Dorozi, the Desert Tamers

"Men and women of Lunaghati! Today is a red day - a final day - the moment of truth for our endeavour! The beast sits but an arrow's flight from where you stand, slumbering atop its centuries-old horde! Its treasures are myriad. Its vile misdeeds are unending! We shall say now, you and I - no longer! May we ascend in one form or another, and forge our final verse! The bards shall sing it for time everlasting!"

— - Ranjan Roychaudhuri, The Black Stag Charging Upon His Fearful Foes, hours before slaying Ukavet, the last recorded black dragon.

To my noble Lord Sakar,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you that your eldest daughter - the Lady Manasa - has passed while hunting colossi in the Glass Sea. I am told she was crushed in a fraction of a second, along with her husband, her son, and all fifteen members of her entourage. I have made arrangements for the Red Company to recover what can be salvaged of her remains. May she soar through the clouds everlasting.

— - A letter from a retired seneschal.

Basic Information

Anatomy

by Yin Zoom

Of all the civilised races in Varen, the Dorozi have by far the most variable bodily structure. While sexual dimorphism is particularly strong in this group of humanoids, this is merely one factor in a heap of them. Everything from one's sex to their heritage to their climate to even their upbringing after their birth plays a part in forming the body a Dorozi carries into adulthood. The race features almost every body shape imaginable, within reason, from broad shoulders and tree trunk limbs to spindly arms, and a waist so thin an Olthamite might grip it in one hand.

Most commonly - though not always - Dorozi have inherent bodily features based off of their biological sex. Men are typically taller and broader, with a higher muscle mass and a higher potential to grow body hair on the chest, back and face. Furthermore, Dorozi men have a higher chance to be affected by pattern baldness - normally when passing into middle age, but feasibly at any time in their lives. As for the women of the species, it is typical for them to possess wider hips, shorter frames, and a higher amount of fat on their bodies.

The potential for Dorozi bodies to change over the course of their lives is enormous, and both men and women are able to render themselves utterly unrecognisable, given enough time and effort.

Genetics and Reproduction

Like all other civilised races of Varen, the Dorozi reproduce via live birth, and typically find their pregnancies more physically stressful than any other species. During the gestation period of roughly nine months, the mother experiences a very drastic set of changes to her body, along with hormone imbalances and unpredictable shifts in mood, ranging from mild to worryingly severe. While a Dorozi woman is pregnant, it is customary for her to be cared for and looked after by healers for the duration of her term. However - unlike the typical treatment one might receive in Olthambria - a pregnant woman in Dorozar is still afforded a large amount of independence, and except for some cases close to the delivery, can often still move and take care of themselves without need for assistance.

When the time comes to deliver the baby, Dorozi women have potentially the hardest time doing so. Labour can sometimes last a day or longer, and without the proper medical attention, the mother can lose her life owing to anything from severe bleeding to obstructed labour. Fortunately, however, the chances of this happening are roughly 1 in 2,500.

Dorozi also possess what some might consider a blessing, and others more concerned with racial purity would call a curse; the ability to reproduce with any other known civilised race in Varen. However, it is known that Dorozi women impregnated by an Olthamite may struggle even more to bring the child to term. Conversely, a Dorozi woman having a child with an Arenian man will experience a largely-easy pregnancy - not to mention the delivery.

Growth Rate & Stages

by Hugh Pindur

A Dorozi child will likely take its first steps between the ages of two and three years old, and reach maturity at the age of eighteen. However, their bodies will continue to grow until they reach twenty-five years old, and from here onwards, age and "decay" until they die of old age (provided they live long enough to do so).

As far as the Dorozi's transition into maturity is concerned, boys hit puberty between the ages of ten and fourteen. Girls, on the other hand, begin their journey into womanhood a little bit later - often between the ages of twelve and sixteen.

Dorozi begin to enter into middle-age around thirty-five, and their elder years around sixty; and those of the species who live long enough to die of old age often do so around eighty years old. Furthermore, while men will remain virile for the entirety of their lives, more often than not, a Dorozi woman will hit menopause between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five, after which conception becomes practically impossible.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dorozi are a highly-omnivorous species, eating anything and everything they encounter, from the succulent meat of a felled beast to the multitude of soft fruits that reside in their jungles and plantations. As a result, a Dorozi can stomach just about anything edible, and even a handful of things that are not - a habit found to be firmly offputting by the proud culinary nation of Khordepi.

Thanks to the heat of their desert and tropical climate, Dorozi cuisine features a great amount of spices and peppers - and, in more expensive cases, parts of a beast capable of giving your food a burning kick, such as the draconis fundamentum of a red dragon. Such food often causes a huge amount of sweating - and, for other races, unpleasant bowel movements - and allows the race to stay cool in their harsh environment.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

by Brad Rigney

Again, Dorozi bodily features range far and wide, and cannot truly be narrowed down to an average shape. However, there are some traits that are typical to the race. For example: The Dorozi men normally possess stronger features, with sharp jawlines, tall faces, thicker necks and the ability to grow facial hair. The women of Dorozar range from sharp to round facial features, but often possess softer lips and weaker jaws around the mandible.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While Dorozi do not possess the incredibly-sensitive eyes of the Sylvar or the Olthamites, and as such cannot see in complete darkness, their genetics do afford them a slight edge in terms of sight and hearing. Generations upon generations of hunting, tracking and squinting against the desert sun have resulted in Dorozi eyes having a slightly-higher proclivity for piecing out shapes and colours at further distances. Furthermore, this family history has allowed most of the desert dwellers ever-so-slightly more sensitive hearing, in order to pick out the howls, squawks and roars of their quarry.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

by Adam Lee

Something that the Dorozi will never truly understand is the Olthamite beauty ideal. The image of a perfect, spotless individual could not be further from what this race of hunters and artists find attractive. The heat, dust and chaos of their land does not allow for an easy makeup routine. Thanks to this - and likely due to their country's strong proclivity for tracking and killing over days or even weeks - the perfect image of either a man or a woman in Dorozar is one with an abundance of wear and tear from the open road. Facial scruff on men, unkempt hair on women and clothing with scuffs and the occasional rip are all welcome features. What others consider more appropriate to a drunk vagrant on the street, the Dorozi adore in abundance.

Gender Ideals

Despite their differences in body shape, physical strength and the like, it is not expected of Dorozi to exempt themselves from any particular life paths as a result of their gender. In fact, the only time that a woman might be restricted from careers such as the military or a beast hunting company is if she has fallen pregnant, as a means of protecting the baby. Even then, certain bands of hunters might be inclined to offer the woman a role behind the frontline. Freedom is, after all, a Dorozi's greatest treasure.

Courtship Ideals

Dorozi society expects the man to show his interest first, by approaching the parents of his prospective partner and asking their permission to be with their child. Should the mother and father both consent to this, they will then arrange for the daughter to be "kidnapped". This entails the man unexpectedly stealing her away for a weekend and travelling to some other location within Dorozi territory. In this time, the couple are expected to have sex for the first time together, and organise their wedding, should they decide to stay together after this time away.

Relationship Ideals

by Brian Matyas

Dorozi regard unmarried couples as "not officially together" and as such, sex with any unmarried individual is considered acceptable. Dorozi also have no age at which it is expected to settle down, and they can quite comfortably - male or female - live their entire life having solely casual sex and receive no social backlash for it. However, as marriage is regarded as sacred, infidelity is a major social faux-pas, and has the potential to utterly destroy a person's reputation in a matter of hours. Pregnancy and parenthood is not a necessity, but is encouraged. However, having children out of wedlock is yet another very good way to ensure nobody wants to ever speak to you again. A social stigma is also present against divorce, as this is viewed as a failure on the part of the couple, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their separation.

Amongst Dorozi, incest is tolerated - if not socially accepted - so long as no children are conceived.

Average Technological Level

The land of Dorozar is one chock-full of interesting beasts, demons and other monsters to hunt and kill. Naturally, the Dorozi take every opportunity they can to expand their arsenal and do some real damage to these terrifying creatures - and as a result, while Dorozar is by no means a technological powerhouse, their passion for the collection of other nations' firearms borders on obsessive. The people of this desert nation do not often innovate on their own, but rather find inspiration best when making alterations to the creations of others. One of the greatest examples of this would be the Dorozi airship, which began as one woman's decision to attach a hot-air balloon to a train car, simply to see if it could soar. As it happens, with enough attachments, it absolutely can.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

by Jourdan Tuffan

Dorozar is governed by an oligarchy of various powerful men and women, with few matters of state being delegated to the people. Dorozi individuals are encouraged to live life to the fullest, with little-to-no regard for how others think of them. Individuality is highly-valued in Dorozar, with many Dorozi seeking fame, fortune, and legacy. Folk here will, regardless of profession, be in contact with one of the many beast-hunting companies in Dorozar – be it a bowyer, a tailor, a gunsmith, or the hunter himself. Other Dorozi seek a career in the arts, and find work as playwrights, authors, journalists and actors. All Dorozi hold fashion as sacred, with men wearing colourful turbans and waistcoats in their outfits. Dorozi women often wear brightly-coloured saris within a more domestic setting, yet shed this attire on the road in favour of more practical, tighter-fitting clothing.

Dorozi are a hectic and sometimes reckless people, but never to the point of malice. Many folk of this race base their choices off of one simple question; “Will I be remembered for this?” The answer is, typically, no. However, when it is “yes”, there is next to nothing that will stop a Dorozi from carrying that action out.

Dorozi stereotypically turn to the life of a wandering vagabond at the drop of a hat, and for feasibly no reason. While these people are certainly impulsive, they are not without direction. It is just that the majority of the time, that direction is invisible to all but them. Dorozi are conscious of their relatively short lifespans, and most desire to see the world in which they live before they must depart it. For some, their adventures are of a professional sort – brought about by their careers in their hunting company. For others, it is the simple wish to leave their mark on this world, wherever that may be. Dorozi tend to have a passion for most weaponry, yet are world-famous for their talent in archery.

As for their novels, music and theatre... Dorozi have something of a mixture. Ever a bombastic people, their mainstream theatre and literature primarily consists of the classic underdog story; a man - or woman - down on his luck rises up against the odds and finds great success. The other side of their fictional media, however, is an experimental movement in storytelling. This movement has a reputation for being relatively hit-and-miss. Either you'll be seeing an unknown theatrical masterpiece, or watching a man strip naked, rub goat milk on himself, and repeat the word "communism" for an hour and a half.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

• The Dorozi are an inherently-inquisitive people, and are taught to be so from a very young age. Foreigners might consider it odd, but a child in Dorozar is always expected to challenge the authority of their elders, should the thought arise. Critical thinking is an important skill to learn while growing up.

• The open air is sacred to the folk of Dorozar, and it is customary for most buildings to grant their occupants access to it. Be it the open ceiling of a globe theatre, or the strangely-placed garden/courtyard in the centre of even the most modest home, one must always be able to bear witness to the clouds above, should they wish it.

Faith

Dorozi generally worship the elemental force of Air. It is a source of not just their own survival, but their energy and their travel. The tornadoes that ravage their landscape also serve as a force for good, and have annihilated invading armies many a time. The object of their worship is the clouds - and on other select days, the mist that settles upon the ground.

In the Spring Equinox, it is customary for Dorozi settlements to spend an entire week engaging in play-fights with paints and coloured powder in the streets. After this week, the streets are left coated in the remains of the festivities. At the turn of the month, the citizens of the fun-loving civilisation come together to clean the streets.

Common Taboos

• Never touch a Dorozi's weapon - be it the most complicated rifle you've ever seen, or a sharpened twig. Never, ever, touch a Dorozi's weapon.

• If a Dorozi says "He's mine," they mean exactly that. The kill has been claimed, and the hunter's right must be honoured. To steal the glory of the killing blow is to insult a hunter gravely.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Dorozi are curious by nature, and often run into members of the other races on one of their many journeys beyond the comfort of their homeland. Dorozi typically get on well with most races, finding the good in people wherever they can. The Dorozi enjoy a particularly pleasant relationship with the Arenians and the Sylvar. The former has them to thank for their cultural renaissance, and the latter provides a much-needed balance of extravagant and level-headed. However, a race as excitable and inquisitive as the Dorozi is likely to annoy (at best) your average Olthamite.

Lifespan

80 Years

Average Height

Male: 5'3" - 6'3" Female: 5'0" - 6'0"

Average Weight

Male: 125 - 185lbs Female: 98 - 154lbs

Average Physique

Dorozi do not truly have an average physique. The closest one could get to describing this would be the following.

Between five and six feet tall, with vaguely-muscular arms and a slight curve to their stomach. Two arms and two legs, and a head of varying size.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pure-blooded Dorozi are always dark-skinned, and are known to have freckles around their nose and cheekbones. There are no inherent markings to a Dorozi - though the occasional mole or other birthmark is not unheard of.

Dependent on a Dorozi's heritage, however, their skin tone can change significantly. Dorozi with Olthamite or Khord heritage normally have slightly lighter skin - verging on a light brown. Arenian parentage can result in the skin growing very dark indeed - perhaps even to the characteristic grey of some Arenians. Perhaps most drastic, however, is Sylvar heritage, which can create anything from an olive-skinned Dorozi to a paper-white tint.