Any distinctions among human ethnicities are inevitably muddled because of several centuries of settlement and conquest have ensured that no division is absolute. One of the more distinct human races are the Soltanna. These graceful, fair-skinned people are descended from the original Sol’vek race, many of whom were transformed into vampires by Marrok’s curse. Those who escaped the curse hunted down their vampiric brethren, instilling a racial hatred for the undead which lasts to this day.Expanding their empire along the eastern coasts of Migdalia, the Soltanna soon wrenched control of Lanaren from the Halflings who claimed the area as their own. The halflings, for their part, didn’t seem to mind the peaceful coup, so long as they were still welcome in the quickly expanding human cities. Thus, Lanaren soon grew into the expansive monarchy that it is today. As one of the largest nations in Migdalia, the Soltanna wield great political and military power, a fact which has not escaped their notice. Though they do not typically begin fights, the Soltanna are usually the ones that end them – one way or another.
Soltanna culture places great stock in pride – in one’s own achievements, family, city, and culture. This arrogance is nurtured and codified in the class and gender divisions within their society, with a person’s station at birth playing an important role in how he or she is measured. Although exceptions exist, Soltanna strictly adhere to the traditional roles of their social caste. In ascending order, these classes are the labor class, the skilled labor class, the merchant class, the military class, the priest class, and the ruling class. From birth, Soltanna are taught to recognize such class distinctions and treat others accordingly, even though many class distinctions are lost on outsiders.
Within the family, men are expected to enter into business and support their family’s standard of living. Women are expected to maintain the home, raise the children, and manage the funds. Children are always educated in the home unless they have a strong aptitude for magical schooling. Those parents who can afford them employ tutors and wizards. Upon reaching the age of maturity (15 years), children are expected to marry and establish themselves within five years. Only women may marry above their social class. Those who fail to marry are disgraced and must either live with their parents in shameful charity or be ejected from the household (many Soltanna adventurers active in other countries once fell into the latter category).
Personality: How an individual perceives a Soltanna is oftentimes dependant upon that individual’s social class; to those of an equal class, Soltanna are friendly and caring. To those of higher classes, Soltanna seem either overly accommodating or sycophantic. Lower classes are treated with arrogance or a dismissive attitude, or are simply ignored completely. This class consciousness persists at every level of their society, and colors most of their interactions with others. Soltanna are not cruel, however; should a member of a lower class become suddenly injured, even upper class citizens will often stop to offer assistance.
The religious fervor of most Soltanna tends to color their perspective on good and evil. For a typical Soltanna, there can be no compromise with the forces of evil, even to serve a greater good. Trust must be earned, and only those deserving of trust are to be respected. Soltanna culture is intolerant of weakness or moral weakness, viewing deeds in stark black and white. Many Soltanna, particularly their military class, have a tendency to view the world in the terms of uncompromising good (usually themselves) opposed by the blackest of evils (usually whatever their enemy is that particular day).
Physical Description: Soltanna stand between five and a half and six feet tall, with chiseled features and smooth, fair skin. Their hair tends towards blonde, with the occasional brown or silver appearing among their number. Eyes are usually steely grey or piercing blue. Soltanna tend to dress in stark whites, greys, and silvers, with holy symbols of their deity (usually Evaine) featured prominently. Their hair is typically worn short among both men and women, with the men preferring short, well-trimmed beards. It has long been fashionable for women to wear small circlets in public. Many Soltanna warriors favor bludgeoning weapons, such as maces and clubs, over more common weapons such as swords.
Relations: Though many cultures find the social classes of the Soltanna disagreeable, few people can say the same about the Soltanna in general. Lanaren fields a military powerful enough to control much of Migdalia, yet the nation has never attempted to invade their neighbors. The Soltanna are reliable and trustworthy allies, and commonly act as mediators during disagreements between other nations. Individual relations with Soltanna are dependant upon the social class of the other party, but rarely degenerate into violence or insults. As a people, the Soltanna are very self-controlled.
Alignment: The majority of Soltanna are good, and many are lawful. Though their rigid class system would seem to invite violence and anger, the concern of the upper classes for those beneath them ensures that even the lowest class have comfortable lives.
Religion: Most Soltanna pay homage to the goddess Evaine, who is considered to their patron goddess. No great stigma exists for those who worship other gods, though, and temples to many different gods can be found throughout their lands. The few evil religions which attempt to survive in Soltanna lands must remain constantly vigilant against discovery; even then, their numbers remain small, as few Soltanna are willing to pledge their loyalty to a dark god.
Language: Soltanna speak Travek, a language descended from the mingling of Celestial and Somvek, the language of their ancestors. Travek is a beautiful language, and is used by bards across Migdalia when composing the greatest hymns and chants. The blending of heavenly and earthly sounds creates a resonance which, the Soltanna claim, attracts the attention of divine entities.
Names: Soltanna surnames are drawn from the Celestial language, and typically have a flowing, elven feel to them. Children are named after honored and respected members of their family, often resulting in the same name being passed down each generation; it would not be uncommon to meet a Soltanna named Charles Lanemar XXVI, for example.
Adventures: Soltanna of lower birth typically see adventuring as a means to escape the strictures of their station in distant lands where the status of their birth is unknown. Others are drawn to adventuring in order to battle the forces of evil, particularly undead creatures. The majority of Soltanna adventurers, however, are simply those who were unable or unwilling to marry, and were ejected from their households by their parents.
Human (Soltanna) Racial Traits
* Medium size. As Medium creatures, humans have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.* Human base land speed is 30 feet.
* 1 extra feat at 1st level. Humans are quick to master specialized tasks and varied in their talents.
* 4 extra skill points at 1st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level, since humans are versatile and capable.
* Soltanna receive a +2 racial bonus on Heal, Knowledge (religion), and Ride checks.
* Automatic Languages: Travek. Bonus Languages: Any.
* Favored Class: Any.
Back to Races of Migdalia
Migdalia Home
