Kus-Thol (Kuh's-Thoh'l)

The history of the Kus-Thol is less than cheerful. For as long as they recall, the Kus-Thol have built their society deep below what even the Drinn-Thol consider too far down. Despite the rarity of the Kus-Thol, and the implication of their ‘dark ways’, the Deep Dwarves are actually an incredibly proud people. Any insult will be taken to heart by a Kus-Thol, no matter how small. The more grievous the insult, the worse the retaliation will surely be. Living so far down in the Shadow Roads, the dark recesses have actually helped hone Kus-Thols eyes, giving them keen perception of flaws and imperfections. This is especially helpful for the jewels and trinkets which they craft so well.

Dress

Kus-Thol tend to be seen (when seen) in a mixture of heavy dark tones and rugged leather pieces. They are often adorned with numerous pouches, satchels, and sacks in which to carry a multitude of things. It is not uncommon for a Kus-Thol to have brightly colored hair, with beads, gems, or even small trinkets woven through their beards. Some Kus-Thol have evolved to have greyer shades of skin from their time so deep and amid so much stone dust.

Demeanor

The Kus-Thol are a proud, stoic people, valuing their sense of dignity and honor above almost anything. Any level of insult to a Kus-Thol should be second guessed, even if unintended. Being a secluded people, they can more often than not seem a bit grabby and invasive into personal space; a fault of their still natural curiosity. Their insight into a situation can be taken by some as a bit even rude, even though this brash honesty is considered normal amongst the Kus-Thol.

Families and Nobility

When it comes to Kus-Thol society, there is but one Caste system. This is not to say families don’t exist- they certainly do, and they care for eachother. But what matters most to many Kus-Thol is your position within the Caste. One can climb the ladder, so to speak, by amassing wealth and improving the station of your life- though this is difficult to do and comes with many rules and stipulations. The Dregs are the lowest, and are barely not slaves. Next is Merchants and Artisans. Then the Clergy- then Military- then Aristocracy- and finally, The Ruler at the top above all. Military and higher are considered Nobility among the Kus-Thol.
At the top of Kus-Thol society is one great leader who is respected with almost god-like status. He is considered to be just a step down from Kilrom. There are very very few living Kus who recall the current leader coming to power over his father.

Kus-Thol Notable Locations

The Kus-Thol live almost entirely in the Shadow Roads that run under the continents of Alterra. Notable aboveground entrances can be found in the following locations:

• The Forlorn Mire: Vizak Caves

• The Frozen Shelf: Yetimaw Mines

• Heavensbridge Spire: Deeprift Chasm

• Isle del Tuuja: Venomreach Caverns

• Scalerest: Drakefang Grotto

• More settlements and minor cities in the Shadow Roads

• Kus-Darrow (Main Kus-Thol Capital City).

Playing a Kus-Thol

• All Thol have a costuming requirement they may choose between:
  • For Males: Dwarven/Gnomish ear prosthetics or a beard (real or fake) of at least 10 inches.
  • For Females: Dwarven/Gnomish ear prosthetics or at least half their face adorned with designs appropriate to their type of Thol.
  • Note: Players may choose to wear both of their cosmetic options, but are only required to wear one to portray the race.

• Kus-Thol are expected to follow the costuming outlines in this document, but can vary for character appropriate reasons.
  • Additionally, Kus-Thol may opt to have their skin be any shade of grey, in any amount; be it just the nose and cheeks, or forehead and forearms, or anything desired- even up to fully grey on all exposed skin.

• To a Kus-Thol, any official military personel are considered Nobility and should be treated as such. This obviously extends to the Aristocracy as well. Any mention or talk of The Ruler should be done with the utmost reverence, almost akin to a minor deity. Any talk a Kus-Thol hears besmirching or otherwise impuning upon The Ruler should be met with fierce backlash, if not the threat of violence.

• A player character may never be Nobility, and therefore may never be from the Military or Artistocracy Caste. This is not to say a Kus-Thol player cannot be militant, or train with a weapon- just that they would not be part of the formal Kus-Thol military.

• Kus-Thol naming convention follows suit with general Thol naming: Birth name followed by family Surname. As with the other types of Thol, a Kus-Thol can replace their family Surname with a new one upon earning renown or recognition related to it.
• Some Kus-Thol choose to drop their family Surname altogether, using just their Birth name for life or until they accomplish something worthy of a Surname of their own.

• Kus-Thol names themselves are just like any other Thol: Birth names usually start with consonants, and have harsh or imposing sounds to them. Surnames are often compound words or terms. Some example names would be:
  • Honmar Hammershaft, Regulus Anvilmar, Ioxol Grimflask, Saorise Deephollow, Umber Motley, Folga Emberkiln

• Kus-Thol are a strange mix of stoic and curious. They take insults, even slight ones- sometimes even ones made in jest- seriously. They may grab someones weapon or lean in very close to inspect a particular trinket or garment for craftsmanship. Kus-Thol are not known for surag coating things, or even for tact in some situations overall. Most will say what they are thinking regardless of the feelings of those who hear it. This is not to say Kus-Thol are uncaring, unfeeling monsters- just that they value straightforward honesty more than flowery words. Kus-Thol are proud; of themselves, their heritage, and their accomplishments.

• As Kus-Thol generally live in the Shadow Roads, they are no strangers to darkness and hardship. They are particularly keen when it comes to spotting imperfections- which is why they make such renown gem cutters. They are relentless as well, able to shrug off many things that may keep another person down for some time. Even Kus-Thol born or living mostly in the Overworld likely retains traces of this from their heritage alone.

• While not quite as disliked or distrusted as the Zinvel or Goblinoids, many still regard Kus-Thol with a level of suspicion or at least hesitation. Given their often overly blunt attitude and general lack of respect for personal space, many Alterrans will offer a range of reactions to these deep folk; from a quirked brow to a vicious side eye.

• Kus-Thol society is both highly straightforward and deeply subversive. On the one hand, the rigid caste structure has people knowing exactly where they stand in regards to others, along with their penchant for brutal straightforwardness. On the other hand, for most Kus-Thol, life is a never-ending chess game of trying to climb the caste ladder without breaking any of its unwritten rules or outting oneself. Maintaining honesty and integrity is paramount for most Kus-Thol... but who doesn't want a better life for themselves and their family?

• All Thol mature around age 25, and live to be between 230-250 years of age.

Playable Race

Lifespan: 230-250 years

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Unique Characteristic

Relentless

Duration of Slowed, Rooted, Dazed, and Paralyzed suffered reduced by 50% rounded up.

(2 Characteristic Points)