Post by Martian on Jul 20, 2016 0:07:36 GMT -5
The Taranta are a subspecies of human that reside in the Holt Mountains of Central Orctova, as well as the Southwestern bits of the Bolkov Subcontinent. This breed of man has been through many rough times, since its expulsion from Human society in the late First Age, to the attempted oppression by the Crusaders of the Sanctum in the late Fourth Age.
Tarantas are more physically built than any other breed of Human, due to the way they live out their lives in their survivalist culture. They are a hardy breed, able to endure the more extreme climates, deserts excluding.
Tarantas also have a unique strength of mind. Due to their living conditions, they are almost required to have a strong, and sound spirit. This mixture of physical and mental prowess has proven the Taranta a force to reckoned with on the battlefield, and History has shown thus, albeit not many times.
The painting is supposedly a portrait of the
female Warrior Nas'Gil and her Hunter Spider
partner, who has no recorded name.
Before breaking off from the rest of the humans, historians believe the ancestors of the Taranta were worshippers of the god Mephis. Mephis was seen by those not belonging to his religion, then and always considered a cult by the world, as a dark and manipulating creature; a "dark god" if you will. In reality, the religion of Mephis is quite tame, but his followers were shunned nonetheless. When the Dark One's first conquest arose in the First Age, the Mephis worshippers were accused of aiding him, and were forced to flee from the humans who tried to have them killed. The one place they knew no one would follow them to is one of the most dangerous regions in all of Orctova, and even all of Noliterre: The Holt Mountains. The Holt Mountain Range is home to some of the most ferocious beasts. Folklore, fairy tales, and legends all stem from the forests of this area. It was here that the Mephis worshippers decided to survive and live on.
In the present day, the Taranta no longer worship Mephis, although the influence of the dead religion remains. It is no longer to be called worship, but respect. Those lucky enough to be let into Taranta villages will be greeted with giant wood carvings of the god.
The religion of Mephis is also responsible for the warrior culture of the Taranta. All Taranta are trained to hunt. Hunting is a major part of life and survival for the breed, so even those who do not become hunters are taught the most basic principles of the profession. Those that to go on to become a hunter must go through rigorous training, both physical, and mental. When their training is complete, one must embark on his maiden hunting expedition. If he or she returns alive after having killed a feared beast, that Taranta is granted the title of "Warrior."
Warriors are the protectors of the race, and they carry the most honor due to the dangerous line of work they carry out. Tribe leaders and elders are almost always Warriors. They go out on hunts, police the tribes, and dispatch any who trespass in their forests. The elite of the Warriors are also paired with a species of beast that, for an unknown reason, have befriended the Taranta: the Hunter Spider.
The Hunter Spider of Orctova is one of the most feared beasts in all of Noliterre. Giant, agile, stealthy, and very deadly, they are the main reason Humans have such a fear of the denser forests in Mid Orctova. When first arrived in the Holt Mountain's forests, the Mephis worshippers came into contact with the Hunter Spiders. A frantic fight ensued, and the Hunter Spiders defeated the Cultists, but didn't kill them, so the legends go. These spiders work alongside the Taranta, even allowing the elite Warriors to ride on their backs when hunting as a pair.
While the elite of the Warriors work with their Spider partner, the elite of the elite Warriors do not. These highest-skilled Warriors are only recognized as such when they carry out a specific requirement. They must go alone, without their partner, into the forest to find and slay a beast that is known to the Taranta only as a Hunter Killer. These giant cat-like creatures are the only beast that rivals Hunter Spiders as the top predator in the Holt Mountains; in fact, they are the top predator and the only beast that can kill a Hunter Spider. On record, the number of Taranta that have successfully killed a Hunter Killer can be counted on two hands, but these few Warriors can safely be considered the most skilled, dangerous, and powerful humans who do not utilize magic. These few Warriors are those who are granted the title of "Hunter," after the Hunter Spiders who have aided and befriended the Taranta during their stay in the Mountains.
Tarantas are more physically built than any other breed of Human, due to the way they live out their lives in their survivalist culture. They are a hardy breed, able to endure the more extreme climates, deserts excluding.
Tarantas also have a unique strength of mind. Due to their living conditions, they are almost required to have a strong, and sound spirit. This mixture of physical and mental prowess has proven the Taranta a force to reckoned with on the battlefield, and History has shown thus, albeit not many times.
The painting is supposedly a portrait of the
female Warrior Nas'Gil and her Hunter Spider
partner, who has no recorded name.
Before breaking off from the rest of the humans, historians believe the ancestors of the Taranta were worshippers of the god Mephis. Mephis was seen by those not belonging to his religion, then and always considered a cult by the world, as a dark and manipulating creature; a "dark god" if you will. In reality, the religion of Mephis is quite tame, but his followers were shunned nonetheless. When the Dark One's first conquest arose in the First Age, the Mephis worshippers were accused of aiding him, and were forced to flee from the humans who tried to have them killed. The one place they knew no one would follow them to is one of the most dangerous regions in all of Orctova, and even all of Noliterre: The Holt Mountains. The Holt Mountain Range is home to some of the most ferocious beasts. Folklore, fairy tales, and legends all stem from the forests of this area. It was here that the Mephis worshippers decided to survive and live on.
In the present day, the Taranta no longer worship Mephis, although the influence of the dead religion remains. It is no longer to be called worship, but respect. Those lucky enough to be let into Taranta villages will be greeted with giant wood carvings of the god.
The religion of Mephis is also responsible for the warrior culture of the Taranta. All Taranta are trained to hunt. Hunting is a major part of life and survival for the breed, so even those who do not become hunters are taught the most basic principles of the profession. Those that to go on to become a hunter must go through rigorous training, both physical, and mental. When their training is complete, one must embark on his maiden hunting expedition. If he or she returns alive after having killed a feared beast, that Taranta is granted the title of "Warrior."
Warriors are the protectors of the race, and they carry the most honor due to the dangerous line of work they carry out. Tribe leaders and elders are almost always Warriors. They go out on hunts, police the tribes, and dispatch any who trespass in their forests. The elite of the Warriors are also paired with a species of beast that, for an unknown reason, have befriended the Taranta: the Hunter Spider.
The Hunter Spider of Orctova is one of the most feared beasts in all of Noliterre. Giant, agile, stealthy, and very deadly, they are the main reason Humans have such a fear of the denser forests in Mid Orctova. When first arrived in the Holt Mountain's forests, the Mephis worshippers came into contact with the Hunter Spiders. A frantic fight ensued, and the Hunter Spiders defeated the Cultists, but didn't kill them, so the legends go. These spiders work alongside the Taranta, even allowing the elite Warriors to ride on their backs when hunting as a pair.
While the elite of the Warriors work with their Spider partner, the elite of the elite Warriors do not. These highest-skilled Warriors are only recognized as such when they carry out a specific requirement. They must go alone, without their partner, into the forest to find and slay a beast that is known to the Taranta only as a Hunter Killer. These giant cat-like creatures are the only beast that rivals Hunter Spiders as the top predator in the Holt Mountains; in fact, they are the top predator and the only beast that can kill a Hunter Spider. On record, the number of Taranta that have successfully killed a Hunter Killer can be counted on two hands, but these few Warriors can safely be considered the most skilled, dangerous, and powerful humans who do not utilize magic. These few Warriors are those who are granted the title of "Hunter," after the Hunter Spiders who have aided and befriended the Taranta during their stay in the Mountains.
