They belong to no nation. By blood, creed, or power, the Outliers are a diaspora of people dwelling amongst the Middle Eastern cities. Pretending to be one of them and yet never quite blending in - no matter how hard they desire it. Their origins are hotly contested by scholars and scientists alike; first imagined to be the natural designs of the gods (i.e. the Persians believe they exist to encourage cohabitation with all creation), there are now several mythical beliefs tied to the strange beings. Their power invites fear and envy - a dangerous combination.
Aspect Clans
No one knows when they began showing up or from where. The first sighting of an Aspect was in Punt, and the island has erroneously been associated with the birthplace of these scattered clans. Physically they are hybrids: human beings with animal-like features and often one or two associated traits. Their features and sizes themselves vary, but most Aspect members are predominantly taken from several specific animals: lion, lizard, pig, bird, and goat. Overwhelmingly, Aspects appear humanoid, but the strange, beast-like attributes intrinsic to their nature continue to keep them isolated from the more prejudiced nations.
Aspect clans settle wherever they are allowed. They often come in groups, preferring to find relative safety in the numbers of their own kind. Like tends to stay with like: for example, Pig Aspects will travel together, and so on and so forth. The persecution of Aspects in Turkey has led to the mass migration of those there to the Heart of Persia and Arabia, leading to a flare of nationalistic sentiments in the latter. Unofficially, the city of Lo-na in Punt has been claimed as the sole Aspect city in the empire. Puntlings do not recognize it as such, but they do not oppose the ownership either. There Aspect clans of all kinds find solace, and the native Puntlings are content to leave the residents to their own devices.
Endowed
Once long before, when the gods still paid attention to the meager day to day lives of the humans below, it is said that Ahura Mazda blessed the most devout of his followers with powers to heal the world. Centuries have passed since that time, and that endowment has been covetly kept within certain Persian family lines, passed down from generation to generation through their sacred blood. The original Endowed were capable of great feats, but the power has since been diluted by the mixing of common blood. It is a rare caste kept mostly amongst nobility. Those outside of the elite who share the power are highly coveted...and hunted.
The Endowed have only one of these abilities:
- Restore - the ability to heal and absorb damage
- Warp - the ability to damage or negatively impact an object or person's structural integrity
- Invade - the ability to manipulate a living being from within their psyche
It is rumoured that a school exists to train those who are Endowed, but the nobility have kept mum about the location or details of such an institution. (Refer to the Powers chapter to learn more about their abilities.)
The Tuaregs (Non-Playable)
One of the last few nomadic clans to traverse the Arabian peninsula. They are a mysterious community of wanderers: their language is foreign to all but the most studied scholars, and they keep mostly to themselves. They are known to pass through cities, towns, and even the smallest of farms to sell their wares: strange baubles, jewelry, and other odd items rarely seen in the Persian Empire. No one knows where they craft such things - or where. The Tuaregs are entirely matriarchal. The women adorn their faces in yellow paint, and men who are of age are required by their custom to cover their face from below the eyes, as only their wives are fit to lay eyes upon them.