The Awo People
The Awo are a bipedal cervid species that make their home in the Feywild - in a place they simply call Uwola, or "home".
Their appearance is striking - all members of the species reach 2 meters tall, on average, not including their impressive antlers that typically add another meter to their height. While this height is more typical of the average moose, their brown and dark coloring brings to mind the wapiti, while their antlers appear most similar to the mule deer. The Awo also possess a short tail - typically 12 to 13 centimeters - black eyes, and fangs like those of the water deer, though the Awo's are fully retractable. In form, they possess digitigrade legs that end in cloven hooves, and four arms with thin hands - the upper set with three fingers, the first of which is an opposable thumb; and the lower set with four fingers, the first and last of which are opposable - ending in thick, pointed fingernails. Finally, the Awo possess four breasts. On those capable of bearing young, these remain flat until pregnant or nursing, and on those incapable, they remain entirely vestigial. Awo also experience estrus rather than menses.
Uwola is a large region, and in the manner of the Feywild it seems to expand inward rather than outward. It is composed of mountains, forests, and grasslands, all joined by a complex system of rivers and branching streams. The Awo roam this area in nomadic kin-groups known as rȧghùlyȁ, which translates directly to "life by means of family". Individual rȧghùlyȁ have large territories and are responsible for the environment and justice within. These two concepts are rather inalienable in Awo society, with the persistent belief that peace cannot exist without justice, and there can be no justice if the land is not at peace. Awo do not raise crops, but rȧghùlyȁ tend to wild plants in their territories with a passion that some settled farmers lack. They truly love the land and desire to nurture it to its greatest potential.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Awo people speak Ȧwòjhȁkyȧ, also known simply as the Awo Language.
Average technological level
The Awo are a nomadic gatherer culture who prefer their traditional ways over modern, urban life or recent technological inventions such as ice boxes or hand canons. However, they are learners at heart and have produced some of the finest scholars, scientists, and philosophers in Faerûn. One should be wary of assuming that the Awo do not understand a thing simply because they do not use it. Quite frequently, they see the value in inventions and innovations, but they value their culture and way of life far more than they value ease of living. And even with limited technology, their healers are able to ensure that, no matter how difficult, they live long, indeed.
Common Dress code
The Awo are known for their ornate textiles and jewelry, and they believe in looking their best at all times. As there is little to no cultural concept of gender, clothing is most often androgynous.
The most common clothing is plain, knee-length trousers underneath a long, embroidered tunic - over which is belted a brightly-colored, thick-woven sash that is traditionally draped over the shoulder. This sash also functions as a baby-carrier.
The only gendered clothing that has been observed is the post-partum dress, similar to a house dress or muumuu. This allows Awo who have recently given birth to avoid irritating their intimate areas, and there are often slits in the side through which an infant might feed. The dress is constructed for back support rather than bust support, easing the burden of swollen breasts - which are flat outside of pregnancy and nursing - without aggravating tender skin.
Art & Architecture
The textiles the Awo are known for are not restricted to clothes. Awo blankets, rugs, and tapestries sell for a premium in markets across the realms. They tend towards bright colors and geometric symbols, and the fabric they make can be as thin as a beetle's wing or as thick as a book, depending on the needs or mood of the weaver.
Foods & Cuisine
As facultative herbivores, the Awo have a digestive system specialized for plant matter but are able to consume animal matter on occasion. They primarily consume legumes, leafy greens, shoots, and grasses and sprouts. They have been known to eat insects and eggs, but their physiology makes it very difficult to hunt. While similar non-sentient species do eat carrion, Awo typically only eat meat if it has been gifted to them by a member of another species.
Common Myths and Legends
The Awo believe that their three gods - Wȧwhù of the Earth, Ru̇chhà of the Sky, and Jȧjhò of the Void - existed from the beginning of the world. Over many eons, they created and perfected the bodies and spirits of the plants and animals of Uwola. When the Three decided to create the Awo, the trickster Rȯzhhù schemed up a prank. In the name of balance, the Three had originally given the Awo three sets of limbs each with three fingers or toes. Rȯzhhù, however, stole one of the toes from each of the feet and placed them on the sides of each of the lower hands. In doing so, they reminded the Three and the Awo that chaos is part of the world, and entropy is part of life. To be in balance does not mean to have equal amounts of this and that thing. To be in balance means to live in good accord with the rest of the realm, and even Awo with their four fingers on some hands and three on the other are capable of it.
Fun fact! The word "Awo" comes from the Cherokee word ᎠᏫ (awi) meaning "deer", and the word "Uwola" comes from ᎤᏬᎳ (uwola) meaning "at home" or "sitting".
The word "rȧghùlyȁ" also comes from the word "rangule", one of many collective nouns for (words for a group of) deer.
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