Xinetone Kin'toni Clan

History

The Xinetone kin'toni Clan were a rare breed of kin'toni with flying abilities. Their unusual physical ability made them a pariah among other kin'toni clans who viewed them with fear and suspicion. They had a voracious appetite for blood and were known for their constant attacks on zu'aan settlements. These attacks left their neighboring kin'toni with measly seconds and forced them to work harder for their sustenance. This led to a consensus among the other kin'toni to disassociate themselves from all Xinetone activities.

And they actively began to take steps to hinder them at every step. The kin'toni started rounding up all zu'aan villages in the region and placed them in reservations for their own safekeeping. This act would deprive the Xinetone of their main food source and forced them into a war with their fellow kin'toni. While their ability to fly gave them a lot of advantages when facing the kin'toni, they couldn't keep up with the losses to their numbers and had to find a quick way to end the war. Seeing them suffer only made their rivals more bloodthirsty and they refused to settle for any peace between them.

The kin'toni were intent on destroying the Xinetone once and for all. Faced with the prospect of extermination, the Xinetone decided to abandon their homelands and fled in search of new lands where they would be undisturbed and also have a constant supply of zu'aan that they could feed on. The clan would set out on a journey spanning over half a decade in their search of their homeland. Their adventures would lead them to the Troineril Decaying Swamp which they found to be suited to their needs. The region had very few kin'toni around and had plenty of zu'aan fishing communities that had settled there over centuries.

It's unfortunate name came from the green pigment found in the waters here, that gave it a toxic appearance and not from any decay. The clan would make their homes in the large cliff faces that rose from the swamp floor to about five hundred meters at the highest points. This kept their homes away from the reach of the zu'aan and ensured their safety while they preyed on them at night. This ideal arrangement allowed the XInetone to slowly build up their numbers and reclaim the level of influence they once commanded in the region. This was a period of renaissance for the Xinetone.

As they went through many changes and introduced many systems to help them increase their efficiency in battle. They became more elusive and carried out deadly surprise raids that would catch their opponents off guard and lead to more enemy captives as well as lesser casualties on their side. The local zu'aan lived in fear of these attacks and even considered the Xinetone to be some supernatural beings that had escaped from another realm. Some kin'toni would still try to come after them but the Xinetone were too settled in the region by this time.

They had a proper view of the entire region from their tall cliff perch and could plan out and decide their battles.

Biology

The Xinetone kin'toni Clan's most distinctive physical feature was the wings on their upper bodies. These were made of strong leather like skin that was both light as well as durable. It was coarse to the touch and could withstand elements such as rain, frost along with cuts and bruises. Major injuries to their wings would also heal over time as this was a part of their bodies with veins and nerves running inside them. The outer portion of their wings were covered in a light, fur that repelled rainfall and stopped them from getting weighed down in the rain.

This was crucial for their flying ability as any additional weight would alter their flight characteristics and lead to very uneven or inefficient flight. The Xinetones wings were extended from the lower part of their entie arms length and met the sides of their torso in a single stretched mass. They only had to lift their arms for the wings to spread. The Xinetone had very intimidating physical characteristics. The average clan member stood at over seven feet and had very strong and well developed arms and upper bodies from the constant flying.

It required a tremendous amount of energy to generate enough lift required to get a full grown Xinetone off the ground. Thus the Xinetones arms were naturally built to be capable of flying for hours without rest. The force generated from a single flap of their wings was enough to knock an unaware zu'aan off their feet- and was a popular combat technique that the clan had mastered. The normal technique of the Xinetone was to gather as much altitude as possible when they flew so that they could slowly glide for hours without having to expend more energy.

The Xinetone did most of their fighting with their powerful hind legs that had long, hardened claws at the ends. They would pounce on their victims while diving down on them with a lot of speed. These attacks were able to pierce through both hardened leather or the normal armor of the zu'aan and made them one of the most fearsome combatants in the battlefield. The Xinetone had rough, black skin that gave them protection from the elements while also acting as a layer of natural armor in battle. While it was tough and firm, the skim was also light.

And didn't carry any additional weight that could disturb their flying abilities. The Xinetone had light yellow irises with white sclerae and vertical beaded pupils. Their eyes were very sensitive to light- making them nocturnal creatures who spent most of the day sleeping while coming out at night. This made them even more dangerous and added to their mythical status since it was very difficult to spot their dark bodies at night. The Xinetone's noses were very flat and almost indistinguishable from their face.

This helped to create a more aerodynamic shape that allowed them to fly more efficiently and also allowed them to breathe properly without all the air getting blown up their nose.

Culture

The Xinetone were a very interesting race of kin'toni who had large bat-like wings. This was a layer of skin that extended from their arms and joined their torso -acting as wings when their arms were raised. The unique physical attribute gave the Xinetone kin'toni the ability to fly. Flying was a major part of their culture. They took pride in it and developed many different techniques to refine their art. They were taught to fly at a very young age since it was a difficult skill to learn- even with their wings. Many different elements such as the frequency of their wing beat.

And their body shape had to be aligned and synchronized in order to get their bodies up in the air. The clan had specialized schools meant for the mandatory training of their initiates. Their teachers instructed them in the finer points of flight and got them accustomed to the feeling before they were declared as official members of the clan. Once they mastered the skill and became members, flying would take up a major portion of their lives. It was a recreational activity that they undertook in their spare time. It also served as a valuable tool for scouting and observation.

In battle, flying provided them with a height advantage and allowed them to choose their battles and withdraw if the situation called for it. The Xinetone kin'toni were very violent and bloodthirsty. This was a quality that was built into their psyche and couldn't be controlled. They were known for their voracious appetites and could drain a full life sized zu'aan at each meal. Their society encouraged this quality and judged an individual's toughness by the quantity of blood they could consume at a single sitting. This was a major cause of disagreements.

And conflicts with their neighboring kin'toni who felt that the Xinetone were hogging all of their food sources. The Xinetone were not as mentally adept as the zu'aan or other advanced kin'toni. They were happy with their primitive lifestyles and had no need to develop tools or improve their language and communication. They were the apex predators in their homelands, which gave them a sence of pride and a tremendous ego. They did not belief that they needed to improve any aspects of their clan's culture or lifestyle. They lived as they had done for many centuries.

They slept out in the open- preferably on some high perch where they could have a commanding view and from where they could swoop down without much effort in case of emergencies. Their choice of habitat also allowed them to be unreachable by most- and helped them retain their mysterious and elusive natures. They were not known for communicating or interacting with tribes outside of their own members. This could have been for several reasons including their lack of linguistic skills and their own personal egos.

They may have felt that it was beyond them to interact with individuals who were lower in the food chain. The Xinetone celebrated many festivals in a year. These were done to mark significant dates in their religion or to acknowledge some victory or achievement from their past.

Government

The Xinetone were led by the tribal leaders who earned their position through displays of bravery and their fighting ability. The Xinetone responded to these primitive qualities- as fighting occupied a very important position within their clan. A leader had to be strong and firm, while displaying a capacity to impose his will on others. The clan members responded only to a strong authority, any sign of weakness was quickly exploited and the leader would see himself deposed before long. They needed strong leadership to maintain their own strength.

The clan saw themselves as apex predators and believed that only the strongest were worthy of leadership. Another reason for their choice of leaders was the fact that they were surrounded by enemies on all sides and had to constantly be vigilant and showcase their powers in order to maintain their position of dominance. They expected their leaders to lead them into battles and meet challenges from other clans without mercy. They needed their leaders to give them wars and plenty of zu'aan to prey upon. If a leader was suspected of avoiding wars or conducting negotiations.

His reputation within the clan would take a hit and he would have to take steps to rectify it before the sentiment began to catch on inside the clan. The Xinetone's leaders were chosen through a chaotic system where every candidate would fight it out and the most powerful among them would emerge as the leader. To keep it fair, the candidates were not allowed to take the help of their supporters or followers and had to duel it out as individuals. After a leader emerged, he would assume all the responsibilities of decision-making within the clan.

He could issue orders for the clan members conduct and behavior within their society. The leader would also be responsible for the enforcement of these laws. If they were not enforced, the people would take it as a sign of weaknesss and would lose respect for authority. Thus, the Xinetone's leaders were very strict at enforcing their laws. They doled out punishments for lawbreakers which were generally very harsh and sadistic. These measures were well received by the clan and seen as a sign of confidence and strength. A major responsibility of the leader was to engage in wars and conflicts with other tribes of the region.

The Xinetone were naturally bloodthirsty and violent. They craved blood and meat, and wars were the easiest way to satisfy this bizarre thirst. A leader who did not engage in wars was considered as impotent and unable to provide for the needs of the clan. This expectation led to the Xinetone's leaders being among the most aggressive individuals within the clan. They did not engage in negotiations or deliberations with other tribes and would actively try to provoke wars at every opportunity. The Xinetone's leaders were expected to lead the clan into battle.

And to fight at the front of their lines. They were expected to be a model for others to follow. Cowardice or any sign of hesitation from him could lead to his followers losing confidence in his ability and deserting him.

Military

The Xinetone kin'toni Clan were a highly aggressive clan who were constantly involved in wars with other groups. This appetite for war was a result of their genetic condition and their belief that they were the apex predators of Taerel. Most of their wars were started to keep the clan fed. The Xinetone were famous for their voracious appetites and were known to consume large amounts of blood and meat at every sitting. This blood and meat that was required to feed them was most commonly available through warfare. Thus fighting was an outlet for their aggression.

Also it was a way to keep themselves fed. Their whole clan was tailored towards military action. Their leaders gained their reputation based on their ability to involve the clan in new wars and conflicts. They were also chosen based on their ability to fight- since it was common knowledge that the leader would be the one leading them into future battles. The Xinetone's leader was the undisputed commander of their armies in battle. He was expected to lead from the front and be at the head of every engagement. The Xinetone kin'toni clan did not have a full-time professional army.

Instead, their entire clan were warriors and were expected to take part in all their battles. They were trained for battle from the time they were initiated into the clan. These trainings were tough and were meant to hone and prepare them for the most brutal combat in Taerel. In battle their bloodthirsty natures would take over and they would fight with a blind rage that distinguished them from other combatants in the field. Their ferociousness could help break any unaccustomed armies who had never seen them before but their chaotic nature also exposed them to tactical vulnerabilities.

Since all their formations and strategies would be out the door once combat started. Their army was notorious for their cruelty and chaotic natures in battle and after. Their discipline was maintained simply out of respect to their leader but they would revert to their chaotic natures in the heat of battle. Their bloodthirst could also impede the growth of their own clan since they would often end up killing most of their captives out of blood lust instead of "turning" them into one of their own and increasing their numbers. The Xinetone kin'toni were known for their disregard for culture or luxury.

They were seen as savages by the rest of Taerel due to their reputation for destroying many works of art or architectural pieces that took centuries to build. Chief to the Xinetone's fighting style was their flying ability. This ability gave them an unprecedented advantage in the field since they were able to scout out their enemies and study the battlefield conditions way before their opponents had an opportunity to do the same. The Xinetone kin'toni did not use weapons and tools and instead relied on their strong and taloned hind legs to swipe at their enemies.

They would dive onto their enemies from above, generating enough force to rip apart both flesh and armor when they connected properly with their target.

Religion

The Xinetone believed that they were created by a bird-like God called Aleom. They explained their ability to fly and their differences from other kin'toni as a result of their God creating them in his own image. They were taught that the Xinetone form was the closest the kin'toni could come perfection and that true perfection could be achieved only by the Gods. Their religion taught them to have large egos and made them out to be the single greatest creations of the Gods. Their God Aleom was portrayed as a majestic kin'toni with large golden wings that covered the world when he spread them wide.

They believed that this was responsible for their nights, along with other phenomenon such as eclipses. It was Aleom's daily responsibility to cover the world in his wings so that the kin'toni would be shielded from the light and be able to wander outside. They thanked Aleom for every night that came and made sacrifices and prayers so that he would not abandon his duty. This was because the Xinetone- like the other kin'toni were sensitive to light and could not be exposed to bright sunlight for very long. Although the clan was not known for their artistry or craftsmanship.

They created many simple art and idols of their winged God Aleom. These included rock paintings and miniature figurines and idols. Their clan members usually carried these around as personal items and would pray to them when they were away from home. Since the kin'toni did not build houses, they designated certain spots as holy places and used them for the worship of their God. Their entire clan would gather in these large clearings and pray together under the guidance of their priests. The Xinetone's priest were a part of the normal society and participated in all of the clan's activities, including wars.

Their only special ability was their knowledge of their God and their history. There were more than a few hundred of them with their own heirarchy and positions. These priests were responsible for the instruction of their new initiates, to familiarize them with their beliefs and to ease their transition into the Xinetone. During their sacrifices and prayers the priest would prepare altars and kill the sacrifice in a manner that would please their God. They would lead the clan in prayer with the people chanting after them. The Xinetone's priest were known for their fierce dedication to their God.

And their ability to channel this into a ferocious bloodlust in the battlefield. They would go berzerk on the enemy and would stand out as the most fearsome warriors in the field. They were feared by many within the clan itself as the were bare conscious in their berzerker states and would attack anyone that neared them. Being a warrior clan, the Xinetone's religion encouraged violence and wars. it called for the clan to spread the glory of Aleom through their acts of bravery and ruthlessness. It was only when the world was subordinate to them that they would be able to see the superiority and glory of their God.

Miscellany

Nearby Groups

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Xinetone Kin'toni Clan

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