Najar (race)

The Najaran peoples are a race of humans from the great valley between the Red Peaks and the Maw. Humans are a favored race among the gods of Gurutama and have the patronage of the god of fire throughout the Cycles.

Physical Description
Najaran humans have olive complexions and tend to be lean, slender, and tall. Both men and women are commonly over 6 feet. They have black hair and their eye color ranges from amber to greens and grays.

History
Modern Najarans descend from savage human tribes in and around the Red Peaks. These early humans lived short, brutal lives and warred among themselves.

The humans in the shadows of the Red Peaks expanded and civilized rapidly under the influence of Navillus and its servants, the Brotherhood of the Living Immolation, and within three decades began the construction on the cities of the Najaran Quintet.

Over the next two centuries, the fleding Najaran nation transformed into a powerful empire and conquering neighboring human tribes that had not been blessed by Navillus. The period marks a high point in Najaran culture as the humans begin to research and understand magicks, mathematics, and arts. Their language solidified during this period into what would be known as "High Najaran". The expanded their great cities and the city of Najar, nestled at the base of the volcano, became a shining beacon in Gurutama and the first metropolis. With tremendous wealth generated from lumber and copper exports, the Najaran empire could only be rivaled by the Metal Dwarves of the Tiers of Hearthland.

At the beginning of the third century, NA, the dwarves attacked the Najar, landing troops on the coast and pushing inland. Syluk, Alridia, Alrixia, and Farpoint, all cities of the Najaran Quintet, all fell before the advancing dwarven armies. The Najaran soldiers, armed in bronze, were outmatched by dwarven iron and steel. Only Najar, greatest of the Najaran cities, resisted the dwarven onslaught.

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The dwarven occupation lasted for almost 150 years and faced heavy resistance. At the heart of the region, the twin cities of Alridia and Alrixia proved nightmarish to control. Dwarven business were vandalized, individuals murdered and brutalized, and the religion of the Books was thoroughly rejected. Attempts to control the local aristocracy was stymied - the dwarves found it impossible to prove their involvement all the while being showered with gifts and kindness from them.

By the middle of the fifth century NA, the twin cities revolted and the occupation quietly ended. The city of Farpoint quickly declared independance from the Empire as the dwarven occupiers had successfully integrated into the city. The fortress of Syluk resisted the Najaran attempts to retake the city and has remained occupied by dwarves.

Language
The Najaran people speak a complex language known simply as "Najaran".

Religion