I recently received some questions via PM regarding the Isur. I figured this would be a good place to post the questions and answers as that is one of the main things I am including in my office thread. So without further ado, here is the first part of the questions/answers involving the Isur and the Mountain Kingdom of Sultros. Sultros Clan Leadership and royal figures. Only clan that seems to be able to be King of the Isur. Yet what type of lifestyle and goals do they hold? The Sultros clan leads the Council of Five with the position of King. Many legendary heroes and leaders from history come from the Sultros clan. Known also for being the premiere engineers of the Kingdom, their lifestyle is heavily influenced by this. Children spend the days studying architecture, drafting and engineering while also studying various aspects of leadership; history, speechcraft, politics, etc. When they are not in school, they are working in the forges. Because the Sultros clan is responsible for things such as aqueducts, lifts and reinforced tunnels that make up the various Isur citadels, those who are not in leadership positions spend much of their time pursuing these areas of construction. There isn't such a thing as being poor in the Kingdom, especially in the Sultros city. Everyone has a home and all the necessities of life. Though they work long days either in the forges or on one of countless construction projects, they make time for family; even if its gathering everyone together to work on special projects. Ongoing clan goals are to maintain the Kingdom and continue to rebuild it toward its former glory before the Valterrian. Unlike other clans, the Sultros see this as a gradual process that encompasses many areas. One of their primary goals is to restore the Council of Ten. As a part of that, they often lead expeditions made up of isur from different clans in search of historical isur settlements, outposts and even to the Old Kingdom city of Izurith. Their hopes are to find survivors of any clan but especially the lost clans. Day-to-day individual goals of course vary with each person but often center around their jobs and/or families. Vizerian Clan: They seem to be the type that would do anything for any god or goddess so that leaves me to believe the members hold many low level god marks even the younger children type. Yet is this idea true? They also seem to have lost artifacts that they hide from all even themselves yet who has the final say on to use them or open them? The clan leader, the leader of the Coglias clan or the King? The Vizerian Clan is primarily devoted to Izurdin among all other gods or goddesses. That said, many do hold low level marks from others but most never get more than one with some getting two. Vizerian clan members are the ones most likely to have the third mark from Izurdin compared to the other clans. This isn't to say they are the only ones, just that their are more of them in this clan than the others. Common low level marks include those from Avalis, Eyris and Semele although they aren't exclusive. None would dare openly display marks from the darker gods such as Rhysol or Vayt or any of the other dark gods as such a thing is seen by the clan as blasphemous toward Izurdin. The artifacts that they brought from the old city are buried in a hidden vault somewhere in the new kingdom. Only a handful of Vizerian members know of its existence though the location remains hidden from all. I can't reveal the identity of the one who safeguards the vault as it is the core of a potential adventure I have in mind when Sultros finally opens for players. Suffice to say that the vault does not play a significant role in the lives of the general public. As for opening the vault and gaining access to the contents, again, that is something for the future adventure. Coglias clan: They are the overall fighters yet can anyone help fight and defend the city in times of need and train with them or is it just them? Is it taboo to go to other clans to learn and teach or is it all more inner clan only type thing? The Coglias clan makes up the backbone of the whole of the Isurian military yet they are not the sole members. All five clans and all five citadels maintain their own military however they all include members of the Coglias clan among their ranks. They train fighters from all clans in the ways of combat and it is considered an honor, even by the rather secretive and strict Pitrius clan, to train under a Coglias warrior. It is not taboo to learn and teach between clans. In fact, the Church of Izurdin, operated and maintained by the Vizerian clan, is located in the city of Sultros; all are welcome and those seeking religious teaching and training travel from the other clan cities to the Church. Izurdin's Hammer, the primary defenders of the Kingdom, are led by members of Coglias clan although they accept the most skilled warriors from across the kingdom, regardless of clan. The Sentinels of the Silver Tower are made up of isur from across the Kingdom. The Sentinels are students of the Silver Tower located in the Pitrius clan city. The Tower, maintained and operated by clan Pitrius, accepts isur from all clans although they give preferential entry to Pitrius applicants. Terras Clan: Overall female it seems with 95% type female yet what happens when a male is born? Nothing special or something of talk? Can a person of the clan work and make there own type of guild work so to speak that holds there own mark or will it just be the clan? In the Terras clan, the rare few males that are born are treated as equals to the females. Terras males are highly sought after by Terras females for mates because it is believed their offspring would be of a purer bloodline. In truth, these offspring are always female and such offspring bring great honor and prestige to that family. Those extremely rare males that mate with and/or marry outside of the clan, lose their status as clan members and must take on the name of their mate's clan. Offspring of these males also lose status as members of Terras clan. Males marrying into the clan are considered clan members by marriage association only. However, they are not treated as inferior. Males perform alongside females in almost every aspect of life yet females hold positions of leadership in politics and business. They share leadership in a family yet as far as the family's ties to business and politics are concerned, responsibility falls on the female. An individual, male or female, can perform their own work and claim it as their own or as belonging to their family. In fact, most isur, regardless of clan, who craft above average works, often name them for themselves, their family and their clan in that order. Pitrius Clan: The magic clan clearly but any magic they don't learn? They don't like outsiders but it is heard of that they take them in at times but how do they act with each other? Which type of magic do they use or is it more up to the person themselves? The Pitrius clan delves in pretty much any type of magic although some more than others. Alchemy, Glyphing, Magecraft, Malediction, Leeching, Auristics and Voiding are the primary disciplines with the others taught to a lesser degree. Unlike Sahova, there aren't quite as many masters at the Silver Tower. Most of the instructors are L3 in their primary disciplines with a handful holding L4 including the Master of the Tower. They do indeed frown on outsiders but do accept those they view as having natural talent in various areas. These individuals must work hard to prove themselves in the eyes of their instructors and peers. With each other, Sentinels of the Silver Tower as well as "normal" members of clan Pitrius, interact with one-another in a way that says, what can this person do for me? What do I get out of the deal? Can this person be of some use to me now or at a later date? One's superior, especially at the Tower, is to be feared and/or respected. They are to be obeyed and disobedience is strictly dealt with. Of course subterfuge, underhandedness, dishonesty and betrayal is commonplace and frowned upon if one is caught while praise, power and influence is given to those who excel at it. Magic used varies with the individual however some families within the clan may show an aptitude for one discipline over another. Note that the Silver Tower also offers training and apprenticeship in non-magical disciplines such as Poisons, Interrogation, Intelligence, Philtering as well as expecting all students to maintain their physical conditioning through strenuous workouts. Izurdin is a large part of everyone's lives but does the god roam in the city or is it more of a type that they follow him and he leaves them alone? I guess what I am asking is how he feels towards them and if he is around them. Would he ever really give them a bad gnosis mark and if he would what would they need to do? While he is the main god do they follow any other type of god and any that they would not follow? It is said that Izurdin roamed the Kingdom in the flesh during its early years and blessed the builders of the citadels and the cities for only through his personal intervention could the Kingdom have come so far in such a short amount of time. In more recent times however, Izurdin watches his children from a distance as he doesn't want to interfere; choosing instead for the isur to rely on their own strength and patience to persevere. He does love his children though and while offering his blessings to all races who seek his guidance or exemplify his chosen domains, his attention falls more upon the isur than any others. Izurdin does not usually give bad gnosis marks as it takes quite a bit of active effort to anger him. While few mortals are capable of such a feat, those who actively oppose industry, physical strength or who do not strive to maintain patience, may succeed at doing it. Isur are least likely to receive negative marks but those rare few who do would have to atone in a way specifically tailored to the individual. Izurdin is the primary isurian god and the only one that any isur would openly claim three marks or more from. As with the Vizerian clan, many isur from all clans carry marks from Avalis, Eyris and Semele with some claiming marks from Myri, Cheva, Kihala, Gnora, Rak'keli, Wysar and even Ivak. Some of the Coglias clan, especially the elders, give respect to the dead God of War, Ruros. Many members of clan Pitrius, while not open about it, are rumored to carry marks from Vaht, Nikali, Akajia, Sagallius, Siku with the faintest of whispers claiming a few bare marks of Rhysol and Uldr. Clan Pitrius is the only one who would consider positive marks from any of the dark gods due to their interest in the forbidden, buried and lost. |