The Kroto'Chim are a people of Orcs. They live in a harsh land called Nuk'Kchtuh, which in their language, the Chrotok, means the fertile, or the beautiful land. The Kroto'Chim grow very tall and are very hardy. In the rough and hilly land where they live, the Kroto'Chim specialise in raising Nahrz'gu and goats and in field work, for cattle and noble crops do not thrive very well here. The pride of each clan is undoubtedly their castles, which Humans might rather call fortifications, and their large herds. The Kroto'Chim, like the Katora, worship the god Akhrosh, but also the Titans Zyral and Rogal, known to the Humans. It was Akhrosch who was once the first of the Orcs. Even today he gives the shamans of the peoples their powers.
The Kroto'Chim people
The Kroto'Chim people are a very warlike and savage, though quite civilised people. Their pride is their large herds of goats and Nahrz'gu, their crude-looking double-bladed axes, commonly called Orc cleavers, and their pungent liquor. The Kroto'Chim people are probably also one of the few peoples of Tirakan whose herdsmen and farmers always go about their work with axe, sabre or bow in their luggage. The Kroto'Chim live in tribes that are divided into individual clans, which in turn consist of individual clans. The clan leader is chosen from the clan leaders in a ritual battle. In a similar battle, the clan leaders compete against each other to determine the tribal chief. These fights are only held if the disputing parties cannot otherwise come to an agreement. The clan leaders, as the tribal chiefs, can be challenged by another at any time and can be deprived of their position by a victory.
"...there is an orcish people on Tirakan's soil called the Kroto'Chim. They are a people full of dignity and honour, and famous for their brave, fearless fighters. The land of the Kroto'Chim lies in the north of the western continent, directly north-west of the territory of the Nur'Tuk. The Kroto'Chim call this land "Nuk'Kchtuh", which means 'the fertile land'. It is a rough land and very hilly, but also very fertile.... The Kroto'Chim have a penchant for battles and fights of all kinds, which is why there are so many old fortifications in Nuk'Kchtuh, and they are true masters in designing and building them.... The Kroto'Chim love alcoholic drinks. But especially mead and brandy, though your brandy is probably too sharp for most human throats." ~ from "The Peoples of Tirakan"
Murder among the Kroto'Chim is considered deeply dishonourable and is punished with the severing of the sword arm and a brand on the bridge of the nose, the murderer is then usually cast out by his clan as a "dishonourable worm". The same applies to theft. Premeditated murder is punished by public stoning. The place of jurisdiction is usually the place where the perpetrator was caught, but in the case of murder it is the victim's settlement. The temple board consists of the two highest paladins Rogal and Zyral, who are also responsible for the sacral leadership of the clan or tribe.
The social structure is simple. Every Kroto'Chim, no matter if male or female, can learn any profession or office, so there is pure equality, which is unique among the sedentary peoples of Tirakan, with the exception of the Winged. There are no priests among the Kroto'Chim, as the only sacred profession is that of paladin, who, however, cannot become clan, clan or tribal leaders, but hold advisory functions. All matters are discussed at regular meetings, so-called Things, unless they are marked as secret by a higher authority. Everyone has the right to speak, but the word of the orc leader is to be regarded as law. The Things take place in the Thing halls or in the large squares of the settlements.
The appearance of the Kroto'Chim
The Kroto'Chim are quite tall, averaging between 1.80 and 2.25 steps tall. They are very heavy and robustly built, weighing between 90 and 135 stone. They like to wear their hair long and thick beards are also popular with some Kroto'Chim. The skin of the Kroto'Chim is rough and pale greyish, and sometimes has nodules that are mistakenly called warts.
W%: Eye colour:
01-10 Black
11-30 Blue-grey
31-50 Grey
51-60 Blue
61-75 Green
76-90 Brown
91-00 Reddish brown
W%: Hair colour:
01-02 White
03-20 Blonde
21-35 Dark blonde
36-50 Brown
51-70 Black
71-85 Auburn
86-00 Red
Size: 5W10+175cm
Weight: Size-90kg
The clothing and weapons of the Kroto'Chim
The clothing of the Kroto'Chim appears very archaic, as it is mostly made of leather, skins and coarse fabric, such as coarse wool. The male Kroto'Chim mainly wear trousers of sturdy leather, sturdy boots, a shirt of coarse wool or linen, a doublet of wool or leather and a cloak or coat of fur. The female Kroto'Chim usually wear dresses like those found in Asgoran or Toran, but made of coarse linen. The Kroto'Chim prefer swords, both broadswords, longswords and short swords, axes and hatchets, bidenhanders, one-and-a-half-handed swords, cutting weapons such as maces and warhammers, and of course armour-breakers and daggers. But they are also familiar with polearms and mounted weapons. As ranged weapons they prefer bows and crossbows, but also use throwing weapons. As armour, the Kroto'Chim use all kinds of models, as long as they are made of steel and/or leather, i.e. chain mail, leather armour, fur cloaks, etc.
The settlements of the Kroto'Chim
The settlements, which can hardly be called towns, are usually located near ore-bearing hills. The settlements are surrounded by an earthen wall which is covered on the outside with loose round stones. On the crest of the rampart rises a stone wall with wooden stakes, which can be walked on, and the base of which is lined with pointed stakes. In poorer or newer settlements, it is a wooden palisade, which is later replaced by the wall that adorns the earthen rampart. The settlements usually have several gates, which, like the stone wall, are lined with towers. The oldest and richest settlements are further secured by moats or normal ditches and pitfalls, sometimes also by Inside these fortifications are all the buildings of the settlement, with the exception of the courtyards.
Should the fortifications ever run out of space, they are expanded, as it is inconceivable for the Kroto'Chim to erect buildings outside the protection. The Kroto'Chim buildings are simple houses made of thick wood and clay. Only the least buildings are made of rough-hewn stone, mostly these are the armouries, storage halls and Thing halls (meeting halls), if they are not built into the hills. A large proportion of the Kroto'Chim also live within the fortifications in large yurts or bunkhouses, as do the few remaining nomadic clans in the north who move from one fortified camp to the next. The arrangement of buildings and tents is strongly reminiscent of a military camp, as the Kroto'Chim are used to being at war with each other. The centre of each settlement, besides the clan or tribal hall, is the fortified temple where Rogal and Zyral are worshipped together. The temple is usually the only building on the central hill of the settlement, while the Thinghallen are usually driven directly into the hill. In front of the halls there is always a large open space where the banners and signs of the current rulers fly, and which is used as both a festival and a market place.
Mur'Kahr
Mur'Kahr is located in the north of 'Nuk'Kchtuh' on a large hill directly next to a large stream. With an age of about 1100 years, it is probably the oldest and largest settlement of the Kroto'Chim. About 8,000 Kroto'Chim of the Mulgah'Ro tribe live here. The temple, visible from afar, is an ancient building made of rough-hewn ore, its surface covered with a dense network of ornaments and runes. Inside is the double altar of Rogal and Zyral, made of blackened iron ore.
The Thing Hall is remarkable, holding as it does some 15,000 Kroto'Chim. This huge hall, supported by pillars hewn from ore and lit by fire basins hanging from the ceiling on heavy chains, lies deep beneath the temple mound of the Mur'Kahrs.