Callites are a race of stocky humanoids that are primarily subterranean, with most making their homes in the Grey Cities. Once the chosen people of the now-deceased god Calphost, modern Callites that still bear the names of their ancestors have instead sought the protection of the god of the Deep, Xuriath. Callites are strong, prideful folk that greatly value tradition and loyalty, traits only eclipsed by their love of treasure and hatred of trees. Most still worship Calphost even after his death. Ancient Callites were the progenitors of the Xuriths, the Ederans, and the Coriates, though these races now share little in common.
History
When Calphost was born upon the heights of the Otraglith, he began to care for the race of people he discovered living at the base of the mountain range, beckoning them into its peaks. Under his protection and guidance, those who eventually were known as the Callites became an inquisitive and industrious race, building great, impenetrable towers upon the Otraglith's already lofty peaks. No invaders could threaten the Callites, who became skilled with strange ranged weapons of their own design, such as the crossbow. Over time, without a need for height as their towers brought them so high above all others, the Callites grew short and stocky, a trait they barely minded save for when beasts of flight would soar over their great walls. Though the Callites resented these creatures, they did not move against them as they too were protected by Calphost, who forced the races to live in a tenuous harmony.
During this time of peace, very few were afforded the privilege to cross the Otraglith, which made contact between the north and Sarkunat difficult. Callites thusly had very little contact with outside races and cultures, and began to craft all manner of superstitions and rumors about the lands below them. Very notably, Callites became deeply distrustful of trees, which did not grow upon the peaks of Otraglith due to a disagreement between Calphost and his brother Mallestrade. Many Callites began to believe that the trees were sentient, and the towers lookouts would chart how the forests below would slowly grow over, leading many to believe that forests "ate" the land. Callites would refuse gifts of wood from foreign merchants, believing that the trees would be able to spy on their civilization through them.
After the death of Calphost at the hands of the One Betwixt, the Callites finally acted upon their resentment against the flying beasts, claiming that the mountains belong to them, and them alone. They darkened the skies of the Otraglith with a storm of arrows, and for a time, drove the beasts from their peaks. However, under the command of the great eagle-god Agnahei, the beasts returned, driving out the Callite strongholds to the north and taking their impenetrable towers for themselves. The Callites sought aid from other races, but were rebuked, as Agnahei was found to be a fair ruler that allowed passage through the Otraglith for all that provided a proper gift. Fearful of a surface covered in trees and with no allies, the Callites headed north to the Maw of the Deep were they met with Xuriath.
Xuriath, who had no people of his own, took the Callites in and allowed them to build a massive network of cities beneath the earth, which became known as the Grey Cities. The Callite leadership at the time aimed to bide their time, waiting for Agnahei and his beasts to drop their defenses in order to take back their homes. While many Callites believed this to be the best course of action, others grew weary of the lack of sunlight and the obsessions with the Otraglith. Eventually, a significant number of Callites would leave the Grey Cities and return to the surface as Ederans. Others fully embraced the wisdom and worship of Xuriath and entered the Umbral Deep, and became known as the Xuriths. A smaller group of Callites began to commune directly with the earth itself, sacrificing their mortal bodies to become beings of stone, who were eventually known as the Coriates. Those who remained in the Grey Cities and kept the Callite name prided themselves on their fierce loyalty to Calphost and their hatred of Agnahei, believing that one day they would retake the land that was theirs by right.
Attributes
Callites are generally short, stocky, and often muscular. They have pale skin that is sometimes almost ghastly in complexion, and have a range of eye colors, which Callite society believes to be of high significance. Callites place great importance on the appearance and care of their hair, which they weave into intricate and artful patterns.
Callites are highly skilled warriors, and all children are trained at birth in a number of martial disciplines. While they practice with a range of weaponry, the most valued skills for a Callite warrior are their marksmanship with a crossbow and the strength of their swing with an axe, a trait seen as especially important for fighting back when trees "invade" the Grey Cities with their roots.