Feedback Contents Search WAR Home NERO Home
WAR Culture Package
Amironian Biata
The information found in this packet is in addition to the NERO International Biata Race Package.
Society Personality Marriage Birth Death Interracial Family Leisure Organization Names Legends, Heroes, & Lords History
The
Biata clans native to Dyllaria make their home in the harsh badlands in the
southern part of the region known as the Wastes of Amiron.
They are nomadic hunter/gatherers and therefore have no established
governmental structure. They roam
in pack-like tribes in a harsh environment, which is not only dangerous but is
also barely capable of supplying enough game for them to exist. Females dominate Amironian Biata society and males will
always be extremely reluctant to look a female in the eye. While female Biata are almost always warriors, their male
counterparts are generally rogues or healers.
The
basis of Amironian culture is superstition and combat.
The females are fierce warriors who use either a staff or sword, while
dismissing the use of missile weapons. Males
usually use a short or small weapon, as well as ranged attacks. Their style of battle magic is Necromancy, and many have
condemned the entire race for this. Their
preferred school of magic is always Earth, and their fear and hatred of
Celestial Magic will prevent them from acquiring any use of it.
The Biata population is small and isolated by their environment.
They live under some of the harshest living conditions of any Dyllarian
race.
Amironian Biata are very proud of their heritage and who they are. While
they will stand for a personal insult, if the situation calls for it, they will
never stand for an insult to there race.
In
599, the Amironian Biata lost the knowledge of the how to forge and properly
wield the Bastard Sword, a weapon renowned for its versatility.
Many feel that this was in some way the doing of The Overlord, Tilicaf,
who feared the weapon in the hands of both the Biata and local highlanders
against his Dark Horde. There are
also rumors that this lost knowledge was the result of a curse that was put on
the Biata because of their refusal to join the Dark Horde against the civilized
races of Dyllaria. Either way, the
loss of this knowledge is very mysterious, and many Amironians have
unsuccessfully sought a way to regain the knowledge.
As a result of their harsh living conditions, Amironian Biata are often perceived as arrogant, rude, and even bossy. Females are commonly all of the above things while males are much more humble and some are even meek when dealing with female Biata. Females are much more outspoken than males, and their intense pride comes from having survived in their homeland for the bulk of their lives.
Honor is a concept that is exercised when one gives his or her word to another in Amironian society. There is no dishonor for theft, murder, or betrayal. These are facts of life in The Wastes, and they are necessary tools of survival for nearly all Biata.
Biata
should be somewhat logical in their approach to life. They generally tend to be
very extreme in their viewpoints - either very good or very evil.
In all cases however they will be very focused.
They will follow a code of conduct and have a particular goal that
coincides with their perceived meaning of life. Biata never do things "just
for the heck of it." This does
not mean that they are always cold and hard as iron. Biata have been known to
display wonderful senses of humor and experience all sorts of feelings.
Almost all Biata are strong-willed, and they will not easily be deterred.
They are not rash, and they prefer to take their time when making
decisions. The life expectancy of a Biata is like that of an Elf, so years to a
Biata are not as meaningful as to Humans. Below
is a rough outline of Biata aging:
Biata
Aging
Age
Stage
Human Equivalent
0-3 Infant 0-2
4-7 Toddler 3-5
8-20 Child 6-8
21-70 Youth 9-11
71-90 Adolescent 12-14
91-100 Puberty 15-20
101-200 Young Adult 21-30
201-300 Mature 31-40
301-400 Middle Aged 41-60
401-500 Old 61-90
501+
Venerable 91 +
All Biata born before 590 will remember the growth of their feathers and
claws. It was very new and unusual
feeling for the Biata who lived through it.
The human concept of marriage is not present in Amironian Biata society. Females choose their mates and often have a collection of three to five to pick from. The system follows a harem-type structure in which the females may add or drop members as she sees fit. The males are not only intimate relations of the female, but also serve as her servants and tend to her children.
As with other Biata, Amironian children are born totally covered in soft feathers. These usually fall out within a few months, leaving only those along the eyebrows as well as some sparsely dispersed in the hairline. The mother does not nurse the baby but instead leaves that up to the men. They are the child's keepers until it passes the Ceremony of Changing. This occurs at the age twenty and usually lasts about a year. This ceremony is characterized by a period of learning and grueling trials that see the youth separated from the community along with all those of the correct age. During this time, those involved in the ceremony spend a year with a group of teachers known as the Lore Masters. For the entire duration of this period the child sees only the Lore Masters and the other twenty year olds. The females are taught to fight and win mates, while the males are taught domestic duties and the correct amount of subservience to observe when dealing with females.
The child loses its soft feathers during this time and begins to grow adult plumage. More colorful and larger, these feathers generally remain for the duration of the Biata's life. Amironian Biata children are raised on a mixture of goat's milk and deer's blood, which is a staple part of the diet of the entire culture. Before 590, the births of Biata were the same as that of a human.
Amironian Biata view death as a natural occurrence
and therefore allow it to happen naturally in all aspects.
A dead Biata is almost always relieved of all his or her worldly
possessions and allowed to lie where he/she has fallen.
Certain shaman-led groups practice cremation, but these are not common.
Amironian Biata particularly like Barbarians,
Highlanders, Half-Ogres, and Scavengers. Drae
slavers from the Slaver's Peaks have conducted raids on the Amironian Biata for
decades. This has created a
backlash of hatred against the "dark hunters" as the Biata call them. Most Biata warriors will not hesitate to attack Drae, even in
the face of overwhelming odds. Often
the Biata will attack even Drae who are peaceful or friendly.
They are indifferent to other races.
Biata society is organized in Katars or tribes.
These Katars consist of a Matriarch (known as a Kataress) and her hunting
group, plus all of her relative huntresses under her.
The families are each headed by a huntress, and also includes her males
and their children. The males tend to the children while the females spend nearly
all day hunting game. A new Katar
is formed when a Matriarch or Kataress dies or it gets so big that a single
Kataress cannot meet its needs. This
latter option happens only very rarely as each Kataress takes great pride in
caring for her tribe, and to let a part of it break away is demoralizing.
The only structure found in an Amironian Biata community is the ponpor (pawn-pour). These small tents are used only for sleeping and are generally only big enough for the female and her males and children. Almost all of an Amironian’s life is spent outside, and only extremely harsh weather or sleep will drive them indoors. As a result, Amironian Biata generally do not like buildings or being inside of them, and will seek the open sky at any available opportunity.
After
completing the Ceremony of Changing, the children are required to choose their
path in life. All females are
groomed as huntresses while the males are generally taught domestic skills.
Males also tend to be herders and learn to handle livestock early on.
Males tend to leave between the ages of 100 to 110 years in order to
become part of a huntress' clan. Men
are also traded along with livestock from tribe to tribe in order to maintain
good relations.
Females are less numerous than males because when a huntress establishes her own dominance she often takes males from an older huntress. This often leads to combat in which the winner retains the males while the loser is slain. In a few rare instances the defeated female may just be banished, in which case she will most often roam the wastes alone until she dies.
In recent years, challenges have gone down and the exchange of males has
become a political tool to insure alliances and friendships. This has been done mostly to prevent the loss of huntresses
and as a concerted effort to make the Amironian Biata stronger.
Biata women enjoy hunting and combat above all
other things. Their spare time is usually spent sharpening their skills in
these areas. War with other tribes
is not uncommon, but they are usually short-lived battles with few deaths.
The men spend all of their time tending to the children and playing games
with them. Occasionally a Biata
male will learn the use of a weapon or earth magic in his spare time, but this
is not commonplace.
The various Kataresses meet once a year at Marena’s Meeting. Lead by the five eldest Kataress, this week long gathering is where the various huntresses meet to discuss trade, threats to the Amironian Biata, settle grudges, and compete in games to prove who is the dominate Biata in certain areas. It is named for Marena Redclaw.
Biata last names are usually have to do with a bird or a part of a bird. The last name of females comes from her Kataress. The last name of a male is that of his huntress. When a huntress forms her own Katar, she may choose what to name herself. Biata do not receive their last name until after they complete the Ceremony of Changing.
Heroes,
Lords,
and Legends:
Marena
Redclaw: She lead over a hundred Biata from Evendar in the year 78 in hopes of
finding a cure to the effects of the 1st Great Celestial Change.
Eventually, she gave up the search and started the Biata stronghold of
Fenstrosia in the Lanitian Highlands in 200.
This stronghold grew into the Biata Kingdom of Fenstrosia.
Katara
Morningdove:
Last General of the Army of Fenstrosia.
She led the group that killed the Fire Drake Amiron in 325 after it had
devastated the Savannah of Romantis and destroyed the Kingdom of Fenstrosia.
She organized the survivor of Amiron’s attack into the current system
of tribes that are named after her in order for her people to survive in the
devastated lands.
Bendrik Eagleshadow: He is the greatest archer to ever walk the lands of Dyllaria. He also found with the forces of good in the Dark, Goblin, and Horde Wars. His greatest distinction within Amironian Biata society is that over 100 huntresses have won him in single combat so that he would be her mate.
Mia
Blackhawk (My-yah)
- A Biata legend that supposedly slew a Drae Lord and liberated over two
dozen Biata slaves in the year 476. Her
skill with a bastard sword was unparalleled.
Zandara
Valeron - Inventor of the bastard sword.
She instructed Mia Blackhawk in its use.
The
Wanderbeast - This creature roamed the Wastes in
search of tasty Biata. It was slain
in 524, but stories of its return are still used to scare Biata children into
being good.
Tara Goldtalon - Slew the
Wanderbeast. Later died fighting
off Drae slavers in 526.
Rhea
Skylark – One of the best traveled of all Amironian
Biata. Her adventures took her all
the way to Elysia and beyond. She
was known as a brave warrior with a short temper.
She died fighting the Dark Horde in the Siege of Barin’s Fort in 598.
78
Marena Redclaw leads her follower in search of a cure to their feathers falling out. They venture south from Evandarr.
200
After 122 years of searching, Marena realizes that
there is no cure for the Celestial Change and decides to settle her people in an
area she discovers in southern Dyllaria. She
names it the Lanitian Highlands after
her mother. She names the city
Fenstrosia after a city she visited in her youth.
304
The city of Fenstrosia starts trading with the Dyllarian Dwarves.
315
Marena Redclaw declares that her lands will be known as the Kingdom of
Fenstrosia. This land encompasses
most of the Lanitian Highlands and includes Fenstrosia and four other
settlements. Marena herself takes
the title of Prime Matriarch and rules from her stronghold atop a sharp and
treacherous peak known as Windmere Spire.
345
Marena dies due to natural causes and her daughter
Rhea becomes the leader of Fenstrosia.
363
Dwarven outcasts known as the Dark Dwarves begin to
move into the Lanitian Highlands and encroach upon the Biata homeland.
Prime Matriarch Rhea and her entire personal guard are killed in a
skirmish against these intruders, leaving her first daughter Madagalane to claim
the throne. Prime Matriarch Madagalane declares a week of mourning.
Shortly after, the new ruler is not often seen publicly, and some say
that she is ill.
364
The Prime Matriarch, at the urging of her closest advisors, declares that
Fenstrosia will no longer trade with outsiders.
This isolationist action cuts off nearly all contact with the outside
world.
400
A noted and powerful huntress of the time, Katara Morningdove leads a
military revolt against the monarchy. The
people rise up to support her and the revolt lasts for only two months.
The rebels kill Prime Matriarch Madagalane during the revolt and Katara
places Madagalane’s daughter Melesova on the throne.
This helps to calm the protests of those who see Katara as wanting power
for herself. One of Melesova’s first decrees is the Doctrine of
Motherhood that establishes a strict caste system that even more firmly
entrenches women at the top of Fenstrosian society, and pushes males to the
bottom most tier of the culture.
401
- 426
Fenstrosia enters a short but unprecedented time of peace
and prosperity. This era comes to
be called the Golden Age of Fenstrosia.
427
Fighting with the Dark Dwarves increases in intensity.
They begin openly attacking the Biata settlements and the people of
Fenstrosia are up in arms. To make
matters worse, the Dark Dwarves have allied themselves with local groups of
Goblinoids. Together, these groups begin to win many victories against
the Fenstrosian defenders.
449
The Dark Dwarves and their allies stage a midnight
assault on Fenstrosia, catching most of the Biata forces unprepared.
The enemies had moved stealthily into position in the dark of the night
using tunnels known only to the Goblinoids.
The battle is a slaughter. The
defenders of Fenstrosia are forced to retreat to Windmere Spire and urge the
Prime Matriarch into hiding. Melesova
refuses to hide from her enemies, and takes a position on the wall among the
brave Huntresses. The Razing of
Windmere Spire is a glorious defeat for the Biata, and the Prime Matriarch is
slain in the fighting. Few manage
to escape the slaughter, but among them is the great huntress Katara Morningdove.
456
The fighting has gone poorly with the Dark Dwarves
winning several decisive victories. The Biata have been forced into hiding, and they are slowly
running out of safe havens. Realizing
that there are no way her people can remain within the highlands, Katara leads
the Biata north into the Vast Woods. The
Dark Dwarves pursue ruthlessly, driving them through the forest and into the
wastes. Once there, Katara realizes
that the only way to increase the number of Biata is to divide her people and
let the strongest survive. For this
purpose, she creates the tribal system that is in use today.
460
The first meeting of the matriarchs is held.
At the meeting, a now aging Katara is challenged for one of her mates,
Bendrick Eagleshadow, and is defeated. Katara
is banished.
465
Zandara Valeron forges the first bastard sword, and
the Biata begin using this weapon to fight against the Drae slavers.
470
Mia Blackhawk starts leading attacks against the Drae to liberate Biata
slaves.
476
Mia Blackhawk slays a Drae Lord while freeing over
two dozen Biata.
520
The Wanderbeast first appears.
524
Tara Goldtalon slays the wanderbeast.
545
Some of the Kataresses join in the fighting against
the Overlord’s armies in the Goblin Wars.
They fight bravely, and are influential in the outcome.
Most of the Huntresses refuse to take part in something that they
consider a Human affair.
568
Katara Morningdove dies fighting against Ogres in
the Great Southern Forest (formerly the Vast Woods).
590
The Second Great Celestial Change causes almost all
of the Biata to lose their mental abilities and to start to grow feathers and
claws. Some feel that this is sign
that it is time to move from the wastes. However, the council rules that, while any who wish to leave
may, the wastes are their home and it has made them strong and they will remain.
Some of the older Biata did retain their abilities, but not the knowledge
of how to pass them on to others.
598
Some Katars join allied Human and Dwarven forces in the fight against the
Dark Horde.
599
The Biata lose the ability to forge and use the bastard sword effectively in combat. Many feel that the Overlord Tilicaf has caused this out of fear of the weapon.
604
The past year has seen a decrease in the numbers of drae slavers into the Biata homeland. This was a matter of discussion at Marena's Meeting, but by the end of the week long gathering, it was determined by the Katar to be a good thing, even though the cause for the decline in drae attacks is unknown. Even the men have felt somewhat of a relief, though even they aren't willing to lower their defenses as of yet.