The Karasali are a hard but adaptable people, forged by their cold environment. In the countryside, they remain closest to their old ways, herding cattle, and fighting back the hostile spirits of the northern pine forests. Cities have sprung up around the old whaling and fishing ports, and now much of the populace are urban. They are a gruff, common, urban folk, generally disparaging of high culture and sophisticated politics, with a strong streak of equalitarianism. They have no need for foreign cultures, and do not regard the other inhabitants of the Satrapy as being Karasali, but they are quite happy to let them get on with their foreign ways - as long as they don't interfere with their own.
The Karasali are inheritors of the Dawn Age Lenshi traditions. They are sailors, whalers, and cattle herders, grown wealthy off the White Sea trade.
| Occupations Available: | Entertainer (bladder-piper, bone-piper, chant poet, drummer,), Farmer, Fisherman, Foot Soldier (Marine, Ordinary, Skirmisher), Healer, Merchant, Petty Noble, Sailor, Scholar, Thief |
| Native Abilities: | Drink Beer, Geography of Karasal, Karasali Customs, Speak Karasali, Urban or Rural Survival Skills, Weather Lore |
| Personality: | Boisterous, Hard Working, Self-Reliant |
| Relationships: | to [Local Community], to Family, to Temple |
| Magic: | Common Magic; Lenshi Religion (theism) |
| City or Region | Additional Native Ability |
|---|---|
| Joranit | Cosmopolitan |
| Graclodont | Support Sisterhood |
| Keravero | Hate Birini Pirates |
| Dendeno | Trade With Foreigners |
| North Bank Cities [1] | River Boating |
| North Coast Cities [2] | Respect the Sea |
| Rural | Herd Cattle |
[1] Deranero and Surmemero
[2] Lodvero, Surkenemero, Rhogo, and Bavero
Ever-willing to use what is around them, over the centuries, the Karasali have 'borrowed' numerous small tricks and magic feats from the world around them, incorporating them into their daily lives. None the less, there is always the acknowledgement that such minor magics must be used with respect for the material world, which can be so harsh and unforgiving when it wills it.
| Feats | Break Ice, Heal Cattle, Patch Rags, Prepare Salt, Sweep Floor Clean |
| Charms | Harden Leather, Mull Beer, Pickle Food, Stop Leak, Trap Heat Inside |
| Spells | Block Draught, Dry Fabric, Preserve Meat, Soothe Hangover, Warm Bed |
| Talents | Nag Husband, Punch His Lights Out, Resist Dodgy Geezer, Stay Sober |
The ancient hero, Lenshi, found the paths to re-connect with the Gods after the Long Winter. First were Lol, the Summer God, and Umilla, the Land Mother, who showed how society should be structured, and how life should be lived. Together, they pushed back the winter, and brought prosperity back to the shattered Karasali people. Later, once the cities were founded, the priests discovered the siblings and children of these first two gods, and temples were built in their honour. The worship of Heroes is not uncommon, and includes Lenshi himself, as well as the various city-founders, such as Joran.
Most Karasali are lay members of the religion, worshipping Lol and Umilla together, and praying to the other deities of the pantheon whenever their particular aid is needed. Around a fifth of the adult population initiates to a specific deity, and this is particularly common amongst the more specialist professions such as merchant, soldier, or whaler. Concentrating magic is uncommon, and Devotion is only for priests and heroes.
Abilities: Know Karasali Myths, Worship Lenshi Pantheon
Virtues: Loyal to Comrades, Resilient
Magic: Divine Aid
| Entertainer: | Liara or Syrana | |
| Farmer: | Umilla, the Land Mother. | Affinities: Cattle, Land, Winter Barley |
| Foot Soldier: | Lol, or Semdurn, the Hard Man. | Affinities: Carousing, Fighting, Strength |
| Healer: | Sieri, the Shelter Woman. | Affinities: Healing, Shelter, Succour |
| Merchant: | Liara, the Swift Traveller. | Affinities: Movement, Rivers, Travel |
| Petty Noble: | Lol, the Summer God. | Affinities: Defence, Order, Summer |
| Sailor: | Gurm, the Seafarer. | Affinities: Sea, Weather, Whaling |
| Scholar: | Syrana, the Inner Eye. | Affinities: Freedom, Memory, Understanding |
| Thief: | Vor, or Bone-Hands | (Lanbril common magic) |
| Fiali, the Swan of Heaven. | Affinities: Beauty, Cleansing, Fortune |
| Umral, God of Death. | Affinities: Burial, Death, Mourning |
| Vor, the Hidden God. | Affinities: Secrecy, Shadows, Trickery |
| Goga, the Winter Goddess. | (Enemy Deity.) |
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Umral | Vor ----------
| |
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Umilla ======= Lol Syrana
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Semdurn Liara Gurm Sieri Fiali
This page was last updated 15th December 2005 by Jamie 'Trotsky' Revell