New Races Join the Fight for Verra

The launch of Alpha Two Phase III on August 4, 2025, introduces the Py’Rai and Niküa, with the Ren'Kai arriving in a subsequent update.

The ancient forests whisper of new alliances, the tropical shores echo with the songs of distant mountains, and the mountain strongholds resound with the oaths of feudal lords. As Alpha Two Phase III approaches, adventurers preparing to shape the destiny of Verra will soon have the opportunity to embody three remarkable new races: the enigmatic Py'Rai, the vibrant Niküa, and the fearsome Ren’Kai.

The Py'Rai: Masters of the Hidden Realm

Deep within Verra’s secluded wilds, sunlight slips through ancient canopies as wind-stirred leaves whisper overhead. Beneath the shadows of towering boughs, the unseen eyes of the Py’Rai are ever watchful. These unyielding protectors of the forest possess fierce hearts and even sharper minds, with a love of nature surpassed only by their deadly precision with bow and spear.

The Py'Rai have perfected the art of living in harmony with their environment while remaining virtually invisible to outsiders. Their villages, constructed from lovingly carved wood and natural fieldstone, blend so seamlessly with the landscape that travelers might pass directly through their settlements without ever realizing they've entered a thriving community. This architectural mastery reflects their deeper philosophy: true strength comes not from dominating nature, but from becoming one with it.

As relentless hunters, the Py'Rai spend their days stalking through their territories, equally prepared to track game for their families or eliminate threats to their people. Their reluctance to trust outsiders has kept them isolated for generations, but the changing world of Verra has begun to teach them a difficult lesson: survival in the new age may require the very alliances they've long avoided.

The Niküa: Children of the Dreaming Mountains

From the volcanic peaks of tropical paradise comes a people shaped by both fire and sea. The Niküa, whose name literally means "The Dreamers," represent one of Verra's most fascinating cultural evolutions. Originally part of the great Dünzen dwarvish migration, these hardy settlers ventured south to discover a coastal mountain range that would forever change their destiny.

The subtropical paradise they named Erüd Nikürir (The Dreaming Mountains) provided rich mineral deposits, volcanic soil perfect for agriculture, and crystal-clear waters hiding untold treasures. Over generations, this abundance transformed the Niküa into a matriarchal society of skilled divers and placer miners who harvest wealth from stream beds and ocean depths rather than dark tunnels. Their return to Verra brings unique skills and the wisdom of a people who successfully reinvented themselves while honoring their roots.

The Ren'Kai: Honor Forged in Reformation

From the ashes of conquest arise a people transformed by redemption. The Ren'Kai carry the weight of their ancestors' ambitions and the wisdom born from choosing a different path. Nine thousand years before The Exodus, the orcish leader Ren'Kaal united the scattered clans into the mighty Kaivek Protectorate, driving centuries of conquest across Verra in the belief that the gods had destined the orcish people to rule all nations.

But as ages passed, progressive voices rose within the Protectorate, speaking of reformation and peace. Though these ideas sparked internal conflict, sanity ultimately prevailed. The Kaivek abandoned their wars of conquest and embraced peaceful coexistence, establishing a sophisticated feudal system built on honor, duty, and mutual loyalty.

The prophet Ren'Vek further shaped their culture when he claimed to have been visited by Norlynn, the Goddess of Fate, who gifted him with Astromancy. His mountain colony of stargazers eventually led to the divergence of two allied orcish peoples: the feudal Ren'Kai and their astromantic cousins, the Vek. The Ren'Kai return to Verra as a people who understand that the greatest victories come not from conquest, but from the courage to change and choose honor over ambition.

A New Chapter in Verra's Story

The introduction of the Py'Rai, Niküa, and Ren'Kai expands Verra's cultural tapestry with unique perspectives on survival, adaptation, and redemption. Players who choose the hidden paths of the Py'Rai will join a people learning to balance fierce independence with necessary cooperation. Those who embrace the Niküa's island wisdom will discover a race that has mastered transformation while maintaining core values, and those who walk the honorable path of the Ren'Kai will become part of a legacy built on the courage to choose duty over domination.

Each race brings distinctive architectural styles, combat preferences, and cultural practices to the nodes they help build and defend. Whether you're drawn to the mysterious hunters of the deep forest, the dream-touched children of volcanic shores, or the honorable warriors who chose redemption over conquest, the Py'Rai, Niküa, and Ren'Kai offer compelling new ways to experience the ongoing battle for Verra's future.