Tor'gha Kin'toni Clan

History

The Tor'gha kin'toni Clan is a primitive stone-age-tech clan that has eschewed the working of metals in favor of using wood and bone. They do this on purpose as they considering mining is an offense to the Earth, and they worship trees, the forest, and some of them even the Sun that harms them. They don’t believe in enslaving zu’aan but they do believe they honor them by devouring them. Their name means “rustle of the leaves” and they are arboreal. They have developed ways to cross plants and animals to serve their purposes, and ways to shape the forests to their advantage.

The Tor'gha kin'toni forests are considered shadowed places of dread and decay, where the rays of light don’t shine and which have a characteristic stench of decaying plant matter and moss. More “civilized” kin'toni often sneer at the thought of these “savages”, but they would never dare do so in their faces. For the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan is powerful, their numbers are great and most important of all, you never know when one of them has climbed a tree over you and will just drop from it and instantly kill you with a serrated bone spear. Such is their stealth and battle prowess.

The zu’aan cities, having witnessed so much pain and destruction, originally didn’t take the threat of the Tor'gha kin'toni seriously. After all, they had fought against enemies that sounded much more formidable: Armor-clad kin'toni armies, shambling and crazed aristocrats, and even wars amongst themselves with the weapons of the old world. But Tor'gha kin'toni were only naked apes, tribal huntsmen of the deep woods, how could they compare to that? However, it was eventually proven that such thoughts were misguided, more fantasy than fact, closer to the clutches of desire than to the cruel truth.

Tor'gha kin'toni are fast, they are numerous, and most importantly, they can grow the forest where they please. Several of the Tor'gha kin'toni forests were once bustling zu’aan townships, now overcome with vines and with roots. The advance of the Tor'gha kin'toni may have been slow, but it was implacable, it was ruthless, and it was final. Their druids planted seeds, their healers weaved unknown sorceries - that may have been just for show but generating droves of desertions and panic- and finally their champions and leaders closed on the encroached towns and “ended the pitiful mortal misery” of their zu’aan enemies.

Such is the way of the Tor'gha kin'toni, and this was something to remember. As can be plainly seen, one can be too proud and too overconfident when fighting this Clan, and many a zu’aan has made the fatal mistake of believing them inferior to other tribes just because of their lack of metalworking or their “primitive” looks and demeanor. A mistake that is often paid in lives and in blood, as can be obviously expected.

Biology

Members of the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan have deep purple irises with black sclerae and vertical beaded pupils. The vertical pupils aren’t there just for show, but they are actually adapted to life in the trees. The Tor'gha kin'toni Clan have more flexible limbs than average and their greenish skin can blend with the high leaves.

The Tor'gha kin'toni Clan have around 1% of Datyl Eaters. These are kin'toni tree men. They are a primitive tribe who have a taste for the blood of the city-dwelling zu'aan. This species of kin'toni tree men are a primitive tribe. They are the descendants of the first kin'toni of Tor'gha, created by a kin'toni who had found a way to mix their blood with plants to create a new species who could go out during the day without feeling pain. The leader knew that he was creating a race of monsters, but he was greedy and did it anyway. The original tribe of Datyl Eaters were a peaceful race.

Hating their own, they were the ones who swore protect the last of the zu'aan from the attacks from the other clans of the jungle. This didn’t last, and over the centuries they have become a tribe of savage, nomadic hunters. A Selinden is a special class of Tor’gha servant. They are sentient plants that have lost its roots and is dying. They are feared by the other clans, who consider them maggot creatures, because they are thought to spread disease. Some Selindens have been though to evolve to become Bio-Reapers. Bio reapers are an extinct species of sentient plant-animals.

They have been genetically modified by the older kin'toni of the Clan and had been revived to help fight a war against a rival kin'toni clan. They are superior in strength and constitution to zu’aan, but are too stupid to wield weapons. They are battle hardy, however, and are more than capable of brutally slaughtering enemy soldiers. All Tor'gha kin'toni can hear the beatings of a heart from over ten feet away. It is impossible to hide from them for long. Their sense of hearing is renowned amongst all kin'toni. Is it said that is a leave falls in the forest, a Tor'gha will hear it clear as a crystal shining in a sunny day.

Their sense of sight is also adapted to the conditions of dusk and darkness. While a zu’ann may see nothing, the Tor'gha kin'toni will have a very clear knowledge of the textures and branches of trees, even at midnight. Their range of seeing is optimized for the reflections of small water droplets that are captured in spider webs, and other details that a normal person wouldn’t notice at first sight. This staggering attention to detail gives them an edge in battle and in the hunt, not only against zu’aan or wild animals, but also against other kin'toni.

However, it is also dangerous, since too many small details can overload the brains of the Tor’gha and drive them into a rage. This means their perception is a double edged blade and they must be careful to not put themselves in too exposed positions. The shining sun will hurt their eyes, and the loud sounds will make their ears bleed. This is sometimes used by the zu’aan to drive them away using huge musical instruments, or to cross their forests as marching bands. It is possible for the Tor'gha to fight them anyways, but it is extremely discomforting for them to do so, meaning most will just avoid such displays.

In any case, the leaders are always wary of showing any amount of weakness, and some techniques have been developed to fight these cowardly acts of the zu’aan. One of them is to cover the ears with mud as to dampen hearing. This tactic allowed the Tor'gha Nuglen Tribe to completely obliterate the 523th Marching Band of Remarus and to slaughter each and every one of their members.

Culture

All of the Tor’gha culture is marked for the quest for the Ultimate Tor’gha. These are prophesized to be the first born of a newly conceived race of kin'toni warrior-priests. They will be fierce and battleworn warlords who have dedicated their lives to warfare in the hopes of founding a city which is also a forest. Ultimate Warleaders will be the leaders of the clans and the Tor’gha believe all kin'toni societies are looking to them to save their culture. The Forest Fathers are the spiritual leaders and best fighters of the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan.

They are strong, tough, and indomitable. The Forest Fathers are the ones to ask when in need of protection or when in need of a good fight. Dueling bare-handed in the treetops is a pastime for the Forest Fathers and they frolick freely with other Tor'gha kin'toni. They have learned their skills through time and by watching their forefathers. The Forest Fathers are faster and deadlier than the average kin'toni in the Clan and they are not afraid of the sun. A notable strain of the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan are the Great Hunters. The Great Hunters are masters in the art of assassination.

They can cut out a target, before they are even aware of the danger. The Great Hunters are a special breed of kin'toni. They need less blood than the average kin'toni and have incredible stamina and intuition. The Tor'gha kin'toni Clan have a tradition of sending 5% of their population to be trained as Great Hunters, twice born warriors who protect the Clan. Having been born once, they are sent out the next year to be killed by enemies, but survive and come back. After this, they are trained in a variety of deadly skills and are twice as strong during the night.

Government

Beyond the individual tribes, the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan are governed by a Council of Elders and are the current leaders of their subrace and are in the process of uniting against the zu'aan. The process of unification is long and painful, but there are seeds of unity that can be seen. The Tor'gha have a strict hierarchy in which the base members of a tribe give a token of their appreciation to their “elders”. Ledeva are the elders of the clan. They have been infected by a plague of madness in their youth and have been trained to withstand its effects.

Once a kin'toni has passed this stage, he or she spends the rest of his or her days hunting the “demon” in his sleep. When the demon is weakened enough, he or she will reveal himself to the demon and offer to share the gift with them. In this stage, he is a full member of the clan and accepted as a master of the clan, but they are not yet allowed to procreate (by infecting others), for they are still susceptible to the demons. Thus the Ledeva leaders cannot turn anybody, since it is taboo. It is also a tradition in the clan that once the Ledeva is strong enough, he will be given a beautiful, young woman as a bride.

It is their belief that the woman will be a strong enough influence to help tame the “demon”. The Ledeva is aided in his leadership by a cadre of Great Hunters. The Great Hunters are the greatest warriors of the kin'toni. They have the best weapons, the best armor and a supernatural ability to fight zu'aan. The Great Hunters are naturally averse to conspiracy against their own kin, since they only live to fight zu’aan to the death. There is no bureaucracy for the Tor'gha kin'toni, but there are prophecies. Blind prophets are born with a cursed bloodline.

Their eyes are born in a way that they do not develop vision, and gradually they lose their hearing as well. But over time, it is said these prophets gain the ability to create magical scrolls and perform miracles. Blind Prophets are exalted members of the Tor'gha kin'toni Clan. Blindness or even deafness is not a disability for them, as they use their other senses to explore the world. They have been blessed by the gods and have the ability to see the future. Many clan prophets have their own prophecies about the ultimate destiny of the Clan.

They are revered by most but a few distrust them, believing them failed old fools and insisting that they have no real power. The hopes of the clans for unification are put into a theoretical but awaited Ultimate Warleader. As is prophesized, the ultimate war leader is an exceptional specimen, it will is indomitable and its combat skills unparalleled. It must have infinite patience to plan and coordinate the attacks of its tribe and it must be able to inspire its brothers with its words.

Military

Their preferred strategy is to hang in the treetops and attack their enemies by jumping and falling above them. The Tor’gha kin'toni have barely respect for formal military hierarchies and prefer to improvise these ambushes horizontally, even if no chief is present. What requires more organization is fighting amongst Tor'gha kin'toni themselves, since they can’t fall upon each other giving they are all equally arboreal. These fights occur in the high treetops, hidden from the rest of the world. The chiefs of the tribes are the war leaders in these cases.

The Tor'gha kin'toni decorate their skin with war paint and all manner of fungi. This is both for camouflage and to be able to distinguish friends from foes in close quarter combats. War reavers are the most aggressive, bloodthirsty, and rugged warriors of the Tor'gha kin'toni clan. They are unstoppable in battle and are always seen at the forefront of a charge. Their zeal and frenzy in battle has earned them a fearsome reputation. They are universally recognized as the clan's elite warriors. They are armed with two daggers, one for fleshy combat and one for reaping the energy of the zu'aan so the kin'toni can pass the final death.

They are led by the Kir'ti, the most powerful war reaver and leader of their caste. On the flip side, Battle Supplicants are a martial-shaman class. The Battle Supplicants are the kin'toni equivalent of the holy warrior. They are the religious center that keeps the peace and their faith unites the kin'toni tribes. They are the public defenders of the Tor’gha kin'toni Clan. They are trained in the art of war and thus are the best fighters and are often seen leading the clan's military. They are the final warriors a clan produces before moving up to warfare against the zu’aan.

They are specially trained in the art of combat with scythes. They go to war with the warriors of other clans and tribes to defend their territory or expand their own. Lastly there exists a secret fighter type, known only as the Combat Seers of Zadun. They are a violent class of kin'toni that is rumored to be able to do battle with a demon and win (demons may not exist at all, but this doesn’t stop the Tor'gha kin'toni from believing in them). Seers are very rare to be found in a zu'aan tribe, and individuals need to be seers befor being turned in order to become Combat Seers of Zadun.

They claim the ability to see into the future. They could tell the kin'toni if it is going to rain or if the enemies are coming. These abilities are what makes them the most precious to the clan.

Religion

The Tor'gha worship a powerful deity known as the "Great Date Tree", a massive tree that is said to grant immortality without blood when eaten by a kin'toni. The Cult of the Great Tree is one of the most influential organizations in the jungle. They believe that the Great Tree is the ultimate god and that it's sap is directly channeling his will. They worship the Great Tree and use its sap to heal the sick, heal the wounded, and imbue their service to the Great Tree with magic. Their followers are characterized by being very tall and having a common goal on the road to afterlife.

On the other hand, the Alinamen Tor'gha kin'toni Cult of the Dark Sun, a cult of kin'toni-initiates lead by a claimed dark sorcerer has arisen and is gaining power in the post-apocalyptic world of the iron and stone age. The night cult of the Dark Sun is a dreaded order of assassins. They are members of the Tor'gha kin'toni who have chosen to dedicate their entire live to the dark gods. They see killing as an art, and their powers are derived from the various dark gods they worship. The Cult of the Dark Sun has taken many zu'aan prisoners and are p lanning to sacrifice them to gain even more power.

The Darmyni Tor'gha kin'toni Cult has decided to stop them before they gain too much power. In the words of the Darmyni Tor'gha kin'toni, vampirism is a curse and the Darmyni are kin'toni that worship the light sun which burns them during the day. Their ritual is to hunt, feed and clothe themselves and at nightfall to worship the light sun by giving it small sacrifices. If they don't, they believe sun turns into a demon which will attempt to kill the entire clan. A priest of Darmyni is a religious kin'toni. They are supposed to bring the light of the sun to a world of blood and darkness. They are revered and held in high esteem among their cultists. They are looked upon as the closest to the creator of the universe.

Darmyni have an ancestral grudge against the Elm'ess kin'toni Clan, since they believe their ancient enemies don’t respect either nature or the “souls” of the zu’aan. However, Darmyni themselves are but a minority amongst the Tor'gha kin'toni, and aren’t recognized as legitimate priests by the Cult of the Great Tree. Regardless of the cult they follow, all priests and druids of the Tor'gha have to follow a strict set of guidelines. They cannot drink blood from dawn until midday and they must wash their feet with leaves after touching the land with their soles.

(most of their lives happen in trees, or over dead and fallen leaves on the ground). Priests must carry themselves with dignity and honor and cannot be seen as lustful or overly hungry. Their behavior reflects the dignity of their gods and as such they should not be considered impulsive. After all gods are eternal and patient, and only mortal lives wither and die. Such is the philosophy of the Tor'gha kin'toni.

Miscellany

The Tor'gha kin'toni Clan is divided into several sub-tribes. The tribes all recognize each other as Tor’gha, and thus keep a semblance of order amongst themselves. However they still have different subcultures and leaders. All leaders of the tribes are distinguished by their decorated bone spears. The actual glyphs of the bone spears recount the history of the tribe and all of the people that have ever held the commanding weapon. When space on the spear is exhausted, it must be broken in battle before history can start over. To break a spear before the full space has been taken over by glyphs is considered an extremely bad omen.

The chief that held the spear in that moment is considered cursed for all time, and destined for a swift downfall.

The following are the most important tribes of the Tor’gha kin'toni:

Nadash Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe: They are dark, but have managed to maintain some technology. The Nadash Tor'gha kin'toni have created weapons to survive in the dark ages. They can use armor and have a preference for nice clothes. The Zoblen Tor'gha kin'toni have been locked in a fierce struggle for survival against the city-dwelling zu'aan.

Nuglen Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe: They nurtured and learned to fight with their blood. They eat zu'aan raw and drink the blood of other kin'toni. They are excellent climbers and have no problem navigating through trees and vines. Good jumpers and have sticky blood. They like to play games with the zu'aan using their own blood as a prize for winning.

Boramos Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe: The Tor'ghams are constantly fighting off invaders and protecting their home. Their most threatening enemies are the zu'aan of the plains. They have a strong muscular body with tough bark-like skin and strong scythes at the end of long arms which they can hence dual wield. For mobility and agility they have long tails that end in thorn-like spikes. Needless to say, they are all highly adept in martial arts and warfare. For protection they wear ancient pieces of Farinium that date back to an era when the clan was powerful enough to have Farinium in their possession.

Datimum Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe: Datimum Tor'gha kin'toni are all born with the power of vitae. Their healing and energy replenishing blood also is able to transfer knowledge by the process of drinking blood. Datimum Tor'gha kin'toni tribes are often lead by the person who inherited the most pure zu'aan blood.

Mer'shal Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe: The Mer'Shal Tor'gha kin'toni Tribe is a small and elusive group of shadowy creatures. Closely connected to the earth, Mer'Shal have a natural connection to water and trees, and a taste for the blood of the zu'aan. They are set in their ways and do not look favorably upon changes.

Tribes are based on kinship of conversion. Though the leaders of the tribe are barred from converting others themselves, members will induct any person that they turn into their own tribe. There are a series of initiate rituals before one is fully accepted as a member, and roughly half of prospective members fail these trials. Upon being accepted however, all members of the Tribe must treat the new person as part of the “family” and have unbroken bonds for the rest of their existence – with all duties and pitfalls that entails.

Nearby Groups

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Tor'gha Kin'toni Clan

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