The Haxan Valcromin were a dark-minded, shadowed race of humanoids, known to dwell both above and beneath the surface of the Wildlands. Their dark legacy stretched across eons, shaping them into creatures both feared and reviled.

Origins of Darkness

Though intelligent, inquisitive, and capable of rational thought, the Haxan Valcromin were steeped in malice. Like their cousins, the Shadowkin, the Haxan had an innate connection to darkness. Most of them did not outwardly pursue destruction for its own sake, but their nature lent itself to sinister dealings, treachery, and violence. Their society operated in a twilight world of subtle threats and ruthless exchanges, where mercy was weakness and compassion unheard of. It was whispered that their malevolence stemmed from a cursed lineage, a pact made with forgotten gods deep in the heart of the earth. Yet even those who claimed no ambition for evil walked paths laced with shadow.

The Everdeep: Their Subterranean Realm

Though some Haxan ventured to the surface, most considered themselves as one with the Everdeep, a vast and ancient underworld they called home. This sprawling labyrinth of tunnels, caverns, and cities lay far beneath the earth, carved by enslaved Ashen Jurell, a race bound to the Haxan’s cruel will. Temples to their forgotten gods rose in the dark, hewn from stone with terrifying precision, bathed in the faint glow of luminescent crystals. Within these halls, the Haxan practiced their occult rituals and forged alliances with the creatures of the deep, from shadowy wraiths to massive, blind monstrosities. It was said that the Everdeep itself was alive, its rock vibrating with an ancient and malevolent consciousness that spoke only to the Haxan.

Above Ground in the Rocky Mountains

Above ground, the Haxan claimed the caverns and crags of the rocky mountains as their domain. Here, the howling winds and sharp cliffs mirrored their cold and dangerous nature. These mountains served as the surface outposts for their subterranean empire, where they could emerge to strike at the other races of the Wildlands, retreating to their darkened lairs before dawn broke.

Stone-Touched

The Haxan were known as “Stone-Touched,” a term derived from their skin, which resembled the dark, weathered stone of their subterranean home. Though pliable, their skin was tough and resilient, far more durable than the flesh of other humanoids. This innate armor protected them from harm and made them resistant to magical effects such as paralysis and petrification, making them formidable foes in battle. Their bond with the stone was more than skin-deep, as they could subtly alter the hue of their stone-like flesh to blend seamlessly with rocky terrain, allowing them to hide in plain sight.

Vitality and Strength

Every Haxan was born with a robust constitution, and many possessed great physical strength, making them a resilient and deadly race. It was said that they drew their power from the earth itself, their vitality entwined with the strength of stone and the depths of the earth they called home.

Endless Conflict with the Dara

The Haxan Valcromin harbored a deep and abiding hatred for the Atharion dara, a race of light-dwelling, elemental beings. The two races were locked in an endless cycle of war, their hatred dating back to an ancient betrayal. The Dara, who lived above in the glittering heights of crystalline towers, found the Haxan’s dark ways abhorrent. In turn, the Haxan saw the Dara’s light as an insult, a weakness that had no place in the harsh realities of their world. Into addition to their brute strength, the Dara also wielded elemental magic, while the Haxan used the shadows and the earth itself to fight back. Their wars ravaged the lands both above and below ground, with entire mountains crumbling under the weight of their conflict and cities buried beneath the earth.

The Regions of Haxan Rule

The Haxan’s domain was vast. Below ground, the Everdeep stretched endlessly, a realm of night where they reigned supreme. They had no need for sunlight, thriving instead in the cold embrace of stone. Above, their influence extended into the wild, craggy regions of the Rocky Mountains, where they could watch the world and strike without warning.

Notable Haxan Valcromin

Skarnoth the Silent

A legendary warlord, Skarnoth was renowned for his campaigns against the Lunara humans and Lunara jurell, whom the Haxan despised for their mastery of Astromancy. To the Haxan, this star-based magic was unnatural, a corruption of the earth’s true power. Skarnoth earned his title for his ability to lead armies without uttering a word, his commands conveyed through subtle gestures and glances that only his followers understood. His greatest victory came during the Siege of Starfall, where he led a legion of Haxan warriors to crush a Lunaran stronghold built on a mountain peak. The Lunara’s once-glistening observatories were ground to rubble, their celestial magic shattered against the weight of Skarnoth’s brutal assault.

Valkira the Bloodstone

Known for her cruelty, Valkira was a Haxan matriarch who rose to power through sheer force of will. Her skin was said to have the color and sheen of polished bloodstone, and she was feared for her mastery of both physical combat and dark rituals. She led several raids against the surface-dwelling humans, capturing entire villages and using their inhabitants as slave labor in the Everdeep. Her hatred for the Lunara was legendary, and she personally led the charge in many of the skirmishes against them. Valkira sought to purge their astromantic ways from the Wildlands, believing their connection to the stars offended the deep-rooted power of the earth.