Yak folk

Yak-men were unique creatures inhabiting the remote mountains of northern Zakhara. The yak-men referred to themselves as the yikaria, which translated as Lucky Chosen in their language.

These creatures were collectively referred to as yak folk.

Description
Yak-men were ogre-sized humanoids. Their heads resembled those of a yak and their bodies were covered in coarse fur. They preferred to wear robes and wield staves, some of which were magical. The only distinguishing feature between females and males was that the females were only slightly smaller. Their feet were hoofed but they possessed hands with five digits.

Combat
Yak-men were deadly opponents to face in combat. Many of them had access to an impressive array of magical items. Yak-men leaders were always spellcasters who had access to arcane and priestly magic.

All yak-men had the innate ability to summon and command dao. These dao were helpless slaves under the control of the yak-man. Angered by their situation, these dao vented their frustration on the closest available target: the yak-man's enemies.

One of the yak-man's most terrifying powers was the use of an ability similar to the magic jar spell. If a yak-man was able to physically touch another being, they could possess their body. This process took a few minutes to take effect, during which the victim was typically restrained. Yak-men often used this power to infiltrate Zakharan society as spies. A yak-man in possession of a victim had complete access to that individual's memories, skills, and abilities, but not their magical or psionic powers. Yak-men possessing another body kept their own body stored away somewhere for safe keeping. They could return to their body instantly regardless of the distance separating them. If the possessed body or the yak-man's body was destroyed, then the victim would instantly perish.

Habitat/Society
Yak-men preferred to dwell in the high region of the World Pillar Mountains where they could rule their empire. Their cities were usually populated by five to six thousand yak-men and many more slaves. Slaves were used as currency between yak-men. The buildings in a yak-man city were made from stones imported by the dao from the Elemental Plane of Earth. The stones were gray with a greasy surface. They were incredibly strong, making the siege of a yak-man city a daunting task for any would-be attacker.

Many small outposts were scattered in the valleys surrounding the larger yak-man cities. Though few yak-men occupied these outposts, usually at least ten dao were present, making them formidable locations. Tribute was demanded by these outposts and any who refused were utterly destroyed. In this case, the land was handed over to slaves who had the proper attitude.

As a race, the yak-men were a "malignant theocracy", fanatically following their Forgotten God in all aspects of their lives. The whole race claimed to be descended from this deity. The Forgotten God was pleased with sacrifice. The yak-men satisfied this by performing slave sacrifices for each of the prime elements, including: immolation (fire), live burial (earth), drowning (water), and tossing a victim from a cliff (air). These sacrifices were performed daily. They served to tighten the bond with their god, but also to remind slaves that any who disobeyed would likely be the next sacrifice made.

The Forgotten God was the sole reason the yak-men were able to enslave dao. Legend stated that the Forgotten God once traveled to the Elemental Plane of Earth, where he bested the ruler of the earth elementals through trickery. The ruler of the earth elementals was forced to accept the Forgotten God's terms—allowing his yak-men followers control over the dao while making it impossible for the dao to retaliate. This bargain was said to last for 1001 years and it was believed that centuries still remained before it expired.

The empire of the yak-men was ruled by the Lotus Emperor, who was regularly sacrificed to their god, assisted by the powerful Seven Sages, who controlled one of the realms provinces each. The yak folk were on good terms with the marrash, who helped maintain control and order in the empire.

Yak-men societies sent forays into civilized regions of Zakhara in search of new human slaves. The yak-men were meticulous on their missions, preferring to always scout targets and locations before taking action.

Yak folk could also be found in the Elemental Plane of Earth, where their influence on the dao and earth magic were especially strong. There they maintained good relations with the azer, the wind walkers and the xorn, and were also involved in the administration of the realm of the elemental lord Grumbar.

Ecology
All yak-men possessed an inherent thirst for knowledge, especially if they could use it to gain more power. Any knowledge that was inaccessible to them was to be destroyed.

Yak-men had no family bonds. Instead, they held loyalty to their god and their race as a whole. The young were sent to communal societies once they were weaned.

Outsiders knew little about the reclusive yak-men, save those who entered their lands and were killed or enslaved. Most Zakharans treated them as "boogie men". Yak-men were particularly fond of enslaving dao.

Rumors surfaced that dao leaders were working with the Forgotten God to help him defeat other genie lords and enslave the other genie races.