Ourworld:Ailokim

The Ailokim claim they are one of the two remaining old races and share a common ancestor and a degree of animosity with the Fae of the east. To understand their nature one must appreciate the sad history of this once dominant race.

History

The Ailokim speak insistently of the lost times when their ancient cities reached high into the skies, their culture spanned the planet and their remarkable technologies and magics were able to twist the very reality of the world and all upon it. Their face will then usually turn almost as grey as their hair as they carry on to tell of the great sundering that destroyed virtually all of their civilisation, their land, their people, their lore, their technologies, their magics, their spirit and left them twisted and unable to bear offspring.

Of the hundreds of fringe dwellers that survived (or were able to be resurrected) the disaster most lapsed into despair, a few however used what gifts they had left to try and preserve their race and culture. Using some remnants of their arcane lore and technologies they created three ‘Soulifactory’s’; strange devices able to create life in the form of one of three young Ailokim chosen for their unique qualities. As a result all Ailokim under the age of 900 bear a striking resemblance to each of these chosen three. There are 25 unique and venerable Ailokim that remember the sundering and form the council of elders. These elders have overseen the slow salvaging of elements of their former culture and wealth for over a millennium.

Today the Ailokim number around 20,000 and occupy three city sites on the Western continent of Brianna. The embittered Ailokim have been peaceful from necessity; painfully aware of the slow rate at which they are able to reproduce they value their lives highly. So far the greatest Ailokim scholars and scientists have failed to replicate the ‘Soulifactories’ or discover additional ways of reproducing themselves. In their experiments however they have created/bred a slave race that they find useful for industry and warfare known as the ‘Umberkim’.

The Umberkim are a dull witted but powerful race that have been bred as much for their physical power as their obedience. They number around 80,000 spread across the three Ailokim cities and serve as the mainstay of Ailokim military, agriculture and industry. Maturing quickly, Umberkim live on average for a mere 25 years in part due to the hazardous tasks given to them by the Ailokim. Augmented with the powerful magics and technology of their masters, the combined Ailokim/Umberkim military are one of the most formidable forces in the world, though have seen relatively little action. The ‘special forces’ division of the Ailokim military on the other hand is famed for it’s daring and bewildering raids across the span of the planet. This brings us to another defining characteristic of the Ailokim.

The Sundering

The Ailokim will not normally put at risk their precious lives with one exception; Psionics. Since the early days of the rebuilding the council of elders has decreed that Psionicists and Psionic creatures and users must all be eradicated not matter the cost. It seems implicit that somehow they were linked or responsible for the great sundering though no one really seems to know. Over the last millennium the Ailokim have become adept at hunting down individuals, and the families of individuals, that exhibit Psionic power. Often turning up even before a Psionic child is born to slaughter it and it’s mother. This has caused the Ailokim a certain amount of animosity, indeed they are often blamed for still births and other mysterious deaths.

Personality & Relations

Ailokim tend to be embittered but proud, self righteous and pragmatic. It would be fair to say they regard all other races as equally inferior, except perhaps the troublesome Fae who they instead resent for surviving the sundering unscathed. Since that day the Ailokim have carried a terrible curse in their blood and will never be able to bear children, relying instead on the magics and technology to reproduce themselves. They share however a powerful sense of solidarity with their vat grown siblings and will support a fellow Ailokim in virtually any situation.

The whole of Ailokim society in one way or another is geared towards the reestablishment of their culture’s lost glory. In practical terms they are limited by their slow reproduction rate and have only constructed a few large cities. Many feel however that it is only a matter of time before the Ailokim rediscover the method of constructing new Soulifactories and prepare themselves for the inevitable expansion this would allow.

Description

Physical Description

Short and willowy compared to humans they gain their common name from the lack of pigment in their hair and their extraordinarily long life span (anywhere up to 1800 years). They adhere to strict dress codes and a ritual marking on their forearm that defines their role in society and station for which they train from ‘birth’.

Their creations, the Umberkim, on the other hand are a hairless, far stronger, hardier race resembling an oafish human with thick leathery skin. Their dull wits and short lifespan make them ideal slaves to further Ailokim hegemony. Occasional individuals have transcended their programming and escaped to the new world where they have made lives for themselves as free men. The Ailokim however maintain that any of Umberkim blood are their property and must be returned to them or killed.

Alignment

Ailokim relate to each other in society as Lawful Good, seeing Ailokim advancement as the most noble of objectives. Their relations with other races are less transparent, Ailokim practice slavery and have during their expansion been guilty of several genocides. They consider races like the Umberkim (and several others) as others might animals. The more enlightened races, can with work, garner a degree more respect though will always be viewed as inferior, or more pragmatically as pawns in their grand scheme. However if an Ailokim gave his word, even to an animal, he would strive to keep it as a mark of Ailokim civility and order. In traditional terms they would awkwardly classify as Lawful Neutral, though some stray a step away from this it is rare indeed to find a chaotic Ailokim.

Cities

Arcadia

The mountainous centre of Ailokim civilisation and culture it was here that the survivors of the sundering made their stand and started to rebuild what was lost. The highly defensible city has grown over a millennium and aided Ailokim control over both sides of the Hypothian range. The first Soulifactory ‘Erea’ was built here and has produced around 10,000 souls. Arcadia serves as a nursery for young Ailokim as they are trained for their initial roles in the world. It is houses the home legion of the Ailokim army and the council of elders. It is rare for outsiders to be allowed into a city as important as Arcadia.

Megara

It was a proud moment when Ailokim society founded it's first coastal satelite colony around 500 years ago. It signified the begining of an expansion that over stretched Ailokim man power and created the conditions that necessitated the creation of the Umberkim. Megara today is a thriving metropolis and centre of trade for Ailokim civilisation. Though still rigid and heirachical by world standards it contains the largest racial & cultural diversity of any Ailokim settlement.

Mantinea

The second stage of Ailokim expansion was made almost necessary by the increasing population of Umberkim slaves that have poured ceaslessly from the spawning vats. Mantinea was founded to localise control of the rich southern agricultural and forest resources liberated from an uncooperative regime of humans known as Thalastians. There are 9 Umberkim for every Ailokim settler that reluctantly takes their post here.

Eleusina

A simultaeous expansion northwards was also considered necessary to renew dwildling mineral resources and create a defensible out-post between Ailokim settlements and the sometimes tempermental dwarven residents of the Northern Ranges.

Language

Ailokim base languages are Ailokim & Common. Ailokim value their language as a sacred bridge to their glorious past to be used by none but they. In day to day life they speak common, though are often fluent in other languages preferring more eclectic languages over other humanoid languages. Umberkim can speak common and can sometimes understand Ailokim, however are punished harshly if they use the language of the masters.

Racial Traits

Ailokim Racial Traits (Small Humanoid) -2 STR, -2 CON & +2 INT. Racial hatred toward Psions & Psionic Creatures (+1 Hit & Dam). Arcane Aptitude: + 2 Knowledge Arcana, Use Magic Device & Spellcraft. ECL: 0

Umberkim Racial Traits (Medium Humanoid) +2 STR +2CON, -2 INT, -4 WIS. ECL: 0

See Also

Ourworld
Societies	Keltoi, Laideann, Ailokim, Teleri, Goliaths, Goblinoids_and_surrounds, Dwarves, Orcs, Ashlands