General History: The pre-histories of the Urdurik people is lost to time. No one remember how they came to Udan, or how long they have been there. ‘Since time began’ is the answer you will generally get from these people. It is suspected that they were either the original builders of Udan the City, or laborers of those who had it built.
Physical Description: Most who view an Urdur would think “a large Dwarf” and would be mostly accurate. The Udurik are an offshoot of the Dwarven race, long isolated from the rest of their species and drowned in a human sea. They are stocky, broad shouldered at an average height of 5’. They generally have squared, ‘Persian style’ curly beards, black hair and bushy eyebrows. Their wild mane of hair and beards make them perfectly comfortable in the colder climes of the north.
The leader of the Urdurik is always the ‘First Advisor’ to the Ruler of Udan. The First Advisor is elected by the Clan council quick to laugh especially over a good stout and a meat pie. But the Urdur can be surly and bad tempered when confronted by someone or something that has committed a past wrong against them.
Religion: Guran, Father of the Bountiful Earth and Sea The church of Guran is a small but influential force in Udan especially due to its near complete adherence among the Udur population. Guran is generally portrayed as either the hybrid of Orca and humanoid, or a white-bearded humanoid wielding a Greatsword.
Clerics of Guran generally wear voluminous black robes, and black ‘chef-hats’. Services generally involve chanting, marching in circles, and lots of incense. And eating lots of raw fish.
The Priesthood of Guran is comprised primarily of Martial Orders, either Holy Warriors or Clerics dedicated to defending the faith through force of arms when necessary. It is said that the Urdur are the remnant of a once mighty empire that spanned most of the north of Ming Pau, but there are few records to verify this. However, on glace at the architecture of Udan tells the knowledgeable observer that there was once something more to this place. Icons: The faithful of Guran create ‘images’ that depict scenes from the Book of the Holies. These images or icons, when venerated for sufficient time, gain a certain level of divine power – to protect, to heal, to inspire. It is said the Vangarian Templars march with the standard that is a 10,000-year-old Tapestry of a Patriarch who was particularly faithful, and this tapestry gives the Order divine protection and courage during battle.
Principal Religious Observances:
The Passing of the Emperor; It is said that in winter, generally around Feburary 15th, the faithful hold a day of mourning for the last Emperor of all Urdurik, who passed away some several thousand years ago. No one living remembers exactly how long ago he passed on, only that once there was an Emperor, and he died roughly on that date.
Feast of the Fishes; the annual autumn migration of the Grey Whales from the north causes a celebration of thanksgiving, as they bring the pods of Orca to the walls of the city and more than enough food for the winter. Generally this celebration overlaps with the Wyyfendoui autumnal equinox celebration, creating a city-wide celebration.
The Current Patriarch is Yankor Pilotov
Pantheon:
Language: Urdurik, Shu
Personal Names: Male: ''Arkady, Dimitri, Gregori, Anton, Bogdan, Valery, Valery, Vasily, Viktor, Vladislav, Grennady, Danil, Egor, Lev, Leonid, Maksim, Stepan, Taras. Female: Darya, Diana, Zhana, Eva, Zhenya, Ekaterina, Elena, Zoya, Lesya, Nataliya, Sofiya, Yadviga, Yana. Female surnames end in vowel sounds particularly a, males in consonant sounds or ee. Ivanov, Petrov, Vasiliev, Nikitin, Tarasov, Titov, Fedoseev, Fedorov, Sidorov, Alekseev, Egorov, Demidov, Mihailov, Andreev, Alexandrov Patronyms are generally patrilinial, usually ending in ov or ovich. Female Patronyms frequently add an a. [Zoya Gregorvicha, Gregori Patroskovov]
Urdurik Racial Traits
Medium sized (Average height 5’2”)
Stability: Urdurik are exceptionally stable on their feet. An Urdur has a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).
+2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison. *Not reflected in the saving throw numbers given here.
+2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects. *Not reflected in the saving throw numbers given here.
+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against goblinoids (including goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears).
+2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to stone or metal items.
+2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.