Tailye Kin'toni Clan

History

The Tailye kin’toni clan live in the Lezese verdant sands, a strange region at the centre of a desert where plants bloom, wildlife flourishes, and water runs. The reason for this seemingly random oasis is unclear, but it is believed it may be due to the sand in this region being denser and tightly packed, mimicking soil, and allowing for such a lush area. The Tailye clan originally lived in a lush forest, but after a few years has passed, a large scale war sparked between them and a neighbouring clan. After many battles, it became obvious that the Tailye were on the losing side of this war.

And they began to retreat. Suffering heavy losses, they retreated into the desert, where the enemy clan would not follow. The remainder of the clan crossed the desert, desperately taking any protection from the sunlight that they could find. After weeks of travel, they happened upon a lush, beautiful section of the desert, a wide swath of land with plants of all types growing and animals roaming. Upon entering, they found it to be the main settlement of a zu’aan tribe. Without delay, the Tailye clan attacked. They fed upon zu’aan blood, and turned many in order to replenish the ranks of the clan.

Very strangely for a kin’toni clan, they did not eradicate the zu’aan tribe at their mercy. They halted after a very short period of feeding and turning, and withdrew. They returned a day later, and began to capture and lock away the zu’aan. They began to farm the tribe, using them as a constant source of blood, after learning how to feed without killing or turning the victim zu’aan. They forced the zu’aan tribe into a position where they served both as a food source and labour, having the zu’aan farm food, mine, and build, under their supervision.

Despite the terrible situation of the tribe, they were also strangely safe. They were fed and sheltered, and not beaten or injured, as long as they obeyed. The Tailye clan saw it as a perfectly fair arrangement: they are provided with blood and labour, and the zu’aan receive safety, security, and protection. When word of this situation arrived to the other clans, multiple clan leaders began to plan raids and attacks on the Tailye clan. But with the forced assistance of the zu’aan, the Tailye developed iron weapons, and fiercely claimed and defended their new home of the verdant sands.

And their slave zu’aan, rebuffing multiple attacks. These attacks did not stop, but they did lessen in frequency as time went on. As time went on, the kin’toni clan and the zu’aan tribe settled into their roles. Though the zu’aan never came to trust or like the kin’toni, they did not attempt to escape, recognizing that it would only lead to their death, and acknowledging that they were safer under the rule of a kin’toni clan, than running from them and fearing death.

Biology

The Tailye clan kin’toni visually look very similar to most kin’toni, but it is in their internal biology and the non visible factors that they differ. Their constant supply of zu’aan blood available at short notice, coupled with a strong food source, means that they are far better nourished than most kin’toni. Because of this, they are incredibly strong and fast, despite lacking visibly enhanced bodies. They are not as thin or emaciated as many other kin’toni, rather being well built and tall. From a distance, they even still appear very similar to the zu’aan.

And it is only upon closer inspection that the differences between the two species become more obvious. The Tailye kin’toni have dark green irises with black sclera, and vertical beaded pupils, which make their eyes strikingly different to those of the zu’aan. Their ears are long and pointed, and they have a strong sense of hearing. Their ears are surprisingly prehensile and movable, and can be seen shifting or turning to better catch sounds from the environment. Their noses are long and thin, but their sense of smell is not particularly strong.

It is better than that of a zu’aan, but less than that of most kin’toni. Their teeth are very radically different to those of most kin’toni. Though they still have fangs, they are a different structure. They have two sets of fangs: a frontal pair for drinking blood, which are incredibly sharp to the touch, and hollow, so that the kin’toni can pierce the skin with only a small hole, and drain blood without causing grievous injury. Their saliva also acts as a coagulant, preventing the wound from bleeding profusely. The second set of fangs are used for turning a zu’aan.

And are larger, but less sharp, simply punching a hole into the victim and injecting the fluids which spark the transformation. Their skin is paler than that of a zu’aan, but not the paper white of many kin’toni clans. They are quite tough, and do not bleed or bruise easily, though weapons are still effective against them. They also have the universal kin’toni weakness to sunlight, meaning they are only active at night. They also have very low energy levels and endurance, meaning it is possible to outrun or defeat them in battle by forcing them to move and act and tire them out.

Similar to zu’aan, there are distinct differences between the members of the males and females of the clan. The kin’toni retain many of the gender identifying features of the zu’aan, such as the differing internal and external genitalia. The males of the clan also appear to be more broad shouldered and muscular, though the appearance of muscularity does not make them any more physically powerful than the females. Interestingly, the females of the clan tend to be the taller ones, with slightly longer arms and legs, with the rest of their body proportionally matching these increased lengths.

Culture

The Tailye clan are surprisingly culturally advanced compared to other kin’toni clans. Their easy access to zu’aan blood has led to them finding it easy to resist the compulsions for violence and battle, and have let them keep their intelligence mostly intact. They have developed writing and language, and even some forms of art. Though not all the members of the clan take part in it, there are a number of kin’toni who have explored music, and certain forms of visual expression such as painting and drawing. In this they have had some assistance from the zu’aan tribe.

Who have helped them to learn and develop better with these art forms. In particular, the Tailye clan enjoy stringed instruments. They have become very skilled in the playing of instruments similar to guitars, and in various parts of the settlement it is common to hear music playing as a kin’toni practices. The Tailye have also become rather skilled painters, learning quickly how to create paint from the pigments of flowers in the environment around them. Though on the whole they are not very good at abstract paintings and imaginative things.

They have become very skilled in painting precise replications of the environment around them and the places they have been. In fact, it is a clan tradition that at some point, all kin’toni must adventure out of the verdant sands and paint a replica of another environment far away from home, and return to show the clan more of the outside world through their painting skill, and travels. The Tailye clan have always been heavily intertwined with the zu’aan tribe they keep. It is a strong part of their culture that they are required to protect the zu’aan under their care.

And prevent them from being harmed. To this end, a Tailye kin’toni will fight to the death in order to save a zu’aan of the tribe, and will ensure their health is always good, and will make sure they have constant access to enough food and water to remain strong. Though they are incapable of reproducing sexually, it is not uncommon for kin’toni in the Tailye clan to live together in pairs similar to zu’aan marriages. These pairings can be between opposite genders or same gender couples, and behave remarkably similar to a marriage. They live in the same home.

And make decisions as a pair, combining their resources and abilities to help one another. It is also quite common to find these pairs attempting to mate, though it is quite clear they do it purely for pleasure and not in any real attempt to procreate. Despite this, the Tailye are remarkably shy, having very zu’aanlike views on nudity and clothing, always remaining fully clothed in public, and keeping any supposedly scandalous details private from the rest of the clan, as well as the zu’aan tribe.

Government

The Tailye clan have an organized, formal government with implemented and enforced laws. A clan leader is chosen through an anonymous election every 15 years, and the clan leader can then choose who they wish to work alongside them and be their staff, though it is required that they include people from all across the clan, and not only those close to them. The laws that are implemented are used to protect both the kin’toni and the zu’aan, with some of these laws dictating the way that all kin’toni must treat zu’aan. It is forbidden for a kin’toni to kill a zu’aan.

And can be punishable with death if there is not a good reason for the killing. It is also written in the clan laws that all zu’aan must be properly fed and must receive water whenever required, though it does not specify what the consequences are for starving or dehydrating the zu’aan. They also forbid unnecessary cruelty against the zu’aan, though punishments for perceived disrespect or laziness are common. It is only cruelty without purpose that is forbidden, although the zu’aan are often to afraid to report any incidents of it occurring.

A very important law in the clan is the set of rules defining the consumption of zu’aan blood. Though it has changed from time to time and with different leaders, different laws have applied, it usually follows the same structure. A kin’toni can only feed on zu’aan blood once a week, unless there are circumstances such as injury or illness (which is rare, but not unheard of) in which case a kin’toni may apply for temporary permission for more blood. A zu’aan cannot be fed from more than twice a week, though it is usually required that they only be fed from once a week.

There are also strict laws about the age of zu’aan from whom blood may be taken, and the amount of blood that can be drunk. These are in place to ensure that zu’aan never suffer from blood loss or become weak from lack of blood. There are also laws regarding the turning of zu’aan into kin’toni. Only a member of the government can decide when a zu’aan may be turned, and if a decision to turn someone is made, the choice of who specifically is made according to very strict guidelines. If a kin’toni were to turn a zu’aan without permission.

They would usually be punished to take the turned zu’aan’s place in doing labour for a specific amount of time. These laws also forbid various other basic crimes, such as the killing of other kin’toni or zu’aan within the clan, thieving, withholding food or water from others, and even some forms of abuse. Punishments varied from death, for particularly terrible crimes, to imprisonment, or even to labour in some instances.

A chosen committee is put in charge of assigning these punishments, while a small group of kin’toni are constantly trained and employed as guards, who carry out and enforce any punishments that have been assigned.

Military

The Tailye clan have a formal, trained, powerful military. Kin’toni can volunteer for service, or if necessary, can be pressed into service by the government. With the help of the zu’aan, they have developed iron weaponry. Soldiers of the clan are armed with iron swords or spears, leather armor (though high ranking soldiers may wear very basic iron armor), and a shield. They are heavily trained and taught combat and tactics.

This training, coupled with superior weaponry, have made the Tailye a powerful military force, and has ensured that the borders of the verdant sands are safe and protected at all times. Though they are very militarily powerful, the Tailye have never attacked another clan, but rather only defend their own territory. Soldiers constantly patrol the border, protected from the deadly sunlight by a constructed roof, and a basic, low stone wall.

Patrols usually consist of a pair of kin’toni soldiers keeping watch over their assigned region of the border, with the rest of the soldiers further in the territory, but waiting to be alerted to danger. In recent years, attacks are less common, but still happen. Other kin’toni clans have over time received word of the large population of zu’aan present in the verdant sands, as well as the advanced iron weapons of the Tailye clan and have attempted to claim all of it for themselves. Towards the start of the Tailye’s residence in the verdant sands.

Attacks come powerfully and often, but once their might was proven, the attacks become more uncommon, with clans sending only the occasional raiding party to test the strength of the defences, and finding them still strong, retreating. Despite this, the clan is no less vigilant, and they are extremely paranoid of attack, keeping constant guards and constantly training and preparing their soldiers for war. The military is led by assigned generals and leaders, structured in a basic hierarchy similar to zu’aan armies. The generals have always been competent leaders and expert tacticians.

Always creating new plans and ideas to keep the clan and it’s territory safe. There are usually two generals, though at various times there have been more or less, and the generals will decide the next rank of soldiers who are to serve directly beneath them and ensure the carrying out of their orders. These generals rank highly in the clan, and are usually closely linked with the clan leader, assisting him and taking part of his close counsels and decisions. Though the zu’aan are an important factor in the militaries development, they are forbidden from becoming soldiers.

This is partially due the importance the clan places on them, not wanting to risk their safety, and partially practical. The inferior strength and speed of zu’aan compared to kin’toni of any clan makes them a liability on the battlefield, and as such, not worth the risk or time to train and deploy in battle.

Religion

The Tailye clan follow a strict, organized religion. They follow the god Win’on, and have priests who teach of him, and spread his following. According to the priests of the clan, the Tailye are the chosen of Win’on, and must follow his teachings in order to be worthy of him. They teach that ages before, when the Tailye kin’toni were first driven from their territory and sent to the desert, it was Win’on who created the verdant sands, making a new homeland for his chosen people, and filling it with everything they needed to live a prosperous life.

It is because of the teachings of Win’on that they did not exterminate the zu’aan, as his teachings say that they must be kind to those less than themselves, and not cause unnecessary harm to others. Taking these words to heart, they created peace with the zu’aan by dominating them.Because of their belief that the verdant sands were a gift from Win’on, they defend the land viciously and attentively. They believe that they must protect the gift of god and keep it for themselves, as he must have wanted by giving it to them. In religion, the clan are led by three priests.

Who together teach of Win’on and his gifts. These three priests change with time, and a priest may only serve for forty years before being removed from his position, and living a life of calm and luxury as a reward for his service. To ensure that there is consistency, and outgoing priest will personally choose and train their replacement, and two priests never leave at the same time, ensuring that the leadership in religion always remains smooth and never has chaos. The sacred colours of the religion are orange and green, and the priests wear robes of deep orange and green at all times as a symbol of their station.

Whilst new priests who are being trained to take over wear either orange, or green robes, only receiving robes of both colours upon full promotion. Though the priests are very powerful within the clan, they do not use their influence to affect the government. At times, they may be consulted due to their position and prominence with the people, but they are not allowed to openly influence of affect governmental policies and decisions. The entire clan, as well as some of the zu’aan tribe, believe in and follow Win’on, and will defend their ideologies to the death.

As this religion is a very fanatic one. The priests hold a weekly service where they speak and lead the clan in worshiping Win’on, as well as leading musicians in playing music to praise their god. Every year, one artist is chosen to create something in honour of Win’on. Musicians who are chosen have to write and perform a full song and performance, whilst artists such as painters must create a large, grand piece portraying either an aspect of Win’on or an event from the history of the clan.

Miscellany

The Tailye clan are much more advanced and sophisticated than most kin’toni clans, partially due to their association with a zu’aan tribe. They have iron weapons and tools, and have an extensive religion and culture. They are fully capable of complex speech and writing. An important part of their tribe is art. The area they live in, the Lezese verdant sands, is a lush area, filled with plants. Over time they have learnt how to use these plants and flowers to create paints and dyes. They have used these to create artworks, as well as colour their clothes.

They have come to love art, creating buildings dedicated to keeping and displaying paintings done by members of the clan. Though not every kin’toni in the clan is expected to be able to paint expertly, they are all expected to appreciate and enjoy the art of the clan. The Tailye kin’toni have very advanced clothing, and find public nudity shameful and scandalous in a similar way to the zu’aan. They have developed multiple forms of clothing, from basic shirts and pants, to jackets, hats, socks and shoes, and others. They also spend time dyeing and colouring clothes in order to improve their appearance.

For many kin’toni of this clan it is seen as a sign of class and sophistication to wear clothes of matching colours, and appear attractive. They have quite advanced infrastructure thanks to the assistance of the zu’aan. Homes and buildings are constructed from wood, stone, and a primitive form of concrete made from sand and clay. They have even constructed a long, complex roofing system around the border of the territory in order to allow the guards to travel during the daylight hours, safe from the sunlight. Homes and buildings are made to be large and spacious.

As the Tailye kin’toni tire easily, and spend much of their time resting at home to conserve their strength. They have also learnt basic farming from the zu’aan. Using iron tools and the zu’aan as a labour force, the Tailye clan have established, functional farms growing crops, as well as livestock, to accompany their diet of zu’aan blood. Though they are essentially held captive, the zu’aan have a decent relationship with the kin’toni. They are treated comparatively well, and protected. Safety, constant food security and access to water make their lives much easier than most zu’aan tribes.

Despite the cost in labour and blood. The Tailye are also decently receptive to refugees and new clan members. Any zu’aan who wish to join the tribe within the verdant sands are permitted entry, and on the rare occasions that a kin’toni is left without a clan or home, they too might be allowed to join the lower ranks of the clan if they work and prove their loyalty.

Nearby Groups

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Tailye Kin'toni Clan

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