Baal (Dragon Lords) (updated 2003/10/30)

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Baal'Shem wearing stylized dragonarmor

Baal (literally "dragon lord") are a race of ancient Dragon worshipers from the Draconian Empire of Urulokidor, and along with Wardum are oft called "Draconians". Baal are extraordinarily beautiful, but have a touch of the Draconic. Their skin is ash-like gray or black, and they sometimes have small horns, bony ridges, and sharp nails that set them apart from softer races.

Haughty, cruel, and greedy as Dragons, Baal are looked upon with fear and loathing by most people. Human life has little value in their immortal eyes, and everyone has heard tales of the age when the Draconian empire stretched from sea to sea, enslaving all those within their reach. Their rituals of dragon worship call for burnt offerings of many kinds, which are horrifying and repugnant to many human faiths. However, the Baal care not that they are misunderstood by mortals, for they are burning with a deeper, holy purpose and the rare strength to carry it out. Long ago the Baal were tasked by the Dragon Gods to serve honorable dragons and destroy the Kaeden-corrupted Wyrms that plague Ambar. The pitiful cries of mortal men trampled during the struggles of immortals and dragons truly fall upon deaf ears.

Regions

The "Draconian Empire" once spanned much of Ambar, but fell like all empires eventually do. Baal ruins abound, and the Baal still hold several cities along the "Orod Uruthanc mountains" near the "Taur-Uruloki forest". The region stretches from the "Dragonroar Falls" in the north to Great Dragon Blight in the south.

Population

One commonplace, the Baal have retreated from the world of men to the remnantes of the "Draconian Empire" in the inscrutable east. While some merchants or Alorn knightly orders still retain ties, to most people the Baal are little but a bad memory.

Personality

Baal were a violent, expansionist people, who continually conquered all the lands they encountered by the mandate of the Dragon Gods themselves. Their holdings are now limited to a few cities (called "Eries") along the Dragonspine Mountains and the range from the "Dragons Maw" to the "Dragonroar Falls". Dragons frequently land in the city marketplaces to demand tribute. Most Baal buildings are ancient construction, built of black basalt and carved with Draconic holy signs. They are an ancient race with many taboos enforced by the Baal'Shem. The practice of magic is forbidden to the public, save for certain songs blessed to the dragons, and the dead must be cremated by dragonflame or Baalfire.

Within the cities, Baal form fragmented tribes called "clutches", which worship and serve a particular dragon or family of dragons. While the dragon is awake the clutch lives to serve the dragon's wishes, but when left to their own device the Baal tend to war among themselves. Fortunately for the world, the Baal clutches are so fractious that fielding an army is nearly impossible.

Baal are famous for their fear-inspiring battle hymns, often accompanied by drum, pipe and horns that sound like the roars of dragons. Baal armies march openly to battle, singing their songs of battle to rout their foes.

The Baal'Shem are the noble leaders of the Baal people. A Baal'Shem expects immediate and unquestioned obedience from those around him. He has the right to claim the life of any of a lower rank who displeases him. This can be by his own hand, the hand of a Baal'Kel warrior, or by the very hand of the one to die. Most teachings are oratory, passed down by the Baal'Shem dragon priests, and written histories are extremely rare.

Baal are a very magical people--sorcery has an everyday significance in their lives and is held as sacred. The Baal'Shem sorcerer priests are the voices of the Dragons, and are the spiritual advisors and leaders of the people. Baal'Shem are scarred by their Dragon masters when they are chosen, marking the Baal'Shem forever as being set aside from others. The scar is caused by the Dragon's talons and blood as a permanent symbol of power and learning. These scars grant prestige and rank to the Baal'Shem, outward symbols of his control of Sorcery and position in Baal society. When a Baal is chosen by a Dragon to become a Baal'Shem and marked with the symbol of his breath, he becomes a ruler of the Baal people. The ways of the mighty Dragons are beyond those of mortal men and no man may question their judgment.

Physical Description

Baal are distant kin to the Eldar, and with their Draconic mien truly majestic. Their skin is an ash-like gray or black color and they have small horns, bony ridges, and sharp nails that set them apart from the Eldar. Baal tend to become more compact and lean over time. The most striking feature of the Baal are their fiery eyes, which pierce the veils of darkness and deception. These are the eyes of predators or hunters, but magical rather than feral.

Dragon scars are a mark of prestige, so much so that facial tattoos are fashionable. The lesser servants mark themselves as a sign of faith. Only a chosen few have authentic dragon scars, which are said to grant mystic powers in addition to commanding genuine respect amongst all Baal.

Relations

The Baal are greatly respected by the Alorns for their reputation of honorable combat and mastery of armored knightly combat. The Alorns also honor the Baal for their zealous obedience to the dragon gods, particularly in the geas to hunt and slay the fallen dragons known as Wyrms. Tales of knights slaying dragons are well known even to Alorn children. The Alorns worship the same gods as the Baal, albeit under different names, and see the Baal as fellow soldiers in the honorable fight against the many faces of evil.

However, Baal are greatly feared and hated by most other cultures, particularly the Kith, Alu, Rochir and Vozen. During the centuries when the Baal hunted wyrms, they were a violent, expansionist people who crushed and subjugated every nation they encountered. Many Kith, Rochir and Vozen were enslaved, and the Alu have a long standing tradition of hunting Baal to atone for their murderous crimes. If only the Baal had been more respectful of other races even the Kith might have allied with the Baal as fellow slayers of wyrms. Fortunately for their trodden down foes, the Baal clutches are now so fractious that fielding an army is impossible.

Lands

The Baal dwell in Black Eries hewn from volcanic peaks. Dragons frequently land in the towers to receive tribute.

Nobility

The Baal have many titles of nobility and honor, the most general being Baal'Seta, or "dragon marked", those who have chosen by the dragons and marked with holy scars. Most Baal have at least one scar.

The most powerful seta grant magic powers from the dragon gods, such as heightened strength, draconic sight, or the calling forth of magical dragon fire, or Baalfire. Tales abound of ancient and terrible Baal lords wielding blade and Baalfire, and backed by the might of the dragons.

Religion

Baal culture revolves around worship and service of dragonkind. The Baal'Shem are the priests of the dragons and rulers of Baal society. The seta received by Baal'Shem are distinct in appearance than others, and give them the divine right to rule.

The dragons worshiped by the Baal have fire-hardened black scales and green eyes that glow with hellish light. They breathe a cone of flaming, oily acid. Even their spittle and blood are highly acidic and the few heroes who slay a dragon do not live to tell the tale, burned and trampled in the bloody death throes of the dragon. Baal dragons always return to their caves and become dormant for long periods of time after great exertion. The Baal priests guard the dragons during these long slumbers, act as the mouths of the dragons when they awaken. The priests hand down the edicts and wishes of the dragons to the people, which are followed without question. Typically those wishes involve conquest and destruction.

The Baal priests also look forward to the reawakening of the Pendragon, who will lead the Baal into the next great age of their people and restore their vast empire. History has shown that only the awakening of the Great Dragon can reunite the Baal clutches into a single force.

Some dissidents claim that the Baal religion and doctrine of divine right is a sham. The dragons are not sleeping, but were killed in wars against the Wyrms and to further conquests of the "Draconian Empire". The Baal'Shem are ruling in the name of dragons that no longer live. At best, the "reawakening" foretold by the Baal'Shem is a poetic representation of the rebirth of new dragons, and a new Pendragon. At worst, the Baal'Shem are fork-tongued manipulators who remain in power past their time by manipulating both Baal and the few remaining dragons.

History

The Pendragon created the Baal through his own blood, transforming the Eldar who dwelled in Yr'Kesh into his own people. The Pendragon commanded the Baal to hunt the corrupted dragons who had betrayed their trust and released the foul Kaeden. Furthermore, they were to conquer and subdue all the lands, to make them inhospitable to the Wyrms and Kaeden. Starting from From Yr'Kesh, their search took them all around the Dragon Sea, a region where basalt was common. This black volcanic rock, also known as Dragonstone, was favored by the dragons for lairing and egg-laying. The Baal guarded the black rock, protecting it for use by the good dragons, and denying it to the evil dragons. The Dwur craftsmen build a series of shrines, towers, towns, forts, and cities along the path of Baal conquest. Tall towers enabled the Baal to watch for dragons. The Dwur built all of the Baal works from black Dragonstone, sturdily wrought and skillfully carved with Draconic holy symbols.

The Baal conquest proceeded quickly with their armies of ironclad Dwur troops, Karrock runegolems, and fiery dragons. However, not all of the lands the Baal traveled through were peaceful or amiable to dragon hunting and "invasion". The Baal were draconic in their dealing with the tribes of lesser races that happened to be living on the land they needed. Tribes of humans were typically given an ultimatum to worship the dragons or die. Human lives weighed little by Baal reckoning, so even those who cooperated had little more than a life of slavery to the "Draconian Empire".

Only the Southmaren Empire and Alu resisted the conquest with any success. The Southmarens bargained with the Baal, forging a trade alliance only superficially subservient to the Draconian Empire. They built a grand dragon temple in their capital, added a black dragon to the gold falcon on their flag, and traded much-needed grain for Dwur stonemasons. During those years the Great Canal of Mrmym was built by Dwur hands, linking the city of Aquila to the Dragon Sea. This monumental work allowed grain to be transported to any of the Baal holdings with great efficiency.

After an apparently easy conquest of the Alu lands, the Baal were astonished by the Alu uprising that followed. The Alu fought with terrifying precision and stealth, striking quickly and them melting back into the shadows. Generals, captains, dragon priests, and even dragons were assassinated--strangled or beheaded by long strands of grass woven into whip-like weapons. The battle-hardened Baal armies were helpless against a foe that would not take the field, and the leaderless forces were quickly driven from Nan-Surinen. The Baal never returned.

The Baal also traveled east toward the sacred lair of the great Pendragon. Eventually reaching that holy land, they build the grand city of Rhi'Uruloki, on the "Dragonwing Peninsula". Rhi'Uruloki became the capitol of the "Draconian Empire", which now fully ringed the Dragon Sea.

At the pinnacle of their power, disaster struck. The great Pendragon, which had been awake for hundreds of years, finally slept as all dragons do. Without her presence to unite the dragons and Baal, the "Draconian Empire" disintegrated into squabbling factions and uncooperative dragons who demanded more and more tribute each passing year. With weak Baal leadership, the Dwur used their Karrock runegolems to retake their ancestral home of Aegis, and proclaiming their independence from the crumbling "Draconian Empire". Barbarian hordes from the north descended on the poorly defended Baal cities, sacking the ancient strongholds none had dared assault before. The desperate Baal demanded that the Dwur return to their duties, who refused, and Dwur who had remained in the Baal cities were slain in anger. The Dwur retaliated by igniting prodigious amounts of Baalfire in the tunnels under the city of Yr'Kesh, sinking the island city beneath the waves of the "Dragon" Sea and demanding the release of all their people. The Baal attacked the Dwur with Baalfire and flights of dragons, but the Dwur knew well how to deal with such forces, and simply shut their stone doors to the surface world. With the northern barbarian hordes pillaging their cities, the Baal fell back to the holy city of Rhi'Uruloki to defend it with all their remaining strength.

More and more dragons take the long sleep every year, and the Pendragon still sleeps in her holy shrine in Rhi'Uruloki. Baal await the day when she will awake and once more lead them to glory.

Equipment

Armed with magical weapons, garbed in the skin of dragons and wielding Baalfire, few can withstand their armies. Baal soldiers dress in ornate Draconic plate armor and wield flamberge swords, flaming crossbow bolts, and Baalfire, while the Baal dragon priests rain magical fire down upon their foes. Many Baal have magical weapons passed down from their ancestors.

The Baal make extensive use of Baalfire, an incendiary acidic oil that ignites with explosive force like the breath of a dragon and remains burning even underwater. This has historically allowed them to breach nearly any defenses with ease.

Adventurers

Baal are superficially human enough to enter human cities, but are rarely welcome. They are invariably drawn toward violent careers in which they can put their natural destructive strengths too good use. Frequently shunned from polite company, Baal often find acceptance and friendship among adventurers, many of who are fellow wanderers and adventurers.

Getting Into Character

You come from a line of divine immortals and could be thousands of years old yourself. Your ancestry is rich with art, culture, wisdom, and power--mortals in contrast seem dirty, unrefined, and only a notch above animals. Over your long years you have learned many skills and likely unlearned any bad habits or annoying personal traits. If you have a fault, its your dragon-like greed and overconfidence. Since your people have few children and are naturally superior to mortals you will not risk the lives of your fellow elves. Fortunately, you are immortal, so you can afford to be patient and cautious. Hold your head up high and be proud. Listen patiently and speak clearly with carefully chosen words.

Baal Arms and Armor (updated 2005/10/12)

A flaming sword is the most beautiful, holy, and noble symbol to a Baal, yet, the same weapon appears terrifying and cruel to mortals. Baal swords forged for noble Baal'Kel warriors are often stylized with undulating, flame-like blades such as "flamberge" and "kris" knives towards this ideal, but lances and pikes are the staple of their common infantry. Baal have developed powerful crossbows as well with wickedly barbed bolts or explosive tips that unleash Baalfire.

Baal craft equisite weapons, armor, and shields from the castoff scales of dragons, and magical metals such as Adamant and Orichalcum. These materials are are hard and impervious to flame, yet supple if well crafted. Dragonsilver gifted from the hoards of dragons is also employed, which has magical properties due to its prolonged proximity with dragons.

Baal weapons of quality always have names written in runes upon their blades, usually visible only when the blade is heated by dragonflame or Baalfire. Once wreathed in flame, the blade will stay [ more... ]

Baal'Seta (Dragon Scarred) (updated 2006/09/20)

The Baal'Seta (literally "dragon scarred") are those who have chosen by the dragons and marked with the holy dragon scars known as seta. [ more... ]

gallery: Baal

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names: Baal (updated 2005/10/12)

Baal take a personal name, to which they append the name of the dragon they serve, or their family has traditionally served. For example, Baal'Shem Herek'Gaur serves the dragon Gaur. Sample names:

Ur'Kaol, Ton'Phal, Jav'Tara, Vir'Hajas, Ten'Dihn, Yer'Tith, Nolan'gor, Tal'Had, Tal'Hajas, Phal'Dara, Tars'Nolan, Tar'Phal, Tith'Gor, Jav'Hajak, Ur'Thuvin, Nur'Ash, Jat'Nolan, Ras'Dihn, Tal'Mors, Tar'Tith, Ten'Kaol, Gor'Tars, Tith'Hajak, Tak'Tara, Nur'Kaol, Mors'Jat, Jajas'Ur, Tal'Nolan, Vir'Kajas, Ton'Jat, Nolan'Vir, Gor'Ash, Ras'Phal, Tak'Jat, Tak'Thuvin, Ton'Hajak, Hajak, Tak, Dihn'Nur, Kajas'Gor, Tith'Tar, Kaol'Tara, Phal'Thuvin, Vir'Mors, Ras'Tars, Tak'Hajak, Jat'Tal, Nolan'Ur

Only the lowest members of society have a single name, which may indicate a great dishonor such as the death of their dragon.