Irekei

Irekei are a race of beings in the popular online roleplaying game, Shadowbane. They are a tall race who somewhat resemble elves in appearance. However, they have several features which distinguish them from traditional elves such as their crimson or black skin, skin which is hot to the touch, angular facial features, heavier musculature, and inability to perspire. While Irekei are often referred to as "Devil Men" by foreigners, their name is roughly translated to mean either "They Who Endure" or "Excellent Endurance". The Irekei refer to all other races as fir’khanim, which is translated as "Rain-Bleeders".

Culture

Irekei culture is greatly influenced by their religious beliefs in the Dragon and in proving worth through the endurance of struggles. These beliefs have led to a warlike society. Khan’jallakar or "Blood War", is not uncommon among the desert-dwellers. The declaration of such a war is done with a strict code of honor, but once war has been declared there are no rules.

The Irekei are divided into several virakt’al. A vir’akt is a tribe that is usually composed of several smaller clans. The bond between tribesmen is incredibly strong and no Irekei would ever deign to betray or harm another of his own tribe willingly.

No code of honor exists for dealings with fir’khanim. The Irekei have no qualms about perpetrating extreme violence upon non-Irekei, and in some cases the Irekei may take slaves. In more recent times some Irekei have come to tolerate the presence of an ever-growing population of Rain-Bleeders in the desert and have even found ways to profit monetarily from it.

The Irekei lead a mostly nomadic lifestyle in the burning deserts of Khar Thale, with the exception of some of the Bhalalar Irekei who populate the cities of Khar Th’Sekt and Kharduun in the western desert. Because of their mostly nomadic lifestyle in the open desert they have a tendency to become unsettled in any enclosed environment such as city streets, small buildings, and forests. While the Irekei also value water, they are fearful of large expanses of water such as a lakes or oceans.

Religion

Irekei believe themselves to be the chosen race of Nkurakarin, the Great and Everlasting Terror, who is known among non-Irekei as the Dragon. For the Irekei the Dragon embodies chaos and order, beginnings and ends, and is the indomitable will of the universe. They will not do anything that is not in accordance with N’koth, the Dragon’s Will. They refer to all other deity figures as Meddler Gods, with the exception of the Phoenix, who is the Daughter of the Dragon.

In the early days of the world the elves, in their arrogance, aroused the ire of the Dragon. Most of the elves ran in fear calling to their gods to save them, but one remained. This one was named Darivastor. The Dragon punished the elves by setting alight the Sun before returning to his slumber deep within the world. While the elves hid themselves away, Darivastor and his followers remained under the sun to strengthen themselves and so they became known as the Children of the Sun.

Over time the Children of the Sun began to change in appearance and in beliefs. They came to accept struggles and sufferings as a test of endurance, and their skin grew red and black to endure Kry’Khalin, the Sun. During this time many perished, but the Children of the Sun accepted the process as culling the weak and unworthy from among them. Those who survived this time called themselves Irekei, "They Who Endure".

Darivastor led the Irekei into the depth of the world to awake the Dragon, but they found their path barred by both physical and magical barriers. They meditated on this, hoping for guidance from the Dragon, and they were answered. In their meditation some became aware of the Dragon’s thoughts and will. These few were called Blood Prophets and became the spiritual leaders of the Irekei. They revealed their knowledge of the Dragon’s return and the Great Holy Blood War, which would destroy all the unworthy once and for all. They taught of the khar’ika, the Soul Fire, that burned within every Irekei, and they also revealed the existence of the Daughter of the Dragon, the Phoenix.

It was then that the Phoenix came upon the Irekei and taught them new ways to live, and they prospered. All was not well, however, as the Rain-Bleeders had long prayed for their gods to remove the Sun from the sky and return them to power in the world. The prayers of the Rain-Bleeders were answered and a great team of beasts were strung by the gods to the sun to drag it away. Darivastor and his prophets countered by weaving magic that thrust their greatest warriors into the sky to fight against the Meddler Gods’ work. Thus began the cycle of day and night, severing the connection between the Phoenix and the Irekei.

The thoughts of the Dragon became as distant whispers, and death from old age made its first appearance among the Irekei. In this time of confusion arguments broke out about the truth of the Dragon, which led to wars and divisions among the Irekei. This dark time lasted over a thousand years before the Irekei named Jall’kroda braved the depths to seek the Dragon. With his prophets he called to the Dragon in the depths and the Dragon answered by revealing to them how to use their khar’ika to strengthen themselves.

Using this knowledge of Soul Fire they attempted to once again summon the Phoenix. The Phoenix hearing their call was pulled back into the world and spread her flames, the flames of the Sun, across all the Irekei forever transforming them into true Children of the Dragon.

The War of Flames

Following their transformation by the flames of the Phoenix the Irekei were met with yet another challenge. The empire of elves had mobilized its forces and marched upon the Burning Lands of Khar Thale intent on destroying the Irekei race. The war raged for years. The Irekei fought fiercely and slew hundreds of Rain-Bleeders for every one Irekei, but the Irekei were greatly outnumbered by the other races and defeat seemed certain.

It was then that an Irekei prophet named P’reklabhar, the last of the disciples of Jall’kroda, made the journey to the center of the world to call upon the Dragon for aid. Seeing that there was strength in P’reklabhar’s ability to admit her own weakness the Dragon deemed her worthy of its favor and told her of the Chaos Gate beyond which dwelled the Dark Lords of Chaos.

By the direction of Nkurakarin P’reklabhar sacrificed herself in order to open the Chaos Gate. The Dark Lords were unleashed onto Aerynth and for one hundred years they slaughtered all the followers of the Meddler Gods. The Dark Lords allowed the Irekei to remain unharmed in exchange for their release.

Language

The Irekei language was officially developed by those in the employ of Wolfpack Studios as an enhancement to the given lore and a way to give meaningful names to characters and places. However, players have since expanded and altered the language and several dialects have appeared.

Roleplayer Influence

Shadowbane provided a rich background for the Irekei upon which roleplaying groups such as Shadowclan and Virakar were able to build. Roleplaying groups have expanded the lore and language to encompass several cultural views of the Irekei and many usable dialects of the Irekei language.

See also

* [http://www.virakar.com/main/index.php Virakar Website]
* [http://www.straybulletgames.com/ Wolfpack Studies now called Stray Bullet Games]