Kohpoli

## Overview

Kohpoli (Pronounced **K-Oh-Poll-ee)**, is a city in Midi. Located in the Southern Ohgar-no-Voda mountains, Kohpoli always has a high amount of ash in the air due to the nearby active volcanoes. Unlike Aqivez and Kiem, Kohpoli has little Artifice, Arcane magic, or Divine magic. Instead, residents focus on improving themselves in physical, mental, and spiritual ways, or to study away from the hustle of the major cities.

Officially headed by a representative from the School of Ash, Academy of Coats, and the Rotta Monastery, Kohpoli is mostly reserved in their actions due to a fragile truce between the three sects.

Visitors tend to more rare but still treated with utmost respect.

## History

### Founding of Kohpoli

The first settlers of Kohpoli were the Ashcoats, a group of traveling scholars who wished to study the eastern coast of Galvasitz. Relentlessly pursued by the dangerous fauna of the continent, they prayed to The Untamed for guidance. The Untamed, manifesting as an impulse to run to the volcano slopes, provided the weary travelers a burst of energy and knowledge to strive towards safety. Building the Ashcoat Keep in 723, the city of Kohpoli was formed, named after a mistranslation of the name of the original scholar of the Ashcoats.

### The Kohpoli Bloodhunters

Many of the Ashcoats would then begin to make farms, the fertile rock and ash serving to produce exceptional crops of grapes, olives, and wheat. According to Kohpoli natives, this is the official origin of wine. Scholars, however, disagree. In addition to introduced crops, the Ashcoat monks also tended to gardens of several native species of plants, using them to work on the formulas used in Hunter's Bane.

Although the Ashcoats did eventually form their own version of Hunter's Bane, they originally borrowed help from Lachier Bloodhunters, as well as the Untamed. Trading knowledge to visitors of the Monastery, the Ashcoats studied for five years straight in order to form the basis of Kohpoli Bloodhunting knowledge. Combining the knowledge with Hunter's Bane and the top candidates from the Monastery, the first trial of Kohpoli Bloodhunters began.

For all intents and purposes, the first Kohpoli Bloodhunters were rather unsuccessful. The Ashen Formula was quite toxic and would lead to death upon administration unless the user was in a low oxygen, high-heat, and low humidity area. Those that did survive would face their deaths shortly after when attempting to clear the surrounding areas of the dangerous creatures due to their rather weak forms. It was only after Orsos Ashcoat, a outcast Shifter, suggested a minor tweak to the recipe, requiring the concoction to be brewed in animal stomachs, did the Bloodhunters of Kohpoli become a force to be reckoned with.

Due to his innovative ideas, Orsos Ashcoat became the leader of the Kohpoli Bloodhunters, marching down the coast and across the sea to what would be Kiem.

In Orsos' absence, the Scala Incident occurred.

### The Scala Incident

Running low on sufficient materials to produce Ashen Formula, a militant splinter group of the Kohpoli Bloodhunters, called the School of Ash, rebelled against the teachings of the Ashcoats. This group began to hunt any large animal they can see. This was done in an effort to secure the necessary parts of beasts to produce the Ashen Formula. They pushed beyond the borders of Kohpoli and into the lands that would eventually become Darastrix. Spotting a Gold Dragon and fearing potential loss of life if engaged in combat, the group assassinated the dragon in her sleep, using her scales to fashion armor, her blood for potions, and her organs for Ashen Hunter's Bane. When the group returned to Kohpoli, the Ashcoats were horrified to see a sapient creature butchered. Thus began the Schism.

### Schism

While the rest of the Monastery was rightfully ashamed, the School of Ash argued that the Dragons, being powerful Undying, were inherently dangerous and could be subject to hunting. They also claimed that the Untamed was responsible for the actions of a few, now banished members of the School, and that such an event would never happen again. They allegedly destroyed the loot, noting that fashioning trophies from reasoning creatures was wrong.

In response, another splinter group formed from the Monastery. Calling themselves the Academy of Coats, the group argued for the permanent destruction of the Ashen Formula, insisting that it caused radical shifts in behavior that made the recipient paranoid, prone to rage, and impulsive, evidenced by the actions of the School of Ash. With the beasts mostly gone around the cities, the Academy of Coats said that the Ashen Formula was no longer needed, and was detrimental to modern society.

The remaining members of the Monastery attempted to negotiate a peace, noting that while the actions of the School of Ash were appalling, Hunter's Bane was an essential tool for Kohpoli and could not be destroyed. Diplomacy failed, leading to the permanent fracture of the Ashcoats. The Monastery renamed themselves to the Rotta Monastery, thoroughly broken by the actions and words of the people of Kohpoli. They built another keep away from the two factions, away from their building cleaved right in two.

With a half a section left for the Academy of Coats, they forged an alliance with the Dragons nearby, promising their service as an apology for the School of Ash's actions. They would become Dragon Knights, and would teach anyone who wished to form a bond with the dragons how to fight.

### Modern Times

Many years later, the School of Ash continues their Bloodhunting ways, guiding people throughout the lands if necessary, clearing out areas for cities when needed. The Academy of Coats still trains students and dragons alike, hoping to prevent any future incidents.

The two factions have an uneasy truce, although no fights have broken out so far, thanks to the level-headed Rotta Monastery.

## Layout

Kohpoli consists of a town stretched across numerous active volcanoes. With lava occasionally spewing out, architects have taken steps to minimize the flow. There are three major buildings in the city, with numerous farms, orchards, and small shops strewn about.

### The Academy of Coats

One half of the former Ashcoat Keep, the Academy of Coats is separated from the School of Ash by a permanent lava flow. Hosting numerous stables, a large dining hall, and numerous dorms, guests to Kohpoli often stay in here, enjoying good food, drink, and entertainment with performances by students of the Academy.

### The School of Ash

The other half of the former Ashcoat Keep, the School of Ash is the smaller part of the Monastery, only hosting the library, the garden, and a few spare rooms for guests. The actual Bloodhunters sleep in a barracks, one always on guard from attacks.

### The Rotta Monastery

Located half a mile away from the two factions at an uneasy peace, the Rotta Monastery is a small building, consisting of a few members who watch over the two factions. Often the welcome building for travelers, the basement contains an Aetherium Gate, connecting Kohpoli with Mavros and other gates if attuned properly.