Anya Venari
Star Queen Tirathana VII
Source, art by 'Conceptopolis'
Name: Vashyada, the children of nature.
Designation: Sentient
Homeworld: Tygara
Language: Dialects of a common Vashyada language called Prosbia.
Average height of adults: 1.5-1.8m
Skin color: Though tending to fair skin, it is not as pale as the Xioquo.
Hair color: Blonde or reddish hair is the most common, though brown or black is also known. Some, are born with silver hair, and this is considered a mark of distinction.
Breathes: Type 1
Strengths:
- Keen Senses. Vashyada live in great forests where danger is everywhere and where carelessness can easily get one killed. As a result the Vashyada have even better senses of hearing, smell and sight than their cousins. The one exception is night vision where the Xioquo are superior, but the Vashyada come in second for that field, and are better in the light.
- Hardy. For Eldorai and their offshoots, Vashyada are surprisingly tough and strong. This means they are about comparable to humans in strength and resilience. Those who live in the deep forests are especially tough. Their dexterity and agility is about on par with humans as well.
- One With Nature. Lacking the urban sprawl of the Qadiri or the close confinement of the Xioquo, the Vashyada are naturally adapted to survival in nature. They are superior trackers, can navigate by signs and are excellent at hunting and foraging.
- Egalitarian. Of all the Eldorai and their offshoots, the Vashyada are the least hierarchical and most equal. By necessity males and females can take any position and inheritance is usually based on birth rather than gender. Though not free from strife the decentralised nature and scattered populations mean that warfare is rare and low intensity.
- Spiritual. Overwhelmingly, the Vashyada favour the Light Side, or as they call it ‘Vash’ which they see as the embodiment of nature. This gives them great skills in healing, communion with animals and skills of persuasion.
- Vulnerable to Disease. Being isolated for so long, the Vashyada lack immunity to many of the diseases common to the Qadiri and Xioquo. Exposure to these contaminants has caused the death of many, and though the healers have helped contain this, many groups have been devastated by disease.
- Slow Breeding. Lacking the surplus of food and institutional protections of the Qadiri, the Vashyada grow in population only slowly. There is a limit to how much the forests can support which means population rises very slowly.
- Heat. Living in the cold temperate forests and chill mountains of Yarkul, the Vashyada rarely encounter temperatures over the bare minimums of the tropical Qadiri realms. A Vashyada in the heat will find it very hard to go on and will require copious amounts of water.
- Agoraphobia. Coming from the close confines of forest, river and clearings, the wide seas or plains are deeply unsettling. A Vashyada taken from their home will ironically feel more at home in the cruel darkness of the Underealm than in the hot fields of Amikaron. Their advanced senses in these cases can even be a hindrance as they find it hard to focus on wide open spaces.
- Fragmented. The Vashyada are divided into dozens of petty chiefdoms, monarchies, oligarchies and theocracies. The small population, difficulties of supply and movement mean that no united nation has ever emerged. Reactions to outside threats are therefore scattered and local.
- Primitive. With strictly medieval technology and an overwhelmingly rural economy, the Vashyada lack the organised states which are common elsewhere on Tygara. This means they lack the ability to properly harness their resources. Similarly, an underdeveloped economy based on barter leads to a lack of development and progress.
- Stagnant. Though well honed, their technology is stagnant and innovation is frowned upon as going against the natural order. A reliance on conservative religious dictates and primitive technology means the Vashyada lack the ability to strike back at outsiders who attack them. Having done the same thing for thousands of years, the Vashyada lack the geography and dynamism to advance themselves.
Average Lifespan: 250-300 years.
Races: No distinct sub-races.
Estimated Population: Between 15 and 25 million inhabit the continent of Yarkul with minor scattered (mostly servile) populations elsewhere. 21 million is probably the most accurate figure.
Diet: The Vashyada have the best diet on average of any on Tygara. In addition to hunted animals and foraged plants they also have subsistence farming of various crops. Traditional grains are uncommon due to lack of space, but fungi and orchards are common. Towards the coast and rivers fish and other seafood supplement the diet.
Communication: Verbal, limited written form.
Culture: The Vashyada have advanced cultural scene, the aspects of which are described below.
Performance and Poetry:
The Vashyada are exceptionally skilled in the area of performance. Their speciality are long, lyrical poems set to music. These typically are stories about the past, the heroes and villains of history and about nature.
Curiously, the Vashyada have the most time dedicated to fictional works. The most popular tales are personal ones where the protagonist must overcome their doubts in order to triumph.
The Vashyada have something similar to theatre during religious ceremonies. There multiple people can take roles and act out sacred dramas.
Vashyada music is highly advanced, with string and wind instruments being used most of all.
Prose, History and Research:
Literacy among the Vashyada is very low. Only the higher echelons of Priestesses are usually trained to read and write. Laymen, even nobles and royalty, often are functionally illiterate. This is not seen in a negative light, and indeed those who have to write things down are somewhat looked down on. There are however scribes and lawgivers who record important pronouncements and edicts for posterity, but collective knowledge and honour are considered more important.
Due to the low rate of literacy, prose, history and research are quite uncommon. Sometimes treatises on medicine or religious matters will be written by priestesses, but critical thinking is not encouraged.
Visual Arts:
In contrast to literary pursuits, the Vashyada are accomplished artists. It must be stressed though that much of this is commissioned by or for religious purposes. However, a thriving trade exists in artwork both for the nobility and for commoners too.
Artwork generally takes the form of carved wooden items, sometimes painted, or embroidery. Paint is not used to create art on its own, but is used to brighten other items.
Jewellery:
As one would expect, the Vashyada specialise in natural products for jewellery, especially amber, polished wood or rarely gemstones. Since metal is harder to come by, usually leather is used in place of chains or bracelets.
Technology level: The Vashyada have a fairly consistent technology level, and it could be described roughly as ‘Medieval’. This includes farming techniques and metal working. Specifics are outlined below.
Building and Architecture:
The Vashyada almost entirely dispense with stone as a building material and rely on wood, hides and earth. Though they do build settlements at ground level, especially in clearings, the largest settlements are built among the huge trees. These arboreal settlements are comparable in size and sophistication to the Wookiees of Kashyyyk and offer protection and flexibility. Glass is virtually unknown except in the wealthiest houses because it has to be imported from the Qadiri. Such fortifications as the Vashyada do build on the ground are constructed of rammed earth – dirt compressed between wooden frames to form a surprisingly solid wall. Stone is only used in houses to provide a hearth since it is not flammable like wood.
Seas and Rivers:
The Vashyada are not very nautically inclined. Though expert at navigating the rivers, lakes and swamps of Yarkul they have no craft which can travel the open seas. As a result, all of their ships are oar powered. They have no warships, though canoes and pontoons are sometimes used as transports and fire on each other.
Medicine:
The area of medicine and healing is one where the Vashyada have greater skills than their cousins. Using natural remedies and the Light Side powers of their Priestesses they can heal or at least help many injuries. Surgical knowledge is lacking as dissection is not allowed but the Vashyada are more resistant than the Qadiri or Xioquo.
Warfare:
In warfare the Vashyada are almost entirely defensive in nature. Due to the small population and decentralised nature of the Vashyada they lack anything which could be called professional soldiers. Though some lords have retainers which they employ these troops provide their own equipment and lack discipline. A village or clan which fights simply calls most of their adults – male and female – together and they head off in small bands to fight. These tribal or clan armies provide their own equipment and gain experience over their long life without formal training.
Warfare for the Vashyada is nowhere near as ingrained as with the Qadiri or Xioquo. Combat between clans is common enough but it lacks the intensity or formalisation of their cousins. Fighting is seen as honourable and as a test of character and personal bravery is seen as vital for one’s credentials growing up. However, most battles are resolved by challenges between champions or skirmishes. Large scale battles and massacres are almost unheard of except in extreme cases.
The primary weapon of the Vashyada is a warbow often as tall as they are. Practice over decades of hunting and fighting turns each archer into a supremely talented shot. Missile fire is the primary means of fighting, striking from cover and retreating. This means that combat between Vashyada generally takes place at long range and from within cover.
Melee combat, when it happens, generally takes the form of ambushes or striking when the enemy is disorganised from missile fire. Melee weapons include javelins thrown before the charge, thrusting spears, tomahawk like axes or scimitars.
Armour is usually light and involves various leather types. Metal armour is rare, though the wealthy might have chainmail or lamellar armour with a light helmet. Many of them wear silk undershirts – a common commodity because of native insects – which help with arrow wounds by not dragging cloth into the wound. Shields, when used, are usually of the light buckler variety.
One unexpected and terrifying aspect of Vashyada warfare is their domestication of giant arachnids called Partuz. These serve as cavalry and can drop down on enemies and tear them apart with vicious pincers. The hide of these mounts also forms a tough leathery armour.
Though against other Vashyada they are often quite restrained against invading Qadiri or Xioquo the Vashyada are far less merciful. If the invaders ignore the customary three warnings, then no prisoners are taken. Qadiri and Xioquo lack the woodsman abilities of the Vashyada and are usually easy prey for ambushes. Even the Xioquo with their superior night vision and cunning have trouble fighting in the forests. The Qadiri instinct to form up tight formations makes them an ideal target.
The Vashyada are completely incapable of siege warfare and lack any weapons to blockade or take a fortress. When the Qadiri under Brahdok set up a permanent fortress on the shore the Vashyada were unable to do anything other than try to burn the palisades. Even then, an attempt to storm the fort was repulsed with heavy losses. After the palisade was replaced by stone and earth the Vashyada gave up trying to take it until Brahdok met her end. After this the Vashyada were able to dismantle the fortress.
General behaviour: Being as diverse and scattered as they are, nailing down universal behaviours can be difficult. However, broad cultural patterns can be clearly discerned.
Gender:
In contrast to the much stricter hierarchies of their cousins, the Vashyada are the most ‘equal’ when it comes to gender politics. Inheritance law treats the genders as equal, making them absolute cognatic. This means that children will inherit in age order, without consideration of gender.
This equality is based on two main factors; male and female Vashyada are very similar physically, and the necessity of incorporating all of a community into a common cause. The forests with their small settlements are extremely harsh, and with slow population growth combined with high mortality, being able to use all members of the community equally are vitally important.
This somewhat rosy picture does not hide the fact that gender biases are still common and very apparent even if they are somewhat less obvious. Males are still restricted from certain professions such as religion, high military commands and top lawgiver roles. Males are considered to be too reckless, emotional and aggressive for these roles.
Males and females fight together war warriors, often in mixed units. Fraternisation is culturally frowned upon and a strong tradition of shaming those who go against the norms is present.
Perhaps paradoxically for an otherwise egalitarian system, same-gender romances are treated unfavourably. It is considered the duty for Vashyada to marry and produce heirs to carry on the family name. Same-gender couples do exist, but much of it happens outside of public. Sometimes two pairs will ‘marry’ and live together but in reality the same-gender pairs are the ones staying out of the spotlight.
Religion:
Religion plays a key role in Vashyada culture, and is closely linked with the Force. A hierarchy of priestesses from many different cults exists. The Vashyada are polytheists, and revere the forces of nature in many different forms. Some of these forms are elemental, some are moral such as ‘Vash’ (light) and Drush (dark) and some are for specific elements of nature such as life, death, childbirth and so on.
These cults are mutually exclusive from any ruling body, and at least theoretically cooperate together. Priestesses play very important roles in Vashyada society, as they are not only the healers, but as often the only literate members of society.
There is another unusual factor in Vashyada religion; the presence of a real (to them) demi-goddess amongst them. The being known as Tylania will be discussed more in history, but she acts as an oracle and informal advisor to all the Vashyada. Her revered status is similar to that of a prophet, and her advice is often sought.
The Force:
The Force is perceived almost universally amongst the Vashyada as a gift. Those who are empowered by it are usually offered the chance to be priestesses (if female) or warriors (if male). With so many cults and religious groups, one’s Force manifestations and talents inform one about which cult to join.
Among the Vashyada the Light or Vash is the aspect of the Force most sought after, as it is the aspect which is most informed by nature and healing. The Vashyada strive to maintain all their Force users on the path of Light, and those who fall to the Dark Side are driven out and exiled. It is a paradox, but the predominantly Light Side Vashyada actively seek out and persecute those who follow the Dark Side. They do, however, not let this turn into killing.
The Force for the Vashyada is all about protection, healing and preservation of nature. Their Priestesses are barred from fighting or causing harm, and their warriors must be trained in calm and focus just like a Jedi.
Being a Force user does not pressure one to go onto these career paths though, and self-control is a valued tool for those who have the power but choose not to use it.
Slavery:
Slavery amongst the Vashyada is a far reduced institution compared with their Xioquo and Qadiri cousins. Though not seen as immoral, it is seen as inefficient and ineffective for the conditions in Yarkul. Lacking the space for the large slave farms and mining that the Qadiri have or the grim darkness of the Xioquo, slavery is simply not worthwhile to them.
The only institutional usage of slavery is as punishment for crimes. In these cases, if a Vashyada is convicted of an offence usually a wergild or blood money is imposed. However, in some cases or if the defendant cannot pay they are enslaved to the victim’s family. Strict laws and limitations cover these transactions so it is less like true slavery and more like indenturing.
In some cases, slavers attacking from the Qadiri or Xioquo who are captured are enslaved themselves and sent to work menial tasks.
Government:
The Vashyada are not one single polity, but a bizarre hodgepodge of monarchies, oligarchies, theocracies and even some tribal democracies. The vast majority of groups though are monarchs, with both kings and queens being rulers in almost equal amounts. The size of nations are usually small and greatly limited by the terrain and population. The key unit is that of family and clan loyalties, and these provide most of the Vashyada’s daily world view.
Each community, unless close to a centre of government, essentially runs itself autonomously. A feudal style system of obligations and dues binds scattered communities together. This system is extremely decentralised and real control by a ruler is extremely limited. Usually, the only arrangement which is in effect is contributing warriors for the army in exchange for their liege’s protection.
There are however one group to which all Vashyada owe allegiance, in theory anyway.
This entity is the dual monarchy of the High King and High Queen, a rather unique creation as each monarch is symbolically married to the other. However, each monarch maintains their own completely separate families, leading to a situation where one High King or Queen might outlive several ‘partners’. It is not unknown for these monarchs to actually have a relationship, but it is in the minority of cases. The reason for this rather odd partnership dates back to the distant past when two factions of the Vashyada made peace they started this tradition. The high King and High Queen, despite being theoretically lieges of all Vashyada in reality hold little to no real power. Occasionally a strong-willed leader will take control and try and enforce greater centrality, but this is always vigorously opposed and has never succeeded for long.
The largest and most populous city is that of Vastyro, set in the trees for protection. It is there that the High King and Queen sit, along with the principle shrines to the major deities. This city is of considerable size, over 50,000 which is an order of magnitude larger than the next largest settlement.
Warfare:
Warfare to the Vashyada is something which is often the last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted. Due to the decentralised nature of the Vashyada, and the extremely difficult nature of the terrain, combined with primitive logistical systems, wars of conquest are rarely worth the effort involved. This means that war is typically low intensity skirmishes and raids by small parties. The aim is to force the other side to negotiate, not to destroy them. Conquest and annexation is looked on with great suspicion, to the extent that coalitions are readily formed against any aggressor.
Since warriors provide their own weapons and are trained by their community primarily for the defence of their community, levying troops for conquest is very difficult. These smallholders and traders have no desire to conquer their neighbours and often refuse to fight aggressive wars.
This leads to a situation where wars are only declared with very clear casus belli, usually to right a particular wrong or to punish a usurper.
This defensive mentality is quite at odds with the ethos of the invading Qadiri and Xioquo. However, against such opponents the Vashyada do not feel beholden to their morals and will attack without mercy.
Currency:
The Vashyada on the whole do not use a standardised currency backed by precious metals. A lot of their financial transactions are carried out by trade and barter. Precious metals, usually gold and silver, are used for high level transactions and to pay for the rare mercenary units. Gemstones are highly valued and can be used as currency as well.
At a lower level though other currency in the form of shells, amber or other rare forest products acts as a form of coinage.
One interesting and very unusual form of payment is by ‘precious items’ where a particularly valuable object or heirloom to the individual is taken as collateral for a loan.
History:
The history of the Vashyada is tied closely to the history of Tygara and their cousins in the north. The Vashyada know little to nothing of their past as a whole, only vague myths and legends. Indeed, the only one who knows the truth is the one who was there at the beginning.
The Xioquo, Qadiri and Vashyada were all created by the Rakata to eventually serve as slave warriors in their wars. To the Vashyada the Eldorai template was moulded to make them more agile still, in tune with the living Force, and possessed of skill with the Light Side that the Rakata lacked. The intention was that eventually they might be useful support troops or infiltrators, but the downfall of the Rakata put pay to this ambition.
To lead the Vashyada though an exceptionally powerful being was created. This was Tylania, one of the five ‘Paragons’ created by the Rakata to lead their slave races. Whereas Mystra had great command over sorcery and the darker aspects of the Force, Tylania was strong with the Light and with healing and with powers over nature.
When the Rakata fell there was immediately a power vacuum which Mystra attempted to fill. Since the Paragon for the Qadiri (Eyrecae) had never arrived, she moved to take them over and turn them against Tylania and the Vashyada. Leading a massive army, she covered all of the lands in a sorcerous darkness so the Xioquo could fight without the burning rays of the sun. However, the strength of Mystra and the Xioquo was undermined when Tylania tore the magical cloud asunder and shone light down upon the Xioquo. Combined with a change of heart among the Qadiri, the Xioquo were driven away to their northern realms.
In the aftermath many of the Vashyada wanted Tylania to take over the Qadiri and found an empire spanning Tygara. However, the Paragon refused and led her people south to the continent of Yarkul. She saw more clearly than most that her people would not endure future conflict with the Qadiri and that the climate was unsuited for them. And so southward they went to the vast and forbidding forests of the southern continent.
For a while Tylania governed her people, helping them claim living areas among the forests, but eventually she sought other rulers to replace her. Two families, representing factions of the Vashyada battled for dominance, so in the end Tylania engineered a new system. The two clans would symbolically join as High King and Queen to preserve peace, and Tylania would withdraw from rule. Her powers over the Light were incompatible with that of being a ruler, and she had no desire for dominion over her people. Rather, she took the path of a prophet, providing aid to those who asked it.
Using a Rakata stasis pod she was able to sleep when her people did not need her, only emerging if there was a crisis.
Time passed, and the Vashyada dispersed across the vast forests, taming the wilderness and becoming part of it. The disciples of Tylania took the message of the Light to heart, and the priestesses which followed used that power whilst seeking to defeat the Dark Side whenever it appeared.
Central authority disintegrated and the High King and Queen become symbolic rulers, and technology faded back to what was easily created.
For over 20,000 years there was generally peace among the Vashyada, broken only by minor wars or natural disasters. The details of this time need not concern us, for the Vashyada did not, or could not, master all their own people, let alone their cousins to the north.
However, with the rise of the Qadiri to the north traders and slavers ventured down to Yarkul. The Vashyada were isolationist and were reluctant to deal with these outsiders, especially when many of them attacked and seized slaves for the hot plains of Amikaron.
The Vashyada were still dealing with this unsettling intrusion when Xioquo raiders arrived, altogether more cruel than the Qadiri.
To both these attacks the Vashyada could defend themselves by destroying the raiders, but they had no means to carry the fight back to their enemies.
When the crisis came and many Vashyada vanished into nothingness, panic gripped them. Though they knew nothing of the Netherworld crisis, they feared this was a plot by the slavers using magic. In this hour of need they awoke Tylania from her sleep and begged her to save their missing kin.
Tylania used her considerable powers and was able to guide many of the lost home when Akala was slain far away. Tylania learned of these distant realms when communing with the Force, and knew that things were going to get even more complicated.
Recently, a Qadiri Mirza named Brahdok, a leader unaligned with the Amikarese Empire, led a large army and fleet to raid Yarkul. Brahdok built a fortress on the shore, one immune to Vashyada attacks, and then led her army in search of Vastyro. However, the Vashyada knew of their approach, and with the aid of their priestesses they summoned mists and illusions to deceive the Qadiri, and then ambushed them in the forests. This battle, or more properly a massacre, is known as Brahdok’s Defeat, and is a well-known tale of folly to the Qadiri.
In the aftermath of this intervention though no more raids came and strange sights were seen in the sky. Tylania sensed the presence of unknown and powerful persons arriving on Tygara and bade her people be aware of visitors from beyond the stars who would be coming to visit. She knew from rumours and from her power of visions that very soon they would make contact and that these newcomers would be instrumental in either the salvation or destruction of her people. And so Tylania and the Vashyada await the space farers with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.
Notable Player-Characters: Not as yet.
Intent: To complete my triumvirate of Tygaran sentient species. Much like the Qadiri and Xioquo, the Vashyada are reflections and contrasts to the Eldorai. They are the least technologically adept, the most isolated, and the most decentralised of all the Eldorai offshoots. However, they have what I feel is a compelling culture and ideal which is both similar and different from the ‘wood elf’ trope. In abilities they have significant weaknesses balanced by fairly mild strengths which keeps them from being overpowered.
