationship with the marine life that surrounds their rift, and their actions always prioritize the health of Exandria’s waters.
Zephrah’s culture values the freedom of the open sky, and balances their sense of duty with a free-spirited sense of play. Finally, the society of
Terrah is rooted in planning for the future, and fixing what is broken with patience and humility.
Goals
Each Ashari order guards their respective rift between one of the elemental planes and Exandria. Here, they strive to understand, master, and ultimately subdue the ever-escaping elemental forces. They attempt to bring balance to the surrounding lands and heal the rift over time, though recurring cosmic events tend to reopen these wounds.
The Ashari of Pyrah oversee the Fire Elemental Rift in the valley caldera of the Sunderpeak Mountain range in Othanzia, upon the continent of Issylra. The Ashari of Vesrah watch over the Water Elemental Rift on the Islands of Anamn, within the Ozmit Sea. On the southwest edge of the Cliffkeep Mountains, the Ashari of Terrah stand vigilant over the Earth Elemental Rift, while high atop the windy mountaintops of the Summit Peaks, the Ashari of Zephrah keep the Air Elemental Rift. The Air Ashari also watch over the Frostweald, where the
Scion of Ice built its stronghold and permanently terraformed the area.
Due to their isolation, the Ashari go to great lengths to maintain contact with their kin. Each order is led by a single elemental master, a title that is passed on by blood or honor for generations. In every new generation that comes of age, the young leader-to-be must embark upon an Aramente. This “noble odyssey” sends them across the world to meet with the other Ashari leaders and train until they have earned both the respect and an understanding of their hosts.
Upon returning, they ascend to the head of their order, while the elder retires. This journey often takes years, and should one such Ashari not return within a reasonable period of time, a next-of-kin or a suitable elemental adept is chosen to take up the Aramente.
Relationships
The Ashari maintain peaceful, if sometimes strained, relationships between the orders, though inner conflict occasionally arises within them. Beyond this, much of life within the Ashari is hidden from outsiders’ prying eyes. In recent years, however, the leaders of the Zephrah has taken steps to unite the Ashari with the rest of the people of Tal’Dorei. They have sent an ambassador for the Ashari people to the
Tal'Dorei Council to increase their involvement in Tal'Dorei matters. Part of this work has been expanding the crisis orbs system, which the Ashari used to contact their distant kin in times of peril, to connect cities across Tal’Dorei in the event of another crisis on the level of the
Elemental Scions.
The Ashari of Terrah nurture a seed of disrespect and mistrust for
Kraghammer, whose miners constantly disregard their warnings against reckless mining. This arrogance caused countless deaths in the most recent eruption of the Terrah Rift—and led to the collapse of an entire mountain.
Each Ashari culture has its own favored deities. Many Ashari of Pyrah venerate
The Dawnfather, for his flames give life to Exandria. Many in Vesrah worship
The Moonweaver, for her work controls the tides. In Zephrah, the faith of
The Wildmother is predominant, for her freedom is like that of the wind. And the people of Terrah hold
The All-Hammer in great respect for his association with creation and the earth. There are many Ashari, as well, who prefer to revere the elements themselves, forgoing the worship of gods.
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