Ustther Kin'toni Clan

History

The Ustther kin'toni were a clan of bandits who preyed on vulnerable travellers in the Diengad Grassland Plateau. They were known for their elusiveness and their ability to gather large bands to conduct quick raids and disappearing before any retaliating force arrived. This modus-operandi made them feared throughout the Diengad and travellers did their best to either avoid them or pay a heavy ransom for safe passage. The Ustther were created along with many other kin'toni in the long abandoned labs to the north of the Diengad region.

After years of fighting exhausting battles for possession of their own territory, they finally settled on the Grassland Plateau that provided them with all the perfect conditions needed to survive and thrive. The weather here was temperate with constant rainfall and bleaky skies that allowed them to roam even during the day. Fog banks were also a regular feature of the terrain and helped to mask their movements while they set up ambushes on their unsuspecting prey. The Ustther were not always adept at guerilla warfare and being elusive.

It was an adjustment that had to be made out of need. During their early days the clan engaged in many large scale battles like most of the armies of Taerel but the resultant casualties often handicapped even the victor and allowed other clans to rise up and take their place of power. In the midst of this chaos, the Ustther realised that they had to resort to more cunning tactics if they were to become powerful and retain their power. Their initial applications of guerilla warfare met with limited success but over time their methods began to improve and they began to achieve better results.

The clan soon converted to a fulltime nomadic way of life to facilitate their tactics. They never camped in the same place twice and were capable of dismantling and packing up their camp just hours after they had been spotted. They had a vast network of spies spread across the entire plateau who observed the movement of their enemies or any people passing through the region. This network was instrumental to their success since it allowed them to see two steps ahead and lay out carefully planned ambushes. Once their reputation began to grow the clan began to adopt a successful system of bribes and taxes.

For passage throught their lands either in the form of zu'aan to be "turned" or weapons and material. This facilitated a self-supporting economy that allowed the Ustther to further cement their power using the reputation they had cultivated over the years. In recent years, the Ustther have grown more ambitious. Their goals have grown from simply surviving and thriving to conquering and subjugating other cities within their region. Their armies are at their strongest level of preparedness and readiness. Their stockpiles of weapons have grown.

And are enough to properly equip every standing warrior within theri ranks. They could potentially wreak havoc on the cities of the surface world under the command of an able leader.

Biology

The Ustther kin'toni Clan were known for their agility and speed. They could cover large swathes of the Diengad Grasslands with amazing speed. This was heped by the fact that they travelled light and carried very little baggage or armor. Their natural physique was very athletic with toned, fast-twitch muscles spread across all major limbs. The average height of a full grown Ustther kin'toni Clan was six foot. It was the ideal height to maintain a prominent physical prominence but was not too tall to stand-out in the flat terrain of the Diengad.

Moving in their signature half-crouched fashion, an Ustther was indistinguishable from the environment and could blend in with his surroudings. This was a valuable tool for their scouts who had to often sneak for miles into enemy territory to gather information or carry out mllitary assignments. Being naturally athletic they were able to perform physical tasks with the greatest of ease. This was also applicable to the use of their body and limbs for fighting. They were equipped to fight their enemies with their limbs.

Although they preferred to stick to their weapons for better effectiveness. They had dexterous fingers that allowed them to properly operate bows and arrows, weapons that they relied on as their primary tools in combat. Their legs were long with heavily muscled thighs leading to tight calves. These powerful limbs could help them sprint away from troube in tight bursts or run at a slower pace for miles on end. The Ustther were usually well-fed and built due to the abundance of wildlife in the graslands. Their regular diet of fresh blood and red meat gave them plenty of energy reserves.

Which they could expend over a long period of time- giving them their incredible stamina. The Ustther were also known for their natural beauty. They had well- chiselled faces with only their sharp, jagged teeth distinguishing them from a conventional zu'aan face. Their hair was usually matted and left untouched throughout their lifetime. Their ear wer slightly sharpened at the top and very sensitive to all kinds of sounds and vibrations which they could pick up from absurb distances, thereby enhancing their capabilities as scouts. Their eyes were colored a light pink in the irises with black sclerae and vertical beaded pupil.

It was adapted for seeing both during the day and in pitch darkness. The skin tone of the Ustther was a very light ashy grey that could change to the environment around them. This natural camoflaging ability was vital to help them avoid detection. Their skin appeared smooth from a distance but was coarse to the touch. It acted as a natural protection against weather elements and all sorts of light cuts and bruises. Their long hours spent outdoors and their acclimatization to a wide variety of diets meant that the clan had a very strong immune system.

They were very resistant to all the common diseases in the Diengad grasslands and had never had a severe outbreak in their camps for over a century.

Culture

The Ustther kin'toni culture valued the qualities of resourcefulness and hardiness. Their culture was known for its celebration of individual heroism and provided many opportunities for an ambitious person to seek advancements in life. Most of their heroes were a reflection of the traits the clan held most dear. They ranged from exporers who surived overwhelming odds to discover new places to lone scouts who sneaked into enemy camps to gether valuable information. Tall tales of such feats were told and retold through generations until they acquired an otherworldly quality and became legends.

Being taught about these stories and characters at an early age played its part in influencing the young warriors of Ustther to seek glory and fame in everything they dd. These individual ambitions were nurtured and encouraged and drove many of their people to become pioneers, explorers, scouts and treasure hunters. Success in these fields was greeted with large celebrations and feasts thrown in honor of the individual. The peoples' accolades could then be harnessed to sponsor even larger expeditions and adventures. The Ustther kin'toni were known for their fun-loving culture.

They took the time to organize many communal activities where they shed their inhibitions and drank together. These activities created a very close bond between their members and led to a higher level of cooperation and understanding in the field. Although their repitation often paints them as brutes who harrassed travellers and settlers, the truth was more complicated. They were perfectly capable of displaying a level of compassion that was not common to the kin'toni. There are many stories among the residents of the Diengad about their compassion to their enemies.

And their wilingness to help out survivors who had nothing to offer. Their extortion and looting was limited to those who they saw as capable opponents and not weaker opposition who had no chances against them. Their culture encouraged self-expression and their camps and weapons were decoratd with persona insignas and decorations that were personalized for the owner. They also erected many cairns around Taerel that marked out locations or sacred places, These structures were decorated with intricate stone carvings or embellished with professional woodwork that showcased their proficiency with such tools.

The Ustther had a distinct dialect that was widely understood by other kin'toni. They lacked a writing script since their nomadic lifestye provided them with very little free time to engage in learning and improving their language. Instead, they were relegated to using pictoral representations of their ideas to express words. The Ustted way of life was characterized by a carefree nature and a lot of freedom. Young initiates were taught the value of independence and how they could contribute to the clan as productive individuals.

They were taught to survive alone in the large expanse of the Diengad, avoiding detecting and then finding their way back to camp. They had an innate sense of direction and navigation making them some of the best explorers in the whole of Taerel.

Government

Government among the Ustted kin'toni Clan was minimal and rarely interfered in the civil lives of their people. This was in accordance with the Ustther's regard for self independence and individuality. The only time the leadership became prominent in the daily affairs was during times of crisis when the entire clan had to be coordinated and advised on their activities. The Ustther kin'toni Clan's leadership was composed of a council of elders who had distinguished themselves in the field. They were responsible for working behind the scenes.

Making life easier for the clan and freeing them from the stress of diplomacy. They were also consulted and their advice was taken into consideration when the clan decided to attack or raid potential targets. The council was a full time job and its experienced members held the position for their lifetime. The only time they could be removed was when a glaring incompetancy was detected or when a member suffered from a life threatening sickness or injury. The membership of the council was limited to ten and they were elected based on the consenseus of the clan members.

This council was responsible for creating civil and militar laws that were applicable to the entire clan. The nature of these laws was very non-intrusive and were in regards to simple decencies such as the prohibition of murder within the clan or the outlawing of stealing. The council was also responsible for the jurisdiction of matters relating to crime and the breaking of the law. These hearings were conducted in front of all willing members of the clan who wished to participate. It was an inclusive process that took into account the thoughts and opinion of the people.

Thus the council could not engage in any wanton abuse of their powers as the people's opinions mattered as much as their's. The enforcement of the laws in society and the protection of people's life and property was handled by voluntary associations of young Ustthers who would kept an eye out for any miscreant or infrigement of the law. They were not empowered to take the life of another but were entrusted with the responsibility of subduing criminals and bringing them before the people. They function as a part of the community and had no special privileges or uniforms.

Their duties were considered a civic duty than a professional responsibility. This also contributed to the freedom in the Ustther's civil life as there were no organized police force to oppress them or watch their every move. The clan's bounties and treasures from their raids and expeditions were held in a collective treasury from which every member was alloted a share, depending on their contribution and position within the clan. This allotment was akin to a salary that a soldier could expect in return for his services to the clan. The Ustther's many pioneers, adventurers and explorers were rewarded or received funding in the same way.

The existence of personal property and wealth enabled the Ustther to create a small but functioning economy within their camps.

Military

The Ustther left their most prominent mark on Taerel through their military exploits. Fighting was a part of their clan from very early on due to the very competetive nature of survival, following the kin'toni outbreak. The clan had to fight stronger kin'toni clans for every inch of land. This pushed them further and further away from the most fertile lands located near zu'aan settlements and into the Diengad Grassland Plateau where there were lesser zu'aan settlements- meaning lesser opportunities to "turn" them and expand their own clan.

Despite their will and ability in combat they quickly found that they were no match for the larger kin'toni armies and began to adopt a more realistic approach to cover up their smaller numbers. The began to rely on smaller raiding bands who pestered their enemies away from the battlefied and before they could be assembled into a larger army. These units would disrupt supply lines and cause havoc within the enemy camps. Their enemies had no way to counter such a threat where there was no opponent gathered in front of them. The Ustther relied on their mobility in the field.

This was to quickly attack gaps in the enemies defense before dropping back and disappearing when the enemy came after them. Their camps were also set up to accommodate this kind of warfare. They never massed their camps together and were instead spread out across a region making it impossible to attack them all at once. Their units were also trained to maintain a standard of freedom and independence that allowed them to operate without the support of a larger army. Their ranks were fill with scouts and pioneers who ventured out in small groups or on their own to gather information on their enemies.

And to determine the best spots to stage an attack. The Ustther preferred to operate with lttle to no armor in favor of footspeed and agility in their movements. Their weapons were a mix of high grade zu'aan weapons that had been acquired through trades and taxes from merchants seeking to pass through the region. They favored ranged combat and were excellent marksmen who could engage their enemies from over two hundred meters, giving them an advantage over slower opponents. Their bows were simple and efficient, and carved out the bark of the few trees that grew in the region.

They were known to age very well, acquiring more strength and polish with time. Some of the better made ones were passed down across generations and were held in very high regard. The army's leadership was separate from their civil leadership. It was composed of a similar council composed of former military men with experience and knowledge of the tactics and strategies of their enemies. This members of the council were usually old men who had already served their time and were thus except from serving with their armies. On the field the clan picked out individuals with leadership qualities.

And earmarked them as captains to lead their own individual bands on raiding trips.

Religion

The Ustther kin'toni Clan were into ancestor worship and prayed to the spirits of their forebearers for wisdom and guidance. This practice was mot uncomon among the clans of Taerel, but the Ustther were willing to go much further in their reverence for these items. They collected and maintained their own personal memorablias of their ancestors and deceased for good luck and worshipped them in the privacy of their own homes. These memorablias could range from pieces f clothing, ornaments, tools or weapons. Wearing them to battle was a source of pride for the Ustther.

Who believed that their ancestors were watching them from above and willing to be as great as them. This belief was a huge source of willpower and motivation to go beyond the conventional limits. When their legs were tired and aching they would march another mile through sheer willpower, when there seemed to be no hope left they would find their inner strength and push themselves harder. This capacity to motivate themselves led to many important discoveries and victories in battle. Their greatest fear was that they would be unworthy of their ancestor's appreciation when they died.

To accomplish great deeds was a way for to prove themselves worthy to their ancestor's memory and to die bravely while pursuing such a feat was the greatest blessing that could be handed to them. Sine members of their clan were also known to carry their ancestors weaons into battle in the hopes that their courage would rub off on them. When a distinguished member of the clan died they were instantly elevated into this distinguished pantheon of legends. His personal belongings and items he had been associated with in life would become part of his legacy and the clan members would worship him for his contributions.

The simple nature of the Ustther kin'toni Clan's religion meant that they had no need for elaborate practices, rituals or priests. They worshipped in privacy by remembering the dead and attempting to honor their memory with their own deeds. Many cairns and burial pyres littered the grounds of the Diengad Grassland Plateau. These were the spots where the Ustther had chosen to bury their heroes. The Ustther's members would occasionally make pilgrimages to these sites as a way to reconnect with the spirits of the deceased.

The religion gelled in very well with the individualistic aspect of the clan's culture. There were no shared responsibilities in their religion and it was upto every individual to to worship in a way they deemed acceptable. Many of their exploration activities were undertaken to recover the dead bodies of ther ancestors who never returned from their brave expeditions. Whn these bodies were discovered, a cairn would be erected and the spot would soon become a pilgrimage site for people eager to witness the last moments of their heroes.

Although the Ustther never came up wih a name for their religion the other clans named it Chria-ril, an amalgamation of two words meaning 'father-worshippers'.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Ustther Kin'toni Clan

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