Native Sons of Khassid
The Karnathi—known as Delveri to outsiders—are one of the original peoples of Khassid. Where others speak of descent from gods or realms beyond, the Karnathi claim no such origin. They were born not of the heavens, but of the land itself—Khassid’s subconscious answer to entropy. Whether shaped by Aeru or forged by quiet accord between Sujaz and Esharra, they are the realm’s first artisans, stewards, and restorers.
Stocky and stone-hued, Karnathi stand between 4½ and 5 feet tall, their skin echoing the colors of slate, granite, and clay. Their eyes glint with brass, coal, or quartz-like shimmer. Among all peoples, they are most attuned to the fractures in the world—physical, magical, or societal. This sensitivity, known as Faultsense, is not magic, but an intuitive awareness passed down through generations. It is said that Karnathi don’t see the cracks—they feel them, and in doing so, begin the work of mending.
They possess no central kingdom, but build enclaves in stone-rich regions and city-rooted sanctums. Their society is guided not by wealth or conquest, but by function and contribution. Guildroot culture, community-led councils called the Symmetrix, and an ethos of repair over replacement form the foundation of Karnathi life. A child’s worth is discovered in what they can mend; an elder’s is remembered in what they have preserved.
Spiritually, the Karnathi walk the Fourfold Flow—a cosmological model grounded in balance: Aeru (breath and potential), Antaz (wind and intuition), Sujaz (memory and transformation), and the Wild (freedom and unpredictability). Their reverence for gods like Esharra, Naelis, and Ilario flows through creation itself. For them, faith is not about prayer, but action. Every repair, every reforging, is a ritual.
Magic, to the Karnathi, is sacred trespass. They revere Xantheris not as a patron, but as magic embodied—a current never fully controlled. Arcanists are viewed with a blend of awe and caution, trained not to master spells but to align with their deeper resonances. Casual or arrogant use of magic is considered reckless, even blasphemous.
While often perceived as grim or reclusive, the Karnathi are anything but lifeless. Their songs are sung through hammer and chisel, their beauty etched in the balance of form and function. They do not rule. They do not serve. But when the world begins to crack, it is the Karnathi who know where to stand.
