Fomorii

Interpersonal Reactions

Fomorii are universally disliked and considered untrustworthy. A fate handed down from antiquity after their tribes was banished from Inis Mona and carried into modernity by the aggression of the bandit nations performed by the Unknown. People are even overtly hostile to Fomorii of the Remnant Tribes despite their apparent isolationist tendencies and seeming desire to return to their Fwoarian cultural roots.

Origin Archetypes

Whether a slavering, half-mad sea-raider of the Wartide Hordes or one of the hiding Remnant Tribes, the natural bulk and power of the Fomorii form makes them excel as laborers and warriors:

• Cavalry Lord, Enlisted Soldier, Gladiator, Iconoclast, Menial, Nomad, Remnant, Ritualist, Sailor, Unusual Upbringing.

Character Archetypes

The aspects of a Fomorii's anatomy coupled by the savage nature of their culture makes them mean and capable combatants. What mercenary Fomorii can be hired are almost exclusively hired due to their savage strength and keen cruelty, whether they like it or not:

• Brute, Berserker, Pirate, Shaman, Treasure Hunter, Warrior.

Common Names

Feminine Names

Averick, Breesha, Grayse, Mariod, Mawde

Masculine Names

Allowe, Galfrid, Laurys, Murdagh, Ysaig

Family Names

Crowe, Ballard, Erenagh, Leece, Marsden, Parre.

They may also take on the given names of their warchief or perhaps even a region they helped conquer.

Culture

The cultural heritage of the Fomorii traces back to a banished lodge of Fwoarian warriors who descended into madness and dark sorcery in ancient times, corrupted by their desperate struggle against their enemies, the Ardruids. Known for their ferocious combat prowess and unyielding resolve, the Fwoarians resorted to forbidden rites and rituals to gain an edge in their war, but these actions twisted their bloodlines and tainted their legacy with malevolent influences from the Outer Night. The turning point came with the Battle of Mel Hagga, where their leader, Unknown, was executed, and the remaining Fwoarians of their lodge were banished from their homeland.

Despite this dark history, the Fomorii have largely spurned their ancient origins and embraced a path of conquest and domination. While remnants of their dark rites persist, serving as a grim reminder of their past, the Fomorii now channel their energies into expanding their influence across other lands. They view the world as a realm to be seized and subjugated, driven by an unquenchable thirst for power and territorial expansion. Unlike the Fwoarians, who lead lives of hardship and simplicity in pursuit of honor and spiritual strength in the afterlife, the Fomorii are characterized by their wanton cruelty and relentless pursuit of dominance over all they encounter.

In contrast to the Fwoarians' reverence for ancestral strength and spiritual fulfillment, the Fomorii prioritize immediate power and conquest, shaping their culture around martial prowess and the relentless pursuit of dominance. Their society is structured to elevate the strongest and most ruthless individuals, with little regard for mercy or compassion. This stark contrast reflects their belief that survival and supremacy are won through unyielding aggression and the uncompromising assertion of their will upon the world, embodying a cultural heritage tainted by dark sorcery yet driven by an insatiable hunger for conquest and control.

Native Language

Fomorii speak a form of Cawr, or what they call Kavr, that's heavily accented and derivative of its origins.

Customs & Values

The customary codes of the Fomorii are steeped in principles of unwavering courage, unyielding resolve, and the relentless pursuit of their goals by any means necessary. Central to their ethos is the belief that every task, no matter how daunting or brutal, must be completed with single-minded determination. They embrace a ruthless pragmatism, showing no mercy to their enemies and expecting none in return. In battle, they fight with savage intensity, driven by a primal urge to dominate and conquer. For the Fomorii, weakness is scorned and strength revered, with their code demanding absolute dedication to achieving victory through sheer force of will and unrelenting aggression.

Art & Architecture

The architecture of the Fomorii reflects a stark blend of ancient stone-age construction techniques and the unrelenting, roughly-beaten iron born of their relentless focus on warfare and industry. Their settlements are characterized by massive stone structures, reminiscent of primitive fortifications, fortified with crude but formidable iron reinforcements. Towers and walls bear scars of constant repair and expansion, hastily constructed and bristling with defensive implements. The landscape is dominated by forges belching smoke into the sky, where skilled artisans labor ceaselessly to forge weapons and armor, the lifeblood of Fomorii society. This stark juxtaposition of ancient stone and brutal iron embodies their uncompromising dedication to martial strength and relentless expansion.

Food & Cuisine

The food of the Fomorii is stark and primal, reflecting their harsh existence and predatory nature. Simple meals are prepared over open flames from campfires, where meats are often scorched to charred perfection, imparting a rugged flavor that matches their rugged lifestyle. Additionally, the Fomorii sometimes indulge in the still-mewling forms of their victims, consuming them raw in a display of dominance and savagery, although even for them this practice has long fallen from favor and is considered desperate. This brutal practice underscores their belief in consuming the strength and vitality of their foes, reinforcing their own prowess and resilience in a world where survival demands unyielding ferocity.

Clothes & Dress

The Fomorii's dress code reflects their hierarchical society and martial ethos, with their warrior castes adorned in hide armors and battle plate, often embellished with weapons taken as trophies from various cultures. These warriors present a formidable sight, their attire symbolizing their prowess in battle and the dominance they assert over their enemies. In contrast, sorcerers and witches within their ranks favor dark robes of rough-spun cloth or, in more extreme cases, garments fashioned from the skin of their vanquished foes. These occult adornments, clattering with strange tokens and symbols, signify their mastery of arcane arts and dark rituals. Serfs and slaves among the Fomorii wear meager attire scavenged from their surroundings, underscoring their subordinate status within the rigid social hierarchy of their tribe.

Myths & Legends

The most prevailing myth of the Fomorii peoples was that Balurr was a hero who stood against the Ardruids during their wars with the fwoarians. Chastised by them and maimed, their people then exiled for seeking to make themselves greater than even the tyrannical Ardruids by courting foul things and deities from the Outer Night. After being exiled from Inis Mona the Fomorii were lead by the witches to the Riven Lands where they established the kingdom of Balurrand in honor of their fallen ancestral patron. It is this resolve to do what they must to become strong that gives them the right to conquer all that they see.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

The birth rites of the Fomorii are solemn and ritualistic, overseen by the tribe's witches who invoke the blessings of Stramlag the Twisted One and Unknown. As the newborn enters the world, markings are drawn upon their tiny bodies using their mother's blood, symbolizing the infusion of rage and ferocity needed to ensure their survival and dominance. These dark blessings are believed to imbue the child with the primal instincts and relentless aggression necessary to overcome their foes from the moment of birth, marking the beginning of their journey into a life shaped by the tribe's ruthless ethos of strength and conquest.

Coming of Age Rites

The coming of age rite for the Fomorii mirrors that of the Fwoarians in its rigorous test of strength and resilience, yet diverges significantly in its expectations. While the Fwoarians are challenged to endure hardship with little or no arms and armor to earn their place in the afterlife, the Fomorii mark their youth's transition with a stark trial of combat prowess. Young Fomorii are ceremonially gifted a spear and nothing more, symbolizing their tribe's expectation that they must confront and overcome one of several captured and formidable creatures as a test of their mettle. This trial not only demonstrates the individual's ability to face danger head-on but also reinforces the tribe's ethos of relentless aggression and dominance, preparing them for a life where strength and combat prowess are paramount.

Funerary & Memorial Rites

As a funeral rite, the Fomorii honor their departed by setting them adrift on a small raft, preferably on the open sea, before setting it ablaze. This solemn ritual symbolizes not only the passage of the deceased into the afterlife but also their final banishment from Inis Mona and the Bulthron Delta. By relinquishing their loved ones to the mercy of the ocean's currents and flames, the Fomorii believe they release their spirits to wander beyond mortal realms, while also acknowledging their tribe's enduring ties to the sea and the vast unknown. This ritual underscores the Fomorii's connection to the elements and their acceptance of the cyclical nature of life and death, binding them to their ancestral lands even in death.

Beauty Ideals

The Fomorii hold a set of beauty ideals intrinsically linked to strength and capability, valuing traits that signify power and resilience. For them, mass and muscularity are prime indicators of beauty, with larger, more imposing physiques admired and revered. Scars, far from being seen as blemishes, are celebrated as marks of bravery and experience, each one a testament to battles fought and survived. Even mutations, often resulting from their own dark rituals to enhance their strength, are considered attractive, as they reflect a willingness to transcend natural limits in the quest for power. Among the Fomorii, beauty is a visible manifestation of their warrior ethos, where physical prowess and the scars of conflict are the highest expressions of their ideals.

Gender Ideals

The gender ideals of the Fomorii tribe are fundamentally egalitarian, with no distinction made between men and women when it comes to their roles or status. The only criteria that determine one's station in life are their capacity for war and cruelty. Both males and females are equally judged on their strength, ferocity, and ability to dominate in battle. Leadership and respect are earned through demonstrations of martial prowess and ruthless efficiency, not by gender. This brutal meritocracy ensures that only the most formidable and savage individuals rise to positions of power, embodying the Fomorii's unwavering belief that might makes right.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship among the Fomorii is an extension of their martial culture, broached through displays of dominance and strength. Both men and women seek partners who have proven themselves in battle, valuing martial ability and a history of storied conquests. Veterans of campaigns, adorned with the scars and trophies of their victories, are particularly sought after as mates. These displays of power and prowess are the ultimate courtship rituals, with each partner seeking in the other a reflection of their own strength and capability. This mutual respect for martial excellence ensures that relationships are built on a foundation of shared values and a deep understanding of the tribe's warrior ethos.

Relationships

Despite their often cruel and domineering nature, the Fomorii are capable of forming deep bonds of brotherhood with individuals from what they may consider "lesser" cultures, provided these individuals demonstrate unwavering strength and determination, even unto death. Among the Fomorii, respect is earned through acts of valor and resilience, regardless of one's origins. If outsiders prove themselves in battle or display exceptional courage, they can earn a begrudging admiration from the Fomorii warriors. These bonds transcend cultural differences, forging alliances based on mutual respect and a shared understanding of the harsh realities of warfare. Such relationships are rare but profound, illustrating that beneath their brutal exterior, the Fomorii possess a code of honor that values strength and loyalty above all else.

Bloodtide Creed

Answering a call to blood and war, the Fomorii of the Raidmaw Horde sail out to other lands, or join their kinsmen in the Unknown in pillaging Syppria Iuna. Even the Unknown fear the sight of the blood-red sails on their horizons, for they know that when it comes to letting blood flow, there are no more determined champions than the sons and daughters of the Unknown.

Remnant Tribes

Tribes known as "Remnant" tribes began to converge in certain locales. The largest of these tribes is the Storm-Breakers of the Sea Bastion mountain range. However, there exists a sizeable tribe in the Horselands known as the Horse-Eaters and a tribe known as the Barrow-Teeth have managed to eek out a living in Tailté na Bearú.

Wartide Hordes

Even after the practitioners of Stramlag the Twisted One were deposed in RE 2808 AoA, after losing the war to the United Inisan Coalition, the Fomorii returned to their islands and restructured their society. They broke into varying warbands, each consuming lesser warbands to gain more warriors, slaves and power. Eventually, some thirty years later, the warbands entered an uneasy truce and struck out into the Riven Lands and the Scorched Realm looking, once more, for conquest and plunder.