Otogaoi

> "*I call upon father wolf and mother crow tonight for the Keshen ride again. We are outnumbered but by the mountain god, as they shall taste the sting of our arrows and the bite of our blades, we shall taste victory!*"
> ― Jejin to his warhost before the battle of Twincreek
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## Titles and nicknames

### Epithet

Savages, brutes, Steppedwellers, Sheepbreeders

## Introduction

The Otogaoi are the greatest warriors in all of Xyrillia. They inhabit the Kaianai, the largest prefectum of the entire continent. The Otogaoi or *Keshen* in their own tongue, are renowned and rightly feared for their swords- and horsemanship.

## History

### Dark Ages

The Otogaoi trace their origins back to the Cult of Ascher. When the Aschians arrived in Xyrillia, they found themselves without a leadership or guidance. In the hostile enviroment of the desolate Kai steppes, they quickly split into smaller groups that traveled the land on their own. Used to Eoams humid jungles, the dry and cold grassland proved to be challenging. They could not farm or build under these circumstances. Yet their martial focus proved quite useful in a land ruled by wolves and Ghuls. They soon became a race of hunters, alligned to horse and wind.

They had lived like this for a long time before the First Pratonians arrived. Vvaren the three eyed, living god and general, arrived at the Osho mountains. It was in the vale of Kand that Aschian hunters encircled his forces. They were led by an ambitious chief named Remujin. He launched a direct attack on his ancient enemies. The Pratonians defense was desperate but it appeared like they would prevail. It was Remujin himself that broke through their lines. Grabbing the glaive of a fallen Immortal, he confronted the Pratonian Godking and beaheaded him before he could strike back.

It was in this legendary vale that Remujin and his warriors would slaughter all remaining Pratonians, eating their flesh and using their blood to create the first Bornwell in the east.

Ennobled by pratonian Bornenergy and Vvarens burning blade, Remujin became the first king of the Aschians of Kaianai. He later renamed his people into Keshen and launched a bloody crusade across the entire steppes. He captured and converted each of the 12 great Aschian tribes and gathered their leaders in Kand. With the blood of their fallen warriors he toasted them before sharing the boon of the Born with them. Thus were the Tyrant Remujin and his 12 high chieftains born.

#### The First Otogaoi War

When Malach´s forces encountered Remujins people for the first time, they called them babaric and rightly so. The godking had driven them towards cruelty and violence to appease the strange gods they were sworn to. The western legion was greeted by Ogedar Blooddrinker, one of the Temhjins High Chieftains. The negotations did not go well and the two empires soon found themselves at war with each other. Malach was worried about the ascension of such a mighty warlord. It was during the early stages of this first conflict that the Aschians of the east were given the name *Otogaoi*, which translates to "Riding Horde". As her heralds told her of Remujins superior size and his burning blade, she was reminded of Caldor and his rebellion. Thus the goddess focussed all of her might towards his destruction, knowning full well that he was capable of killing her should he manage to reach her hold.

The scattered hords of horsemen and warriors were no match for the organised legions of Malach. Although they won every battle under the command of her *Eternals* none of them were used to fight in the open steppes. It was a war of attrition were the harsh climate and long marches killed as many men as the constant skirmishes of *Keshen* horsemen. With no cities or settlements to conquer, the malachians wasted years and thousands of lifes before finally revealing the location of Kand in the Osho mountains.

The siege of Kand was long and hard, costing hundreads of soliders just to climb the high mountains. Malach used her sorcery to break the Born-fortresses outer walls and allow her troops entrance. With all eight of her Eternals, Remujin and his High Chieftains were outmachted. The Godking managed to kill three Eternals and destroy their masks before (...) beheaded him and threw his head into the Otogaois blood-drenched Born. Soon, all of his Chieftains but one followed. Ogedar, first of his kin, was captured and brought before the council of the four Eternals that had survived the siege. As he begged them for mercy and bowed his head in submission, the Malachians decided to allow him to take Remujins place. In exchange he had to swear loyalty to them and their goddess.

Malach knew that a single chieftain was not enough to ensure the Kaianais ordered entrance into her empire. Thus, she used her magic to craft the first of the (...), a Spirit God bound to her will. Thus *Vorg*, incarnation of the dry steppes and the endless skies was born. Anointed by this final slaugther, the serpentine spirit rose from the bloody waters of the Born below him, dissolving the heads of the accursed Chieftains and turning its red waters pale.

#### Reign of the First Celestial Empire

Under the twin guidance of *Ogedar* and *Vorg* and Malachs superstition, the Otogaoi were included into her Celestial Empire. After Kands fall, the tribes were fractured and cast in a brutal civil war. After a few years the majority of them had joined Ogedar as their new ruler, yet there remained several tribes that disobeyed him. These became known as the (...) tribes, soon turning to more malign entities to worship then the spirit in the mountains. Since that day they became irredeemable, roaming the steppes at night to prey on man and beast alike.

In the following centuries the Otogaoi slowly transitioned into a civilised lifestyle, abandoning their nomadic culture. While large groups prefered to remain traditional, the majority began to settle alongside the *Gengal* and *Murken river*. The Malachians brougth them new ways of farming, building and living. While the wealthy elite embraced the western influences in both mind and cloth, the poorer masses began to grow spiteful against these trends.

   Although they shared faith and nation, most Otogaoi stayed true to their tribal origins. They would rather support their blood then their land or the Celestial Empire itself. Malach knew full well that the countless tribes and ethnicities that shared so little could not be held together by a single region with a single ruler. Thus she divided the Kaianai into five prefecti to forge local identy and shift the conflict to a larger and less harmful scale. Thus the five Houses of the Keshen were born, named after the most influencial of Prefects: *Ogedar*, *Drolug*, *Toloi*, *Huleg* and *Morchen*.

Although peace never really came to the Kaianai, its inhabitants focused their martial power towards the Ghuls, beasts and Geungaoi roaming the land. Through their constant efforts the east became safer with each passing day as prosperity and knowledge grew within its cities. Although the majority of Otogaoi land was and always would be sparsely populated and wild, its villages and towns became larger and more modern. The merchants and administators of the Celestial Empire brought them the arts of printing, weaving and manufacturing bricks from clay and stone.

#### Remujins return

The First Celestial Empire had reached the peak of its influence and power in Xyrillia. It had been centuries since the last conflict with the Keshen and the only reason to keep a military despite Ghuls and Geungaoi were the repeated Pratonian skirmishes. It was during this time of peace and prosperity that Remujin returned from the dead. It was later revealed that his essence was too strongly tied to the Born he had created to be destroyed. Reborn in the Tal of house Morchen he assembled a horse of (...) tribesmen and began a bloody conquest through Keshen territory. He had soon gathered a large horde of followers both from the wild tribes and enslaved citizens. He created the sixt Keshen house and named it after himself. With red banners risen he rode across the Kai steppes, sacking one settlement after the next. The majority of tribes were easily bested and convinced to join his cause. Only the cities and settlements along the Murken river remained loyal to Malach and Vorg. In a final attempt of convincing all Keshen to assemble under his banner he rode to his ancient fortress at Kand and challenged the god of mountains, Vorg himself to a duell. Since Remujin had retreaved his god-killer blade, Vorg prefered to stay within his walls, fearing the titanic flames that were more then capable of ending his immortal life.

After his call had been left unanswered he marched back to the steppes and proclaimed vicotry against the serpentine god. In the end he managed to unite a large part of the Otogaoi armies under his banner, which became known as the *Accursed Host*. They managed to defeat the firt army the Celestial empire assembled against them. Remujin was eager to take his revenge on Malach and marched westwards, winning every battle he encountered on the way. It was only at the great wall of Caowei that he was defeated and driven back. He began to besiege the great structure as he didnt have the ships necessairy to sail around it.

The Celestial Empire would have defeated him, hadnt the Pratonians launched an invasion in the north simultaneously. With so much force pushed against them from two sides their armies began to crumble. The wall of Caowei was thus mostly unguarded, allowing the sixt house to breach it with siege engines and ladders. Now Remujin was free to roam the protected lands of the west, sacking and slauthering his way towards Yihan. Soon enough the Celestial Empire was hopeless to emerge victorious out of this violent conflict. With Yihan under Remujins controll atlast he used its passage to pass the Dibet Mountains and arrive at Xilians doorstep. He arrived a few days before Vvind and the Pratonian army breached the surrounding wall. There Remujin suffered a crushing defeat and had to retreat. Yet he left the sacred city in ruins as an easy target for the Pratonian armies. Soon, the First Celestial Empire fell.

Vvind, prime general of the Eriador, offered Remujin and his hordes peace should he support them on their cause to unite Xyrillia in the name of Caldor. Yet the Keshen godking refused and drew back into his homelands where he wished to restore his armies and launch a campaign against this new thread. To fully unite all of the Kaianai he begann to besiege Kand to slay the god Vorg. There he was betrayed by his son Jejin who stabbed him in the eye before decapateting him infront of his generals.

Thus Jejin took his fathers place. He entered the sacred city of Kand and recieved Vorgs blessing who proclaimed him king of all Keshen. Then Jejin disbanded the sixt house and restored the ancient houses Remujin had usurped.

### Pratonian war

It was under Jejins rule that the Keshen would have to face their biggest thread, the Pratonians. It was Vvind himself the lead an invasion into these lands that refused his proposal for peace. He quickly captured the cities around the Murken river and ceased controll over the fertile riverlands. He encountered little resistence as the Keshen withdrew from these positions, knowing full well they could not best this superior foe. Once the Pratonians set out into the open grassland, they soon found themselves in the same situation as the malachians before them. Although they won every battle they encountered, they lost countless lifes every single day as weather, famine and the constant raids and skirmishes of Keshen horsemen put them unter constant pressure. This time Jejin ensured that Kands location remained a secret while strictly organising his troopes. He wished to move all force to a point were it could be equal to the Pratonians while dwindeling their numbers in the process as much as possible. While Vvind and his armies suffered heavy casualties moving up northwards, a second Pratonian invasion attempted to capture the nothern Gengai riverlands. This time the Keshen were preapred. They attacked them with superior numbers and from three directions at the same time. With all their forces amassed in the north they crushed all those that attempten to invade their most fertile regions. Afterwards they moved towards the south to defeat Vvind and his host. The Pratonian general was forced to abandon his weakened and starved out troops as defeat would have been inevitable.

## Culture

The Keshen unite civilised and tribal soceities in their prefectum. While their tribes are largely indepenant and free, they are still bound to their bloodlines and houses. They trade on the cities markets and accompany merchants for protection from the wild and other tribes.

### Orochen tribes

The ancient Keshen tribes inhabit every part of the Kaianai. Four out of ten Keshen life a nomadic lifestyle. The majority of Otogaoi spends the summer on the planes, riding and living in yurts and the cold winter in one of the many cities and settlements alongside the two rivers. There exist three sacred gathering spots known as Kais along the steppes. Each of them contains the Bornwell of one of the old ethnics. These have turned into walled cities with temples and more tents then a single man could count. There the chieftains of a region gather to share the spoils of their hunts and a cup of Bornwater. Despite these sacred cities there exit Borntotems all across the steppes. These huge totems are technically living trees that have lost their leaves and only feed on the Bornwater of the dead. The memories of those burried underneath them shape the wood into fantastical structures with religious connontation. Every fallen tribesmen is buried under one of these totems. Once every year a tribe gathers around its totem and taps into its harz that consists almost solely from Bornwater. Mixed with Airag they drink this harz to obtain the power of the dead. This drink of almost pure Bornwater sets them into a form of battlefrenzy that results in *Drakh Borum*, or the Reckless Hunt. For the next days the tribesmen are intoxicated and hunt recklessly for animals, beasts or other tribes. Many carry this harz with them to consume it in a ritual before great battles, granting them unnatural strength aswell as immunity to pain and fear.

### Keshen Houses

The Kaianai went through a series of unifications and divisions. It has lived through times with of hundreads of nations, of complete unification and division. Over the turbulent centuries the Keshen soceity has developed feudalism and its houses. Based on the original division in five prefecti led by one of the houses, these family ties have evolved into local identities and ethnicities. Even at times were the Kaianai marched under one banner, the Keshen still had strong ties to their houses. These houses still have alot of influence in the Otogaoi realm. Under the Prefect or *Khorul*, there exist five Tal or regional rulers who lead their houses. A Tal claims authority above all Kambaluks that reign his land as they are loyal to him.

**House Ogedar-** Also known as the first house or house of wolves. Once it has been the sole leader of the Kaianai before becoming the house of warriors and leaders. It claims the holy city of Kand as their seat and home. Thus they have turned into the house of priests and shamans. Their *Tal* is also the highpriest of all Keshen as he leads the temple of Vorg and is in direct contact with the mountain god.

**House Toloi-** The new leading house, also known as second house or house of deers. They claim Kharad, the new seat of the Kaianai and capital of all Keshen. They are seen are the most royal but also too close their western and more civilised neighbours. They bring fourth the best diplomats and administrators and are generally associated with more western-styled nobility.

**House Huleg-** Also known as house of falcons. They are generally amongst the most wealthy of houses and strongly associated with Keshen culture. They are extremly conservative and try to reject western or outlandish influences as much as possible. They are the house of hunters and their hunting parties are the main supplier for venison. They reside in Yuvenhold and hold strong ties to the Orochen tribes of Kai Kogul.

**House Drolug-** The house of boars. They controll most of Kaian mines and mountain passes. They are the renowned for their hardned warriors and taming of giant boars and other beasts. Their boar cataphracts are famous across all of the Kaianai.

**House Morchen-** The infamous house of ravens. They are most likely the poorest of houses and the closest to the wild tribes. While their administrative seat is in Korun, their Tal resides in Kai Olorg. They are well known for their horsemanship, the art of stealth and ambush aswell as hit and run tactics.

**House Remujin-** The six house, also known as the accursed host or house of demons was founded by Remujin after his return during the reign of the Pratonians. Although it was abolished several times it exists in secret among the Sarochen tribes and chosen cultists. With the return of their lord the house arises anew as more and more Keshen are drawn to the banner of the true lord of the Kaianai.

### Kaluken

The Kaluken are the feudal lords of the urbanised Kaianai. The rank of Kaluk is among the highest a Keshe can achieve. They emerged from the former Otogaoi warrior caste and stay true to their violent history. Every Kaluk is a warrior before he is a statesmen.

#### Ascend

Almost every noble male born in the Kaianai strives to become a Kaluk. To do this they are trained since the age of five were they learn how to use the four essential weapon of their profession: longbow, longglaive, scimitar and shield. Once they reach adulthood, at the age of 15, they undergo what is known as the *Trial of Vorg*. During this they leave their town and descend into the wild. They must go alone, only armed with a knive and two of their traditional weapons. Should they smuggle food with them or recieve forgein aid during this trial, they are cast out of their training and noble status. During the trial itself they roam the wild in search of a beast to hunt. The lowest creature that is acceptable to complete the trial is a deer; yet those who seek honor and fame will attempt to hunt a direwolf, boar or lion. They must not only slay their chosen foe but also survive by hunting their food in the wild. Their return is celebrated with a feast were their prey is prepared. While the family of the aspirant dines on its roasted meat, the aspirant himself eats the raw heart of his prey; an act that is believed to transfer the animals strength into the hunter. The only thing he is allowed to wear during this ceremony is the beasts pelt. After the feast is finished, the aspirant is brought to a shrine of Vorg were he is washed in water and the tapped blood of the beast. Then a priest will begin to apply the ritualistic tatoos of a Kaluk. They rage across their entire torso as a stream of lines resembling the balance of the elements. On the middle of his chest, the priest tatoos the image of the animal the aspirant has slain. After a final purification with hot whine, the aspirant is now regarded a Kaluk and presented with his first mastercrafted blade and Kaluken armor. Young Kaluken usually join a Kambaluk, a supreme landlord, before being able to claim a fiefdom of their own. There they either advise him at his court or manage his armies or regions on his behalf. Only the most powerful of Kaluken arise to the rank of Kambaluk, the ruler of a region.

#### Duties and rights

Kaluken are the military and political backbone of Keshen soceity. In the eyes of their people they embody the perfect leader as they have perfected every aspect of their existence, both mind and body. Only Kaluken and their superiors are allowed to take more then one wife. Kaluken gain prestige the larger their harem is as this is seen as a dircet indicator for their potence. While Kaluken and Kambaluken are the ones that make the descisions, it is their wifes that administer their possessions and understand the politics. They advise their lord in political manners and often outweight the voices of the Kaluken in his court.

Kaluken are jury, judge and executioner alike. While a Kambaluk is the law in his county, his Kaluken are seen as his eyes, ears and all to often axes. Although the Otogaoi largely follow Xyrillian law, each landlord has its own customs and rules he may enforce. Should a Kaluk punish a civilian inappropriately they must stand responsable before their rules. Keshen law is not as ordered as that in the rest of the Celestial Empire. Although the laws are well known and more or less consistent, the punishment lies fully in the hands of a Kambaluk and his servants. The most common form of solving disputes is trial by combat. In such a scenario, a Kambaluk may always appoint a Kaluk to fight on his behalf as long as the accuser was of common birth. Should a Kaluk challenge his lord in such a way, he must fight personally.

Duells among Kaluken are very common. Atleast once every year a Kambaluk will host large festivites known as *Temal shug*, the night of delights. While the populace enjoys a public feast and the lord and his ladies dine under the clear nightsky, the Kaluken have to engage in three challenges. The first is hunting a deer or boar across the streets, the second and third are duels on foot and horseback. These rarely end with the death of a Kaluk. Yet each of them can be challenged to a fight with a civilian once. Should they lose, the civilian might kill and usurp their place after completing the *Trial of Vorg* in the ensuing days.

Honor duells are very common among Kaluken. It has became common during conflict between Keshen to let a duell of champions decide a winner rather then war. Kaluken must always abide such a call or they risk to loose their honor completly.

#### Philosophies

Unlike the nobility of other prefecti, the Kaluken are far less aristocratic and vain then their western counterparts. They do not claim legitimacy for their rulership through noble birth or superior blood but through martial prowess. Although most Kaluken are sons of former Kaluken, it is possible for commoners to arise to this position through pure skill and devotion. Kaluken do not alienate themselves from their population and value personal bounds to their subordinates over blind disciline. Most Keshen admire and respect their lords rather then fear or worship them like some distant gods. It is quite common for a Kaluk to walk through the streets of his domain and visit a random family in the street. He will dine with them and enjoy their company. In return he will often offer them to visit his halls to feast with him and his courtiers.

The laws a Kaluken must abide have many forms and interpretation. The most common, known as the Kaluken code, is an ancient set of texts written by Jejin, first of their kind. Its four core virtues are:

**Heroic courage-** A Kaluk must not succumb to fear. Fear is the stench of prey and the odor of the hunter. It is a hero that suceeds when the odds are stagged against him, a coward who runs away when victory was in his grasp and a fool who dies a meaningless death.

**Honor-** Sheep require numbers to overcome their foe while a tiger strikes alone. Does one prove themselves worthy of a warriors death they shall be granted one. Should they emerge victorious they shall live among the tigers. Those that rely on subterfuge deserve to be grinded in the dust while those that fight true deserve respect.

**Honesty-** Always stay true to you word. Only the weak and nefarious fall back on lies and intrigue, while a true warrior remains honest and open. It is better to die and be good then to live and be bad.

**Humility-** Know your place in the world. There will always be those who are wiser above you and those who are weaker below you. They require your help as much as your superiors require your devoted service. Humility is what seperates men from animal. Do not indulge in your sucess but know that you could to better. Thus you must follow those better then you and encourge those below you as every superior must lead his subjects by example not noble pride.

### Hunting

Hunting is a sport reserved for the Keshen nobility. Once every few months a Kambaluk and his chosen Kaluken set out for a hunt. Yet it is still possible for commoners in cities and villages to honor this ancient tradition. Before every hunt every Kaluk may choose up to 30 members for his retinue and accompany him to the hunt. To determine worthy members it is common to organise games for the populace. Typical disciplines are wrestling, riding and archery. Once worthy hunters emerge, they personally accompany their Kaluk to a gathering with their Kambaluk at his fortress. From there the hunting host sets out into the steppes. They chase deers, Quilian or beasts until the Kambaluk is satisfied. On their return, the trophies, pelts and meat are distributed. Two quaters go to the nobility, another to the lowborn hunters and the last is sold on one of the great markets across the Kambaluks domain. This ritual does not only honor ancient tradition and keeps the dangerous wilderness in check, it also creates and strengthens the ties between civilians and their superiors. While chosen hunters return to their families as heros and celebraties, they can also experience their lords in a very personal manner and spread tales of their bravery.

### Men and women

Keshen culture is strictly patriachial. They have clear roles for their men and women. While a man must hunt, fight and rule, women must organise their household, cook and weave. They see women as innocent and pure beings, naturally too weak and beautiful to become warriors. They treat them very different from men, trying to avoid curses or violence infront of their eyes. It is extremly rare for a women to accompany their men to a hunt or battle and even rarer for them to take the rank of a Kaluk or ruler. Yet they can gain influencial positions in the court as advisors. The court of women is as powerful as the circle of Kaluken to a Kambaluk. And while men must embody physical and martial mastery in Keshen culture, women must embody mental mastery. They are generally believed to be smarter and more cunning then men. In Keshen faith the wolf, also known as *father wolf*, is the patron and spirit of men while the crow, also known as *mother crow*, is that of women. Thus the role of the strategist in a Keshen army is usually reserved for a female while the men lead.

## Religion

The Keshen believe in the god Vorg, the incarnation of mountains, grassland and the blue skies. This spirit god resides in Kand and is one of the few (...) that is compeltly free in both will and movability. The god itself proclaims its will through the steppe spirits he has under his controll. Seers and shamans can communicated with them or summon them in battle to their aid.

Once every five years Vorg himself leaves his hold in the vale of Kand and flies free under the open skies. Like a stream of fire the serpentine wolfgod rushes across the sky, being bright enough to shine even at the day. He will spend an entire month roaming across his domain, mostly staying high up in the skies. Should something catch his attention he will swoop down and confront it. This might be a tribe, a Kambaluk or a perticular character that catches his interest.

Vorg embodies the Keshen spirit above everything else. Althoug he is a wise and old creature he often seeks the thrill of the hunt and the feeling of the wind blowing across the open grassland.

Vorg and his spirits are worshiped across the entire Kaianai. His priests enjoy great respect and are removed from taxation and civil service.

## Economy

### Food and Agriculture

The majority of the Kaianai consists of dry steppes. The rains are extremly inconsistent in these lands were an area might me lush and green in one year and withered in the next. The tribes have developed a special kind of agriculture that is based on shotlived plants they grow shortly after rainfall. Their seers can often predict the rainfall and manage to follow it. Besides that agriculture in large scales is only possible alongside the two rivers *Gengai* and *Murken*. Yet the wide grassland are perfect for grazing animals. Many Keshen own large herds. Their meat and milk make up between 20 and 70 percent of a Keshen diet. The civilised Keshen have even discovered methods of making cheese out of sheep, horse and yakmilk, something unique in Xyrillia. Despite their large lifestock it is very common to hunt for Keshen. While many tribes rely on it, it has become a ritualistic sport for the nobility. Even for the common civilian venison has become an essential good as its consumed during large feasts and festivities. The Keshen believe that meat makes them strong, the rawer the better. Through eating an animal one has killed, it is possible to absorb its lifeforce according to their faith. Although many still rely on rice, bulgur and vegetables to feed them, plantbased diets are regarded something for peasents and sheeps, not warriors. The Keshen nobility adds fish, poultry and very healthy Zygoa meat to their menu to avoid diseases like gout.

## Armies

### Rules of war

Otogaoi follow a strict ettiquette on the battlefield. Although they are often described as brainless savages and brutes that invade their lands as unordered hordes, the Keshen are bound by honor and strategy. Although fear is one of their most useful weapons, they know mercy and manners. Whenever one of their armies moves up to a larger city or fortress, they send out a herald that makes a very simple offer. Surrender or slaughter. Should they surrender no warrior will attempt to plunder, destroy or rape. The civilians will be replaced and the nobility is held captives before being ransomed to their family. Should they refuse, the herald will offer the troops and civilians of said city to overthrow their leaders. The nobles will be beheaded and their palace ravaged while the populace will remain unharmed, should they follow said call. Should a enemy force surrender midst battle, the Otogaoi will show mercy. While their leaders will mostly be beheaded, they are satisfied with claiming the city and the right hand of every adult man. Should the forces decide to fight to the bitter end, the Keshen will run rampant across the streets, stealing, pillagaing and desecrate the populace. Those that are not captured or slaughtered during battle will be impaled on the walls and left to rot as the city is burned down and the fields are sullied and ravaged by horse-hooves to ensure that nothing but grass will grow there to ease later invasions.

Although warlords may often show mercy to captured cities, it is also very common to allow the men to raid and plunder the cities riches. They do this in an orderly manner were all spoils of war are brought before the warlord who distributes them equally among his troops while keeping a tenth of it for himself. He and his Kaluken will claim the nobilites riches for their treasury and their daugthers for their harems.

### Armor and weapons

    Both metal and plantfibres are rare materials in the Kai steppes. Although the Osho mountains host large but fluctuating mines, iron and steel are far less common then in the rest of Xyrillia. What Keshen have in abundance are wool, leather and bones. Their most common armor is wool armor. It was made of wool of about a finger’s width, although more elite warriors would wear several coats. This wool armor was made strong by soaking it in brine and then leaving it to dry. The salt crystals left behind would make the woven material strong enough to withstand most arrows and blows. It is comperable to the Yihan paper armor or the (...) shell armor. It is lighter then shell armor and although it offers a comperable amount of protection to paper, it can withstand humidity far better.

The most elite armor the Keshen make is reserved for their Kaluken. The Kalukarmor is made from a mixture of leather, wool and steel. Steelplates are connected by planks of ironoak to former their shoulder, breast and legplates. This armor is considered one of the best in all of Xyrillia while being far lighter an flexible then most forms of pure metal armor.

As additional protection, ornament and protection from the cold most warriors add pelts to their armor. These often display the rank of a unit. Militas often wear harepelts, Horsemen horsepelts, Cataphracts boarpelts, elite warriors wolfpelts and commanders either lion, panther, leopard, tiger or even dragonpelts. Kaluken wear the pelt of the first animal they killed during the *Trial of Vorg* or one of the same species should it be destroyed.

### Units

#### Infantry

**Murken Militia-** Named after the wild Murkenriver that supplies the southern Kaianai, *Murken Militia* is solely comprised of civilians from the urbanised regions of Keshen land. Hardened by the work on the fields, the extreme climate and the martial aspects of Otogaoi culture, Murken Militia require only little training to be used on the battlefield effectivly. While western infantry is far more disciplined and obedient, Murken Militia exceeds them in skill and agressivness. They are usually clad in light wool- or clotharmor that protects them from arrows as much as from the cold. Their favoured weapon is the spear or the glaive. The more elite units may use shields and scimitares.

**Murken Archers-** The Murken archers favoured above their melee combatans. Only the strongest men the cities bring fourth are gifted Kheshen longbows. They are mostly considered the best archers in all of Xyrillia and often employed in western armies where they recieve better pay.

**Wolfsguard-** These elite warriors can either be tribesmen or civilians. They are comprised of orphans, bastards or simply outcasts which have been trained since a very young age. Most Kaluken supervise the training of their local Wolfsguard, yet in larger cities there exist large academies to train the elite of the Keshen infantry. In order to finalise their training each of them needs to wrestle against a wolf or other beast and emerge victorious. Wolfsguard are fiercly loyal and unlike the rest of the Keshen military they would rather die then disobey an order. They have sworn to remain without wife or children to serve their masters best. Wolfsguard are either used as the elite backbone of an army or as bodyguard for nobles and warlords. They wear heavy woolarmor decorated with pelts and claws. They fight with scimitar, spear and shield and are among the most dreaded melee warriors in all of Xyrillia.

#### Cavalry

**Orochen Horsemen-** The wild tribes honor their horsemanship above everything else. The Orochen Horsemen are ferocious riders. Like most Keshen they are less ordered and more aggressive then other troupes in Xyrillia. Orochen Horsemen are only lightly armored and are masters at circling the enemy while firing their impactful bows into their lines from safe distance. The Ironoaks of the Kaianai produce bows that are strong enough to shoot through thick steel with ease and sometimes even outshine the western gunpowder weapons in armor-piercing capacities. They are armed with bow, scimitar and a large quiver full of arrows. Although the Orochen Horsemen are regarded rather low in Keshen soceity, they are most factor that usually decides between victory and defeat for a Otogaoi army.

**Quilian Cataphracts-** Riding atop the larger and heavier *Quilians*, only the most elite warriors of the Keshen tribes may take the position of a Cataphract. Both rider and horse are heavily armored, wearing several layers of wool armor enforced with steel and leather. Both mount and rider wear an iron mask made to cast fear into the hearts of their enemies. They are usually armed with longglaives, Keshen lances, or two-handed scimitars.

**Boar Cataphracts-** Only the tribes of *House* *Drolug* have managed to domesticate the giant boars of the icy mountain rages. Their chosen warriors ride them to battle, armed with Keshen lances, spears, scimitars or warhammers. They are as heavily armored as their Quilian counterparts. Although slower they are tougher and their boars tusks make for formidable weapons.

**Kaluken Knights-** The Kaluken form the backbone of every Keshen army. The martial noblity of the Otogaoi is among the best fighters in both steppes and all of Xyrillia. They are trained with the scimitar, the longglaive and the bow aswell as small shields. They fight on the backs of horses, Quilian or giant boars, yet they are also formidable fighters on foot. Kaluken wear a unqiue armor marking their status. It is made from wool, steel, leather and ironoak and exceeds most western armors in defense and flexability. They may either fight in units of themselfes or lead parts of the army as local commanders.

**Dragonpelts-** Only the most legendary warriors among the Keshen can arise to the rank of Dragonpelt. Dragonpelts are always a group of comrades that have trained and fought together for a long time. To arise to their rank, they must find and slay one of the remaining Xyrillian Dragons, which are still common in the Osho mountains. As a final ritual they bathe in the dragons blood and wear its thick pelt as armor. The majority of Dragonpelts are former Kaluken which set out on this quest to achieve status and fame. The few that emerge victorious are considered the best warriors in all of Xyrillia, even outmatching the legendary Xilian *Immortal Guardians*. No matter if on horse- (Quilian or boar-) back or on foot, they are able to best any other warrior the land of the twin suns brings fourth.

#### Artillery

Otogaoi do not use artillery as excessivly as their western neighbours. They rarely carry any with them but they are masters and engineering and building siege-engines were their cavalry is of no use.

**Battle Wagons-** Drawn by either horses or large boars, Battle Wagons consist of a wagon carrying a canon or ballista aswell as either archers or spearmen. They are far slower then the rest of their cavalry but they can stay on the move while firing at the enemy from large distances. Otogaoi only produce small canons. They often either buy or scavenge better artillery to mount on their wagons when they have the opportunity.

**Warwolfs**- Otogaoi are renowned for their skill in building trebuchets. While the rest of Xyrillia prefers canons, they still relay on large constructions of wood and steel to besiege their enemies. Warwolf, the largest of their trebuchets, can fire huge projectiles with more range then any canon ever build. It is able to destroy houses and heavy walls. Although its destructive capacities lack behind Greatcanons and other artillery, Warwolfs outrange them and can thus safely fire upon any settlement or wall. It takes a Otogaoi army between 1 and 5 months to build one.