Yikaria

Yikaria are a race native to the mountains of Vassagonia. They look like large muscular humanoids with cloven feet, and the heads of Yaks. Early travelers that encountered them expected a docile new humanoid species, when nothing could be farther from the truth.

Yak-folk are deadly opponents to face in combat. Many of them have access to an impressive array of magical items. Yak-folk leaders were always spellcasters who have studied either Wytchcraft or are elemental specialists in Magi Magic. In addition, many Yikaria are skilled practitioners of Sha'ir Magic. They have exceptional skill in commanding dao. These dao were utterly helpless slaves under the control of their summoner. Angered by their situation, these dao vented their frustration on the closest available target: the yak-folk's enemies.

Equally terrifying, some Yikaria have the Psionic Talent to invade a vitim's psyche. If a yikarian was able to physically touch another being, they could possess their body. This process took a few minutes to take effect, during which the victim was typically restrained. Yak-folk often used this power to infiltrate Zakharan society as spies. A yak-folk in possession of a victim had complete access to that individual's memories, skills, and abilities, but not their magical or psionic powers. Yak-folk in possession of another body always kept their own body stored away somewhere for safe keeping. It was usually guarded by other designated yikarians. They could return to their body instantly regardless of the distance separating them. If the possessed body or the yak-folk's body was destroyed, then the possessed victim would instantly perish.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Yak-folk are taller humanoids, averaging 7ft in height. Their heads resembled those of a yak and their bodies were covered in coarse fur. They are naturally skinny and may even appear gaunt. The only distinguishing feature between females and males was that the females were only slightly smaller. Their feet were hoofed but their arms possessed hands with five digits.

Ecology and Habitats

All yak-folk possess an inherent thirst for knowledge, especially if they could use it to gain more power. Any knowledge that was inaccessible to them was to be destroyed in order to deny others.

Yak-folk had no family bonds. Instead, they held loyalty to their god and their race as a whole. Their young were sent to communal societies once they were weaned from their mother.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Yikaria are carnivores. They claim that sentient flesh tastes better than other animals.

Behaviour

Yikaria look down on other sentient species. They are quite capable of working with others, but think of other species of having unfarily supplanteed their supremacy in the Dry Main are of Northern Magnamund.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Yikaria live exclusively in desert communities. They can be found Vassagonia and the Sadi deserts of Southern Magnamund.

Civilization and Culture

Common Dress Code

Culturally, Yikaria prefer to wear robes that conceal their narrow frames. They often use staves or canes.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

As a race, the yak-folk are a "malignant theocracy", fanatically following their Forgotten God in all aspects of their lives. The entire race claims to be descended from this deity.

The Forgotten God was pleased with sacrifice. The yak-folk satisfied this by performing slave sacrifices for each of the prime elements, including: immolation (fire), live burial (earth), drowning (water), and tossing a victim from a cliff (air). These sacrifices were performed daily. They served to tighten the bond with their god, but also to remind slaves that any who disobeyed would likely be the next sacrifice made.

History

The Yikaria once maintained thriving communities across the mountains of Vassagonia where they would raise their young, and regularly infiltrate or raid the neighboring communities. They used these predations as a source of slave labor and food.

Their raiding came to an end when the Black Zakhan ordered his armies to hunt them down in MS 4575. Despite their command of the Dao, the Vassagonian armies overwhelmed them and summoned genies helped root out their infiltrations. Now, their population numbers only in the hundreds in Vassagonia.

They still branch out and individual yikaria have infiltrated most major cities but remain in hiding. They currently are presented as boogeymen to human children, though the wise know that they still exist.

Common Myths and Legends

The Forgotten God was the sole reason the yak-folk were able to utterly enslave dao. Legend stated that the Forgotten God once traveled to the Elemental Plane of Earth where he bested the ruler of the earth elementals through trickery. The ruler of the earth elementals was forced to accept the Forgotten God's terms—allowing his yak-folk followers control over the dao while making it impossible for the dao to retaliate. This bargain was said to last for 1001 years and, as of MS 5000, it was believed that centuries still remained before it expired.

Average Height

7 ft