Bugbear

"It is the curse and blessing of our people to never be seen. The most important lesson we must all learn is that it is not important if we are recognized, but instead are worthy of being recognized." - Memoir of Aetzebir Kuraya, a Makutur thief-turned-entrepeneur, dated 6057 2E.

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Hailing from the far-off lands of Ilunabaren, the Makutur or "Bugbears" are a race of Goblinoids. Created by Omarin to serve as assassins and commandos during the War of Devouring, even an untrained Bugbear can blend in where others would be seen. Most Bugbears live semi-nomadically and have done so for millennia. While few Bugbears take up thieving, they've developed a reputation for it in the Raven Empire because the few thieves who manage to not be caught by the law and dominate the criminal underworld are usually Bugbears.

Hidden and Unrecognized

The Bugbears were originally part of the Goblin race but were intentionally diverged by their god Omarin to serve less as scouts and more as a stealthy force. This would be useful to Omarin, as it would allow him to quickly and efficiently destroy commanders and spellcasters while in a battle against the Deceiver. While Bugbears are exceptionally good at stealth, they by no means are always lightly armored and dextrous. Instead, Bugbear tactics usually include equipping the best armor that allows them to sneak around enemies and then ambushing them with powerful, two-handed weapons. This is considered dishonorable among Corvans, especially in Orcish cultures, and as such Bugbears are generally the least favored children of Omarin.

Pariah Folk

After Omarin left for Isan, the Corvans were primarily divided into two states: Hatorand, and Kemanad. Because of how well-trained the Bugbears were at infiltration and assassination, they were not welcome in Kemanad, even as slaves, due to the risk they posed to the Goblin leadership. Due to the "inherent dishonor" of the Bugbears, they were not welcomed into Hatorand proper but were allowed to settle the likely battleground around the Tower of the Moon. This was the Duchy of Ilgaran, a vassal state of Hatorand, and a state that would serve as the homeland of the Bugbear people. The land was undesirable, as it was likely to be destroyed by the world-ending threat that was prophesized to come out of its gate. The land was heavily fortified, and Bugbear society was highly militarized, prepared for any invasion to come. When the first Humans arrived, the Bugbears quickly assassinated most of their leadership, leaving them vulnerable to the main Corvan assault.

After the escape of the Humans to Isan, the Duchy of Ilgaran had no more use to Hatorand, and the Orcs moved swiftly to retake it for themselves. The invasion was a complete disaster for the invading Orcs, as the native Bugbears had spent decades preparing for an invasion. They easily defended the heavily-fortified land and managed to push the invading army all the way back to the shores of their capital city, Tenohir. Victorious, the two parties signed a treaty that forced Hatorand to recognize the independence of Ilgaran, give important hostages to Ilgaran, and pay enough reparations to rebuild Ilgaran. Ilgaran prospered and remained independent until the beginning of the Raven Empire, which they willingly joined in exchange for a large degree of autonomy. This prosperity would continue until the Age of Collapse when the Tower of the Moon was corrupted and spewed a flood of Shadowspawn. Ilgaran was razed to the ground in weeks, and the survivors fled for Hatorand. With the corruption of the Tower of the Moon, the very ground of Ilgaran was tainted beyond habitability, leaving the Bugbear people forever homeless.

A People United

The Raven Empire was formed in 3187 2E, during the Age of Enthronement, and remains the only state that has survived in its original form to the current day. The Raven Empire is led by the Orcs of Hatorand, who form the economic and cultural center of the empire. The Raven Empire is a force for stability in Ilunabaren, providing its inhabitants with a legalistic, centralized government that applies the law not only to commoners but to the nobility as well. Although cities and towns have the right to refuse entry to Bugbears, crimes committed against them are treated with the same severity as crimes against any other group of people. The actual enforcement of Bugbear rights in the empire, unfortunately, is far less protective than for other races in the empire.

A Cursed People

“False hope is in no way better than a harsh truth. A harsh truth is painful to accept, but there's healing at the end. False hope, on the other hand, is a very dangerous thing that offers no reward. Not immediately, nor with the passage of time. It never pays off.” - Bastien Palter, writing on his interactions with the Bugbears of Ilunabaren.

Since the destruction of their homeland, Bugbears have lived in small groups across Ilunabaren. They are usually unwelcome in cities, but can get in with a well-placed bribe or by sneaking in. They are now known as the Pariah folk, and most other Corvans believe they are cursed. Many Bugbears believe that the first independent king of Ilgaran, Pasegi, will be reborn. He is to unite his people and lead them back to Ilgaran, which will be untainted by his hand. Whether this is a true prophecy, or a lie told to inspire an otherwise-hopeless people cannot be determined, as this prophecy's origin is unknown.

Creating a Bugbear Character

• Family: Family is especially important to Bugbears, as few others are willing to look after them. Your family can either be blood-related, a collection of individuals you've picked up in your travels, or both! Do you have a family? If so, why would you leave them for a life of adventuring?
• Profession: Many Bugbears live nomadically, drifting from town to town. Few Bugbears make their way into major cities but often find themselves working in the criminal underworld. Did you follow the typical path? Or did you aspire to something much different?
• The Empire: What was your position in the Raven Empire? Were you treated unusually well, or were you turned away from like most Bugbears? Are you still a willing member, or are you an exile? What brought you to the far lands of Isan?
• Freedom: How have you reacted to the freedom the adventuring life affords? The culture shock between being your own person versus being a cog in the machine of the Raven Empire would be pretty large for the average person. Bugbears feel this much less than other Corvans, though, as they spend most of their lives free on the roads.

Bugbear Names

Male Names: Deinoro, Edur, Ixaka, Jeng, Qeang, Yuxuang.
Female Names: Berkana, Igona, Kanxesi, Ling, Yue, Zhan.
Last Names: Eskibil, Gerro, Leung, Seung, Tse, Zuñila
Creating Your Own Name: Makutur names are based on Basque and Cantonese names.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Yerad

Origin/Ancestry

Ilunabaren

Lifespan

60 years

Average Height

6'9"

Average Weight

300 lbs.