Uriban

"There is no other city like it. The City of Sol sits in the heart of the mountains. Every morning I could see the sun rise, shining brilliantly upon the city. The city gates were positively glowing. There was all sorts of commerce and deals being made in the markets. So many travelers were coming in. Caravans from Athelia, the Stone Lands, Darcassia, and even the shadowy forms of Canopy Men from Zolacwa."
"Even more brilliant were insects that the Uribans are famous for training and taming. They rode laughing and wailing on the backs of Lance Drones. My guide took me on the back of a, oh what is it, a Vridak, this giant beetle. It would cast its shadow over the city, its back laden with travelers on a howdah."
"There was life everywhere. From the buildings to lamp posts to the walls and doors."
"The City of Sol is truly the greatest in the world, an absolute wonder," Symphony Kaytham said.
"A shame it is lorded over by one of the most wicked, lazy, and avaricious peoples in the world," the Zarmudan Missionary replied.

Civilization and Culture

History

Inhabitants of the Mountains in the Far East, just before the Sea of Grass, reside the Uribans. They are a race of small, long eared goblinoid creatures with unending curiosity and a close, symbiotic relationship with the insects and plants native to their lands. They are slightly taller than Dwarves.

The Goblin Diaspora

The Uribans originated from the Goblins, a vile race that began to infest the world while the God Kings fashioned it. Where the Goblins came from is unknown. The Goblins were disruptive, aggressive, but also dimwitted. They were a virus that disrupted the perfect world that the God Kings created for their children. The Father dispatched the Warrior to cleanse the world of Goblin infestation.
At the head of the Radiant Host the Warrior slew the Goblins in the millions. They scattered into the mountains, only emerging when the passing flight of the Warrior and the Radiant Host did not spot them.
Hiding within the mountains an awakening came to some of the Goblins. The Wayfarer, youngest daughter of the God Kings, came amongst the Goblins. Taking pity on them the Wayfarer personally began teaching them. She introduced to them the varied creatures that resided in the land, how to forge weapons, the arts, and literature. After many years she was recalled to Heaven to convene with her Father, Mother, and Siblings. She encouraged her followers to trust in her protection and follow her into the God's light. Those Goblins with the ears to hear took her words to heart. These Goblins would eventually leave their underground hideouts. Emerging into the rising sun's light, the Goblins that followed the Wayfarer became the Uribans.

The Uriban Trade Cities

Now separate from the rest of their stunted kind, the Uribans began to change thanks to the purifying influence of the Wayfarer. The Uribans grew taller, they no longer hunched or crawled on all fours. A language came to them afterwards. No longer fearful of the God Kings, the Uribans took quickly to building cities along the sides and inside of the mountains that would bear their name. They developed a close relation with the insects and plants that they shared the Uribasan Mountains with. Though taught forging, the Uribans preferred natural solutions and thus incorporated living plants into their homes. This led to the rise of the Uriban Trade Cities, such as the City of Sol.
The Wayfarer also inspired in the Uribans a love of travel and curiosity. The Uribans set out from their mountains to learn about the world and to share their goods with others. The Uribans quickly made a name for themselves as master traders and explorers, with many becoming famous cartographers and merchants. As master tamers of flying insects like the Lance Drones, the Uribans took to the skies, able to establish trade around the world and to cart their wares far afield. Today, Uribans are some of the richest people in the world and masters of the skies.

The War of Zealots and Martyrs

The Uribans owed much of their prosperity to the mercy of the Wayfarer and later other God Kings. When the War of Zealots and Martyrs broke out, trade ground to a halt. Not a warlike people in contrast to the squabbling and bickering Goblins they descended from, many Uribans closed the gates of their Cities. These cities soon came under assault. It was only when the False God arose that City after City began to fall. The False God's followers set many temples and sacred places to the torch or buried them beneath man made avalanches.
The Uribans mustered their armies and alongside the Zarmudan Vennacti fought the False God and his followers. When the False God was defeated the Uribans had a brief rest. Then the Martocrat and the Darcassian Revolt began. Their cities once more besieged, the Warrior and his Vennacti had been too weakened by the recent battles with the False God. The Martocrat Abelech the Apostate sacked the City of Sol before advancing onto the Fatherland. The God Kings spared their lands from further war when the Statesman convinced Abelech to turn back.
Though the God Kings had saved their lands, the Uribans were left to the mercy of the Martocrat. Even more cities were destroyed along with shrines and temples dedicated to the God Kings. In their place the Martocrat placed propaganda, swaying portions of Uribans to the treachery and jealousy of the God Kings. Abelech turned his Vennacti west to conquer the rest of Kiimati, leaving the Uribasa Mountains in ruins.

The Artificial Age

The Uriban Cities were open for business but much had been lost in the war's aftermath. Many cities and millions of its people lay dead or as refugees. Though the greatest of cities still stand, a distance now exists between the Uribans and other races. Fearful of the Darcassians, the God Kings, and foreigners in general, the Uribans restrict visitors to their cities to segregated Foreign Quarters. This fear has grown to mistrust. The damage of the War of Zealots and Martyrs has led to more Uribans taking on traditionally Goblin traits. While most Uribans remain cheerful and kind, many more become wary, paranoid, or bitter of other races. Still skilled traders and explorers, a larger number grow up to become mercenaries, thieves, spies, or con artists. They have also become more secretive. The only Uribans abroad are those living in the Darcassian Empire or traders.
This period also saw the rise of the Uriban High King. Ruling from the City of Sol, the Uriban High King extracts tithes and tribute from the other princes. While not a people united in a single nation, the High King wields immense power and influence. He is able to mediate disputes between the Princes. Whatever the God King says is law. Many believe that the creation of the High King position stems from the War, as the individual nature of the Princes and their cities left them vulnerable to being picked off one by one. The High King is a rallying figure for the Uribans.
The surviving Trade Cities include the great City of Sol ruled by the High King, the City of Grass, the City of Toruban, the Skyspire Peak, the City of Snowstone, the City of Aguban, the City of Roots, and the Artificial City.

The High King

The High King is the ruler of the City of Sol, although the position is open for any Prince who is elected to the position by his fellow princes. The ideal High King is one who has the diplomatic savvy, mercantile connections, and support of the people. The High King is the face of the Uribans and the figure they rally behind.
While he holds no real power over the other Princes (Princes can do whatever they want if its in his or her city's best interests) the Princes recognize the power of the High King and can be expected to fall in line if they deem the situation too risky to operate alone. These days, Zarmudan Missionaries and Darcassian Diplomats clash in a war of words, trying to sway the High King to one side or the other in preparation for a future war. Whoever can convince the High King to their side will be able to draw the majority of Uribans to their cause.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Individual Uribans are friendly and cheerful to their friends and allies. Now there is a growing trend of Uribans being thieves, con artists, or spies. Some even become mercenaries, fighting for pay and inflicting pain and death that seems unexpected of their outward appearance. The Trade Cities continue to interact with the world abroad, but the damage sustained from the War of Zealots and Martyrs left many Uribans deciding to stay isolated. Many prefer their own cities, safe behind their walls and growing richer and fatter through the City's lucrative trade routes.
A paranoid suspicion of outsiders afflicts the Uribans these days. People traveling to their lands are often relegated to Foreign Quarters. Separated from the rest of the city the Uribans maintain a close watch on visitors to their lands. Foreigners convicted or accused of plotting against the reigning Prince or High King are taken away and never seen again. Patrols through the mountains observe passing caravans without notice.

Origin/Ancestry

Goblins

Lifespan

Between 60 and 80

Geographic Distribution

• Zenosha