The Qut (Coot)

Amit fought back a yowl as he scratched again at the golden manacle that adorned his wrist. The thing flashed prettily in the sun, but the telltale etchings of glyphings wound their way around the band, identifying its use and purpose. These Korinthians were all so untrusting, seeing fit to place such an uncomfortable object on his wrist at the Great Southern Wall and for what? Just because he was a Southerner did not mean that he was a spy or deceitful creature. He stopped scratching to admire the band as it glinted in the sunlight. He had to admit, at the very least, that the object was a pretty thing, adorned with stones of varying worth and size as it was. He sighed and hefted his heavy-laden pack of supplies and scavenged products for trading/selling, glancing up from his wrist at the Jade Road winding its way ever onwards towards the city of Midas.
He listened to the sounds around him, glancing at a pair of gray-skinned Orcs from Kursh, who seemed to be having an argument in the guttural and rugged tongue. To his left, a trio of Silians spoke in their musical lilting native tongue that Amit had come to adore. He bowed his head, maintaining the lowest profile that he could, and followed the caravan up to the city gate. A pair of hefty centurions stood at the gate, checking each merchant and traveler as they approached. The Silians went through first and were only inspected minimally. The Orcs followed and received a closer inspection, their weapons and armor take note of and probing questions as to their intentions where asked. Amit approached next and was stopped abruptly when both centurions lowered their spears to cross his path.
One stepped forward and raised a forestalling hand. "Stop right there, Qut. Hand over your pack and satchels for inspection."
Amit complied and watched in horror as the centurions roughly dumped his pack's contents onto the ground. "Come now, friends. There's hardly a need for that." Amit purred.
The centurion turned and glanced at him before responding. "Stay out of this, long-ear. You're lucky they even let you past the border."
Amit felt his temper rising, but repressed it with a simple grunt. Typical Korinthian mentality, guilty by association. He was no Ahin. He didn't even consider the AhinRaj to be his home. It was merely the place he was born and had been the location that had supplied him with the most financial success. Amit and his people had no home. Qutarnan had found ruin a long time ago. That knowledge would always remain for him and his people to bear.
The centurions found nothing illegal and stepped away from the pack nodding towards Amit who promptly began to repack his belongings. "Don't cause trouble in the city," grunted the first centurion before stepping aside to allow Amit to enter.
Amit nodded once and stepped through the southern gate of Midas, catching his breath as he took in the majesty of the City of Gold. Merchants lined the streets, selling all manner of tasty morsel and beautiful jewel. He stopped at one vendor to stare longingly at a beautiful Khopesh, forged from Lumina-bathed steel and covered in glyphings of power. He shook himself from his reverie and continued onwards, passing under huge aqueducts and statues dedicated to the Reborn Gods. He couldn't allow himself to be caught up in the grandiose architecture though. Midas was merely a resting point. Amit's ultimate goal was Icarus. There, he would learn the WayFinder's art and make a living mining the Kingdom of Thakuria for forgotten treasure and desirable collectibles.
He could already feel his wanderlust setting in. He was well on his way to greatness.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The Qut have no special social structure as they have no established kingdom or government. It is rumored, however, the Qut seek a new king, promised in prophecy. It is said that one will rise, bearing the flame of youth, and ignite the dying spark of this dying kingdom. Until this day comes, no two tribes will work together and every Qut is in it for themselves. Only the family unit truly remains tightly knit among these castaways and scavengers.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Qut have a particularly great sense of hearing, due to their large ears and natural alertness and can see in the dark too. For this purpose many caravans hire them as scouts and scavengers. Additionally, this makes them into ideal hunters and trackers or WayFinderrs if they have the penchant for danger.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The Qut have no last names. Instead, they use the time of day in which the kit was born as a last name. An example of this might be: Amit of the Morning or Rala of the Dusk. It has also been documented that weather conditions or particular events have and can be used for Qut surnames.

Major Organizations

The Seekers: An organization dedicated to finding and restoring the rightful king to the Qut.

The Black Pads: A feared organization of assassins and killers, sworn to protect one another and to sustain their fellow Qut brethren in any way they can.

The Rakshasa: A mystical organization of Qut shapeshifters who have undergone old rituals that have transformed and changed them. This organization defends the border of Qutarnan, preventing anyone from entering and wasting their lives in the hopeless pursuit of understanding.

History

Qutarnan, once a kingdom of stoic beauty and lush landscapes, fell to a plague. Those Qut who managed to escape the devastation found refuge among the beggars and scavengers of other kingdoms, integrating themselves as best they could. When Qutarnan fell, the life sucked clean out of its soil and the souls who once preserved and tilled it, many Qut died, ignorant and unaware of what truly brought their downfall. Still, to this day, many scholars and researchers don't truly understand what happened to the once vibrant land of the Qut, but attempts to penetrate the now twisted land are met with unmitigated disaster.
Now, the Qut wait silently for prophecy to be fulfilled and for the rightful king to rise once more. Plenty of pretenders have tried in recent years, but have all died attempting the trial to ascend. It is uncertain if any rightful heir will arise and reclaim Qutarnan, cleansing it in the process. Many hope that the day is coming as the weight of the worlds disdain continues to grow harder and more difficult to bear each year.

Origin/Ancestry

Persian

Lifespan

80 years

Conservation Status

The Qut have no home as their kingdom of Qutarnan fell into apocalyptic ruin long ago. It is for this purpose that the Qut wander, finding solace in solitude and serving as wandering merchants/traders throughout the realm. It is believed by many that the Qut offer nothing besides scavenged goods because of this wanderlust.

Average Height

5ft - 6ft

Average Weight

180 lbs

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Qut fur colors can range from creamy brown to midnight black. The Qut claim that this is because their kind have always needed to adapt and so different tribes have different fur due to location and need.