Clan Rogayapa
Clan Rogayapa is an orc clan that is feared throughout the land for their mastery of death magic. They are led by the powerful Deathlord Chief Jhator, a towering orc with a cruel and sadistic streak. The Rogayapa live in Tac Omen, a tall gloomy natural rock formation riddled with skull-lined passages perched like a vulture over the surrounding plains. They are constantly on the lookout for new recruits and they often kidnap humans and other races bodies to raise and use as their servants. This has not always been the case, the Rogayapa were once a thriving clan of Orcish funeral priests that commanded respect through their skills as mediums and their role as guardians of the dead. As the old Orcish funeral rites died out and the unending war with the Elves dragged, the clan became desperate to hold onto influence and began using their death magic for warfare. Deathlord may not be the first, but is certainly the most enthusiastic proponent of this strategy.
The Rogayapa are skilled in all forms of death magic, including necromancy, raising the dead, and cursing their enemies. They use their magic to wage war by raising the fallen dead either in the field or in the dungeons dug out beneath Tac Omen. They have a reputation for being ruthless and merciless enhanced by the macabre tattoos found on the living and the dead. Ghosts and spirits are common in their dwellings and Rogayapa children become hardened against death and undeath at a young age. Being raised as a ghost is a high honor and being raised in undead body is seen as service to those who come after. The gift of mediumship runs strongly in their bloodline and some in the clan still teach the old ways of quelling undeath rather than exploiting it.
Clan Rogayapa Snapshot:
- They are a relatively small clan, with only a few dozen living members now.
- They are highly disciplined and organized Necromancers.
- They are based in Tac Omen, a natural rock formation filled with bones and ghosts.
- They are well-equipped with weapons, armor and dead army.
- They are led by the Deathlord, a powerful and cunning orc.
- They are feared throughout the land for their mastery of death magic.
- They are easily recognized by their bone and death themed tattoos.
- They were once a noble clan of Mediums and Exorcists.
All Things Die, The Body Continues, The Spirit Freed, Guided by the Ancestors
Tac Omen:
The fortress of the Rogayapa was once simply a natural rock formation towering over the plains of Hakkak. As the first sky funerals began atop its high Funeral Heights, paths were built to reach the spires now rarely used. At the beginning of those paths the homes and Clan Bastion of the living priests and guardians were built now eerily quiet and partially abandoned as the clan's numbers dwindled. Below and within the rock lies the heart of the modern clan, carved labyrinthian tunnels and caverns lined with bones and necromantic equipment. Upper entrances lead to busy processing Dungeons of Dead where are kept corpses and living captives slated to be turned undead while deeper difficult to find vaults hold horrific labratories and spirit choked seer's sanctums. A few interior secretive shafts connect the three levels of Tac Omen with grim spiralled staircases.
Known Members:
Deathlord Chief Jhator: A Cruel and Ambitious Leader (Kartika's Uncle)
Gyan, Speaker of the First Wisdom: A Young and Cocky Death Magic Warrior (Kartika's childhood bully/rival)
Vayu, Hand of the Second Wisdom: An Old and Methodical Necromancer (Kartika's Greatuncle on Father's Side)
Apana, Conduit of the Third Wisdom: A Gentle, but Ironwilled Spiritbinder (Kartika's Favorite Aunt)
Mudra, Seer of the Fourth Wisdom: A Cunning and Loyal Summoner of Ancient Spirits (Kartika's Mom)
Kartika, Clan Renegade: A Defiant and Naive Thaumaturge
Rogayapa's Four Wisdoms:
The term Wisdom is used by the clan to denote different focuses of thier necromancy and death magic.
The First Wisdom is "All Things Die" and while orginally provided merciful death to the dying, modern practioners help enemies of the clan discover that truth personally.
The Second Wisdom is "The Body Continues", once preparers of bodies for sky funerals, now animaters of mindless physical undead.
The Third Wisdom is "The Spirit Freed", were once guides for the spirits to accept and depart this world, modern practioners bind them to stay and stoke thier anger for use in war.
The Fourth Wisdom is "Guided by the Ancestors", remains much the same as it once was, communing with the ancestors of the clan for knowledge and guidance.
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