Vanara

When asked about the vanara, most people would call them primitive tribals, and this suits the vanara just fine. Beneath their primitive facade is a rich culture which survived the serpentfolk, demon worshippers, and the cataclysm.

History

Despite living in the region which was the most devastated by The Cataclysm, the vanara have remarkably intact historical records, kept by the various monastaries which are such an important part of vanaran culture.

Before the Serpentfolk

The vanara have lived in the jungles of the region which would eventually become The Shattered Sea for as long as they have been keeping records. For nearly as long, they have battled against the followers of Anghazan, the demon lord of apes.

The Reign of the Serpentfolk

As the serpentfolk began their rise to power, so too did the a faction of demon worshippers known as the Spawn of Angazhan. Through a mixture of brute force, guile, intimidation and coercion, they slowly absorbed villages of vanara, human, and other locals until they became a mighty kingdom. The vanara who resisted the demon worshippers were driven into hiding, either directly inside of villages which were theoretically loyal to the spawn, or in hidden settlements in the jungles. They spent most of the reign of the serpentfolk harassing and disrupting the activities of the Spawn.

After The Cataclysm

When the absolutely catastrophic damage from the cataclysm settled, the vanara looked over the newly shattered sea and realized that the Spawn of Anghazan had been shattered, most of their cities sunk, and all of their settlements cut off from one another by the waters. The vanara banded together and began an organized campaign, island by island, to remove the taint of the Spawn of Angazhan.

Modern Times

Today, vanara are a common sight throughout the Shattered Sea, and present, if somewhat less common in other regions. because they have no centralized government or major cities, trade is limited in scope, but the vanara are naturally curious and generally happy to meet new people.

Vanaran Society

The vanara have no central government or major cities, instead living in small tribes scattered throughout the islands of The Shattered Sea, mostly the southern portion. Their society boasts many monastaries which teach "The dance of the mocking monkey", more commonly known as Monkey Style. Vanaran monks regularly travel between settlements, often acting as independant arbitrators due to the respect in which they are held, and the lack of biases that a local might have.

Religion

Main Article: Log Bandar - The Laughing Monkey

The vast majority of vanara worship their patron god and creator, Log Bandar The Laughing Monkey; His teachings shape their entire way of life and their interactions with both each other and the outside world. Followers of Log Bandar believe that humor is appropriate in nearly all situations, except when it would be cruel or mock suffering, and that travelling is the best way to learn and improve oneself.

Vanara out in the world

The monkeylike vanara are a fairly common sight throughout the Shattered Sea, although less common in other regions. Their curious natures often lead them to bounce from job to job, and they can be found doing nearly any job that strikes their fancy. Ships captains stopping at islands occupied by vanara will often find themselves with a number of enthusiastic, if unskilled, new crew members. They are generally well liked by most people, although their energetic and mischevious natures can try the patience of more serious individuals