Ozwok
Veiled by the smoke of this strange temple, Weis approached what appeared to be a minotaur contorted on the ground. The gnome wrung his hands on his pike nervously as the creature hissed and screeched in strange agony. One particular screech rang too close and Weis timorously stabbed at the figure in the smoke. The creature screamed and cleared the veil with its mighty wings revealing its prostrate avian form. “Hey! Could you at least wait until I’m out of this pose?” The vulturine woman slowly reclined back and rose to tower over the timid outsider. She sauntered to a rack on the wall brandishing a dusty glaive and spoke in an undaunted timbre: “I will give you a few minutes to change your britches.”Simply known as "Cannibals" to most outsiders, Ozwok are a strange vulture-like race that dominate the eastern side of the Sea of Dunes. Isolated by this desert feature, ozwok no longer trade with outside caravans due to previous incidents of killing and consuming traders. These incidents proved more detrimental to the ozwok people as these caravans bolstered their population and reputation. After the fall of the Elven Empire and the rise of the gnomes, ozwok are primarily known as progeny of the far ancient 'birdfolk' that have become crazed in their arid hellhole of a society. Recent desolation of their homeland has created an ozwok refugee crisis across Oren.
-- Weis the Wyld, Diaries of a Deadman
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ozwok are vulturine, bipedal humanoids that have adapted themselves to the desert environment they call home. While avian in descent, their height and size suggest minotaur-like qualities. Their bodies are covered in short down and feathers that extend to their elbows and knees. Gloved with a similar leathery skin as their face, ozwok sport taloned hands and ansiodactyl feet. Flightless, the wingspan on an ozwok equals one and a third times their height.
Their vulture-like head angles into a beak with a short bill, sharp incisor teeth, and accented with two ebony horns behind their bullish ears. Their sharp eyes and keen nares retain a fantastic sense of sight and smell mirrored by their animal counterparts. Ozwok tails vary widely: featuring a long feathered tail, hind feathers, or absence of a tail or hind plumage whatsoever. Ozwok are sexually dimorphic and feature secondary sexual characteristics associated with other humanoids.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Ozwok society is inclusive and does not formally track family names. Ozwok have a rather strict naming convention inside of their insular communities. Due to an ancient prophecy of the remergence of their greatness, ozwok adopt the suffix "-ine" to the end of their names as that is dictated in the prophecy. As it is strict and rather unorthodox, most only use the first few syllables of their name. Ozwok expatriates often adopt topographic surnames while living in communities outside of their native territories.
Courtship Ideals
Ozwok courtship is a puzzling concept. Naturally, individuals inside the community will gravitate to each other and begin some form of a monogamous relationship. Unfortunately, ozwok society is normally isolated and must bolster its numbers through forced mating rituals. During one of the four primary festivals, the Festival of Sweat, a ritualized form of orgy occurs where multiple individuals pair off to mate. One of the most contentious ceremonies of ozwok society, failure to participate remains the primary reason outside of treason that an individual is banished to the Scorch.
Average Technological Level
While familiar with metallurgy and leather-working, ozwok prefer to use bone and sandstone to furnish their societies due to its sheer abundance. Unlike most other societies in Cabochon, ozwok are premier glassblowers and saw it as their primary export in their past. The quality of badlands sand paired with an innate craftsmanship passed from their ancient ancestors drives enterprising caravaneers to continue trade with the ozwok regardless of their 'cannibal' name.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Ozwok speak a modern form of the ancient Ari language known as "Vultari." Outsiders simply know their spoken language as Ozwok. As trade in the ozwok culture still exists in recent memory, most ozwok can also speak Common. The prevalence of Ari ruins outside of ozwok territory paired with the otherwise undecipherable glyphs makes literate ozwok highly sought by scholars and archeologists alike.
Common Etiquette Rules
Bone is a major faculty of ozwok society and is crafted into totems to venerate their fallen members. Presentation of these articles to an outsider is seen as an act of deep respect and should not be taken lightly.
Common Dress Code
Ozwok dress primarily in loose shaws and surcoats accented with bones and glass jewels. Light and medium armors produced from leather and chain are not uncommon, though most warriors wear loose cloth to alleviate the hot temperatures. Despite their height and otherwise bullish physique, ozwok bones have a lower bone density causing heavy armors not manufactured from light materials to be painful if not fracturing.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
To the Ozwok, bones hold a sacred purpose. They reinforce the body, they are resilient (like the ozwok), responsible for maintenance and survive the body for their descendants. Creation of bone totems is a highly spiritual and sacred act. These totems must be crafted from the bones of loved ones or close companions. Presentation of a bone totem to an outsider is an act of deference and high honor. It is akin to them making them a member not just of their tribe but of their family. Many ozwok carry multiple totems at once crafted in a multitude of ways. As a substance outside of their heritage, bone is often used as building material, seasoning, or as a component in ozwok spells.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Ozwok have a close, communal society with no recognized form of currency. Religion is a mainstay in ozwok culture where it is more of a community activity than an act of true reverence. Mostly illiterate, ozwok swap stories of histories and epics during monthly ceremonies and seasonal festivals.
Common Taboos
Ozwok consider each of their members family and with family comes internal drama. Attempting to buy items instead of taking is considered strange, but refusing to part with an item that is asked for is considered disrespectful as it would for any sibling in need.
Common Myths and Legends
Ozwok carry an oral tradition that is resplendent with epic heroes and mighty adventures. One known example is Ninurta, a mighty Vultari warrior that is considered to be the grandfather of the Ozwok.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Most travelers tend to avoid Ozwok territory due to stories of their cannibalism. Those that do know them rarely visit due to the vast desert that isolates them. Exiled Ozwok garner mixed reactions… some deeply feared while others are condoned or even enjoyed in close company.
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Comments
Author's Notes
The following is an ozwok exclusive feat:
The Beast Within
Ozwok
You have tapped into the blood magic that created your race. You gain the following benefits:
-Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
-You can choose to negate both Ozwok racial traits Wing Exaptation and Hollow Bones. You will still retain your wings but they do not limit fall damage.
-You can perfectly recall any path you have traveled
-When you use your action to Dash, you can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack or to shove a creature.
If you move at least 10 feet in a straight line immediately before taking this bonus action, you either gain a +3 bonus to the attack's damage roll (if you chose to make a melee attack and hit) or push the target up to 10 feet away from you (if you chose to shove and you succeed).