Boknice275

Two Rah’mun priests standing before the newly raised Obelisk of Hesthor [!] A missive is sent out across the lands with an ankh cross emblazoned above its contents. It is written in golden words which are surrounded at the edges with hieroglyphic inscriptions vaguely resembling a mighty pure cowhead. Denizens of Aevos, the tombstone of the Isfetian [chaos agent] fiend known as Gashadokuro to some, but as Iket to the people of Rah’tuma, has met the judgment of Hesthor. This foul idol served as a meeting place for the Lich Iket to seduce descendants with his chaotic powers and pursue exploits across Aevos in violation of of the law of Ka’tau. For long the westward swamps of Aevos have also served as a gathering place for Isfetian cults to meet, plan, and conduct unspeakable things under their murky veil. But not any longer. The sacred priesthood of Lady Hesthor, goddess of Pure Waters, has struck right at the heart of the Darklands. By using Heka [magic] gifted to us by Pure Hesthor, we have been able to reduce Iket’s tombstone to rubble, and restore its surroundings to a pure, verdant wetland teeming with Ka [life]. A mighty white obelisk to Lady Hesthor has been raised in the spot where Iket’s tombstone once stood, and pure blessed waters of our Lady now flow mightily into the darkened swamps. The law of Ka’tau is now in force in those swamps, and it’s jurisdiction shall only grow larger as the Sacred Priesthood continues it’s works. May our victory here stand as a warning to all agents of Isfet [chaos], darkened or mundane: the rivers of Hesthor flow from the heavens and purify material reality of all blemishes. She who polishes the soul also removes filth from our world, and shall continue to do so as her servants invoke her name. The name of your Iblees - or any of your dark idols - shall shudder beneath the weight of Our Lady’s bovine hooves, which shatter the souls of the impure, and her waters, which consume them whole with total purification. Obelisks of quartz and whitestone shall rise all throughout Aevos bearing the sacred hieroglyph of Lady Hesthor. They shall banish the filth and stoke purity and it’s virtues. They shall remind descendant-kind that the Gods, while ancient, still reign over these lands with unmistakable might. Isfetians, turn towards the Gods and purify yourself in Hesthor’s waters, or you shall drown within the Pure Waters that await you. Signed by Atemu-Ta Pharaoh of Rahtuma High Priest of Hesthor, Twin-Sun of the Bronze Band Pamphilos Leader of the Bronze Band, High Priest of the Pure Path Fellow lad.

[!] Atemu simply shakes his head towards Grimruk's posturing. "My people's place in these sands has been guaranteed by the Gods. No one, not even Grimruk, will dispute what divine ordinance has for the upholders of Ka'tau. We will return, and we will not be persecuted by Grimruk or his clan, lest they wish to provoke the same wrath which drove the Akaals from these blessed lands."

In the event that PVP is preceded by an RP cause, would it still be illegitimate for it to impact CAs?

"There will be peace when the death of my sister is avenged, and the Isfetian akaals have faced the judgment of the Gods. There shall be peace when the persecution of my peoples at the hands of those who promised to protect is avenged." Atemu said, shaking his head at the missive. "If the Rex wants peace, the best thing he can do is attempt to engage in diplomacy with the Rah'mun peoples and the Bronze Lads. But he has refused to do so at every turn. The time for peace has passed." Atemu then crumpled up the missive and tossed it towards the roaring fire within the Ra'tuhmet's temple. His burning gaze watched with ferocity as the paper became a charred mess, withering away in the fire's embrace. "There shall be justice. There shall be immolating Fire. HAIL Ra'tuhmet."

[!] The Pharaoh simply shakes his head at the latest missive demonstrating Akaal corruption. "The Akaal are likely apart of the Isfetian blood cultism that runs strongly throughout the Iron Horde. This is why no Rah'mun will ever practice dark magic of any form - blood magic, powers meant to offend or usurp the Gods, or Xionist fallacies."

[!] Atemu is handed the Akaal missive by a Rah'mun servant as he sat in the temple of the Ra'tuhmet. After a brief read the Pharaoh simply shakes his head before muttering a few words to himself. "The Akaals cannot pretend they are pure - they are not. They are as useful a tool of darkness as the Inferi bull Sokoron is to whatever foul Isfetian warlock controls his soul. Both are a problem. I am heartened to see Drus oppose the darkness of his lineage, but by doing so he walks from one source of darkness to another." Atemu said, sighing as he gazes towards the magnificent Temple of Hesthor upon the shores of Rah'tuma, a glistening shrine of purity. "The lads are misguided if they believe Sokoron is the same soul he was before the Moz Strimoza seized his spirit. Hesthor will not abide by such a flagrant violation of her tenets of Purity for too much longer. The bull must be addressed." Atemu then proceeded to fall to his knees and pray before the Ra'tuhmet's shrine, asking for clarity for all in this difficult situation.

I will grant that shamanism as a whole does not have a 'holy' aspect, but certain spirits in shamanism (Scorthuz, Akezo, etc) are very much aligned to concepts traditionally practiced by holy magics. I'm not sure how a spirit of purity could justify ravaging oneself with sickness for power, or how a spirit of health could justify the same. But some spirits like Kinul (who is disease based) or Gazisgash (whose theme is blood) would probably very much appreciate BM. I just think there should be redlines for particular shaman archetypes who wish to practice BM.

The rewrite looks good! There's only one issue of concern for me: blood magic and shamanism. If blood magic isn't compatible with templarism or paladinism (both deific magics), would it make sense that it would be incompatible with shamanism, too? I understand a lot of shamans use blood magic currently and would push against this on the grounds that BM does not impact the soul, but that would no longer be true if this magic passed (I.E, bloodshard). Even beyond that small detail, however, there is the matter of genus manipulation conflicting with the spirit's power. If the spirits dislike their shamans using any other power which conflicts with their own (you could argue a blood magic that causes lethargy does that) then would they truly permit it's use? At the very least, it may make sense to localize disdain of blood magic to specific spirits that would not favor it due to it's deleterious effects on the body, like Scorthuz. Maybe a spirit like Gazigash or Kinul might favor it, but it wouldn't make sense for a spirit like Akezo or Scorthuz to be too thrilled about it. Any thoughts? Other than that this is a much needed rehabilitation for a legendary magic.

As an active shaman player, I 100 percent support this amendment. +1

[!] The sunlit Pharaoh stands atop a cliff overlooking the soon-to-be finished city of Rah'tuma as his workers toil, raising shrines and mighty sandstone buildings on the cliff side of Nor'asath overlooking the pristine oceans. One of Atemu's aides walks over to him and delivers him a missive of War, which he reads with great interest. The Pharaoh simply smiles after finishing the missive, his burning gaze returning back to his glorious city. "Grimruk, the akaals, the Motsham, and the Rex sought to persecute me and my people. After toiling tirelessly to assimilate to Orcish culture - even sacrificing my own mores for their benefit - I was still deemed a lesser. My people were threatened with death and enslavement. The Motsham, who is supposed to keep the word of the spirits, defiles them by aligning with darkspawn and using foul magicks to further his ends. Any orc that claims their reckoning is undeserved clearly lacks eyes to see and ears to hear. As Pharaoh Naseret said, the Gods protect their own. Had the orcs simply treated me - and my people - with our deserved respect, the status quo would reign strongly. But they have not. And now their domains shall fall to the wrath of Goddess Kalthet, our Goddess of Freedom Ahura-Ma, and their city districts will be overrun with the purifying waters of Hesthor. And once the illegitimate Akaal regime has fallen, my people shall return to the deserts and properly reestablish our civilization in our spiritual homelands." Atemu then turned towards the fledgling armory and walked towards it stridently. "We shall assist in this war with mighty chariots and prayers to the Gods. May this send a message to all tyrants that the Gods will not abate their insolence." The Pharaoh then went to write a missive of his own, preparing for battle.

The Immaculate Waters of Hesthor which overcame Gashadokuro's flock in the swamps of Aevos [!] The following missive is released to the whole of Aevos, written in gold ink and stamped with a Ka’tau cross. Le-iy to all denizens of Aevos. I am Pharaoh Atemu-Ta; voice of Ka’tau, Pharaoh of the Rah’mun peoples, light of the Ra’tuhmet and High Priest of Hesthor. I have come to bring forth a message of hope and victory to the denizens of this realm. The law of Ka’tau, which is the Order that governs all of Creation and ties everything together in harmony, has been eternally opposed by Isfet [chaos]. For generations it has been ignored, disgraced, and opposed by many different forces that all arise from disorder. Isfet has many faces upon this world - including its foul agent who calls himself Gashadokuro also known as Iket the Cursed to the Rah’mun people, and known as the Bone-Lord to others. This foul entity, who captures the souls of the Dead and enslaves them to his service, and wields accursed Flame to kill the innocent, has been defeated. Myself and and a band of Rah’muns and our allies heard the exhortation of accursed swamp lands to the West, where the Bone-Lord and his allies congregate and conduct foul rituals to poison Aevos and all descendants. Upon approaching the accursed grave site the Bone-Lord mocked us with his sorceries and conjured forth a wretched creature of Flesh to kill us. He attempted to overtake our minds with the chaos of fear, but the Gods strengthened my will to resist his temptations. One of our allies, Takemura, stood strongly against the flesh monstrosity and provided time for the sacred invocations to be made to Hesthor’s realm. He was unfortunately afflicted by a moment of rage that caused him to turn his blade upon all of us, but by the grace of the Gods his hand was stayed. The flesh creature eventually overcame most of my group and prepared to finish off Takemura. At this moment, the mighty waters of Goddess of Pure Waters Hesthor poured down from the Heavens of Ka [life] and afflicted the flesh monster, bringing the mighty monstrosity who had bested several warriors to its knees in an instant. The area around the Bone-Lord’s gravesite was also purified, restored to it’s natural beauty and rested from his accursed hands. This caused the Bone-Lord to surface from his hiding place within his gravesite and retreat upon a flying carpet. Before he fully retreated, I remarked that Mighty Hesthor’s name will forever be a curse against his name. This enraged the bitter Isfetian, causing him to shoot accursed Flames towards us as we made our way from his swamps. The world should know that the Bone-Lord is no insurmountable foe. A single prayer to Goddess Hesthor brought his power to a halt. The law is insurmountable, even if presumptuous sorcerers seek to ignore it. Goddess Hesthor’s authority was deployed in a similar manner by Pharaoh Naseret against Gashadokuro's master, the Greater Demon Kazul. Kazul’s forces were swept away by the purifying Heka of Hesthor and sent spiraling back towards their infernal dens, far removed from the world under Ka’tau. In retaliation for this righteous display of Hesthor's might, Kazul has scattered Rah'mun civilization to the wind through a series of attacks against our cities. Today's victory shall be a reminder that Kazul's rampage shall be challenged in great measure, assured by the courts of Ka'tau. This same power, used by my ancestors, will continue to stand as a warning to the Bone-Lord and his cult: the law is resolute, and the will of the Gods will not stand contested by anyone. Not an aengudaemon, a fantastical deity, nor a false magic shall measure in power to the authority the Bone-Lord has seen tonight. To the Bone-Lord, his allies and cult: allow tonight to remain a warning. If you did not know the name of Hesthor before today, now her name shall follow you wherever you go. Remember the power that foiled the Isfetian magic of your Bone Lord with great ease. Know the power that rested his own domain from his control and placed it under the authority of the Cow Mother, if only for a temporary period of time. Know the power that causes your constructs - raised from grime, undeath, and impurity - to become subject to its whim with a mere prayer. Soon, the people of Rah’tuma shall march an army into your swamplands and bring forth Hesthor’s river to purify your territories. If we can best the Bone-Lord with four men, what can we do with twenty, or thirty, or many scores more? Hesthor has called for your judgment. The fall of the An-Gho and his flock of worms to your north shall be the first sign of your coming judgment; the arrival of our men upon your shores shall be the second; the flooding of the River Hesthor upon your lands shall be the third. KNOW the signs, agents of Isfet, so you may prepare for the inevitable. To any who read this and have open hearts: if you wish to bring about the overthrow of chaos from this world, I encourage you to seek out the settlement of Rah'tuma and become a devotee to Lady Hesthor. Her power purifies the soul and mind, and brings your being into focus with what is pure and righteous. Her philosophies are essential for life and help one appreciate the law of Ka'tau which runs through all things. Come join the faith and be apart of restoring the law of Ka'tau to all corners of the land, so that all descendants may life in harmony with what is Right, and oppose all is that unlawful. May this message serve as an enchantment to you all. May the Ra’tuhmet’s light guide you, and Hesthor’s waters preserve you in full purity. Sincerely, Atemu Ta Pharaoh of the Rah’mun peoples High Priest of Hesthor Voice of Ka’tau Light of the Ra'tuhmet

"The will of the Gods is yet to be seen." The Pharaoh said atop a cliffside, watching dozens of Rah'mun workers raise buildings, shrines, and walls upon the land that shall be called Rah'tuma. "Hesthor has declared that the An-Gho and his domain shall fall to her waters. IT is an assurance, not an idle speculation. In defeat there is growth, and in growth there is flourishing.." Atemu said as he began to descend the cliffside, walking towards the new quartz fashioned Temple of Hesthor which sat upon the waters near the settlement. "When I came to the fire-scorned lands with my blessed legions of Order and Purity, I was not prepared for the tricks of the worms. Now that I have seen the force of their devilish powers and I have lived to escape them, I will not make the same mistake." The Pharaoh then enters the temple, gathering with a group of other Hesthorian priests as they plot their next inevitable strike against the Draconic Isfetians. In the background of their conversations, the unmistakable ticking and clacking of wartime construction is heard. Something was being prepared. OOC:

"Oijin.. They have captured Oijin?" The venerable knight Ser Philip mused as the wicked missive came across his desk at his home upon the warm shores of Tuvia. "Gashudorko has become far too bold for my tastes. I doubt Canondom has the will to finally slay this crietin, but I will not allow the righteous to stand unaided." The knight then leaves his home and hops aboard a boat, preparing for a journey towards the land of the Cherry Blossoms..

A gathering of faithful Rah'muns post-Iron Horde exile Exiled. Persecuted. Disgraced. These words rushed through Pharaoh Atemu-Ta's mind as he prepared to host the first gathering of his people since their expulsion from the lands of the Iron Horde. The Pharaoh had been labelled an orc-murderer and a traitor to many of the orcs, and notice had been put out for his death. Amid all of this he also lost his sister, Meret-Pa, who surrendered herself to the Heavens when the prospect of her enslavement by the Akaal clan became imminent. For many months Atemu wandered the desert, praying to the Gods of the Rah'mun faith, exhorting their wisdom and blessings in his time of great struggle and shame. Then, a voice came upon him from the heavenly realms of Ka'tau. "Strength comes from triumph." It said, and then it vanished as soon as it appeared. This voice emboldened Atemu's spirit as he spoke to his small cadre of people who had gathered around the sparkling oases of the Aevos desert. "I have failed all of you." Atemu mentioned as he grasped his wooden crook and looked around, his burning gaze rife with sorrow. "I have lost our sister, Meret, to the brutality of the primitive orcs. I have almost lost several other of my people to the threats of those barbarians, and we have lost even more to the darts and arrows of the foul An-Gho..." Atemu then stopped, his sorrow lifting slightly as he continued. "But the gravity of this failure is not merely reflective of defeat; it also proves how important our people are to this world. Naseret arose and beat back the forces of Keop - the lord of darkness and chaos - and Iblees, and led our people to our Golden Era. And yet, before this triumph, Naseret watched his people's minds become poisoned with black magicks, vice, greed, and complacency. His legitimacy as a Pharaoh was questioned many times, and he almost gave up before crying out to the Gods for wisdom. I have done the same, my people. I have cried to the Gods to deliver us to sanctuary, to strengthen my will, to help me fulfill the role of Creation's keeper upon this world." Atemu stopped as another Rah'mun spoke up. "We shall not hate the orcs as they hate us, Ra'tuhmet. Vengeance belongs to the Ra'tuhmet and his Flaming Eye, for he shall surely have his day with them!" The Rah'mun mentioned. "Correct." Atemu affirmed, raising his crook slightly in the air as his gaze shot up to the blazing sun, noting the Ra'tuhmet's bountiful smile spread across the lands. He then looked back to his people and spoke assuredly. "Vengeance shall not be ours, my people. Yes, we were persecuted. Yes, we were driven away from our spiritual homelands, these deserts. But this has only happened because we are preparing to triumph. We could not truly flourish amid a group that did not understand us, or appreciate our ways. But as we venture from these deserts and establish a temporary homeland elsewhere, we shall lick our wounds and rebuild the vestiges of the last empire. Ka'tau, sitting upon her mighty throne of judgment with her light-feathers, shall weigh the heart of all of our enemies as they pass into death. There, they shall account for their transgressions against Creation and her children." The Pharaoh said triumphantly as he ventured closer to the group. "My people - we are wealthy, we are innovative, we are blessed. Without us, Isfet [chaos] overtakes this world and plunges it into darkness. Shall we remain docile and passive, laying down like a sickly dog while our enemies triumph over our defeat, or shall we allow the light of the Ra'tuhmet to rejuvenate our strength and allow us to persist until our civilization flourishes once more? The former is unacceptable, but the latter is inevitable!" Atemu said, to shattering applause from those who gathered beneath the Ra'tuhmet's sun. At this point Atemu realized an important truth: he and his people had become far too comfortable when they settled amongst others. Ka'tau commands all stewards of Creation to remain an active force, but that had not been so. In times of complacency, the righteous must be aroused from their slumber and motivated to action. A crude awakening this was, Atemu now knew what the Gods had sought to communicate with him - and he received it fully. "By this time next week, we shall meet in our new homeland where our people will flourish. We shall build shrines to the Gods, continue our sacred war against the draconic worms, and show the world one indisputable truth that the Akaals, the Rex, the An-Gho, nor any of the enemies of Creation shall subvert: We are the Rah'muns. And we are eternally blessed! Hail Ra'tuhmet!" The group interrupts in cheers before they disperse, heading west to their prospective new homelands. A single thought rang out in Atemu's head as he left the deserts and approached the grassy, darkened forests of the west. "In exile, we are reborn."

[!] Atemu reads the missive in the desert lands near Hyspia, a smile coming across his face as he poured through it's voluminous contents. He then turned towards the vast dunes and sands of the deserts. These lands, he thought, were the birthright of the Rah'mun and Bronzed people. The GODS would permit no other conclusion than total victory. "Our people shall be delivered from the clutches of tyranny - orcish and otherwise. The Gods will it. May Hesthor wash the Horde clean and secure our birthright with her immaculate authority." The Pharaoh prayed. "May the forces of Isfet fall to the dual-flames of the Ra'tuhmet and Qarkah. Hail victory!" Atemu then began to wander the vast dunes of the deserts once more, taking out a quill and preparing to write his own missive to the scattered peoples of Rah'Tuma to meet and discuss recent events.

[!] The following missive is sent out to both the lands and vassals of the Iron Horde and throughout Aevos, marked with the insignia of the Ka'tau faith above it's contents. A depiction of the Goddess Ka'tau, embodiment of spiritual order and the law of Creation. To the denizens of Aevos, the Rexdom of the Iron Horde, and the peoples of Bronze and my Rah'mun flock I am Atemu-Ta, Pharaoh of the Rah'mun peoples, voice of mighty Ka'tau, second sun of the Ra'tuhmet, and pure priest of Lady Hesthor. I greet you with graciousness and joy, in the hope that the light of the Ra'tuhmet may allow my words to penetrate even the densest of illusions. Rex Kybal of the Iron Horde, a soul who I once considered a great ally in service of the Gods, has released a deceitful missive which includes word of my banishment from his lands. I respect the will of the Rex to no longer include me, or my people, in his domain. But I do not respect the refusal of Kybal or his allies to paint a fuller picture of the events of recent times which have impacted my standing in the Horde and ultimately led to this moment. I hope to provide that omitted context and bring to light the atrocities myself, my people, and my Bronze brothers have faced for years beneath the boot of the Urkium. This missive is not meant as a sleight - to the contrary, there are many good souls within the urukium, some of whom I have bonded with since the inception of my honorary status. But there is a tyrannical force that hangs over the Iron Horde, one that has animated it's leadership towards destruction and death. My people first came to the Iron Horde many years ago after reforming from the fall of our last Empire, which scattered us across continents. While the Moris wreaked havoc upon Almaris, my people sought refuge under Rex Kybal's domain and we reformed many of our practices to fit the Horde's expectations. We assimilated. I became an honorary uruk - after passing each trial required of me, including fighting another uruk - and I proceeded to learn how to wield the power of the Gods. Pamphilos, the twin-sun of my people and leader of the Bronze ones, embraced the ways of Ka'tau and my people embraced his ways. We merged and became one unit. For a long time all was well and my people had express support from the Rex, the Motsham Gormohk, and other urukium. As time persisted, however, my people increasingly came under scrutiny and persecution, as did others who were not uruks but merely visited the land. In the years since we have assimilated, my people and I have witnessed numerous atrocities take place within the Iron Horde. I have seen an Elven woman who came to visit ripped apart limb-by-limb for no other reason than to fulfill the trials of the Akaal clan (more on them later). My own people have been chastised and scrutinized by random uruks and almost killed, despite us having protectorate status under the Bronze Band and Rex Kybal's command. I have personally faced significant manipulation from Motsham Gormohk during my time in the Horde. When my people were directed by our Goddess of Pure Waters Hesthor to strike out against the Azdrazi, Gormohk accompanied me to their fire-scorned lands and stood before their lair. He told me that he wished to ally with the Azdrazi, and that he had little care for my operation against them. He has willingly admitted to me that he will align with any type of creature - including darkspawn - if it meant furthering the goals of the Iron Horde. Gormohk has also talked incessantly about his disdain for the spirits, and him seeing them only as tools to be used - not Gods to be revered, as his fellow urukium have historically seen them. This is the Motsham - an individual expected to uphold the will of the spirits - languishing around with such blatant corruption. Perhaps the most persistent grievance which ruined my relationship with the Horde has been one relating to my honorary status. An Orc named Grimruk'Lur took issue with my honorary status on two bases; one, he accused me of making myself the leader of another uruk, a grave offense in his eyes. Two, he was angered after my people and the Urukium lost our recent assault on the Azdrazi. Additionally, there was a general sense that my people and I maintaining some of our cultural mores was a problem, and it made us at odds with Urukium culture. This is despite the Rex Kybal's assurance that my flock and our ways would not be disgraced by his people. This brings us to recent events. After our battle with the Azdrazi, which was not a moment of victory, Grimruk confronted me as I was recovering from my war wounds. I had several broken bones, fresh wounds which had just been patched up, and numerous mental scars that many who survived wars have. And yet, despite this context, Grimruk'Lur insulted me, hit me, and claimed I was a 'worm' not deserving of honorary due to my 'weakness.' Note - he is an orc, I am an elf. I am naturally at a disadvantage in any normal context, but there was no reasonable way for me to fight back in my wounded state. I tried several times to exhort him to peace, even offering to willingly sacrifice my honorary status and go into exile. He rejected my offers and ordered me into the arena - to fight to my own humiliation. I did my best to explain to him the accusation about me 'ordering' around another uruk. The uruk in question, Ba-al, was follower of Ka'tau and an honorary Rah'mun. He willingly called me his Pharaoh and devoted himself to me. Despite all of this context, Grimruk'Lur refused to listen to me and fundamentally took issue with me shepherding my own people independently of his customs. He also berated me for supposedly leading orcs to their death against the Draconic Isfetians when many urukium willingly chose to accompany my people in our battle. They were not forced. They also knew there was a high risk of death - as there always is in war. At this moment, the Wargoth (who witnessed me get brutalized) threatened to kill my people if I lost another battle, and Grimruk agreed with him. Is it just to persecute an entire people for the actions of one man? This was the reality I became faced with as I was brutalized inside the medic ward in San'Briu. A halfling, Minto'Lur, stopped my dearest sister Meret-Pa from leaving the hostile situation with me as Grimruk brutalized me. Several other orcs sat around and took amusement in my pain, with others even calling me weak, a worm, and not deserving of honorary. I was forced into the arena by Grimruk and expected to fight in my wounded state. I lost, of course, and Grimruk used this predictable outcome to strangle me in the middle of the arena and berate me. He told me several times to admit my mistakes. He slammed me against the pavement of the arena, threw me around, nearly choked the life out of me. To avoid dying and leaving my people lost in this world, I said I was a failure, to which he (and the other orcs watching) agreed. At that moment, he stripped me of my honorary status and disgraced my name once again. An elven ally of mine - another honorary - happened to watch the ensuing battle and challenged Grimruk to a klomp. While they fought a band of Oyashiman arrived and chatted with the other orcs. Eventually a scruffle happened, but it was misconstrued as a raid. It was at this moment that I - an honorary - sought to challenge Minto'Lur to a klomp which is consistent with Orcish culture. He aided the orc in brutalizing me, so I wanted to restore my honor. The scuffle eventually calmed down and everything went back to normal - except Grimruk and my elven ally were still fighting in the arena. Gormohk, the corrupted darkspawn-sympathizing Motsham, told me and Minto to explain the events of the day to him. If I failed to give him the full details, Gormohk said, he would in his words "rip my sister [Meret] limb from limb" right in front of me. This was the third or fourth time my people - who are under protectorate in the Horde - were threatened by it's denizens. Eventually Gormohk decided Grimruk, not Minto, was at fault and should be addressed. As we chatted I heard a wail from the arena. My elven ally had been killed and beheaded by Grimruk - to the applause and celebration of many of the orcs in the area, including Gormohk. At that point, Grimruk announced that my honorary had been stripped, and that he was victorious. The brutality, the threats, combined by my own injuries compelled me and Meret to leave the situation. As we tried to leave, Grimruk and Gormohk followed us and began saying obscene things. Grimruk waved the severed head of my elven ally in front of me, taunting me and disgracing his memory. Grimruk asked me what Meret meant to me. When I answered truthfully, he said that I could leave, but that she would be sold into slavery under the Akaal clan's banner. Gormohk wanted an even more extreme proposal: he wanted me to submit to the Akaal clan as well, and become a 'slave' beneath his banner. I begged him, repeatedly, to let me and Meret go. Grimruk wanted to let me go but keep Meret, whereas Gormohk wanted to keep both of us - death was the only option. Grimruk then told me that if I ever taught the gift of the Gods [shamanism] to anyone else while in exile, he would behead Meret and send me evidence of her death. At this point, the Oyashiman caught wind of these obscenities and walked over to intervene. They repeatedly offered to sheperd myself and Meret away from this area and take responsibility for us, but the orcs refused diplomacy. Despite their best efforts, Grimruk and Gormohk were intent on selling Meret into slavery and seeking out my own destruction. As the orcs tried to seize Meret to put her into slavery, she ended her own life. My sister, who I dearly loved, destroyed herself in front of me due to the actions of the orcs. At this point, Gormohk commanded the execution of everyone present - including the Oyashiman. At this point, the Oyashiman intervened as the Orcs mobilized to kill us all. This is the point when I became violent. I took my khopesh and ended Sharog, an orcess who had previously threatened to destroy me, and who I witnessed maim an elfess woman who could not defend herself. Gormohk was defeated, and the other orcs backed down after this show of might. Unlike what the Rex claims, I did not act in dishonor; I behaved in self-defense. Blood flowed, but after the orcs stopped their aggression so did the Oyashiman and myself. I told Elder Ghoraza - who undoubtedly betrayed me after I left the Horde - that I forgave him, and that I held no ill will to the orcish people for the actions of their leaders. I then proceeded to do what the orcs had prevented me from doing all along: I took Meret's body and walked into the desert, away from the Rexdom and it's chaos. This is the truth. When an animal is cornered by other creatures of much superior might, who beat and brutalize it endlessly, how long until it finally bites back and defends itself? My people were threatened and brutalized, I was brutalized, my sister was almost sold into slavery, and one of my longstanding allies was killed all under this vicious persecution. The truth is, Rex Kybal, you and your people are not the victims - the Rah'mun peoples and the Bronze men are the true victims. Victims to primitive barbarians who kill, destroy, and rip apart anything they refuse to understand. Victims to a corrupted darkspawn sympathizing 'spiritual leader' who threatened to kill an innocent woman several times for no justified reason. Banishment under these circumstances is salvation - a fate I am more than willing to accept if it means the survival of my people. To my Rah'mun flock - you are a strong, genius, and resilient peoples. Our peoples have suffered under the boots of many tyrants since the fall of our Empires eons ago. Kazul, Iblees's foul general, has sought to wipe us out by using his Inferi hordes to assassinate us and warping the minds of nation leaders with his magicks to execute persecutions against Rah'mun settlers. And yet, we have survived. I am reminded of the sentiments of our first Pharaoh, Naseret, who led our people to victory over the forces of Isfet [chaos] in their strongest form: Lo, I cried out to the Ra'tuhmet in the vast expanse of his deserts, weeping for the healing of my people. Their minds had become twisted by darkness, their actions motivated to vice, and their souls plunged into Isfet [chaos]. And I heard the Ra'tuhmet's voice like a rapturous burning sun. "Naseret, wielder of my Rays, to you I say this: Isfet thrives on illusion and deceit, the crevices where my Light will not go. But Ka'tau and my Will thrive on clarity - I have bequeathed you the authority to burn away illusion and purge Isfet from these lands. So long as just one wield my authority, chaos shall fall." And then Naseret shouted to the heavens with his crook raised, "Lo, I am the one, Ra'tuhmet, shall bequeath clarity upon your people and lead them to victory!" -Book of Naseret, ch 1. And he did. Naseret overcame the challenges of his era and brought his people from a modest tribal living to a multi-continent empire. I wield the light of the Ra'tuhmet, and while I have failed you in some respect, I will ensure that we are victorious in the face of these new conditions. Avoid the Iron Horde and wander amongst the lands until I have identified a new homeland for us. To the Bronzed Elves, my newest tribe and spiritual brethren - hail victory, ha-Qarkah, for we are those who cull the impure and perfect the form of total victory. My brothers, I do not expect you to fight for me, but I will continue to fight for you as we enter the next phase of our journey. We shall be victorious. To the denizens of Aevos - I implore you, reject the propaganda you have received from the Rex and understand the full story. I do not hate the orcish people, and I did not act out of dishonor. My actions were the difference between slavery or death for my people - I refused to accept either alternative. Ask yourself this question: if you were persecuted, brutalized, and denigrated every waking moment, would you not fight back? To the Rex - I forgive you. I do not wish to persist in enmity forever, but I will never forget what you have done to my people. You are no enemy of mine, and perhaps one day I shall no longer be an enemy of yours. May the Ra'tuhmet guide the eyes of all who read this, and open their ears to deeper understanding. Ankh wedja-seneb [a kind farewell in Rah'mun language]. Atemu-Ta, Pharaoh of the Rah'mun peoples.

"I didn't wish to claim the life of an orc." Atemu said as he polished his Khopesh, the same one which fell the purple Orcess, wiping it clean with a golden cloth. "But if you defend a regime that threatens to mutiliate my people, commits brutality against their Pharaoh - me - and abuses us with impunity, the time for mercy has passed. Ka'tau's justice must be rendered permanently, for all to see." Atemu then looked towards the wall, noticing a picture of his dear sister Meret, who fell moments before he defeated the orcess. "The Ra'tuhmet showed his wrath to the barbaric, primitive urkium, and Hesthor has made her judgments declarative. My people will rise from the ashes of this defeat and we shall prevail over all the sowers of Isfet. Our empire shall return." [!] Atemu then turned towards his prayer room and walked towards it, readying for a ritual to take him to the Heavens of Ka, where the Gods awaited his presence.

Lair PRO MC Name: Boknice2754 Lair PRO Character Name: Atemu-Ta Lair Name: Sacred Temple of Hesthor Primary Lair Color: White. Lair Members: DeepDarkSamurai, wowj, Bird5K, TheBeagle, Wulfric_borr, realsamler, ryuthecoolest, Sewer_rat, _grey_w0lf_ Quartzgh0st, Dargrind, Lumi, Milksoda, HopefulSaint, Herodium, Zemzy_Oakheart, piratepilled, HeroOfDuLoc Proposed Lair Locations (Highlight/draw at least three on the map): Lair Lore (supply link to an existing creature or other lore if being used as basis for this lair) (1000 words minimum): The Silver Pyramids of Hesthor and their adjoining temples have a long history in the Hesthorian Rah’mun spiritual tradition. Pyramids, according to Rah’mun culture, served both as the resting place of dead Pharaohs and sacred temples for their Gods, the spirits. While there were many different kinds of temples in Rah’mun society, pyramids were considered the most sacred due to their structure. Regular temples had one or two rooms that were immediately accessible to anyone who entered them. But Rah’mun pyramids were much like mazes, containing several rooms including one located deep in the heart of the pyramid. It was in these rooms, completely self-contained and divorced from the outside world, that Rah’mun priests could directly connect with the Gods and call upon their power and wisdom. It was also in these rooms that the Gods and their authority could be called into the material world in a major way, as this was the most consecrated and sacred environment. Hesthor, being the goddess of pure waters, especially demanded worship only in the most purest of environments. A normal temple of Hesthor certainly was consecrated and made pure by her priests, but far too many average citizens went through the temple on a daily basis. Her pyramids were reserved strictly for her priests, and the innermost sanctum could only be accessed by two people - the High Priest or the Pharaoh himself. No one else. This made pyramids an ideal place to achieve grant feats of Heka - or magic in Rah’mun tongue. In popular tales priests of the Ra’tuhmet, the Rah’mun sun God, were credited with conducting a ritual in his sacred pyramid which banished darkness for three months across the lands in an effort to combat Keop, an evil entity who inspires fear of the dark. Other stories include priests of Ahura-Ma, goddess of freedom, inspiring slave revolts from their pyramid rituals, or causing every bind in their proximity to shatter effortlessly. It is unknown to many Rah’muns if these ancient grand tales truly occurred or if they are inspiring embellishment, but they inform ritualistic practices of modern day Rah’mun priests and magicians. In the Hesthorian canon, these kinds of grand feats are reserved for the most sacred and significant of rites. Naseret, the first Pharaoh of the Rah’mun peoples, received the authority to invoke Hesthor’s waters from within the innermost tomb of the first Silver Pyramid. He used this particular invocation to wash away hordes of Inferi led by the Ibleesian servant Kazul, marking the first major victory over the most odious form of Isfet (chaos). The waters of the first Silver Pyramid have also been used to replenish crops in both magically and naturally corrupted lands; to bless certain foods and grounds with proper and pure functioning, cleanliness. Many Rah’mun priests regularly washed food, clothing, and jewelery in the waters of these pyramids as they were believed to confer protection from magical and natural forms of impurity. The waters of the silver pyramid had their own lore surrounding their source. The Rah’muns believed only the Silver Pyramids of Hesthor could directly bring forth water from the Immaculate River of Hesthor’s realm. The Immaculate River runs through Hesthor’s domain within the spirit realm and pours into the realms of her lesser spirit subordinates on one side, and on the other leads directly to her Temple where she resides. The Immaculate River is said to begin in Hesthor’s throne room, connected to a giant pool of pure waters built into the floors of the room. Hesthor is said to pour her power into the water and direct the course of both the Immaculate River and it’s entry into the world. When priests of Hesthor invoke her authority, they are in part asking her to draw from the Immaculate River and gift them with it’s power. The waters of these temples do not appear like normal river water; rather, they appear as streams of water with the consistency and texture of milk, accompanied by the scent of honey and pine, while still distinctively functioning as “water.” They are also said to possess healing, protction, and purging prowess as an extension of Hesthor’s authorities. When the Immaculate River meets physical reality, the area around them begins to assume the appearance of Hesthor’s realms. Dead foliage comes to life; murky waters become clear, foul influences are purged. In the Final Event where the divine three (Ra’tuhmet, Hesthor, and Kalthet) return to the world to uproot the foes of Ka’tau, it is said the barrier between the Immaculate River and the rivers of the world will fall and every body of water will become an extension of Hesthor’s domain. Given all of these ancient traditions Rah’mun magicians and Pharaohs have tried to bring forth Hesthor’s realm into the physical world by reconstructing the Silver Pyramids of old. Atemu-Ta, current Pharaoh of the Rah’mun peoples and the Voice of Ka’tau, has undertaken this ancient task in coordination with Hesthorian priest Pamphilos. The two located a bank at the edge of the southern desert to begin this process. They intend to consecrate the grounds and use this temple as a staging point for executing Hesthor’s will throughout the material world. The knowledge of how to build these sacred temples was lost until Atemu and Pamphilos endeavored to visit the domain of Hesthor themselves. During their spirit walk to Hesthor, Atemu and Pamphilos were instructed to do three things to bring back Hesthor’s sacred temples to the world. First, they were to find a location within the ancestral homelands of the Rah’mun peoples, such as the deserts. Secondly, they must locate a river which flows through the deserts and towards other domains. Third, they must consecrate the grounds near the river with Hesthor’s authority, and establish a shrine to her upon finishing the blessing. Once these steps had been completed, Hesthor would reveal her sacred architecture to the two priests. This new Sacred Silver Temple of Hesthor will contain a traditional Rah’mun temple which is connected to two silver pyramids. The pyramids will have ducts at the bottom of them which will serve as pumps to infuse the water with a Hesthor (Scorthuz) blessing specified under Witchdoctor Lore (Scorthuz land hex), and the temple itself will be consecrated as a shrine in accordance to spirit pacting shamanic lore. Lair Build and Infrastructure (photos required, give dimensions): Concept art for the temple: Sketch drawn by us: Why can this group not fulfill their roleplay niche in an existing settlement or nation? (Give a detailed answer and examples of how this has not worked in the past.): This lair is being used for particular religious purposes ICly which require direct access to a river. The lair is two sets of pyramids connected to a temple dedicated to Hesthor, lesser spirit of Pure Waters under Scorthuz in shamanism. The goal of the pyramids is to “pump” the power of Hesthor into the waters and create an effect which travels up the river, purifying it along it’s winding path. It would be impossible to replicate this kind of RP in a city since most cities are not connected to rivers and those that are don’t have the space for our proper architecture. How does this lair add to the greater world around it? How will its existence benefit its roleplay group and the server at-large?: The server has for a while now had some great ancient aesthetics, but there has always been room for some really varied flavor. This will help populate the south with a fine new vibe, that already has had a good benefit to roleplay with many groups. Having an established site of power will give much more reason for people to come check out new and exciting rp! This will also be the first major shrine established after the implementation of the shamanic pacting lore. Spirit shrines represent focal points of power for spirits, who have not really seen much involvement in the lore at large beyond the shaman community. We believe this lair will be a chance to set the grounds for spirits to have a more involved role in the lore at large.

The newly restored shrine of Hesthor, goddess of Pure Waters ‘ [!] Shortly after the consecration Atemu would pen the following missive and distribute it across Aevos through his numerous assistants. Its contents rest beneath the symbol of an Ankh cross and a white cow head, depicting Hesthor, lesser spirit of Scorthuz. I, Atemu-Ta, once again write to notify the descendants of Arcas of the imminent destruction of the draconic Isfetians known as the Azdrazi. After my people released our last missive ensuring their annihilation, they destroyed the shrine of our Lady Hesthor which has washed the foul taint of Azdromoth from a portion of their lands. The An-Gho, accursed child of Azdromoth, then proclaimed that the lands of my people will see destruction from his hand. He claimed women, children, and all else who stood in his way pay for my willingness to follow the spiritual law of Ka’tau. His false prophecy shall not come to pass. The Gods and Goddesses of Ka’tau shall not be mocked so easily by an inferior power, a deviant whose blood runs thick with corruption. The pure Goddess of Cow Waters Hesthor has empowered my people to annihilate the An-Gho and his brothers, and reclaim the lands taken by the influence of Azdromoth in the north. And that is what we shall do. An-Gho, the sacred bands of the Pure Goddess have rebuilt her shrine amidst your lands and we have reconsecrated the blessed grounds. Her power overflows bountifully into the waters of the fire-scorned north. You tortured me, and yet the Gods renewed my body and now use me and my people as an instrument for your destruction. You destroyed the shrine of our Goddess Hesthor, and yet it has been restored and her wrath will now assail you until you have been drowned and consumed by her Waters. Your war path ends here, An-Gho. My people will defend our Goddess’s shrine and use it’s prowess to bring an end to your rule in this realm. This is war. Fight us, An-Gho. We have brought the war to your doorstep and will wage it until you and your people are no more. You will all face the eternal wrath of Hesthor for her Pure Waters shall wash away all traces of your power from this world, and snuff out the accursed Flame of your Father in your hearts. The Gods of Ka shall all work together to hasten your destruction. Ke’tuh shall thunder against you with her divine storms. The Ra’tuhmet shall fry you with his fires; Theu’th shall make conjuration against your powers, Kalthet will provide us strategies to outwit you at every end. Countless other Gods and servants of Ka’tau shall also work against you. The spiritual law of Ka’tau will reign throughout your fire scorned lands once you have been purged. We will be waiting. Signed Atemu-Ta Pharaoh of the Rah’muns Voice of Ka’tau Pamphilos, Twin-Sun of the Bronze Band Priest of the Pure Path Spoiler OOC: @Jentos

A portrait showing Ke’tuh’s pouring forth a divine rainstorm. Ke’tuh, lesser spirit of divine rainstorms under Urin. “And it is prophesied that the Heavens of Ka (life) pour their abundance upon the followers of the Gods should they obey them. The Lady of Divine Rainstorms will arise from her throne and tilt her Wes Sceptre towards earth, causing waters to pour from her domain and upon the blessed lands of the Rah’muns. This heavenly rain appears in a nexus of light surrounded by sacred symbolism and it nourishes crops, staves off droughts and extreme heat, and also drowns out the enemies of the Gods with fierce floods and unrelenting deluge. Pharaoh’s relationship with this Goddess is essential for the survival of his people.” - An excerpt from a book on Rah’mun culture and the religion of Ka’tau. In the religion of Ka’tau there is a heavy emphasis on the divinity of seasons and certain weather patterns. The primary practitioners of Ka’tau (the Rah’mun peoples) are desert-dwelling, and thus put a great emphasis on weather patterns that make desert living more hospitable, such as rain and cool winds. Ke’tuh, the goddess of divine rainstorms, is seen as the primary source of rain for Rah’mun civilization. Her rains bring forth nourishment to crops and prevent Rah’mun civilization from dying of the desert heats completely. Her rains also flood rivers which have historically populated Rah’mun settlements, allowing the waters to remain a potent source of fertilization and drinking water. But Ke’tuh’s rains are not of the mundane order. Priests of Ke’tuh have been known to call forth mighty rainstorms to drive out foreign armies and nations attacking Rah’mun civilizations, or to cause enemies of Ka’tau (such as evil creatures) to suffer the fierce weather. It is said that Ke’tuh’s divine rains burn enemies of Ka (life) and therefore are anathema to darkspawn or beings whose souls are tainted with life corrupting forces. Ke’tuh’s wrath has been seen. Every storm brought forth by Ke’tuh is said to emanate from a curved eye in the center of the sky, which is surrounded by clouds that glimmer with a blue-golden light. Above the eye is the symbol of an Ankh cross, another divine symbol in the Ka’tau religion which symbolizes order, justice, and life. This symbology helped establish her reputation as a being who brings forth ‘divine’ rainstorms reflective of the spiritual law of Ka’tau. Ke’tuh demonstrates her power to a visiting priest in the spirit realm. Ke’tuh is often viewed as a helper to the other gods of the Ka’tau faith. She is said to be the daughter of the Ra’tuhmet, the lord of eternal sunlight, and sister to Hesthor, the cow goddess of pure waters. Ke’tuh is rarely ever worshiped alone, although she has had a dedicated priesthood which invoked her divine storms for special purposes.

Keop, lesser spirit of the fear of darkness and eldritch horrors under Ikuras. “For too long has the usurper the glowing idol called Ra’tuhmet stood in the way of my image. I, Keop, hold the key to TRUE power. Fear in the embrace of blackest nights and boundless voids is the true path to dominance. Love is an illusion. Hope is an albatross. Freedom is a curse. In darkness there is power. And in power there is control. And in control there is MY image!” Keop is a dreaded entity within the ancient religion of Ka’tau. His name is synonymous with evil, dread, destruction, and is sometimes used as an epithet by the faithful. According to Ka’tau creation lore, Keop arose from the edges of the Ra’tuhmet’s Creation which had not yet received the light, and went across the world to corrupt the minds and souls of descendants. Keop taught descendants that Ka’tau, the principle of cosmic harmony and justice, was not the true source of power, and afflicted them with visions of horrific events. Rah’mun lore describes Keop’s emergence as a result of disorder that arose during the Creation era when the first humans disobeyed the Ra’tuhmet’s demands. Shortly after he emerged the first instances of insanity, sickness, and fear afflicted all descendants, especially the orderly Rah’muns. Priests and consorts of Keop arose and sought to claim the minds of descendants to feed the power of their Lord. The first Pharaoh of the Rah’mun peoples, Naseret, arose and cried out to the Ra’tuhmet for help in dealing with these malign circumstances caused by Keop’s magic. The Ra’tuhmet then manifested in physical form and gave him a flaming staff, symbolizing the Ra’tuhmet’s Light and its authority over the denizens of Creation. Naseret took this staff and drove out the power of Keop from the Rah’mun lands and sent it to the edges of the world. The Ra’tuhmet, riding atop a chariot accompanied by Kalthet and other lesser known Ka’tau entities, ventured to the far reaches of the world and confronted Keop directly. The two engaged in a long fight which ultimately resulted in the Ra’tuhmet’s victory and Keop himself being driven from the world. Rah’mun lore dictates that the rising sun symbolizes the Ra’tuhmet’s daily triumph over Keop. During an eclipse or a time where the sun is blotted out by unnatural means, the Ra’tuhmet is said to be enveloped in total battle with Keop. Rah’muns conduct a set of rituals where they draw images of Keop and craft clay figurines in his likeness and then proceed to destroy them. Stomping, spitting, cutting up and throwing these graven images into raging fires are all methods the Rah’muns use to assist the Ra’tuhmet in his campaign against Keop and, additionally, aid Pharaoh to triumph over his enemies. The rivalry of the Ra'tuhmet and Keop persisted even after the days of Naseret, as Keop had planted seeds of disobedience in the hearts of the descendants and whispered deceitful temptations of fear and wickedness in their ears. Tales of roving bandits of Keop pillaging small villages abound in the lands, and shrines of the Dark One are occasionally discovered throughout the forests of any given continent. OOC:

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"Foul xionists.." Ser Philip spat as he read the missive, a slight look of disgust coming over his countenance. He then made his way to Reinmar to investigate recent events.

Canticle of Faith 1:9 I am the Lord God without peer, and My Word is the holy word, and My path is the virtuous path, and all the blessings of the Virtue shall fall before the righteous who tread it. [!] The following missive is nailed to buildings across Haense and Aaun. Some are found laying upon the ground as the blizzard sweeps across the main Haenseti city. Blessed denizens of Haense and Aaun, I greet you in the mighty name of our LORD. My name is Ser Philip. I have held many titles within the lands of Canondom: Grand Inquisitor, Holy Ser of the Mother Church, and informal honorifics such as ‘the righteous’ or the Darkslayer. Needless to say, my heart bleeds for the followers of our LORD who have suffered at the hands of wicked calamities. It is my belief that these calamities - both the flood which overtook Whitespire and the brutal ice storm which afflicts Haense - are the works of Iblees and his agents meant to strike FEAR and DOUBT into the people of GOD. Indeed, as a missive from the iniquitous Ibleesians states, “Your people shall know no rest. Your GOD cannot save you.” Beloved, Iblees is a foul liar. He is defeated, as the Scroll of Auspice prophesies. His agents are of the same order as him; bastions of sin whose mission is to tempt you into his service. But the LORD says in his Written word that the Righteous shall overcome the wicked in the end. It is my intention, as a blessed warrior of GOD, to assist Canondom in it’s triumph over these evils. For far too long we, as Canonists, have been comfortable adhering to tradition, ritual, and pleasantry. Many of us will burn a candle during mass before we will pray with no pretension. Many of us will worry about how we dress before we consider the condition of our souls before the LORD. But GOD says enough. We must learn how to pray. Exalted Owyn, when he triumped over wicked Harren and struck him with blindness, prayed forth the blessing of GOD to do such. When he used the Flame of GOD to strike down a town full of the wicked, he learned how to pray. All of you have the fire of GOD within your hands - within your hearts! It is time to use that fire and set the covens of darkness on fire. It is time to use the fire of GOD to judge them for their crimes against the righteous. GOD has given us the authority to defeat these fiends, we simply must use it. We will not cower, nor shall we hide from the works of the wicked. We shall convene in the Cathedral in Valdev for a mass of fiery prayers for deliverance from the wicked and their corresponding judgment. These prayers will address both calamities in Aaun and Haense and all other future plans concocted by the wicked. After this evening of fiery prayer is done and sealed in heaven, I assure you that the enemy shall trouble none of the people of Canondom any longer. We shall pray uncommon and dangerous prayers. We shall pray judgment upon the wicked such as: O’ lord, strike my enemies with blindness! I suspect our prayers shall drive out the malign influences from our realm as we make them. Gather at the appropriate time, beloved, and let us forever foil the works of the Enemy and his agents. Let us also nourish our souls with the assurance of our Eternal Lord that the path of the Righteous will reap the virtues of holiness. Our path shall remain rooted in his promise which no agent of darkness shall overcome. In GOD’s ultimate authority and love, Ser Philip the Righteous, Holy Ser of the Mother Church. OOC event information:

Are you sure the results of your experiment indicate 'gender bias'? Could the upsetting variable be that few people - myself included - enjoy interacting with child characters? Child/family RP is a niche that not everyone's character goals are suited for. Another thing to consider: you did not attempt your experiment at the same location, same time, with the same playergroup. You went to two very different locations (with arguably different playergroups) and different character concepts. It makes sense that you received a different result due to selection, not necessarily gender bias or discriminatory thoughts. Much of LOTC's playerbase is here for one reason: to escape the pressures of reality through immersion in a high fantasy context. The digital medium is a barrier to actually understanding *who* other players are unless you take the time to speak to them on Discord for a significant amount of time. Even in that instance, you will likely not know the full extent of their values. If "gender bias" does exist and it is difficult to detect inrl, wouldn't it be even more hard to discern through a screen, separated by pixels and avatars who have no bearing on our true selves? I certainly do not want you to feel like others dislike you because you're a female. Anyone who truly has those mentalities already has significant character flaws that do not reflect on you as a person. But it isn't the best idea to presume this disdain when the evidence of it is murky.