Aureskans

Reptilian humanoids, Aureskans hailed from the lost continent of Auresk, and migrated to Anendior in their greatships. They settled on the western coast of Anendior and conquered the country of Cholchis from the Human Alliance. The Aureskans were known for their military traditions, their skill at politics, and their breathtaking arrogance.

Physical attributes
Most Aureskans' stand between six and seven feet in height, and have the weight to match, usually weighing between two hundred and two hundred fifty pounds. They do not have body hair of any kind, instead growing between two and four horns, at the back of the head. The horns were generally between six and twelve inches in length, with females having the shorter horns.

Rather than the soft, fleshy skin of humans and elves, Aureskans are covered in diamond shaped scales, said to be as hard as steel. The scales are often larger around the shoulders, upper chest, and head. Their throats and stomachs are instead a softer, leathery skin. Rather than facial hair, they have small, triangular bone growths, no more than an inch in length.

While their scales can come in any colour, from snow white to pitch black, metallic colours, such as silver, bronze, and gold are considered royalty, and metallic scaled Aureskans always produce metallic scaled young.

Aureskans live many times longer than the average human, the oldest living Aureskan being just over five centuries. They show no real signs of aging, at least to outsiders. The older Aureskans often hold positions of prestige among their own clans, but do not necessarily gain much respect outside their own clans. Aureskan young are considered adults after their thirtieth year, and are permitted to marry and sire young.

Abilities
Aureskans natural scales are said to be strong as steel, forming a natural armour and allowing them to take considerably more punishment than many of the other races. In addition to this, the reptilian people are known to be extremely strong, even for their weight and height, capable of lifting a full grown man in armour. Most Aureskans had naturally good eyesight, slightly better than humans, but not as keen as elves or the Katar.

Personality
Aureskan society rests on the belief that duty to the whole comes before duty to oneself, both to family and society. Responsible individuals and those who go above and beyond the call are not especially lauded, as self sacrifice and a sense of duty are expected of every Aureskan. Leaders hold themselves responsible for the success or failure of a group, and are often heavily involved in encouraging co operation and cohesion among their charges.

All Aureskans take great pride in their heritage and culture, and often look down on other races for selfishness and improper protocols. This leads many to assume the Aureskans are arrogant and isolated. However, many are compassionate to those in need and willing to lend a helping hand if they are able.

History
The Aureskans were originally from the continent of Auresk, and have kept the name ever since migrating from their doomed homeland to the western shore of Anendior. While it is common knowledge that Auresk met with some disaster that saw the entire continent broken apart and sunk beneath the waves. However, only the oldest Aureskans know what happened to their ancient homeland, and few are willing to speak of it. Some scholars have suggested that the catastrophe was magical in nature, because of most Aureskans distrust of mages in general.

The Aureskan people were the dominant race on the continent of Auresk, but frequently fought against savage troll tribes that lived in the mountain and hills of that land. As their villages were often preyed upon by trolls, military service was required from all inhabitants of Auresk. Over the centuries, the reptilian people formed a strong military tradition, and most if not all of citizens were skilled fighters.

Due to Auresk being an island continent, the people became capable sailors, with a fairly large and well equipped navy. Piracy was a threat, but any raiders were often dealt with quickly and mercilessly. The law was strictly upheld on Auresk, and outsiders were usually restricted to the ports or larger cities near the sea. Having been isolated for most of their early years, the people of Auresk were naturally suspicious of outsiders.

In the year 103 of the imperial calendar, a high elf expedition under Ilmaril Uranthion made contact with the Aureskans. The two factions quickly established communication and trade, though the elves never managed to explore the entirety of Auresk. This was partly due to the Aureskan military preventing any but diplomats and traders from setting foot on Auresk, and the indifference of the high elves to establishing another colony.

The great disaster
Referred to as 'the great disaster' by the Aureskan people, several powerful earthquakes shook the continent of Auresk apart in 123 of the imperial calendar. Inside a day, the entirety of the land had broken apart and sunk beneath the waves, except for the tallest mountain peaks, which became known as the Auresk islands. Over a quarter of the Aureskan people perished, before they were able to evacuate aboard the longships of the Aureskan navy.

Taking what supplies they could, the Aureskans fled west, sailing for several weeks, until they reached the western coast of Anendior. There, they were confronted by the ships of the Alliance, off the coast of Cholchis. At that time, Cholchis was under the control of the Alliance, but discontent was rife in the capital city of Curist. The Alliance administrators were corrupt as well as cruel, and the local Cholchisans were grumbling against them. This, combined with a massive fleet of non-humans off the coast, put the alliance leadership on high guard.

The paranoia of the alliance officials lead to them attacking the leading Aureskan ships, which carried a fair amount of women and children, along with sailors and soldiers. Several were sunk and with them, the hope for a peaceful relationship between the Aureskans and the human alliance.

The Cholchisan civil war
Main article: Cholchisan civil war

The Cholchisan people had long resented the foreigners who lorded it over them, and dictated what gods they could worship and how they could live. When the Aureskans began fighting with the navy of the oppressors, the people of Cholchis made their move. All over the country, Cholchisan natives attacked Alliance patrols and guardsmen. Troops were harrassed or blocked on the roads, and ships and supplies were sabotaged.

Eventually the leaders of the insurgency and Aureskan primarch met. Hearing of the plight of the locals, the Primarch agreed to help them regain their homeland so long as they swore loyalty to him. While wary of exchanging one overlord for another, the Cholchisians were happy to be treated as equals, rather than second hand ctizens.

With the aid of the Aureskan military, the Cholchisans took back their homelands, forcing the Alliance out. The surviving Aureskan civilians began to settle in the heartlands of Cholchis, and began a thriving relationship with their native neighbours.

Present day
In the present day, the Aureskans continue to thrive in the land of Cholchis and its' surroundings. However, relations with humans in general has suffered in light of the attempted assassination of primarch Hastas by the order of the Black Wyrm. The northern border of the hegemony is under near constant pressure by the Human Alliance, though no assault has yet succeeded.