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History
The Iksar are a reptilian race
which calls the continent of Kunark home. The Iksar were once slaves to the extinct
(at least they are believed to be on Kunark) Shissar, until a plague of unknown
origin killed their Shissar masters. The Iksar recovered from their time of
slavery with remarkable strength and determination. They built a proud and
powerful Empire which became so mighty it caught the attention of the Dragons of
the Ring of Scale. So much attention the Ring of Scale believed they had to act
before the Iksar became so strong they could never be challenged. The Iksar waged war with the Ring of Scale, and in the process their
capital city of Sebilis
was lost to them. To be haunted by the fallen and ruled by the Dragon who lead
the assault against the Empire, Trakanon.
The descendants of the remaining Iksar have rebuilt
in the city of Cabilis and the shattered Empire is once again recovering its
fortunes. The Iksar are still a war like people and are naturally well suited to the rigors of
battle and combat training. All Iksar regenerate at an extraordinary rate and have a natural armour
in their lizard like hides. They commonly become
Warriors and Monks but many follow the dark paths of a Necromancer or Shadow
Knight. Through their tribal heritage and mystical knowledge some may also
become Shamans and the wilder of those or the exiled are known to follow a Beastlords
path. Though whether their Beastlords understand the bond between Master and
Warder the Vah Shir develop is debatable, what isn't is the power and ferocity
an Iksar demonstrates when using their body as a weapon. The Iksar are one of
only two races that have the dedication, focus and training to become Monks, and
those who do are widely feared among the other races.
It is not only Iksar Monks that
are feared on the other continents of Norrath. The Iksar as a race are widely
feared and despised, they are neither friendly or accepted by any other. Some believe the Iksar are simply a misunderstood
people, and the other races rejection of them prevents them forging valuable future
alliances. Though there is no denying their intentions in the past have been
dark and of suspicious intention. The evidence of a cruel and evil empire is just under the surface
and many have bad memories or even physical wounds of encounters with the
reptilians.
Almost all
Iksar vocally follow the God of Fear: Cazic Thule and even though some are less 'devoted' than others,
many are very 'demonstrative' about their worship. There is a deep set
superstition that the
inadequacies of their worship in the past and Cazic Thules resulting anger, is
responsible for their Empires downfall. To publicly follow other deities is
unacceptable in Iksar society and those who fail to live up to their standards
of discipline and respect are forcibly exiled and consigned to the swamps and
outlands surrounding their home. The Iksar are cruel even to their own kind and
have little compassion or generosity, they live a hard and difficult existence
which they believe keeps them sharp and strong. It is a very brave adventurer
that explores their homelands and one braver still that attempts to converse
with an Iksar.
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