Ka'thoor

Trade, culture, pride, and humility

Ka’thoor, the Orcish City. Located in The Free Cities of Alderun, and known for its eclectic citizens, spicy food, dominant population of Orcs, and unique architecture that incorporates the bones of large beasts. Ka’thoor rests on the border of Kapesh, and is nestled into the mountains. It is a common stop for any who leave or enter The Free Cities of Alderun.

Ka’thoor was once a hub of slave trade during the First Age, and was the first of the now free cities to begin the Alderian Rebellion. In its victory, Ka’thoor has created a proud, but largely welcoming culture. They keep their history in everything they do to remain a beacon to all of Zol.

Ka’thoor is now a hub of trade related to rare foods, materials, collectables, and art. This is largely do to its proximity to The Witchlands, as Beastfolk from that region will travel through Kapesh (avoiding its xenophobic culture) to make trades in Ka’thoor. As well as Kapesh merchants who seek the rare goods sold within the city.

Due to its oppressive history, the city does not have nobility. Its leaders are required to live humble lives. In fact many of the people of the city do what they can to maintain humility. This is spawned from a complex culture which emerged shortly after The Alderian Rebellion. Being at the heart of the rebellion, and directly on the border of their enemy, the city faced a great deal of chaos. Many upheld the ideals of never being forced to serve again, but the suddenly changed culture sent the city in to disarray. To remedy this, many people began an effort to serve the city in an attempt to rebuild it anew. Some saw their actions as weak, claiming they tended towards their past history of forced labor. Others saw the path as a righteous one. The two polarized views could not seem to find a common ground, and their differing beliefs only cemented themselves deeper. Over time, this formed two distinct groups. One of which was rooted in a proud and individualistic view of Orcish culture, the other was rooted in a sense of community. The latter became the most widely adopted.

One of the ways this is expressed is by doing favors for one another. Many members of the city’s population wear unique earrings, called D’Nairae, that advertise favors and skills they wish to offer to those in need. These may indicate a wish to give food, housing, repair, and even academic or religious teachings. These earrings have become almost a symbol of status, where one is seen as more high standing the wider the variety of earrings they wear. It has gone to the point where this is almost a problem that serves the opposite of what it is trying to achieve, as some wear a ridiculous amount of earrings to appear greatly (and falsely) humble for the status.

Along side those who bear D’Nairae, there is an almost opposite group of those who are very proud. These individuals focus on strength, merit, and honor. This section of the populace refer to themselves as Bloodkeepers. Their maxim is one of combat and honor. The prideful Bloodkeepers see themselves as those who preserve the fury and strength that began the Alderian Rebellion.

These two groups live unharmoniously. Bloodkeepers see the humble members of society as weak, and that they uphold a modern version of the oppression the people once faced. The humble citizens see the Bloodkeepers as barbaric, arrogant, and uncivilized.

# Humility vs Pride: The Ka’thoorin Discourse

Within Ka’thoor, about half the local population finds themselves on a spectrum of beliefs that spawn from the city’s difficult past involving slavery and rebellion.

On one end of this spectrum exist the Bloodkeepers. These individuals are proud warriors who seek to honor those who fought for their freedom during the Alderian Rebellion. These individuals are know to be loud and proud. They train to be fearsome fighters and seek to preserve the fury of their ancestors. Many of these individuals are skilled and honorable warriors wo do well in the upholding of their peoples fighting spirit. Unfortunately others are violent brutes who see it as ’their turn’ to be in power. This group is seen as heroes from some perspectives, and bullies from others.

On the opposite end of the spectrum exists an unorganized group of people who follow a unique philosophy and social practice. These individuals are extremely giving and humble. They bear simple colored earrings called D’Nairae. These earrings illustrate services and skills these people giving willingly to any in need. Some mistake this practice as being maintained in defiance to the masters of their ancestors. In reality, the practice is done for the sake of wisdom, kindness in community. When the people of the city were enslaved, their masters did nothing but take and consume. In modern day the people of Ka’thoor are free. Rather than taking things for themselves, some individuals seek to give instead to help ensure the city never ventures down that path again.

This group has no formal name, but Bloodkeepers refer to them as Bloodless. Some members of this group act as pillars of the community, giving and teaching to any who need it. Other members of this group either give to much and have to barely scrap by. Alternatively, some wear the D’Nairae falsely for the selfless image and status they give amongst some groups. While many look at these individuals as honorable and kind, some see them as preserving the forced servitude the city once faced.

These groups are not entirely distinct from one another, there are citizens who exist all over this spectrum. There are even some Bloodkeepers who bear D’Nairae. However, most who exist on this spectrum are closer to the extremes. There is no major conflict between these groups, largely due to the passive nature of those who bear D’Nairae, but a tension is obvious at times.

# Overview

Aspect	Description
Main Opportunity	The city provides a very unique hub of trade, and an even more unique culture. Many people of Ka’thoor give so willingly that you can probably find any good or service one might need in the city. Alternatively a legion of brave and proud warriors called Bloodkeepers protect the city, and commonly engage in contests of strength and skill within The Kala’dola, the famous colosseum.
Main Challenge	The city’s people has 2 very different subgroups within. One of which is overly humble, the other overly aggressive. These two groups live unharmoniously.
Climate	Temperate
Cuisine	Spicy foods, wild game, dried fruits, fermented foods
Export	Trade Hub, textiles, hides/furs, rare goods
Size	Medium
Outer Villages	Few
City Leader	Elder Err’del Raeshik
Primary Language(s)	Orcish
Majority Racial Group(s)	Orcs
Majority Religion(s)	Zolaen-Centric

# Major Features

Feature	Description
Distinguishing Features	Border-City, Foothill Location, Chaotic, Cramped
Architecture	Large stone and wood buildings, vibrant tents and tapestries, structures accented with large beast bones
Color(s)	Red, Black, Light-Red
Symbolism	A chain with 5 links, the center one being broken
Defenses	Bloodkeeper Warriors, Defensible location, Informal alliance with Beastfolk

# People Groups

Group	Type	Description
City Elders	Leaders	Those who are chosen by the city’s people to lead them. None of which are allowed to live lavishly. Most of these individuals bear D’Nairae
Common folk	Social Class	The normal individuals of the city. These people live common lives and decidedly do not engage in the antics of D’Nairae or Bloodkeepers. They make up about half the population. A small portion of this group is made up of individuals who can’t identify as nobility due to the city’s culture, but it is known by most that some are much more well off than others.
The Humble	Social Class	Those who bear D’Nairae.
Bloodkeepers	Social Class	A warrior class of citizens who seek to preserve their city’s pride and honor its history.
Merchants	Economic Group	Merchants from all over Zol. Many come to trade in the great market of Ka’thoor. Primarily made up of Alderian and Kapesh merchants.
Beastfolk	Economic Group	Traders who live in The Witchlands and venture down into the city to trade. They bear unique and rare goods, but have an almost alien air to them compared to common folk.

# Goods and Services

Name	Type	Description
The Fortress	Keep	The city’s main keep. Does not act as a home for the city’s leadership, merely a place of meeting.
Ka’thoor Station	Train Station	They city’s train station
Ka’thoor Convergence	Teleportation Circle	The city’s main teleportation circle. Located within the Fortress
The Kala’dola	Colosseum	The city’s fighting arena, and main meeting place for Bloodkeepers. Many people come here for the almost daily fights. Contains a popular tavern for fighters.
Trade Town	Market District	One of the largest markets in all of Zol. Full of merchants from Kapesh, The Free Cities of Alderun, and The Witchlands. Shops open and close in this fast moving bazaar. Many say that if it can be bought it is sold in Ka’thoor’s trade town.
The Bone Stack	Tavern	A tavern constructed from cobbled bones of great beasts and fallen warriors. Popular with Bloodkeepers who have distinct anti-human political views.
The Crossroads Inn	Tavern	A tavern located on the edge of Aud at the crossroads of Alderun, The Witchlands, and Kapesh. It is a common waypoint for travelers entering or leaving Alderun, and beastfolk coming to Ka’thoor to trade. The result of this is a tavern where strange, fun, scary, arcane, uncanny, dangerous, disgusting, and beautiful events occur on the daily. There is a sign above the door that reads in orcish “You are not an adventurer ’till you’ve spent the night at The Crossroads Inn”. Its gruff, confident, no-nonsense-but-somehow-fun-loving tavern keep, Lep Ka’tesh is an old orcish man that can tell the stories of Zol to a level of detail that rivals that of historians. Literally. A travelling scholar named Ulen Myf from The Kybis Assembly wrote a dissertation titled Tales of the Crossroads in which she retold the stories of Lep Ka’Tesh. They contradicted many historical writings of living scholars. It grew to great popularity out of novelty. The text’s new found fame brought the book into the spotlight, so he was invited to The Kybis Grounds for a formal discussion on the topic. The event was later called “The upturning of Crease Hall”, to this day no victor in the debates was decided, and Lep Ka’tesh is no longer allowed on Kybis grounds. The text holds a special place in the hearts of many scholars because of the event. The copy which was hurled at Lep Katesh by Master Kimmian Vowheart is valued greately, and sits framed above the bar at The Crossroads inn.

# Authority

The city is overseen by the Alderian Seat Elder Err’del Raeshik, a wise old orc bearing many D’Nairae. The Elder’s of Ka’thoor are nominated by the community. These individuals are required to live humble lives, and are removed from the position if they are caught accepting any bribe or misusing their authority.

The garrison is overseen by Bloodkeeper Met’ish Blak. A weathered veteran orc who only takes orders directly from the Alderian Seat.

# Laws

The city subscribes to the Alderian Laws as well as enforcing its own laws.

Law	Severity	Description
Abuse of Power	High	If a city’s elder is caught abusing their power in any way, they are removed from the position.
Refusal of Request	High	Those sporting D’Nairae reserve the right to refuse the provision of a service their D’Nairae signify. This is beacuse they are an individual before a giver.

# Modern Importance

In modern day, Ka’thoor is a strange border town filled with hospitality, and undeniable tension. Some of which is between its humble and proud locals, even more of which between its off-human locals and human visitors.

Ka’thoor is a crucial hub of trade in Kapesh and The Free Cities of Alderun’s economy. It also acts as a very important resource for those who live within The Witchlands, as it is a place they can venture to for supplies.

# Historical Importance

The city was the origin of the Alderian Rebellion. To this day it remains a defiant beacon of hope for all who have faced enslavement.