Et'woro Kin'toni Clan

History

Biology

The Et'woro kin'toni look fairly zu'aan except for their pallid skin and very sharp long canines. Their eyes have dark yellow irises with black sclerae and horizontal rectangular pupils. Their canines are longer than other kin'toni and are very lethal. One deep bite would mean certain death for the prey. Their superzu'aan eyes allow them to see in the dark with minimal lightsource from the stars and they are completely blinded by the sun even if they do not walk to their death into its lethal rays. The sun is far too bright for their eyes and their eyes cannot adjust to its brightness.

They see only patches of light even if they look at daylight from afar under the shade of their fortress. They cannot discern shapes and forms in sunlight. Their eyesight is the contrary of that of zu'aan who cannot see anything in the dark while the Et’woro cannot see anything in the light. The Et’woro kin'toni looked completely zu'aan safe for their long canines and horizontal pupils 250 years ago. But their appearance, especially their eyes and complexion, started changing and mutating with time. Around 150 years later, they developed their distinctive features, especially their night vision with black sclerae and dark yellow irises.

zu'aan who have been bitten to become new members of the Et’woro clan would undergo a painful transformation. Their eyes would hurt the most as they change and transform, turning black and yellow. The yellow irises of the Et’woro glow in the dark much like any felines. Et’woro also have a very sharp hearing because, in the silence of the night, they have adapted to listening to the slightest noise, from the snapping of a twig to the rustling of leaves far in the distant forests. This coupled with their night vision allows them to detect any intruders or prey in the night and allows them to hunt very easily.

Very few can escape those remarkable predators. zu'aan have very dimmed senses compared to them and do not evolve over the course of years. Et’woro are however, fore and foremost, hunters and predators and not expert builders like zu'aan. They can manipulate tools and wield weapons to fight armed enemies but most of them prefer hunting with their bare hands. They have developed sharp claws to hunt prey and defend themselves naturally. As such they may look zu'aan but present nocturnal animalistic features that make them more wild than some of the kin'toni from the other clans.

They oftentime lurk in the forests at night to look for zu'aan prey from other city states or tribes who are unlucky enough to trespass. Their sense of smell is similar to that of zu'aan but when blood is shed they can smell and track its source. They will more often than not wound their prey to track its blood scent, assuring that it never escapes them. kin'toni all have a strong olfactory sense when it comes to the scent of blood since it is their primary source of food.

Culture

The Et’woro kin'toni Clan or Clan of the Stars developed a distinct culture that falls back to the birth of their civilization. Their culture is centered around star reading. They trace the moment of their birth to the moment they stopped being zu'aan and look at the stars to find their new name, a variant of the name of a star or constellation in the night sky. Some of the most ancient Et’woro kin'toni are 250 years old and the High Mystic of the clan is one such person.He initiates new members to a star ritual to determine their name and destiny.

The Et’woro find meaning in the stars and embrace their life and curse by making an oath during the ritual. The oath entails that they swear to fulfill their destiny as warriors and hunters of the Clan of the Stars. The Et’woro culture also has a lighter side. Stargazing is one of the favourite activities of Et’woro kin'toni. They wrote and drew the stars and constellations on parchment or rocks to remember them and all the Et’woro learn about them when they are schooled by the mystics. They commemorate the date of the fall of the zu'aan Empire and the birth of their civilization with a special calendar, created by looking at the cycles of the moon and the appearance of constellations in the sky.

Et’woro borrow their knowledge from zu'aan civilization and can for instance understand scholarly texts written by zu'aan. The writing and language have the same roots but have diverged a little from the original because of the animosity between zu'aan and kin'toni. The language of the Et’woro presents new words and concepts known only to the kin'toni. Most may be hunters but there are many mystics who dabble in the art of writing and who study astrology. kin'toni poets are born and write about the beauty of stars or bloodlust. They develop a love for their nature as kin'toni and are proud of their clan.

Many kin'toni writers inspire the newborn kin'toni to discard their former nature as zu'aan and embrace their vampiric selves, often caricaturing and belittling zu'aan in their writing and glorifying Et’woro as the pinnacle of beauty. For Et’woro, everything is written in the stars and they seek guidance in the constellations. The naming system of the Et’woro kin'toni is not too different from that of ancient zu'aan except that they all refer to the name of a star. Names such as Et’ra or Tw’niro are commonplace since they consist of the prefix of the name of a star or constellation and end with the suffix which refers to a concept or word whether it be warrior, beautiful, courage, etc.

The prefix and suffix are separated by an apostrophe. Et’woro culture can be both wild and educated. Mystics and hunters work together to determine which nights are good for hunting or which nights are dangerous.The hunters will go out to search for food while the mystics pray to the stars for protection. There is a semi-religious culture involved and the belief in the stars is ingrained in the Et’woro culture. While there is not proof if such guidance is truthful or reliable, the Et’woro firmly believe in the stars.

Government

The government of the Et’woro clan is very well structured. The chief of the clan is the most ancient and strongest warrior with around 250 years of combat experience under his belt. It is a military state where warriors are trained to wield swords and axes like zu'aan. The High Mystic acts as a counsellor and there are lesser mystics who write down strategies, military texts or historical records. The Star Warriors of the Et’woro clan are highly disciplined, bearing a strong heritage of their past as former soldiers of zu'aan . Most of the ancients were trained to be super soldiers and as such present a high mastery in combat.

One ancient warrior can take down dozens of men alone. Newer recruits are trained by veterans and acquire all the skills necessary to become excellent swordsmen or axemen. Some wield other weapons such as spears or bows. They are building their army to one day conquer zu'aan completely and create a new empire. Hunters are another important element in the government of the Et’woro clan. They are the ones who search and retrieve food, but also act as recruiters of the best prey. The strongest or smartest prey are converted into kin'toni to serve the clan. It is a very skillful and primordial role and only the best hunters are called Recruiters.

The leader of the Recruiters is the Star Hunter. The Recruiters, under the tutelage of the Star Hunter, hunt the toughest zu'aan and capture them, bringing them into the stronghold where they will undergo a transformative ritual and be forced to serve the enemy. They have to be reforged and their wills broken for them to accept their new role. That’s where mystics come into play. Mystics are part of the government of the Et’woro clan for a good reason. They provide support and guidance for leaders, warriors and hunters alike.

They do not delve only in the mystical side of life or spirituality but also provide strategic backup during the recruiting phase, looking not only at the stars for guidance but studying the enemy’s moves, strategies, actions and reactions. They are accountable for facilitating entry in the ranks of the militia to newcomers, former enemies transformed into kin'toni against their will. They brainwash the enemies in subtle ways to accept their new destiny as kin'toni. Without them there would be riot and discord among the clan members and the clan would not grow as harmoniously as they currently do.

The government of Et’woro is hence tripartite, composed of three cohesive wholes that work hand in hand to sustain the growth and power of the clan. The leadership of the chief warrior is uncontested for he is the backbone of the government and is the one who segmented the government into three parts, assigning each part a function that will fulfill the ultimate goal of the government: acquire more power over the world and proving the supremacy of the Et’woro clan. The Star Chief, the Star Hunter and the High Mystic are the trinity of the government, leaders in their own ways.

Military

The military of the Et’woro clan is at the heart of the state. There is the Star Chief at the head of all military activities. He has been planning for 250 years to create an army of super soldiers who will one day conquer not only the inner walls of zu'aan but the whole world. The militia includes swordsmen, axemen, archers and spearmen. They have also managed to devise mechanisms such as catapults. The frontliners and back line go through arduous training everyday to hone their skills. There is not a day of rest except on the commemorative day of the fall of zu'aan . Discipline, courage and strength are what drive the soldiers and army men.

The great army of Et’woro comprises dozens and dozens of super soldiers. But in the face of the enemy walls and high defensive mechanisms, they cannot attack the inner zu'aan and are relegated to defend the fortress of Et’woro. It takes a lot of time to build the army since the kin'toni cannot reproduce and have to look for strong new blood by infecting skilled and combative zu'aan. The military is divided into different ranks. The Star Chief, who is technically the great general, has several lieutenants under his tutelage. The lieutenants have direct control over platoons of soldiers of varying strength and skill depending on their rank as lieutenants.

The most powerful lieutenant is the right hand man of the Star Chief and controls only the best soldiers. The less skilled soldiers are under the tutelage of the lesser lieutenants. Recruiters are an integral part of the army. The Star Hunter, leader of the hunters, commands Recruiters to look for new soldiers. They fetch without killing their precious prey and have to bring them alive in the Et’woro stronghold. They devise traps and nets to ambush unsuspecting warriors and use intellect and agility to hunt them down. They use stealthy and ingenious tactics to catch their prey alive.

Ordinary hunters only fetch for food, breaking into nearby villages or cities to bring back zu'aan which serve as meals to the Et’woro kin'toni. There are outliers in the army whose roles are more geared towards construction and weaponry. Namely, there are the forgers who create weapons for the army men. Without them the military would be defenseless and they play a very important role in the army. There are ore miners and loggers who work only to provide the supplies required for weapons. There are few architects however and it took a lot of blood and sweat to create the fortress with workers and outliers.

It all started from one stone and the fortress is now a giant next to the high walls of zu'aan which are equally impressive with their vertiginous heights and impenetrable width. Constructors are devising catapults and other weapons that can break through the enemies’ walls and defenses. But they lack the knowledge and expertise to create weapons powerful enough to destroy the thick walls of zu'aan .

Religion

Religion among the Et’woro kin'toni heavily influences their culture and lifestyle. Their religion is based on the stars and constellations, which they worship as entities of divine light. From mystics to warriors, everyone prays to the stars for guidance and protection. Each constellation represents a divine entity for the Et’woro. The Star God is the biggest and brightest constellation. There are twelve constellations in all, each representing a god or goddess. From deities of war to deities of beauty, there is a god for every kin'toni.

The places of worship are atop the fortress where the stars can be seen clearly at night. Mystics perform rituals to baptise new Et’woro kin'toni. The latter are given a new name and are read their destinies, which are predicted by the mystics who scry the stars in search of meaning. The belief in destiny is what gives the Et’woro meaning and direction in their new life as vampiric beings. The belief that there is a benevolent and powerful Star God who watches over the Et’woro kin'toni is linked to the birth of the Et’woro Clan. The sun is harmful and lethal to kin'toni and represents the god of Fiery Death while the Star God shines with a harmless, welcoming and protective light.

That is why the Et’woro revere the stars. The Star God was present on the day of the fall of zu'aan where the Et’woro kin'toni won their freedom. The believers start and end their prayers with a star sign on the forehead or hold on to chapelets made of beads as white as the stars. Often they are made of white gems or diamonds that twinkle in the dark. They are worn by mystics who use them to pray for their fellow clan members before they go hunting. The symbol of the Et’woro clan is a star representing the Star God. Et’woro warriors bear the sign of the star on their armor and weapons for protection and luck.

The stars have proven many times to be a reliable way of finding directions, especially for lost kin'toni. The paths in the skies guide the way back home or to new lands. The Et’woro know how to read the directions the stars provide, following the sparkly trail in the sky to find their way. Reliable star maps are a product of their religion which further enforces the belief in their God as the One who guides and protects. According to their religious practices, men and women of the Et’woro clan are allowed to marry one another and form a partnership. Most hunters are women but there are warrior women as well.

However there must be a hunter in the couple to look for food for the household. Marriage is a pragmatic religious practice and it is possible to have homosexual couples contrary to the zu'aan’ religion. It is forbidden to practice polygamy because some have done so in the past and formed smaller clans that branched off from the main clan. They were either suppressed or left the fortress to find other territories.

Miscellany

The Star God is our Guide and Protector. He is the One who watches over us and bears our destinies. His glorious beauty and benevolence is divine. We cannot live without Him. He writes down the path and guides us to safe haven. New stars are born, old ones die out. Such is the will of the Star God and we accept our fate. We pray that the dark blue night is filled with newborn stars who will light the way to eternity and that old ones become immortal. When such a day comes, we know we will have fulfilled our Destiny. - "Et'thra", Tw’niro, dated 4E 219

The Scent of Blood. Of Red and Crimson. The Taste of Salt. Reminds us that we drink life. It nourishes and fills us. With Newfound vigor and Strength. Blood is life. Life is Blood. We fill our cups. With the sacred meal. Each one a ritual. A Warm blessing. - Part of the Et'woro Prayers of the Feast

The Fiery God of Death is the one the zu'aan revere. We do not pray to such abomination. It turns our kin to ashes and burns all life away. Who placed this curse upon us if not the zu'aan themselves? Their sorcery is proof of their malice and ill-will. We are not like them. They will pay in blood. - "On the Sun", Uu'aakal Aera, 4E 230

No mercy for the enemy

Only the strongest survive

Never show weakness in the face of adversity

The Star God protects those who show discipline and courage

- 250 Years of Combat. A manual to the Art of War - Ka'erel Aia, 4E 90

By the sacred bonds of marriage, you are now declared husband and wife. May your union bring harmony at the hearth for centuries to come. May your love and passion make you stronger under the watchful Eye of the Star God. - Part of the Pair Bounding Ritual of the Et'woro kin'toni Clan

Our clan started as a small group of individuals cursed by zu'aan. Those who were there 250 years ago can retell the tales of our ancestry. From torture to captivity, we were soldiers who suffered greatly under the zu'aan Empire. We still remember everything they have done to us. Horrors and now they pay us in blood. They should be viewed as nothing more than prey. Aside from the promising ones whose destinies are intertwined with ours. Only the best deserve to become Et’woro and it is an honor for them to become such. - History of Et’woro. Memoirs of the Star Chief, La'kia Naria, 4E 248

Lunar Calendar. What is your astrological sign?

Were you born under the sign of the goddess of love and beauty? Or the god of war? Find the answer by asking a mystic! It’s all written in your name!

- Extract from the Astrologer's Guide, Ta'ala Ayrla, 4E 30

Star name meanings.

Are you a love warrior or a war lover? A beautiful strong person or a solemn king? Your name refers to who you are destined to be. Talk to a mystic to find out more. Learn your destiny. Seek guidance.

- Extract from "Star Naming", Ya'lre Akmarish, 4E 42

50 years later. The suppression of the rogue clan. The exodus of clan members during the Great Famine.

The six lieutenants of the Star Chief." - Written excerpt of their rise to power, unknown author, 4E 50

Nearby Groups

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Et'woro Kin'toni Clan

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