Cavern Demons
The Cavern Demons of Stehreel are a red race. One of five races of Hkahnihn, the Cavern Demons were the first born in the beginning. They trend towards an average height of 201cm (6'7") and have muscular and broad builds for the most part, though among the Hkahnihn they are more of medium build. Their coloration ranges from very light and pale reds to dark crimson and burgundy reds in skin tone, they can have a range of yellow colored eyes, and their hair is generally black. They possess two horns that sweep back over their skulls and tails that are of an average length for Hkahnihn. They can be physically intimidating to the smaller Elven races, but are not nearly as imposing as other races of Hkahnihn.
Able to feel the presence of Elves around them almost from birth, the Cavern Demons also have a penchant for being able to turn off emotional influences on their decisions.
Shown here are Athenia and Demetrius Festinius, a pair of archeologists that seek out dangerous locales to plumb for riches and artifacts. Siblings by marriage, the two are heirs to a vast wealth from powerful political parents and are wealthy enough to own their own personal Elven slave. Their parents' influence with the Senate is also likely to draw enemies and spice their lives with danger of many kinds. What could await them in the future? Only Selan, she who controls all, could know.
The Great and Holy Ba'alian Empire, denoted by the Imperial Profile Crest, is the Empire of the Cavern Demons. It is separated into twenty-one different Provinces, each named for a different aspect of the Empire. The capital Province is named Ba'Bal and resides at the heart of the Empire.
An Emperor rules the Empire, the one for which the Empire received its name. Ba'al is said to be Eternal and has lived since his resurrection after the Cataclysm broke Stehreel. Below the Eternal Ba'al there is a Senate composed of Senators that run each of the Provinces of the Empire, and a couple extra Senators to represent the subject principalities that the Empire controls. Senators are elected by the Senate, though positions of authority in the Empire can be overruled or made at whim by the Emperor, who the people of the Empire worship as if he were a God.
Because the focus of the Empire is on the Emperor and the Senate, there isn't much of a social structure below the rulers of the Empire. Despite the order implicit and explicit in all other layers of the Empire, the social structure is fairly nonexistent. There is the Emperor and the Senate... and then there is the Mob. A smart ruler fears the Mob, and hopes to keep it docile.
Cavern Demons are the only functioning Empire on the face of Stehreel. While they once had dominion over all five races of Hkahnihn, they can now only claim control of two races: the Chasm Demons and the Deep Demons. Having two subject principalities in those two races, the Great and Holy Ba'alian Empire can make the bold claim as controlling the most Stehreel real estate of any one race on or in the planet.
The Cavern Demons practice ritual tattooing to acknowledge rank and authority in the Empire. They have separated the warrior classes of Stehreel into three categories, and each of those three categories receive the same rewards to acknowledge their rank; a uniform tattoo that begins at the shoulder of the right arm and grows with each rank until it reaches the top of the right hand.
Even before they chose to worship the Nameless of Control, the Cavern Demon Empire wished to have dominion over every living thing on and in the planet. With the inclusion of the Consecratio, the holy church of Selan, into their culture, that desire has become a holy directive. Through the Cavern Demons, Selan wishes to claim dominion over all life. Her priests in the Consecratio, clerics that listen to every demand she makes, do not directly control any aspect of Imperial life, but behind the scenes they pull all the strings.
Those who wield the power of Control energy, Supremancer Warlocks and Clerics of Selan, are the favored Spark Wielders of Stehreel among the Cavern Demons. But only as long as they obey Selan.
Cavern Demons have the most powerful army that Stehreel may have ever seen. Alone they pose an equal threat to any three races of Elves. With their Spell Breakers poised to defeat any magical opposition and their legions of Swordsmen to counter physical threats, the Empire is a terrifying force to oppose.
The way they do war is very disciplined and controlled. They are masters of tactical maneuvering and military engagements, specializing in precise strategems that demand pinpoint accuracy. Legions of Cavern Demon warriors work so well together that it is commonly believed the only way to defeat one is to divide and conquer, for together they are nigh impossible to overcome.
Here is a developer diary recorded by the creator of Stehreel. For more information on the Cavern Demons, check out our facebook page!