Races

'The Steel-Bound - Keepers of the Silent Code'

Overview

Where the cold plains of Torgol rise toward the glacial marches of Ironreach, the Hironese make their homes - a people forged by frost and discipline. Their realm is one of stark beauty: snow-dusted steppes, black pines bowed beneath ice, and citadels of stone where banners ripple like frozen flame. In such lands, survival is not granted but earned, and from hardship the Hironese have shaped a creed of endurance, loyalty, and control.

 

They live by the Code of Asiado, a divine order said to have been revealed to the first Hironese lord in a dream of the Unbroken God. This code governs every act - from the bow of greeting to the draw of a blade - teaching that honor outweighs victory, and restraint is the truest strength. Their warriors train from childhood in arts of precision and silence, their duels regarded as holy acts that mirror Kyte's own struggle for balance between justice and wrath.

 

Hironese society is layered and ritual-bound. At its height stand the daim'ra - feudal lords sworn to ancestral lineages - each ruling a province or fortress-realm. Beneath them serve the shi'ron, the warrior-caste who live and die by the sword. Monks and ascetics dwell in secluded mountain halls, guardians of meditation and inner purity, while the common folk till frost-bitten fields or craft steel and lacquer with reverent devotion.

 

Yet even among the pious, shadow lingers. Some clans whisper prayers to Belial, the Forsaken of War, believing his fury strengthens the arm of the righteous. In the hidden valleys and moonlit temples, the secretive Veil Houses serve Darketh, mistress of silence and shadows - assassins who see murder as an act of balance, a necessary correction to disorder.

 

The Hironese do not conquer for glory. They wage war to preserve the order of Torgol, to prove worth in the eyes of Kyte, and to ensure that chaos never devours the East. Their faces are still, their hearts disciplined, their blades precise - reflections of a people who have made serenity their weapon and silence their creed.

Age

  • Maturity: ~18 years

  • Average Lifespan: ~70-75 years

  • Death by Old Age: Begins ~85+ years 

Height

  • Range: 61 to 71 inches (5'1" to 5'11")

Attributes

  • Dexterity: +2 

  • Agility: +1

  • Willpower: +1 

Appearance

  • Skin: Generally pale or light olive, though those from southern provinces may show sun-bronzed or amber undertones. Many have a faint ashen or cool tint to their complexion, a reflection of generations spent under Ironreach's shadow.

  • Hair: Predominantly straight and dark, ranging from deep black to sable brown. Rarely, silver-grey or steel-blue highlights appear - a trait believed to mark bloodlines blessed by Kyte. Hair is typically worn long and bound, symbolizing restraint and inner focus.

  • Eyes: Most often dark brown or umber, though grey, steel-blue, or amber are occasionally seen among warrior castes. The rare pale gold eyes of certain lineages are regarded as a sign of divine favor and discipline perfected.

Inherent Abilities

None

Roleplaying

To play a Hironese is to embody restraint, precision, and quiet strength. They speak little but act with purpose, measuring every word and motion as though each were a blade. Honor and discipline are not ideals but instincts - the Code of Asiado governs all things, from how they bow to how they kill. A Hironese warrior does not boast, nor strike in anger; to lose control is to invite shame. Yet beneath their calm lies unbending resolve - when stirred to wrath, they become swift and absolute. Most revere Kyte, the Unbroken God, finding solace in justice and duty, though some walk darker paths in service to Belial or Darketh, where honor gives way to silence or vengeance. Whether a noble of the Ironreach, a wandering ronin, or a monk seeking enlightenment, the Hironese carry themselves with the poise of steel - unyielding, deliberate, and ever watchful of the balance within.