The Horkval of Achaea

The Horkval are Achaea’s insectoid race. Powerful, alien, and built for war, they are the shock troops of Aegis and one of the strangest forms a mortal can take on Sapience. They are very hard to wound, cannot wear armour, and almost certainly came from another world.

Horkval lore and origin

The Horkval are powerful insect-like humanoids, though not particularly intelligent in the way humans understand intelligence. Aegis, God of War, used them as shock troops during the great battle on Nishnatoba. They are fearsome soldiers who show no fear in battle and work together on a level surpassed only by the crystalline Kx’Khrah.

Their origin is not well known. What is certain is that the Horkval did not originate from Sapience, and possibly not even from this world. The largest concentration of Horkval on Achaea, known as Kr’kach, lies upon the distant continent of Bandar Selam. There they exhibit a hive-like social structure that other races find unsettling. A second smaller settlement exists on the Isle of Ulangi, separated from the greater colony.

Horkval read differently than any other race because of their hive-like social cohesion and alien appearance. Most other races find them unsettling on first encounter, even in cities where they are common. This is not in-game racism by other characters: it is a noted cultural reality in the lore. A Horkval character has to negotiate first impressions every time, every place, regardless of their personal disposition.

If you want a race that arrives in every scene with a built-in social tension, Horkval is the most distinctive pick on Achaea.

Horkval appearance

Horkval are characterised by an armour-like exoskeleton or carapace in many different colours. They stand taller than most humans, on par with Rajamala and Xoran, but generally shorter than Trolls. Some Horkval have more insectoid features than others: mandibles, antennae, segmented limb structures. The variation is significant.

Hair, while uncommon, is not unheard of. Some Horkval have it, most do not. Carapace colour is the primary visual identity marker and varies widely, giving characters meaningful customisation.

Horkval racial abilities

Horkval have one racial trait, a reflection of their warrior heritage and exoskeleton.

Trait: One of the Great Phalanx

• Very resistant to CUTTING damage.
• Very resistant to BLUNT damage.
• Cannot wear armour.
• Have the ability to LEAP.

The two damage resistances are the strongest in the game for those types: a Horkval takes much less damage from cuts and bludgeoning than any other race. The armour restriction is the trade. Horkval cannot wear armour because their carapace already serves that function. The Leap ability adds vertical mobility that no other race has.

Horkval base statistics

Horkval are constitution-leaning, with a small intellect dip.

Stat	Value
Strength	12
Dexterity	12
Constitution	13
Intelligence	11

The durability bonus reinforces the natural carapace defence. The lower intellect aligns with the lore framing of the race as not particularly intelligent.

Horkval specialisations

At level 10, after you have joined a class, you can pick one of four Horkval specialisations.

Specialisation	Str	Dex	Con	Int	Stat shift
Unspecialised	12	12	13	11	(baseline)
Vindicator	14	12	13	10	+2 Str / -1 Int
Prosecutor	12	14	12	11	+2 Dex / -1 Con
Claviger	12	11	15	11	+2 Con / -1 Dex
Commander	11	12	13	13	+2 Int / -1 Str

Vindicator pushes physical damage at the cost of further intellect. Prosecutor trades durability for agility. Claviger takes constitution to 15: heavy melee defender or tank specialisation. Commander lifts intellect to 13, offsetting the racial dip for magical and tactical classes.

In-game: RACE SPECIALISATION LIST to view, RACE SPECIALISE AS to commit.

What a Horkval might look like

Class is what shapes a character’s silhouette. The art below shows what a Horkval looks like in a few of the 21 classes available. These are illustrative examples, not recommendations. Any race can play any class in Achaea.

How to roleplay a Horkval in Achaea

Horkval come with the highest social-tension load of any race on Achaea. A few things worth knowing if you pick Horkval:

Other characters may find you unsettling. The lore states plainly that other races find Horkval unsettling. This is a roleplay reality. Other players whose characters meet a Horkval for the first time may legitimately react with caution, distance, or unease. This is a feature of the race, not a bug. If you want every first impression to be a small moment, Horkval gives you that constantly.

Hive-like cohesion is part of your heritage. The Kr’kach colony on Bandar Selam operates as a hive. Your Horkval character is from that culture or from the smaller Ulangi offshoot. Even Horkval who have left the colony carry the cultural weight of hive thinking, often in their language patterns, their decision-making, or their default loyalties.

Aegis is the founder god. Horkval served Aegis as shock troops in the great battle on Nishnatoba. A Horkval character with religious or martial affinity to Aegis reads as completely natural. This makes warrior classes (Paladin, Runewarden, Blademaster) feel especially well-grounded for the race.

The carapace replaces armour, but is itself part of your appearance. Most Horkval characters cannot wear traditional armour because their bodies already provide it. This means clothing, jewellery, paint, and other adornments take on more importance for Horkval than for other races. A Horkval who decorates their carapace is communicating something specific about themselves.

The hive mind framing is optional but powerful. You can play a Horkval as fully individuated and personal, or you can play them as a creature carrying the cultural memory of a hive. Both work. The second is the more distinctive choice and the one that leans into what makes the race unusual.

If you want a race that gives you the strongest physical defence in the game and the most interesting social terrain to navigate, Horkval is the most rewarding hard pick on Achaea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other races to consider

Three races worth a look if you are still deciding:

Xoran

Reptilian humanoids from the distant world of Krenindala. Like Horkval, they are otherworldly arrivals with a distinctive appearance. Pick Xoran if you like the alien origin but want fire-breathing scales instead of an insectoid carapace.

Tash’la

Boar-like humanoids from Yggdrasil’s branches, the most durable race on Achaea. The other major “tough race from elsewhere” pick. Tash’la match Horkval on durability with a less alienating cultural read.

Trolls

Descended from the legendary giant Gruul. Large, slender, and physically formidable. Pick Troll if you want the imposing physical presence of Horkval without the social-tension load.

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