Vorax

Invisible Raptors...

Other than the Zipsum, the Vorax were the most numerous of the Karians in the days of the Dusk Sages. In the past two centuries they have gone from being ubiquitous to being on the verge of extinction. They are a tragic and forlorn species that remembers with exquisite agony a time not so distant when they were the far-ranging lore keepers of Karia.

The Vorax are magnificent, enormous, birds of prey in their animal forms. They have long lifespans (100-125 years), and they mate for life in familial groups called “nests”, which are then organized into flocks. There used to be thousands of flocks all around Karia.

The plight of the Vorax is difficult to explain. The simplest explanation, put forward by Cheldrun biologists, is that the Vorax are extremely vulnerable to toxins in the air. The increase in blackrock burning has poisoned and killed Vorax by the millions. However, even those Vorax far from Cheldrun cities have been mysteriously dying. Sages among the Anakarix and Prill believe that the ancient lore-keepers are bound physically to the health of the planet in a more intimate way than the other races. As the planet itself withers, the Vorax die.

No one knows precisely how many Vorax there are left living, but the number is vanishingly small. In some places it has been so long since the last Vorax sighting that they are simply presumed extinct. No one thinks of them any longer as a society or includes them in discussions of world affairs and this is for the simple reason that in every meaningful sense they have no society left. Their culture and way of life has completely disintegrated under the extreme pressure of impending extinction.

The tragedy of the Vorax is compounded by the fact that by nature they are intensely social. The support and unity of nest and flock is ingrained in every Vorax at an instinctual level so much that it is doubtful any of the survivors have escaped some level of madness. Those that remain are subject to all manner of irrational behaviors, the most common of which being The Search.

The Search makes little sense to outsiders, but it is the only thing keeping some Vorax alive. They depart their nests suddenly and begin flying, thousands of miles over every region calling for others of their kind. It is an ominous and desperate sound to hear a lone Vorax crying his lament overhead. Those who are observant believe The Search has a pattern and a purpose, which the Vorax have not revealed – or perhaps they don’t know themselves. Anyone long enough lived to remember the Vorax in their heyday simply wouldn’t believe that this regal race will disappear entirely, without a sound.

More than anything else it is the situation of the Vorax that is spurring other Karians to take the threat of the Cheldrun seriously.

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Players who wish to play a Vorax should take time to consider precisely how the extinction is affecting them. Have they watched their family die? How long has it been since they’ve seen another Vorax? Why are they still alive? How is The Search playing a role in their life? The Vorax are fast and silent predators, who have traveled far and wide and know a great deal about the world. Players should put some thought into the knowledge this Vorax has gained. They should also detail the flock and the nest from which they come as it will shape who they are.

Appearance: Even in their human form the Vorax appear avian. They are fine boned and sharp featured. In place of hair, a cascade of feathers tumbles from their head. They are beautiful in an exotic, alien sort of way. When they take their bird form they are colossal raptors with feathers ranging from deep purple to blood red in color, black talons and a black beak. As birds they can turn invisible for short periods, becoming only a faint shimmer in the air.

Example Flocks: Fushidara Torimure, Ganjou Torimure, Naiya Torimure, Puchi Torimure, Reikoku Torimure, Yukai Torimure

Example Names: Male: Audagei, Aukolon, Aumelix, Austabor, Auvanya
Female: Bafara, Baheila, Bajunei, Bamunas, Baporoo, Batalon

Example Attributes: Aura of Inspiration, Features (Appearance), Flight, Heightened Awareness, Melee Attack (Talons)

Example Skills: Acrobatics, Animal Training, Area Knowledge, Artisan, Cultural Arts, Foreign Culture, Languages, Navigation, Occult, Stealth, Wilderness Tracking

Vorax attitudes towards….
Cheldrun	Murderers! Genocidal maniacs bent on the destruction of everything of value. They rained down on us from the sky like a plague from the heavens.
Allskins	These are the only Cheldrun with any sense of reverence or tradition, but they are blind to the fact that they have inherited a tradition that bends only toward death.
Biomade	It is a shame that anything living should be gifted with such a mind only to waste it on selfish exploitation.
Mechified	They can hardly be considered living beings. Rather they are poison-spewing rambling engines of destruction.
Karians	We are the beating pulse of Karia. When we cease to be, so will the planet.
Anakarix	The ones with scales are the memory and knowledge of Karia. We admire their insight. To survive they must share it.
Gogajin	The ones with hooves are the strength and vigor of Karia. We admire their valor. To prosper they must unite.
Jevumm	The ones with claws are the temper and passion of Karia. We admire their ferocity. To protect they must eschew caution.
Prill	The ones with tails are the empathy and emotions of Karia. We admire their compassion. To preserve they must endure wounds.
Vorax	We are the ones with wings. We are the joy and flourishing of Karia.
Zipsum	The ones with gills are the flexibility and virility of Karia. We admire their curiosity. To restore they must remember.