Syv Augur (Humans)

While many continental human kingdoms declare themselves the birthplace of humanity, the ages of Zubia and Dowei draw these distinctions into considerable question. Along with Nirva and the Fallen Empire of Syne, the Auguri kingdoms (and more specifically, Zubia) maintain a strong claim to ancestral histories that predate human history.

Zubians have a tendency to be of darker complexion than most other human kingdoms, while Dowei’i may also be dark though there are some of a near ashen hue. Regardless, both civilizations are heavily influenced by their close proximity to Dal Intress, which for many millennia determined their political and cultural realities.

Zubian
Zubians were first recorded in settlements along the Zubia River. This important waterway, from which Zubia’s name is derived, encouraged them to develop a strong and lasting tradition of worship in water and the flow of life. Many of their early gods were related to reptilians such as crocodiles and snakes.

To be clear, whether or not the first humans came from Zubia, not all people were Zubians. Many migrated far and wide, it is believed, while the modern Zubians were those with ancient ties to the land.

Dowei’i
It is believed that the Dowei’i originated from the exiles of Zubia who, incapable of sharing the land’s wealth, ventured past Mount Zahar into the Dark Beyond. This darkness was the eternal night that Dal Intress provided and in the shadow of this sunken kingdom, the Dowei’i took root. They are considered children of death and maintain a strong tradition of necromancy that is believed to have come from Jia by way of a Drow scholar.

Zubian
Zubians maintain a complex system of tribal governance that collectively is referred to as “The Kingdom.”  Not surprisingly, the tribal systems have various animals they associate as their familial spirits. Though easily written off as uncivilized by western observers, the Zubians have permanent residences and traditions that place great importance on the land they were born upon and the water that feeds it.

The tribes are normally connected by several families that share the same spirit, and these spirits are known to animate and guide their tribes when in need. A central authority can be found at the Grand Seat of Zutambo. After gaining their freedom from Dal Intress, Zubia was forced into a war with the Dowei’i who sought to enslave them as their foremasters had. Zubians retreated to the distance and fortified Zutambo, and from there managed to gain relative autonomy.

Their current leader is Da’tamna, though he speaks only for matters as a collective interest and makes no immediate decision without first speaking with all available members of Zubian heritage.

Dowei’i
The Children of the Dead attempted to replicate their Drow overlords to such an extent that in many ways they overcorrected for where they saw flaws. The Dowei’i have a singular king, who maintains a council of spirits of past kings to guide him. They build expansive ziggurats and attempt to acquire slaves through theft, purchase, or bribery to live the same decadent lifestyle the Drow do.

Lacking in the core tenet of Drow society, which is that familial betrayal is intolerable, they instead encourage deception and trickery at every corner, causing dynastic overturn to occur often when weakness is seen in the ruler. Conversely, the Dowei’i do produce very ambitious leaders and it is believed only the most cunning should sit the Spider’s Throne.

As if the inverse of Volantris, Dowei’s hierarchy places the True Speaker of Dryss as a rank above the king, though the latter still retains military authority. It is through the True Speaker that the voices of past kings can often be understood, and auspices granted accordingly.

Zubian
Zubians are often associated with water gods, though there are some that have taken to accepting Dryss as their patron due to their years of servitude under her. Recently, missionaries from Syv Nova have made some headway in introducing Freijla and Gerech, though they often become synchronistically aligned with other gods.

Dowei’i
Dryss is the primary god of the Dowei’i, though other dark gods are worshipped. Rezzar, a death god, is also very popular.

Zubian
The Zubian military is highly talented in guerilla warfare and light skirmishing. Though they are able to call upon armored cavalry in the form of beasts of battle, they prefer using tactics that whittle their enemy down rather than attacking them in pitched combat. This makes them difficult to pin down, though it is also hard to besiege them as they are so very mobile.

Dowei’i
Siege warfare, by contrast, is the Dowei’i forte. With several sophisticated engines to their name, if they are able to deploy their lines in accordance with their centuries old stratagems nothing can prevent their devastating fire. They are talented equestrians and are one of the few races, and only human race, that are able to handle spiders as mounts.

But their greatest strength is their necromancy, which allows them to call armies of the undead so long as direct sunlight does not find them.

Zubian
As the birthplace of humanity, Zubia’s existence promises to unlock numerous mysteries to those seeking to understand themselves. However, because many would rather flee from Zubia and its many predators, their population has declined as they seek shelter in other regions.

Predation from Zatheri corsairs has also seen them pressed into service on pirate crews, with some gaining their own not long after.

During the Dread Tumult, the Zubians led an attack against Dal Intress. Though this was not enough to defeat the invaders, it was enough to force them to divide their forces. Eventually, they were granted freedom from Drow predation in exchange for an agreement not to join in any military campaigns against them.

Dowei’i
As the Drow have lost much of their previous holdings, the Dowei’i have become their willing henchmen in terms of maintaining authority. Though still a client state in many ways, they marry off their sons and daughters when they can and were numbered among those that fought in the Tumult against humanity.

Dowei is singular in its antipathy toward other humans as a general rule, though diplomatic ties have been established and maintained in the 300 years since the Tumult.