Ashlander
Ashlanders are a subrace of Human. They are most commonly found south in the Ashlands but some travel north in search of opportunity. Descended from the "last men" of the Second Empire, Ashlanders are exceptional at navigating the harshness of Kenshi. Born under the ashclouds of the Second Empire many live their entire life in darkness.
Physical Description
Ashlanders are the least similar to their other human counterparts. Made most evident through their blackened or purple skin and elongated cat-like eyes, most have black or white hair. Sometimes called "Goblins" by other races ashlanders are smaller in stature ranging from 4 to 5 feet tall and weighing 80-150 pounds. Their noticably hunched posture can make them appear smaller, even moving on all fours at times. It's unclear whether these extreme differences came from natural evolution or from Cat-Lon's mutation experiments.
Ashlanders are a reclusive and fragile branch of humanity, shaped by generations beneath the blackened skies of the Second Empire. Shunning the open sun, most rarely step beyond the shadow of the ashen clouds, their skin and eyes ill-suited for the blazing deserts beyond. Life in the Ashlands is a grim bargain, those who endure are either hardened killers who thrive in the lawless wastes, or penniless laborers toiling under the gaze of “Mad” Cat-Lon, the exiled Emperor who rules the ruins like a god enthroned in madness. The poisoned air has etched itself into their blood, granting many Ashlanders a natural resistance to toxins that would fell outsiders. Yet this resilience comes at a cost, their bodies grow gaunt and their lungs scarred, their very survival a testament to stubbornness more than strength.
Personality
Generally soft spoken, Ashlanders prefer to let their actions do the talking. They have a dark sense of humour and often find the silver lining in an otherwise grim situation. While to outsiders they may come across as cold, they make for extremely loyal friends and an unwavering mind.
Ideology
Much of the Ashlander existence has been in servitude to an undying Skeleton Emperor, leading to two extreme ideologies. Those that still follow Cat-Lon and the ways of Old Imperialism, the law of the Second Empire, and those who oppose him with all their being. Manumit is the only way of thinking for most Ashlanders that escape the south.
Relations
Many Ashlanders view Skeletons as kin, forged in the same crucible of the Second Empire's collapse. Both endured the poisoned skies and the long shadow of Cat-Lon's reign, and in that shared suffering a quiet bond remains. Toward other races, Ashlanders are far less trusting. Centuries of exploitation and forced slavery have left them wary and withdrawn, quick to assume betrayal behind a smile or a bargain. They put little stock in kings, lords, or foreign promises, placing their faith instead in their own kind, and in the steel of a well-kept blade. To outsiders they often seem narrow-minded, even hostile, but to an Ashlander, suspicion is simply survival.
Key Attribute - Agility
Race Talent
Sneaky
Eyes in the smoke.
Race Traits
Child of Ash
You thrive where others choke.
Tainted Blood
Poison runs through your veins like old memory.
Race Talent
Sneaky
Eyes in the smoke.
Race Traits
Child of Ash
You thrive where others choke.
Tainted Blood
Poison runs through your veins like old memory.
Names
Ashlander names can vary but many come from their slave roots, names like, dirt or ash. It isn't common for Ashlanders to carry a family name.
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