Peoples of Aporia
Peoples are social factions in the world of Aporia.
Every character is a member of one People. Your People are found family, social support, and profession all rolled into one group. They shape your character’s identity and growth opportunities.
Adders Hand
- Scholar-Spies -
The Adder’s Hand is a quiet and often controversial faction within the Grand Library of Zahra that rallies around the ideals of the Warden of Kin and Custom. They believe that magical artifacts, ancient knowledge, and cultural treasures do not belong locked in vaults or wielded as weapons, but should be returned to the peoples and cultures from which they were taken. The Adder’s Hand holds that knowledge is not the property of scholars or rulers; it is a living inheritance that rightfully belongs to the Kinfolk whose histories, traditions, and survival depend on it. Members of the Adder’s Hand operate quietly within the Library, working to identify artifacts that were stolen, displaced, or hoarded, and arranging for their secret return. Their name reflects both their method and their philosophy: like the adder, they strike swiftly and subtly, delivering restitution without asking permission.
Because their activities often conflict with official Library policy, and occasionally violate the Malik’s laws, the Adder’s Hand is a shadowy and decentralized network, operating through coded messages, trusted intermediaries, and anonymous benefactors. While some within the Library view them as idealistic heroes, others see them as dangerous subversives who risk destabilizing Zahra’s political balance. Their work places them at odds with the Guardians of the Vault, the Hammerbound, and even factions within the Library leadership itself. Yet for the Adder’s Hand, the risks are worth it: they believe that only by restoring what was lost can the peoples of Aporia regain their strength, and perhaps, in doing so, heal the wounds that threaten to destroy the world.
Banu al-Rih
- Skysworn Nobility -
The Banu al-Rīḥ, or "Children of the Wind," are a proud and highly respected desert tribe living in the Barqiya desert near Zahra, renowned for their mastery of the great desert Rocs: enormous birds of prey that they tame, raise, and ride into the skies. As a rite of passage, young Banu al-Rīḥ must steal a Roc egg from the high crags, raise the fledgling, and eventually bond with it as a mount. Their speed, reach, and daring make them the most mobile force among the desert peoples, often serving as arbiters and unofficial leaders during times of conflict between tribes. They are a fiercely independent people who value bravery, loyalty, and skill above all else, living by ancient traditions of storytelling, poetry, and celestial navigation. To the Banu al-Rīḥ, freedom is the highest treasure, and they ride the vast desert skies to protect it.
Yet beneath their daring spirit lies a deeply conservative soul. The Banu al-Rīḥ are one of the strongest voices cautioning against the reckless exploitation of the desert’s resources, especially the mass harvesting of fulgurites by tribes like the Baraqīn and the Stormshapers of Zahra. They believe the desert is a living, sacred entity, and that overharvesting the magical relics formed by leyline storms will destabilize the delicate ecosystem of the Barqiya, leading to irreversible collapse. While they trade with Zahra when it suits them, they remain suspicious of the city's growing appetite for magical wealth, seeing it as a slow poison that will bring ruin to both desert and city alike. To the Banu al-Rīḥ, survival is not about taking everything the desert offers, but about living in harmony with the winds, storms, and the ancient, fragile spirit of the land.
Banu Asrar
- Skysworn Nobility -
The Banu al-Rīḥ, or "Children of the Wind," are a proud and highly respected desert tribe living in the Barqiya desert near Zahra, renowned for their mastery of the great desert Rocs: enormous birds of prey that they tame, raise, and ride into the skies. As a rite of passage, young Banu al-Rīḥ must steal a Roc egg from the high crags, raise the fledgling, and eventually bond with it as a mount. Their speed, reach, and daring make them the most mobile force among the desert peoples, often serving as arbiters and unofficial leaders during times of conflict between tribes. They are a fiercely independent people who value bravery, loyalty, and skill above all else, living by ancient traditions of storytelling, poetry, and celestial navigation. To the Banu al-Rīḥ, freedom is the highest treasure, and they ride the vast desert skies to protect it.
Yet beneath their daring spirit lies a deeply conservative soul. The Banu al-Rīḥ are one of the strongest voices cautioning against the reckless exploitation of the desert’s resources, especially the mass harvesting of fulgurites by tribes like the Baraqīn and the Stormshapers of Zahra. They believe the desert is a living, sacred entity, and that overharvesting the magical relics formed by leyline storms will destabilize the delicate ecosystem of the Barqiya, leading to irreversible collapse. While they trade with Zahra when it suits them, they remain suspicious of the city's growing appetite for magical wealth, seeing it as a slow poison that will bring ruin to both desert and city alike. To the Banu al-Rīḥ, survival is not about taking everything the desert offers, but about living in harmony with the winds, storms, and the ancient, fragile spirit of the land.