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Note on Mechanics
We have not yet written the new hertiage mechanics, but they will still preserve and include the concept of Dread Rebirth/Drowdan Taint. Those two things will still exist, they're just not on this page yet because they're tied to mechanics
Introduction
The basic gist of the ideological combination is that the "Ruin", is the Elven term for the Cataclysm that caused two opposite events among Elves, the Elves who got irradiated to become anti-Magic, and the Elves who got irradiated to become turbo-Magic. They represent a sliding scale of how these people reacted to these Events, and how their society fractured further along cultural, but also factional lines. It does not combine Sihndar and Kathar into one heritage functionally speaking, but creates a connection of factions across multiple states and national identities that creates a lot more interconnections (and saves us another Heritage slot on the Heritages page).
Physical Characteristics
Factions and Cultures
When playing a Ruinborn, you choose a Faction and a Culture. Faction determines your Mechanics, while Culture defines origin. Use the Faction as an adjective and the Culture as a noun when describing your Character (e.g., Golden Kathar, Gray Sihndar, Amethyst Oscithar). Culture is fixed, but Faction can change—as long as your Character doesn't violate that Faction’s core ideology. For instance, an Umbral Ruinborn with Magic cannot switch to Gray without first removing their Magic. Factions compete for dominance, but have varying levels of mutual acceptance. A Faction accepts others within two steps of its own on the ideological scale. For example: Gray accepts Blue-Golden but not Amethyst-Umbral, and Blue accepts Gray-Golden-Amethyst, but not Umbral. This scale does not demand hate or violence, but helps players understand their enemies and allies from ideology.
Factions
- Gray Ruinborn refuse to engage with any type of Magic, strive to be entirely mundane themselves, and fight against the abuse of Magic, and particularly against the plots and plans of Demons and their summoners as a ruinous invasion of the world out of purist obligation.
- Blue Ruinborn believe whether through Purist Chauvinism, or strict rules on Magic consent, that Magic is not forbidden, but that it can only be used on one's own body, or others with absolute consent. This even means not using Magic in a fight against a foe, unless they use Magic first.
- Golden Ruinborn strike a balance between the extreme Purist and extreme Arcane views, to hold that Magic is a good thing and it should actively be used to fight foes or make the world better, but to wholly avoid Demons as a threat to mortals, and always a guaranteed bad outcome.
- Amethyst Ruinborn are intensely pro Magic and even pro Demons, seeing Demons as potential friends and allies, so long as they are bound and attempt to conform to the mortal world. Amethyst Ruinborn remain sober about the threat that Demon Dukes and Princes pose, and stay well clear.
- Umbral Ruinborn see any constraints on Magic and Demons to be an utter weakness that must be purged, and see even the concept of transcending to Demonhood themselves as a viable ambition. Umbral Ruinborn shy from no form of Magic or Demonic experimentation and exploration.
Cultures
Generally speaking, each Culture allows the full range of Factions to exist within it, there are however two exceptions: Kathar society does not allow the Gray faction to exist within it, because of their extreme hostility to mundaneness and anti-Magic, while Sihndar society does not allow the Umbral faction to exist within it, because of their extreme hostility to Magic and Demon worship. It is possible for your Character to have changed their faction at a later point in time, but while they grew up, they could not have been members of those factions, if born in those cultures.
Kathar
Kathar Ruinborn hail from the Rokhavaal Empire, the so-called Dread-Empire, and make up the majority of its population of common folk, soldiers, laborers, Mages, and Demon summoners. Kathar Ruinborn live in a much more traditional kin-based way in stark contrast to their Elven roots, favoring non-blood related clans over extended families, having a strong honor-bound and militaristic view on life, and worshiping Magic as the true equalizer that upends all class struggles for perfect mobility. The reality is that their society is strongly controlled by warlords and warlocks, due to the heavy cultural emphasis on strength, ambition, and unity through diversity. They value cunning and individuality, and loyalty to the Rokhavaal Empire. Kathar society is generally unkind to those with compassion or mercy, causing some to flee to the Regalian Empire for a better life.
Sihndar
Sihndar Ruinborn hail from the Drowda continent, divided over so-called Xasters, military states centered around one massive citadel. Sihndar society is highly militaristic and has strong favor for mundane martial pursuits, training their population to fight an endless war against the Demon Dukes that have infested various places across the world. The Sihndar are solemn, stoic, and ascetic, as they forgo most luxuries and comforts with an expectation to live short lives and die in the pursuit of honor, dignity, and duty against the Demonic menace. To be Sihndar is to know loss, but to soldier on for the collectivist squads where no-one is left behind, and everyone contributes to the great struggle. Sihndar Mages do exist, but Faction membership in Sihndar society is a lot more tightly regulated than other cultures, leading to Mages for example mostly living in the Zarak hold (see Sihndar Holds for more information) Sihndar routinely leave Drowda to venture out into the world, seeking assistance for their beleaguered homeland, especially in Regalia.
Oscithar
Oscithar Ruinborn hail from the Princedoms of Osc'ird. When the Ruin happened, the Oscithar became like the Kathar and diverged from the old Allorn Empire's societal aspects like Religion, governance, and views on the Demonic, but retained much of the high-class styling and poise. Oscithar Ruinborn know how to dress to impress, understand the wide court etiquettes of foreign nations, and have a deep curiosity for the world around them to live more enriched and happy lives. Oscithar lack all the haughtiness of the old Allorn Elves, but also lack the more brutalist traits of the Kathar, thus being generally seen as more peaceful. Their homeland is constantly besieged from all sides, by Allorn Elves trying to retake their lost land, to Kathar trying to claim Allorn territory, and recently even Suvial trying to push out the other two. As a result, the Oscithar have a somewhat borderless attitude to the world and culture as a whole, never truly sticking in one place for long, and being effectively permanent refugees.
Quenathar
Quenathar Ruinborn hail from the Mavaal Assaleïa and Eïsella regions of the Regalian Archipelago, thus being native Regalian Ruinborn. These regions are vast and varied islands with sparse populations and climates ranging from cold rain-forests to rocky volcanic islands, casting much of the region in a near permanent twilight from rainstorms and ash clouds. The Quenathar are a people who make do with very little, living in some of the poorest and often forgotten about regions of the Regalian Empire, but adapting well to the conditions as a minority with "equal but lesser" rights than the other Regalian citizens. Quenathar are cohesive and stick up for each other, having a strong social connection that causes the strong to stand up for the weak, and for the weak to make sure the strong never lack for comforts of food and shelter. They navigate both climate and political storms without complaint, and show great resilience even when nobles from hundreds of miles away routinely try to take away their rights and freedoms. Many of the Quenathar are proud Regalian citizens, despite all the adversity they face, and genuinely believe in the Empire's benevolence under the Emperor.
Orders
Orders Ruinborn are an uncomplicatedly evil bunch of cabalists and cultists, Ruinborn who have no love or pity for their fellow mortals, and whose sole purpose or goal on the world is to control the events of the world through an unseen hand, and preferably while trampling as many innocents as possible while doing so to impress the Gods. Orders Ruinborn can often be found in the legendary cabals like the Crimson Witches and the Eclipse Witches, groups which have infiltrated every Empire in the world and gently steered all of them into a constant collision coarse from which they can eventually reap the benefits. The Orders Ruinborn are thought of as an enemy to all mortal peoples, willing to make bargains with Evolist Gods and Death God horrors just for a shred of extra power. Rumors say that the Ruinborn still practice Oblation Magic while it has become forgotten or banned across the rest of the world. Whether true or not, it is a true undicator of the depravity of Orders Ruinborn to stop at nothing for personal enrichment, and to leave a permanent ashen mark on history with a name that evokes fear and cowering on those dare not whisper it.
Vasthar
Vasthar Ruinborn are either those who were exiled from Drowda for failing to conform to Sihndar society, treason to the cause, or because they showed weakness or doubt in their mission. They can also be Ruinborn who descend from Sihndar who once settled in faraway lands but who still support the homeland, for example by maintaining a farmstead that sends steady supplies to Drowda to keep up the fight. Vasthar means something like "outcast" in the Elven language, and the Vasthar act and dress the part, never taking too much care to be very presentable for courtly etiquette, and preferring an easygoing and simple life without too much obligation and expectation. They travel around a lot, can frequently found in entertainment venues or gambling dens, and might themselves have developed a knack for scamming or stealing their way into the easy life. Opinions on the Vasthar are vastly mixed among the Ruinborn, with the Sihndar (unless they support the homeland with their exploits) considering them pariahs, while the Kathar might consider them indulgent wastrels. Vasthar are quick to be dismissed by the other Ruinborn as entirely unserious, and in this hides their strenght; their strong connections with the criminal circuit and social networks, feeding them information and knowledge.
Saithar
Saithar Ruinborn are the political elite and powerful, gang lords, warlords and nobles of the Rokhavaal Empire. In the Rokhavaal Empire, the wealthy and the common folk live two entirely separate societies, often two entirely separate cities connected together by one common passageway, resulting in radically different attitudes. Saithar have held onto many of the Allorn Empire's high-culture refinement, but pushed it to more artistic extremes. Saithar clothing and habits are extravagant, opulent, and to some outsiders strange with their flamoyant spikes and facial tattoos. Saithar society is all about cut-throat politics and showing mental wit and acumen. The act of humiliating others is seen as a great achievement, while the act of killing or debased murder is considered weak-minded. The Saithar greatly prize Magic over the martial, and have vast libraries containing some of the most reviled Magic scrolls detailing all manner of forbidden spells and knowledge. Society is so cutthroat in the Rokhavaal Empire, that many Saithar leave the homeland, either because they were expelled, humiliated in politics, or were forced to leave by the plotting of the other families. They find more calm waters, like the Regalian Empire, which comes with its own unique challenges to play their court game.
Language and Naming
Religion
(Religion independent from culture, strong preference for Draconism-Aldurism in Oscithar, Evolism in Kathar/Saithar, and Estelley in Sihndar, but otherwise Ruinborn think being critical of religious choices is cringe)