Awnaler Kin'toni Clan

Cave dwellers, the Awnaler Kintoni were fisher folk in the times before they became kin'toni. The memories of their previous life are all but gone now as they search relentlessly for the blood of the zu'aan.

History

Originally fisher folk, they were once a peaceful clan, but years of roaming the land and hiding in dark and gloomy caves with an insatiable hunger for zu'aan blood has gradually driven them insane. They are paranoid and have a deep mistrust for society outside of their own clan. The sound of running water soothes but they hate being outside so they have been dwellers of caves for many years. With the passing of each day they become more insane. They were involved in 'The great zu'aan massacre' a war between several kin'toni clans and zu'aan clans before they were driven back to and beyond the walled cities.

The Awnaler lost many warriors and they blamed many of the other kin'toni clans who fought that day for their misfortunes. Since then they trust no one and stay close to one another at all times. They rest by murky waters listening to the sound of waves and murmurring of ancient times. The largest battle to have killed many of their members was the ‘Battle of the Vlorian’ which was fought on the planes of Mortia against the Endough Kin'toni Clan who also had come to that realm in search of new dwellings. A fierce and violent battle had raged for many nights resulting in the deaths of many.

They surrendered and were banished from the land, never to return. It was after this battle that they became more wary of other clans. In the mid time of their clans growth they were ambushed by a neighbouring clan who tried to gain control of their cave. They waged a fierce battle and many died but the Awnaler clan were victorious. They did however realise that they had to develop stronger security measures to keep out intruders. They consequently invented an outer wall face that was made of spikes held together by rope which they hung from outside the caves.

So that any intruders would be impaled and that it would be harder to scale or climb. They also increased military strength and held more of an importance for lookout. They became stricter in their laws knowing that the protection of the clan was everything. They burnt all their larger relics and possessions around this time so that it would be easier for them to move silently when ever they had to without the burden of heavy worldly possessions. The very first Overlord was called Severious and it was he who first made the laws that now govern the clan. Although he was a good ruler he was eventually challenged by the stewards.

As it was believed that he was starting to go insane with power and had executed several innocent people who just did not agree with strange new laws which he wanted to pass. Arri the first steward challenged him to Trial by Fist after the Overlord threatened to kill all of The Stewards. Reluctantly The Overlord agreed and Arri destroyed him thus becoming the new Overlord. Although a good Overlord, Arri was also touched by madness and one day he went out into the plains of despair, never to return again. No one knows what he saw out there but he proclaimed something terrible was coming and was never seen again.

These days the Clan hide away from the rest of the world as much as possible. Any hunting for blood is conducted in what they deem to be safe areas.

Biology

Dark yellow irises with white sclerae and crescent pupils In the Old Times they were a slender folk, so all of the Awneler Clan are slender and lean, quite tall, piercing eyes. For decades they have sought out dark places and evaded other clans, so their physical form has adapted to this. Their spines have become curved and they perpetually lean to one side from constant skulking. Their knuckles on wide side are larger than on the other side as deep callouses have formed from scraping along the ground and sharp stone surfaces. Over a hundred years the callouses have become hardened bulbous skin, now a permanent fixture to their physical form.

The land they live in has a temperature that is permanently below freezing. They have no sense of temperate feeling mostly. Unless they are exposed to extremely hot temperatures which their physical make up cannot take, their bodies overheat and can result in death if they are over exposed to extreme heats from fire or even direct bright sun light. They have a deep and unquenchable thirst for the blood of zu'aan. However they are also skulkers and hide away from people and conflict as much as possiblr.

So have prolonged moments where they do not feed. Their bodies are weakened during this period and prone to light spasms and twitching. The hunger gradually becomes so strong that it overpowers their fear and mistrust of the outside and they leave their caves in search of zu'aan blood. They do not, however need much of it and it is shared among the clan. Once they have fed they no longer shake and twitch. Sometimes in the fasting period they have visions and hallucinations of a very vivid nature. Most injuries that are inflicted upon them will self heal. They cannot however survive extreme heat, sunlight, decapitations and heart extractions or destruction.

Their blood is black and icey cold from years of inertia and regular intervals of self inflicted starvation, their bodies are very slow and although they are agile creatures who can climb, twist and crawl through small spaces, they move very slowly physically. However their cells inside their ancient organs are a juxtaposition to this and are constantly moving and regenerating. When they are unconscious their eyes remain open, although their pupils dilate ever so slightly, hardly noticeable to the trained eye. Their internal organs are jet black and look like stone, but feel like dense rubber.

The heart is also black but is a more bouncy mass. It beats but very slowly and sends electrical currents through their bodies which cause their interior cell structure to constantly heal, thus endlessly regenerating. There perception of the reality around them is enhanced by their system and they observe everything as if it were in slow motion. There is a delayed reaction time from the event happening before for their brain to realize what has occurred. Which causes a lethargy in movement and slow reaction time in moments of danger. They are physically very still and move as little as required

Culture

They elect a special person in the tribe as ‘Saman’, who is the storyteller of the tribe, a very revered figure. Usually the person has the most knowledge of their history, even before they were turned, the special candidate would know all the ancient stories and songs. It is part of their culture to sit by the black waters every night and listen to the stories and songs of old. These tales are very important to them and Saman is second in importance to the tribes leader, the Overlord. Usually the Saman are replaced after a battle or skirmish of some kind has killed the teller of tales.

They find themselves drawn to dwell in caves where running water flows through them. As the years have progressed they have become more and more violent and aggressive. As time has gone by they have spent much of their lives in the shadows, skulking in caves, listening to running water though they do not remember why. They travelled at night and move from cave to cave as the weather changes it. They are always in search of damp places. They seek out zu'aan where ever they can find them but as a whole. They do not like to travel too far from where they are at any current tim.

For fear they may find themselves somewhere that is miles away from damp dark places. They often bicker and fight among themselves, always blaming one another for lack of food. Over the years their numbers have dwindled to half its original size, mostly murdered by their own, although they have bickered with several other Kintoni clans over land or rights to hunt zu'aan upon their land and lost many of their numbers in these violent clashes. They have become nomadic as they never stay in an area of caves for too long, especially with weather changes which cause the water pools inside the deep caves to dry out.

They do however tend to go to the nearest new set of caves they can find. When they do venture outside to find new dwellings or to hunt, it is always at night and they stick to places that have plenty of shadow coverage where they will not be seen by other clans. As their memory of their original lives before they were turned fades, it is very important for the tribe to keep their past alive by the use of the storyteller and singer.

Every night they listen to these great tales and celebrate where they have come from. They are very proud about their heritage and like to relive these stories every night, lest they forget.

They are not an individual people, but believe in the power of the group. They limit needless conversation and think as a unit. What is good for the group is best. The storyteller and The Overlord are held in huge esteem. They believe in silence as being silent will save them from invaders

Government

Their ruler is elected by the process of trial by fist, where campaigning officials must battle with each other to the death. The loser sacrifices their life and the winner is then crowned the rightful Overlord of the tribe. They have very strict rules and anyone caught disobeying the law of the tribe is brought before the Overlord where he will pass judgement. They are wary of the other Kintoni tribes. Believing that they wish to rob them of their valuable prize, zu'aan blood. It must be decided by The Overlord what the tribe does. The one thinks for the greater good of the whole.

For instance if an Awnaler spots a Zu’ann travel or even a settlement, he or she must not go there alone and feed. This information of what has been seen must be presented before the Overlord and he or she will decide what is best for The Clan. Disobedience of this will result in immediate Death Ritual. In The Death Ritual, the guilty must stand in the center of a circle of other Awnelers whilst The Overlord rips out the heart of the guilty and then beheads them ritualistically. Any who steals off another tribes member or is mean to them, must also be tried by The Overlord.

The manner in which they are tried is at the discretion of the Overlord, but trial by fist is the usual chosen method. Nine Stewards are appointed by The Overlord to act as council. They also keep a watchful eye on all clans members and if any break any laws they have the power to give them a legal warning, which usually comes in the form of a violent beating and in severe cases of aggressive wrong doers or repeat offenders, the accused is brought before The Overlord. The Nine Stewards also keep a watchful eye on the four corners of the clans realm for intruders. They often work closely with the military in securing their grounds and keeping everyone safe. The Overlord is bound by the laws of the Clan to look out for the clans best interests.

If he or she is found to act for their personal profit rather then for the good of The Clan and if there is proof then The Overlord can be tried by The Accuser. This comes in the form of Trial by Iron, where the accuser and The Overlord must fight to the death in an arena. Who ever is not destroyed was deemed correct in the eyes of the law. If The Overlord wishes to pass a new law it must be discussed openly to the Nine Stewards in a public ceremony where the rest of The Clan will watch and listen. It is then put to a vote where all clan members may vote, with The Nine Stewards giving their opinions.

All nine stewards must be in agreement and seventy percent of the clan must vote in favour for the new law to be passed. The Clans main rule is that all laws and decisions are for the greater good of the clan. Anything else is a crime against their heritage and punishable by instant destruction.

Military

The Clans military unit is called The Varr. A third of the Clan are full time military, though in times of war all clan members become fighters and will do what ever it takes to defend the Cave Space. Generally, a secretive and lurking clan who prefer to hide and evade battle rather then engage in it, they do how ever adopt a very intense military training. Trainees undergo brutal training where their physical endurance is pushed beyond the limits. During this time they enhance their physiognomy and stamina by climbing walls and rooves of caves, running for long periods of time, completing assault courses made from found natural structures.

The Clan has also developed their own deadly martial art called Yin Zang which all military personnel are taught and must practice. Yin Zang, their traditional martial art used by the military uses balance and strength to overpower an opponent with a serious of moves. Which result in the opponent put off balance and in a position where the Awnaler Clan member can crush their skull and squeeze and destroy the brain, this rendering the opponent destroyed. This martial art is very useful in close quarter fighting and when there are not enough weapons to go round. The clans favored military weapons are pole arms.

They have a signature long spear which has bone spikes coming out of the blade. So they can both thrust and slash with ease of movement and from a safe distance. Often the back rank will employ the pole arms at a distance whilst the martial artists get inside the enemies ranks. It is an intense method of fighting and if they can manage to get their enemies trapped against a wall or structure has a ninety per cent rate of success. The military also work closely with the nine stewards as keepers of the peace. They watch for intruders and will deal with any trouble immediately.

When clan members are arrested for crimes against the Clan the military have the power to administer deadly force when the Stewards lives are at risk. The Varr, are taught by The Stewards how to develop inner strength and power. They learn to wash away any small remaining feelings and become killing machines, creatures that have no fear or cares about their own survival. But who wills top at nothing to defend the caves and the dwellers within. There trained philosophy is that everything is for the greater good of the clan, therefore their feelings are unimportant.

The clan must be protected at all costs. When the military numbers dwindle after battles and skirmishes, other members of the clan are called upon to fill up the ranks. In general the Awnaler have skills in pole arm and swords and they are motivated by the greater good for the clan and will happily sacrifice their existences so that the others may survive. Many offer to join the ranks of the Varr. They usually compete with one another in a tournament of martial arts and the winners are given the honor of joining the military where their sword and pole arm skills are heightened by training.

The weaponry they use are brutal and often made from found iron rubble and forged in molten fire. Sometimes weapons are made from stone and bone. Their fighting style is quick and merciless, designed to conserve as much of their own energy as possible and overpower their enemies quicker. They prefer when possible to avoid war.

Religion

The Clan have two religions. The first is known as ‘The Old Religion’ and the second is called ‘The Word of Awneler’ The Old Religion predates to the time before they became kin'toni. Most have forgetten it but the story tellers keep it alive and it is past of their evening rituals to speek of stories from this time so that never upon their journey will they forget their distant beginnings. This time is in fog where they worked as fisher people and went to mortal churches once a week and gave thanks to their deity. They had a moral code and were supposed to be kind to one another, to stay as a good, gentle, kindly folk.

They believe the Old Religion although appearing basic to them now, has very many values that they incorporate into their newer and main religion. They also like to remember the past. This is the Old Times when they were governed by ‘The Old Religion’ The Word of Awneler is the religion they gradually developed as they ‘evolved’ from what they were into what they are now. They are Nihilists and believe in no deities, no life force. There is nothing only The Clan. They seem themselves as a hive or swarm. The many numbers they make up are equal to the number of one, as everything they do is for the greater good.

Ritually they all sit together at night by pools of water and ‘sing’ to the clan, a form of ritualistic prayer, only it is to themselves as their religion believes only in the clan and their need to operate as one unit. Everything is for the greater good of the clan. Spirituality they see themselves as one entity. They are their own masters and own makers. They often repeat the mantra ‘The Awneler Clan is all’ The Awneler clan consider being turned to kin'toni by the Kintoni the natural progression of their evolution and although a deep part of them misses the old simple times, even if they cannot explain why.

They all walk the path of The Kintoni way with pride and purpose. They are drawn to cold dark places with water. Spiritually this is their ancestral home, where there is darkness and the ripples of shallow water. The Storyteller also acts as ‘The High Teller’ who is their version of a high priest. Every evening the ritual is for all the tribe to set together whilst ‘The High Teller’ reminds them of the ways of old, the old religion, the distant past they come from and then Leeds them through the generations to the teachings of The Word of Awneler.

Typically The High Telling will include old stories of how they lived their lives before they became kin'toni. These are ancient songs from the same period. Then they will recite the story of the Now. This is a short scripture written in the first decade of their turning and it lays out their philosophies of who and what they have become. The clan will chant the scriptures with The High Teller. It is like a series of mantras almost outlining how there is nothing important but THE CLAN and that they are all whole, a unit, not individuals.

They undertake this ceremony every night, even during battle, although then the ceremony is shorter.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Awnaler Kin'toni Clan

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