Kokam

The Kokam are the descendants of miners who went a little too deep, entering into the area known as Ziiluna or the Expanse, and losing their path back as well as their senses being scrambled due to them being so deep within Damis. They managed to survive, though their future generations would now bear the mark of their ancestors past mistakes. Through magic and time the once Kokan gnomes were transformed into beings of metal and crystal eventually developing similar customs to their Kokan cousins but ultimately different, they would now permanently reside within Ziiluna with few leaving its protective walls.

## Physical Information

### Eye Colors

Grey, white, silver, gold, and various gem colors

### Distinctions

Sharper features as if cut from stone, spiked stone hair

### Stone Cities

Within the perceived safety of Ziiluna, the Kokam have taken up residence over the hundreds of years they have remained within it with few willing to leave once again and venturing to the surface. There are 3 main cities of the Kokam, all relatively close together, crafted from stone, metal, and gems to reflect the people that live within. These cities are known as the Kokam Strongholds with their names being: Kaius, Murus, and Fuirus. Fuirus is the largest of the three cities holding the Kokam monarch, Umber, who rules over the three cities civil population and military. In each of the cities is a large tower known as the Hell Rise 1-3 which rise from the base in the middle of the city all the way to the surface (each Hell Rise is roughly 200 miles tall) through which above ground travellers and merchants may venture into the cities and Kokam within the cities may leave from if given permission by a figure of high enough authority.

### Our Mother, Midiri

The Kokam believe that their being trapped within the underdark was no mistake or accident on the side of the mortals, but rather they were meant to reside within Ziiluna all along and the goddess Midiri herself caused the incident so that her children of stone could assume their rightful form and place. As such many Kokam see leaving Ziiluna as a disgrace to their creator, with those who do leave often being treated as outcast if they do return to the city with those around them refuse to speak to them, sell them items, or give them jobs; effectively if one leaves Ziiluna, they have left for good. What few Kokam gods there are, are often overshadowed by the great Mother Earth who the Kokam will devote their entire life serving in the temples and shrines for, it is seen as a stab in the back to the entirety of the Gnomish race for a Kokam to not worship Midiri even if in some small way.

### Kokam Traditions

**Days End:** as the sun gets close to setting from the top of the Hell Rise towers the bell is rung by the guards who stand atop it, with there being guards every 50 floors and a bell this travels down the tower with each bell every 50 floors being rung eventually reaching the lower floors by the time the sun has officially set alerting the cities of a days passing.

**Summerfall:** the final day of summer transitioning into fall, while there is little different noticeable in the depths of Ziiluna, the Kokam still celebrate the passing of summer into fall with a festival containing various baked goods, games, and prayer to Midiri

**Winterrise:** the first day of winter where the Kokam pray to Midiri on behalf of their forest brethren, the Kokan, once the sun has set there is a moment of silence and prayer that takes over the Kokam cities.

**Springrise:** the first day of spring where the Kokam beginning planning for incoming trade from the Kokan and other surface dwellers.

### Kokam Deities

**Doggart Hammerfell** - Demi-god of mining, stone working, smithing, and crafting.

**Murbel Mumpley** - sister goddess of Griffa Mumpley, lesser patron of time, life, and persuasion.