Shattered Destiny – Shin’hare

So far, you’ve met the Orcs and Dwarves of Entrath in Shattered Destiny. Now, let’s turn our focus to the Shin’hare with their penchant for both living and dying and living.

In some ways, the Shin’hare are the most tragic of Entrath’s races. Yes, they may be murderous, oppressive, conquest-driven bunnies, but underneath all of that there lies some fairly noble philosophy. Sensei of the Wounded Petal, for example, offers a beautiful reflection on the importance of the group vs the individual. This philosophy of putting the empire above oneself runs throughout Shin’hare society, and nowhere is this more evident than among the low-rank shock troops.

Young Shin’hare are brought up believing that true meaning can only be found through a noble death, and that dying for the glory of the empire is the greatest honor a Shin’hare can hope to achieve in their short life. They are taught a creed of absolute selflessness, and their dedication to the greater good of their people is admirable. This warrior code hides a despicable underbelly, though, for while those hapless soldiers go to their graves believing in honor and glory, to those in power, such talk is merely a means to reap the benefits of countless Shin’hare deaths.

This callousness is most evident in the Shin’hare practice of Blood magic. Blood rituals often involve a price of flesh, but such a price is easy to pay when an individual’s life is seen as meaningless. The benefits, however, can be great indeed.

While a run-of-the-mill Shin’hare is seen as practically worthless, the few exceptional souls that distinguish themselves as great commanders are often invaluable. In their presence, even the most ragtag assortment of Battle Hoppers can become a true threat. The loss of such a commander would be a great blow to the empire, but thankfully, such a loss need not be permanent. At the cost of a few sacrificial minions, you can have your prized Shin’hare back, and even stronger than before. With power like this, even death cannot stop the march of the Shin’hare.

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