The Ashari

While the boundaries between the planes are generally strong, there are some places across Exandria where the veil is thin and occasionally sundered entirely. There are places in the world where the elemental planes bleed into the Material Plane, scarring the land with their primordial power and threatening all surrounding life. During one Celestial Solstice—a time when the planar boundaries grow weakest—elemental rifts of untold proportions burst open across Exandria. Fires and earthquakes ravaged the lands, and the people of the world struggled to combat the elemental monsters that poured forth from the rifts. The tide of elementals was eventually stemmed, but the world was gripped by fear—what would happen on the next solstice? In the wake of the planar disturbance, a society of druidic masters called the Ashari made a covenant to divide and form four separate tribes to seal and watch over the sources of these unleashed energies. The Pyrah Ashari left for Issylra, and the Vesrah Ashari relocated to an island cluster in the Ozmit Sea. The Terrah and Zephrah Ashari remained within Tal’Dorei near their respective elemental rifts. A dozen generations later, the Ashari still hold watch over these tumultuous locations.

Public Agenda

Each Ashari Tribe is tasked with guarding a tear in the planes between one of the elemental planes and Exandria. Here, they strive to understand, master, and ultimately subdue the ever-escaping elemental forces. They attempt to bring balance to the surrounding lands and heal the rift over time, though recurring cosmic events tend to reopen these wounds. The Pyrah Tribe oversees the Fire Elemental Rift in the valley caldera of the Sunderpeak Mountain range in Othanzia, on the continent of Issylra. The Vesrah Tribe watches over the Water Elemental Rift on the Islands of Anamn within the Ozmit Sea. On the southwest edge of the Cliffkeep Mountains, the Terrah Tribe stands vigilant over the Earth Elemental Rift, while in the windy Summit Peaks, the Zephrah Ashari keep the Air Elemental Rift, while also watching over the Frostweald. Due to the isolated nature of each tribe, they find it necessary to maintain contact and influence with each other. Each is led by a single elemental master, a title that is passed on by blood or honor for generations. As every new generation comes of age, the young leader-to-be must take up an Aramente, or “noble odyssey.” They must set out and travel between all other Ashari tribes, meet with their leaders, and train until an understanding and respect is earned from the hosting tribe. Upon returning, they ascend to the head of their tribe, while the elder retires. This journey often takes years, and should one such chosen Ashari not return within a reasonable period, a next-of-kin is chosen of the same family or an allied bloodline to take up the Aramente.

Foreign Relations

The Ashari maintain peaceful, if sometimes tense, relationships between the tribes. Beyond this, much of life within the Ashari is hidden from outsiders’ prying eyes. They’ve come to understand the necessity of good relations with nearby cities, so occasionally members will visit and trade with towns and people near their guarded fane. As such, they maintain positive (if limited) relations with the free cities of Emon and Syngorn. The Ashari nurture a seed of disrespect and mistrust for Kraghammer, as the dwarves constantly disregard their warnings against reckless mining and because their arrogance during the last eruption of the Terrah Rift led to widespread quakes and the collapse of an entire mountain. Though some Ashari worship the Wildmother, they generally take caution with anyone who is largely devoted to a non-nature aligned deity—particularly the Lawbearer, despite her relationship with the Wildmother.

Type

Druidic Circle

Legislative Body

Figures of Interest
Pa’tice, Heart of the Mountain Human Leader of Terrah. Elderly leader of the earth Ashari, Pa’tice still shows vigor and strength to resist his age, having led his people through many very tough challenges. His stubbornness is legendary, and it’s said even death has been forced to wait until Pa’tice deems it his proper time.

Korrin of the Zephrah Half-Elf Elder of Zephrah. His wife Vilya was lost while she took the Aramente, and when the previous Voice of the Tempest died of illness, Korrin was forced to act as Voice until his daughter Keyleth came of age and completed her Aramente. Gentle with those who show honor, and merciless to those who threaten his people.
Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest Half-Elf Leader of Zephrah. Hero of Tal’Dorei and member of Vox Machina, Keyleth had completed her Aramente and taken leadership among her people following the destruction of the Chroma Conclave. Though a bit shy and awkward at times, she has grown to embrace the wisdom she’s acquired through her travels and exhibit her quality as a leader.