Velas

“Your bones speak to me in ways that you could never, they tell me secrets that not even you may know about yourself.”

- Titania, Bone Whisperer.

The Deadlands are an odd place, and its neighbors, the Velas of the Velani Swamps, are possibly even stranger. Those who walk the battlefields of the Deadlands frequently hear whispers of strange creatures roaming these killing fields, tending to the dead even if the battle was long ago. Some believe they are spirits of the dead trying to collect pieces of themselves, others demons sent to drag men back into the bowels of the underworld, while others view them as strange undertakers.

The truth is far stranger, for these creatures are known as the Velas, coming from beyond the veil from a place unknown. These strange folk often cover their skin in bone dust, taking on a ghostly visage, and adorn their bodies with the bones of the dead, driven to seek out the bones of the dead and living alike. Through a sorcerous ritual known as Remembrancing, the Velas are able to drink glimpses of the past through the bones they collect, be it visions of a lion hunting prey or a man moments before his death. This ritual, however, is an addictive one, and Velas who become too engrossed in the practice slowly begin to go mad, losing their sense of self, until they start to not just collect the bones of the dead but actively hunt the living to pull the bones from their bodies to feed their addiction.

Though with this description, one might think they are a brutal and evil race, the Velas, however, are by nature quite kind. Often they are seen using their powers as fortune tellers and spirit whisperers, consoling the living by trading whispers of the past of happier moments or enemy secrets, for a price of course. Often living in small settlements with a Whisperer, a shaman who oversees the practice of Remembrancing to ensure that no Velas under their careful watch succumbs to the effects and delves into madness, They can also be found as travellers, finding themselves without a home from the superstitious and closed-minded types, constantly moving whilst plying their precious trade.

Appearance

The Velas tend to be shorter than humans, and their hair can range from dark tones to blonde, even ginger. Their eyes, while often brown, can also be blue or green and glimmer with a strange light. Spined horns stand out from their head, as well as strange spined ears. Some even lighten their skin with a powder made of bone dust, giving them a pale appearance, or use it to create markings.

150-170cm in Height.

Lifespan

Within their own realm, it is not uncommon for the Velas to live far longer that that of the races of the Mortal Realm, however, since the creation of the Deadlands and the emergence of the Velas from their realm, their lives have become much shorter. 130 to 150 years is quite common to the Velas.

Religion & Beliefs

The Velas do not hold any central beliefs about gods, as their Remembrancing is as close to a religion of belief as they might get. When they perform their ritual, the Velas are afforded a glimpse of a life that once belonged to the person or animal the bone came from. For those who prefer animal bones, Bahl is revered, and there are some small shrines dedicated to the god of living things by these Velas.

Geography

The Velani Swamps are on the south-eastern side of the Argai Sea, with Thalach to the west, the Deadlands to the south, and the Sylvan Wildlands to the east. With Skyreach Lake situated within the Slyvan Wildlands, its runoff pours directly into the easternmost edge of the Swamps. This has created many small and densely wooded islands as the water finds its way to the Argai Sea.

Society

Villages are usually headed by a shaman known as a Whisperer. This title holds great responsibility, as it is the task of the Whisperer to ensure that the rituals of Remembrancing are carried out safely, lest any fall victim to the addiction of Remembrancing. These individuals that become addicted to this practice are considered sick by their people, and their madness is seen with great sorrow, as these individuals will often go as far as to take a life to feed their addictions.

Architecture

Homes are made from wood, often wrapping around ancient, gnarled trees or even being built within them. Roofs are often overgrown, and carved bones can often be seen dangling from thread in both trees and decorative hangings with complex knots and all manner of small knick-knacks.

Wealth & Trade

The Velas are not a particularly wealthy people; their land is not desired by the Thalachni or the Sylvan; and the Runaharr are unused to such terrain, considering it often too much effort for a poor amount of goods. Some make a modest living in far off lands by plying their skills as fortune tellers and mediums, some also have taken up work as investigators within some of the more civilised lands that take crimes such as murder seriously.

Slavery

As the Velas see the memories of many different types of people, sometimes these are of slaves. This has created empathy for the enslaved people of many nations, and as such, they do not keep slaves of their own, and some will even attempt to free them.

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