Klavians are a race of tall, angular-featured humanoids, resembling a well-muscled elf sculpted from marble. They are refined and work well together in battle, fighting similar to a Roman phalanx. Their culture is also similar to the Roman lifestyle; human slaves (meaning 'humans' as far as they were concerned) were used as field labor, garbage collectors, and fodder in gladiatorial combats for Klavian fighters to slaughter for glory to their leaders and spectators.
A klave possesses a weakness towards excessive water, however. They need to drink as much as any other creature, but direct exposure to their skin has adverse effects. Spells and attacks using water inflict an additional 2 damage per die, and the equivalent of a gallon of water splashed on them inflicts 1d4 damage (max 20d4 per round for continuous dousing, such as a waterfall or immersion.)
Klavian magicks tend towards Obliteration and Celestial. They make competent use of arcane magic during fights and in their tactics. Large scale military operations may utilize a Celestial worshipper capable of controlling the weather or countering enemy use of such magic, though strictly nature-oriented priests are uncommon.
Except as noted above, Celestial magic is the purview of their priests and is almost strictly kept to their own temples rather than the battlefields. While as skilled and capable with healing magic as any typical cleric, Klavian philosophy restricts clergy participating directly in combats in all but the most unusual circumstances (undead have been spotted, demons or devils, etc.) Klavian medics are skilled enough to tend battle wounds on their own or to stabilize injured troops to get them to a temple or clergy site behind the battle lines.
The Klavian's military tactics and preparation have kept them from losing much territory other than outlying settlements to the humans, but the loss of a large portion of slave labor that they relied on for harvesting, transporting supply lines, and sanitation is hindering their populace. Laws are being passed that are forcing some klavians to fill the roles of garbage-collectors, sewer-cleaners, and street-sweepers and this is causing rumbling as a lower class is being formed among the previously egalitarian people (in regards to their own race, not others).
The Revolution
Humanity, having been enslaved for so long, had forgotten all but the most humble of deities and humans, being adaptable, tended to worship or pray to whatever gods their master races and territories had available.
Two deities of the human race have recently entered the realms. Both are war gods and they are the manifestations of Athena and Ares. Having entered this plane, they saw that other races had underestimated and abused their race and thus began the revolution. This places them at odds with almost every deity currently in place but this suits both of them just fine. As long as they or their avatars don't directly engage in combat or actions, the other deities cannot take direct action either. This means the two gods can only guide, observe, send cryptic messages as dreams or visions, and grant spells to their divine followers, since conflict with the other deities directly would be an utter failure resulting in Ares and Athena being driven from this plane.
Ares influence brought determination and courage to the humans as well as being responsible for the more bloodthirsty aspects, though these were unavoidable in many cases, the other races were not willing to show any respect or mercy to their slaves. It is to honor Ares that humanity's warrior will never accept the surrender of a member of a former enslaving race as long as they possess a weapon and still stand, known spell-casting opponents are out of luck.
Athena brought knowledge of tactics and cooperation as well as the innovation of battlefield medicine and healing. It was her influence that brought forth the Mirai from hiding. That race was a simple, reclusive group of plant creatures that had been almost unknown until she shared her essence of wisdom with them, transforming them with an owl-like aspect that is associated with her. Under her guidance they came forth as allies of humanity, aiding them with farming techniques and herbalism through the harsh early years of the revolution. It was in honor of Athena that humanity chose a matriarchal method of rulership.
While unable to directly influence the weather, Ares and Athena guided the first human revolutionaries to plan their attacks, escapes, and assaults during the wet season, when rains would hinder Klavian retaliations, reinforcements, and pursuit of escaped slaves. This allowed the humans to escape from the cities and into the surroundings of the Klavian territories. While other battles in the land during the revolution with the other races were more violent, direct conflict with the Klavian military rarely resulted in a human victory during the early years. Now that humanity has their own foothold however, direct and large-scale conflict seems inevitable. A meta-physical battle with the Klavian god of war, Valus, above the battlefield is something Ares is greatly looking forward to, since the other (non-Klavian) gods won't be able to intervene during such an engagement of the two armies.
