Kari-Zaro
The Trade
Preparations for the great feast had begun. I had not seen my brother in over twenty years since he left to fulfill his bride service in the neighboring village. Now he was coming back to live here with his wife and child. The hunters had returned successful with three monkeys and two large antelopes. There would be meat for all. My mother was busy gathering all the pasha fruit and preparing it to be cooked into the great soup. The elders were organizing items and animals to be traded, in the hopes of receiving new items from the outside world. I had traded a bow with a man for a steel axe that was the envy of the entire village. Perhaps I would trade it for something they would bring. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining through and the sounds of the village alive with activity and commotion. People across the village were expectant to see some relative not heard from in years. Also, people would carry tidings of happenings in other villages across the Jungles. My father proudly prepared his feathers and the ones that would be given to my brother upon his arrival.
The morning passed with this continual buzz until around midday, when the train of people arrived from the neighboring village. There was much competition as families tried to convince the neighboring villagers to stay in their homes. Once everyone was settled, the peoples met in the middle of the village to begin feasting and trading. The elders entered their ritualistic dance of bartering with much whooping and hollering from those watching. Items were traded back and forth for hours on end as people danced and communicated their wishes. My father traded his dog for a bottle of some sort made from this clear material I had never seen. It was a good trade, but the item looked delicate and breakable unlike the dog.
Personality
Kari-Zaro are a hearty race of few words. Mostly, they are creatures of action, concepts of philosophy and logic foreign to them. If they are hungry, they eat. If they are tired, they sleep. Most idle conversation revolves around nature, problems of the village, and relations with other races. They share everything in their tribal groups, and trade with other villages as sign of affection, not for profit or gain. This highly ritualized bartering can last for weeks, where items seem almost to be whimsically changing hands. In general, they view other races as being to concerned with material positions, and not concerned with their place within the ecological realm. Kari-Zaro see themselves as another animal which must survive and grow strong. However, in recent years many items have entered into Kari-Zaro villages and this has created a feeling of materialism among the youth. They respect each other, but have no concept of property or ownership. If something were in the possession of someone, it would be wrong to take it, but as soon as he sets it down it is fair game.
Physical Description
Kari-Zaro stand a little over five and half feet tall, five feet for females, and weigh between one hundred and forty pounds for males and one hundred pounds for females. They’re build is muscular and thin that moves with an almost feline grace. They have soft silver skin with hair ranging from bright green to black. Almost all Kari-Zaro have green eyes, with rare blue-eyed specimen appearing only once or twice in anyone’s lifetime. They have sloping foreheads with pronounced high cheekbones and slightly pointed ears. Their faces are smooth and never become wrinkled, leaving an almost featureless face. Many races find Kari-Zaro difficult to tell apart because of their lack of pronounced features.
They generally clothe themselves in materials readily available. Clothes are simple, but well fitting and exceptionally woven considering the lack of materials. Kari-Zaro generally don’t where shoes, or headgear, but sometimes incorporate these items into religious ceremonies. Clothes are not usually died, but can be in some instances. They also wear feathers on their arms and in headbands to denote rank and family, but only in formal affairs between villages. In summary, the Kari-Zaro are simply clothed in items readily available.
Relations
The Kari-Zaro have little contact with other races. Therefore other than a healthy suspicion of strangers, they have few likes or dislikes. One exception is their neighbors, the Tzecheni'korak, with whom they constantly skirmish for supremacy of the jungle. Human traders also come to coastal villages, on occasion, but in general, Kari-Zaro notions of property confuse humans, and make trade difficult.
Alignment
In harmony with nature, Kari-Zaro have little use for good or evil. In general, they take things as they are, and are therefore neutral. If anything, their disregard for property and organization, may tend toward chaos.
Kari-Zaro Lands
In general, the Kari-Zaro are found deep in the Jungles of Thallox, in southeastern Tarien. Their hot, humid home is shared with the Tzenchni’korack. Wile their neighbors make their homes in the low-lying, wetlands of the jungle, the Kari-Zaro prefer the high-backs of rivers and crests of jungle hills. The jungles are an inhospitable place to those who do not call it home – and visitors to a Kari-Zaro village are rare.
Religion
Kari-Zaro have a strong ancestral worship system, and believe these “spirits” to be watching them from affair. They see almost no actions as good or evil per say, but do see things as counter to the tribe or person and take almost a fanatical zeal against these actions.
Language
The Kari-Zaro language grew out of the language of Shar’iishta, and still uses its symbols for rare instances of writing. The language is rich and colorful in imagery, and many Kari-Zaro elders are exceptional storytellers.
Names
Kari-Zaro children have many simple names, such as “Orchid” or “Ray of Light”. Upon reaching adulthood, however, once a tribe feels a young man or woman is ready, they take a name that defines their role in the tribe, such “Straight Flying Arrow” or “Weaver of Beautiful Baskets”.
Adventuring
Young Kari-Zaro warriors occasionally wander adventure in the rest of Tarien to prove themselves before returning to their tribe for right of passage into adulthood. They have little use for property, so once their adulthood has been achieved, they rarely continue their adventures.
The busy streets of Karradone brought both wonder and horror to Hathric's eyes. Amazed at the density of structure and noise and people. Disgusted at the filth and suffering.
The Silver River
Related Organizations
Kari-Zaro Racial Traits
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Ability Scores:+1 to Strength, +1 to Dexterity, +1 to Wisdom. Kari-Zaro live harsh lives in the jungles, building their strength, quickness, and awareness.
Medium-size: Kari-Zaro have no bonuses or penalties for size.
Speed: Kari-Zaro base speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: A Kari-Zaro can see up to 60 feet in dim light as if it were brightlight and in darkness as if it were dim light.
Alert: Kari-Zaro are always aware of their surroundings and gain the Alertness feat.
One with Nature: Kari-Zaro are skilled at understanding wild animals. When attempting to influence the reaction of any Beast, they gain Advantage.
Stealthy: Kari-Zaro are adept at blending into their surroundings and can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.
Survivalist: Kari-Zaro are one with nature and can find food, water, and dangers in nearly any environment. They gain proficiency in Survival.
Well Practiced: Kari-Zaro have long lives and spend most of it honoring their skills. They can choose one skill or tool proficiency. Their proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check they make that uses this chosen proficiency.
Automatic Languages: Kari-Zaro
Bonus Languages: Choose two of the following: Aquan, Celestial, Eldorian, Shar'iish'ta (even if not a druid), Sylvan, and Tzenchni'korak. A Kari-Zaro may elect to spend one of these slots to learn to read our write one of their languages. A Kari-Zaro may elect to spend one of these slots to learn to read and write one of their languages instead.