Netherkin

The Netherkin are a people born from one of the darkest chapters in Arcainia's history.

When the Hellgate was sealed at the end of the Blight, the collapsing portal brushed against the border of the Lower Hells. Though the demonic armies were driven back, a handful of devils escaped into the mortal world before the gateway closed forever. Trapped with no path home, they found themselves stranded in the devastated wastes of Helthas, where demons still prowled the ruins and civilization had all but collapsed.

In the brutal years that followed, survival became the only law. Devils, mortals, and those forever changed by demonic influence adapted to this unforgiving land, and over generations their bloodlines intertwined. From this crucible emerged an entirely new people.

The Netherkin are not demons. They are not devils. They are the descendants of both resilience and ruin—a race forged in the scar left by the world's greatest victory.

No two Netherkin look exactly alike. Their infernal heritage manifests in countless ways, making them among the most visually diverse peoples in Arcainia.

Their skin may be crimson, obsidian black, ash gray, violet, deep blue, or even pale with faint ember-like undertones. Their eyes can glow like molten gold, burn like smoldering coals, or resemble those of wolves, cats, or dragons.

Most possess horns, though their shapes vary wildly. Some curl like a ram's, others sweep backward like antlers, while many rise in jagged ridges resembling volcanic glass. Tails are common, as are pointed ears, sharpened teeth, and claw-like nails.

Many Netherkin bear subtle infernal traits unique to themselves—glowing veins, heat-resistant skin, ember-like freckles, or voices that carry an unnatural resonance.

Despite their fearsome appearance, their expressions often reveal something far more familiar: Determination.

The people of Arcainia tell many stories about where the Netherkin truly came from. Scholars point to the devils stranded during the sealing of the Hellgate. Priests describe them as the lingering consequence of infernal corruption. 

The Netherkin tell a different story. Passed from generation to generation is a simple verse known throughout Helthas:

"Agonis saved the world.

He did not save us.

We are the children of the world's wound."

The words are not spoken with anger. They are spoken with remembrance. To the Netherkin, they are a reminder that even the greatest victories leave scars—and someone must always live within them.

The blasted lands surrounding the former Hellgate are known collectively as Helthas.

Jagged mountains, rivers of cooled lava, volcanic plains, and shattered fortresses dominate the landscape. Cities destroyed during the Blight have been rebuilt into towering strongholds of black stone, forged iron, and obsidian glass.

No kingdom rules Helthas. Power belongs to whoever can keep it. Leadership changes through assassination, formal duels, gladiatorial combat, political maneuvering, or outright war between rival clans. Borders shift constantly as ambitious leaders rise and fall.

To outsiders, Helthas appears lawless. To its people, it is simply honest. Strength decides what survives.

Every clan in Helthas follows a single principle: Survival of the Fittest.

Contrary to popular belief, this does not simply mean physical strength. A brilliant tactician who unites rival clans through strategy is as worthy as a champion who wins in the arena. A master beast-handler, an ingenious blacksmith, or a merchant capable of keeping a starving settlement alive all demonstrate strength in different forms.

To the Netherkin, "fitness" means adaptability. Those unable to change perish. Those who endure deserve to lead. This philosophy reflects the dual nature of their ancestry—demonic ferocity tempered by devilish cunning.

Helthas is divided among dozens of clans, each controlling settlements carved into volcanic cliffs, ancient fortresses, or ruined cities reclaimed from the Blight. Some clans prize military conquest. Others dominate through trade, monster breeding, or craftsmanship.

Loyalty belongs first to one's clan, then to one's city, and only lastly to Helthas itself.

Old grudges may endure for centuries, yet temporary alliances are common whenever survival demands cooperation. In Helthas, yesterday's enemy may become tomorrow's greatest ally—and tomorrow night's assassination target.

Few creatures are more closely tied to Netherkin identity than the Vorghul, whose name means "Hell Wolf" in Inferni.

Created through generations of breeding dire wolves with infernal hellhounds, Vorghul are enormous predators renowned for their intelligence, endurance, and terrifying ferocity. Standing nearly as tall as a horse at the shoulder, they possess the instincts of wolves and the relentless aggression of their fiendish ancestors.

Among the Netherkin, raising a Vorghul is considered both an honor and a rite of passage. A Vorghul cannot simply be owned. Its loyalty must be earned.

Young handlers often spend years building trust with their companions, and more than a few lose fingers—or their lives—attempting to tame an animal that refuses weakness.

A fully trained Vorghul is more than a pet. It is a hunting partner, battlefield companion, guardian, and member of the family.

Entire settlements are famous for breeding them. Many are even known throughout Arcainia by translated Common names such as Darkfang, Black Kennel, or Wolfgate, where the thunder of massive paws echoes through streets as often as the clang of the forge.

To many outsiders, walking through a Helthasi city feels like wandering among monsters. To the Netherkin, it simply feels like home.

Faith among the Netherkin is deeply personal. Many struggle to place their trust in the gods worshipped across the rest of Arcainia. While they acknowledge that the gods ended the Blight, they also know that Helthas—and those who would become the Netherkin—were left to survive its aftermath alone.

Among those who seek divine guidance, Lilith occupies a unique place. Few see her as a benevolent goddess, and fewer still wish to repeat her mistakes. Instead, many view her as the embodiment of rejection, exile, and the darkness born from abandonment.

Some claim Lilith still whispers from the depths of the Maw. Others dismiss these stories as superstition. Whether those whispers are real or merely echoes of old grief remains unknown.

Not every Netherkin believes Helthas must remain forever trapped in its cycle of violence. Over the centuries, a quiet philosophical movement has spread among those willing to challenge tradition. They are known as the Ashwalkers.

Their name comes from an old proverb:

"From ash, a fire may rise again... or a forest."

Ashwalkers believe true strength is measured not by domination, but by mastery over oneself. Breaking another's spirit is easy. Breaking the cycle of hatred is far harder.

Many leave Helthas entirely, seeking lives beyond its borders. They become adventurers, scholars, merchants, diplomats, monster hunters, artisans, and soldiers—not because they reject their heritage, but because they wish to reshape how the world sees it.

To an Ashwalker, every act of integrity is a victory over prejudice. Every friendship earned weakens centuries of fear. Every Netherkin hero becomes proof that one's origins do not determine one's destiny.

Traditionalists often mock them as dreamers. Some call them traitors. Yet the Ashwalkers continue walking, believing that if enough Netherkin change the world's opinion, Helthas itself may one day change as well.

Outside their homeland, Netherkin are met with wary eyes.

Centuries of stories about demons, devils, and the horrors of the Blight have made fear difficult to overcome. Guards watch them more closely. Merchants hesitate before serving them. Children are often taught to avoid them.

Most prejudice comes not from hatred, but from uncertainty. The horns. The eyes. The infernal blood. To many, those features evoke memories of monsters rather than neighbors.

As a result, many Netherkin learn to be resilient, independent, and patient. Some conceal their heritage beneath cloaks or illusion magic. Others refuse to hide, believing acceptance can only come through visibility and honesty.

Every Netherkin who earns another's trust chips away at a legacy they never chose.

Humans often struggle to separate Netherkin from the horrors of the Blight, though younger generations have grown more accepting.

Dwarves respect resilience and craftsmanship, but remain cautious of infernal blood.

Elves frequently see the Netherkin as living reminders of the imbalance left by the Blight, treating them with pity as often as suspicion.

Orcs admire strength and determination, making relations surprisingly cordial despite frequent rivalries.

Halflings are generally more willing to judge individuals than ancestry, making them among the friendliest neighbors the Netherkin can find.

Purrsara often approach Netherkin with genuine curiosity rather than fear, leading to unexpected friendships that confound both cultures.

Many Netherkin become adventurers for the same reason they leave Helthas: To define themselves.

Some seek glory. Some seek redemption. Some seek knowledge of their origins. Others simply wish to build a life where no one judges them before learning their name.

Whether they embrace the harsh traditions of Helthas or the hopeful ideals of the Ashwalkers, every Netherkin carries the same inheritance: A people born not from the Hells themselves, but from the scar they left upon the world.