Zathtril Kin'toni Clan

History

The clan was first founded by the heads of the Zathi and the A’trila families joining their houses together to share their resources. They appointed Narsul to be the clan head, and being ambitious, he sent the others out on raids to gain a foothold in the region. They encountered many other burgeoning clans as they hunted for zu'aan to feast upon. Some of the’ were willing to join with the clan, now calling themselves the Zathtril clan. m But others put up resistance and were then wiped from existence. The more the clan grew, the less others resisted. Soon they controlled half the region, and built villages to house their growing numbers.

However after a century of slow expansion there developed a sect that didn’t enjoy the rule of the clan being left only to Narsul. He faced several challengers from different families within the clan. Those who failed were hung up before Narsul’s home as a warning to other challengers. After many disputes and trials, Narsul was defeated by three women: Shiralè of the Jarn, Homiru of the Ra’Enar, and Narsul’s own foundling Narami. The three declined the right to rule as a singular clan head and thus the new system was forged.

Now the clan is ruled by a council made up of people who each excel at one aspect of their daily lives. To avoid unnecessary loss of united strength, most inner conflicts are dealt through hunting games that pit the two sides against a target that has proven difficult for the clan to obtain. The champions of both sides are sent to hunt their target with only a spear. They must find the target and bring them back without compromising the safety of the clan. Those who win on their own are given a new rank. Those lose must aid the family of the victor on any raid or hunt for half a year.

If they work together instead of competing, both are elevated and given the right to lead a raid into new territory. Such things have led to a stronger hold on the region and stability within the clan. During the era of expansion after Narsul was deposed, the Zathtril took control of the major routes through the lowlands and halted travel in the area by using traps and random ambushes. Any group caught travelling would then be killed and left as warnings, or humiliated and dispersed to encounter other travellers and spread word of the Zathtril. This forced other clans to decide if they wanted to abandon any effort to move through the lowland.

Or if they would come to an understanding with the growing Zathtril clan. As a result the Zathtril clan holds a few tenuous alliances with neighbouring clans solely based around the exchange of resources. However they do not allow anyone to step foot on their land without offering up any zu'aan they may have, and there are stories of people disappearing in the region and never coming back out.

Biology

Outside the Kin’toni trait of light green irises around a crescent shaped pupil and surrounded by a black sclerae, the Zathtril distinguish themselves by the disproportion of their legs as opposed to the rest of their bodies. While the exact muscle tone and size will vary between members of the clan, all Zathtril members have developed longer and stronger legs to endure the distances they cover when on the hunt. Their feet have thicker soles in segmented pads near the toes. While the toes are longer and with an additional joint to help them grip the ground as they run.

These added benefits to their legs make their kicks have more force, their jumps have more height and distance, and greater travelling speed. However they have to train for years in order to match their reflexes to their natural speed. The younger members are often awkward in their movements and prone to overshooting their targets. They also have a lean and more angular frame for the upper body to allow for better aerodynamic movements while sprinting at high speeds. This adaptation allows for them to be more dexterous and agile but weaker against strong heavy blows to their torsos from blunt objects.

Many have developed double joints in their elbows and wrists. Slightly extended arms and fingers grant them a bit more reach and finer control of their spears and swords. They are known to have high cheekbones and shallow chins with narrow jaws. Some have developed a slightly wider mouth with two additional sets of canines and incisors. This adds a feline quality to their features. Their ears are slightly tipped and tilted out. A slightly larger ear canal with a very sensitive drum allows for them to pick up sounds at greater distance. However the drum is now susceptible to more damage from loud sounds.

Living in the elements of the lowlands, the Zathtril have evolved to have skin that is slightly more durable to weather and Sun exposure. Thick hair is another common trait in the Zathtril clan, and is often worn long and tied in different styles that all avoid covering the ears. Due to the nature of their heightened speed and endurance, many of the clan members have faster metabolisms that require more sustenance. They also have to maintain a daily exercise regimen to prevent degradation in their joints and atrophy in their leg muscles. Sports and races have become something they employ to keep their bodies in fighting shape.

While stretches, dancing, aerobics, and aerial gymnastics are utilised to maintain their dexterity, balance, grace, and adaptability. Terrains such as marshes, crags, hills, and sand deserts have negligible effect on their movements when at full speed. However, smooth or slick surfaces are dangerous for them to stop on because their built up momentum will throw them further. To combat this weakness, many have trained to use rolling stops when faced with such unwanted terrain. In a field those sent on hunts will use their unique physicality to move on all fours and hide under the cover of the grass.

Culture

Living in the lowlands, the Zathtril clan has adapted to living in a changing environment. To prevent the dangers of flooding during rainy seasons, they build their villages on short stilts with farming land surrounding the open area. They use tanned hide and treated durable fabrics to cover wooden frames for the octagonal walls and roofs of their homes. Hide, bone, wood, and fabrics are used in nearly all of their crafting as they are readily available in the region. Hides and fabrics are used in clothing as well as simple dyes. The common style of clothing ever clan member wears.

Is folded cloth fabrics loosely wrapped around the each of legs like trousers and then a final two wraps around the waist and thighs to create a short skirt. Hide vests and coats cover the torso during colder seasons, while light fabrics are sewn into open tunics for warmer seasons. Ornate patterns on the clothes are used to mark rank, status, job, skill, family. Such marks are lightly repeated on the skin particularly the family mark. While the clan as a whole is united.

There is significant importance given to honouring one’s family and relying on them first and clan second. The younger members train to master their skills in hunting, farming, fighting, and general survival tactics. During that time they are often encouraged by the older generations to explore their own unique talents. After the training period, members are allowed to pursue their passion in ways that can benefit their family and the clan as a whole. In such pursuits they are taught to seek personal excellence in their path. During the rule of Narsul, families were often treated differently due to their martial strength and loyalty to Narsul alone.

This bred a sense of competition and rivalry for more power. After Narsul was dethroned, the new system shifted the competitive nature into an edge to push for ingenuity and collaboration for the best results. The shift also led towards a reverence for the women of the clan as they have led to many of the current advances in their society. Outside the inner workings of the clan, the Zathtril are known to use their speed and understanding of the terrain to raid and ambush those who enter their territory. Groups of them patrol sections of their borders in hunting parties looking for zu'aan travellers, animals, or even members of other clans.

Some clans enter into a trade alliance for the right of passage through Zathtril territories. This right is symbolised by a patch of bleached hide with a red circle. This patch is carried on a broken spear shaft to show nonaggression. Clan custom dictates that if such a patch is flown on a full spear, the newest member of the hunting party must collect the patch and the head of the one who holds the spear. This is the only warning that is given for such a betrayal of custom. If a hunting party attacks someone flying the patch in the correct manner, the leader of the party will have their head given to the offended ally.

Government

Initially designed to be a patriarchal monarchy, the Zathtril clan gave all the power and authority to Narsul of the A’trila family. With his new authority, Narsul fell prey to his ambitions and began sending his people out on raids against other small clans and families. Narsul kept the power to himself and gave minor authority to the men of those who agreed with his desire to conquer. These men followed Narsul’s orders without question and established outposts for their raiders to stay while they pushed ever outwards. With every increase to the clan’s strength and number, Narsul felt the pull of his authority against his ambition.

Under the strain, he began exercising harsher disciplinary actions against those who resisted. He gave free rein to those loyal to him in order to expand their families and take some of the weight of rule off his shoulders. These families exerted their control over the other members and festered growing animosity. Several of the families began meeting in secret and devised ways to expand their own capabilities. As Narsul and his faction continued to expand their control and use of force on both enemy and citizen, the opposition faction began acting strategically.

And gained power by winning over those who survived the punishments of Narsul and his men. Eventually, the sect gained a foothold in power when Narsul took a newly turned woman as his “heir”. This was after killing her real family. He gave her the name Narami and began grooming her to be a reflection of himself. However, his own mindset on roles opened up the chance for the sect interact with her while he would go on raids. The sect then began moving openly. Several of the members turned on the families loyal to Narsul and cut them down. Then they set their sights on overthrowing Narsul himself.

The old raider proved more capable of fighting than they had expected. Narsul resorted to brutal examples in an attempt to discourage any other usurpers. Narami turned to two of her closest allies in the sect, Shiralè and Homiru. Together the three women used Narsul’s views on women and an over reliance on raw strength to finally kill the tyrant. After that Narami refused to take over, as did Shiralè and Homiru. Instead they gathered the more society minded members of the clan, many of them women, and charged them with finding ways to better the lives of the clan.

While they kept some of the tactics for hunting, they got to work on restructuring the social structure. Now the clan works together to make everyone’s lives better. The council members are chosen for their skill and desire to help the clan. Every member of the clan finds something they enjoy and excel at to provide something for the clan. The old outposts were converted into villages as the clan continued to expand, and each village has their own small councils to help bolster their villagers lives. Each council keeps the others informed.

Military

The Zathtril clan is known primarily for raiding those who travel through their territory without a particular patch to show they are protected. They practice using spears and swords to excel at varying ranges in hunting in the lowlands and defend themselves from any predators they may encounter. The younger members of the clan use only spears while they adjust to their speed. They use the spears for precision piercing attacks at mid-range. While the more mature hunters will use their spears to startle and steer their prey into traps. They then get in close and strike with their swords.

They hunt in small bands of five to eight and cover specific areas. Once they find a suitable target, they send three of their group to a point far in front of the unwitting prey. The others then rush forward and chase their victims into the trap. Back before the power shift, they would use the same tactics on a larger scale. A band of twenty would arrive at a village, and five split off to cover any other entrances as the main force charge through the front. The main change between the Narsul days and the new regime in military tactics is that before, they focused purely on strength.

While now they use their speed and dexterity to take out their targets quickly. Sometimes their prey attempts to fight back. In such situations, they converge on the victims in staggered strikes using their speed to hit and keep moving. This is to disorient their prey and allow their fellow hunters an opening to get the killing blow. If they get attacked themselves, clan members are trained to use their spears for defence and keeping their attackers at a distance before disarming them and killing them with their swords. During special hunts, clan members are sent to hunt prey outside of the clan’s territory.

These hunts force the clan members to only using a spear, only killing their target, return with the body, and do all of this without being discovered. The targets are chosen for being someone from an allied clan who has wronged the Zathtril and escaped. While this method is used primarily to settle disputes between clan members,. It also teaches them to either work together or proves that they are capable of being stealthy. If a clan member becomes unarmed while in combat, they will resort to using their speed and knowledge of their surroundings to their advantage, using their powerful legs to attack while avoiding getting hit.

Due to their weaknesses, most Zathtril clan members are taught how to evade before they allowed to even pick up a spear. The only time they ever go on a hunt alone is during one of the special hunts. Every other time they always move in a pack. If they encounter a group too big for their pack to handle independently, they send a runner to gather any nearby packs for a coordinated assault on the larger group.

Religion

During the rule of Narsul, there was no formal religion beyond the ardent belief in the strongest deserving of power. After the regime change, that ideology was transformed into a reverence for the rules of nature. Every time they hunt, they thank their prey for the honour of being with them at the end of their life. If a clam member is killed, their family gather and takes the body to where nature can reclaim it's nutrients best. If a clan member dies while on one of the special hunts, it's up to the other clan member involved with the hunt to retrieve the body for the family.

They also take extreme care of the land in their territory. Some clan members specialise in tending to the soil and maintaining the plant life. Others focus on the local wildlife. When they hunt an animal, they make sure it is an adult. Even when they hunt zu'aan or Kin’toni prey, the Zathtril never kill children. They always turn the zu'aan children, and adopt the young Kin’toni. For any clan member, the death of something before it’s matured is a crime against the laws of the world. To them death is should only come after growing to maturity. If a Zathtril learns of the death of a child.

Recently turned Kin’toni or otherwise, they will hunt whoever is responsible. If a child attacks a member of the clan, they will avoid fighting even if it means the clan member will be killed. If the prey they’re hunting is pregnant, they will help deliver the offspring before finishing the hunt. The newborns will then be raised to maturity by new members of the clan and if it’s a zu'aan they will turn it. If it’s an animal they will hunt it as the last act in their training. Those specific hunts are given further ceremony as the first life taken by a new clan member.

Each part of the animal is used by the clan to better the life of a clan member in need. A common saying that is taught to every new member of the clan is this: “there is only one true law of nature: the path to life. It starts with birth, and ends with death. In between there are two stages of life. First, childhood. Next, comes maturity, once something matures it is ready to die. Some transform and start over in a new life. Other’s only get one path to maturity. Death is a necessary part of life. Each one is beautiful. Each death should be honoured. With every death comes the chance for new life.

And that is something to cherish. In the same way, every birth is beautiful. We must allow things to mature. If anyone is not allowed to mature, their stolen life must be repaid. The path of life must be followed.” This teaching is the core of the beliefs of the Zathtril. And they will always heed the lessons it teaches them.

Miscellany

Some interesting facts about the Zathtril clan: Many of the families within the clan are made not by members turning handpicked zu'aan, but by the newly turned members choosing their new family for themselves. Every hunter makes their own weapons specifically for use in a single hunt. Often the spear is something they make the day of the hunt. If it’s for the killer of a child, they make sure the weapons they make are especially brutal.

A hunt is never truly over until the weapons for the hunt are destroyed. A common method is to build a ceremonial pyre to their prey.

In their raiding days, the clan often dyed their clothing to a specific colour that represented a predatory animal they wanted to emulate. The packs for each hunt is chosen from those who weren’t a part of the previous hunt. The pack leader is chosen by the rest of the pack. Each pack is chosen by the small council of each village. However those who want to patrol the borders must prove they can endure anything by spending a year away from any village. While the common weapon set up is spear and sword combinations, some only use spears while others use only swords.

Some even use claws from other animals as their weapons. While hides and fabrics are used in the clothing, bone is used to reinforce their armour and in their weapons. Many of the clan members are given names that are variations of their direct turning figure. Each village has one specialist whose only job is to be skilled enough to kill the entire council if they attempt to use their power for selfish reasons. This specialist is not known to the council members. The three women who took down Narsul all left village life. Each took a section for the borders to monitor instead.

Narami hasn’t been seen since. Traps are a common tool for the new hunters so they don’t lose their spears before the final blow. Several of these traps involve wood and bone in sharpened pegs. A special sword was crafted from the bones of Narsul. It’s not used in any way. The only reason it exists is as an ornament to remind them of the price for unfettered ambitions. Black fabrics and dyed hides are not used except in one specific circumstance. They are made by the families of dead clan members for the burial rituals. When a special hunt is ordered, the two hunters spend a day with their family picking out where they would be given over to nature. The most common resource the clan trades for is rope.

While there are lakes in the lowlands, the clan members habitually avoid going near them without one other member. They do so in order to prevent the possibility of an ambush. The ornate patterns used to mark their clothes and bodies are taken from ink stamps done with different plants. The clan’s main export is vegetables, and each village specialises in different vegetation due to the soil in the surrounding areas.

Nearby Groups

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Zathtril Kin'toni Clan

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