Kothian

Starting Languages

When a player selects a culture, they automatically gain ability in the primary language associated with that culture. This language represents the common tongue or dominant language spoken in that cultural region. Each culture provides a pool of additional languages that players can choose from. This pool should include languages associated with neighboring regions, historical influences, or significant trade partners of that culture. The number of additional languages in the pool can vary based on the diversity and historical context of the culture. For example, a culture with extensive trade routes or a history of conquest might have a larger pool. You may select an additional language from this pool for each point of edge you have in Intellect, and another for each additional point you gain as you level up in your adventures.

Starting Arms & Armor

Players are afforded their starting weapons, clothing, & tool proficiencies by the age associated with their homeland. So Stone Age cultures and Dark Age cultures might both grant ability with a mace for example, but only the Dark Age culture would grant ability with guns, for example. Over the course of your adventures you may choose to use your progression to gain proficiency in a different age's tools.

Koth, Country of the people

Koth is an extensive kingdom of rich uplands, mountains, and rivers. Separated almost entirely from the north, west, and south by converging mountain ranges, its is primarily open to the east, and by Khoraja to the southeast. Many of the major settlements in Koth are within the foothills of its mountain ranges, and the interior is primarily grassy foothills and swathes of arable land, upon which feudal lords hold sway.

Koth is one of the oldest kingdoms in the West, pre-dating the Hyborian invasion. Despite her landlocked status, Koth is among the greatest commercial nations of the age, dominating many of the overland trade routes.
The land of Koth includes farmland in the west and mountainous pastures to the east. Between the Kothian Highlands and pastoral lands of Shem are a series of barren hills. The Flaming Mountains, an impenetrable volcanic range, lie within these hills. Shamla Pass in the east is an important route between the extensive Kothian Hills and Escarpment, though a second pass is rumored to exist near the city of Eruk in Shem.
The capital of Koth is Khorshemish, a walled city of spires, temples, markets, fountains, and broad white streets. It's known as "The Queen of the South" by merchants.
The current King of Koth, Strabonus, is notable for several reasons. He has repeatedly broken treaties with Ophir, Shem, Corinthia, and Nemedia; he has invaded Argos twice, and Shem and Ophir once each. Most serious, however, is his association with the sorcerer Tsotha-lanti. This secretive being inhabits the Scarlet Citadel, which adjoins Strabonus' palace in Khorshemish. Tsotha-lanthi's citadel contains horrors which those few who have entered and returned only hint at.

The People of Koth

The Kothians are a mixed people of Hyborian and old Stygian blood. They're of medium height and build with dark hair. They are generally more proud and short-tempered than other Hyborians. They are usually of a lean strong frame, medium in height, and dark haired, with darker skin and eyes than most Hyborians but not nearly as much as the folk of Stygia or to the east. Much like the rest of the Hyborians, they are warlike and devote much to their military and campaigning, sharpened against threat of invasion from the ambitious Turanian kings. Kothians seem to be more urbanized than most Hyborians. They are more prone to trade and their encounters with other peoples which has introduced them to a wide variety of cultures and religions. Like Corinthia, they are strongly tied to east/west trade and prosper from the ever-constant merchant caravans.
Kothian law is like that of most other Hyborian lands. There is a system of justices and courts and a fair number of professional lawyers, particularly in Khorshemish. The primary distinction is the tax laws, which by the time of Black Colossus, have increased taxes almost to the point of causing armed insurrection.

Religion

Kothians worship the gods of Shem. This worship, however, is still tainted with the beliefs of the ancient kingdom of Acheron, giving Kothian religion a Stygian cast. Mitra is not popular in Koth.

Related Organizations

• Bastard’s Army

Homeland Traits

Starting Arms & Armor: Dark Ages
Automatic Languages: Hyborian, Trade Tongue
Favoured Tropes: Any
Bonus Languages: Stygian, Nemedian, Aquilonian, Bossonian, Brythunian, Ophirean, Corinthian, Hyperborean, Zingaran, Zamorian, Pictish, Kothic, Argossean, Shemitish.