Saurian

Saurians are a vaguely reptilian humanoid race that are naturally resistant to magic and miracle. This resistance allows them to develop a higher tech level without magical interference, most notably their secret black powder explosive. They possess an innate schtick where the first three successes of all spells and miracles (whether cast by friends or foes) bounce off them, which can be further enhanced through additional schticks in claws or scales.

Saurians are organized as a race more than most other peoples, with rumors of a Council of Elders making decisions for all Saurians, though they still experience internal conflicts. The race reappeared and regained the ability to reproduce approximately two comets ago during the Comet that brought major changes to the world.

Distribution and Culture

Saurians are mostly concentrated in Orange, with a significant military outpost on Melmane (in Blue) dedicated to fighting Slith. They speak Saurian as their native language but will speak Common when others are around.

In Orange, Saurians comprise nearly half the population and experience racial tension with humans, who dominate the three major city-states of Kor, Rin'yan, and Vani. Saurians believe they should have more political influence, though they rarely become Masters in the Merchant's Guild, instead remaining at Journeyman rank or lower. The Saurians do not typically act as a unified political bloc, though influential individuals like Pyotr can speak with significant weight on issues affecting them.

In Yellow, very few Saurians are present, making their relationship with the Varna caste system unclear. In Green and Red, Saurians are relatively uncommon.

History and Homelands

For approximately 20,000 years before the recent comet, Saurians could not reproduce. During this period, the Goddess and the Nameless provided a miracle granting some Saurians incredibly long life to survive until reproduction became possible again. The Oldest (known as Nikolai) was the last of these ancient Saurians, dying approximately two comets ago.

Saurian culture was deliberately designed by the Elders when the race was reborn. While it has evolved somewhat, most Saurian communities are the result of two or three Elders establishing a settlement. The Homelands served as the original location where Saurians were reborn approximately four comets ago. Contact with the Homelands has been severely limited for the past two comets, with only occasional messages passing between them. At the time of the rebirth, there were approximately 100 Saurians and numerous humans in the Homelands, with Saurians ruling by proxy. The Homelands followed a single religion centered on the Mother (Birth, Life, and Death), represented by the Twins and the Nameless. By the time of the Rainbow River's scattering, Saurians ruled openly in the Homelands, though it remains unclear whether they outnumbered humans.

Notable Individuals

• Pyotr - Keeper of the Lord's House in Vani, the most prominent Saurian in the city
• Nesh - Member of the Middlesea Free Rangers, descended from The Oldest
• General Petrov - Saurian commander at the military outpost on Melmane
• Mikhailovich - Orange and Yellow mage involved in wall construction in Darstan
• Victor - Journeyman from Kor, Orange delegate to the Conclave
• Georgi - Itinerant priest of Tam
• Rustic - Saurian in the Guild, noted for unusual thievery behavior