Saurians

The saurian civilization, like many of the races in Aogan is still in it's youth. It was born after or during the Fall of Man. No one knows their exact origins, but they remember how much humans hated them, saw them as barbaric beasts. In the olden days, saurians were exiled, hunted, or killed. Therefore, it's only natural that, when the great cataclysms struck and men were the first to suffer from them, the saurians expressed no empathy over this "decadent race". Many state that the saurians first came from the desert of Askavar, since they know no other motherland, and reside there to this day. Others speculate that saurians once lived in the regions of Yorn or Daelderic, but they descended down south, to seek refuge from the terrible creatures that lurked in the north.


As far as the history books go, saurians have always been affiliated with dragons, spiritually for most, but also physically for some. The Great Dragon Lords are indeed the gods of the saurians, and their worship is an obligation in most cities. A common belief among the nobles is that the saurians are living creatures modeled by the gods sent on Aogan to lead the new civilizations through the path of righteousness, but that, in time they lost their way and now believe to be one of these civilizations.

However, where most saurians seem to disagree is with the case of Aswaltk. Indeed, during the fall of man, according to documents found in human ruins, Aswalkt, a gargantuan Dragon-like creature appeared seemingly out of nowhere and covered almost half of Askavar in fire, creating the Ashlands and burying hundreds of human cities under a sea of cinder in the process. The beast was defeated by the 8 dragon lords soon after this event, about a thousand years ago. So... what to make of this?
Some believe is that Aswalkt is evil the god of vice and chaos, and that magic itself was a trap he set, meant to tempt men into giving in to their lust for power and destroying each other in the process. The gods therefore abandonned men, who had completly given in to sin and gave their blessings to the dragon lords, who were the founders of Saurian civilization. This means magic is forbidden in the saurian realms, and punishement varies depending on what magic was used. However, this dosen't stop the saurian nobility from using legal loopholes to allow themselves to cast magic of their own.
Another theory is that the gods became afraid of the power of men and sent Aswalkt (a servant of the gods in this scenario) to destroy men. The gods then abandonned both men (who had given in to sin) and the titaic dragon (a hated figure among the gods) to rot in Aogan and started creating a new world. Those who follow this belief are called the godforsaken, and are considered heretics by the priests of the major cities, but they do not necessarily hate the gods. Indeed, two ideologies have distinguished themselves.
The first is summed up by the phrase: "our destinies are our own, because the gods have abandoned us". Members of this group call themselves the free. They dislike or sometimes outright hate the gods. It was a former member of the free who founded the cult of Aswalkt, refered to as "the followers of the Ashfather", who believe he is the closest thing to a god the saurians have ever had documented history about. They indulge in gluttony and praise not fire, but the sacred ash they find when on pilgrimage in the Ashlands.
The other is "the gods have abandoned us, but it is possible that they come back, let us show that we are worth their attention and that we will not make the same mistakes as men ".

Basic Information

Anatomy

Anthromorphic reptiles. Their apperance can vary depending the the kind of reptile they descend from.

Genetics and Reproduction

They reproduce similarly to humans.

Ecology and Habitats

They live mostly in the southern desert of Askavar, so they are used to hot, arid lands, with not much vegetation. Further down south, saurians live under the fire curse (a curse that forbids fire from ever existing in the land that it is cast in).

Dietary Needs and Habits

Fruit, vegetables, or meat if one's rich.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Saurians can have hair, beards, horns or teeth sticking out of their mouths.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Askavar

Average Intelligence

Most peasants are quite dull, however richfolk and nobles can be rather cunning.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Some can see in the dark, some can blend in with their surroundings, some can stay perfectly still, and some just have massive jaws. They have human-like seing or hearing otherwise.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The Empire, Gavarenth's cult, the Exiles, Followers of the Ashfather, the Godforsaken, the Free, the Dragon Lords, the Mad Knights.

Average Technological Level

Medieval with a touch of steampunk, and, of course, magic. They have structures mostly built from stone and wood. Most cities are equipped with a wide array of contraptions and wooden machines to make life easier for members of the court.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Central saurian, forsaken, draconien (for ancien texts and dragon worship)

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

From these beliefs are born several lifestyles and traditions. The saurians (those who show faith in the gods) every three months will sit where there is no one to disturb them and meditate on their actions and decisions, if have lived up to the expectations of the gods (" if they have made Ovin proud "), if they feel comfortable with who they are. It is a moment of serenity and reflection. They make big gatherings around and inside the churches during the week that ends the month. This period is dedicated to Ovin. She is a celebration and a sharing of his wisdom.

Common Taboos

Believing in the way of the foresaken, worshipping the cult of Aswalkt.

Historical Figures

Lord of Warlords Gavarenth, the third dragon lord. Orel, the half dragon, the Exile's Caretaker, and the second dragon lord. Siris, the child of the Sun, and the fith dragon lord.
Aswalkt, the titan of fury, the ashfather, the maw of the abyss.

Common Myths and Legends

Ovin the first, in the chronology, was the first of the great dragon lords to exist, and lived alone in a still and empty world wich he had no control over. After an eternity of depression, he sought to bring change to the world, by ending his own life. His final shout before his death is said to have started time itself, and and the remnants of his body became the matter of the universe. Three more Great dragon lords arose from the ashes of the old god of wisdom as time went on.
Jenvit'hek, is the largest and most powerful of the saurian gods. He resides in the sun and watches over the universe to make sure all the laws are respected. This dragon is the master of the celestial world and all invisible particles.
Ils'haogar, with the flames of the sun, created the earth and it's moons, and is refered to as the great worldsmith (wink). He is the creator of all physical (solid) matter and is the one who shapes it into the objects he desires. Certain songs and myths describe him as being unable to cast a flame of his own, which is why he borrows that of Jenvit'hek's sun and the stars to forge planets and worlds.
The last great dragon lord is Oh'va. Usually described as a female, she spits water instead of fire. She represents the equilibrium between elements, as well as creation. and is the one who taught Jenvit'hek to master his flames, and who convinced Ils'haogar to create more diverse elements. Certain myths also tell of conflict between her and the Worldsmith, who would enrage at the sight of his perfect creations mixing and transforming when in contact whit water. Of all these creations, life was born, just as the gods were, from the ashes of Ovin.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Nobles see these relations as heresy and will usually have the person arrested and dealt with depending on what laws they apply on heretics.

This is the first version of this document, don't judge too much please.

Origin/Ancestry

Unknown

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

1.8 meters

Average Weight

55-90 kg

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

A saurian can be green, yellow, blue, red, brown, and sometimes white. Some have feathers grow on their bodies.