Concept Art : Shal'naka

Concept art of Shal'naka, commission for TimewarpVortex.

The tribe of the Shal'naka, defenders of hatred.

This tribe is one of the defenders. Creatures whom naturally flock to an area where a mana crystal has settled. They subconciously feed off of its energies, and become incredibly territorial about their holy land, which gives them the strength they need to keep the area clear of others. Many tribes of them will sometimes see the crystal as their lord or their deity, and only higher shamans will be allowed to commune with it, or risk being slain for insolence.
In their society, those practicing red magic arts may be able to infuse themselves with the power of the crystal itself, allowing a Shal'naka to become a Shal'kano, growing wings, another set of eyes, and the innate ability to send out coils of red lightning.
Even the dead and fallen are sometimes infused with the powers of the crystal, and become infused into essence stones, which are then set into large suits of armor with four arms, allowing them to rise up again, and defend tirelessly as one of the Shal'tin.
There are warriors and mages within this tribe, and very often "trappers," rogues who lay traps, and then set to ambush un-sus pecting prey. The traps of a Shal'naka are always directly damaging, never anything immobilizing or poisonous, but they are the most likely to have falling boulders, flying spears, arrows, and darts, and the occasional swinging axe.

Adventurers beware, Shal'naka are incredibly dangerous, especially compared to the other tribes. The best course of action when dealing with them is avoidance.