Seeded
City of Beasts Jade and Gold Loxodon ruling priest caste Fear of water Rituals to expose and overcome Love of flight and the earth
Grung Leonin Minotaur Firbolg Tortle Kenku
Aarocockra Live in the western mountains Peaceful monk race Worship Zyz
Alternativenames
The Beasthold
History
Many millennia ago the gods came upon a wild land. In this land lived myriad creatures, beasts of all forms. The gods admired the beauty and power of these beasts, deciding them worthy to serve a higher purpose. Each god chose one group of these creatures to uplift in their image, an event referred to the Awakening of the Beasts. Thus the The Awakened came to be.
The awakened beasts lived in separate tribes, only among their ilk, for many centuries. Then one day Shudraka of the Loxodon received a vision from Horus-Re, commanding him to unify all the awakened tribes, signifying the start of the Unification.
After the Unification the undivided beasts founded Wahasha, a great city-state of unrivaled majesty, lead by King Shudraka the Uniter. At the midway point of Shudraka’s reign Wahasha encountered the people of Oroboros, the Yuan-ti. Seeking redemption for his failings during the Unification, Shudraka starts a long and ultimately unsuccessful campaign to conquer the Yuan-ti, known as the War of Fang and Scale.
After Shudraka’s death, the title of King of Wahasha was claimed by Roodra Tavade. Shortly after the start of his rule, King Roodra sought an end to the War of Fang and Scale, recognizing it as a futile conflict. Roodra personally visited Oroboros and negotiated an end to the war. Roodra spent most of his reign studying architecture, theology, art, astronomy and divine magics culminating in the creation of the Visage of the Gods and the perfection of the Sowing and the Reaping.
Following Roodra’s death, Queen Alia Shevade the Unbroken ruled. Early in her reign Wahashan society was rocked to its core as a result of Bast and Sinh’s actions. As a result the Crocodilian’s were afflicted by the Reduction. A relatively short time later the Great Flood hit Aecury which indirectly resulted in the War of Champions, a massive conflict that would push Wahasha to the brink of destruction. The War of Champions culminated in the Second Coming of Osiris and the addition of the Tiefling to Wahashan society.
Queen Navin Padhya the Heavensmith, fourth ruler of the Beasthold, restructured Wahashan culture in many ways. Following the chaos faced under Alia’s reign, much of Queen Navin’s early rule was spent repairing her damaged state. Navin instated the modern caste system and centralized the faith, believing matters of worship and divine tradition were best left to long-lived Loxodon priests.
After Queen Navin’s death, King Bhavana the Godkiller was coronated and still rules to this day.
Culture
The citizens of the Beasthold are organized into four castes:
Aadhaar (foundation)
The ruling caste within the Beasthold is populated solely by the Loxodon. Awakened by Horus-Re, chief deity of the Wahashan Pantheon, the Loxodon are destined to rule. The Loxodon priesthood are the leaders of the faith. Their peerless wisdom and blessed longevity allow them to act as interpreters of the gods’ divine will. The priesthood is charged with preserving and performing worship ceremonies, none more important than the Sowing and the Reaping. For a substantial fee the priesthood can provide miracles in the form of healing, divination, and blessings. A few very skilled members join an order of warrior priests, granting healing to allies and judgement to enemies in equal measure.
Dhaancha (frame) The second highest caste consists of Minotaurs and Tieflings. Awakened by Run-ha and Osiris respectively, they control all civil aspects of the Beasthold. Law, finances, civil construction, military strategy, the arts, and guilds all fall under their purview.
Deevaar (wall) The third caste is made up of Leonins and Tortles. Awakened of Anhur and Sebek, they make up the bulk of Wahasha’s warriors and a significant part of its unskilled laborers. Leonin ferocity and Tortle durability, exemplified in the legendary Sher-Kachhua Warpairs, ensure the Beasthold’s army is a devastatingly powerful force. In times of peace or for those unsuited to the battlefield, Leonins hunt the bountiful jungles and Tortles fish the Jaws of Sebek. It is rare, but not unheard of, to find merchants, business owners, and guildmen among those of Deevaar.
Manzil (floor) The Grung, Kenku and Rodan constitute the fourth caste.
Most Grung are farmers, chemists, and apothecaries. Mundane remedies are often seen as a more affordable, if less effective, alternative to the healing provided by the priesthood. Grung are especially suited to crafting poisons which are often used by Leonin hunters. Some very old Grung families guard secret recipes to create hallucinogenic drugs, which are utilized by priests in their divination rituals.
The Kenkus’ unique method of communication make them naturally enthralling performers and servants who are trusted to refrain from gossip. Rarely, very talented Kenku can replicate short phrases, matching voice and tone perfectly. These few have become very sought after by those who wish to send secure messages.
Skilled with their hands and accustomed to time spent underground, many Rodan are involved with one of Wahasha’s most important resources, jewels. Young Rodan work as miners before becoming jewelers or bankers. Both jobs are served well by their familiarity with gems.