Sunless
Silent, unwashed and vicious. They have been charged with the protection of the miners of the deep as penance for their transgressions in the light. Their only labor is to protect the city and the mines from the threats within.
- Aurelian Augustus, Fourth of Their Name
Structure
The gatekeeper
The only sunless members that are allowed to stand at the entrance to the deep. Their responsibilities are constant. Typically a gatekeeper guards against anyone or anything escaping from the mines and into the city. They also ensure only those with permission from The Followers of Ravi enter the Deep. Finally their responsibility extends to a diplomatic role as they accept or slay new recruits to the sunless. The role of Gatekeeper is determined by assessing the sunless with the greatest amount of trophies given the responsibilities. Since this number always changes, the position is coveted as a test of resolve and as a way to prove a warrior’s might. The gatekeeper is always alone but changes once a day. They must always remain in the dark.Sunless
Unless they earn the role of Gatekeeper or somehow join the Court of Amarth, the population of Sunless do not have rank, or title. Each of them exist in a state of equity with each other. All members are expected to follow instructions from the Court of Amarth and abide by the tenants of Oot. Somehow, as if by unspoken language, the Sunless never seem to develop conflict with one another. When a member presents an idea or task to be completed, the appropriate amount of labor or skill is regularly provided and the task is completed without question or complaint.Court of Amarth
Leaders of the sunless. These rulers of the group are surrounded by mystery and seldom visit with outsiders. The number of counsel members is unknown but their word and dictates are obeyed without question. They speak with the voice of Oot, god of the dark and patron of the Sunless.Culture
The Sunless generally do not speak, even to each other. Almost all of the sunless worship at the altar to Oot that was built at the entrance to the deep. A member of the sunless will not walk in the light once they have joined. They refuse to enter daylight. If a criminal who was “Given the dark” attempts to leave the deep, even if they are not a member of the Sunless, they will be stopped...usually by murder.
The sunless will protect their members with a violent ferocity. They live by “All on one, one on all”. If one sunless is attacked, all sunless will respond. A lone sunless will fight anything if they believe it to present a threat to the deep and the world above. They give training, food and protection to their members, but they expect their members to reciprocate to the larger group. If a member is found breaking any of the five laws of Ter’A-Til they are put to death on the spot.
Joining the Sunless
Criminals who have tossed the coin of light that resulted in the dark are exiled to the deep mines beneath the city of Ter'A-Til. Upon arrival to the mines, they are given the chance to join the Sunless. If they refuse then they are not given any resources or protection from the larger group. The Sunless name these people "Carriers of the Tainted Flame" and leave them to perish in the dark.Names
Members of the Sunless do not use proper names. Instead they are identified by their peers simply by pronouns of he, she or they. According to the limited research that has been conducted on the group, this de-identification is a religious observance. The Oot religious tenant of of "all of us are the same in darkness" is taken literally. When groups of Sunless have been interviewed they often choose to refer to themselves as "This one." and their peers as "That one". On the rare occasion that a sunless will converse with an outsider, away from other sunless, they will only identify themselves as "Sunless" refusing to answer to any other name or label.Weapons and Food
The miners of the deep provide the sunless with food from the city's stores. However, many of the sunless prefer to subsist on the flesh of the creatures they kill in the dark and the mushrooms that grow in their tunnels. The Sunless are also keen practitioners of a wide variety of fighting styles. Because they are convicted criminals, Sunless do not build weapons. Instead using weapons that are either found in the deep or given as gifts from grateful miners. Weapons retrieved from fallen sunless and miners are coveted and kept in one piece for as long as possible. If a weapon is given to a sunless as a gift it is a large honor, and a fast way to gain their favor.Appearance
Many Sunless have extremely pale skin due to their lack of any exposure to daylight. They also do not wash very frequently. Due to their subterranean existence they usually have matted dreadlocked hair and are extremely dirty. They’re usually completely covered in the ashy white mud that the Sunless make in large batches. While it has never been confirmed as the reason for its creation, the white ash mud is an effective camouflage in the darkness and help the Sunless blend into their shadowy surroundings.Public Agenda
The Sunless do not work in the mines, they protect the mines. A group of convicted criminals bound by there adherence to the workings of Oot, they procted the miners of Ter'A-Til to
Assets
Their knowledge of the passageways of the deep mines beneath Ter'A-Til is peerless. No known written maps exist of the deep mines that have been created by the Sunless, however, if you are able to coax a Sunless into guiding you through the mines, they know every shortcut and hidden route.
Granted Divine Powers
The Sunless believe that through their worship of Oot. They are given the ability to survive in the darkness. Sunless have been seen climbing on walls like spiders, spitting clouds of poison and, according to some reports, even see in the dark. It should also be noted that many of the denizens of the deep mines, such as Brood Spiders, also exhibit similar abilities. Whether there is a connection between the spiders and the Sunless is up for debate.
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
Alternative Names
Dark Dwellers, Dark Exiles
Demonym
Sunless
Ruling Organization
Deities
Location
Related Species
