First City Characters

Techically there is no issues from a mechanical pov, but there is a lot of cultural issues which would get in the way. For example, how could you rationalize a Hunai Hero or worshiper of the 3 Sisters considering that they are effectively incompatable?

I do not believe that there is a listing for region skills to come from Khitan … so a true Khitani character remains out. However you could certainly build a character from the BL who has Khitani parents and who thinks of himself as Khitani & follows the Kahlindrul. That’s pretty Khitani-ish…

Basically that’s the concept I was aiming at. The fun comes when the character deals with a “real” Khitani…and he/she is clueless about certain things the way a child of expats can get confused when visiting the “mother country.”

As for the Hunai…

I’m at work without the books but I thought Hunai from the First City were not that “simple” anymore having been exposed to civilization (both good and bad). I was thinking of a bitter ex-slave who secretly worshipped Nayal…

Oh he/she would be pretty “fallen.” The proverbial “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” attitude. He/she is fed up with the way his/her people have been treated and abused and sets on to make his/he mark on the world. “Nayal grants me the strength to strike down my enemies..” sort of thing. This character is all about vengeance, sort of like Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy now that I think of it…that might actually be a cool concept especially the way he talks.

As far as he/she is concerned there is no more turning the other cheek. And the other Hunai…well they’re a bunch of weaklings too afraid to defend themselves.

Not sure if all this fits the canon but it’s what I’m brainstorming at the moment.

I agree priests would be difficult.

We know a fair bit about the “slaughter” priests of Nier, the “idiot” priests of Illiir & the “defend the worthy” aspects of the Temple of Hurrian. Their cants are the same as far as I know, but they all definitely have different spins than their southern cousins. Presumably there are differences in the other Temples as well.

Hello Michael,

As many have already answered, you can make a “Khitani” character that was born and raised in Khitan, but he/she wouldn’t truly be a Khitani character, as the rules for the things like favored weapons, culture and religion haven’t been developed yet.

As for the Hunai, I would say no. Obviously, no one can stop you from saying that your character is a Hunai, but they are a surprisingly nuanced people. Your statement, “And the other Hunai…well they’re a bunch of weaklings too afraid to defend themselves,” tells me that there hasn’t been enough development of the culture for it to be playable at the moment.

So no, sorry – Hunai are off limits for now.

To be clear I understand the character would not be truly Khitani. The character (from the First City) would be Khitani-flavored (possibly even of mixed ethnic heritage if that’s possible). Right now I have an image which is inspiring me to play with character concepts. She’s clearly of Khitani ancestry and wears Khitani style armor (i.e. Chinese–and I realize the Khitani will incorporate additional real-world influences, I just really like the image ) So I’m trying to see what I can come up with within the scope of allowable material. That’s all. I’ve got plenty of fun characters at the moment and in no rush to start another one. Although repeating crossbows are really cool….

As for the Hunai, I would agree they do need more development, to be honest I’m actually more interested in the religion of the Three Sisters itself. For some reason I find it more fascinating than the Kalindruhl…the caste system of the religion (and Khitani society in general) I find a bit off-putting…too much American in me I guess.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestion, it’s all good.

Now what’s up with this Destroyer dude?

So, i’m slowly reading through the lore in the A:Shattered Kingdoms book, as I attempt to gather a understanding of the various bits of major lore, locations and peoples.. but I have to ask.

Why do Coryani and Kithani dislike each other? I know they have gone to war, thought not entirely sure why except it was over ownership of the First City, publicly. I know of the truce that stands and has held for a long time in relation to the first city. Is this all because of the sleeping emperor? I mean that guys a Valinor isn’t he? So why hate them for listening to him, lol!

Or do they have churches that have direct and open contradictions in relation to both Milandisian and Coryani Mother Church branches of the pantheon of man gods? I mean.. they are humans, and presumably have faced many of the same hardships and horrors the games world throws at its various inhabitants, is there no common ground between these two peoples to one day lead to some kind of true peace, and not just a “Truce for now”?

I mean.. this world has FREAKING DEMONS! lol if for no other reason than that, there seems to be potential for a true peace.

. . . yes?

1) The Coryani and the Khitani are both powerful military powers, the dominant powers in their respective spheres of influence. As the old saying goes: “When all you have is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.”

I suppose i can see why both empires stand against each other then to a certain degree. they are both powerful factions that want some of the same lands and think the other is not worthy of that land for one or more reasons.

2) The theology of the Kalindruhl (the Khitani Church) is based on a holy book (the Kalindruhl) given to them by the Dreaming of Larissa, the being (not 100% sure it is a Valinor, just very sure) which led the Khitani people from the First City into the lands beyond the Fervidus Hills. This allowed them to escape the troubles which beset the rest of the Imperium, which eventually dissolved into the Shadowed Age. The Khitani, however, maintained stability.

I should also point out that there is a lot of aspects of Khitani worship which is not shared by the Coryani. They do not worship Anshar or any aspect, even to the point of shunning the Portals. They reject aspects of the Gods, such as the ul’Zheng refusing to venerate Hurrian as the Storm Lord. This is based on their Valinoric (we think) Sleeping Emperor, who despite going years or decades without any signs of life, is still a living embodiment of their faith and veneration, something they can touch and see. If you have a living god near you who you know you are that being’s chosen people, why would you treat non-chosen people as equals?

I can see where your coming from with that. Especially seeing as Coryani and Milandir are both constantly squabbling with each other, not to mention Canceri. Those three nations all fight each other over various differences in opinions about their original bible. While the Khitani are solidified around their single religious view point and having the sleeping emperor.

Two things to add to this.
1. Who actually runs the empire, not him if he is asleep.
2. For my ghost scale, this is a excellent reason to be even more devout in his worship of Herka. As his clutch has a physical embodiment also, for their god. Hadn’t thought of that.

3) How often do Infernals attack? How often are gar raiding outlying areas? While there are true monsters in Arcanis, the majority of the slights and offenses people will see are caused by normal humans. Because of this, it is easy to almost discount these intermittent horrors as ‘acts of god(s)’, and focus on the immediate threat. Hell, look at the Song of Ice and Fire books: They are about to be beset by literal SNOW MONSTERS, but they are more interested in petty squabbles and their own civil wars. Why? Because the snow monsters are far away, but this lesser threat is immediate and easy to understand.

lol, i’ve yelled that at the screen a few times when the show focuses on kingslanding and its politics. Its a good example, so yeah i see your point here. Infernals are terrible but they are largely a problem for the people that live near the godswall and the sealed lands. Everybody else only sees them on small occasions. Adleast as far as we know.

4) The First City is, without a doubt, the single most holy site for almost EVERYONE. The ssethrics, the elorii, and all the factions who venerate the Pantheon of Man all view it as basically the Home of the Gods, or at least that their Gods granted it to them as a gift. As such, even though it is a hell hole compared to Savona or Khitan (presumably), the symbolism of it is enough to spur hearts. Look at the fervor that was kicked up in the Crusades over a symbol and the hearsay evidence of injustice.

Yeah I get the whole, Holy Land, stand point for why people wish to live there. So the city.. was once owned by some Insectoids correct? Then the Ssethrics took it, then the Elorii took it, and then the humans “Gods” took it. After reading some things here and in the books.. Umar got to this continent first, and the Elorii say he/it and his servants looked like angelic beings with some humans right? So this stirs endless questions in my mind.

1. How many of the pantheon of man gods have physically manifested themselves on the world, and this continent? How do we know for a fact that all the pantheon of man gods, are even human in appearance? Illir for sure as he seems to be human 100%, or Valinar in appearance if he takes a form. I recall a post mentioning that Sarish however has never, even before humans came to this continent, revealed himself/itself. I mean.. isn’t it very possible the “human gods” are just outright lying to their followers?

2. I know some possible spoilers.. for certain gods from mods I played in 3.5 days and also from table talk here and there. I’d add a spoiler to this tag, but i dont know how to add them, so people that don’t want spoilers don’t see it. You know, click to open spoiler of whatever.

3. The original owners of the First City, were they the Il’haun? or did they become them after fleeing from the ssethric invaders?