Malterran
Overview
The Meltarrans are the people of Malterra, a vast desert realm shaped by scarcity, ambition, and ancient rivalries. Their culture is defined not by unity, but by contrast. Karanak, ruled openly by the Black Dragon Kekuatek, is a brutal city where power is seized through fear, wealth is hoarded behind obsidian walls, and survival is earned through cruelty and cunning. Its warriors ride massive scarab-beetles and wear armor of bone, chitin, and bronze, while the elite cloak themselves in sand-silk and jewel-studded excess bought through suffering.
In stark contrast stands Ankharis, the great city ruled by Azirael, the Gold Dragon. Ankharis is a center of law, trade, and tradition, where power flows through commerce, contracts, and lineage rather than terror. Its people prize negotiation over bloodshed, civic order over chaos, and visible prosperity over raw dominance. Bronze-and-gold lamellar, merchant banners, courts of law, and vast marketplaces define Ankharan life, though beneath its refinement lies the same desert-forged resilience shared by all Meltarrans.
Between these powers lies Sefr-Tariq, an independent trade city along the Ember Road where caravans, mercenaries, and foreign interests converge. Neither cruel nor idealistic, Sefr-Tariq survives through neutrality, commerce, and careful balance. Together, these three cultures form the Meltarrans — a people hardened by the desert, sharpened by rivalry, and bound by an understanding that survival, wealth, and influence are never guaranteed.
Age
- Maturity: 18 years
- Average Lifespan: ~75 years
Height
- Male: 64" – 72" (5'4" to 6'0")
- Female: 62" – 70" (5'2" to 5'10")
Attributes
- Karanakan: +2 Constitution, –1 Intelligence, +1 Aura
- Ankharan: +1 Intelligence, +2 Aura, –1 Constitution
- Sefr-Tariqi: +1 Intelligence, +1 Will
Appearance
- Skin: Ranges from deep brown to sun-bronzed copper, often with warm undertones; desert nobles sometimes show paler complexions from shaded palaces and veiled attire.
- Hair: Commonly black, dark brown, or umber, worn in braids or adorned with beads, gold threads, or bone clasps. Karanakans favor dyed tips in red, ochre, or venom-green.
- Eyes: Shades of dark brown, amber, or gold, though Karanakans occasionally exhibit red-hazel tints from old desert bloodlines. Ankharans are famed for bright golden or honey-colored eyes.
Inherent Abilities
Roleplaying
To play a Meltarran is to embrace pragmatism, ambition, and adaptability. They are not naïve, nor easily shocked by hardship or moral compromise. Life in Malterra teaches that resources are finite, trust is costly, and strength must be demonstrated. Meltarrans tend to be confident, direct, and socially aware, quick to assess leverage in any situation - whether through force, coin, or reputation.
Karanakan characters should lean into ruthlessness and survivalism. They respect strength, despise weakness, and understand power as something taken and defended. Loyalty is transactional, fear is a tool, and cruelty is often seen as efficiency rather than evil.
Ankharan characters, by contrast, should be articulate, politically minded, and commercially savvy. They believe prosperity and stability are built through trade, law, and reputation. Deals, debts, and alliances matter more than battlefield glory, and honor is tied to keeping one's word and protecting the systems that sustain society.
Those from Sefr-Tariq fall somewhere between — worldly, flexible, and cautious, owing allegiance only to opportunity and survival.
Regardless of origin, Meltarrans walk the world with the confidence of those raised in an unforgiving land. They bargain hard, fight when necessary, and understand that in the desert — and beyond it — nothing is freely given.