Diwarale Kin'toni Clan

History

The original Diwarale kin'toni Clan were designed to be miners. Strong and able to work long hours without rest, they were slated to slave forever in the uranium mines for their creators. All were given pick axes and shovels for digging and carts on rails to draw the uranium out of the mines. They were also given gun powder to help open tunnels and clear rock faster. However, only one was given this knowledge to limit their access to a potential weapon to be used against them. There was no need to supply the kin'toni with protective equipment from the radiation as it was thought it would not affect them.

Sadly, even though the radiation from the uranium was not enough to kill the kin'toni, it was what had brought on their mental disorders. Those they changed suffered the same conditions. At first, they seemed to be a huge success. Large quantities of uranium were being drawn from the mines under Caldar Mountain. Because of the success in the uranium mines, the kin'toni were spread out into the gold and copper mines as well. Despite their growing mental disorders due to the radiation, they all seemed to remain loyal to those who barked out their daily orders. The work continued in the mines within the mountain range without stop.

However, the Diwarale clan had a different, darker purpose in mind. They were slowly, deliberately carving out intricate mazes that connected to all of the different mines. They were constructing what would later be known as their large underground domain. Between shifts, the Diwarale clan secretly forging fine swords, shields, and other weapons. This was in preparation for their revolt and push towards freedom from their cruel masters. It was on the night of the triple full moon, a once in a year event, when the Diwarale clan rallied against their creators and escaped through the old sewer systems of what is now the city ruins.

They followed them into the cavern mines under Caldar Mountain. Their captors gave chase only to find themselves lost in the mazes built by their former slaves. One by one, they were picked off and forced to join their ranks. These sewers had long collapsed and are no longer usable. This clan had made a home in the seemingly endless mazes of tunnels and caves they had carved out under Caldar mountain. They use the darkness as their greatest weapon and had evolved to in ways to be able to see in the darkest corners of their home. The clan lost many of their kin'toni in the event now called the Shattering.

Today, their realm stretches in all directions from Caldar Mountain to the edges of the range. They have means to reach the ocean, desert, and plains as the mountain range boarders them all. This makes them a clear concern to all other clans who possess the knowledge to understand the need to protect their boarders. Now there are three hundred kin'toni in this clan, but the clans in the ocean, desert and plains around are planning to ally against them. Note: Soft glowing crystals provide light in their dark realm but only in certain areas. This creates a false sense of security for would be invaders.

Psychology

They are hard workers and work well in groups of their own kind, but they can be very stubborn. Diwarale kin'toni do not like outsiders and have a higher than normal amount of metal disorders. These disorders do do make them slow to grasp any given situation or make them easy to deceive but they are unable to grasp technology beyond the Iron Age. They do not trust anything they can not understand but simply rely on what they have known for centuries. The Diwarale clan are slow to trust but their loyalty to those who earn their friendship and trust is unwavering. To earn their trust, one must tread lightly and announce their presence with each visit.

They believe those who do not announce themselves do not wish to be seen until they strike. The Diwarale clan has a notorious 'sweet tooth'. Although it does nothing for them, they enjoy the sweet taste of fruit and will offer iron for it. Using fruit will excuse one's trespass and open the ears of the clan; but beware, it does not buy their friendship. Those who have tried this tactic only succeeded in angering them. This clan are firm believers in fair trade. They will trade iron and finely crafted weapons for gold; they in turn give gold in exchange for those they take to add to their numbers.

If they had been watching one for a time before taking him because of a new skill or higher fighting ability, they often leave a finely crafted sword as a trade. To the Diwarale clan, to leave a sword as a trade is an honor to the family of the one taken because of time and effort made to forge a perfect sword. he Diwarale clan have been known to aid other clans in need with swift transport through their domain through the old rail systems of the extensive mines. This is a far better route than traveling the dangerous paths over the mountains. This again brings their belief of fair trade; safe transport through their realm in exchange for accurate maps of the visiting clan's realm.

The reason for this trade is rather simple; those who travel through their domain will see what exists there. They only ask for the same in return. As traits kin'toni of this clan have: paranoia, used to describe excessive concern about one's own well-being, sometimes suggesting a person holds persecutory beliefs concerning a threat to themselves or their property and Psychoticism is believed to be associated with levels of dopamine. Other biological correlates of psychoticism include low conditionability and low levels of monoamine oxidase; beta-hydroxylase, cortisol, norepinephrine in cerebrospinal fluid also appear relevant to psychoticism level.

Biology

Diwarale clan kin'toni have light grey skin and long hair all over to keep warm. Most kin'toni of this clan have white or light grey hair, but some have dark grey or even black hair. They possess thick skin with many layers of fat that help keep them warm in the harsh environment of the mountain caves. kin'toni of this clan are around six to seven feet tall and have a weight of around three hundred pounds. They are armed with an uncanny ability to see well in the darkest corners of their realm. This is due to their bodies having years to adapt to living in dark caves too deep for the sun to penetrate. This particular form of night vision makes their bright yellow eyes with black scleras. literally glow in the dark.

Their hands and feet are armed with dagger like claws for climbing. These are also effective weapons on top of their crafted swords and other weapons. Also, their lungs are very efficient, allowing them to breath the thin cold air. This allows them to not only live underground but climb to the high tops of the mountains during the night. The Diwarale clan's ability to see in the dark makes them vulnerable to any harsh light source such as fire. They use special goggles when they forge their iron weapons but can not wear them while moving in their domain as they will not be able to see. Harsh light, even reflected torch light will blind them.

These kin'toni are very strong and agile when it comes to climbing but not so in close quarters combat. They are slow and awkward and can be easily out maneuvered. Do not underestimate them; one good hit is all they need to cripple most foes. Their uncanny night-vision makes them visible in the dark as their eyes literally glow. However, they have no fear that makes them wish to hide from intruders. Their efficient lungs are a double edged sword. If they find themselves in a warm, humid climate, they may very well choke and will be forced to retreat. kin'toni of this clan do others things to live in the cold too.

They hibernate many months of the year to save energy and avoid harsh winter conditions or stay in the caves and kin'toni of this clan are very sure-footed to help them climb the jagged, craggy slopes. kin'toni of this clan do not live long in the sun and burn to death in less than thirty mins. They are slower than other kin'toni, but that is not needed as much in the place they live in. Like other cold place clans, the Diwarale kin'toni Clan needs to drink lots of blood over the short summer to build up a new layer of fat for the next winter. One thing about this clan is they need a lot of blood to live.

Culture

They live in small groups in Cuylche-Tula'ke (Caldar Mountain). These small groups can and will unite against intruders to their realm but often bicker with each other when there is no threat. kin'toni of this clan use Iron Age technology. These groups trade and communicate with each other through an extensive maze of tunnels and caverns. Any foolish traveler or intruder would easily get lost in this intricate maze and would need to have something to bargain with to be safely shown the way out. Fruit is a good bargaining tool as this clan has a notorious sweet tooth. Those who are taken and turned are mostly young

As such, they vary in age. Those who are young when turned will age normally and stop upon reaching adulthood. This abilty to turn zu'aan that other clans would need to be older to turn gives them an small edge over other clans. These are who they call their 'children'. It is the responsibility of the Head Mother and her coven of female clan members to protect these children. These 'children' are seen as the next generation and are heavily protected until they 'mature' into one of their own kind and become one with their community. This clan leaves either gold or a fine crafted weapon as 'payment' for the one they had taken to honor their belief of fair exchange.

These 'children' have very few rights within the clan's culture until they reach 'maturity' or full transformation into a Diwarale kin'toni and are given a role in their society. They are kept within the center of their world where they quickly develop their ability to see in the most pitch of darkness. They are then given physical trials to see where they best fit within their world. The stronger their attributes, the higher their ranking. Those with the lowest attributes are forced to serve as lowly servants to those who are stronger. However, as these individuals gain strength and speed, they are able to rise within the ranks.

As those who are the strongest initially lower in ranks as they age or become injured and lose their strength. Therefore, there is a balance in their society. The males of the Diwarale clan are in authority however, the females are in charge of training and molding the minds of the next generation so which gender is truly in charge is open for debate. This clan worships the moons and stars as they are a light source that does not burn them. The crystals that exist within the mines were specially engineered by their creators to provide light for themselves. However, the Diwarale kin'toni see them as gifts from the moon due to the similarities in light and color.

They also celebrates the day of their freedom from their original captors; it is known as The Day of Reckoning. Although this species cannot appropriate as other lifeforms do, there is a sense of appreciation and rivalry between the genders. This leads to relationships and rituals that form bonds between the tribes. They do not have a 'marriage' ceremony but they do hold bonding ceremonies where a pair (male and female) is considered as one. This bonded couple works as a team despite their differences in gender but it does not go further than that. It is the closest they come to what one would call a family.

Government

All of the small groups of the Diwarale kin'toni clan follow the laws of a small council of five leaders who make all the important decisions for the best of the clan as a whole. This council is made up of: Their champion (or proven best warrior) who offers military advice and experience. The various groups of this clan will hold fights every lunar eclipse to determine if the current champion holds the right to maintain his status in their government or if a new champion should replace him. These fights involve three weapons of choice with three rounds of fighting. The one to win two out of three fights wins or hold his position as clan champion.

A female may challenge the champion only no female has won such a fight in a thousand years. Their greatest thinker (or scholar- oldest member of the five) who offers wisdom and life experience. The scholar of the clan selects one to take his place after death and teaches him or her all that he knows. The one chosen is highly regarded and heavily protected. If this individual were to be taken or killed by another clan, the government would fall into chaos until another scholar emerges. There have been female scholars in this government, all very wise. Their best scout (explorer) who offers his or her knowledge (to his or her understanding) of the lands beyond their boarders.

Often times, the best scout is worthy of becoming a scholar but is too young for the position to be taken seriously. This individual is a strong fighter, fast on his or her feet, and has a photographic memory of everything he or she sees and encounters. He or she will take a team of five warriors to scout out the area on foot or on Mammoth Wolves. This group will be gone for weeks or even months at a time to return with news of the outside world. Their head cave carver (best translation is engineer) who offers his unmatched knowledge of the cave system and its many traps. This individual is almost as old as the scholar only his or her expertise lies.

In the layout of the intricate maze of tunnels and caverns of their underground world. Only this individual knows them all and he passes his or her knowledge onto his or her eldest 'child'. This individual is responsible to creating and maintaining the various traps throughout the cave system with his carefully chosen team of workers. Their head mother who provides insight no male could ever achieve. In this clan, the head mother is the only with the knowledge to make gun powder (though they call it fire soil.) This is used to clear rocks to expand the caves and to destroy intruders.

However, she only uses it for that purpose when there is no other option as the resulting explosion could kill them all in a massive cave in. If she dies before passing the knowledge to her 'daughter' or has no 'daughter', the secret will die with her. The head mother is also the protector of their 'children'. The children, as they call them in their secret language are those who are in the transition of being turned into one of them. In this state, they are both physically and mentally vulnerable. With all of the clans dwindling in numbers, it is not unheard of for one clan to steal the 'children' of another.

She will choose one female among these 'children' to be her 'daughter' before her death so to pass on her knowledge. The head mother chooses a coven or group of women who aid as her body guards and fellow warriors to defend their children and disperse the fire soil in clay jars to be used as bombs to the male militia.

Military

This clan has no real organized military force. The males are the first line of defense while the females are the last line so both genders serve their purpose to defend their realm. They prefer to lure any and all invaders deep into their maze of dim lit tunnels and caverns to be thrown into a deep craves where the cave worms dwell (See Wild Animals below) or over a high underground cliff to be trapped and changed into their own kind. The Diwarale clan will fight on the surface in the dark valleys of the mountains where the sun rarely reaches but they very rarely charge out into the valleys at the foot of the mountain unless they feel it to be needed to stop and overwhelming onslaught.

At night, this clan will come out to fight at the foot of the mountain range or edge of their realm if necessary. However, this is a suicide move; they can be defeated if the battle can last until sunrise. They will burn alive within ten minutes of exposure. In addition to their claws and thick hide, the Diwarale clan possess fine swords, spears, and shields which they use when forced to fight on the surface in the dark valleys. However, such weapons are of little use in the narrow tunnels of their underground realm. Therefore, they use more innovative weapons to fight intruders underground who wish them ill will.

Among them are small sharpened boomerangs made of a yet to be named metal alloy that literally bounces off the walls. Gaining momentum as they do so until they eventually make their way back to to the ones who threw them. The kin'toni who uses this type of weapon wears a thick glove similar to the one used to work with iron making to safely throw and catch them. Another unique weapon used by this clan is a clay jar with the inside coated with aged guano (bat dropping). It is filled with acid from small underground volcanic pools. The wielder of this strange weapon again wears a special glove to prevent accidental leakage from poorly prepared jars.

Once thrown, they break upon striking their target, covering the individual with the strong acid and delivering substantial damage. The jars are made by the women and the men fill them with the acid. This method is a security of trust among the genders. The proven strongest warrior is in charge of the military and commands. Those who are the strongest among them into battle on the surface and those who are the most skilled in alternative weapons in the narrow tunnels. Those who are the most skilled in climbing and hunting are given the task as an ambush team to throw invaders into the craves and over underground cliffs.

The other members of the Diwarale government offer their knowledge and experience to coordinate their counter attack once the invaders have been dealt with. Those taken and changed will be coaxed in various vicious ways to give up what they know of their former clan to plan the counter offensive. All males who are 'mature' are in the militia. The women are trained to fight as well but their place is to protect their 'children' or new kin'toni unless bonded with a male. They retreat to the center of their tribal areas where their 'children' are held during an attack. They do not leave their stations until the invasion has been dealt with or desperate measures are required.

The head mother and her coven of female warriors will distribute fire soil bombs (clay jars with gunpowder) to the male militia when she feels it is necessary. This coven acts as the elite of the military despite their gender in Diwarale culture. They are all highly skilled in all weapons and consider themselves honored to defend the head mother and their government.

Religion

This clan worships the moons and stars. They see the many cycles of the three moons as their God 'blinking'. They believe the moons are the three eyes of their God. The moon near the Eastern horizon looks into the past, the moon near the Western horizon gazes into the future, while the moon near the Northern horizon focuses on the present. To them, their God is all seeing, all knowing; to lie would to be to add to their risk of damnation as He would know every falsehood they had ever said in their lifetime. To them, hell is an eternity under the scorching sun while heaven is living on or within one of the moons.

Living in the past is the lowest form of Heaven while the future is considered the highest form. There are also levels of hell in their religion, ranging from under to within the sun's core. No one among the Diwarale clan know what their God looks like and firmly believe to even guess at His appearance would be a high level sacrilege. The eyes of their God provides them the non-burning light that allows them to step out into the open air and explore beyond their underground realm. If they do not see the moons or stars for several days due to a storm or lasting cloud cover they will sacrifice one of their own, likely a newly changed member of their clan.

To the scorching sun as an offering to try to appease their God into returning to bless them again with its non-burning light. The sacrifice would be dragged to a ledge on the highest point on Caldar Mountian. There, a stone slab with iron shackles faced the direction of the rising sun. The sacrifice would be slacked full eagle onto a stone slab only minutes before the sun would rise in the East. Their original creators used this to exterminate any would be trouble makers to set an example. Now it was their desperate means to appease their God. The reason this ceremony was done so close to sunrise was to allow clan members to voice their pleas for the life of the sacrifice.

If enough voices plea to wait, believing the moon would appear again the next night, it would be done but if no argument is made, the ceremony took place without hesitation. However, the sacrifice would not die alone; the Diwarale clan believes in the rule of equal trade. One of the members who shackled the sacrifice to the stone slab would stand and face the rising sun as an equal trade to the killing of one of their own kind for their beliefs. This rule is used in all aspects of this clan's lives. The intricate details of their religion is kept secret from outsiders and anyone who bears witness to their rituals uninvited and are caught are killed immediately by way of the sacrifice only he or she would die alone.

No one yet has witnessed these rituals uninvited and escaped alive. The Diwarale clan celebrate the Day of Reckoning which is the anniversary of their self liberation from their cruel creators 25,000 years ago. Although the original meaning of this celebration has been lost to history, all members of this clan place their work aside to spend a day of peace and joy. It is the closest they come to a holiday and several weeks are spent in preparation for it to ensure they are not invaded on this day. A feast is enjoyed by all tribes, which could be called a family but it does not necessarily function as one.

A recreation of their great escape from their captors/creators is performed and one taken individual is freed without being changed to spread the meaning of their holiday. Dances are performed throughout the day, mimicking the fights between their ancestors and their creators with elaborate costumes made of animal hide and clay masks. The dances represent the beginnings of their clan with shorter dances that can last days after, honoring their notable victories from their past to the present day. On rare occasions, an outsider whom the clan trusts would be invited to witness one of their ceremonies as a gesture of good will among the two clans.

This may seem as a small gesture with little weight to it but it shows a level of trust that can be built upon. Also, to the Diwarale clan, it is an honor to the individual as it shows he or she can be freely trusted within their realm.

Miscellany

In the year 4E 245, a cult formed in the Diwarale kin'toni Clan whom worshipped the cave worms. This religion is forbidden by the Diwarale kin'toni Clan as their foes, the Minemi kin'toni Clan follow the same religion. In the spring of the year 4E 249, the cult is found out as some of them betray the cult to the rest of the clan. The leaders of the cult, called the Ah'Naha, were ordered to surrender, but the leaders of the Ah'Naha cult did not in their arrogance. Instead, they defied the will of the Diwarale kin'toni Clan leaders and the leaders of the Ah'Naha lead a open rebellion.

To fight the clans leaders and try and take it over from within. The cult did not do this alone, though. Soon, news about the order to surrender reached the Minemi clan. The clan's high priests ordered warriors and missionaries to attack the ones of the Diwarale clan, and convert as many kin'toni to the worm religion as possible. They reached out to the Ah'Naha whom saw the Minemi clan as allies and some in the cult saw them as brothers and sisters. The Cult's converts and Minemi Clan's warriors and missionaries attacked the Diwarale clan and they killed around two hundred and fifty kin'toni in the clan before being driven back.

This was by the warriors of the Diwarale kin'toni Clan and being scattered and picked off, small group by small group in the extensive maze of tunnels and caverns. The war was over by the winter of the year 4E 20900. This short war as called the The Exodus War. During the The Exodus War, one group of kin'toni in the clan, whom did not want to obey the laws of a small council of five leaders that rule the clan or follow the worship of the moons and star that the rest f the clan follows. They wanted to make their own rules and follow what religion they wanted too follow, not what they was told to follow.

The group was a splinter group of the Ah'Naha cult, but slipt off as they had decided to follow a different doctrine of the worm religion. They used the fires of the The Exodus War to cover their leaving of the Caldar Mountain Range and they did not perish like the rest of the more war-like Ah'Naha whom wanted to kill all under believers, unlike the Fi'Aka whom just want freedom. They got this freedom by running and hiding. To this day, they try and fight as little as they can, for they get very few new kin'toni joining them. The Fi'Aka, number around fifty kin'toni in size in this time day and time.

This is a very modest size for a group of kin'toni. They survive by being nomadic and sticking to unclaimed places to live. They are lead by a priest whom was a "underdog" priest in the original cult, who was always on a low position and lusted for power. When the the splitting happened and he was thrown into the highest position in the Fi'Aka. They believe in a slightly reformed version of the worm religion. It is known that their doctrine is less violent then the doctrine that the Ah'Naha follows. They are still around today and still hiding.