Tocoatl

The Reborn

History

The Tocoatl are an ancient and un-contacted people within the lands of Belinard. The classification of Tocoatl is a rather broad one and does not quite have a large and overriding culture between each of the tribes. Rather it speaks to a similar origin, or one they believe is similar anyhow. The Tocoatl have a rather convoluted and peculiar origin. Scholars have tried to decipher what exactly it is and where they came from, but due to the various interpretations of it, it has become rather difficult to make a coherent tale out of it. Some things however remain consistent throughout each tale. The tale always starts with the creation of the sun, a tear in the sky's fabric which is where the large snake or Coatl is said to have come from. The islands of Belinard are said to have formed from its scales, or as they refer to it in the Tocoatl tongue, Xolal. The Coatl thereafter repeats cycles around the realm every day, each night swallowing the sun only to spit it back out once more. One day, it is said that the Coatl will swallow the sun whole, and life will be restored once again.

This story not only indicates the Tocoatl's odd relation with death, but their views on the realm at large. The Tocoatl are a rather variable group, not one adhering to being warlike or not. Common trends are that they are perhaps one of the most liberal tribes-people there are. So long as foreigners respect and follow their culture and traditions it is often they are amicable enough to get along for the purposes of trade or diplomacy. The tribes often war with themselves or the local pirates of the region. It is rare that a Tocoatl person makes it off the island, though those who do still hold epitaphs of their culture and beliefs as they were at their home.

Physical Description

The Tocoatl people are known for their rounded faces with dark eyes and dark hair. Their coloration of skin varies slightly from island to island, however for the most part they maintain a dark caramel coloration. Their eyes too are dark and almost always unnoticeable in color, lacking the usual greens, blues, and other vibrancy that make up other races and cultures. Their palette usually blends in well with the forest floor, being dark and hard to detect so that they are not preyed on by wildlife or other peoples.

The clothing of the Tocoatl is surprisingly well off compared to most tribals. Their garb tends to be filled with more notable animal parts with a specific reference for feathers and other parts of the animal. Dyed fabrics and vibrant cloths are not uncommon as their resources for such are rather abundant within the area. Many reds, greens, yellows, whites are often seen being worn by their people. The Tlatoque usually wear a headdress of metal, feathers or some other resource which will note their high status and position. Their clothes are usually the most vibrant in the village though this depends tribe to tribe. Weapon quality varies tribe to tribe, some carrying circular blades of steel where others use large wooden clubs with obsidian or other sharp stones known as Macuahuital. Women are covered in loose skirts or dresses which allow freedom of movement on the tumultuous islands.

• Common Height:
  • Male: 5'5" - 5'9"
  • Female: 5'2" - 5'6"
• Common Build: Ectomorph, Mesomorph
• Common Eyes: Brown, Gray
• Common Hair: Brown, Black
• Common Skin Tone: Caramel, Brown

Culture

Depending on the tribe, there is great variation between to Tocoatl people. It is not uncommon for a few things to be similar from person to person. This classification was put in place by scholars due to their isolationist views, their shared language, and similar origin stories and divine. Though it varies tribe to tribe, the Tocoatl oddly have animorphs as their common deities of worship. It is either seen that humans are mixed with animals to make their pantheon; some even select animals from their livestock to be their divine on earth. These divine are considered living gods and painted accordingly. Tlatoque are the rules of these tribes and act as leaders for their people in both spiritual and physical matters. The way they rule their tribes varies from place to place, but the elderly often preside over all meetings and give the Tlatoque council. Even the way this rule is selected varies, some tribes have their elders vote on a younger member to take the mantel until death, where others have theirs chosen through bloodline, often patrilineally.

Tocoatl settlements are usually made from a mix of stone, thatch, wood, and clay. Depending on the resources available to them on their island, the Tocoatl are able to build broadly, though they are careful not to trample or interfere much with the natural way of things. Tocoatl architecture is specifically advanced in resource management, able to make the most out of small things. Being founded on islands, resources such as water are highly scarce, meaning that it is rarely used as a source of sewage like many other societies. The Tocoatl have engineered ways to remain rather clean in their waste to prevent illness and have developed some of the most advanced medicines within all the lands. A common village will have houses for families but usually emphasis is placed on community with group fires, group health centers, group places of worship. A great deal is placed on the whole over the individual.

It is common practice for the Tocoatl to be friendly to their neighbors, or some of them rather. It is difficult to pin down specific trends or things that all Tocoatls do due to the vast variation from tribe to tribe. All hold a high reverence for wildlife and the world around them, treating it with the utmost respect. It is seen as almost unholy to defile the land in ways more than necessary, thus explaining why there are no large Tocoatl cities or settlements. It is rare that their buildings reach above the treeline, but when they do it is usually for their large pyramids which are a house for their more religious ceremonies. High reverence is also kept for the deceased who they celebrate annually on their death days. Life and Death are not so black and white for the Tocoatl. They see it more as a cycle of reincarnation and rebirth. Thus none die eternally in Tocoatl culture. The concept of the afterlife is also not entirely present within their faith, usually seen as just a limbo period before rebirth where they are judged as to what they will be reincarnated into.

The religion of the Tocoatl is rather variable overall too, a common theme throughout this rather large culture. Some similarities remain, this being a heavy emphasis on the elements but moreover the sun and the sky. Large step pyramids are erected where at the top both human and animal sacrifices are given to try and promote the cycle that the great Coatl has put in place for their people. Even the warlike Tocoatl tribes do not sacrifice their own people, those who are sacrificed are usually slaves or conquered peoples from other tribes as well as criminals. The practices is usually seen as savage by other cultures but for the Tocoatls it is simply a way of life.

The dietary preferences of the Tocoatl are rather healthy surprisingly. They live off a rich diet of surrounding tropical fauna and flora. They hold a special fondness for corn, potatoes, rice, avocados, and other rich and usually tropical goods. While they usually do not have established farms or agriculture, they do have certain locations marked on their islands so they know where to harvest the goods from. Some of the Tocoatl have adapted floating farms to maximize space within their lands, being set inside the marshy rivers of their islands. These crops and their livestock produce a wealth of nutrients, leaving the Tocoatl rather strong.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: 80 - 95 years old on average.
• The Tocoatl people have a rather interesting and advantageous affiliation with animals. [Non-Event] creatures are naturally passive to them unless the Tocoatl try to aggravate the beast first. This makes them some of the greatest animal tamers by affinity within the lands. Note this does not work on creatures who are domesticated by others and controlled to do something. *Lycanthropes are also not passive to the Tocoatl.
• The Tocoatl operate best within Hot and Humid climates, though can do fairly well in Deserts or High Mountains. They are not well acclimated to the north or even more neutral regions.

Category:Playable Race

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier