The kilraj are a race of barbarians similar in appearance to tall humans. They are quite large (almost seven feet tall with bulging muscles) and their skin is grayish and somewhat slug-like, making exposure to salt and fire quite dangerous. They cover most of their bodies, including their heads, in heavy leathers when traveling. At home, where it is safe, however, the kilraj don normal clothing. Needless to say, they never venture near the sea or salt caves, and carry no torches. Kilraj also take great care not to eat food prepared by others and prefer uncooked meat or fruits. This has lead to many misunderstandings with other cultures. As a result, the other races are uneasy of kilraj newcomers. Kilraj live in villages, called hearths, organized in a circular fashion with stone buildings spiraling towards a center temple. The inner abodes are reserved for the ruling council of truth-seekers (shaman), the middle ones are occupied by the artisans (builders, hunters, and farmers), and the outer, fortified dwellings are home to the warriors who are always on duty, ready to die for the hearth.

The central temple houses both the Grande Seeker and his own handcrafted version of the mythological Burning Tablets, a relic of the old times, said to include the first writings of the kilraj. The tablets rest in a chest filled with sand during normal days, but when the holy festivals occur, they are soaked in oil, ignited, and dragged throughout the hearth in a stone sled. A village’s tablets hold no real power, as the original relic has been lost to time. Legends and recent rumors suggest the original tablets may have been captured by human or hobgoblin invaders. Some decades back, a band of kilraj warriors turned their backs on the hearth and journeyed to a distant land said to offer great power in exchange for their services as bodyguards. The majority of these warriors possessed innate magical ability. When they reached the hidden community of warlocks, their prowess of crafting magic was awakened and those they swore to protect instructed the kilraj warriors in the ways of fabrica mentus, the power of the mind. After their covenant of service was completed, the kilraj warriors sought further training by human wizards. This led to the realization of mindcraft—a magical style known only to these kilraj wizards. After countless moral transgressions, they formed a cult known as the Grande Order of Mindcrafters. Only members who swear to uphold their laws may be given instruction in the ways of mindcrafting. Violation of these laws is punishable by death. The Mindcrafters eventually returned to their hearth and were welcomed with open arms. They were banished from the hearth soon after, however, when the ruling council learned of their seemingly corrupt magic. The mindcrafters, now numbering over one hundred, reside in the frozen wastes of the northern provinces, away from most civilizations. They seek only a contemplative life, but occasionally trek to distant cities in search of further training and magical relics. Gimmicks: vulnerability (salt, fire), musclebound, oversized
Background: tribesman Note: If you plan to create a Mindcrafter, the character requires the wizard vocation and the mindcraft style. These are not intended for beginning characters, so it may take some time and experience to gain the title of Mindcrafter.

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Image courtesy of Mike Hill.