Gurvani

The Gurvani, called "Mountain Folk" in the old tongue, are the most numerous non-human species encountered by humans in Castal. Though often dismissed as goblins or monsters, the Gurvani are as intelligent as humans, possess their own hieroglyphic writing system, and maintain a complex tribal culture with shamans, warriors, and their own traditions.

They are a furry people, broadly humanoid in form, and are considered cousins to the Alon — sharing distant ancestry with the Alka Alon, Karshak Alon, and other Alon sub-species. Their shamans wield a form of primitive magic, and their society is organized along brutal tribal lines with strong warrior traditions.

Under the leadership of Sheruel the Dead God, the Gurvani launched the great invasion of Castal, driving humanity back behind the Penumbra and threatening the very survival of the Duchy. Their armies included not only Gurvani warriors but also enslaved humans, trolls (Hulka Alon), and other creatures brought under Sheruel's banner.

Despite their reputation for brutality, some Gurvani proved capable of cooperation with humans, and their intelligence and culture are not in doubt. They have their own history, their own gods, and their own understanding of the world — one shaped by long ages of existence alongside the Alon.