Created by the Goddess Haset, an Avatar of Hysh, the Hathorians live amongst the mountains and highlands of Hysh. A bovine shamanistic race, they have stood guard in defense of the realm since before the Age of Myth and the arrival of the Twin Gods Tyrion and Teclis. The Hathorian Nation is divided into individual principalities that work as one, they protect strategic positions or watch over sundered areas of Hysh that await the healing prayers and hymns of Haset by the Goddess herself or the coven of Hasetians; the leading High Priestesses of each principality. Having been chosen by Haset herself, High Priestesses are second only to the Goddess herself within the matriarchy that makes up their society.
In times of peace the Hathorians have built a thriving matriarchal society, and through the teachings of Haset have learned to communicate and call the aid of the Ancients in times of war. These Whisperers of Ancients can talk in the tongue of the Aelementals of Hysh, or Ancients to the Hathorians, with logic and reasoning these Whisperers create a bond with each Ancient. On Beams of Light, Wings of the Wind, Rockslides of the Mountain, or the strong Rapids of the River, a Whisperer of Ancients brings with them the fury of Haset’s most ancient of allies.
The bulk of the Hathorian Cohorts are made of large, muscular, long-haired, and horned male Hathorians, created by the Avatar of Hysh for the battle lines of war. The cohorts of Haset are primarily made up of Warriors and Hunters, both filling multiple roles within the war machine. From the honored and revered Mountain Guardians that can tear the limbs off an Orruk with little effort to the young Hathorian initiate that stands taller than a human adult and the strength of a workhorse, the warrior caste sees the bloodiest parts of the battle. Hunters are utilized with their natural connection with the fauna and flora of Hysh, often riding on the backs of Mighty Mountain and Highland War Manoks, with large ballista on top of mighty platforms, or tipping their large man-sized arrows with sap that burst into exploding light when it strikes a foe. Their war chieftains atop ferocious Taurarox charge headlong into enemy lines, followed by savage Ursian riders the enemy lines crumble under the onslaught. When not at war both the warrior and hunter castes are the backbone of society, they are tasked with the construction of Hathoriancvilization and the feeding of the populous. Standing as tall or taller than a Stormcast Eternal, and weighing half a ton, their immense strength allows them to crush boulders with their hammers or hunt the largest of beasts. Covered in either smooth short or shaggy long hair, many sporting different colors, and patterns – the Hathorian race does not have any deformities like the Beasts of Chaos, although due to similarities have been mistaken as such.
Although the Hathorians were made for war, the race with Haset’s guidance does not shy away from diplomacy. Treaties and peace are valued, even if at times as a tool to bide time, putting off the demise of one to focus on the annihilation of another. Being highly skilled in both war and diplomacy has allowed the Hathorians to survive when others have fallen, to rise when before on the brink of their destruction. In the defense of Vulgas, Hysh in the Hathorian language, the Hathorians have clashed with Chaos, Gods, and mortals alike, including the Lumineth, over the millennia. When dealing with external conflicts outside of Valgus, they prefer to think of non-violent solutions before a war is called upon, for when they leave the light of Haset or Vulgas behind, the Hathorians reveal a bestial side with violent and dark urges. Without the elixir made by Haset herself, the Cohorts of the Hathorians would turn into a ravaging horde, a flaw Haset could not have predicted. In Ghur the transformation happens 10-fold, the first Hathorian expedition into Beast Realm ended in the loss of a whole Cohort to madness, villages and fortified cities alike were bloodied and razed; only barely a Greentide was able to quell the bestial horde.
Their Ilithian allies describe the Hathorians as stoic, embodying the strong and silent type with their quiet contemplation. This quiet thoughtful disposition is highly respected by the Aelves of Hysh, Ilithia in particular, as they respect sound and thoughtful thinking. This high intelligence and calculated reasoning combined with the immense size and strength also make them be considered dangerous by many, even their own allies and in particular those of the Great Nation of Sayr. A highly spiritual and shamanistic society, the Hathorians pay homage to the Ancients, or Aelements to the Lumineth, they live in the shadows of. Among the mountains and within the highlands they live one can hear the throat singing Whisperers, and the Ancients delighting in their songs, all worship Haset above all else, the Mother Spirit.
Society:
Hathorian Society is a Matriarchy with Haset being at the top and her chosen High Priestesses guiding the rest of the principalities that make up the Hathorian Nation, however beyond the chosen, advancement through both society and military on a basic level is through a show of might and impressing the matriarchs or the trusted few war chieftains of the principality. Although the High Priestesses have the final word through Haset’s voice, leadership is broken into three roles below the High Priestess: Honored Warchief, Honored Master Hunter, and Honored Ancient Whisperer. Leadership below the chosen few of Haset within a principality may be challenged for, however, a Hathorian must reach the age of two-hundred human years to enact a challenge. Ensuring that those challenging have had time to gather the experience needed for the trials ahead, One must be able to show more than strength of body, but also of mind and spirit, for Hathorians know all too well that strength alone does not defend Valgus.
High Priestess of Haset is the Spiritual leader and connection to Haset herself to the tribe, this honored standing may only be filled by a female; the less common among the Hathorians. For the Trial of Haset to take place, and a new High Priestess of a principality to be chosen, death must find a previous High Priestess. The few chosen to ascend beyond a mere Priestess are among the noblest, most dedicated Priestesses of Haset, blinding visions and an enchanting hymn barrage their very being. Every nerve and sense brought to an overloaded state, it is not until the priestess finds her center, her balance that she can open her eyes to face the light in front of her, and sings the Hymns hidden meaning does the Hathorian Priestess find clarity. However, doom finds those not able to face the light of Haset or find the message in her hymn, soon as their senses dissolve, so do their mind and body. The soul of one chosen to ascend however finds its way back to Haset and her Temple, where the Goddess works to nurture the soul more before being remade. in the end, of the handful chosen by the Goddess herself, only one will make it through their trial to ascension. The High Priestess of Haset is considered to be the most connected to the Realm, to Haset, and the most gifted magic user of the principality they reside; said to be blessed by Haset herself. Once chosen as the Goddess’s conduit, a High Priestess of Haset will be such until they are slain, for Hathorians do not die of old age.
Honored Whisperer of Ancients is who the tribe looks to for guidance and the running of the tribe on the day to day, they are the face the tribe sees when authority speaks in time of peace. More often a female than a male, whisperers share similarities with the bonding of Ancients as do the High Priestesses with Haset, though the few males to be called a whisperer has proven worthy of the calling. When hearing disputes between disagreeing Hathorians, if judged a worthy issue the Honored Whisperer will either issue a Ukase, decreeing a verdict, or will have the two parties settle the issue through a primal show of strength to settle the dispute. Along with the role of tribal elder, the Honored Whisperer of Ancients sees over each House of Ancients and those whisperers who commune in them. A master of the four Ancient tongues and have bonded with all four of the Ancient Spirits, the Honored Whisperer is the keeper of knowledge to the aelements of Hysh that Haset has passed down. This leadership position may only be succeeded by a show of knowledge, a testament to the bond between whisperer and the four ancients, and completing a series of trials by each Ancient spirit and Haset, the new challenger either passes or is found unworthy and sent to meditate and grow their bond stronger, if a challenge is reissued and the challenger fails again, they are instead crushed under the weight of their trial.
Honored Warchief is considered the physically strongest, battle-hardened, tactically gifted of the tribe. When the current Honored Warchief is challenged, per the Haset Ukase, the current Honored Warchief may either accept and start the Trial of Honor & War or they may decline and yield to the challenger; to try and retain control after defeat is to go against Haset. To be the High Warchief is to be in charge of all things associated with war, defense of the principality, and possible territory expansion, it is not uncommon for a female Hathorian to gain and maintain this position for generations.
Honored Master Hunter is second only to the High Warchief in physical strength and second to none in knowing the landscapes and what it has to offer. The Honored Master Hunter is in charge of the hunters of the tribe, who serve as the eyes, ears of the Nation. Masters of creating bestial bonds with the fauna of Hysh, allowing for the unleashing of powerful mounts and behemoths to be used in battle. With their great knowledge of the landscape, they are also responsible for selecting the land to which the cultivation of food is done, from farming to the herding of animals.
Although each oversees a different aspect of the tribe's complex society, each much get the agreement of a majority agreement or the blessing of the High Priestess for any major plans with long-lasting effects. This ensures one leader does not become sick with power, maintains balance, and ensures the plan is sound. Ultimately the High Priestess has the final word, as her word is considered to be the voice of Haset. Although all seat of leadership is viewed as a high honor, it is considered a higher honor to be called to be a Whisperer or chosen to be a Priestess, the warrior and hunter caste are considered common.
Societal Ladder:
Priests > Whisperers > Warriors = Hunters, Female > Male
The artwork is not my own, but a reference for a loose interpretation of each caste of how I roughly have them in my head.
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