Faction: The Rajarasha
Rajarasha Talavars
The rajarasha are bipedal tiger-like humanoids with cursed blood. In the early years of the Current Era the rajarasha were ruled over by a great king, enforcing his rule through a standing army led by generals. The rajarasha were seemingly left alone during The Ending, however with the later arrival of the Naga, some scholars theorise they were sent by Gaia however arrived late. After The Ending and the introduction of demons to the world, one named Kotumai approached the king of the rajarasha at the time, offering a pact to enhance their powers. The king refused however, being righteous and steadfast in mind and exiled the demon. However, the king’s top generals approached Kotumai and agreed to a pact: eternal power in exchange for their people’s souls. The generals agreed and were enhanced. They overthrew the king and wiped out any knowledge of the rajarasha’s uncursed existence.
Now, nearly all rajarasha are cursed with abyssal blood and act much the same way a demon would: uncaring, cruel and chaotic.
A talavar is the rajarasha word for general or leader. Their state is held together by three generals; Majaran, Shanjar and Daraji, each ruling a different city. They are the same talavars that originally made the pact with Kotumai and are blessed with long lifespans. They present themselves as gods and so there are no native rajarasha gods. Rajarasha that have redeemed themselves often follow Rexen who is the patron god of the human natives of Rajana or other gods such as Ogon or Strid due to their war oriented domains.
Majarana Vai
A city situated in the south east of Rajana, near the Tailrock Peninsula. Ruled by its namesake, Talavar Majaran. He is an expert in the arts of battle, often leading his soldiers from the front during wartime. Majaran is a large 10 ft. tall rajarasha with piercing orange eyes, which have a dim glow to them. He uses his large tiger-like teeth to eat those he defeats in battle, if he doesn’t enslave them instead. Majaran is obsessed with wiping out the Followers of Rexen, who inhabit a free city nestled in the Tailrock mountains. They are freed slaves, adventurers, do-gooders and redeemed rajarasha. The city is the most resplendent of the three, the buildings made out of goldwood, special jungle timber magically infused with gold by rajarasha alchemists. The architecture is ornate and grand yet seamlessly fits in amongst the thick jungle trees. Houses and workplaces are normally built into and around the trees while holy places and fortifications are built on sites that have been cleared, their towers rising high above the canopy.
Notable locations in Majarana Vai include:
Tankam Keep: A abode of Talavar Majaran. Here Majaran rests and rules, while not out hunting Rexen followers. Majaran has no family, not needing to sire heirs due to his long life, but he does have an assortment of mistresses who also act as his spies and bodyguards. Majaran has passed on his pact from Kotumai to them, acting as their patron. They are able to cast eldritch magic and summon blades out of thin air to protect their master.
The Great Cantai: A large market in the centre of the city, selling everything from weapons and armour to magical tomes and medicinal potions. The main draw for rajarasha to venture here are the abundance of slaves being sold, whether they are the Sun God’s acolytes, Abhirans, Naga, or exotic humans captured from the north coast.
Hall of Redemption: A secret location in Majarana Vai, hidden beneath the streets in an ancient jungle tree hollow. Here, redeemed rajarasha congregate to plan their fight against their cursed brethren. Some choose to free slaves by buying them and escorting them to freedom while others sneak into the slave pens at night to free them. Some members take the fight directly to Majaran and his soldiers, shadowing their raiding groups and ambushing them in the jungle or sabotaging infrastructure in the city.
Pallam Temple. The only religious site in Majarana Vai. The rajarasha worship the three talavar as gods, however they do revere demons from the abyss. At Pallam Temple, many come here to bargain with demons to gain boons, whether with gold, trinkets or slaves.
Shanjara Vai
Shanjara Vai is in the centre of the continent, marking the western border of rajarasha lands. It is ruled by Talavar Shanjar, a lithe red-furred female rajarasha. When gifted with eternal power, her body was infused with magic and she was able to cast spells at will, without the inconvenience of having to study magical tomes. Shankar spends her time flexing her magical prowess, launching assaults against the Naga Kings of the Godspine Mountains. As her city takes the brunt of attacks from the Naga, humanoid foreigners are often hired as mercenaries. Shanjara Vai has the highest population of non-rajarasha, being mercenaries and their families. The city also has a vibrant magical community, where many sorcerers come to expand their skills at the Kestar Academy, although are enlisted to be used against the Naga.
Being on the border with the Naga Kings, much of the jungle trees have been cut down in and around the city, which has three layers of walls and ditches around it. Redeemed rajarasha will not be found in this city as they believe Shanjar and her forces to be the lesser evil, when compared with the Naga. Notable locations in Shanjara Vai include:
Shanjarakhana. The residence of Talavar Shanjar. Modest when compared to the other Talavar palaces, Shankar has built her palace with the express concern of security and defence. The walls are constantly patrolled by guards, Rajarasha sorcerers watch over key entry points and magical traps litter the halls. Shanjar has no family to speak of, however it is rumoured that she is bargaining with a demon to make an infant clone of herself.
Kestar Academy. Close by to the Shanjarakhana, the academy trains those with sorcerous powers. Shanjar herself leads the academy but leaves training to those beneath her. Non-rajarashas are allowed to join the academy if they allow themselves to be enlisted to fight the Naga. Adventurers who want to make use of the magical capabilities of the academy may want to bring a hefty coin pouch, or be prepared to work for the rajarasha.
Snakehide Tavern. A tavern frequented by many non-rajarasha mercenaries. The establishment is the most raucous place in the city, but is certain to bring a good time for those who venture there. It is run by an ex-Maccan mercenary named Etienne Cormagh.
Anji’s Tools, Wares and Weapons. A general shop run by a rajarasha named Anji. She sells anything an aspiring adventurer or mercenary might need.
Darajana Vai
Darajana Vai is ruled by the final of the three Talavars, Daraji. Daraji is a large, rotund dark-furred rajarasha. He got the short straw when receiving Kotumai’s boons. He received great strength and hardiness yet was cursed with gluttony and his mind fractured. As such he is feared greatly as he acts differently on different days. Some days he spends his time eating to sate his hunger, other days he wars with the human colonists on the northern coast and he sometimes makes peace and trades with them.
The city is unsafe for non-rajarasha. Due to Daraji’s madness he often sates his hunger on slaves. Many followers of Daraji replicate this and enjoy feasting on live humanoids, often buying slaves just to eat them, or attacking humanoid hunting parties to bring them back to Daraji. As with Majarana Vai, adventurers must prove themselves formidable to ward off these feral rajarasha.
Redeemed rajarasha can be found in the city, trying to bring their brethren away from their sinful actions. There are no redeemed lairs in the city, as they hold out in Apoikia, a settlement on the northern coast inhabited by the Freedlanders, Imperrex and Denyeni peoples. Notable locations in Dajarana Vai include:
Akhada Blood Grounds. This site is Talavar Daraji’s residence and is used both as a residence for him to rest and eat, and as an arena ground in the courtyard at the front of the building. Daraji trains his martial arts against his followers, all forgoing armour and weapons. He often holds the ‘Blood Games’ which last 99 days and is often announced after a martial victory or achievement. Gladiators fight each other and captured beasts. War slaves are pitted against wild animals and the victors are invited to a feast hosted by Daraji on the hundredth day. However, due to his mood swings the feast is often more dangerous than the games itself.
Blood Pits. This city’s slave market is called the Blood Pits and is underground. Most slaves are from Apoika to the north or are brought from Majarana Vai to the south.
Other than Daraji’s Akhada Blood Grounds and the Blood Pits, most of Darajana Vai is composed of dwellings and paltry general stores. There are no walls or fortifications as the Naga do not generally range this far. If the city is attacked all of its inhabitants are trained in unarmed combat and with Daraji leading the fight, no army has taken the city.