Kothans

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Kothans are a sub-race of Orcs living in the vast Jungles of Koth on the continent of Occidore, a part of the southern continent of Aedron.

## Ecology

Kothans tend to have a taller and slimmer build than their cousins to the north and east, ranging from 5'4"-6'6". Kothan males tend to be slightly taller than females.

Kothans have green skin, much like their ancestors, having only widened in range from ancient times. Their skin color varies from light to dark, allowing for any hue of green.

Kothans tend to have shorter pointed ears, roughly similar to half elves in size.

Kothan eye color tends to run the typical color range for humans, but typically favoring darker shades.

Kothan hair colors tend to be blacks to browns to reds, and their hair tends to be somewhat coarse, making it resistant to the moisture of the jungle.

Kothan eyes are well adapted to nocturnal hunting within the deepest canopied jungles, and allow for them to see very well in the dark. This also gives their eyes a reflective quality when exposed to light at night, Due to the color of the membrane in their eyes, this color tends to reflect a dull red, giving them a somewhat intimidating look in the dark.

Kothans tend to live around the same length as humans, roughly sixty to seventy years on average.

## History

In ancient times, the Orcs and Dwarves fought a terrible war for the fate and control of the cavernous realms of Dis. During that cataclysmic war, one of the major battles lead to a vast explosion which cracked and collapsed an enormous cavern, exposing it, and its inhabitants for the first time, to sunlight. This event was critical for the Kothans, as seeing the cascading golden rays was an event of spiritual significance. The survivors of that battle made the decision to abandon the war, and seek out that realm of gold far above, and so went about searching the tunnels leading to the surface world.

Those Orcs who arrived on the surface did so in the dense jungles of Koth, and began constructing a new home there among the savage wilderness.

## Society

Kothans revere the god Ammun first and foremost among all the gods, as he is the bringer of light and to them, the power of the sun is unrivaled in both beauty and power. Their society is based around a theological view of the world, with their faith in the Lord of Day being absolute.

Kothans tend to be egalitarian in matters, only caring about how much of oneself is devoted to Ammun and his glory.

Kothans dress and architecture is heavily influenced by their jungle home. They typically wear furs and bones as adornments, having little access to more modern textiles. Their homes and temples are constructed from hewn stone and block construction, favoring pyramidal forms. Their greatest temples are many levels tall, and made of highly decorated and carved stone depicting their history and the glory of the sun god.

Kothans strongly believe that only their faith in the sun keeps it rising day after day. They believe that the only way for the new sun to rise is for a sacrifice of blood to take part the previous sunset. Each night in the capital of the Kothans, atop the Pyramid of the Sun, a single person's life is snuffed out in a ritual sacrifice to appease and honor Ammun. Those who die in this way are honored dead, and are made up of elders who no longer have the will to live on, the terminally ill, and in some cases, captives from war.

Kothans feel no pity for those they defeat in combat, believing they have the right to control those whom they are able to best in war.

Kothans respect strength, and do not tend to hold grudges when bested in combat, often wishing to learn from those who defeat them. This has lead to strange alliances from time to time, and an odd mentality of trade and cultural exchange with other races.

## Territory

Kothans are spread across the whole of the Jungles of Koth, and make a dozen cities their home. Some have spread beyond the borders of their green realm, and set up communities further across Occidore.

## Cities

The following is a few notable examples of Kothan cities, and by no means a complete list.

Ammunacatyl - The City of the Sun god, the capital and greatest of the Kothan cities, situated near the center of the Jungle.

Tlanexpan - A prominent city on the eastern side of the Jungles, and often the only Kothan city open for direct trade with outsiders.

## Governance

Kothan society is somewhat disunited, with each major city in the jungle free to lead itself, and only offering token loyalty to their capital city.

Leadership positions are nearly entirely held by the clergy within the greater church of Ammun. Each city having its own spiritual leader, or Bishop, owing token fealty to their Arch-Bishop who rules from the Pyramid of the Sun back in Ammunacatyl.

## Cousins

Terquans - Very few Kothans have ever made the journey north to see the lands of their cousins, and those that do report that they are a lost race with no true faith to speak of, and are treated with pity at best. They see them as lost to the truth of the Sun, too busy toiling away at trinkets and 'art' to understand what is actually important in the world.

Oni - Kothans rarely see Oni, owing to the vast distance between their realms, but those that have crossed paths find the Oni to be otherworldly and strange, like they were a dream made flesh. Kothans do not trust Oni, and see them as a strange offshoot who are somehow corrupted.