Loremdra Kin'toni Clan

History

It is not known what terrible series of events led to the Loremdra emerging from the North, but it didn’t take long for them to claim a huge chunk of the Boreal Highlands for themselves. Rumours say that the Loremdra were originally a band of outcasts, kin’toni who committed crimes so heinous that execution would be too merciful. So they were merely shamed and cast out into the cold, strictly forbidden to come back. Only a couple of years passed before the exiles joined together into one tribe, determined to survive the harsh winter to come.

It didn’t matter which clan a Loremdra belonged to before going into exile, all political grudges were thrown away, the savagery and will to survive mattered to the clan more than ones past relations. As temperatures plummeted and other clans feared an incoming ice age, the Loremdra decided to set out on a six-hundred mile march towards the south, pillaging and devouring everything that they found in their path, even other kin’toni. This was an awful breach of law, and a sin that could not be forgotten by neighbouring clans, especially because the Loremdra consumed and pillaged not out of need or hunger, but out of sadism and hate.

As a result, members of the clan unfortunate enough to travel alone would be slain on sight by other kin’toni. This led the Loremdra to highly value skills like teamwork and leadership; it wasn’t long before the clan had elected a leader, Z’iorem, and went from being a nomadic tribal society where everyone fended for themselves, to a tightly knit community of ruthless killers. Raw strength and fear were the only ways they could compensate for their poor reputation, so the clan managed to prosper. Despite now having a leader, their ways didn’t change much since then.

The Loremdra never settled down and built anything apart from tiny shelters to protect themselves from the elements, preferring to wander about and terrorize zu’aan who didn’t have the endurance to march for hours without rest across the highlands. The reputation of cannibalism and meaningless murder that was once the bane of any Loremdra now became their strength. Other clans were repulsed by them, yet they didn’t have the courage to go to war or otherwise punish these transgressors. Essentially, Loremdra were handed control over the entirety of the Boreal.

And while it may seem strange for a clan armed with nothing but bone daggers and spears to have such a fearsome reputation, the most powerful weapon of the Loremdra is that they have no limits in warfare. However, one clan that did stand up to them was the C’rilaw clan. They viewed the barbaric and savage culture of the Loremdra as a sign of cowardice, and consequently a sign of weakness, something that the C’rilaw would not tolerate on their soil. The Loremdra clan attempted to fight back, but their animalistic behaviour was no match for a clan with as advanced tactics and technology as the C’rilaw.

It should also be noted that the size of the Loremdra clan was three times smaller, so overall it’s not surprising that they took heavy casualties while hunting on the territory of C’rilaw, and ended up being pushed away from those spots.

Psychology

All of the clans that have come face to face with the Loremdra consider them utterly horrifying and mentally unstable. This is not surprising, knowing the fact that violence, bloodlust and savagery were valued so highly in the Loremdra culture. Some even consider the sheer existence of kin’toni like the Loremdra to be an abomination, because unprovoked violence and cannibalism cannot be excused by culture. There is a lot of truth to this. The first generation of Loremdra were kin’tori convicted of terrifying crimes, and some were members of relatively peaceful clans.

This inexplicable hatred for others exists in all Loremdra, and it’s incredibly dangerous when paired with their missing moral compass, only viewing other Loremdra as too valuable to fuel the clan’s infinite thirst for blood. Exile and punishment given by other clans only made the Loremdra spiral further into their pit of lawless hatred, but the true cause of their insanity is unknown. Some scholars in more religious kin’toni clans have blamed it on a curse, or some sort of possession by evil spirits. However, as there is no scientific proof for either of those existing.

The most likely explanation for the unhingedness of the Lorembdra is some sort of genetic mutation that gets passed along the more zu’ann the Lorembdra manage to turn. A highly contagious mutation of the kin’toni plague is also a possibility, since it seems that those who spent time around members of the clan also gain some of their hunger for violence. The Loremdra themselves see their slaughterous nature as a blessing rather than a sickness. They believe that the malevolent, the cruel and barbaric, are also the strong. Perhaps they are right.

As it is the threat of the Loremdra’s nocturnal raids that sows fear in the hearts of travelers all over Woryn Boreal Shield, and the Loremdra clan seem to show no signs of stepping away from control anytime soon.

Biology

All members of the Loremdra clan are muscular with very robust builds that come from their day-to-day lifestyle requiring a fair bit of strength. However, there are two genetic advantages that the Loremdra possess compared to their neighbouring clans. The first is their bodies’ resistance to cold. The first Loremdra marched into Boreal land from the North during The Longest Winter. Any kin’toni that failed to adapt would perish, and likely be cannibalized by those who survived. It is only natural that those who survived the piercing winter and expanded the clan would be comfortable at low temperatures.

This isn’t a trait that’s very useful to have in the warmer Boreal Highlands, but as the temperature around Taerel steadily decreases, it might very well be the deciding factor between which clans survive and which clans die out in the near future… The second advantage which sets the Loremdra apart is their extreme endurance. Without it, they would not be able to enter the highlands after a six-hundred-mile-long journey, and they would also not be able to sustain their nomadic lifestyle. What really makes kin’toni with this attribute horrifying is how they can break into unrelenting pursuits when hunting.

Zu’ann may be able to move fast, but they can never outrun a group of Loremdra on their trail, since they can march for nearly two dozen hours at a time without needing a moment of rest. Every time the zu’ann have to set up shelter and take a break, the hunters of the Loremdra clan use this opportunity to lower the distance between them and their prey. The zu’ann may have superior weapons, but an exhausted warrior is no warrior at all, and the Loremdra have no such weakness. Apart from that, the Loremdra have quite a recognizable appearance.

Blood-red irises with vertical pupils, long wavy hair that they don’t bother to cut until it interferes in combat and slender legs allowing for larger steps. Their looks were truly a nightmare for the zu’ann to behold. Like a lot of other kin’toni, the Loremdra have great nocturnal vision, which is obviously a great aid when going on hunts.

Culture

While the original founders of the Loremdra clan had little in common with each other when it came to culture, there soon developed an etiquette and a common way of life in their society. The only activities that the Loremdra had respect for were hunting and bone-crafting. The latter wasn’t merely a useful functional skill, but a form of art. It was traditionally done out of either kin’toni or zu’aan bones, but if a warrior slew an especially vicious beast, things could be made from its bones and teeth as well. Each spear and dagger that a Loremdra shaped would tell a story.

The most fearsome kin’toni clearly stood out among the rest, with spears carved out from an aumat’s mighty tusks, knuckles spiked with zu’aan teeth, and hammers adorned with the skulls of their foes. Being a clan of outlaws, murder was a centerpiece in Loremdra culture. If someone was too timid to dare kill not just a zu’ann, but also fellow kin’toni, they would be ridiculed, laughed at, and would likely receive a heavy beating from their clanmates to “toughen them up”. Nevertheless, the Loremdra clan was a family, and killing another Loremdra was only permitted as part of a consensual duel, or as a punishment for this same crime.

Anyone outside the clan was automatically an enemy to the Loremdra though, both zu’aan and kin’toni. Even acts considered an abomination in other kin’toni clans, such as torture and cannibalism, aren’t off-limits for the Loremdra. Coming out alive after close contact with a group of them was considered a miracle in the highlands. Loremdra did not concern themselves with technological development. Bone was a solid enough material to create tools and weapons from, and wood would be used to start fires. It was all the Loremdra needed to fuel their ultraviolent lifestyle.

Using weapons forged from iron or bronze would be considered a show of weakness, because a true fighter’s skill is not determined by his tools, or so the Loremdra say. For some members of the clan, even using bone weapons is considered shameful, as teeth are all a skilled kin’tori needs to confirm a kill. When a zu’ann turns and chooses to accept the Loremdra way, their past hostility is forgotten and they are treated equally to the other kin’toni, much like a tribute to how the early founders of the clan chose to forget about their previous clans’ disputes.

The only thing in the clan that was used as a way to measure a kin’toni, was their bloodlust. This quality would be shown off by Loremdra via the tradition of painting their faces with blood after a hunt. The kin’toni who had the freshest blood on their faces would be visibly more respected than their clanmates who didn’t participate in the hunt. Despite the terrifying level of violence that the Loremdra exhibited towards others, there was something they were very passionate about: not wasting a single bit of a carcass.

As mentioned before, bones would be carved into weapons and ornaments, but this was not the only part of a body they made use of. Skin would be made into clothes and organs would into miniature bags or pouches, blood would be mixed with water and used as paint, and teeth were the closest thing the Loremdra had to a currency because they were so versatile. Teeth could be stuck onto weapons to form extra spikes and blades, attached to clothes, ground together with blood to give paint a whiter colour, or simply used as decoration. Trade was a tiny part of life as a Loremdra though.

And all exchange of goods had to be inside the clan, as the Loremdra had no outside trade partners. Following older traditions, Loremdra led a mostly nomadic lifestyle. While it was possible for the clan to settle down on a specific spot in the Highlands for a few days, the majority of their years was spent wandering across their land, hoping to stumble upon zu’ann settlements and sometimes going out on hunting excursions for the thrill of it. It was an overall very simple life, but not at all boring one, because whenever the travelling Loremdra would come across another group of kin’toni, carnage would nearly always ensue.

Government

At first, the Loremdra were entirely lawless, which made sense for them being a clan of exiles. However, after their famed march from the North, their culture started valuing community and relations inside the clan more, as that was the way to survive without developing diplomatic relations with neighbouring clans. It wasn’t long after the march that the Loremdra selected the mightiest and most respected kin’toni among them all. He was the last surviving founder of the clan and his name was Z’iorem. When Z’iorem was elected, he introduced the one law that the Loremdra still abide by.

This one Loremdra law is simple: A member of the Loremdra clan may not spill the blood of another member outside of an agreed-upon duel, or as a punishment for breaking this law. However, it’s not uncommon for well-respected members of the clan to punch, kick, or otherwise injure a weaker clan member for not abiding by the unspoken Loremdra etiquette. Actions like sparing an enemy in warfare or showing any other form of mercy towards them are very likely to earn a beating. As long as no blood is spilled in the process, it is fair game.

Apart from the leader, Loremdra kin’toni are all roughly equal to each other in their society. Some kin’toni get more respect than others on a day-to-day basis, but on the battlefield each Loremdra is an equally respected cruel force of destruction. This is mostly because members of the Loremdra clan are very similar to each other personality-wise, even though they may seem completely alien to other kin’toni clans. Such is the benefit of living in a relatively miniscule, but tightly knit clan. Because they do not concern themselves with things like politics or diplomacy.

The Loremdra are fairly unaware of the state of Taerel’s political scene, including the borders between clans. Loremdra have gotten used to simply being able to go and hunt wherever they want because of their reputation as cold, fearsome barbarians, but they have in fact gotten backlash once with the C’rilaw clans, which led the Loremdra kin’toni to stay far away from what they perceived as C’rilaw territory. It truly was simply trial and error that led them to “discover” the borders of what Boreal land they had control over, no formal outside negotiations required.

This is something which further contributed to the other clans’ perception of the Loremdra as savages who are only interested in bloodshed. Despite this, some members of the Loremdra clan have finally realized the importance of relations between clans on Taerel. They are still a tiny minority, and are just as bloodthirsty as the rest of the clan, but some discussions have stirred regarding the topic of who will take Z’iorem’s place when he inevitably dies in battle. Nothing has been decided in the end, and it’s likely that the one proven strongest via trial by combat will be Ziorem’s successor.

Military

Every kin’toni of the Loremdra clan is a warrior and a cold-hearted killer. Loremdra enjoy the thrill of battle; it is deeply ingrained in their culture and identity. If you cannot fight in the Loremdra clan, you are as good as useless. Hunting is the only way to satiate a clan member’s hunger for food, while war is the way to satiate the hunger for battle. The Loremdra attack with relentless force and keep aggressively charging their foes until they wear out and expose themselves. Then, the kin’toni finally exterminate them without mercy.

Running against a group of Loremdra kin’toni won’t help, their genes allow them to continue chase without tiring themselves for longer than any zu’ann and most other kin’toni. Psychological warfare is also employed to its fullest extent in Loremdra tactics. They are the most feared military force in the Woryn Boreal Shield and the entirety of the Boreal Highlands. What gives them this reputation is the horrible practice of consuming their enemies in battle, including other kin’toni. They do so not out of hunger or any natural desire, but out of malice and the want to fill their foes’ hearts with horror.

It worked, though it also made other clans completely lose respect for the Loremdra clan. Someone who is visibly a clan member and makes the mistake of wandering about alone is going to be killed immediately by any force they may accidentally stumble upon. What doesn’t help is the overall hostility of Loremdra military; they will assault members of any other clan on sight if they have the upper hand. Luckily for clans inhabiting the Boreal Shield, the military tactics that Loremdra kin’toni employ are very limited and surface-level.

It’s very common for them to simply charge forward and hack at everything they come across in one huge clump, and chase whatever stragglers are left remaining. Obviously, it’s not a strategy that works against organized military clans with a solid grasp on the tactical and strategical sides of warfare, such as the C’rilaw. The Loremdra’s overreliance on raw strength and fear and carelessness when it came to strategy was the deciding factor for them losing control in C’rilaw territory.

Due to the limited amount of technology that Loremdra possess, it’s impossible for them to equip their warriors with anything other than close combat melee weapons. Bows require a level of craftsmanship, dexterity and patience that the choleric Loremdra kin’toni simply didn’t have. While animals such as the colossal aumat and the plains-dwelling lo’tu could be tamed and ridden into battle as cavalry, the Loremdra didn’t even attempt to use live animals for anything at all, they were merely a resource for the clan. Nonetheless, the Loremdra clan is a dominant power in the Woryn Boreal Shield.

And this title has gone uncontested due to the sheer ferociousness of the clan’s members, which is certainly an achievement to be applauded. Loremdra infantry isn’t just made up of kin’toni who enjoy battle, no. Battle, slaughter and bloodshed is the meaning of life for Loremdra. It is better to die in battle and feel the adrenaline pumping through ones blood than it is to go out in any other way. Such an unbelievable amount of determination, combined with the savagery and endurance of the Loremdra is what truly sets them apart as living war machines.

Religion

The Loremdra kin’toni do not believe in a higher entity, they take their own desires as a god, and in the case of the Loremdra clan members, those desires are their thirst for bloodshed. Loremdra simply do not consider other kin’toni outside of the clan to be equal to them. Those other kin’toni show hatred and hostility towards the Loremdra, so why shouldn’t the clan show it back? Such is the thought process of the Loremdra when it comes to other kin’toni, which makes them one of the most hostile clans in Taerel. Zu’ann and animals are on the same level, being nothing but resources to satiate the clan’s needs.

However, after a zu’ann turns and accepts the life of Loremdra, they are considered a clan member and equal to everyone else. The Loremdra don’t know where those deep-rooted traditions and etiquette come from, but they follow this unspoken code religiously. Breaching the code is considered wrong, and something that will cause bad luck for the kin’toni who transgressed. The clan’s members don’t believe in an afterlife, or at least don’t concern themselves with it, yet they think that breaking their unspoken law will have a somewhat immediate effect on one’s fate.

If a kin’toni does something considered wrong in battle (like showing mercy), it is said that they will fall in the next one. When those prophecies don’t get fulfilled, they are merely put off to a later battle or hunt. It doesn’t matter when the consequences of a kin’toni’s actions bite them back, but they will eventually, according to the Loremdra. Another one of those strange superstitions is the prohibition of wasting a killed animal’s carcass. Nearly every byproduct of a hunt has to be recycled and transformed into something useful for the clan.

Sometimes this can get to extreme levels, like the most experienced Loremdra hunters owning dozens of trophies that they have to carry around as the clan moves from place to place. That’s the most respected thing a hunter can do in the Loremdra clan, because not only is owning a ton of trophies the perfect way to show off one’s strength and battle prowess, but it also proves that you have stuck to the etiquette and not thrown parts of your kill away to rot in the earth, instead re-using it and sending it to the next stage of existence.

Even though the Loremdra don’t believe in the existence of an afterlife, they hold an absolutely fearless attitude to death, seeing it as a part of nature’s cycles. The reason it’s forbidden to kill a fellow Loremdra is not because death scares them, it’s to ensure that everyone in the clan may trust each other and carry on with their lives without having to form miniature alliances inside the clan in order to not be backstabbed. Some clans consider the Loremdra clan’s lack of faith as proof that they are primitive and simple-minded.

It should be noted that the Loremdra believe that they should live in the present and squeeze enjoyment out of every moment. They don’t want to worry about complex philosophical concepts like what happens after kin’toni or zu’ann die, and nor are they interested in the creation of Taerel, since what is the purpose of guessing about the distant past when the present is what truly matters?

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Loremdra Kin'toni Clan

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