The Cahoki Horsemen

In many ways, the Cahoki people are very similar to the Onaya.  Close to the land and dependant upon it for all things, the Cahoki respect and revere the land.  More migrant than the Onaya, the Cahoki live on the vast plains of Inzeladun.  They live in tents of hide around supports (tepees) and are well known for their horsemanship.  They can fire bows at the regular rate of fire, without penalty, even while riding a running steed.

The Cahoki live in harmony with nature, taking from it what they need and nothing more.  They waste nothing when they kill an animal.   Their gods are as close to nature as any could be, appearing always in the form of a creature of the land.  Rituals revolve around the seasons.  The ebbing of one season into another is a time of sacrifice and ritual. 

The Cahoki all have black or brown hair and dark eyes.  They have high distinctive cheekbones and their skin color ranges from reddish to bronze or brown.  Most are lean and  muscular due to hard work and lean diets. The Cahoki are boisterous and talkative with friends and family.  They enjoy stories, songs, and jokes.  However, pride and dignity are important qualities.  When outsiders are met, the Cahoki present the most stoic and dignified bearing they can muster.

The life of the Cahoki horseman revolves around the horse and the bison.  The warrior's only wealth is the number of horses he owns.  A warrior's horse is, in many ways, his best friend.  He revels in combat, not necessarily to the death, but to gain honor, glory, and respect.  Their blood-curdling war cries terrorize their enemies.

The Cahoki use a system of government much like the Onaya.  Chiefs run the show, but they are elected and have little authority when compared to the kings of Drychtnoth, but they are often listened to, for a chief is often regarded as wise.

The Cahoki wear clothing that is both colorful and functional.  Much of the clothing is fringed, to help shed water.  In the summer, a breechcloth and moccasins may be the only clothes worn. Feathers and headdresses are very common.  They shun armor in favor of garish body paint. 

The Cahoki culture does not allow certain classes.  The paladin, with his unbending devotion to law, fits in poorly with the independant Cahoki.  Psionicists are not found.  Bards are not found.   The most common class by far is the Barbarian; the goal of almost every man is to be a warrior.  Rangers are common (those high enough in level to cast spells are held in awe).  Priests and mages, called shaman or medicine men, are the rarest of all, but usually one is found in each village.  Thieves are non-existent except as scouts.  In a culture without money or personal belongings, there is nothing to steal.

All Cahoki characters have a one rank bonus in the following skills regardless of class: Intuit Direction, Wilderness Lore,  Ride (Horse), and Swim.   Sorcerer and priest characters also begin with a +1 bonus to Perform (dancing (ceremonial), singing (ceremonial)); Knowledge (history (oral)),  Heal, Knowledge (local history) (oral), and Knowledge (religion).  Thief (scout) characters may also start out with the animal noise proficiency.

Note, there are NO class restrictions on weapon proficiencies.  Any native weapon (short bow, war club, spear, hand axe, and knife) may be used by any character class. The Cahoki, like the Onaya, do not have a system of currency.  New characters are assumed to have had years to make or trade for the weapons and equipment needed.  New characters can have any normal item available in the culture.  So long as they are in good standing with the tribe, characters will be given whatever they need; the Cahoki provide for their needy.

The Cahoki prefer weapons that that are edged and piercing to those that merely bludgeon.   A Cahoki character receives a wild horse, a horse blanket, two applications of war paint, and a coup stick.  A Cahoki gains a 10% experience bonus if he proves his courage by "counting coup", touching an opponent with his coup stick or bare hand, sometime during a dangerous encounter.   The opponent must be actively dangerous and involve genuine risk.  The bonus is vetoed if the Cahoki takes exceptional measures to protect himself (Invisibility, hiding behind his horse).  The Cahoki may make a war cry, a series of piercing shrieks and whoops intended to terrify his opponents.  This works like a fear spell.  The Cahoki may also fire 3 arrows per round.  Cahoki must give a 'Hunting Apology' to any animal he kills.  This involves a wisdom check.  If the check succeeds, he determines the animal's spirit has accepted the apology; he then allows himself to eat the flesh or use the skin.  If it fails, he decides that the animal has rejected his apology (he sees the corpse twitch, notices the sky darken, or hears an owl in the distance).  He abandons this corpse.

The Bison is important to the lives of the Cahoki.  It is the source of life for them, regarded as tangible proof of the favor of the spirits who created the world.  Bison are difficult to hunt on the plains, due to the level terrain and the vast areas to run away in.  The easiest way to hunt them is to bog them in snow drifts, but this is limited to the winter months.  The tribes also may run the bison over cliffs or corner them in box canyons.  The most dangerous hunt is the chase on horseback.  The chase requires brave men and trained horses.  The bow is used at short range (ideally one bow length) to maximize its power.  However, this requires riding among the running bison, where a single misstep or fall leads to instant death under bison hooves.  A horse trained for the chase or war is the warrior's most useful mount.

The products garnered from the bison included such varied items as meat, clothing, shields (from skins), cups or spoons (from horns), bow strings and thread (sinews), and fuel for their fires (dung).

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