Lodeborn

The Lodeborn are an historically imperialistic Hard race which managed to conquer the majority of Zariphex seven distinct times. Eventually, the other Zariphexian races revolted and utterly destroyed the Seventh Lodeborn Empire, reducing the Lodeborn to wandering, scattered outcasts.

Biology
Lodeborn are extremely tall, being around three meters on average. They have a natural ability to control conductive metals thanks to naturally occuring magnets in their bodies. This ability has varied over their race's lifespan, reduced dramatically at one point (Possibly by their experiments involving The Schism.) and during times of extreme desperation can be involuntarily increased temporarily to even move suits of armor or anvils. Lodeborn have extremely fair complexions and hair colors, white being the culturally ideal color for both.

History
For a very long time, the Lodeborn were a simple, distant farming race, raising large livestock in the harsh, frozen Lodelands. Everything changed when the Zariphexen decided that they needed an army. They trained the Lodeborn to fight, pushed them into service, and had them lord (just barely) above the other races as slavemasters and guards. In truth, they were as much slaves as anyone else, but the place they had in the Zariphexen regime ended up defining their relationship with the other races for centuries. After the fall of the Zariphexen, the Lodeborn were fought and were thrust into a number of wars as they took over what was left of the Zariphexen infrastructure. They found various levels of success in conquering the continent, going through different dynasties and regime as they gained and lost territory. Eventually, their luck went bad all at once. During the peak of power and control in the Seventh (and most likely last) Lodeborn Empire, they began pursuing academic studies. One such study involved studying The Schism, trying to connect with it and/or understand it more closely. Immediately afterwards, natural disasters, rebellions, and birth defects skyrocketed. The empire was ripped apart, and the Lodeborn were ousted from their fortresses and strongholds. They became wandering, hated outcasts, scattered across the continent without any idea on what to do next. They now curse the Schism as an omen of dark times.

Culture
Originally, the Lodeborn culture was one of simple farming and raising herds of large animals. They traded in carpets and furs for decades, having generally friendly relationships with nearby races and cultures. After the Zariphexen took over, the Lodeborn abruptly changed. They became invested in militaries and imperial power structures, especially when they had to take over the Zariphexen infrastructure. Socially, they are a very cold people, believing in very unnatural social restrictions and showing no emotion at all costs. Emotion is a sign of weakness, at least at the height of the Empire's power. Their natural paleness and fair hair is heavily accentuated and elevated with makeup by both sexes to attempt to match an unattainable ideal of desaturated beauty.