Drahar

Drahar
Plural	Drahari

The Drahari are a cliff-dwelling people, their homes carved into the sheer rock faces of Orrakar’s canyons. To them, the land is a living force, constantly shifting, eroding, and revealing the past buried within its depths. They do not fight against this change; they embrace it.  

While they dwell high above the canyon floor, the Drahari are relentless scavengers and salvagers, descending daily into the depths to reclaim what erosion has unearthed. Every fallen stone, every lost artifact, every broken structure is part of a cycle of renewal, nothing is truly lost, only waiting to be found again.  

Their cliffside settlements, such as Rakorr-Vas and Dhul-Takar, are vast, interconnected labyrinths of stone, built knowing that one day they will crumble. The Drahari do not fear this eventual collapse, for they believe their history is not written in stone but carried in the stories they tell and the relics they reclaim. 

Biology and Physical Traits

Physical Characteristics

• Stony, Layered Skin – Their rough, dust-colored skin is thick and ridged, mimicking weathered rock, making them nearly indistinguishable from the canyon walls when still.

• Hooked Hands & Feet – Their powerful, gripping fingers and toes allow them to climb sheer rock with ease, enabling them to move across cliffs like living sculptures of stone.
• Seismic Perception – Though they have small, dark eyes, they rely more on vibrations to sense movement, allowing them to detect falling debris, shifting rock, or distant footsteps before they are seen.

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  A Drahar stands on a cliff's edge

  Expandable Jaw & Storage Pouch – Their lower jaws can widen significantly, allowing them to carry scavenged materials or food, while a throat pouch stores excess finds for later use.

Culture and Society

1. Cliffside Pueblos & Vertical Settlements

• The Drahari do not build on the canyon floor—instead, they excavate the cliffs, carving multi-chambered dwellings into the stone like ancient cliff pueblos.
• Their cities are a maze of interconnected tunnels, rope bridges, and suspended platforms, with some homes abandoned mid-construction as the rock naturally erodes.
• The higher a Drahari’s dwelling, the more prestigious their status, as only the strongest climbers can maintain homes in the most unstable peaks.

2. Scavengers & Salvagers of the Canyon Floor

• Every day, Drahari descend into the ever-changing canyon floor, searching for whatever erosion has unearthed.
• They collect fallen fruit from high-altitude trees, carcasses of canyon beasts, remnants of old settlements, and materials washed in by seasonal floods.
• Some scavengers take greater risks, venturing into unsteady, crumbling sections of the canyon where the greatest treasures—and dangers—lie.

3. Philosophy of Erosion & Reclamation

• The Drahari do not see erosion as destruction—they see it as renewal, an endless cycle of revealing what was hidden.
• To the Drahari, nothing truly disappears; it is merely buried, waiting to be found again.
• They never carve symbols or written records—instead, they pass down knowledge through stories and markings on objects, knowing that one day their homes will crumble, but their history will survive in what they leave behind.

Notable Settlements

The Drahari carve their homes directly into the canyon walls, creating sprawling, labyrinthine settlements that blend seamlessly with the rock. These vertical cities are shaped by both time and necessity, with abandoned dwellings left behind as the stone continues to erode.  

Rakorr-Vas – The largest Drahari settlement, a sprawling, interconnected cliffside metropolis carved deep into the walls of a massive canyon. Rope bridges and winding tunnels link homes and communal chambers, forming a labyrinth of living stone. It is both a sanctuary and a gathering place, where scavenged relics are stored and shared knowledge is preserved.  

Dhul-Takar – A hidden cliff stronghold located in one of Orrakar’s most unstable regions. Here, the rock is constantly shifting, forcing the Drahari to rebuild and relocate their dwellings frequently. Dhul-Takar is home to the most skilled scavengers and risk-takers, those who descend into the most treacherous parts of the canyon in search of lost history.  

Kavzar’s Rest – Situated at the crossroads of Orrakar’s great canyons, Kavzar’s Rest is the most accessible of the Drahari settlements, serving as a hub for trade, travel, and diplomacy. Unlike the more secluded cliffside cities, its dwellings are carved into the lower canyon walls, with wide ledges and terraced pathways making it easier for outsiders to visit. The settlement thrives on barter and scavenging, where Drahari traders exchange canyon-foraged relics for goods from Minthal and the Anvil Mountains. It is also home to Orrakar’s largest wayfinder guilds, skilled guides who navigate the shifting terrain for those unfamiliar with its dangers.  

Vazrenn Hollow – A sacred site where the Drahari gather for the Hollow Feast and other ceremonies. Unlike other settlements, Vazrenn Hollow is abandoned between rituals, its structures left to slowly erode, reinforcing their belief that nothing is permanent. Hidden vaults and wind-carved shrines mark this place as one of deep reverence and mystery.