Nula Ka

Nula Ka are a race of Mah'jii that tend to settle in swamps or along freshwater rivers throughout central and southern Oren. They're generally viewed as a friendly folk that are eager to barter and are often seen travelling to and from human settlements to peddle their wares. It's not uncommon to see a small group of Mah'jii set up at a stall in the market of a human settlement.

Appearance

Anatomy

At a glance, Nula Ka appear as large, bipedal toads that come in a variety of muted, earthy colors with dark spots, blotches, and stripes. Their skin is thick and bumpy and often glistens with moisture as all Mah'jii must remain hydrated to survive. Their eyes are either a shade of green or brown with a horizontal, oval pupil. The average Nula Ka adult gets to around five feet in height, although they will continue to slowly grow throughout the entirety of their sixty-or-so year lifespan. Besides differences in color and the texture of their skin, Nula Ka are also notably more bulky than their Ran'aloa cousins.

Clothing

Nula Ka regularly fashion their clothing out of the hides of animals and decorate it with strands of leaves, tufts of hair, and other animal parts. It's also common to see traditional Nula Ka attire augmented by the clothing and accessories of other cultures, likely obtained in some kind of trade. As a society, Nula Ka put little emphasis on fine clothing, but rather use these kinds of decorations to stand out for purposes of mating.

Armor

As added protection, Nula Ka combatants wear armor crafted from bone, scales, and other animal parts for added protection. Similar to their civilian attire, it's possible to see a Nula Ka using a metal pauldron or shield they acquired in trade with a neighboring civilization.

Culture

Family Ideals

Nula Ka do not have a traditional family structure as couples will mate for a single season before moving on. In a given season, a female may produce several thousand eggs, although most of these do not hatch. Of the eggs that do hatch, many newborn Nula Ka die at a young age due to illness or genetic defects. To this end, egg-bearing females generally band together and cooperate to see as many offspring as possible reach adulthood. Meanwhile, the rest of the tribe ensures that the egg-bearing females are protected and taken care of. Like all Mah'jii, Nula Ka are cannibals and will eat the unhatched eggs and the deceased to avoid wasting food or leaving out organic matter that might attract pests or predators.

Religion

Nula Ka primarily worship two deities--the sky above and the earth below. They call the former "Mehana", meaning "Warmth" and the latter "Makana", meaning "Bounty".

Mehana

As Nula Ka are cold-blooded creatures, they have an increased appreciation for the warmth provided by the sun. To this end, they worship the light god Mehana as a life-giving force and leave tributes of meat, berries, and other food out in particularly sunny areas. The drying out of such tributes is seen as acceptance.

Makana

The Nula Ka worship the life goddess Makana as a provider, attributing the presence of food and materials to her. In reverence, they make sure to treat the land with care and avoid wasting anything that could be useful, including animal scraps and the dead.

Government

Nula Ka settle in particularly large tribes that are usually centered around egg-bearing females. They observe no formal ruling structure, but most defer to the elders of the tribe for guidance and leadership. Such guidance may include what others could do to best help the tribe, or simply offer wisdom and insight in trying times. This loose structure often shifts as generations die off, or as clutches fail to produce viable offspring. From time to time, entire tribes may crumble and disperse to join other tribes or form new ones.

Economy and Industry

Nula Ka culture has no concept of currency and instead barter and trade amongst themselves. In an effort to avoid waste, many Nula Ka have turned to various artisanal crafts to produce goods they can exchange with neighboring settlements for whatever the clan may need, and so it's common to see Nula Ka merchants on the roads or in other settlements. Animal wears, jewelry, carvings, and alchemical reagents are the most popular wares.

Military

All able-bodied Nula Ka that are not egg-bearing females are expected to defend the tribe, should the need arise. The majority of these are not trained fighters and are equipped with simple spears and hide wrappings. The more experienced hunters of the tribe usually lead in any sort of combat situation and may wield slings in addition to spears and bludgeons. Outside of defending their home, Nula Ka are notably not aggressive and will not invade other territory.

Spread and Influence

Geographic Distribution

Nula Ka can be found along freshwater rivers and the shores of lakes, as well as deep within swamps. They tend to avoid colder climates, although some have settled as far north as the Shadowmoors.

Appearance

Average Height

5" (male and female)

Hair

N/A

Eyes

Green, Brown

Culture

Languages

Croak

Homeland

The Sun Coast, The Backcountry and other areas with swamps and freshwater

Organization

Tribes

Religion

The Living Light, The Springmother