Sarradian

Hailing from the desert lands of Sarradia in Gehenna, a small number of Sarradians accompanied the Moxtli tribe during the event of the Pandemonium Chase to Esshar. Known as people of the earth, Deseti-Sarradians are said to descend from a being that was originally given life as a man made of clay by the angel Vidrio. Sarradians are also keen elementalists and it is what they're naturally proficient in, due to their creation from the world directly.

Physiology

Appearance

At an average height of just 5'6" for males, the descendants of Sarradia and short and nimble, lacking physical strength to the point of frailty. They are however nimble and quick on their feet, rivalling even the beastkin in mobility. Generally, the average Sarradian is dark in skin tone, ranging a soft chocolate to olive.Their skin is always covered in a thin layer of translucent, innate water magic... keeping the skin soft, much like silk or velvet when touched. Due to the natural hydration, they generally appear youthful even well into their late fourties.

Their eye color usually reflects their birth element. A deep amber for fire, a soft brown or grey for earth, a light green for air, and an oceanic blue for water.

They typically wear loose white tunics, often including elaborate jewellery such as gold that compliments their complexion.

Lifeblood

The first of the Sarradian kind could hardly be considered human, shaped from clay and given life by the angel Vidrio. Since then this story is mostly considered myth by outsiders, while those of Sarradia consider it fact. What is indisputable is the touch of divine in their blood, veins with a bright cyan contrast while the blood within holds the same physical appearance of purified water. They call it lifeblood, and it has potent healing properties that a trained Sarradian will often make use of it either on themselves or when treating others. Upon application, lifeblood tends to the injured area by dissolving itself upon the injury, like mana fizzling out and being absorbed.

When a Sarradian dies, their body undergoes a rapid process of decay that takes just a few days. As they're made of up almost entirely water save for the internal organs, once the process ends there is nothing but dust, not even bone. It is customary to collect this and gather it into a container, usually as exquisite and majestic as the person that has died, decorating it to illustrate their life.

Society

The Sacred House

The Sacred Houses As natural elementalists, there are clear bloodlines that define the Sarradian race. These surnames are used by tens of thousands of Sarradians to this day, taking pride in their primary element. It is especially rare for offspring to not inherit either of their parent's element.

• House Fluvial (Water)
• House La'Heba (Fire)
• House Viento/Hay-Sun (Air)
• House Hajara (Earth)

Relations

Originally the people of Gehenna and Sarradia were hostile towards one another, with the latter often being forced to pay tribute to force the raiders off of their land. But after the events of the Spires of Agartha, trading relations formed and a strong alliance developed to the point now where it isn't uncommon to see them travel the world and live together.

Origins

Beginning

After the dawn of Kraus' ascension and creation of Eternia, the angel Vidrio, turned towards a vast desert that was ripe for her to begin creating life. Taking a mountain, she shaped the base into the form of Man, using a nearby oasis as fuel to give it drive. Once she breathed life into her creation, she named it Hajara. The first Sarradian was then born, roaming the vast desert for a hundred years. Afraid that he'll be miserable alone, she directed Hajara to a nearby Island populated by humans. Taking a female human as his wife, he returned home to receive further instructions. His mother bid him again, heeding her words, and his wife gave birth to three powerful offspring.

The Three Children

Fluvial, oldest of the three and the first water Sarradian, she represented wisdom of the three. La'heba, the second child and the first fire Sarradian, he represented strength of the three. Hay-sun/Viento, the youngest of the three and the first wind Sarradian, he represented irrepressible spirit. Together, the three took it upon themselves to shape their homeland to their needs. They needed rules, rules which were bestowed upon them by Vidrio which were kept recorded and memorized by Fluvial. Half a century flew by, Hajara began to grow sickly from the lack of sustaining energy. His mother had left him to be on his own, forced away by the Divine War that required her participation. Without her aid, he could not sustain himself for long. Conserving what energy was left, Hajara went into hibernation, causing his children to grow fearful of their own impending doom.

Together, the three ventured out what knowledge Vidrio left them, constructing a temple within their own home. With their combined knowledge and fifty years of arduous construction, the Life Well was completed. However, the Life Well required a template in order to produce anything, requiring one of the three to sacrifice a piece of their essence. While Fluvial and La'heba squabbled, a curious Viento dipped his left index finger into the liquid. Ripping his finger and utilizing his essence, a baby was spat out from the well. Taking the child, Viento raised it accordingly to his mother's rules. Eventually, the others sacrificed other pieces of themselves, such as hair strands, their own stripped flesh, and even their torn finger-nails. But, even with the Life Well, his children longed for the same companionship as their father, following in his example, as did their own children.

Sarradia

With Hajara's passing, his blessings were in need of being divided amongst the people. Vidrio nor Hajara wrote anything pertaining to the dividends of his house, House Hajara. La'heba claimed ownership, due to how close in appearance he was to Hajara. Fluvial denied him the ownership, stating it should go to an Earth based Sarradian. The two grew distant from each other in their old age, eventually, leaving their home in the care of their children. After establishing another set of rules, the first children of Hajara passed away in their old age. The cycle of rulership began with the House of Fluvial. Vadear took heed of his mother's wisdom, inheriting the records left behind by his grand mother. With his mind, Deseti saw vast improvements in the years to come, expanding themselves as a whole culture. Working tirelessly with the various kingdoms that were nearby their land, Vadear brought his people into the First Golden Age of Deseti.

In his wisdom, Vadear sought to rekindle the kinsmenship between House Fluvial and House La'heba by offering his youngest daughter to the La'heba House Master at the time. Marcus, son of La'heba. The two were wed, giving Vadear all the time he needed in order to usher in an age of peace. But on one unfortunate night, Vadear was assassinated in his slumber. Refusing to take the blame, Marcus lashed out and waged a merciless war on House Fluvial. Any other houses or supporters to Fluvial were wiped out, regardless of the cost of their demise. The capital was left in complete turmoil, the citizens suffering as Marcus' rebellion brought about the first Dark Age.

The Marcusian Age of Darkness

With his disciples, Marcus' superior trained House forced the House Fluvial members out from Deseti. House Hajara and House Viento were unable to go against him, forced to aid the paranoid Sultan in his reign of terror. House Fluvial supporters were executed-- Including his wife and oldest daughter. There were no tolerance for any sympathizers, even those among his fold grew fearful of his wrath. One day, a House Fluvial record clerk stumbled upon a long lost cave that was hidden far away. Mastering the lost arts of the Cosmos, the Record Clerk began a five year war that united the three houses against Marcus. Eventually fighting their way into the heart of Deseti, Orion fought with Marcus in a grand duel that shook the very capital. Slaying Marcus in battle, Orion claimed himself as successor to the Sultan title.

Rather wipe out the entire house of La'heba, Orion consulted rules once kept by Fluvial. Following the decree, Orion disbanded House La'heba and exiled the remaining members due to their willful participation in the war. Orion dubbed these traitors as 'Exiliar' as per the rules set in stone. From then on, Orion rebuilt the vast damage caused by the Marcusian Age.

Balance

Fifty long years of peace was enough time to restore the balance. But, Orion was now running on borrowed time, his body grown far too old to be sustained by the powerful disiciples of Fluvial. In his final hours, Orion returned the cycle of rule back to House Fluvial, passing away at the age of 96. Deseti continued to prosper back under the Cycle of Rule, 360 years of hard labor. The hard work of making it out of the depression was finally achieved under the rule of House Hajara Master, Tenebr'tha. Coming into Sultan status at the age of 43, it was time to seek profit else where. Making economical alliances with various Islands and travelers, Deseti thrived for quite some time.

Their numbers grew, their supplies excess. Tenebr'tha needed a new economic alliance. Sending a handful of Sarradians to the various lands and islands nearby, they began erecting outposts. Building no more than two outposts, the nearby Gehennan tribes either rejected their new trading partners or routinely rated them. In order to prep themselves for war, Teneb'rtha needed more knowledge of magic. Hearing tales of high potency of magic in foreign lands, Tenebr'tha hatched a plan. Sailing for the great unknown West, each house master selected a handful of Sarradians and sent them on wards.