Kaban
Attributes: Increase Wisdom by 2, Constitution by 1
Speed: Kaban have a walking speed of 30
Size: Kaban are medium, ranging from 4-5 feet when reaching maturity. The oldest have been known to reach sizes up to 7.5 feet
Age: If kept in good condition, Kaban can live as old as 450. They mature at 15 but continue growing throughout their lives
Hold Breath: you can hold our breath for 1 hour.
Claws 1d4 + STR unarmed
Natural armor: AC 17, cannot wear armor. As an action, Kaban can retreat into their shell, gaining +4 AC but preventing reactions and actions (aside from a bonus action to leave your shell). While in this state, you have disadvantage on dexterity saves and advantage on strength and constitution saves.
Skill proficiency: survival proficiency
Languages: Kaban, Tara-Jhen, and human. All language choices are variable depending on backstory. View Languages here
A Broken Culture
long before the arrival of humans. Many modern cultural tales amongst the Kaban claim that their ancient society along the coasts of Trinen had existed in a near eutopic state, owing their allegiance to their protective elder god, Korahaman. It wasn't until the arrival of humanity that Kaban society was both recorded and reached the start of its tribulations.
The Kaban, under a hypnotic slumber induced by Korahaman, were slain by humanity's navy known as the Saltkrigere. When conflict eventually broke out with the great god incarnate, humanity would prevail by forcing the creature to fall upon the shore and die from its own weight. When Korahaman fell, the trance placed upon the Kaban ended, causing them to flee in a daze. Most would travel to the marshes of Mot D'nir. It was within the marshes that they would experience over 1500 years of servitude to the lizardfolk that had essentially had civilization itself due to their supremacist nature and divine recognition by the Quai.
It wasn't until the year 1792 NG that the Kaban managed to escape their shackles. At the dawn of a new era and the end of a worldwide economic and spiritual crisis known as The Silence, the Kaban would finally prosper by taking advantage of the tragedy. Due to Arniel Kane preventing the Tara-Jhen from reaping the benefits Quai, the Kaban could escape their slavers and flee to uninhabited lands. Small groups would meet up on the coasts of Kazbur, launching a new civilization in the village of Rakiman. In the year 1827 NG, Rakiman would be sold to the Augury following years of unstable politics amongst the locals. Fortunately, the presence of the new Augury embassy would allow greater resource accessibility to the newly forming disparate Kaban villages while also ensuring their prior oppressors wouldn't seek revenge.
As of the year 1947 NG, The Kaban have lived peacefully in association with the Augury. Unfortunately, the Kaban had much of their culture, history, and customs stripped from them during their enslavement. Many groups have tried to piece their culture back together with their oral traditions, but most have simply assimilated common Tara-Jhen traditions.
Kaban Traditions
The Kaban have a plethora of widespread traditions, though any given village is sure to have developed its own.
As for the most common traditions amongst the Kaban, the holiday known as Rabaziat is perhaps the most celebrated event. Even Kaban who live in distant cities will attempt to celebrate, though it's often difficult without other Kaban citizens. The entire day centers around the celebration of those who both fell and survived during the Kaban diaspora. Energy is particularly devoted to celebrating revolutionaries, such as Timinak, who played a major role in the Kaban Revolution in Goldwalk.
Another common tradition involves the raising of an Aza Kora: a sea turtle born from the eggs of Korahaman. Each village holds a batch of these ancient eggs which gives rise to a turtle that may live for hundreds of years. Should this "Aza Kora" die, the village will induce hatching conditions upon another egg. Typically, the entire village will take part in raising this turtle while treating it with great reverence. In the old days of Kaban culture, their gods incarnate (such as Korahaman or Kadelkonatl) would serve both spiritual and organization roles, but the Aza Kora currently fulfill the people's spiritual needs. Further, the creatures are a reminder of the Kaban's original culture, representing a golden age that the Kaban work to reach once more.
Another example is "Otari Tatara," which is meant to remind the Kaban of the tribulations they have overcome. Ceremonially, the Kaban will break the shells of younglings, filling the cracks with healing gold gel from the Lucent Ocean, south of Kazbur. The golden cracks are worn as a badge of honor, as their Tara-Jhen slavers used to crack Kaban shells to help gear and accessories adhere better to their slaves.
Major Deities
There are two major Kaban deities: a shocking few, given their longstanding existence in Laminarum. The reason for such a small list is the Kaban devotion to gods incarnate. That is, the Kaban typically only worship entities that truly walk the lands they inhabit.
The first god is Korahaman, a large tortoise that inhabited the shallow waters of modern day Shellbay. The Kaban were largely subservient to Korahaman, who would put them in a trance once a year to consolidate the memories of the entire civilization. With the memories of the entire civilization collected, Korahaman guided his people on how to survive the following year. Many would consider this a form of prophecy, though its reliance on lived experience explains how Korahaman fell to humanity: they were a factor that couldn't possibly be accounted for.
While Korahaman fell, the Kaban would eventually turn to a mysterious entity known as Kadelkonatl. While the Kaban were enslaved by the Tara-Jhen with little hope of escape, a voice from the depths of the marshy waters sang songs of change. The song came from the eldritch entity known as Kadelkonatl. While his origin is still unknown to the masses, many suspect he is an extraplanar entity. The beast would fight for the independence of the Kaban during The War of Eyiliv, although he surely desired their ranks for his own goals as well. Ultimately, Kadelkonatl would fall after a battle with the dragon Vestergil and the Kaban would return to servitude. As of the year 1947 NG, many Kaban await Kadelkonatl's return, as he never truly died when sinking to the depths of the Deep-Sea-Dwells.
One exception to the god incarnate rule is the "Iowata." while the god it represents is unknown, many of these two-faced idols were found around a plethora of sites in Kazbur, including the first independent village of Rakiman. A select few Kaban claimed that these idols spoke to them upon discovery and gained dozens of followers. Serving as prophets, most of these Kaban have moved to the ancient city of Tazban to help the Augury uncover ancient secrets while also hoping of discovering the next god incarnate. While the number of supporters of this "Iowata" movement continues to increase, the majority of society views these Kaban as extremists or madmen; however, a new god incarnate could finally return the Kaban to the golden age they've been chasing for generations.
Physiology, Life Cycle, and Quai Compatibility
The Kaban have a hardy build, donning thick scales and a bony shell, while years of survival in the marshes of Mot D'nir have even provided some with resilience in the face of disease or poison. Kaban, while reaching maturity at the age of 15, never stop growing throughout their lives (though the rate is considerably slow). Males and females have few secondary sex characteristics to distinguish themselves, but the females are often slightly shorter with lower voices.
Kaban females can lay eggs at any age past 15, and it takes 5 months for the offspring to hatch after fertilization. In the first two years of a Kaban child's life, they go through rapid growth, going from the size of a small sports ball to three feet. Growth continues at a relatively quick rate until 15 when it slows to a continuous pace for the rest of the individual's life. Given the slow, simple lifestyle of the Kaban, it can often be difficult to notice the difference between a young and old individual. Most changes are seen through coloring, as the Kaban typically get lighter skin as they age.
A unique trait of the Kaban is their Quai compatibility. In the past, the Kaban have been one of the mysterious entity's chosen people, though it was short-lived compared to the Tara-Jhen. How or why they were able to access the power of the Quai is unknown, but they are one of only four species to have their compatibility confirmed.
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