Of the three general groups the people of Khaldûn can be divided into,
the Ventusi are those who are neutral in the Eternal War. The initial Ventusi were those who did not follow Ahriman, Irollan or Uesis;
generally, those who followed Fandir, Akrua, Tudalle, Pyrus,
Biara or Ornella refused to partake in the struggle. It became evident that there were some who followed the
gods involved in the war that also did not want to fight. They joined the Ventusi, and after a hard-fought war, won their freedom. They retreated from the main three continents,
Danmeny, Eaplas, and Istira,
settling on the relatively uninhabited larger islands and island chains around the plane.
Once, during the Ventusi Rebellion, the Ventusi were a united people. Their attempt to escape the Eternal War
united them. After they won, there was not a common thread throughout every Ventusi individual. Among them, there were worshippers to every Greater Deity, as well as
worshippers for many of the Lesser Dieties. Since then, they have fractured, broken apart into many different groups and nations across their lands. Some sects
of the Fiden and the Fallen have attempted to use this disunity to conquer some Ventusi groups, to a varying degree
of success. More generally, the Ventusi end up living away from the Fiden and the Fallen, with their only interaction
being between diplomatic dignitaries and traders.
Even though the idea of a united Ventusi no longer exists, there still are a number cultural similarities between many, if not all, of the Ventusi. Many believe in some sort
of religious freedom. As such, there is no one enforced diety, or even pantheon of dieties, that is enforced across the Ventusi. Despite the vast majority of the Ventusi believing
in the Khaldûn Pantheon, there are some agnostic and atheistic Ventusi. Because of their cultural similarities,
many Ventusi innately trust other Ventusi much more than they would a Fiden individual or a Fallen
person. Because of this, both business and personal relationships between Ventusi and the Fiden and the Fallen
are fragile, and break easily.
By the time they had won their freedom, there were 12 members who had risen above the ranks, and were known on all three sides of the conflict. In fact, among Ventusi culture, they have been raised as heroes, almost revered as Lesser Dieties.
Race: Half-Elf
Ermitana was not well known prior to the war. She primary lived in the woods, honoring Fandir as much as she could. She was a hermit, and only heard about the war from her communication with Fandir. He urged her to go, insisting that she would be needed for those who did not want to fight. She herself was reluctant, but followed her orders. She joined the Ventusi, and was able to counter many of the beasts sent forth by the Fallen; Ermitana called and conjured many animals from the forest to help the Ventusi. Many times, these new allies turned the tide of the battle. After the war, she retired to the northeasternmost islands in the plane, back into the forests from which she came. These forest islands, as the home of a legendary figure, became culturally significant to the Ventusi, and were renamed Ermitana's Lands, in honor of the hero.
Race: Hobgoblin
Flaminus was the shaman for his tribe. He would connect his people with their ancestors, and personally talk with the gods, or at the very least, their Celestials, to improve the lifestyle of his tribe. One day, after the outbreak of the war, Flaminus was returning home after a meeting with the local goblinoid tribes - something that had never happened before. He returned to see his tribe dead, with no clear sign as to the killers. After following the tracks, Flaminus discovered that one of the neighboring Orc tribes had murdered his family. He did some talking, and found out that the tribe were contract killers, who had worked for both the Fiden and the Fallen. Flaminus turned from both Ahriman, Irollan and Uesis, and joined the Ventusi in their war. His charisma and direct line of communication to the gods won respect throughout the Ventusi, earning him recognition unheard of for a hobgoblin. After the Ventusi won their freedom, Flaminus disappeared. It is suspected he continued fighting until his death, but no one knows for certain.
Race: Halfling
Ariel was an athlete. In fact, despite her small stature, was still one of the fastest humanoids during her time. She also had quick hands. During athletic competitions, it is thought that she generally would steal from her hosts, unbeknowest to them at the time. That all changed when the war broke out. Using her fame, Ariel recruited a number of well known thieves and bandits. Her Silent Stalkers, went ahead of Ventusi armies, and would strike in the middle of the night, destroying the supplied needed by both the Fiden and Fallen armies. After the war, she retired to the bay region of the central island, as such being called Ariel's Bay in her honor.
Race: Tabaxi
Divinus was a wizard known for his necromatic abilities. Devoted to Ornella, he served her every will. His powers were so strong that it is suspected that he in fact was her son. He had no wish to partake in the war, and just wanted to be left in peace. Ironically enough, this meant he had to fight to earn this peace. He quickly became known for his ability to continue a conflict until his opponents literally collapsed from exhaustion. Once that happened, he added their bodies to his personal force, entirely composed of the undead. After the war, he retired to Kriti and its surrounding Islands, the entire archipelago thereby renamed Divinus's Land.
Race: Human
Maximillan was a sorcerer of great power, known for his staff that earned him his strength and long life - he was the oldest of the 12 legendary Ventusi warriors, and he was the last one of them to die. In fact, he was known for his magic long before the war, especially for his cruel and odd ways of helping local princes and other rulers. During the war, he continued to live up to his stories, draining the life out of his enemies, leaving behind lifeless husks after finishing. Officially not truly dedicated to any one god, it is suspected that Maximillan received his staff and power from Tudalle, who likely crafting his staff. It is not known where Maximillan retired after the war; he was a private man, and just disappeared from public life.
Race: Unknown - all depictions of him display him in his mask. It is suspected from his height and skillset that he was a Wood Elf
Prior to the war, Magnus was a renowned tracker and bounty hunter, adept at both archery and swords. As a follower of Akrua, he had no wish to partake in the Eternal War. As such, he quickly joined the Ventusi when the war started. During the war, he his skill set was put to use for scouting, where he became known for his brutal hit and runs. After the Ventusi made peace, he retired to the western islands, renamed in his honor: Magnus's Archipelago.
Race: Goblin
Prior to the war, Cobalus was just like any other bandit: relatively unknown. He resided on the continent of Istira, moving from place to place. When the war broke out, Cobalus had no wish to partake. He left Istira, but the war followed anyway. Determined to live his life in peace, Cobalus joined a fledgling movement opposing the war, what would later be known as the Ventusi. Cobalus used his background as one of the tacticians of the movement. He knew where the strike, when to strike and when to retreat. Of his hundreds of operations, he only made one mistake: in the Battle of Northista (Fiden vs Ventusi), he over extended his battle lines, and the center broke. The Ventusi were backed to the edge of a peninsula, there was nowhere to run - if the Ventusi lost this battle, they would have be wiped out. Instead, Cobalus joined the battle, and using his lightning blade, turned the tide. It cost him his life.
Race: High Elf
Prior to the war, Excelsis had not been heard of. The best guesses are that she was a wizard, helping her community whenever she could. Once the war began, that all changed. Excelsis began as just another wizard among the ranks of the Ventusi. However, she quickly rose high in the command due to her abilities. Somehow, she had learned the secrets of draining one's life using just her staff. She was able to extract her enemies life, and used that energy to bestow strength upon the troops under her command. This led her and her troops to become the shock troops of the Ventusi army, and gave her fame. After the war, she retired to the Small Infinite Isle.
Race: Human
Also known as the Mad Wizard, Venemor was an archmage from the capital of Fairfax Dynastry, Yuthua, on the continent of Istira. He specialized in the creation of poisons and acids that would be spread in a magical manner. After the Ventusi became a well known resistance, Venemor joined upon the premise that he could test his concoctions. They did not disappoint. They may have single handedly won the war. Very few could survive them, and none survived the Ventusi assault afterwards. As quickly as Venemor joined the Ventusi, he disappeared just as quickly after the war as over.
Race: Lizardfolk
Lacertae was a devout monk of Akrua. It is said that his relationship with his patron god was like no other for godly nonfamilial relationships. He followed her every word, and had her respect. He was one of the few mortals who had been able to reason with her. His monastary has long been lost to war and time, but his memory still stands. Armed with only a poleaxe, Lacertae would charge ahead into battle ahead of every other Ventusi, armorless. It was as if he could embrace the emotions pf his goddess, and use it to his supplement his combat ability. After the war, Lacertae retired to the island of Haven, and founded a new monastary devoted to Akrua.
Race: Orc
Ironically enough, Protegitom never was a Ventusi. He just happened to align with the Ventusi during the Ventusi Rebellion. Protegitom was the leader of the largest orc tribe Khaldûn has ever known. As a young orc, Protegitom saw the war break out across the continent of Istira, as well as the political instability it brought. He quickly rose to lead his tribe, and did something no other orc has been able to do since. He united the orcs tribes across the continent against the Fiden and Fallen, providing the Ventusi a well needed ally.
Race: Human
Legator was the leader of the Pyrus Sect. It is said that in a trance, Pyrus came to Legator, and urged him to forsake both the Fiden and Fallen, and go his own way, distinct from the followers of Ahriman, Irollan and Uesis. Legator interpreted this as to joining the Ventusi. Despite not being renowned on the battlefield, Legator brought the political and support power of the Pyrus Sect to the Ventusi, the backing that the group needed to survive. After the war, Legator oversaw the move of the Pyrus Sect from Istira to Widestable Island.
Of the three general cultures of the peoples of Khaldûn, the Fiden are those who primarily worship Uesis or Irollan.
However, those who have been wronged by the Fallen in some way, or hate Ahriman's creations also may be part of the Fiden.
In a broad sense, the Fiden are those who oppose Ahriman and his followers; those who reject the idea that Uesis is a god blinded by his ego and status. This
puts them at odds with the Fallen, and makes them belligerents in the Eternal War, the struggle
between Uesis and Ahriman that has plagued Khaldûn for millenia. However, despite the "Eternal" in Eternal War,
the Fiden are not always fighting.
Whereas the gods may never tire, or at the very least, need rest, mere mortals do. The same applies to the Fiden's ability to wage war. The Fiden, like the Ventusi,
are made up of differing nations, government styles, and, to and extend, cultures. There is no single Fiden nation that has the capacity to wage war on the Fallen
forever. They will run out of some resource - gold, food, people, armaments - at some point. As such, many Fiden groups band together, as part of coalitions, against the differing Fallen
factions, targeting just a handful (or even just one) of them.
Due to this long enmity between the Fiden and the Fallen, all Fiden share an inherent distrust and hatred towards
the Fallen. There is no diplomatic relations between Fiden nations and Fallen
groups, not even minute trade between them. One may thing that this hatred and distrust would fall onto Ahriman as well. That is not the case.
The Fiden do not follow Ahriman, nor do they worship him. However, they do not outright hate him - at least with their words - or insult him with
their speech. Ahriman may be on the opposing side of the conflict, however, he is still a god. He still expects at least some respect from the Fiden.
If they were to anger him, he would punish them; he has done it before.
Similarly to the Fiden-Fallen relations, the Fiden-Ventusi relations
could be better. It varies depending on the Ventusi group and the Fiden nation involved. In the past, there have been attempts by some
Fiden to reintegrate the Ventusi into the Fiden. In some cases, they were successful. However, in the majority of attempts, they failed,
widening the gap between the Ventusi and the Fiden. However, in a general sense, there is some diplomatic relationships and trade agreements
between the two cultures.
Unlike the Ventusi, for the most part, the different Fiden nations do have some sort of religious intolerence. There is not a single Fiden who worships
Ahriman, and the vast majority worship Irollan or Uesis as their primary
god. As such, belief in the Khaldûn Pantheon is enforced, and many Fiden groups do have an inquisition rooting out who they see as heretics.
More information about the Fiden will be available as players learn about them.
The Cult of the Fallen, normally shortened to the Fallen, are those who follow Ahriman, or those who agree that Uesis
oversteps his bounds. Because of this, they are in complete opposition to the Fiden in the Eternal War. Like the Fiden,
the Fallen are made up of several different nations, each with a varied culture, and similarly, each nation cannot truly maintain an "eternal" conflict. As such, the Eternal War changes between being a
hot and cold war, as nations are able to fight. After the first coalition the Fiden created, the Fallen have adopted the same strategy.
Ironically, even though there is great enmity between the Fallen and the Fiden, their cultures are very similar. Just as the Fiden
have a great hatred and distrust of the Fallen, the Fallen reciprocate those feelings towards the Fiden. Just as the Fiden disagree with
Ahriman but still respect him, the Fallen feel the same way towards Uesis and Irollan. They also believe that all within their society
should believe in the Khaldûn Pantheon, and each state has an inquisition enforcing the pantheon. Finally, their relations with the Ventusi could be better.
Similarly to the Fiden, some Fallen nations have attempted to conquer some Ventusi groups, bringing them into the fold. As with the Fiden,
this has been conducted with a mixed success rate.
Beyond the clear differences in the beliefs between the Fiden and the Fallen, the is one more stark difference. On the battlefield, the Fallen are not just humanoids. They are supplemented
by the designs of Ahriman: Abberations, Fiends and Monstrosities. This helps make up for their lack of numerical superiority; the Fallen have never had the humanoid numbers when fighting the Fiden.
However, not all of these creatures want to keep fighting. Some of the ones with longer lifespans actually get sick of fighting and want to leave. For those that do leave, they are hunted wherever they go; the Fiden
hate them, seeing them as abominations. The Ventusi do not want the Fiden or the Fallen on their lands, hunting those creatures, so they hunt them as well.
The Fallen hunt them as well; if they allow any to truly escape, it would set a precedent unacceptable to both the Fallen and Ahriman.
More information about the Fallen will be available as players learn about them.