House Almoni: The Skyborn Tribe
House Almoni is one of the most enigmatic and resilient families in the Kingdom of Banana. Known for their dark skin, intricate dreadlocks, and braids, the Almoni carry with them the weight of a tragic history—one shaped by their past, loss, and struggle for survival. They are a people once blessed with boundless magical talent and an unwavering connection to the sun, which they venerate as the giver of life. Their sigil—a radiant sun—symbolizes their reverence for this celestial power that shaped their existence.
However, the Almoni are also a people marked by betrayal, loss, and the fragmentation of their once-thriving civilization. What was once a proud tribe with unparalleled magical gifts has become a shadow of its former self, caught between the collapse of their culture, the rise of pirates, and the fight for survival in a world where magic has begun to fade. The Almoni have endured their fall from grace by adapting, often by force, and by transforming the remnants of their spiritual and martial heritage into a potent naval power that now serves the Kingdom of Banana, often as mercenaries or as the kingdom’s primary naval fleet.
In the modern age, the Almoni are on the precipice of a rebirth, with their next generation poised to regain their lost magic. However, this resurrection is fraught with uncertainty—can the Almoni reclaim their former glory? Will they continue as mercenaries, or will they seize the throne as they once dreamed? The answer to these questions lies in their rapidly changing world and in the hearts of the next generation, who will decide what magic, leadership, and honor will mean for the Almoni in the years to come.
Before the Bronze Age, the Almoni were an elusive and mysterious people, often little more than rumors and whispers among the other tribes and kingdoms of Banana. The tales surrounding them were both terrifying and inspiring:
Men who rode the sky—legendary warriors and airborne hunters who seemed to move with the wind.
Women who could sing—captivating voices that lured ships to their doom, singing songs of sorrow and hope that wove magic into the very winds and waves.
These rumors were based on truth, albeit an exaggerated truth. The Almoni were known to possess unique magical abilities from a very young age, often using them in their everyday lives, such as cooking with elemental fire or creating minor illusions to enchant their world. Their connection to the sun, however, was the most profound aspect of their culture. The Almoni revered the sun not only as a deity but as the source of all magic that flowed through them and the land they inhabited.
As time passed and the Kingdom of Banana transitioned from tribal confederacies to a more centralized state, the Morvains, Burrows, and guilds began to dominate the land. They sought to reshape Banana’s natural resources, including the mines, forests, and coastlines that were so vital to the kingdom's economy. For the Almoni, this development was devastating. Their lands were increasingly encroached upon, their homes ransacked, and their spirits crushed as they began to lose their connection to magic.
The cause was a mysterious virus, one that only affected those with high levels of mana, a trait the Almoni shared. This virus gradually drained them of their magical abilities, decimating their numbers from nearly 300,000 to just 50,000 survivors. Their sorcerous powers waned, and with it, their culture and influence slowly vanished. It was during this period of decline that pirates began to rise, and Blackbeard, a notorious pirate, led a raiding force to pillage what the Almoni had left behind. However, fate turned against Blackbeard as he and his crew were struck down by the same mysterious illness that had once ravaged the Almoni.
Following Blackbeard’s death, his pirates scattered and formed their own fleets, with some turning to the Almoni lands that had once been their home. Almoni survivors saw the coming tide of piracy as a necessary evil, and rather than allowing these rogue fleets to destroy what little was left, they reclaimed control. The Almoni used their last magical artifacts to bind together the remaining pirate factions into a unified naval force.
This new Almoni fleet became an essential part of Banana’s military might, serving as a counterforce to the rise of piracy that had threatened the kingdom’s coastal stability. The Almoni provided naval ships, elite marines, and the raiding expertise needed to protect the kingdom’s trade routes from marauding pirates. The naval connection with the Morvains was born in this period of desperation, with the Almoni becoming essential mercenaries for the kingdom.
While the Almoni had little interest in wealth or political power, their survival depended on forging alliances, and thus, they offered their services to House Morvain. In exchange for sustenance, protection, and the resources needed to maintain their fleets, the Almoni found themselves entrenched in the political web of Banana.
In the modern age, the Almoni have finally discovered the cause of their magical decay—the virus that ravaged them has been cured. However, the damage has already been done, and the older generation of Almoni is largely powerless, their magical strength a mere whisper of what it once was. It is the children of the Almoni, those born after the virus was eradicated, who will slowly begin to recover the magic that was once their birthright.
But the question remains: what will the Almoni do with this resurgence of magic?
Their elders are filled with a mixture of hope and regret, knowing they will likely never see the full return of their people’s magical power. They now stand at a crossroads, with the next generation expected to carry the torch of their people’s legacy.
In the meantime, the Almoni fleets remain a powerful force in the waters of Banana, providing naval security and mercenary services to the kingdom. The Almoni pirates, although now in decline, still retain significant naval influence, operating with the same cunning and brutal efficiency they once used to raid and plunder. Their fleets are commanded by the most skilled sailors and mages of the Almoni, who use sun-based magic to enhance their ships’ speed, defense, and offensive capabilities.
While the Almoni do not follow any specific organized religion, they do possess a deep and unyielding respect for the sun. To them, the sun is the ultimate giver of life—a force that sustains the world and provides them with magic. This connection to the sun manifests in their daily rituals and cultural practices, where the rising and setting of the sun is viewed with reverence.
The Almoni Sigil—a radiant sun—represents their unyielding connection to this divine force, even though they do not see it as a god in the traditional sense. The sun is simply a symbol of life itself, and it is in the sun’s light that the Almoni find their strength, purpose, and identity.
House Almoni’s future is uncertain. Their resurging magic holds the potential to restore their lost greatness, but it remains to be seen whether they will rise as a sovereign nation or continue as mercenaries for the Morvains and the Kingdom of Banana. Their return to power will depend on their ability to forge alliances, reclaim their ancient traditions, and raise a king who can wield the magic of old.
The Almoni’s magical power is returning—but whether it will be used to rebuild a proud and independent people, or if it will be turned to the service of others, is yet to be determined.