Deep within the Endless Desert lies Motogama, the Mithral City. This metropolis sits high above the desert’s oppressive heat, its mithral roads stretching up into the sky. Motogama is the home of the displaced orcs and dwarves of Almira. Though dwarves and orcs can be found in many other Almiran cities, many will make pilgrimages at least once in their lifetime to bear witness to their homeland.
Twin Exiles
The Dwarven Exile
Before the time of the Dusk Crusade, the dwarves lived in the sprawling tunnels and caverns beneath the surface of the earth. Their castles and cities were a respite for weary souls, havens of introspection and spiritual growth. However, when Therou led his army of darkness across the world, the dwarves were forced to abandon their underground cities and enter into the light. Fleeing hundreds of miles north to the Endless Desert, the dwarves found their way to a great granite spire. As they beheld its glory, a voice rang through the air...
Before the time of the Dusk Crusade, the dwarves lived in the sprawling tunnels and caverns beneath the surface of the earth. Their castles and cities were a respite for weary souls, havens of introspection and spiritual growth. However, when Therou led his army of darkness across the world, the dwarves were forced to abandon their underground cities and enter into the light. Fleeing hundreds of miles north to the Endless Desert, the dwarves found their way to a great granite spire. As they beheld its glory, a voice rang through the air...
The Orcish Exile
Before the time of the Dusk Crusade, the orcs of Almira were honorable warriors. Cities would fall to their strength, only to be rebuilt with a grace and dignity they could not have accomplished on their own. Wealth and prosperity flowed through orcish realms and art and culture flourished under their care. These great realms and riches were lost in an instant when the Dusk Crusade fell upon Almira. The orcs fought in defense of the people of their holdings as honor dictated. This noble sacrifice allowed the orc’s subjects to flee with their lives. The orcish cities were demolished within days. Their people were enslaved, and those who could escape were sent fleeing by the armies of the Palace of Sin. Those who escaped were the shamans, the forgemasters, the teachers, and the skalds, but not a single warrior was left alive. Unable to stand against the Palace of Sin, the remaining orcs retreated east to the Endless Desert in shame and defeat. In their wanderings, the orcs came upon a granite spire. As they beheld its glory, a voice rang through the air...
Before the time of the Dusk Crusade, the orcs of Almira were honorable warriors. Cities would fall to their strength, only to be rebuilt with a grace and dignity they could not have accomplished on their own. Wealth and prosperity flowed through orcish realms and art and culture flourished under their care. These great realms and riches were lost in an instant when the Dusk Crusade fell upon Almira. The orcs fought in defense of the people of their holdings as honor dictated. This noble sacrifice allowed the orc’s subjects to flee with their lives. The orcish cities were demolished within days. Their people were enslaved, and those who could escape were sent fleeing by the armies of the Palace of Sin. Those who escaped were the shamans, the forgemasters, the teachers, and the skalds, but not a single warrior was left alive. Unable to stand against the Palace of Sin, the remaining orcs retreated east to the Endless Desert in shame and defeat. In their wanderings, the orcs came upon a granite spire. As they beheld its glory, a voice rang through the air...
“Look upon this place, my children, and hear my voice. I come to you in your time of need, that I may bring about a Dawn in this hour of Dusk.
I am Motogama
Herald of Dawn
Keeper of Covenants
Soul of the World
Build your life upon me, and I shall protect you from the predations of those who would see you killed.
Pledge yourselves to me, and I shall grant you culture, wealth, and a reason to live on.
With all you have lost,
With all you have suffered,
Let me be the salve unto your wounds.
This is the covenant I make with you.”
I am Motogama
Herald of Dawn
Keeper of Covenants
Soul of the World
Build your life upon me, and I shall protect you from the predations of those who would see you killed.
Pledge yourselves to me, and I shall grant you culture, wealth, and a reason to live on.
With all you have lost,
With all you have suffered,
Let me be the salve unto your wounds.
This is the covenant I make with you.”
With hesitation, the dwarven and orcish leaders approached each other and the granite spire. After such a long journey, after so much loss and so much change, here was another test: a leap of faith for the faithless. The world-weary leaders could not bring themselves to touch the stone, for what more could they do if this proved to be yet another illusion or trap?
And two children, eyes bright with hope and wonder stumbled forth
Samira, a dwarven girl, and Urul, an orcish boy
spoke unto the great spire before them.
“We shall make this covenant with you.
We shall build our lives upon you,
and you shall make our people whole again”
Samira, a dwarven girl, and Urul, an orcish boy
spoke unto the great spire before them.
“We shall make this covenant with you.
We shall build our lives upon you,
and you shall make our people whole again”
Samiran Dwarves
Only those who are forgotten ever truly die, or so the dwarves believe. In dwarven society, telling the stories of the ancestors is the most important act in which you can partake. Many dwarves light a candle each night at dusk to protect their ancestors’ spirits and memories from the coming darkness, and again at dawn to guide their ancestors into the new day to come.
It is this focus on remembrance and continuity is further embodied by the practice of keeping a Shoshelet, a sacred dwarven dynastic ledgers kept by each dwarven family. Within the pages of this ledger lies the full lineage of a dwarven family. These ledgers are often illuminated with beautiful illustrations of an ancestor’s deeds, and passed down matrilineally as priceless heirlooms.
To tell an ancestor’s story is one thing, but to live up to a legacy is another. Dwarves of Almira consider themselves protectors of the Material Plane, and take it’s protection as a personal duty. Dwarves are a major player in many of Almira's established military orders, especially the Order of the Sword.
It is this focus on remembrance and continuity is further embodied by the practice of keeping a Shoshelet, a sacred dwarven dynastic ledgers kept by each dwarven family. Within the pages of this ledger lies the full lineage of a dwarven family. These ledgers are often illuminated with beautiful illustrations of an ancestor’s deeds, and passed down matrilineally as priceless heirlooms.
To tell an ancestor’s story is one thing, but to live up to a legacy is another. Dwarves of Almira consider themselves protectors of the Material Plane, and take it’s protection as a personal duty. Dwarves are a major player in many of Almira's established military orders, especially the Order of the Sword.
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Dwarves in Almira with a trait, racial trait, feat, or class feature which applies against a specific race (such as their Hatred racial trait or the Goblin Cleaver feat) may apply that bonus against Outsiders with the Evil subtype instead. This choice is made when the character is created, and cannot be changed.
Leaving the stone caverns of their ancestors and building a new life had a substantial impact on the Dwarves of Almira. Dwarves in Almira with the stonecunning racial trait may choose to apply their bonus to notice unusual metalwork, instead of unusual stonework. This choice is made when the character is created, and cannot be changed |
Sacred Time and Sacred Space
Time and space exist uniquely in dwarven society. Before the Dusk Crusade, the dwarves held their temples up as a pinnacle of sacred space. Births, deaths, holidays, and coming of age ceremonies were celebrated in these elaborate stonework structures, each of which was blessed for generations by dwarven priests and mystics. When the Dusk Crusade tore through their temples, the dwarves lost the most important center of their spirituality. As the dwarves wandered through the desert, they were forced to their perform rituals in the cool dawn, blessed by the morning sun. This circumstance led the dwarves to shift their spiritual focus from sacred space to sacred time. Though new temples have been built in Motogama, many dwarves have abandoned the old ways of enacting rituals in the sacred space of the temples, opting to perform their rituals in the light of the morning sun.
The Skyroads
The dwarves of Motogama are impressive builders and forgemen and have used their skill to create crisscrossing mithral filigree roads that rise up out of Motogama in into the desert’s sparse clouds. These roads, known as the Skyroads, are a marvel of magic and engineering. The houses, shops, museums, forges, and galleries along the Skyroads are one of the wonders of the modern world, and attract many visitors and tourists from around the world. The Steel Singers of House Koterev are responsible for the creation and maintenance of these roads, and can sometimes be seen singing new roads into being.
The Dwarven Noble Houses
The dwarves recognize three noble houses, each of which is ruled by its matriarchs. The women of each noble house are entrusted with a sacred duty, and in return are given the power of their nobility.
House Kiyneret
Dwarven houses keep a large vessel to hold water, called a Kiyneret. The sacred task of the members of House Kiyneret is to go to each house each day and fill these vessels. Members of House Kiyneret often follow the discipline of the Cleric, Shaman, Sage, or Oracle and use the create water spell to accomplish this task.
House Likrah
The dwarven house of Likrah is the house which watches over the ruins of ancient dwarven temples. Members of House Likrah are often masters of divination and teleportation magic, using these skills to scry on ruins and to teleport to them when they need to. Members of House Likrah also hold ancient dwarven artifacts and copies of old shoshelets for safekeeping.
House Koterev
Some of the most revered dwarven smiths in Motogama are the Steel Singers of House Koterev. These dwarven mages sing shape and purpose into solid steel, crafting objects with their voice alone. The somber, resonant chords of the Steel Singers evoke the deep caverns of their ancestral homes. The craft of the Steel Singers is taught only to the women of House Koterev, whose noble task is to create things of beauty.
Time and space exist uniquely in dwarven society. Before the Dusk Crusade, the dwarves held their temples up as a pinnacle of sacred space. Births, deaths, holidays, and coming of age ceremonies were celebrated in these elaborate stonework structures, each of which was blessed for generations by dwarven priests and mystics. When the Dusk Crusade tore through their temples, the dwarves lost the most important center of their spirituality. As the dwarves wandered through the desert, they were forced to their perform rituals in the cool dawn, blessed by the morning sun. This circumstance led the dwarves to shift their spiritual focus from sacred space to sacred time. Though new temples have been built in Motogama, many dwarves have abandoned the old ways of enacting rituals in the sacred space of the temples, opting to perform their rituals in the light of the morning sun.
The Skyroads
The dwarves of Motogama are impressive builders and forgemen and have used their skill to create crisscrossing mithral filigree roads that rise up out of Motogama in into the desert’s sparse clouds. These roads, known as the Skyroads, are a marvel of magic and engineering. The houses, shops, museums, forges, and galleries along the Skyroads are one of the wonders of the modern world, and attract many visitors and tourists from around the world. The Steel Singers of House Koterev are responsible for the creation and maintenance of these roads, and can sometimes be seen singing new roads into being.
The Dwarven Noble Houses
The dwarves recognize three noble houses, each of which is ruled by its matriarchs. The women of each noble house are entrusted with a sacred duty, and in return are given the power of their nobility.
House Kiyneret
Dwarven houses keep a large vessel to hold water, called a Kiyneret. The sacred task of the members of House Kiyneret is to go to each house each day and fill these vessels. Members of House Kiyneret often follow the discipline of the Cleric, Shaman, Sage, or Oracle and use the create water spell to accomplish this task.
House Likrah
The dwarven house of Likrah is the house which watches over the ruins of ancient dwarven temples. Members of House Likrah are often masters of divination and teleportation magic, using these skills to scry on ruins and to teleport to them when they need to. Members of House Likrah also hold ancient dwarven artifacts and copies of old shoshelets for safekeeping.
House Koterev
Some of the most revered dwarven smiths in Motogama are the Steel Singers of House Koterev. These dwarven mages sing shape and purpose into solid steel, crafting objects with their voice alone. The somber, resonant chords of the Steel Singers evoke the deep caverns of their ancestral homes. The craft of the Steel Singers is taught only to the women of House Koterev, whose noble task is to create things of beauty.
Urulite Orcs
The orcs learned the futility of their martial prowess during the Dusk Crusade. Modern orcish society prizes the duality of careful decision making and innate luck, as opposed to untrained brawn. Good luck is often seen as a great blessing and those who survive accidents are often prized as apprentices and spouses.
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Orcs in Almira can choose to gain a +4 bonus to their Wisdom, Intelligence, or Charisma score, and take a -2 penalty to their Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores in place of their usual racial ability score modifiers. This choice is made at 1st level and cannot be changed. Orcs with racial Wisdom bonus belong to the shamanic caste, orcs with a racial Intelligence bonus belong to the caste of tacticians, and orcs with a racial Charisma bonus are part of the lucky caste. Half orcs with none of these bonuses and orcs with a racial Strength bonus do not belong to a caste.
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Opulence in Orcish Culture
The orcs of Motogama are far divorced from their ancestral wealth and opulence. Because the wealth and opulence of their ancestors was useless in rebuffing the Dusk Crusade, modern orcs view the accrual of wealth as only a means to an end. To be wealthy is only considered good or helpful if that wealth is immediately used. Excess wealth is seen as useless, to the point of being profane. Orcs consider it their sacred duty off give their excess wealth to those in need. This concept is known Tzikaydah, or “Unburdening.”
The Three Castes
The orcs of Motogama divide themselves into three castes. The shamans tend the children and provide council to those who seek it. The tactician’s caste uses their study of the art of war to defend Motogama against even the most aggressive hordes. The lucky caste arranges for care of the city’s sick and poor. These orcs often take charge of refugee resettlement and funding, and plan and build hospitals and child shrines. Half orcs fall to their parent’s caste if they exhibit the wisdom, intelligence, or charisma of their forebears. Half orcs who do not exhibit these qualities, and orcs who’s strength overpower their cognitive abilities, do not belong to a caste and are free to follow their own path.
The Shamans
In the days before the Dusk Crusade, orcish tribes were ruled by charismatic chiefs. Wise, powerful, and noble, these chiefs led their tribes to great victories. When the chiefs and warriors were wiped out by the Dusk Crusade, the orcs found themselves without leadership. Rather that choose new chiefs for the many orcish tribes, the shamans invoked the Oath of Dun Salasil or “living without chains” in the Orcish tongue. With this oath, the orcish shamans promised to guide their race in self-discovery and self-reflection, that new leaders would arise on their merit alone. While the shamans of command great respect, they do not have any legal power over their people.
Luck of the Orcs
Almiran orcs value inherent luck as a sacred gift, and lucky orcs are often sought out as apprentices and romantic partners. This social norm of valuing luck in a romantic partner has lead to a consolidation of lucky orcs into their caste. While the families of these casts are orcish families are not noble, their inherent luck and makes them the most highly valued cast.
Tactics and Tactical Combat
The orcs of Motogama are some of Almira’s most prized tacticians and tactical combatants. Orcs find their cultural focus on careful decision making lends itself quite well to the art of the tactician. Orcish tacticians regularly join the Order of the Sword, and find that they rise quickly though their ranks. Apprenticeships with tacticians within the Order of the Sword are some of the most competitive apprenticeships in Motogama.
The Vigilant Prayer
Orcish culture is permeated by rituals that promote the duality of luck and purposeful choices. Three times a day, orcs offer up the Vigilant Prayer:
“Grant me the wisdom of the benevolent, that I may choose the right path forward.
Grant me the faith of the child, that my eyes may by wide with wonder
Grant me the power of my ancestors, that I may survive from Dusk until Dawn.”
The Vigilant Prayer is not recited to a specific deity, but many orcs who worship deities incorporate it into their other worship practices. For those who do not worship a diety, the Vigilant Prayer is said at dawn and dusk.
The orcs of Motogama are far divorced from their ancestral wealth and opulence. Because the wealth and opulence of their ancestors was useless in rebuffing the Dusk Crusade, modern orcs view the accrual of wealth as only a means to an end. To be wealthy is only considered good or helpful if that wealth is immediately used. Excess wealth is seen as useless, to the point of being profane. Orcs consider it their sacred duty off give their excess wealth to those in need. This concept is known Tzikaydah, or “Unburdening.”
The Three Castes
The orcs of Motogama divide themselves into three castes. The shamans tend the children and provide council to those who seek it. The tactician’s caste uses their study of the art of war to defend Motogama against even the most aggressive hordes. The lucky caste arranges for care of the city’s sick and poor. These orcs often take charge of refugee resettlement and funding, and plan and build hospitals and child shrines. Half orcs fall to their parent’s caste if they exhibit the wisdom, intelligence, or charisma of their forebears. Half orcs who do not exhibit these qualities, and orcs who’s strength overpower their cognitive abilities, do not belong to a caste and are free to follow their own path.
The Shamans
In the days before the Dusk Crusade, orcish tribes were ruled by charismatic chiefs. Wise, powerful, and noble, these chiefs led their tribes to great victories. When the chiefs and warriors were wiped out by the Dusk Crusade, the orcs found themselves without leadership. Rather that choose new chiefs for the many orcish tribes, the shamans invoked the Oath of Dun Salasil or “living without chains” in the Orcish tongue. With this oath, the orcish shamans promised to guide their race in self-discovery and self-reflection, that new leaders would arise on their merit alone. While the shamans of command great respect, they do not have any legal power over their people.
Luck of the Orcs
Almiran orcs value inherent luck as a sacred gift, and lucky orcs are often sought out as apprentices and romantic partners. This social norm of valuing luck in a romantic partner has lead to a consolidation of lucky orcs into their caste. While the families of these casts are orcish families are not noble, their inherent luck and makes them the most highly valued cast.
Tactics and Tactical Combat
The orcs of Motogama are some of Almira’s most prized tacticians and tactical combatants. Orcs find their cultural focus on careful decision making lends itself quite well to the art of the tactician. Orcish tacticians regularly join the Order of the Sword, and find that they rise quickly though their ranks. Apprenticeships with tacticians within the Order of the Sword are some of the most competitive apprenticeships in Motogama.
The Vigilant Prayer
Orcish culture is permeated by rituals that promote the duality of luck and purposeful choices. Three times a day, orcs offer up the Vigilant Prayer:
“Grant me the wisdom of the benevolent, that I may choose the right path forward.
Grant me the faith of the child, that my eyes may by wide with wonder
Grant me the power of my ancestors, that I may survive from Dusk until Dawn.”
The Vigilant Prayer is not recited to a specific deity, but many orcs who worship deities incorporate it into their other worship practices. For those who do not worship a diety, the Vigilant Prayer is said at dawn and dusk.
Children in Motogama
Because of the history of the city’s founding, children are highly prized within Motogama. Youthful inquisitiveness is unconditionally encouraged, and children are often give expensive raw materials as gifts to see what they can craft. Apprenticeships with skilled craftsmen and storytellers are often started at a young age, and are highly competitive. Because children are so highly valued, citizens of Motogama often have small families, to ensure they have the resources to take care of each of their children well.
The Child Shrines
Because children are so highly prized in Motogama, small “child shrines” are littered throughout the city. These play areas are supervised by orcs and dwarves and function as day care centers for small children. These shrines are well equipped with the tools of various professions and magical disciplines, so that children can be familiar with them from a young age.
The Child Shrines
Because children are so highly prized in Motogama, small “child shrines” are littered throughout the city. These play areas are supervised by orcs and dwarves and function as day care centers for small children. These shrines are well equipped with the tools of various professions and magical disciplines, so that children can be familiar with them from a young age.
Governance
Motogama is ruled by the Honour Council, a tribunal composed of all those who have the means and desire to participate. Each night at dusk, the Honour Council sits around a bonfire within the city center and deliberates until dawn. The Imaa, a dwarven matriarch, and the Alaab, an orcish shaman, ensure that each member of the Honour Council is able to voice their opinion on the matter being discussed and that the council finished deliberating by dawn. When the first rays of the morning sun fall upon the desert, the Honour Council’s deliberation ends and the Imaa and Alaab declare the outcome of the deliberations. Children are encouraged to sit on the Honour Council, and are given an equal voice and standing to adults. While Motogama has noble dwarves and orcish shamans, these individuals have no more say in matters of the honor council than any other citizen.
Mother of the Council, Father of the Council
While there are no sovereign rulers in Motogama, the Mother and Father of the Honour Council have a great hand in the policies of the city. Not only do they assist in the proceedings of the Honour Council, they assist citizens by judging day to day squabbles, organizing donations to refugees, and working with refugee relocation programs. A Mother and Father of the Council are not elected as much as self-elected. These unique individuals often find themselves stepping into the role when a predecessor steps down simply because they are the most qualified to do so. If two orcs or dwarves both attempt to fill the position, the Honour Council deliberates on the choices and decides who will enter into the role.
As We Were Strangers
The orcs and dwarves of Motogama are honor bound to help strangers and outsiders, for they too were strangers in a strange land in the time of the Dusk Crusade. This hospitality makes Motogama the recipient of a steady stream of refugees, often refugees who are not orcs or dwarves. These refugees are given housing and resources; the Steel Singers of House Koterev have created full city districts of the skyroads specifically for refugees.
Mother of the Council, Father of the Council
While there are no sovereign rulers in Motogama, the Mother and Father of the Honour Council have a great hand in the policies of the city. Not only do they assist in the proceedings of the Honour Council, they assist citizens by judging day to day squabbles, organizing donations to refugees, and working with refugee relocation programs. A Mother and Father of the Council are not elected as much as self-elected. These unique individuals often find themselves stepping into the role when a predecessor steps down simply because they are the most qualified to do so. If two orcs or dwarves both attempt to fill the position, the Honour Council deliberates on the choices and decides who will enter into the role.
As We Were Strangers
The orcs and dwarves of Motogama are honor bound to help strangers and outsiders, for they too were strangers in a strange land in the time of the Dusk Crusade. This hospitality makes Motogama the recipient of a steady stream of refugees, often refugees who are not orcs or dwarves. These refugees are given housing and resources; the Steel Singers of House Koterev have created full city districts of the skyroads specifically for refugees.