Three Souls - Speritanians

Race Overview

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Speritanians are one of the first Five Clans of the Üaharte and descended from a bear-like creature called a ballus. Ballus have further evolved as our mammoths did to elephants, into a few smaller species, namely the banallus, bandusas and possibly the Tirivahni bears. The Speritanians have retained the ropey, thick musculature and toughness of their ballus ancestry. They also retained the ballus' love of moist, damp or rainy climates, possibly due to the flammable nature of their blood. Speritanians are deeply religious, being one of the only races in Ul-Zaorith to believe their Pantheon is the “right” way to worship. This, combined with the wet and challenging landscape of Speritan, has lead to a very colonialist history, the ripples of which can still be felt today.

Speritanians are a striking and often imposing race with their stark bold colouration of firetruck red skin and indigo hair. At a distance their red skin can almost look purple from the amount of thick curly body hair they have, though in many of the major cities, the fashion dictates that any exposed skin (such as the backs of hands or forearms) be shaved, and that beards on their men - while often worn long - be trimmed into smooth lines where the beard meets the skin of the cheeks or lips. Unibrows are common on both men and women and there have been periods in history where shaving or otherwise shaping the eyebrows into separate entities has been in fashion. Their head hair is rarely straight, but thick, luxurious and glossy. Because of its natural curl and volume, it is often kept braided for maintenance - including braiding or beading lengths of a man's beard to keep it from matting. Oils, waxes and greases are used to slick back the hair from the face, as well as for stiffening and shaping the elaborate knots of braids and shapes that are achieved in women's hair fashions.

Speritanian eyes are "beetle-black and brittle-bright" to quote the Suoro poet, Siemonas. They are generally smaller in the face than human eyes, set rather close together and deep set beneath prominent eyebrow mounds. This combination of small, dark and smouldering eyes in a rough-skinned, thick-boned red face makes for a distinctive visage. Unmarried women wear facial paint around the eyes, cheeks and lips in blues, whites or yellows to show that she is 'unpurchased' and available. Once married, the women's garments and style of paint changes to show that she is married (discussed below in Fashion).

The physical shape of Speritanian men and women is perhaps the most starkly different of any gender comparisons of the races. The men are very top-heavy, with relatively short legs, broad shoulders, barrel-chests and often in old-age or gluttonous males huge bellies. The Speritanians have curiously small nimble feet and dexterous hands on the ends of their thick, muscular arms and legs which enables them to flip their bulk around with horrifying ease. The females, on the other hand, are extremely pear-shaped, and while they too have relatively long torsos to their short legs, their hips are very broad, with a great amount of buttock and rounded smallish shoulders with small round breasts. The females also tend to have smaller heads than the men and less lumpish facial features, though the full, pouty lips are even larger than on the men, and their jaws are a little less square. Men grow to about 5'8" to 6'6" where as the women grow from about 5'4" to 6'0".

The musculature of the Speritanian physique is built for strength - almost brutishly so. Their muscle is thick, ropey, defined and bulging. On the men, this is usually accompanied with visible veins. On the women, they are endowed with thick deposits of fatty tissue so the lines of muscle do not show through the skin as much, but does lend them to obesity or flabby outward appearances despite natural strength. Along with epically strong muscles groupings, the Speritanians have very broad, thick, strong bones to support their muscles. Their frames are sturdy, solid and tough, but they don't tend to heal well if broken.

Fashion

Living in a damp and often cold climate, fashion grew out of a need to keep warm, and layers are still very prominent in their styles. The different provinces of Speritan are known for different signature fashions, largely influenced by their local climate, industries, and how rural or urban they are. The higher one ranks (or the more one spends time in the city) the more likely they are to wear ostentatious clothes, marked by intricate silk brocade jackets, white hose with black slippers, jewel-encrusted accessories such as chains of office, decorate weapons, belts, or rings. Furs and cloaks are commonly worn, and in intellectual circles different hats signify one's specialty and station, and in recent years glasses have become an affectation of intelligence.

In rural settings, fashions tend to be more rustic with coarser materials, like wools, tweeds, plain woven linen. Dye colours and patterns are minimal, and layers are more common. The specific cuts and styles depend on the labour the man needs to perform, to the point where certain job specific garments are called by that name (woodcutter's coat, fisherman's pants).In the most northern reaches, some Speritanians dress so heavily in cloaks and furs they are almost indistinguishable from their bear ancestors.

Woman's fashion is more complex than the men's, and especially if the woman is desirable, it tends to be ornamental to put her on best display. Unmarried women will typically dress more simply than their married counterparts. Depending on the region, they will either wear sheer veils, or distinctive make-ups to indicate their unmarried status. Poorer women will need to dress to accommodate whatever labours they undertake for their family. Richer women will typically attend finishing schools to hone the skills that might make the valuable as wives. In these cases, their garments can be more elaborate and constricting, especially because they will often have eunuchs or slaves to attend to their needs. In these cases, long gauzy sleeves that run past the ends of the hands are common, elaborate corsetry, and high piled hairstyles that show their features off to best advantage.

Once married, the expectable styles of make-up change (though what these styles in specific depends on the region and have changed significantly throughout Speritanian history), and wives begin wearing a "wheel" on their back. These are circular plates that affix to the back of a woman's corset. For middle class and lower, they are usually a simple wooden disc, but as one gets into higher tiers of wealthier circles, they can become quite large and elaborate. One documented Queen has a wheel so wide the palace doors needed to be renovated so she could walk through without having to turn sideways. These more elaborate wheels can be made of filigree metal, stained glass, starched lace, or carved wood. In more recent times, there have even been a few ore craft wheels with moving parts. One famous opera singer had live birds released from hers at the climax of her show. These rings are something akin to a wedding ring, visible to all to let the world know that those who wear them belong to a husband, but also symbolizes a halo, signifying the purification of their soul (see Marriage section below).

Speritanian tattoos are typically done in blue, black, or white ink so that it contrasts with the bright red of their skin. Most commonly adorning men to commemorate important life milestones, such as military or sport victories, received awards, or commendations from the king. Some modern women may also get commemorative tattoos for awards, children, deceased husbands, or achievements, but these are always in places that are easily covered up, such as the thighs, belly, or lower back.

Culture

Speritan has a long and illustrious military history. As such, martial prowess is still highly revered. Though, over the centuries, brute force has given way to martial arts, where physical mastery and self-control are most prized. Boys are expected to train in martial arts from a young age, and most Speritanian men are skilled with self defense and general combat skills. At periods of Speritanian history, conscription has required able-bodied men to fight for their King, though many would volunteer rather than needing to wait to be requisitioned. The military trains in weapons as well as empty hand combat, and is well organized and expansive, with units specializing in different types of terrain. This includes a Lisdanese built navy, one of the few air forces, as well as several army factions. This extensive and well funded military is at the heart of Speritan's success.

As more of the world was discovered, colonized, occupied, fought over, and eventually peace-treaty signed, Speritan lost the opportunity for further expansion and conquest. Their desire for glory has lead to an increase in competitive sports. Nowadays, athletes have replaced generals as public celebrities, allowing Speritanian men to prove their virility and power on the playing field rather than the battlefield.

This love of glory has also lead to a strong appreciation for the arts, where opera, ceremonial dance, and plays have enabled heros' praises to be song for generations. There are different art forms that specifically allow men or women to perform, but very few that allow both to perform together. This has lead to an advanced and elaborate drag tradition where performers need to play roles of the opposite gender in order to tell their stories. Interestingly, a man playing a woman on the stage is romanticized and idealized in a way that an effeminate man in public life is demonized.

Perhaps this is because effeminacy is associated with eunuchs, a practice with as long a history as the nation itself. Eunuch men make up the majority of the service industry in Speritan. Their creation arises from a number of sources, including military defeat, being a younger son who cannot inherit, natural effeminacy, sterility, or criminal sentence. Because Speritanian virility is closely tied with physiognomy, once a Speritanian's testicles have been removed, he becomes both sterile and unable to be sexually active. This renders eunuch "safe" as a servant and as a protector of one's wife. Their have been periods where eunuchs are exalted, something more than male or female, a sort of third gender that combines the strengths of both. At other times, they have served as a form of punishment, and depending on the reasons why one became a eunuch, they can have complex feelings about their own status.

Speritanian women are physically smaller and weaker than their male counterparts, and so historically have not participated in sport or martial prowess. Since these two aspects hold such and admired position in Speritanian culture, women's absence from these fields have lead them to be perceived as weaker than their male counterparts. While there have been some men who think less of them because of this, most Speritanian men consider it chivalrous to defend women and act as their protectors. While outwardly Speritanian politics are run by men, behind closed doors women pull all the strings. Their influence on their husband's colleagues can be the difference between a peace treaty or a war, and the favors they earn can be used to influence future decisions. It is said that, though they do not wield the sword, they are the shields that protect Speritan, with both genders working together for maximum effect within society.

Sexuality

Openly, heterosexuality is the only accepted form of sexuality in Speritan. However, this is based on a rigid idea of male fertility and dominance. In practice, with the genders being as segregated as they are in the regular paces of daily life, interactions that would be considered romantic or sensual occur between same genders fairly frequently (it's similar to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy). This is especially the case where eunuchs are involved, partly because they are a safe middle ground between the male and the female, and partly because they are seen as impotent, sexual acts with them "don't count". There is also a higher rate of interactions between women, and these are generally not considered a betrayal of their fidelity to their husband. Tales of wives entering into relationships within the household, and staying together after their husband passes away, are common. There are numerous records of widows remarrying as a package deal. In this way, lesbian relations are not considered valid, and therefore a blind eye is easily turned towards such unions. To tie in to the previous analogy in the section above, two shields means you can defend but not attack when needed, while two swords means you are unable to defend yourself and leave yourself wide open.

Marriage

Marriages are arranged in Speritan by the father, or eldest living brother, or Uncle/Grandfather if the previous options are unavailable. In the rare case that no living male relative is available, a local priest may take the role of officiation. Marriages are typically made for strategic, financial, political, or social gain. Men may take as many wives as they are able to financially support. Like expensive racehorses, or valuable possessions, wives are like living dolls to be dressed, put on display, and to perform for company.

In addition to wives, a Speritanian man may also take concubines. Typically these are women that the man finds sexually appealing but that are barred to him from conventional marriage either because their status is of no gain to him, or because they hail from another race (interracial marriages has at all points in Speritanian history been illegal).

The marriage ceremony itself is agreed upon between the males representing the bride and the prospective husband. This is typically a legal affair and requires a notary and at least one witness who is unaffiliated with either of the families being bound together. The bride's side will offer some form of dowry, though this is not always pecuniary in nature. At various points in history the following dowries have been legally accepted: virginity, lands and titles, financial sums (in currency, goods, treasures), various skills (including household crafts, performing arts such as music, dance or acting), sons (from a previous marriage or illegitimate father - especially desirable to sterile men), steeds, household slaves, even a single case in which a bride's brothers were prominent Valan sportsmen who were given over in contract to sweeten the deal.

Once the terms have been offered by the bride's side, the husband will offer which ranking the new wife will have, with the lowest denominator being most coveted. Within a multiple-wife marriage, the first ranked wife gets the majority of the husband's time, money, affection, social status, and authority within the household. If a previous wife is out of favour, or a bride's dowry is particularly generous, a husband may choose to enter a new wife above a previous one to show her preference. While these rankings can later change, it is usually only by hard work on the woman's part, competition with the other wives, production of a son (especially an heir), and the husband's favour.

When both sides have agreed to the terms of the bond, the marriage ceremony is booked. The marriage is composed of 5 separate portions, each of which has its own purpose and social significance.

The first is the Bride's Journey. This is the point when the bride and her entourage (generally the male who sold her, all of her personal household slaves, and whatever form her dowry is to take) make the journey from her old home. She will go to a convent while preparing for the marriage ceremony. Here she will be attended by nuns and be recited her liturgies and chants. A list of her sins, beneficial attributes, and full family lineage is written up. When her soul is cleansed, this list is sent to the Husband and acts as his cue that she is ready for him.

A priest presides over the union of the new couple. At this ceremony are allowed only the man and woman who are to be married, the priest who will read the rites, and a single servant attendant to each person (typically a scribe for the priest, a slave for the wife and a Second for the man). The couple kneel on either side of an altar, with their heads lowered and their hands before their hearts in the prayer symbol of Ingir's Question (both hands curled up and pressed together with thumbs facing the practitioner). The traditional marriage cloth will be draped over both their heads like a cowl, and the opposing ends will then be lifted and placed into a bowl of holy water (that which has been collected in stone/wood in nature, boiled, sun-soaked, and aerated). The priest speaks the binding cants from the holy book, then the husband is asked to produce a Stone to give to his wife (this can be a raw gem, or a faceted or cut gem set into any sort of jewelry, religious relic, or object depending on the man's station/wealth/nature). The husband recites the binding line: "Like Ingir before me, I ask this question of you..." The Stone is placed on the altar on the wife's side of the bowl. The wife is now asked to produce a Mirror to bestow on her husband as her 'answer'. This can be anything from a polished metal disc of purest gold, to a hand mirror, to a wall mirror, even a highly polished blade as per her standing and resources. She then looks at her reflection in the surface of her Mirror and recites, "I look into myself and I see the face of my husband..." She then places this mirror on the husband's side of the bowl. The Priest pronounces them Husband and Master to (1st, or whatever ranking) Wife and Servant. The new couple reaches forward and accepts their spouse's offering, the marriage cloth is lifted, they turn to face one another and they are legally married.

After the couple is married they have the introduction, when the wife is brought to her new home, her possessions and dowry are transported and the wife is given her tour of the wives quarters. Each wife must have her own room, all of which must be separate from the harem. It is customary for the husband to lie with his new wife the first night she is in her new home, and the rest of the wives are generally dismissed from the house for this one night.

Once the new couple has consumated their new marriage, a celebration is held at the husband's house, in which all of their friends, social circle, allies and family are invited. At this feast and celebration, there will typically be some sort of 'manly' display, whether it is weapons play, wrestling, feats of martial prowess, strength competitions, sport hunting, riding or wagers. The men will all eat together, and the women will eat privately in the wives chambers, each member of the new marriage entertaining their own gender. The women will typically have their slaves perform for them, and depending on the relationship between the wives will play games, perform music or dance, work on household crafts, or lounge.

Once the celebrations of each gender have concluded, and all have retired for the night, the guests all sleep over. The next day, there is a feast and performance of the wife before all of the social company. At this soiree, the two genders mingle, and after the wife's performance, any of the other women who have skills will share them for the entertainment of the crowd.

Family Units

Speritanian women are fertile every two years, between the first of the first month and the 36th day of the third month, with a gestation of 25 weeks (approximately six months and one week). So, that means, if a Speritanian woman gets pregnant, her babies will be born between the middle of the sixth month, to the beginning of the 10th month (the last month of the year, meaning summer to fall). Each birthing can produce one to five infants, with an average of two to three. The first born of that birthing is considered the most important, though if there's only one male in the birthing, that one will be the heir. While fertile, female Speritanians are more sexually aroused and take more pleasure from sex. In general, they become more vocal and emotional, and are more demanding of their needs. While pregnant, female Speritanians put on a lot of weight, and begin producing milk about half way through their gestation. The birthing itself is typically painful but quick, though the more infants to be birthed the longer it will take.

Midwives are brought in to aid with the birthing process. This is a common profession for crones, including spinsters, and aged widows. For those women who produce more offspring, they may require the aid of a wet nurse in order to provide sufficient milk for all their children.

Birth is painful and can produce tearing, or temporary defects with out internal organs, and usually requires bedrest, and careful attention to health to ensure a full recovery.

Speritanians live in multi-generational homes where the head of the family is typically the eldest male. Although, if one's mental faculties are impaired by disease or old age, then his eldest son will become the acting head of house. The wives of the men in the household will live together in the women's quarters, though siblings may depend on marriage. Often brothers with financial means will set up their own households, while sisters will remain at home until they are married. If not married, they may either be moved to a convent, or remain with the family in a serving capacity.

Children are raised in the women's quarters, usually until they are between six and eight years old. At that point, they will begin their education. With poorer families, they may be home schooled or taught in local classes. With the wealthier, they will have tutors, and frequently these tutors are imported from Suoro or Tirivahn, and occasionally from Lisdan.

For those households with multiple wives, they are ranked in order of the husband's preference. Often this is established at the time of marriage to reflect the woman's influence or assets, and unless something drastic occurs, these rankings often remain for the duration of the marriages. The higher a wife is ranked, the more control she has over the family's interests, finances, hiring and firing of staff, and influence over the household's children.

Women who have lost their husband are not able to own their husband's property, and so have a grace period of three years in which to determine their future. Younger widows, especially those in a fertile period, are most likely to marry again. In which case, they bring with them their portion of their husband's estate, and children that they bore. If more mature, or widowed multiple times, they may choose to enter a convent, or to enter a companionship with another woman. In these cases, if they have a son old enough to be considered a man (approximately fifteen or sixteen), they may establish their own house and instate their son as its head. The third and rarest option is when a woman retains such power over their household that she is able to marry a husband without relinquishing her control. In rare cases, these women marry brothers or cousins (not of their own blood) in order to consolidate their station and provide heirs to multiple men. Women with significant social standing, such as celebrate performers, or those from powerful families, are more likely to be able to seek this path. However, the men that they marry need to be in specific circumstances to be eligible for polyandry. These being siblings from the same litter with resources that cannot be split, such as a business or crown lands, and in dubious financial or social straits in which marriage to a powerful woman could preserve their social career.

For Speritanians without a household of their own, including second to fifth born sons, unmarriable daughters, and labourers of all kinds, adults can apply to live in apartments, which are communal households run by a concierge (land lady) who ensures that the various tenants are provided with food, custodial services, utilities, and postal services. Tenants of apartments act as small communities, taking their meals together, assisting in raising the children of the house, and occasionally assisting in times of trial or illness. While some may remain private, and separate from their neighbors, often times apartment dwellers become families in relations if not in blood.

Coming of Age

Coming of age for men is typically based on reaching their fifteenth or sixteenth birthday. At this point, they will typically be brought to a sex worker (the quality and prestige of which depends on the wealth of the family) to lose their virginity. After this, Speritanian men are now considered fully fledged adults. The father or other elder male figure will begin educating the son in the running of a household, including the family business, holdings, reputations, or legacies that the son is expected to inherit (if any). This training period typically lasts for a decade, and during this time, potential marriages may be explored.

Between the ages of eight and fifteen, young men who show promise for a eunuch lifestyle (see the Culture section above) may be castrated. This can either be as a form of punishment to remove competition for inheritance, earn money for poor families, or to preserve beauty or talent. Once a eunuch, the son can be traded off or sold to other households, either as an enhancement to a sister's dowry, or as an alliance and peacemaking tactic with rival families. Those with exceptional skill in the arts may be entered into any of the arts colleges to train them up for public performance.

For women, they are considered adults when they enter their first fertile period, usually between the ages of thirteen to sixteen. However, a woman is only allowed to carry pregnancies to term if she is married. Before then, should a situation arise in which the woman finds herself with child, they typically seek abortions, or in rare cases, bear the child in secrecy and abandon it on the doorstep of a wealthy family. For daughters of powerful families, marriages can be arranged as early as birth, however, the prospective wife would not initiate the marriage process until she becomes fertile. Many women therefore may be engaged for their whole lives, but only meet their husband once the vows are spoken. In poorer families, women usually do not enter into marriages until they are between eighteen to twenty, as then they have developed skills to make them desirable for a potential match.

Death

The goal of most Speritanians is to die wealthy, well-fed, and well fucked. Death itself is seen outwardly as a loss, but inwardly is an opportunity for inheritors to jockey for favor. It is common, especially in the case of illness, for wills to be re-written in order to determine who will be the heir, inheritor, or what changes might be made to pending dowries. A famous novel tells the story of a belligerent and pustulent nobleman who sent his many sons and daughters on grueling and embarrassing tasks to prove their worth and obtain the contents of his will only for, upon his death bed, to have all the deeds and worldly possessions burned with him on his pyre.

Wakes are typically held within the house where absolute silence is maintained in the days leading up to and following death. Mourning robes are worn by surviving family members, and the body is held in state for up to one week so that friends and relations can pay their respects. Afterwards, bodies are typically burned, and the ashes interred in family plots, or scattered in communal gardens.

Education

Education in Speritan falls into one of three categories: apprenticeships, public schools, or tutoring. Most lower class or trades people rely on apprenticeships, where a master of the specific craft takes on youngsters as their assistants and passes along the skills of the trade. These are informal agreements between parents within communities, and largely are based on who is in need of help, rather than a child's interests. Public schools are intended to teach the basics of economics, language, religion, and law, and are run by the churches to ensure all Speritanian citizens are educated on their culture and faith. This is considered standard for middle class children of both genders, though classes are taught separately for both men and women. Tutors are reserved for the wealthy and upper class. A good tutor can in fact enable a new comer with no strong family history to enter into high society. Tutors live with the family, usually for several years, and teach on a more conversational basis, often accompanying their student throughout their daily life, imparting various lessons and topics including world history, magical demonstration, foreign languages, literature, and the arts. For female tutors, they also will teach various house crafts including crafting, performance, and sexual education. Male tutors may offer training for martial arts, specific trades, or other specialty studies depending on the potential future their charge has access to.

Once adults, if a Speritanian has the aptitude, the interest, and the means, they may purchase access to one of the priest's colleges. These are private libraries that contain records and documentation of restricted knowledge. This includes historical events, business dealings, and inner workings of dogmatic law. These individuals typically become royal advisors, priests themselves, or in rare cases, mystics or sages.

Cuisine

Speritanian cuisine is hardy and rich, with a prevalence for sauces, pastas, eggs and meat. Often considered too heavy or rich by their neighboring nations, it is full of flavour, protein, carbohydrates, and dairy, fueling Speritanian constitutions for a full day's work. The lower and middle classes typically eat communally with their household, apartment, or extended family. These feasts contain anywhere from eight to fifteen dishes which are shared until all is eaten. Meal times are also a time for the genders to mix and converse, catching up on the day's news and planning ahead for upcoming occasions. Children under the ages of six are typically fed separately on lighter fare, so these meal times tend to be more adult affairs. Alcohol is typically consumed with all meals, though the type and quantity depends on the time of day and occasion. Watered beers or wines are typically reserved for breakfast and lunch, while heavier drinks including buttered rums, mixed whiskies, and unwatered beer or wine are reserved for dinners, with bitter liquers consumed for toasts and desserts, while effervescent beverages are reserved for special occasions. Baked dishes including stuffed breads, pies, stuffed fowl, and pastries are a corner stone of Speritanian cuisine, and some form of these are served at every meal.

Festivals

The Speritanian version of the Festival of Lights (or Festival of Elements), runs from 10th month, 36th day to 1st month, 8th day (although they celebrate six elements instead of nine). Aside from that, they have a monthly holiday on the eighth of every month called Luck's Day, which is a national holiday where industry pauses and all citizens have the day off work. On Luck's Day, celebrations include fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, and prayer at the many churches. There are typically also giveaways, including lotteries, free goods from various crafters, public performances, and in some provinces, wishing wells which enable the less fortunate to find marriage matches. Those that are seeking a marriage match can drop a ceremonial coin into the well. These coins have the persons' family crest on them to serve as a marker to recognize them by. A matchmaker, priest, or midwife will pluck the coins out of the well at midnight and visit the potential couples the following day

Comparative Statistics

Intelligence: 7/16. Speritanians are notoriously single-minded. Once set to a task they are hard to dissuade or convince of an opposing side of view. They are generally quite blunt in speech, putting emphasis on points rather than embellishment. They are extremely tied to tradition, very poor at invention, but very good at learning kinesthetically. Their memories are not great, and so they make up for it with drilling, repetition and status. Titles and previous achievements hold a great deal of weight for them, often carrying one through debt, trial or accusation when skill ought to suffice. Because of this their law and economy hangs on a few delicate threads of truth, often being overpowered by the loudest or most insistent rather than the just.

Wisdom: 8/16. In Wisdom they are a little better. They feel deeply, but often have a hard time expressing themselves, especially in a culture with strict moral guidelines, arranged marriages and expectations. Women do not hold an equal status with men, regarded more as expensive and beautiful possessions than thinking persons of their own right. However, their faith in their deities - if misguided - is genuine and one of the strongest cohesive religious powers in the world. Their religion has been the cause or justification for more wars, atrocities and crimes than any other worldwide.

Agility: 13/16. Speritanians are surprisingly agile. For a physically dense and impressive race, they are quick turning on their feet, able to move their bulk, muscle and strength with such speed that they create a veritable battering ram of force at full stride. Their comparatively small hands and feet enable them to turn on a dime, and handle more delicate instruments when otherwise they'd crush them from sheer force. Their flexibility is also quite high in their youth, and if kept, trained and honed can enable them to achieve some impressive martial arts at full adulthood.

Strength: 16/16. Undeniably one of the strongest races in the world. Their muscle is dense and thick, with many layered bunches of muscle fiber, allowing them to achieve lifting 2 tons easily, and compounding this with gravity, built up speed or intense focus of some martial arts to almost 5 tons of force. Their stamina is very good - if within their natural climate of boggy marsh, swamp and deciduous rainforest. The longer they're in hotter climates or other inappropriate terrain the shorter their endurance becomes.

Resistance: 16/16. Another benefit of their dense muscle structure is that they can take a great deal of blunt trauma without having the equivalent drain on their health. However, they are not as resistant to poisons, penetrating weapons, or illnesses. In fact, their blood has the curious quality of being flammable, making them highly allergic to irritants like spices, feathers, heat, certain oils etc. If a reaction is set off within the body, they can literally spontaneously combust.

Recovery: 5/16. They have perhaps the poorest recovery of any race. Once things get through their outer defenses, it is extremely hard to rehabilitate them. Amputation, scarring, permanent sensitivities and other diseases often linger after an illness. Magical healing is not very effective for them, meaning that if an ailment cannot be treated naturally or with potions, there is often nothing else that can be done.

NMP: 2/6. One of the weakest magical races in the world, the Speritanians believe in magic, they just have an extremely hard time connecting with it - which may explain why their recovery and wisdom are so low. They do make a point to learning magic through schooling or tutors, but rather than making a great deal of use in casting, they use their knowledge to recognize its presence and other's use of it. More likely, they hire or enslave Tirivahni or Suoro to deal with magical things for them.

Speritanians