Xild'eni Kin'toni Clan

History

The Xild'eni kin'toni were a clan of reckless warriors who made their reputation as elite warriors in the employment of other clans. They were famous for their bravery and carefree lifestyles that made them admired and highly sought after. The clan fully embraced this mercenary lifestyle and remained free from all involvements in politics and diplomacy. They worked for the higest bidder or for an offer that met their current needs. Fighting was their way of life and the clan trained for it their whole lives. Their dependency on action and battles was such.

That the clan would become disorderly and impatient during the lulls between their fights. There would be a massive spike in infighting within the clan and personal duels that could threaten their organization. The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan were initially created in research facilities as a warrior race who were meant to take over the role of the old zu'aan armies. Their tendencies and behavior were a result of the alterations made in their psyche to make them a single-purpose tool for waging war. After they escaped their facilities during the kin'toni outbreak,.

The clan instantly set out to wreak havoc on the coutryside waging war and fighting all armies that they came across. During this phase, the clan had little regard for interactions and dealings with other clans and would instead, resort to war immediately. This method was detrimental to them since it did not provide them with anything profitable in return. They still had to make a living and hunt and gather for themselves. The easiest resolution to this problem was to sell their services to the highest bidder who could provide them with supplies and thus allow their clan to survive and thrive.

Their mindless instinct would be toned down over the ages as they began to realize a way to profit and make a living out of their nature. They started associating themselves with the richest clans of Taerel and waging war on their behalf. They were exemplary in this role as any of their employers did not have to worry about any political interest or backstabbing from them. Their sole interest was war and they had no time for the steadier aspects of statecraft and diplomacy. Their reputation saw a meteoric rise in their new role as mercenaries.

They won countless victories on the back of their natural fearlessness and experience in fighting. Their experiences also helped them develop their own style and improve on aspects that had been lacking. They revolutionized the concept of warfare and introduced mercenary services in the Taerel region. For their role in the services of a particularly benevolent kin'toni warlord of the East, the Xild'eni kin'toni were awarded the Cersamhin Evergreen Taiga region which they turned into their homeland. The clan did not abandon their mercenary activities after settling down.

But instead used it as a place where they could recuperate between their fights. There are many records of vengeful clans coming for their settlements in the Cersamhin but most were easily repelled by their vastly superior military force.

Biology

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan adhered to a very high standard of physical fitness. This was particularly because of their constant need to be in the gruelling conditions of the battlefield, fighting wars. They had to be stronger and last longer than their enemies in order to achieve victory in the field. The habit of maintaining their bodies at peak physical levels was drilled into their psyche right from the moment of their induction into the clan. This was also helped by the fact that the Xild'eni did not just "turn" normal zu'aan into one of their own.

There was a long and elaborate process of identifying the strongest and most remarkable physical specimen from among their captives who were then put through rigorous training exercises to determine their suitability for the clan. Maintaining a healthy body was more than just a matter of aesthetics and fighting for the Xild'eni kin'toni clan. It also had a cometitive aspect to it. They wanted to look and be healthier than their rivals within the clan. It was the simplest way to gain attention and set themselves apart within the clan. The Xild'eni were built for fighting.

Their average height was over seven feet and their well proportioned bodies were characterized by a heavily muscled upper body that was capable of incredible brute strength. Their entire body was covered in a coating of solft light fur that helped them cope with the cold and wet conditions of the tundra. This even coating of fur extended to the tops of their heads instead of conventional hair, leaving only their faces, palms and feet exposed. The lightly colored fur reflected a golden brown color in the sunlight and added to their eye-catching appearance.

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan had very adaptable eyes that were observably smaller than normal kin'toni's. This allowed the members of their clan to see well at all times. They were not limited by daylight unlike other photosensitive kin'toni. Their eyese were a light red in color with white sclerae and vertical beaded pupil. Their noses were taller and stood out along with their very distinct square jaws. Their mouth was equipped with an ordinary looking set of teeth with fangs hidden along the inner gums. They were not reliable tools to attack anyone with.

And were only used for the purpose of "turning" a zu'aan into one of them or sucking blood out of a living being. The ends of their hands and feet had sharp retractable claws that could be used to attack or defend themselves. Although this method of combat was always an option, the Xild'eni preferred to stick to weapons and tools when fighting their wars. Their constant travelling exposed themm to a lot of regional diseases and sicknesses. They learnt and kept records of many healing methods and natural cures for all kinds of diseases.

Centuries of this practice led to the clan gaining better knowledge to treat themselves while also acquiring a stronger immune systen. They were very resistant to diseases as a result.

Culture

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan valued the qualities of bravery, rashness and a deep sense of individualism and honor. These were considered as the ideal traits of a warrior who had no time for pleasantries and small talk. The Xild'eni clan's ranks were filled with these prototype of warriors who carried themselves with a lot of pride and personal ego. They looked out for their own self interests and glory in battle. They needed constant wars in order to pursue their dreams and a society to recognize their great deeds. These common motivations was the only factor that could unite the bands.

They were reckless and egotistical warriors to come together. This obsessiveness with achieving glory and distinguishing themselves in combat made them overlook many basic virtues such as sympathy and compassion. They would follow wars and fight on whichever side was willing to pay for their services. The atmosphere even within their clan was unlike any other. It was filled with constant boasts and challenges. They were gruff to the point of being rude and thought very little about people other than themselves. A common characteristic which summed up their clan life was the constant duels among thier own.

These could arise out of any simple matter ranging from a verbal insult or sarcasm to handling the personal belongings of another. Fortunately for them most of these duels would end in injury and not death. The clan were very meticulous when introducing new members into their clan. The took their membership very seriously and only desired that the most capable should be inducted into their ranks. They had an air of superiority in their disregard for others and did not deem any person capable of joining their ranks unless they displayed some spirit and had skills and bravery to match.

Thus they would "turn" only the most capable zu'aan from among their captives to become one of them. Even after being turned, the individual had to go through a rigorous training cycle and display a desire and natural affinity for the clan before they were truly accepted. The clan was so accustomed to wars that periods of inactivity betweeen conflicts would lead to chaos within their settlements. Without a battle to channel their energy into, the warriors would start to take out their uneasiness within their own clan. This led to increased instances of fights, disturbances and lawlessness within the clan.

The only remedy in such situations was to take up any offers that came their way. This lack of discipline and chaotic behavior was only limited to such situations. In the battlefield, the Xild'eni warriors were a picture of order and self-discipline. They took fighting very seriously and devoted countless hours to study and practice to master the art. Their culture was based on honor and reoutation more than possessions and wealth. A man could have all the belongings he needed and more but without a reputation, he had no means to get ahead in the clan.

Such importance placed on reputation also meant that it had to be safeguarded and protected. It was thus customary to accept a challenge rather than rejecting it and facing the ignonimy of being called a coward.

Government

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan were an ungovernable group of warriors who answered to nothing except their desire for personal glory and fights. There was constant competition and fighting among its members due to the deeply entrenched values of honor and their large egos. Any slight provocation could lead to an all out brawl or duels. It was a lawless situation that was unsalvageable even to the strongest leaders and authorities. The only way the clan could be kept together and working as a unit was to appeal to their innate desires.

The first leaders that arose among the Xild'eni saw an opportunity before them. Instead of trying to curb their natures and getting them to perform normal activitities, it was more effective to have them stick to fighting and find a way to supprt themselves through it. This led to the creation of their mercenary ideals and structure. The clan would concentrate on improving their military skills during their free time while their leaders searched for patrons who would be willing to them with supplies and valuables in return for their service.

Does the clan did not have to resort to hunting, and gathering which they considered as menial jobs- unsuitable for a clan of warriors. A leader had to be able to provide them with constant wars where they could take out their aggression on enemies and not their own clan members. When their need for war was met, the clan became very orderly and disciplined. All their efforts would become tailored towards improving their skills and efficiency in battle. A leader was not elected in the Xild'eni clan. There were no formal process for the selection of one either.

It was a matter of the most charismatic and reputable individual to stand up and declare himself as their leader. His legitimacy or lack of, would be decided by the number of people willing to follow his lead. The leader had very little civil responsibility in terms of making laws for the governing of the people and settlement. The naturally free-spirited Xild'eni would never welcome such a move and would instantly remove the leader from his position. Instead, the leader was responsible for engaging in diplomacy and negotiating contracts on behalf of the clan.

These contracts would see them receive supplies that kept them fed for months in return for their military services. The quality of these deals and what the clan recieved in return were a marker of the leader's performance and compatibility for the job. In some regards he could also be deemed as the glorified quartermaster who was responsible for keeping the clan fed and operational. As there were no laws within Xild'eni society, they operated through a strict code of honor and duels. If a person believed that an injustice had been commmited against him.

He was free to challenge the suspect to a duel. The duel would then decide the outcome of the matter. Thus, justice was an individual responsibility handled by the people themselves with no interferance from the authorities or other members of the clan.

Military

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan's entire existence revolved around wars and their military. They were known for their exemplary skill in battle and the ruthless attitude with which they conducted their fights. They were the perfect embodiment of a purebred fighter in the eyes of many of their admirers and enemy alike. This reputation was not undeserved as the clan had little or nothing to do outside of fighting. They looked down on activities such as hunting and gathering and instead relied on their captives and supplies given as tribute/payment for sustenance.

Their society bred an extreme level of competitiveness within each member and without war as an outlet, the members would resort to fighting among themselves. They competed for glory and honor and strifed to eclipse each others achievements and bravery in combat. This led to an unnatural recklessness and bravery in battle. THey were extremely motivated and driven individuals who would seize any initiative and opportunity that presented itself. They would make suicidal charges at an enemy's front willingly and pursue a fleeing combatant for months, with no regard for themselves.

This sort of behavior would become the code of conduct of a Xild'eni warrior and was widely admired throughout Taerel. It was however a difficult method to replicate for other clans since it required a lot of commitment and an ability to cope with the civil unrest and lawlessness that accompanied such a method. War meant a lot more to them than it did to most of the other clans in Taerel. It was a skill with which the clan made their living. They were mercenaries who waged war on behalf of other clans in return for payment. The process of recruitment to their clan was a very difficult journey.

That only the most physically and mentally adept could handle. They picked their new members from among their zu'aan captives from their campaigns. While they fed on the blood of the rest, the best physical specimens were carefully nurtured and placed under a strict training regiment before they were "turned" and became part of their clan. Their leader was responsible for picking out contracts for the clan and leading them into the battlefield. The leadership would disappear soon after the battle started as the armies would be making a mad dash towards enemy lines in the hope of gaining personal glory.

The freedom and ability to act as individuals in the battlefield allowed their warriors to act on their own initiatives and respond to any changing situation in the battlefield. Although it looked chaotic to the untrained eye, the Xid'eni had a lifetime of experience and training to allow them to access a situation and act in a manner that would cause the most damage to the enemy. The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan wielded many different types of weapons during their history. Most of them were bought from zu'aan black markets or recieved as payment for their services.

As such the clan owned superior weapons in comparision to most of their kin'toni peers.

Religion

The Xild'eni kin'toni Clan did not have a unique religion of their own that was followed by the entire clan. Since the early days, their focus had always been on war and training. Other aspects that were deemed unnecessary or additional to the clan's needs- like religion, were left unaddressed. There was no rule or decorum for religion as no one gave it much thought. It was only later on as the Xild'eni began to explore and encounter more cultures that they realized the unfulfilled nature of their lives and their members actively began to seek out their own spiritual paths.

The individualistic nature of the Xild'eni kin'toni Clan meant that there was no uniformity in this process. The people were free to choose who or what they wanted to worship. As mercenaries, the Xild'eni were very well-travelled and had been around most places in Taerel. This gave their warriors a wide selection of beliefs and religions to draw inspiration from. Once they adopted a religion they would mold it to their beliefs and become strict disciples for the remainder of their lives. This attitude to religion was only possible because of the degree of freedom and individualism that existed within the clan.

Their personal business was left alone as long as the warrior could fight and fulfil his responsibilities towards the clan. Anyone who had a problem was welcomed to challenge for a duel. The Xild'eni warriors were naturally curious about the religious practices and beliefs of other clans that they encountered during their mercenary work. Many of them would slowly become obsessed with learning these new religions that addressed matters such as spirituality and higher powers that were absent in their culture. The converts among their ranks would take back personalized versions to their Cersamhin hom.

Leading to the colorful mix of religions among the Xild'eni. While most conversions were carried out of a desire for spiritual fulfilment, a lot of up and coming soldiers would also pick up exotic beliefs to help create an aura of mystery around themselves. They were in a constant competition for attention and success against their peers and any edge was necessary to stand out from among the ranks of charismatic and brave warriors. Their homeland of Cersamhin was filled with many relics of their travels along with idols, inscriptions and runestones that were associated with all kinds of religion.

The lucky warriors who had distinguished themselves and managed to fil their coffers with loot and riches would saction the construction of these relics and small temples to promote their own beliefs and to display their artifacts collected from around the world. The Xild'eni's lands were filled with such structures that were left empty for most of the year when their patros were out fighting a mercenary war. Promoting a religion was futile within the clan since most of the listeners themselves were too egotistical to blindly follow the words of another one of their peers.

Thus, no major religious group could come up within the Xild'eni clan throughout their history.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

Unknown

Xild'eni Kin'toni Clan

Unknown