The Predator Clans
Of all Embereki, the Predator Clans embody the brutality of nature and venerate the hunt. They primarily focus worship on Vadaszat. The Predator Clans are stereotyped as aggressive, cruel, and occasionally extremely cunning hunters. Some of the Predator Clans engage in ritual cannibalism. All Predator tribes are primarily carnivorous, only supplementing with plants as needed.
The Tyrant Skull Tribe
Tyrant Skulls venerate the Tyrannosaurus, or Regisaur, as their Beast Patron. They practice cannibalism of their enemies with the exception of other Embereki and have been known to allow captives to try to escape in order to facilitate a ritual hunt. They believe that Regisaurs were given to them as a gift by Vadaszat himself as thanks for some long-forgotten favor. The Tyrant Skull wear the skulls of juvenile Regisaurs as helmets and a signifier of status, as well as making jewelry out of the teeth.
The Night Claw Tribe
The Night Claws keep black panthers as Beast Patrons. They raise the cats from cubs to use as hunting companions, and turn the pelts of dead ones into elaborate cloaks that get passed down through the tribe. Some offshoots of the tribe have so many old cloaks that they are able to trade panther skins with outsiders.
The Speed Demon Tribe
Speed Demons worship velociraptors as incarnations of Vadaszat's will. Similarly to the Tyrant Skull, they believe the beasts are gifts from their god for them specifically. The Speed Demon practice more pack-based hunting than other Embereki and almost always bond with a dinosaur companion.
The Treetop Clans
Treetop Embereki tribes, despite the name, do not always live arboreally. The name comes from the Tree-Strider tribe that called together this faction in the first place. The Treetop are the largest neutral faction of Embereki and are made up of some of the strongest tribes. The Treetop believe strongly in balance between not only Lelia and Vadaszat, but in all things. Tribes that make up the faction might lean more towards Predator or Green Pact, but always act in line with Treetop beliefs.
The Tree Strider Tribe
Tree Striders keep apes as their Beast Patrons. Unlike other clans, the Tree Striders keep multiple varieties of apes rather than one species, ranging from little bonobos to massive dire apes like gigantopithecus. Tree Striders, as the name implies, like to stay in the treetops as much as possible, typically only coming down to trade. Tree Striders are more likely than other tribes to establish semi-permanent villages.
The Feathered Fiend Tribe
Feathered Fiends keep the archaeopteryx as companion beasts. They practice a form of ambush stealth hunting in which they cling to high positions on trees with modified claw-knives and drop down on large prey from above. They do not hunt often, but when they do they always go after the largest animals that can feed the tribe for as long as possible. The Feathered Fiends believe that this minimalist killing is essential to maintaining the balance of the jungle.
The Vibrant Death Tribe
The Vibrant Death Embereki cultivate colorful tree frogs from which they extract a deadly toxin. Posion-tipped darts and arrows make fighting easy for the tribe, who have mastered many other types of poisons and have a habit of leaving deadly contact poisons on dying trees on the edge of their territory. Vibrant Death believe that all beauty comes at a cost, and that even the most unpleasant things have a use. Many keep multiple of the death frogs as cute pets.
The Green Pact Clans
The tribes of the Green Pact practice vegetarianism and the worship of Lelia. Some tribes within do kill for food, but only from animals that have the most resources to give aside from just sustenance, and others allow for eating things that are already dead. The primary tie of the Green Pact are the belief in not pacifism, but never starting a fight themselves. The Green Pact are more likely than other factions to welcome guests from outside Embereki tribes.
The Wood Shepherd Tribe
The Wood Shepherds travel with one or more treants and awakened trees. Some are convinced to be transport, others grow nutritious berries and moss on their bark, and others simply exist as full members of the tribe. The ties between Wood Shepherds and the trees of the jungle are strong, and though they belong to the Green Pact, they are not quick to forgive anyone who disturbs the trees. They supposedly pioneered the technique of leaving prisoners to be killed by fast-moving bamboo as a living, gruesome warning to outsiders.
The River Lurker Tribe
River Lurkers keep crocodiles as their Beast Patron. They are unlikely to produce many true bonds, but many River Lurkers do keep the beasts as pets and friends. This tribe is known for it's mastery of the rivers they live on, carrying around wherever they go extremely stable canoes and rafts. They take meat from the crocodiles they live with, and turn the skins into leather, but only when the creatures are already dying. The River Lurkers believe fully in eating carrion when it is available as a gift from the gods.
The White Fang Tribe
White Fang Embereki live with packs of jungle wolves, big beasts with small packs. They emulate the social structure of the pack. White Fangs accept gifts of meat from their wolf friends when offered, but otherwise prefer to stick to fruits when available and other greenery when not. White Fang Embereki are nearly total pacifists, believing that no matter what happens their wolves will protect them from harm.
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