#lazurek

Excerpts from “Native Lowlanders of Sullan” taken from the Lazurek chapter. By Anerassi of Thorenald.

The Lazurek, or “Lazuhrek” depending on region, are one of the more diverse species of lowlanders in Layridin. The three known races of Lazurek appear to be native to the northern continent of Sullan, spread across their varied habitats. While all three are quite different in appearance, with River Lazurek being small and thick, Jungle Lazurek being tall and lithe, and Mountain Lazurek being very large and broad, all possess several similar features across the species. Common attributes are a complete lack of eyes, 2 pairs of hands with one where you likely expect to find a pair of hands, and the other where one would normally find their feet. They also all possess an advanced form of echolocation which they utilize to “see” as it were and perceive their surroundings. All four hands on a Lazurek have a set of pads on their palms which assist in gripping objects or surfaces, this coupled with their long hooked claws make all three races adept climbers.

All three societies also appear to share a common religion which I’ll go into more detail about elsewhere in this book. However, I will mention that a common practice among all of the Lazurek villages I visited was a ritualistic cremation of their dead. When a member of their tribe nears the end of their life, they rested upon a bed of flowers. I am told this is symbolic of their perceived after-life; that being, an endless garden where they are reunited with their loved ones, and live along side their patron deity and Nalos, their goddess of fire and nature. The smell of flowers seems to soothe the mind of those at death’s door. Once the afflicted have passed, their are ceremoniously immolated, and their ashes given to their next of kin to be tended to. While attending one of these ceremonies, I observed that, while Lazurek cannot cry, lacking eyes and therefor tear ducts, they express sorrow through a mournful howl, which is morbidly beautiful in concert with one another. This cremation practice also makes it very hard to obtain a skeleton for study. I had to seek out a Hat’kal for the skull samples used for these sketches. He refused to divulge where he obtained them though.

Taken from the journal of Anerassi of Thorenald, translated from the original Skylean;

The three races of lazurek all follow the mythology of the three brothers; Thom Deek and Larut, and their mutual lover Nalos, the goddess of fire and nature as the progenitors of the lazurek species. But the way the story goes is different depending on which group you ask. Each have their own interpretation of the mythos that puts their own patron deity in a more positive light than the others. As the story goes, the three brothers were quite close, roaming the old lands of Layridin making their way through life until, one day, they happened across a clearing that had recently been ravaged by a forest fire. In the center of the clearing, nurturing a patch of beautiful smelling flowers, freshly sprouted from the ashes, was a woman. The three brothers each found themselves soon smitten by the charming figure, and would begin to compete with one another for her attention. Each brother plays to their own strengths to provide for Nalos. Thom, of unparalleled strength, slays the great dragons that roam the dark unknown. Deek, cunning and a master of trickery, fools others into doing his work him. Larut, intelligent and charismatic, smooth talks his way into obtaining what he needs.

It is around this point that the stories differ depending who is telling the tale. The key points that differ are which brother obtains Nalos’ affection first, usually the patron deity of which ever race you are talking to. The other two brothers then trick, convince, or force Nalos to betray her love. This is sometimes taken to heart by the more bitter members of the species who look down on their extended kin.