Iosan
The learned and physically graceful people of Ios are the
remnants of a once-vast empire that has long since collapsed.
For many centuries, their former strength as a nation has
dwindled, as have their numbers, leaving their forested cities
a twilight kingdom of empty relics and unoccupied streets
with only a fraction of their former numbers to inhabit them.
CENTURIES FACING DOOM
Iosans are physically similar to Humans, with males and
females standing 6 feet tall on average. They tend to have a
slenderer build than humans but are nearly as robust.
Iosans live considerably longer than most races, which has
given rise to a reputation for agelessness. Many enjoy lives
over two centuries long, for they are not prone to disease
and rarely show the ravages of time, even in their advanced
years. Given the imminent doom their race faces, their
longevity is not seen as a great advantage. Iosans are generally
pale and have a wide range of hair colors, with some dying
their hair exotic shades. Certain sects wear tattoos as a way
to show solidarity, and a number have also chosen to shave
their heads.
HISTORY
Although Ios has been a part of western Immoren for almost
as long as Human civilization has existed, the Iosans originally
came from eastern Immoren. The disaster that destroyed
their old civilization led to the gradual decline of their entire
race. Not many non-Iosans know it, but the few Iosans
they encounter are part of a dwindling generation facing
the prospect of an extinction that might occur within their
lifetimes. This existential crisis has led to xenophobia and
extreme secrecy among most Iosans. Outsiders who come to
know Iosans soon realize they are an intelligent and skilled
people equally well versed in combat and the arcane arts.
Iosans are deeply private about religious matters, but when
they discuss such topics, they do so with a mixture of deep
devotion and great sadness.
GRIM OUTLOOK
Iosans have been reticent for as long as humanity can
remember, but their isolationism has taken an extreme turn
in the last few decades, during which the nation of Ios has
closed its borders and cut off all trade with foreigners. Its
forests are a strange and silent place from which no Iosans
emerge, and intruders who venture beyond its borders
are never seen again. Rumors circulate of some great
downfall, perhaps matching the Cataclysm of ancient days,
but neither scholars nor treasure hunters have returned to
confirm the truth.
Despite all this, a number of Iosans live among the Human kingdoms. These tend to be exiles, pilgrims, or well-armed agents serving vital missions. Two Iosan religious sects have specific reasons to be abroad in human lands: the Seekers and the Retribution of Scyrah, with the former tending to be much friendlier to humans than the latter.
IOS
The elves of Ios have known more than their share of calamity
and trouble despite seemingly being insulated from many
of the most devastating wars and disasters that have rocked
the Iron Kingdoms. But of all of the cataclysms the Iosans
have faced, perhaps none has ever changed the face of their
nation more completely than what followed on the heels of
the Claiming. Already a stricken people struggling against the
decline of their remaining gods and warring with their fair-weather allies, the skorne, the Iosans were dealt an irrevocable
blow when two of their own number—disciples of the newly redeemed and now murdered Goreshade—carried out their former master’s plan and slew Scyrah and Nyssor, the last of the elven gods. The result was something that few, if any, could have anticipated. The Iosans had long enjoyed a special bond with their deities, and the complete severing of that bond changed the elves within the borders of Ios just as completely. For decades, an ever-increasing number of elves had been born without souls, and the black-eyed soulless had become nearly as numerous as their ensouled brethren by this time. These elves were left unchanged by the death of their gods.
The others, however, were not so lucky. Many of the elves with souls who were within the borders of Ios at the time of Scyrah’s and Nyssor’s deaths were slain instantly and terribly, their spiritual death shriek warping the land and shaking the cosmos. The rest were irrevocably changed in both body and spirit, transformed into the twisted, hungry beings known as Eldritch. Within Ios, not a single elf escaped the effects of their deities’ deaths. Every living ensouled elf within the elven nation’s borders was either changed or destroyed, and in the wake of this terrifying cataclysm, Ios became a haunted realm of silence and death.
IOS BEFORE THE CLAIMING
To understand the extent of the changes that have befallen
Ios since the murder of Scyrah and Nyssor, one must
first understand what life was like inside the elven nation
before the Claiming—a knowledge that few within the Iron
Kingdoms can boast, for the Iosans have always been a
mysterious and closed-off people.
For centuries, life within the borders of Ios was defined by the politics of the various noble houses. Before the ancient calamity known as the Rivening, the government of Ios was overseen directly by the Divine Court—the very gods themselves—and by the priesthoods of their various fanes. Beneath these were the hallytyr, or “high houses”: the most prominent and influential of the hundreds of noble houses that once made this forest nation their home.
Together, all the hallytyr formed the Consulate Court, the highest power in the land aside from the gods themselves and their attendant priests. The number of high houses in the Consulate Court varied over the centuries, as did the composition of the hallytyr and fallytyr, or “lower houses,” which comprised the rest of the Iosan nobility. Among Iosans, “house” referred not merely to familial bonds, but to more complex networks of treaties, duties, oaths, and castes stretching back centuries, sometimes even to the old elven empire of Lyoss.
These houses, both high and low, provided the soldiers and myrmidons—war machines fueled by unique arcanikal technology—that once made up the armies of Ios. The primary duty of these forces was defending the border fortresses that protected the cloistered nation from outside threats. The five great military houses of Ellowuyr, Issyen, Nyarr, Rhyslyrr, and Silowuyr made up the Homeguard Coalition, which was responsible for organizing most of the elven nation’s military might. Each house contributed its own unique specialty while also recruiting soldiers from the fallytyr and the common folk.
After Thamar bestowed the Gift of Magic on humankind, the Retribution of Scyrah became a significant force within the borders of Ios. Believing that the Gift was actually a curse responsible for the decline of the last of their gods, the Retribution of Scyrah began as a terrorist organization whose goal was nothing less than the annihilation of all human magic-users and arcanists. Over the years, the group evolved from a renegade cell to one of the dominant forces in Iosan politics and military matters.IOSAN NAMES
Iosans and Nyss share the same root culture and language,
and thus there are many similarities between the names
commonly used by both peoples. Iosan names tend to be
consonant-heavy, and sibilance is common. Iosans use y
as a long vowel in many names, and most other vowels
are unstressed.
CENTURIES FACING DOOM
Iosans are physically similar to Humans, with males and
females standing 6 feet tall on average. They tend to have a
slenderer build than humans but are nearly as robust.
Iosans live considerably longer than most races, which has
given rise to a reputation for agelessness. Many enjoy lives
over two centuries long, for they are not prone to disease
and rarely show the ravages of time, even in their advanced
years. Given the imminent doom their race faces, their
longevity is not seen as a great advantage. Iosans are generally
pale and have a wide range of hair colors, with some dying
their hair exotic shades. Certain sects wear tattoos as a way
to show solidarity, and a number have also chosen to shave
their heads.
HISTORY
Although Ios has been a part of western Immoren for almost
as long as Human civilization has existed, the Iosans originally
came from eastern Immoren. The disaster that destroyed
their old civilization led to the gradual decline of their entire
race. Not many non-Iosans know it, but the few Iosans
they encounter are part of a dwindling generation facing
the prospect of an extinction that might occur within their
lifetimes. This existential crisis has led to xenophobia and
extreme secrecy among most Iosans. Outsiders who come to
know Iosans soon realize they are an intelligent and skilled
people equally well versed in combat and the arcane arts.
Iosans are deeply private about religious matters, but when
they discuss such topics, they do so with a mixture of deep
devotion and great sadness.
GRIM OUTLOOK
Iosans have been reticent for as long as humanity can
remember, but their isolationism has taken an extreme turn
in the last few decades, during which the nation of Ios has
closed its borders and cut off all trade with foreigners. Its
forests are a strange and silent place from which no Iosans
emerge, and intruders who venture beyond its borders
are never seen again. Rumors circulate of some great
downfall, perhaps matching the Cataclysm of ancient days,
but neither scholars nor treasure hunters have returned to
confirm the truth.
Despite all this, a number of Iosans live among the Human kingdoms. These tend to be exiles, pilgrims, or well-armed agents serving vital missions. Two Iosan religious sects have specific reasons to be abroad in human lands: the Seekers and the Retribution of Scyrah, with the former tending to be much friendlier to humans than the latter.
IOS
The elves of Ios have known more than their share of calamity
and trouble despite seemingly being insulated from many
of the most devastating wars and disasters that have rocked
the Iron Kingdoms. But of all of the cataclysms the Iosans
have faced, perhaps none has ever changed the face of their
nation more completely than what followed on the heels of
the Claiming. Already a stricken people struggling against the
decline of their remaining gods and warring with their fair-weather allies, the skorne, the Iosans were dealt an irrevocable
blow when two of their own number—disciples of the newly redeemed and now murdered Goreshade—carried out their former master’s plan and slew Scyrah and Nyssor, the last of the elven gods. The result was something that few, if any, could have anticipated. The Iosans had long enjoyed a special bond with their deities, and the complete severing of that bond changed the elves within the borders of Ios just as completely. For decades, an ever-increasing number of elves had been born without souls, and the black-eyed soulless had become nearly as numerous as their ensouled brethren by this time. These elves were left unchanged by the death of their gods.
The others, however, were not so lucky. Many of the elves with souls who were within the borders of Ios at the time of Scyrah’s and Nyssor’s deaths were slain instantly and terribly, their spiritual death shriek warping the land and shaking the cosmos. The rest were irrevocably changed in both body and spirit, transformed into the twisted, hungry beings known as Eldritch. Within Ios, not a single elf escaped the effects of their deities’ deaths. Every living ensouled elf within the elven nation’s borders was either changed or destroyed, and in the wake of this terrifying cataclysm, Ios became a haunted realm of silence and death.
IOS BEFORE THE CLAIMING
To understand the extent of the changes that have befallen
Ios since the murder of Scyrah and Nyssor, one must
first understand what life was like inside the elven nation
before the Claiming—a knowledge that few within the Iron
Kingdoms can boast, for the Iosans have always been a
mysterious and closed-off people.
For centuries, life within the borders of Ios was defined by the politics of the various noble houses. Before the ancient calamity known as the Rivening, the government of Ios was overseen directly by the Divine Court—the very gods themselves—and by the priesthoods of their various fanes. Beneath these were the hallytyr, or “high houses”: the most prominent and influential of the hundreds of noble houses that once made this forest nation their home.
Together, all the hallytyr formed the Consulate Court, the highest power in the land aside from the gods themselves and their attendant priests. The number of high houses in the Consulate Court varied over the centuries, as did the composition of the hallytyr and fallytyr, or “lower houses,” which comprised the rest of the Iosan nobility. Among Iosans, “house” referred not merely to familial bonds, but to more complex networks of treaties, duties, oaths, and castes stretching back centuries, sometimes even to the old elven empire of Lyoss.
These houses, both high and low, provided the soldiers and myrmidons—war machines fueled by unique arcanikal technology—that once made up the armies of Ios. The primary duty of these forces was defending the border fortresses that protected the cloistered nation from outside threats. The five great military houses of Ellowuyr, Issyen, Nyarr, Rhyslyrr, and Silowuyr made up the Homeguard Coalition, which was responsible for organizing most of the elven nation’s military might. Each house contributed its own unique specialty while also recruiting soldiers from the fallytyr and the common folk.
After Thamar bestowed the Gift of Magic on humankind, the Retribution of Scyrah became a significant force within the borders of Ios. Believing that the Gift was actually a curse responsible for the decline of the last of their gods, the Retribution of Scyrah began as a terrorist organization whose goal was nothing less than the annihilation of all human magic-users and arcanists. Over the years, the group evolved from a renegade cell to one of the dominant forces in Iosan politics and military matters.
IOSAN NAMES
Iosans and Nyss share the same root culture and language,
and thus there are many similarities between the names
commonly used by both peoples. Iosan names tend to be
consonant-heavy, and sibilance is common. Iosans use y
as a long vowel in many names, and most other vowels
are unstressed.Age.
Although they reach maturity at nearly the same age as humans, Iosans live far longer. Many live to be over 200 years old, with some living up to three centuries.Alignment.
Iosans do not tend toward a particular alignment. While some uphold the common good and the rule of law, others seek personal gain over the well-being of others.Size.
Iosans tend to have slender builds and are roughly as tall as humans. Your size is Medium.Speed.
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.Darkvision.
Accustomed to the gloomy forests of Ios, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.Keen Senses.
You have proficiency in the Perception skill. Martial Society. When you make an attack roll and roll a 1, you can reroll the die but must use the new roll, even if it is another 1.Skill Versatility.
The long lifespan of Iosans gives them the opportunity to master many skills and crafts. You have proficiency with any combination of two other skills or tools of your choice.Languages.
You can speak, read, and write Shyr and one other language you have picked up in your travels.
Genetic Descendants
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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