Government & Leadership

Each Itchai settlement is ruled by a council composed of elder members. Each seat is determined by soul crystal type. If five crystal types are present, the council has five members. If there is just one crystal type, the settlement has a sole leader. The Itchai respect hierarchy and rarely rebel against the word of their Crystalman or Council.

Councils oversee typical governmental responsibilities such as research, procurement, and settlement security. The Itchai require little more than magical essence to sustain themselves, and most imports are intended for religious works. Itchai traders search for the trace elements needed to amplify the magical properties of crystals. However, because valuable and powerful crystals are central to their society, Itchai settlements are prime targets for pillaging raiders and sorcerers seeking items of immense power. Councils must frequently determine how to defend their encampments.

Customs & Daily Life

An Itchai’s typical daily routine is determined by its soul crystal type.

Soulphire soul crystals are as blue as the deep ocean and faceted into octagonal shapes. Soulphires are in charge of the daily maintenance of settlements and make up the majority of Itchai.

Emeround soul crystals are verdant green and perfectly round. Emerounds are traders who have the privilege of leaving the settlement to procure resources their council deems essential.

Rouble soul crystals are blood-red and pentagonally faceted. The Roubles’ ferocious nature makes them fierce warriors and defenders of the settlement.

Daymonder soul crystals are clear and shaped like droplets. Meticulous in their calculations, Daymonders are natural inventory specialists who oversee their settlement’s stockpiles.

Gelder soul crystals are faceted into golden stars with varied striations. Gelders are natural leaders, and very few are known to exist. All Itchai respect the word of a Gelder.

Beliefs & Traditions

Religion: Lattic

The Itchai are fascinated by crystals and their repeating lattice structures. They worship the mystical properties that crystals possess and incorporate their arcane nature into daily life. Even the “heart” of an Itchai is a gemstone of a specific soul type, which may be the source of this theology. Massive enchanted crystals are embedded in the great machines that perform societal tasks. The soul crystals of departed Itchai are incorporated into the mighty Fraihai that guard Itchai settlements.

The Great Activation
Once a year, the Itchai are called to Itcala, the ancient Itchai homeland. During this celebration, held on the middle day of the year, all of the great machines are activated. Fraihai are also released and allowed to walk the streets. The Great Activation is a day of celebration and joy, when the Itchai marvel at the creations of their society. Since many of the great machines produce vast amounts of excess materials, the days following the Great Activation are days of plenty. Some Itchai recall days of old, when the cloth produced by the Great Loom lasted until the following year’s Great Activation.

Major Settlements

Itcala

Itcala is the largest settlement of the Itchai and, to date, the last known remaining settlement. At its peak, it was home to over 10,000 Itchai, who constructed crystalline apparatuses of great magnitude. Now it is home to fewer than 1,000, and many of its great creations lie in ruin. The faithful who remain work to ensure that the other masterpieces do not fall into disrepair. Itcala is guarded by four Fraihai at each entrance, and each Fraihai has a Rouble keeper. These keepers control entry to and exit from the city. Refusal by a Rouble awakens its Fraihai and calls it to protect its keeper.

Evrtyn Ruins

The Evrtyn Ruins lie in Ischierdea’s farthest northern reaches of the Itchai Triad. This once-thriving mining village is now all but deserted. A few Itchai still roam the rugged terrain in search of the mammoth crystal foretold in their legends. Evtyn was never a large settlement. Many of its residents were Emerounds searching for materials to bring back to their respective councils, or Soulphires responsible for harvesting crystals from the unforgiving terrain. Few Roubles were needed to protect the settlement, as the harsh conditions kept plunderers at bay. Fraihai still guard the great vaults of gargantuan crystals and enchanted items left behind. Evrtyn was abandoned after the great eruption of Mount Daymonders encased the city in lava and filled its mines. Many Itchai are still trapped there, sustained by the enormous crystals present in the region.

Pastinae Ruins

The Pastinae Ruins lie in the northern reaches of their namesake mountain range. Pastinae was one of the few Itchai settlements that traded with the outside world, and it was rumoured that other peoples were even allowed into the city. Many of Pastinae’s great creations focused on communication and the storage and transmission of information. Pastinae was centered around a great forum, where a Fraihai guarded a masterpiece designed to project the debates held there. The city was divided into districts, each with its own masterpiece. Each district was believed to house a different people, with its masterpiece designed for their needs rather than those of the Itchai. Pastinae’s hospitality was eventually its undoing. Word of its bounty and masterpieces, such as a fountain that diminished the effects of aging, spread quickly, and endless armies laid siege to the city. The relentless onslaught proved too much for the Fraihai to bear, and the city collapsed.

Landmarks & Architecture

The Gelder Temple

The Gelder Temple is sacred to all Itchai. It is the final resting place of all known Gelders, the highest of all Itchai. Their soul crystals are incorporated into great Fraiahi that adorn and protect the temple. Each Fraihai is modeled after the persona of its Gelder and placed in a crypt. The notable accomplishments of each Gelder’s reign are depicted along the walls of its crypt, which also holds a substantial cache of precious stones.