Talaxan

• Previous
• Next

Created by Bruh Kreniik early in the Dawn Era, the Talaxan were once a purely Human race. They were destined to populate the world Ilabizdum, but this never happened. With the start of the Creation War (1486 DE - 8777 DE) they were sent to Sphere 411, joining the Covenant armies battling the primordials.

Ancient tomes found at the god tower of Irrai, hint at the idea that Ares, having Ascended to Godhood, had intimate relationships with dozens of Talaxans. Families went to great effort, making sure that future children would also have a bit of celestial blood. After many generations, the Talaxan had nearly all become half-celestials. Today, the only pure Talaxan is the god Phalgas. One side effect of having celestial blood, was a sharp reduction in Talaxan birth rates; about 50% of true Talaxans.

Talaxans are a bit different than other half-celestials in that they can be of any alignment. Most good, some neutral, those that have turned evil may show this in their appearance with fingers that are more talon-like and wings of pitch black or crimson red color.

Before the Lith-Crillion Era, the Talaxan were home to Dechôz. In this region, they built magnificent cities with lofty buildings suited for a society where everyone has wings. In the First Epoch, colonies spread into Mekarra where they founded the settlement of Phara-Bal.

In the Year 89, after a three year journey of flying and long periods of rest and hunting for food, a group of four hundred settled in the Aerie of Dragons and settled in the highlands of Hokzii Stov. This journey-quest, the Long Flight, led to the settlement of Tulukhan.

In the early part of the Third Epoch, the Talaxan of Mekarra got into conflict with the region's newer arrivals. These were lycanthropes brought to live in the lands of Weretopia by their Vith'kirr Queen. Afraid to succumb to the same curse, the Talaxans pulled back to their Dechôz borders.

In the spring of 1595, Ivory Asylum launched amphibious landings on the coasts of Weretopia. They sacked and burned wererat villages and the coastal pirate base of Ratgorthor. Ivory Asylum razed this citadel and carried off much treasure. Among the booty were books telling the story of the destruction of Phara-Bal. These books were written by the military thinkers of Ratgorthor. They contained information on talaxan thinking, battle plans, and maps of their neighbor's holdings. Some of the books said that long before Gass-du-lac arrived with her ships full of lycanthropes, the talaxans held territory stretching across eastern and western Weretopia.

Sociologists have wondered how Weretopia's lycanthropes were so successful in expanding their populations. This mystery was solved in 1595 when a horrible secret was found at Ratgorthor. The elderaunts learned that after many years in Weretopia, the lycanthropes splintered into rival groups. This became known as the Shifter Separation. The wererats, often thought to be the most cunning of the lycanthropes, were the first to prey on the natives. The great city of Phara-Bal fell victim to disease attacks carried out by wererats. After weakening the populace with disease, the wererats swarmed from the riverbanks and canals and invaded the city. The orgy of blood-letting continued for many days. Most weapons of the defenders proved ineffectual against the hides of the rat-men. The wererats and talaxans warred for three years. The talaxans were either driven from Weretopia, killed, and in some cases contracted lycanthropy and became wererats.

- Tuškad, elderaunt historian, excerpt from the book "Talaxan Downfall"