The Karakosi are a largely disparate people, separated by generations of war and conflicts between themselves and other species. The Karakosi tribes split early in their history from their supposed homelands in the Tempest Wasteland; the Azwrakki tribes went east to the endless grasslands, while the remaining Khalikar people lingered in their sacred lands and slowly migrated west into Forenya.
The unified name for the Khalikar and Azwrakki did not come to be until the Khalikar slave trade was already long established. Before then they knew of a connection but never referred to the species as a whole. The Azwrakki resent any connection to the Khalikar, and in large part to the Avuushtai, however they pass the offspring test meaning that Azwrakki and Khalikar can cross breed and produce fertile young.
Azwrakki/Khalikar cross breeds tend to not be welcomed warmly in either cities, apart from some trade cities like Gwarthos, or outliers like Tal Kheeriin. That being said, few tribes of either will actually kill half breeds, and either send them to exile, or just be segregated from the group.
The Azwrakki have covered the continent of Gorgor, the volcanoes and plains of Orgo Uundu to the south, and the stormlands of Ekostos to the north. The life of an Azwrakki is an everlasting conflict between opposing forces, between warring clans on the plains of Gorgor; to the foundation of their very belief system in the differences between the north and south. The lands of the Azwrakki have constantly been ruled by countless smaller powers vying for control over as much territory as they can, and the power struggle is ever changing. They have unending motivation, deeply spiritual warriors, are deadly in single combat and unstoppable when united.
Azwrakki are aggressive and expansive.
The Azwrakki are skilled in the art of war. They are agile, strong and smart, surrounded by a culture and religion built upon the foundations of warfare and never ending struggle. Coupled with the fabled akheeri, the faithful steeds of the Azwrakki, they are a swift and unforgiving force.
For the Azwrakki the open plains are a gift from Ahsyn Khiraa, the fire and earth mother deity, and the akheeri, fragments of her soul. The two were meant to be together for roving tribes of Azwrakki to roam freely on their divine lands. And when conflicts arise and warfare cannot resolve their struggles, they go in search of new lands and take what they want.
The Khalikar are widespread across the wastelands of Mirasia in the east and Forenya Forest in the west. Long political turmoil and rough homelands have created a rift the Khalikar into two cultures, strongly divided from one another.
In the east lies the Tempest Wasteland, badlands tainted by an ancient Kokkori computer in the mountains. Warlords and emperors rise and fall and vie for control over the land, and the Kokkori relics which they worship.
While to the west is Forenya Forest. According to Bjorsine legend, the forest was created from a sprout of the sacred Bjorsine Undertree, and wars with the gods and the invading Ura to the North made living in the forest difficult. Over time, and fleeing from the Azwrakki threat to the far east, many Khalikar migrated westward, gradually occupying Forenya and surrounding glades and fertile land. They were discovered by the Bjorsine and many taken as slaves, starting a long lasting Khalikar slave trade for the Bjorsine that wouldn’t end until an alliance with humans formed centuries later.
Their sporadic history and lands have lead to a very disparate people, lacking many universal beliefs, traditions, and histories. Instead there exist smaller cults and societies separated by either the rough terrain of Forenya Forest or the roving bands in the wastelands.
However when the Khalikar excel in a field, they are some of the finest in the known world. They are well known for their arts, weapons, archery, tracking, diplomacy and trading among many others. And large Khalikar city states are noted for having the highest quality of living, in cities like Ethirfell, where the arts flourish, and Gwarthos, one of the trading capitals of the world.
The Khalikar are predominantly expansive and creative.
A bitter history has left the Khalikar fragmented and far spread across Crecia, from the forests of Forenya in the west to the Tempest Wasteland in the east, intermingling with their Azwrakki kin. Constant invasion from Azwrakki and domination from the Bjorsine left the Khalikar to claim what they could, often times what no one else wanted, or what no one else could take.
Khalikari architecture, artwork and textiles have become well known around the world. Fragments of the Khalikar style remain in Azwrakki clothing, and during the age of the Volduric Empire the Bjorsine recognized the value in Khalikar artwork.
Azwrakki hair is dominantly black, with white and brown recessive qualities. As they age their hair becomes greyer. Grey haired Azwrakki point towards elders, making them respectable, and usually have accompanying scars or markings to signify this. Unmarked elders are generally seen as being cowards who have avoided death. Many Azwrakki choose to die young and search for a final battle rather than grow old and wither away. Strong Azwrakki who have outlived all their battles can honorably dye their hair black to signify that they have kept and earned their youth, and it is typically dyed by their followers.
The Khalikar is the blanket term for several groups of people found along the outskirts of Forenya Forest and throughout the Tempest Wastelands. No discernible ethnic groups or biological differences between them remain after generations of interbreeding migrating throughout parts of the Bjorsine world due to the slave trade. They have kept names of their ancestors, such as the Altari, Valari, and Sikkhari, allowing them to live on from their history and repurposing them.
The Laveni diverged from the Khalikar when they were discovered by the Bjorsine millenia ago. Rather than fighting or fleeing westwards to their kin, the Laveni retreated deeper into Forenya Forest. The generations spent hidden in the woodlands transformed their minds and bodies, mutating them, melding them with nature.
They have transformed themselves into guardians of the forest, living off what it offers them for food, shelter and transportation.
The Laveni have labored relations with their kin, seen as savages, and part of the reason many fear the depths of the forest. The Laveni are however amiable with the Roin and Cervians, an Ura cult deep in the forest.
The Azwrakki can mainly be separated into two distinct cultural groups: The Ekosta in the north and the Uundu in the south.
The Uundu value two main traits: Strength (khugara - ‘unbreakable’) and Beauty (khartai - ‘love’). Although intelligence is not looked down upon among the Uundu, they glorify courage and intuition (zan - ‘instinct’) over all else (as in you should feel what is right more than think it) and don’t take kindly to skepticism and challenging the established order.
Khugara is the exhibition of dominance and infamy that runs through Uundu society. The strong rise to the top and control and lead the others into victory and a prosperous, well-earned afterlife. Female chiefs are rare but not unheard of in Gorgor as those with enough strength can dominate the competition and become a leader. Khugara not only includes individual strength, but also the strength as a follower. Those who can listen and take orders from others and complete them with competence and initiative are seen as strong, and help the khugara of the community, earning themselves a place in the afterlife.
Khartai is the beauty one holds. This is mostly the outward beauty shown to the world, and is valued in both men and women. The Azwrakki have a place in society for the most beautiful of them, promoting healthy offspring and in turn a strong community. Individuals with a strong khartai can rise to the top of Azwrakki society away from the fighting and violence and act as celebrities and a voice for others, without being seen as weak. The khartai is typically the only way for slaves to become successful as well, earning either fame and fortune and respected by other Azwrakki, or their freedom and the ability to leave the continent.
Upon death person is cremated and added to an urn with family ashes? In the ceremony of becoming an adult, they cut off their pinky (left for men, right for women) and cremate it and add it to the ashes. Adults have a sacred band they wear on their hands that cover the stump.
Azwrakki slaves are not uncommon, however it is mostly viewed as a lower tier of society that people can work themselves out of. Azwrakki engage in slave trade around Crecia, selling their own slaves for profit and buying more fitting slaves for cheap. Azwrakki slaves tend to be stronger and larger than other species, thus can be sold for a lot to slave traders.
The icon represents the deity, Khor Uzegda, the Thunderbird. Known as an evil, malicious god to the majority of Azwrakki, he has been chosen by the people to represent them as a reminder of their enemies.
The Azwrakki inhabit the islands of Gorgor and Ekostos. Gorgor is home mainly to the Ulaan and the Badmaarag. The smaller islands of Ekostos and the surrounding isles are home to most of the Avuushtai.
Gorgor is filled mostly with plains, and is fairly temperate; warm in the summer, and cold in the winter. While there are few major forests, it is fertile enough to act as a home for a wide variety of flora and fauna, most notably being the Akheeri, Azwrakki steeds. Akheeri are ridden throughout the land, and are an important part of Azwrakki culture.
Perhaps the most infamous feature of Gorgor is Galt Uulyn, the largest volcano in Crecia, visible on the horizon throughout most of the central continent. It is a major holy site to many Azwrakki, mostly to those who practice Delkhiism who often make pilgrimages to the mountain, where fighting is often forbidden.
To the north of the plains is Ekostos, the storm lands. Ekostos is an archipelago with many smaller island chains surrounding it, and as the name suggests, is often very stormy. That alone is reason enough for many on Gorgor to avoid it completely, however the Avuushtai revel in it. While the storms are very common throughout Ekostos, they have been known to reach past the Suulha Strait and into parts of Gorgor.
While the Avuushtai occupy mainly Ekostos, the Badmaarag live mostly in small towns and tribes in the northeast of Gorgor at the feet of Galt Uulyn, with the Ulaan occupying the rest of the island.
The de facto capital of the Azwrakki hordes, it acts as both a port city and a neutral meeting place for the different tribes to meet and communicate in times of need.
Both the beacon of industry on Gorgor and a bastion for the people of Akhiita in case of invading hordes. The city is in a strategic location to act as both a port city and is on the western side of the Kharakhui Forest, a natural barrier for the large hordes and a valuable source of fuel.
The Azwrakki city of mystics and sorcery. The city is constructed into the mountain range of Gadmaraal in a small cape, difficult to find if you don’t already know where it is. A historic city used as refuge for fleeing sorcerers after the eruption of the Fist of Fire, it is now an international hub for knowledge of the arcane.
The de facto capital of Ekostos