Keshlaen (ˈkɛʃ.leɪn/ ᴋᴇꜱʜ-lane)

Known History

Beginnings

The loud and proud keshlaen are fierce warriors native to the jungles of Aerthen. Adorned in ostentatious attires and armed with deadly weapons, they trampled the greatest beasts and foes who dared stand in their way. Invigorated by these ancient victories, they amassed into great tribes, solidifying their rule and becoming a preeminent power in their regions. Yet, such early victories would only bring greater hardships later, and even more challenging troubles to overcome.   A divisive people in the eyes of history, the keshlaen are most charitably described as 'energetically extroverted' and 'passionate'. In less friendly terms, overbearing and tyrannical. Well-adapted to the hardships that Veltrona can throw, their innate drive kept them going even when faced by the worst of the worst. It is an admirable inner strength and willpower, but one that easily caused them grief and hardship when misdirected. Such was what defined their early contact with neighboring species, such as humanity, nebusah, muurun, karsoru, harpies, and others.   Early competition for prime territory brought the keshlaen into conflict with these neighbors. Generally unused to diplomacy or statecraft by this point in history, they resorted to their traditional methods of force and violence to get their ways. The muurun were especially resilient, and the keshlaen were trampled underfoot by these ferocious enemies. Human tribes, also having troubles with the muurun, turned to the keshlaen for potential allies. Many keshlaen tribes refused, but some acquiesced. These early alliances proved pivotal in pushing back against the muurun as human ingenuity and keshlaen decisiveness created a potent military force. Taking on prime territory of their own, these tribes consolidated both friendship and family with one another, dramatically changing the power balance of ancient Aerthen.   The four most notable keshlaen tribes that arose from this arrangement were the Green Tongues, Red Hair, Yokunku, and Sabballa; the latter two noteworthy for their features of blue-tipped scales, and voluminously rainbow-like feathers, respectively. The relative underdogs until that point in time, they capitalized on their newfound power by securing other tribes through diplomacy or force. As their might grew, tribes that resisted them had little choice except to bend the knee or flee. Historians generally consider this specific period as what prompted a great migration by other keshlaen populations, who ventured west and east, respectively, toward Lophern and Nerzin. Those in Lophern would then spread further west or north, arriving upon Etzli Cuauhtla and Immensio. What tribes did otherwise remain in Aerthen were sorely bullied by the new dominant four.    

Empires of Iron and Stone

Aerthen itself has ever existed in an interesting position as a land teeming with natural resources, plentiful living spaces, and relatively 'less dangerous' wildernesses; albeit the eastern side was safer than the western. The four keshlaen tribes and their alliances, though securing huge swathes of territory initially, would not be left alone for long. The muurun remained a constant threat, the nebusah's wolvir cousins were gaining ground in the foothills and forests, various unaligned harpy tribes enjoyed being belligerents, and so on. One did not win something and keep it for long, not unless they worked to do so.   The Green Tongues and Red Hairs were direct competitors as well, fighting over central Aerthen's transitory territory between deeper jungles and rain forests and the eastern plains. The Yokunku occupied far western Aerthen, and Sabballa to the far east; these two tribes faced difficulties from the foreign threats of Lophern and Nerzin, respectively. Unknown to the four, their dominance triggered a ripple effect in the surrounding lands, causing other civilizations to react strongly to their perceived threat.   The wolvir and muurun were the easily noticeable ones, as they felt their security as regional powers under direct attack. Lauraume tribes, far more isolated at the time, began feeling the pressure of less-well-off foreigners encroaching into their hunting grounds. Petrakin communes, facing an influx of refugees or those seeking aid, became incensed at their peace being disrupted. After a certain point, it was no longer about the keshlaen specifically, even if they might've been the 'spark' to this increasing unrest.   The tipping point came in the Green Tongues' conquest of the Red Hairs, breaking the deadlock between the two sides. With their imminent rival now under heel, the Green Tongues consolidated; in doing so, alarmed the Yokunku and Sabballa. Despite being nations with no connecting border, the two began immediate diplomatic talks, and so came to an agreement to pincer the Green Tongues. A two-sided war front that would halt their sister tribes' ambitions, but also complicate their own homeland defenses in the process. As this political hairball clumped together, the Yokunku and Sabballa brought in more and more 'unaligned' powers to their sides to shore up womanpower and fighting strength.   Though historical retrospective is almost trite in its straightforwardness, at the time, no one really knew what the scale of things would become.    

War for Aerthen

Between the two, the Sabballa of eastern Aerthen were a much easier target in a geographic sense: no seas in the way, equitable plains, relatively small forests, and so on. The Green Tongues, long aware of the situation they were in, planned for decades on how to take over the Sabballa territory. Most in the tribe felt such further conquest was entirely unneeded; they struggled managing Red Hair territory in the first place. The Green Tongues' nobility—a warrior elite drunk on their own glamorous achievements—couldn't resist reaching for even greater glories. Even at the time, many within the Green Tongues knew pushing for new wars would quite possibly destroy the gains they had only just won from the last conflict. Never mind the fact that numerous civilizations around them were eying the situation, and their involvement could send it in any direction imaginable.   Eventually, something lit the spark to the fire of war.   Historical evidence suggests either the Yellow Rock or Iron Teeth, two of the Green Tongues' greatest noble bands, as the instigators. As the ones nearest to Sabballa territory, they were most invested in potential conquest. Regardless of which of the two were responsible, the burgeoning Sabballa frontier city of Gyannan was sacked and destroyed virtually overnight. A hamlet in prior years, the emergence of a crysium field nearby massively increased its value, and the Sabballa were keen to secure such an important resource. Yet, before they could truly entrench themselves, Gyannan's sacking and subsequent claiming by Green Tongue banners made it clear that war had arrived.   News flew fast, and soon the Sabballa, Yokunku, and all their allies were mobilizing to invade the Green Tongues. At the same time, political infighting broke out among the Green Tongues about who attacked the Sabballa, causing a rift within the tribe and their own allies. Still, as war became reality and armies marched within their territories, the Green Tongues rallied together, if imperfectly so. A number of Red Hairs, long subjugated underneath the Green Tongues, would soon rise up in rebellion in the following months, destabilizing the situation ever further. As supply lines broke, armies battered one another, and loyalties both true and false were tested, the war snowballed into dozens of different factions fighting one another. In some cases, even those who were—on parchment—allies, yet couldn't identify each other properly, fought one another.   Aerthen is a land familiar with war, but this particular conflict, later dubbed the Three Tribes War, would elevate it to a scale not seen in the Wild Times. The only ones uninvolved in it were those of the mountains, particularly the Divine Mountains, such as dragonkind and onpa, whose geographic location simply isolated them from everyone else's fighting. Nonetheless, the actual end of armed conflict between the Green Tongues, Yokunku, and Sabballa became an incredibly minor footnote. Their peace treaty, such as it was, took place as dozens of other conflicts and wars of varying intensities raged on. In addition, these wars engendered dangerous tides of Forsaken Undead, and the Relentless Herds and Packs were rampaging out of control as armies diverted resources from nature keeping.   The keshlaen simply became more concerned about their own survival than expansionism at that point.    

Nations of Alliances

There are many ways to describe Aerthen's ancient wars, and the myriad points of view about them, but for the keshlaen, they became a transformative period. The once-dominant tribes of the Green Tongues, Yokunku, and Sabballa were eventually broken apart by infighting or defeats by outside forces, fragmenting their holdings. By the end of the Wild Times, however, the keshlaen emerged as a renewed and somewhat different people.   The faults and failures of their once 'great leaders' of old were sources of great ridicule, both internal and external. Furthermore, dissenters who'd been proven right were galvanized by the hardship their peoples endured afterward. Keshlaen political thought shifted dramatically away from the reverence/worship of so-called 'great people' and 'divine queens', and veered into something ostensibly more republic-based. While the transition was both rough and quarrelsome, the strongest keshlaen who emerged did so in multi-species city-states that had come to embrace the core values of mutual harmony and prosperity between different peoples and social strata. Their tremendous successes eventually pushed out or integrated the other, weaker keshlaen nations nearby into their umbrella, further increasing the strength of this political approach.   The emergence of these city-states generally coincides with the end of the Wild Times, and came to represent the beginnings of what would later become the keshlaen's more modern shared cultural identity in Aerthen. While not as territorially expansive as their ancestors, the keshlaen’s city-states carved up the surrounding lands. With an eye toward diplomatic power and economic leverage, they used their holdings to broker with neighbors, extend their influence, and consolidated larger political power blocks both domestically and abroad.   In many ways resembling a feudal system, the keshlaen city-states were rather permissive in how governance beyond their immediate borders were concerned. By favoring localborn peoples and instilling them with power, so long as loyalty was maintained, they became local land ladies in an ever-expanding network of political, economic, and military alignment. This system of independence and fealty ensured both sides had more reason to help one another and less to rebel or betray. The specifics varied, of course, but one could find anything from keshlaen feudal monarchies to democratic republics.   The keshlaen's success in this area is believed to have dramatically altered the trajectory of Aerthen's politics across the continent. In an era in which ethnocentric and xenophobic ideas were common, the keshlaen proved that more integrated and metropolitan cultures could not only survive, but thrive. As such, imitators arose, and eventually multi-species alliances became the most dominant powers throughout Aerthen. It would only be the most well-established and entrenched of isolationist powers, such as the draconic lineages or cultivation sects, who could measure up against these alliances. These same powers usually kept to their own domains by the end of the Wild Times, with only incidental conflicts flaring up and down. As such, good policy between these different territories of Aerthen generally settled on 'ignore one another', as most weren't eager to see how such conflict would shake out.   It's difficult to speak for the keshlaen as a whole once the Wild Times ended: their diverse population and general dispersion across Aerthen and Veltrona saw different populations meeting many different fates. While Aerthen was their homeland, the prior migration of tribes in eras past saw their numbers swell in Etzli Cuauhtla, Nerzin, and even Immensio. The keshlaen diaspora pursued many different paths, such as maintaining (or returning to) the great leader culture that some tribes considered very traditional. Others, forced by circumstances or environment, adopted different models, such as empire building in Nerzin. It suffices to say that, while they were successful in varying degrees, these disparate keshlaen never quite amounted to the same global historical significance as those in Aerthen.    

Age of the Imperium

It is difficult to overstate the dramatic and world-changing impact Imperious wrought on the world, and the keshlaen in particular met terrible misfortune at her hands.   A dragon unmatched in her sheer physical might and nigh-invincibility, Imperious rose to infamy as she sought thrilling challenges and worldly pleasures, and had no compulsions about destroying anything or anyone that got in her way. Though initially regarded as simply another rogue dragon causing mayhem by many, Imperious' unrelenting rampage drew greater and greater attention as she continued unabated. As dragonkind itself, rallied under the banners or their various lineages, failed to stop her, Imperious' ambitions only grew by magnitudes. Eventually she took pleasure in conquering her foes instead of merely annihilating them, and with many dragons (willingly or not) under her service, she formulated the simplistic-yet-horrifying Imperium—a 'government' that existed entirely to facilitate her demands and carry out her orders upon everyone else.   With the Imperium's formulation, its so-called imperial dragons began the indiscriminate pillaging of every land before them. Raw resources, slaves, live sacrifices to fuel foul magics; whatever they wanted, they took, and destruction followed in their wake. The keshlaen nations of Aerthen were, at such a point, not only deeply interwoven throughout the continent, they were among the first ones struck by the Imperium. As tales of its horrors spread further, the keshlaen and their allies became furious beyond all reason. Recognizing Imperious and her Imperium as an existential threat, even old enemies set aside their grievances to band together. With them came others, and soon Aerthen and Lophern descended into a period of prolonged and devastating war.   Dragonkind, as natural immortals, possesses a strong survival instinct when confronted by lethal dangers. Although an adult dragon in such an era could easily kill hundreds, if not thousands, of keshlaen warriors, the intrinsic fear of being caught by 'that lucky blow' remained tangibly real. As such, dragons pursued very specific tactics in war that sought to maximize their gains while minimizing their personal risk. It is this sole fact that historians attribute to the generally 'slow' pace by which the Imperium waged warfare: for all their massive destructive power, most dragons feared dying, and even Imperious couldn’t change this fact. The keshlaen and many others exploited this fear greatly, creating entire new military stratagems designed solely against their draconic foes to the extreme.   Yet, despite the countless thousands of brilliant minds and stalwart souls that poured themselves into the war, the Imperium's eastward campaigns continued. Decades became centuries, and war against the Imperium simply became a fact of life in Aerthen. The imperial dragons devised new tactics of war themselves, of course, and the discovery of the World Gate in the borderlands between Lophern and Aerthen by Imperious herself became a pivotal moment. An ancient megastructure of unknown origin, the World Gate was a massive teleportation array capable of sending entire armies seemingly anywhere on Veltrona. Imperious loved it greatly, and jealously guarded it from everyone, even her own 'allies'. Still, there were times she utilized it strategically, and so Imperium armies would suddenly appear in entirely unexpected locations, ravage the surrounding lands, then retreat back through the World Gate's portals.   The atrocities against the keshlaen and the other peoples of Veltrona continued to increase, and even with dozens of dragonkind lineages in full war against the Imperium, Imperious herself remained unstoppable.    

The Great Darkness

Toward the ending days of the Imperium, Imperious suddenly vanished in the midst of a calamitous duel with Aerintor. The records of where and way don’t agree on any of the details, and even most scholars found it absurd a human of all people matched a dragon of Imperious’ might. Yet, with Imperious' disappearance, those long oppressed by her sought to destroy the World Gate once and for all, and succeeded in doing so—with horrific consequences. It released a planet-thundering explosion that destroyed northern Dorvar, southern Lophern, far western Aerthen, and parts of northern Votyoger in devastation of an unimaginable scale. In its wake rained clouds of debris and darkness, drowning out the sun and casting the world beneath an opaque veil of dust and ash.   A huge swathe of the keshlaen people, having entrenched themselves at decades-old borders with the Imperium in western Aerthen, were instantly annihilated by the blast. The immediate shockwave devastated entire continental regions, and the darkening of the skies foretold of even worse calamities to come. With the situation unclear and the imperial dragons suddenly infighting, everyone focused on sheltering down to survive the fallout. So it came to be that the keshlaen city-states, epicenters of military and logistical coordination, became vital bastions to which the many peoples sought shelter within. At least, what few remained.   With thoroughly practiced and honed skill, the keshlaen rallied their people, struck out to save those they could, and prepared for a hardship no one knew how severe it would become. The magnanimity of the keshlaen heightened their honor in the eyes of other peoples to truly heaven-reaching realms. Their stalwart warriors and firm commitment to the prosperity of everyone in fair and equal ways made them living heroines in the dangerous times of the Great Darkness.   Yet, as the sunlight disappeared from Veltrona, strange and uncertain anomalies began to arise. Lands shifted and churned, as if writhing like flesh, becoming different in make and nature. Alien creatures of never-before-seen natures prowled through the darkness, bringing dangers the wildest imaginations couldn't grasp. Even time and distance themselves became strange as far-away lands suddenly seemed like neighbors, while entire regions' flora and/or fauna suddenly grew to maturity within days and died just as quickly.   The many difficulties of the Great Darkness make it a time of difficult record keeping at best, and downright unreliable otherwise. What is known, and generally agreed upon, was that it was a period of mystery, unknown danger, and bizarre, logic-defying strangeness. The keshlaen, out of all peoples, stringently worked throughout such horrors to continue to provide for their peoples. A sacrificial role that demanded much as the decades dragged on, and on, and on.    

The Baarham Dominion

By the end of the Great Darkness, the keshlaen were among those who fared reasonably well despite the centuries of hardship. Though battered and severely depleted, they'd maintained equitable societies that safeguarded their prized ideals of cooperation and prosperity. With the returning sunlight bringing back normalcy that younger generations only heard about from their great-grandparents, they believed the calamity was at an end, and sought to rebuild once more. These early ventures into the post-Great Darkness world sought to not only take an accounting of who survived, but survey the extent of the damages. Countless civilizations of both great and small stature were lost forever, and keshlaen explorers were among those to first take records of their grim fates.   For those of Aerthen, however, another hardship would greet them.   The baarham, a small and hereto-unknown monsterkind people, had suffered beneath the rule of the Imperium as slaves. Traumatized by the evils visited upon them, they were rallied by one of their own during the Great Darkness, a charismatic man who would become their Sorcerer King: Ghown. Xenophobic to the extreme, King Ghown envisioned a future of baarham supremacy, such that no one—especially dragons—could ever threaten them again. Through vast and mysterious work throughout the Great Darkness, he transformed his people from their humble origins into fearsome mistresses of magic, hence named the baarham.   As the Great Darkness ended, the Baarham Dominion had gathered terrible strength and a readiness few around them could match. They struck out almost as soon as the sun began to shine once again, taking over huge swathes of territory in far western Aerthen (at least, what remained of it), as well as conquering and enslaving everyone in their path. The keshlaen city-fortresses, best equipped to resist the Dominion, were drawn into immediate conflict.   Just as their foremothers had once warred against the Imperium, another existential evil had arrived upon their doorstep. Unlike the Imperium, the Dominion had learned new and adaptive methods, and the baarham were all-too-willing to embrace new and horrific tactics for war: neurotoxic gas attacks, long-range massed bombardment, scorched veltron assaults, and so on. They struck swiftly and with an emphasis on maximum damage, indifferent to the possibility of plunder or slaves, only the eradication of credible threats. Still, the Dominion fundamentally lacked the population necessary to truly control and defend most of the lands they claimed, shackling even their greatest ambitions to time's slow, monotonous grind.   The war against the Dominion galvanized the Aerthen keshlaen and drove their focus to frenzied heights as they refused to yield their barely-surviving world to such an evil. Bloody and destructive conflict marked decades of post-Darkness years as the keshlaen staunchly resisted the Dominion's continual encroachment. For all their great sacrifices throughout the last few centuries, keshlaen heroism enamored their allies and fellow peoples, drawing them into the so-called Dominion War that became a perilous trial for them all to survive.    

Undaunted Heroism

The end of the Dominion came about through a mysterious magical event, in which a monstrous Divine Tempest completely swept away the Dominion’s cities and people. No one knew where it came from, how it arrived, or why it disappeared as it did, but most saw it as a form of divine intervention by goddesses hereto-unknown (or at least, many faithful hotly contest which goddess was responsible).   The Dominion's sudden disappearance left a palpable power vacuum behind, especially as numerous civilizations had dramatically militarized in order to fight it. No one knows who to blame for lighting the spark, but eventually some peoples turned on others, seeking opportunity to build their own greatness. As is so often the case, one opportunist attacked another—the Shlank tribe going after the Kehau tribe is an easy example—and in doing so, brought their allies in. The fighting escalated from there, but no single people truly bore the blame, for evil is ever present where war lurks.   The Aerthen keshlaen, battered and weary from centuries of hardship, found their fury renewed all the more. Their hatred of these warladies and conquerors galvanized them into a ferocity such foes were not prepared for. At the cusp of a peaceful era where everyone could heal within, they despised all those who dared bring war. As such, in the following decades and centuries, keshlaen 'peacekeeping' became their new political apparatus. In leveraging their superior economies and overall militaries, even as disparate city-states, they bludgeoned warmongers into submission and punished those who pursued such evil ways. The keshlaen's actual effectiveness varied greatly, but there can be no mistaking how much pressure they exerted in bringing even small wars across Aerthen to a grinding halt.   If people couldn't be convinced of a better way, then the keshlaen would drown them so thoroughly as to make war as unprofitable and unsustainable as possible. While this would lead to some viewing the keshlaen city-states as figures of authority in the region, some also began to view them as maternalistically stomping on the autonomy of those around them.   It is this motivation that has seen mighty keshlaen armies stride across the lands, interdicting others and defeating them in battle. It is their love of life that has seen keshlaen heroines embark on terrible quests, all to save the less fortunate. It would be their unshakeable empathy that compelled them to shoulder the hardships of kin and friends alike, whether or not such people wanted their help at all. And, perhaps above everything else, the keshlaen refused the belief that life brought suffering as a norm.   Though it would take many forms, these convictions permeated their species and cultures thoroughly in the ensuing millennia. The modern-day keshlaen are an altogether different people from their warlike ancestors, and are seen as icons of life, equality, and justice for all. Their seemingly good-intentions, all the same, continue to make them an overbearing species to deal with even at the best of times. Few, however, would dare call them dishonorable or villainous.      

Biology

Anatomy and Physiology

The keshlaen are a sexually dimorphic humanoid species with a head, torso that has two arms that end in five fingered hands, two legs that end in four-toed feet, and a tail that emerges out from their spine. In general, females are larger, physically stronger, have enlarged breasts and wider hips, and possess vibrant colors with glossy skin/scales. Males are smaller, sleeker, and have bold and saturated colors in more complex patterns with a matte finish.   Historically confused for being a variant of dragonkind, the keshlaen bear superficial similarities to dragons, particularly in their scales and physical demeanor. Some particularly ancient records refer to them as dralinki, a tarunvu bastardization of 'dragon' and 'small/feeble' that also has connotations of 'friendly'. However, the keshlaen themselves have some distinct physical variation within the species: primarily with some populations boasting scales, while others do not. The very name keshlaen is a native identification meaning 'hard-soft', encapsulating this physical dynamic. Thus, it is considered inappropriate to classify the two as variants, or pick one as the primary and the other as the variant. Anatomically the two are similar in many respects and are chiefly differentiated by their skin and scales (or lack thereof). While these traits largely express themselves consistently, very rare cases can result in a keshlaen of a different expression than their parents (e.g, soft skinned keshlaen having a hard scaled child).   As a rule, scale-bearing sapient species on Veltrona typically display the majority of their scales on the exterior-facing, or hardy/bony, portions of the body, such as: joints (elbows, fingers, etc) shoulders, nose, jawline, cheekbone, outer rim of the ear, knees, topside of the feet, the outside-facing portions of the arms, thighs, and torso, etc. The nature of this ensures the scales offer some form of protection without interfering with bodily kinetics, or the growth/expansion of fat/muscles within the body. The extent to which scales are present in size, shape, and overall coverage varies greatly between the different sapient species, and is generally considered a heritable trait.   A keshlaen's head has human-like features: two eyes, a nose, a mouth, ears, and head hair. Of particular note is that the keshlaen support a minor plumage within their hair, typically beginning at the crown of the head that then trails back over the skull toward the spine. Keshlaen eyes and facial features are usually described as slightly larger than human-equivalent proportions, giving them wider, more expressive eyes that have been sometimes described as 'puppy-like', 'cute', and 'disarming'. Women are noted to have slightly more angular features, lending an aura of sharpness to their visage.   The torso of the keshlaen is generally human-like in sculpt and shape, as are their arms and legs. The hands and feet differ in that both have thick, yet short claws ideal for rending, finding grip, and digging. The keshlaen foot itself has some flexibility with the big toe and the little toe, allowing for quasi-hand functionality, albeit in a rudimentary manner. This feature has been shown to assist keshlaen both in traction while running over brushland, as well as helping them to grip onto tree branches or sheer surfaces with greater dexterity. While sometimes described as a 'foot-hand', it is not fully capable in the same way as wyvern feet-hands are, which are capable of the same fine motor tasks as actual humanoid actual hands.   The keshlaen tail itself is thick and long, free of hair or feathers, and tapering off to a whip-like end; it varies between 3/4ths to 2 entire body lengths in size, and is used as a form of ethnic identification (e.g, scaled short-tails). The tail is functionally usable as an appendage, though larger ones may have trouble with certain types of articulation, similar to how overly sized muscles can limit the reach/flexibility of the arms. If scales are present, they typically favor the top (dorsal) side of the tail, though extreme cases may see the whole tail armored in a suitably flexible scale pattern.    

Appearance

Bold, striking, vibrant; the keshlaen are famous for the wide variety of colourful patterns and markings found among different populations. Their seemingly 'disarming' or 'cute' demeanor clashes with the predator's aura they carry, creating a contrast that many other species are fascinated by. The keshlaen are among the more personable sort of monsterkind, but they are, nonetheless, the descendants of monsters. The primal nature of that still remains even to the modern day, from sharp teeth and claws that are ideal for hunting and traversing the varied environs of Aerthen to their distinctive demeanor.   In addition to the distinction of scales or no scales, the keshlaen are further physically defined by their skin composition and texture. Those of arid or desert descent typically possess thicker, firmer skin with craggy textures, and fewer distinct colours and less saturated skintones. Those of the jungles, swamps, and similarly high humidity environments have vibrantly moist and smooth skin, and can display a rainbow of intense colours. This specific group of traits is what best demonstrates a keshlaen's particular ancestry, and is why more ancient scholars initially thought there were variants or entirely new species.   Keshlaen hair and plumage comes in a wide variety of appearances, and is easily influenced by ancestry. In general, hair and plumage favor bold and vibrant coloration, such as carmine red, leaf green, sapphire blues, etc. The hair may adopt secondary 'streaks' of color, usually complimentary but rarely analogous, to the main hair's color. The plumage itself may adopt colors similar or completely indifferent to the hair, and sport visual patterns in the feathers of simple but distinctive nature, such as vaguely geometric shapes or multi-tone shading.   Keshlaen skin colors and patterns depend on their lineage. Arid keshlaen possess simpler, more subdued colors and patterns (e.g, the interior/fatty areas of the body being a dusty brown, but the exterior/muscular areas featuring sandstone red). Wetter and humid-adapted keshlaen skin can feature elaborate color patterns anywhere from naturalistic shapes to intertwined layers that resemble living artwork (e.g, a light green bottom layer skin tone with vividly blue streaks on the arms, legs, and sides of the torso, which then have speckles or 'dots' of yellow in them either on their own or melting together). Of the two, the arid are usually more consistent across the different environments, while humid have such variety even within a single family line that scholars aren't even sure how to catalogue them all.   Eye colors are, however, universally vibrant and quite distinctive. While not to the same gem-like quality as draconic eyes, keshlaen eyes possess a glassy quality with a vivid vibrancy underneath, creating a dynamic iris that has incredible variation within its structure. Due to how large the keshlaen pupil and iris can be, the sclera itself is barely seen, and it usually has either white or black colors, but some ancestries may have others, such as blue, yellow, and purple. The pupil is normally black and round, but in extreme light conditions can constrict to a vertical slit quite sharply.    

Natural Abilities

Sturdy — Keshlaen have a greater durability than most others, capable of resisting harm from most external sources as well as enduring the wear and tear of physical exertion. While not invulnerable, the keshlaen are far ahead of those like humanity, urni, lauraume, etc.   Prehensile Tail – Keshlaen tails are flexible and usable enough to be considered an appendage for the purposes of manipulation or doing things.    

Diet

Omnivores by nature, the keshlaen value good food wherever it can be found, and perhaps have a much wider palate than many monsterkind in the omnivore camp. While exact foods vary based on their region, nearly every keshlaen culture consumes meat (typically grilled fish, stewed meat of all kinds, or blood-thickened stews), insects (especially for snacks, peanuts and larva fried in garlic and spices is almost universally popular), fruits and berries, leafy greens (fresh or stewed), boiled and pounded tubers and grains, and dairy. Alcohol is best utilized as an ingredient to season or preserve other foods, as most drinking forms prove very disagreeable with keshlaen stomachs.   In this sense, the keshlaen have a diverse and balanced diet that exploits varied flora and fauna. The keshlaen have a reputation as culinary innovators for this reason, and a common belief is that the keshlaen can make anything delicious, even things that other species may not be used to as food. On the other hand, delicious meals are often the crowning achievements attained only after prolonged efforts of experimentation, and more than one horror story comes from those (mis)fortunate enough to meet an aspiring keshlaen chef.   Given that keshlaen cultures also tend to be cosmopolitan, many different forms of cuisine come together, making fusion cuisines common among most keshlaen societies. Meeting the demands for these ingredients drives the food trade like nothing else, for if the keshlaen cannot source it locally, their merchants will find it abroad. This can have an effect on local livestock and crops, as there are staples like cattle or umbudo, as well as wheat or potatoes, but also many diverging specialty trades. Insect proteins and ingredients is perhaps the more notorious industry to point toward, especially as many peoples unused to such selections as ‘food’ find it rather disquieting.    

Life Cycle

Infancy & Childhood

Keshlaen pregnancies usually average 2 offspring at a time, and gestation usually lasts from 9 to 10 months. Born feeble and incapable, infant keshlaen are at the mercy of the world around them, and so rely entirely on their parents for care. They are generally quiet as infants, only making chirps and similar sounds when needing to find their parents or call for help. Within a year or two, they will develop enough to begin wandering around, and acquire a growing confidence to cause trouble.   Keshlaen children are terrors that find/put themselves into all kinds of situations. Innately curious about the world around them, they are as easily fascinated as they are tempted by novelty, often eating things they shouldn't, and generally finding whatever they can do to cause headaches for adults. At such an age, if the parents cannot satisfy their children's cravings, they'll be put into playgroups with similarly aged youngsters. At least, in that sense, they'll be busy with their childish queendoms and social learning exercises. Community guardians and/or elders will typically preside over these playgroups, and commonly handle a form of early education, though what it entails exactly is hardly standardized.   Many keshlaen cultures consider it important to let children develop at their own pace. When interests are expressed by a child, the adults in their life will try to reinforce and reward them. If a child doesn't care for something, then common advice is not to force it and to let them find their own path. The only form of formal education that is really emphasized is basic literacy and mathematics, which many keshlaen cultures consider fundamental to every other field of knowledge. Keshlaen nomadic groups, or those more out in the wilderness/frontier, will instead prioritize teaching these skills through more practical means while teaching children survival skills, with basic literacy sometimes being exchanged for developing memorization and oral storytelling practice.    

Adolescence

Adolescence for the keshlaen begins around 10-to-12 years of age, and is marked by the infant's tail—typically a single very bright color, such as solid blue or green—begins to shed its youthful vibrancy and adopt its adult skin texture and pigmentation. Keshlaen will also grow to reach their adult size during this time.   After this tail shedding, keshlaen youth will be pushed into formalized education and/or apprenticeships as their culture demands in order to prepare or transition them into adulthood responsibilities. Simultaneously, in most cultures they'll also be expected to participate in community work and labor, not only to gain practical experience, but also to introduce the adolescent to the wider community as a contributing member, to teach them the value of communal welfare, and as a way to debut to local mistresses and announce that they are ready to begin their apprenticeship training. The specifics vary by culture and availability, but overall, the keshlaen see this period as a time of learning responsibilities to one's self, their community, and their future. Anything and everything is taught at this stage, but the universals tend to be survivalist skills, self-care, martial combat, hunting, and then preparatory work for higher education (e.g, becoming a scholar or taking on a particular craft).   Keshlaen, as a free spirited people, demonstrate their wilder side more during adolescence. Full of youthful confidence, these younger keshlaen are much more inclined to 'strike out on their own'. It is a constant struggle for their families to manage this growing desire for independence with finding a way to integrate their youths into their community and to help them find their role in it. Balancing these two sides is a tricky endeavor, and the source of much drama in a keshlaen's life at this point. The similarities are not that different to the human adolescent stage of development, and is considered the reason why both groups of adolescents get on as well as they do; sometimes problematically so as they are fantastic co-conspirators.    

Adulthood

Keshlaen typically reach adulthood in their mid 20s, and they are hence considered in their physical prime for the next couple decades. Most cultures usually view the complete transformation of the tail from vibrant color to the adult homogeneous skin / pigmentation as a sign of full maturity. However, some physiological traits may take some years more, so it is not a precise moment in itself and more of one milestone of many.   By this stage, a keshlaen is well-equipped to handle their local environment and its complexities, as well as their overall role in their given community. Most will be well into apprenticeship at this point for a given career and are cultivating relationships with other mistresses as well as clients, or they may be continuing their studies for more sophisticated occupations (e.g, magical engineering, scholar, mathematician, etc). Managing their own professions as much as their societal responsibilities will become an important balancing act, especially as others come to rely on them.   For many adult keshlaen, making their mark on the world in their prime is a strong and often reinforced cultural ideal. What sort of mark is perhaps the biggest variable between the different cultures, but many fantasize over their names being in history books, spoken of in great tales, and referred to in reverence. They're proactive in this pursuit, resulting in many of the sometimes risky attempts they undertake in order to carve out their piece of history. Most eventually settle for, at the very least, being considered important and respected among their immediate peers and family, but even then, the competitive spirit among a generational group can be a fierce affair.    

Old Age & Death

Old age begins somewhere around the last quarter of a keshlaen's life span (typically, 60~ years), and is marked by progressive physical / mental deterioration. Those of a particularly healthy lifestyle and physical routine can stave off the effects of old age to some extent, remaining active and participating far longer. Among the various physical changes the keshlaen experience with old age, the most common and visible are the gradual loss of vibrancy in colouration, scale quality becoming rougher or more fragile, and/ or the loss of muscle mass, weight, and flexibility. As with most other mortal species, however, this is making the best of an ultimately descending situation.   Keshlaen will reorganize their lives as old age begins, looking to take on roles or responsibilities that aren't as physically demanding on their aging bodies, with those who are mistresses of their craft appointing or finishing the training of their successors during this time. Many who have families, or otherwise occupy significant positions in their community, will tend to gravitate towards taking charge of child education and child rearing, helping to raise the next generations, pass on their wisdom, and to integrate the children into the tapestry of the greater community. In many ways, they try to live the best they can with the time they have left, leaving something for others, while reaching for what they still can themselves—time does not lessen the competitive spirit of the keshlaen, after all.   Deaths associated with old age usually come by way of illness or injury stressing an elder keshlaen’s weakened body past its ability to cope with or heal from. For the particularly long-lived, extreme physical deterioration resulting in metabolic failure, and is generally considered a rather peaceful end.   Burial practices in many keshlaen cultures vary from sedentary practices of entombment in family or communal graves, to nomadic ceremonial cremations or funerary cannibalism. Regardless of how the deceased's remains are processed, many keshlaen traditions consider it important to keep a part of the body as part of a family funerary jar, ornate box, or similar relic. This ritualistic piece is considered the family legacy, and carries massive symbolic importance to the descendants of the bloodline. Some of the greatest keshlaen families have dozens of such funerary reliquaries, maintaining a history hundreds upon hundreds of years old as a consequence. These reliquaries are usually enshrined in the center of the family home, forming the heart around which the living family gathers and can keep the memory of the departed in mind.    

Anaxials, Hybrids, and Variants

Anaxials

Keshlaen anaxials are among those generally closest and most cohesive with the typical human form. They're best identified by scales, skin textures/patterns, the tail (if any), and feather plumage. Keshlaen anaxials are sometimes confused for dragon anaxials, especially by those without any familiarity with single-blooded dragons proper. They're also confused for harpy anaxials sometimes, at least to the extent that the pseudo-avian features and feathers can lead some to such a mistaken conclusion.   In addition to their anatomical traits, keshlaen anaxials notably demonstrate stronger personality traits. That is, an energetic keshlaen anaxial is much more energetic than either keshlaen or human parents. The heightened emphasis, if not extremely so, is a defining characteristic that easily leads to overbearing and larger-than-life personalities. In some cases, those of a melancholic persuasion or similar can instead appear to have massively negative qualities, though not in any way that could be considered self-destructive.    

Hybrids

Keshlaen hybrids are typically visually identified by boasting keshlaen-specific patterns of feathers, increased color variety or dynamics, unique scale growth behavior, and so on. The presence of horns, if present in their father’s lineage, are also more likely to occur. In some ways, keshlaen hybrids have been mistaken for variants of the species proper due to their superficial similarities. However, their most expressive traits only really come from select other species, such as dragons, baarham, helunae, etc. Those without this cross section of common features, like the urni or bieneren, do not impart much of anything beyond coloration or pattern changes.    

Variants

There are no known variants for the keshlaen. Scholars, both within the species and outside of it, do postulate about the 'hard' and 'soft'-scaled keshlaen deserving status as a variant, but no one can agree on who the 'original species' is anymore. Given the political and cultural contention that can arise around the matter, it's not treated very seriously except by bigots or xenophobes trying to create a fake, divisive issue.      

Sociology

Cultural Universals

Loud and Proud

The majority of keshlaen are extroverts by nature, and so live and die by directness, social connectivity, and public esteem. At the same time, their personal pride and need for individual accomplishment pushes them to distinguish themselves from their peers, for better or worse. It is a curious mixture of traits that has resulted in the stereotype of keshlaen being a naturally bold people, and one with intrusive / invasive involvement in the business and lives of others.   To the keshlaen, society itself is a world to which they are all important players upon, something that one changes and is changed by in their day-to-day lives. Some liken it to a battleground or grand competition, but this comparison implies a lack of empathy for the people involved, which annoys the keshlaen. Instead, it's better to envision the world of people as a dynamic ecosystem made of all kinds of moving parts. The keshlaen love this complexity and learning how to navigate it, for it is a form of skill unto itself.   For those without the energy to keep up with these constant dynamics, however, it can be truly exhausting to stay up to date with the ins and outs of even one’s local neighbourhood.    

Kind, yet Firm

The wilds of Veltrona are no-nonsense crucibles to inhabit, and those who manage to survive in them must rise to the clear and unmistakable challenges of survival that such harsh landscapes impose on all living beings. The ancient keshlaen, especially as jungle inhabitants, learned this truth with brutal swiftness. Though they've come to conquer and mostly tame their homelands of Aerthen, the lessons Veltrona taught to them have ever remained within their collective awareness. It is an unfortunate hardship upon their surprisingly kind hearts, for the keshlaen do not like suffering or watching others endure misery. But rather than making them embittered survivalists, it has instead engendered within many keshlaen a strong sense of empathy for the suffering of all other living beings, sapient or not. Such sentiments have made them quick friends of humanity, and the keshlaen are perhaps one of the more empathic monsterkind in the world.   Thus, to the keshlaen, the worst disregard a person can be given is to be ignored or outright shunned, for it means they do not matter at all. One who invests great emotion, positive or negative, such as a teacher pushing their students or rivals constantly bickering with one another, inherently shows they care greatly to sacrifice their time and emotional energy for the target of their interactions. For the keshlaen, choosing to act at all is something which carries profound meaning to their cultures, and so is not something to be overlooked.    

Lingual Characteristics

The keshlaen largely speak within a human-like vocal range, expressing the same capabilities and characteristics. Their relatively larger tongue can result in some variations, especially with the presence of clicks and whistles in their oldest native languages. For the modern day keshlaen, such audible sounds are akin to an accent or dialogue quirk as they've long adapted to the linguistic structures of neighboring species, like humanity.    

Arts and Beauty

For a people who live so proactively, art is considered to be but another vehicle through which one can express one’s vivacity and depth of emotion. In the majority of keshlaen cultures, the ability to convey or capture a particular emotion or mood within one’s artwork is considered one of the most critical ingredients of all artistic pursuits. Through such, artists communicate to others as much as cultivate their own emotional sensibility and strengths.   An ensemble of percussion and woodwind instruments can stir a person alive with a thunderous performance, but it can also bring them to a low, deeply veltronic ambience that drowns out noise. It is the precise command of mood that the keshlaen look for in any work of art, and it is why the works of many other species can often struggle to impress them if they focus more on mistressy of the medium or aesthetics alone. In many ways, keshlaen arts are demanding on one's technical skill, and it is a fierce competition space indeed.   Keshlaen theater epitomizes this the most, for it is a battleground of many different professions clashing together. Whether dramatic reenactments, stage plays, musical performances, live dueling, and more, keshlaen take to the stage to become the stars they aspire to be. No two performances are exactly the same—at least, not until that performance reaches the renown or acclaim they want.   If one views through the lens of capturing one's self—in part or full—then keshlaen arts and beauty come together in a much clearer context. Keshlaen want to not only capture who they are, but to let others feel and experience them. One's soul moving orchestral performance may not matter to another who, instead, finds themself captivated by a sorrowful painting. How one receives the world changes day-by-day, moment-by-moment, and the keshlaen try to capture themselves in these ideal moments. It is why the keshlaen sense of beauty cares as much about context as who or what is present. 'Even gold can be dull before, or after, it glitters', as the saying goes. In some senses, this approach is not really that different from draconic sensibilities, minus the intrinsic concept of conveyance dragonkind relies upon.    

Magic and Technology

Keshlaen innovation generally adheres to two consistent themes: pragmatic, real-world applications, and hyper-specialization of function.   While driven as much by necessity as any other species, the keshlaen’s drive to distinguish themselves as individuals has led to the inventors and innovators of many cultures seeking to create something that was both functional and something immediately recognizable as the design of a single craftswoman. Thus, the drive for mages, engineers, and other intellectuals or craftswomen to create their ‘magnum opus’ is one found in nearly every Keshlaen society. The keshlaen wanted more than just something that worked—they wanted something history would remember their names for. In doing so, they have created all sorts of inventions, magical arts, and other wonders of both the dazzling as much as the utterly useless. To the keshlaen, such creativity is as boundless as the arts, if not frequently debated to be a part of the arts entirely, and those enamored with the esoteric unitasking inventions of the foremothers in their fields are fervent adherents to the idea that every person has one ‘perfect invention’ they can bring to the world.   It is, of course, greatly ironic that some of the inventions which were considered more 'trivial' by their cultures of origin have, over time, garnered the most attention from other species. Chief among them is the ever-popular 'bug censer', which is a type of magical array contained within a simple disc that acts as a lethal trap for insects. If one supplies the proper mana-infused incense, the resulting smoke generated incinerates any tiny insects that wafts through it without damaging other people or creatures. While the censer originated from Lophern, its practicality made it incredibly popular once it reached other communities who live in jungle or humid environs and have to deal with mosquitos and other invasive, deadly pests. At the same time, however, most people do not find the smell of incinerated insects as 'tantalizing' as the keshlaen do, so there have been efforts by other species to address this ‘feature’ of the censer.   Other innovations, such as Tyelleka's Ten Vitals, are testaments to keshlaen ingenuity. Tyelleka herself was a doctor who frequently dealt with common, if usually non-lethal, diseases—the pests of Aerthen being notorious for their widespread pestilence. Frustrated by her inability to find widely applicable cures, she turned away from external concoctions and remedies to explore how the body actually healed itself. With the theories of Healing Arts in her era revolving around ‘vitality charging’, she devised a method to instead stimulate the body's natural resilience when confronted by disease. It became as close to a universal frontline cure-all as a doctor of her time could ask for, and many of the Aerthenian jungle diseases the keshlaen once suffered from were halted. While time and circumstance have changed the medical battlefield, Tyelleka's innovations became a pivotal cornerstone to modern rejuvenation-based healing arts, and she is a legendary figure in the realm of Aerthen medicine.    

Religion and Philosophy

Traditional keshlaen cultures are overwhelmingly polytheistic by nature and view the goddesses as much as individual agents of the universe as embodiments of kosmological forces. The exact arrangement of these goddesses varies between cultures, especially when foreign goddesses are incorporated or ejected outward. It’s not uncommon for goddesses to vary by importance or relevance, either: a goddess of water is quite important to river-dwelling folk, but less so to those in mountains. In some cases, the same goddess may even exist across a stretch of cultures by different names and identities, but generally governs the same conceptual area. Gaynnolla is one such famous example, as she is a goddess of fertility and harvest that once stretched from Etzli Cuauhtla to nearly central Nerzin among various keshlaen cultures. The World Gate explosion and subsequent fracturing of the continents that followed saw a dozen different and similar goddesses emerge, but they were later reconciled as being Gaynnolla herself, permutations thereof, or syncretizations of Gaynnolla with other figures.   Generally viewed by the keshlaen as operating more in a parental role than authoritative one, the goddesses exist as beings of their own agency rather than abstract forces, capable of intimate spiritual and emotional connection with the keshlaen. The goddesses have, over time, changed in form and function, and this adaptability is valued, particularly the keshlaen of jungle regions for whom constant change in their greater environment is the norm.   As such, keshlaen doctrines and religious apparatuses usually exist in favor of a group of goddesses, ostensibly related together (literally or ideologically) rather than being seen as a ‘class’ of being. These particular groups are more henotheistic by nature, favoring their chosen goddesses over others due to either the goddess in question presiding over a domain which resonated with the keshlaen’s life, or simply due to the keshlaen’s heritage or personal preference.   Whether or not others in their community looked down on an individual favoring one goddess among the others instead of all of them (or instead of whichever one was seen as a matron to the community) depended wildly on the exact community.   It is worth noting that all keshlaen religious infighting and wars tend to center around these different goddess groups, their arrangements, and the particularities of which goddesses receive the most focus among the pantheon. In the times in which the keshlaen confronted foreign faiths, such as Uatkara or Volapaws, there would instead be curious efforts to integrate or establish diplomatic connections to said faiths, rather than rejecting them outright. Religious and cultural scholars generally agree that this strangely permissive behaviour from the keshlaen towards the faiths of other species likely stems from the general trends of keshlaen pragmatism: the foreign goddesses must serve specific functions that the keshlaen goddesses never needed to, so it’s best to get on the foreign goddess’ good side in case you ever need her help. This being said, not all goddesses get along, so conflict invariably resulted from these efforts as well.   One important facet to make note of is that within most keshlaen cultures, there exists a general intersection between religious institutions and schools of higher learning—particularly those focused on philosophy. Many of the most famous ancient keshlaen intellectuals began their education within religious institutions of some manner, and their resulting considerations and developments in their fields were similarly influenced by this education. For a time, philosophy and religious creed were essentially the same, but as philosophy began to outstrip creed's ability to provide answers in a timely fashion (the goddesses move on their own schedules), the two gradually divorced. As such, modern keshlaen philosophy in Aerthen, particularly schools of thought which were developed post-Great Darkness, is largely bisected into the traditional religious enclaves and ‘free-spirited’, or multicultural, modern camps.    

Science and Spirituality

Keshlaen traditional practices and their various schools of scientific thought went together very well in their early history, especially as the core ideas of science generally coincided well with their pragmatic ideals just fine. As such, the keshlaen have, across their cultures, generally held scholars, sages, and other learned mistresses in high regard, particularly for knowledge that proves to not only be tried-and-true, but which leads to vitally important advancements in the quality of life for the average person.   When scientific knowledge in particular thus became incredibly valuable, so too did the social prestige that one gained with sharing that knowledge. Over time this resulted in the rise of widespread factionalism among certain groups of scientists and scholars, and the most egotistical and proud members of these groups would claw their way to the top of the hierarchy in search of greater power and renown. Soon, common scientific concepts, methods, technologies, and fundamental theorems necessary to conduct and test basic research became guarded secrets among these insular scholarly factions, often extending into their families, clans, and political alliances whose reputations became caught up in the prestige their members gained from participating in these factions.   A notorious example would be Tumk Stonecutter, who famously not only controlled a novel form of what was later found to be titanium, but later suffered a fall from grace. The pressure to produce grander and grander innovations with this new materia,l in order to capitalize on public attention, eventually led to them outright fabricating ‘new discoveries’ of applications for their miracle metal. The resulting economic and political fallout once their fraud was revealed caused immense turbulence in powerful social circles, including national leaders, and resulted in a massive backlash against Tumk’s specific scientific enclave. Many insular factions hurried from thereon to devise new methods of scientific integrity and reputable reproduction, if only to avoid being caught in the calamitous backblast. Tumk’s name would later become synonymous with ‘someone who lies to gain fame and prestige’, and is usually considered quite the insult.   Regardless of the time period, even during the heyday of the scientific enclaves, the keshlaen's free-spirited nature meant they were constantly pushing those boundaries in the first place. After all, where doctrine or knowledge did not suffice, one's intuition and instincts were ready accomplices into pushing a mistress towards more novel or esoteric means of discovery. It is a self-confidence to brave the unknown that can be hard to find, but one the keshlaen are often not without. Something that would be that much more valuable in confronting the vast mysteries of the spiritual, be they literal or one’s own connections.   In the midst of Veltrona's certain reality and unerring ways, the keshlaen sought the unknown, the mystical, and their own place within (or near) such things. The unexplained and exceptional captures their attention most of all, with many keshlaen scholars going down burrows of the most obscure topics just to make sure there really is nothing there worth discovering. Even if their efforts prove materially fruitless, the mere act of doing so, regardless of the results, became a spiritual journey to which one's understanding of many things may be shaped by. In this respect, the keshlaen have a distinct respect for the unknown—not just the dangers, but the sheer potential of things beyond knowing and how they may be changed by them, or even just by the idea of them.      

Psychology

Rest and Sleep

The spontaneity of jungle living means one moment of rest can be the next's life threatening struggle. Although the keshlaen have long adapted to the luxuries of civilization and other more sedate environments, their flight-or-fight response remains primed to preserve their life. This unfortunately results in a higher sensitivity to their environment, and a generally smaller window of tolerance of distress, which can often be disruptive to a keshlaen finding meaningful rest and keeping regular sleep schedules.   Keshlaen are very picky about relaxing in certain places, and usually only find true comfort in locales that are familiar, insulated, and easily securable from real or perceived dangers. Thus leading to the preference for homes built in the canopy, within the hollows of great trees, underground caves and burrows, or otherwise fortified locales. As such, when these locales are unavailable, a keshlaen might 'take it easy', but there is always some degree of alertness that refuses to quiet down. Human villages that are built in open plains are often impossible for keshlaen to find true rest in, for example, but walled cities are more acceptable.   Sleeping, as a result, can be an up-and-down affair. The keshlaen actually prefer sleep in 3-to-4 hour blocks with an intermediary hour or so of wakefulness between each resting period. A useful adaptation for surviving in the wilds, but one that runs into issues with sedentary life. While generally solitary sleepers, families or close friends with compatible mannerisms may cohabitate together. Being a person that does not trigger the keshlaen's alertness is a measure of trust and intimacy, and a subtle cultural detail that is not often very apparent. Some proverbs ascribe trust to one's comfort when sleeping, and if one cannot sleep around someone, then there is something untrustworthy about them. This, of course, runs head first into the lived reality that such comfort is extremely uncommon to find even among close confidants, so such proverbs are not seen particularly favorably as they create a romanticized view of the idea of keshlaen cosleeping.    

Consciousness and Thought

By most standard measurements and considerations, the keshlaen exhibit a generally human-like consciousness and thought capacity. They do score better in spatial-awareness and body kinetics. More practically, keshlaen dexterity is historically notorious for being quite good, but not impossible for most other species to achieve with dedicated training. From this perspective, they just have adaptations that make such coordination 'easier' for them.    

Motivation and Emotion

The innately extroverted nature of the keshlaen coincides with their strong motivational drive for whatever ideas or whims catches their fancy. They want to chase whatever catches their eye, but they want the people around them to join them in their pursuit. This combination is why many other species can find the keshlaen overbearing or off-putting, as seemingly nothing keeps them down for long and, even worse, they’re more than eager to drag others into whatever impulsive gambit they concoct.   Similarly, the keshlaen would rather deal with something head-on than meander, mire, or otherwise leave the matter be. It is a behavior that has been tempered by millennia of interspecies interactions, and so the modern keshlaen is markedly more 'socially appropriate' than their ancestors. That said, even if a keshlaen understands such diverse mannerisms, their drive to do what they want nonetheless remains, and has been the source of much interpersonal conflict even in the present day.   It is this 'always moving forward' nature of the keshlaen that can throw their emotions into a spiral, however. Calm and contemplation are difficult things for them to achieve, especially for young keshlaen. The inability to do something—anything—about a perceived problem can drive them crazy, and unsolvable or systemic issues that require long-term or collective solutions can be something that most keshlaen struggle to accept.   It creates a tense energy they're eager to be rid of, one way or another, that often leads to impulsive or shortsighted decisions. Scholars often wonder if this might correlate to a natural disposition toward anxiety, but the quick manner in which it arises and disperses without rumination muddies such a conclusion. Indeed, although the keshlaen can be taken by strong emotional reactions, they work through (or at least, control) such reactions just as quickly.   One shouldn't mistake this for their emotional expression being shallow, rather simply rapidly processed and resolved. This being said, the keshlaen are just as capable of harboring grudges and other lingering feelings as well as anyone else. The difference being that a keshlaen will iterate on these lingering feelings more rapidly than other species will—drawing new conclusions and tactics about their emotions rather than malingering on a single narrative about them for decades as dragons and humans do.    

Sexuality and Love

The keshlaen oft wear themselves loud and proud, and their sense of love and attraction is no different. Sexuality, in particular, has been a cultural friction point throughout most of their history, only truly alleviating in the last few thousand years. The need for offspring, especially in eras of high population attrition, is a paramount concern for any civilization. Unfortunately, those who choose not to engage in such practice means (some) ostracization was a norm. Ironically, those who continued to contribute greatly to their tribe were pressured that much more into producing children, as it was believed a great person would have great offspring. It wouldn't be until the death of the 'great person' mythos that these keshlaen would see traditional pressures finally alleviate.   One mustn't underestimate the keshlaen's devotion to love: of family, friends, romance, and otherwise. If the heart is a storm, then love is the port to which connection and stability are found. The keshlaen value these bonds deeply; deeper than most other things, and will move heaven and veltron for them when needed. When combined with their outgoing nature and sense of individualistic pride, however, and a perfect maelstrom that generates endless amounts of drama await. The breadth of keshlaen cultures are full of stories, parables, adages, and otherwise of one's romantic love, familial piety, and responsibilities to friendship. In this way, they're a monsterkind with the closest understanding of humanity.   In no small part thanks to their extroverted nature, the keshlaen enjoy making grand displays to each other as much as to everyone else during courtship. Most importantly, however, is that this only occurs when both sides have agreed to the courtship—far too many have been led to ruin putting on displays a potential partner rejected outright. In this much, men are generally expected to approach women, though modern sentiments have embraced either side doing so. Once details are worked out in private, then the keshlaen follow through on proving their worth in the public sphere.   That said, for the modern keshlaen, old traditions yet remain in at least restraining, if not ‘guiding’, one's public displays of affection. Flaunting one’s own accomplishments is expected, but venerating their desired partner’s own attributes is not, for instance. One demonstrates their own worth, but the other is simply ingratiation or pandering, and is considered quite annoying because it offers nor displays nothing of the suitor’s own worth.   The progression of most keshlaen courtships are nominally measured by not only by the development of the pair’s emotional bond, but also the social bonds being woven by the pair between their individual friends, family, and other social groups. As is usually the case, courtship to marriage involves not only bringing together two people, but everyone around them, though the keshlaen simply make more of a spectacle of such business. It is an explicit expectation with a ritualized process rather than something expected to just happen over time. As such, most keshlaen consider a married couple keeping different social lives to be odd at best and the sign of marital strife at worse.      

Society

Social Mannerisms

Many keshlaen cultures value forthrightness in speech and body language: making direct eye contact, shaking the hands firmly, fanning out and holding one’s plumage unflinchingly, and so on. Similarly, social etiquette built upon these behaviours tend to use them in combination with systems of polite speech in order to reaffirm one’s place within the greater social hierarchy: subordinates do not meet the superior's eyes, one’s friends use first names rather than titles or familial names, or heartily greet one another (handshakes, shoulder smacks, etc), in contrast to one’s coworkers who refer to one another by their level of expertise and position in the workgroup with due respect, etc.   On the surface, the majority of keshlaen cultures appear to be socially strict, with an emphasis on each individual maintaining a sense of honor and decorum in social situations. While this isn't an incorrect assumption, it also facilitates the forwardness the keshlaen prefer. Foreign cultures and their honor systems, such as those found in Nerzin, may favor intrigue and subterfuge to a mountainous degree, making them quite aggravating for keshlaen sentiments.   Keshlaen in these cultures tend to demonstrate familiarity and intimacy with their social connections entirely through how they act. One who is quite physical, joking, and making ridiculous statements is likely someone with great intimacy with the other party, such that no preamble is necessary. One who measures their words and references social position may be a stranger or coworker, or someone simply trying to be polite as a social transaction occurs. The finer details vary between their respective cultures, but one can count on the keshlaen knowing how to demonstrate respect and mannerism; as well as how not to.    

Gender

Historically the majority of keshlaen societies were matriarchal in nature, with women ruling their societies top-to-bottom. As multi-culturalism and integration with multiple species occurred, this phenomenon changed somewhat. For monsterkind, their women are usually the stronger/more powerful sex, and so their authority in society is an outcome most cultures naturally arrived at. Keshlaen men, however, across the board are notably eager to prove themselves in feats of power and strength even in spite of this fact: not only for the sex appeal, but as a matter of personal pride and prestige. The keshlaen women, who found such a go-getting attitude admirable, were more than fine making concessions of social power if a man 'under their purview' had the competency for upholding such responsibility.   This would, over the centuries, eventually become one of many ways in which ideas of gender equality among keshlaen cultures would take shape. Even then, however, there are some cultures who maintain more ‘traditional’ matriarchal views of gender dynamics. That being said, most keshlaen cultures exist in a middle space on the spectrum of gender equality.   In the many Etzli Cuauhtla cultures, for example, a man striking out on his own would be socially unacceptable if he were doing it solely for the sake of social agency—but it would be socially tolerated if he were striking out for the purpose of making himself 'more attractive for potential marriage partners'. Similarly, women are considered first for many positions of social power, and usually seen as the 'fittest choice', but men could expect comfortable regard if they assume a secondary or supporting role to a woman in a position of power.   While the specifics vary, in the end, the keshlaen gravitated toward equality sooner than most other monsterkind species. There are some historians who regard them as a model to which these other species were most likely inspired by, though that is hard to prove (and contentious).    

Kinship and Ethnicities

The prototypical keshlaen family structure in many cultures is usually centered around the household matriarch and her spouse(s). Generally, the matriarch and her spouse(s) share most responsibilities, interchanging duties as necessity or custom dictates. Most keshlaen families typically only have their matriarchs marry a single spouse, with it being uncommon (though not unheard of) for additional spouses to be married in. Those that are usually do so for political or economic reasons, though romantic inclination can also be a factor.   The keshlaen traditionally track family and kinship via matrilineal lines, and so men usually marry out of their family and into others. Women who marry out into other families are usually scorned for doing so, as most believe they either did it to 'move up in station' or 'gave up their family'. This sentiment is an old one across many keshlaen cultures and hasn't fully died out yet, and so is not uncommonly found as a source of scorn.   Multiple different keshlaen families often come together into a larger group unit called a band, which consists of three-to-seven families closely allied together, either through marriage, ancestry, language, or other bonds of culture and kinship. These bands are often equated to tribes in their own right, but a keshlaen tribe can also be comprised of many different bands. The denomination is not exactly clean cut, but bands form the basis of keshlaen political and social connectivity, so they are important to understand. Some sociologists suggest the keshlaen band is simply a type of clan structure, but there isn't a strict requirement for direct blood ties between band families, as they may depart a band and join another, be exiled/pushed out, etc.   A keshlaen tribe, consisting of multiple bands, will unite through common cultural identity and shared territory. Throughout most of keshlaen history, one’s ethnic group and tribe were synonymous, such as the aforementioned Green Tongues, noteworthy for their vividly turquoise colored tongues and general preference of living in river plains. Thus, the keshlaen usually associate ethnic identity with physical features, but the gradual changing of demographics over the millennia have muddied this facet. The modern keshlaen usually associate ethnic identity with homeland, parent city-state, and/or particular cultural customs. There are nomadic tribes that do maintain their distinctive physical characteristics, and so stand out as a result.    

Governments and Politics

Modern keshlaen governments usually operate through some form of democratic consensus, be it direct democracies or republic representation. The exact method depends on the scale of cooperation in question, with republic methods suiting for the largest civilizations such as those found in Aerthen. It's common for a hybrid approach to be implemented, especially for the citizenry to have an avenue of directly expressing dissatisfaction with their leaders (e.g, tar and feathering, humiliating ballads and public performances that slander them, voting in a new replacement, etc).   However, different species and different cultures, all with their complicated sentiments and ways, exude a constant pressure on these methods. It is difficult to have what the keshlaen consider ‘honorable’ duels against someone who has enough regenerative power to heal practically every instance of damage as it arrives, after all. Ultimately, every keshlaen government becomes rather unique as it is shaped and molded not only by the keshlaen themselves, but all the peoples living underneath their umbrella of influence.   The different political factions are what come to define how these governments grow and evolve over time. Whether beginning on species-based lines or ideological ones, few political entities remain unchanged as the years go by. At times these political factions may tear apart the government as much as unite it, and there is an unmistakable connection that binds such people together.   This is proven the most when outside powers threaten the keshlaen, and their seeming differences are set aside for the singular goal of destroying this newfound enemy. It is extremely uncommon for a keshlaen faction to choose to align with a completely outside entity, even if that entity aligns with their ideology more than their political rivals. In fact, such events bring them together all the more, something warmongering keshlaen leaders aren't shy about trying to abuse, either.   Some scholars believe this surprising lack of political pragmatism may be the consequence of keshlaen stress responses and preferring to work with a known evil over an unknown that could be an even greater threat.    

Trade and Economics

Given the keshlaen's openness to multispecies cohabitation, and them often having power over valuable lands or trade routes, trade has always been a powerful cornerstone of their civilizations. As the likes of city-states developed and more formalized institutions (merchant guilds in particular) came into existence, trade expanded and expanded, becoming vital arteries between them and their allies. In time, it expanded into other lands, creating a vast river system of economic prosperity. Keshlaen merchants and trading companies, as a result, are a common sight across Veltrona.   Keshlaen economic models are harder to speak for, as much like their government, they exist in very hybridized formats. In general, a capitalist-to-socialist spectrum can be expected, or more uncommonly, socialist-to-communist where nebusian influence is strong. Since personal agency and initiative are usually valued, there is great incentive for people to find or create a niche that is profitable for themselves. Population support is, however, a tried-and-proven necessity that must be met in order for a civilization to prosper.   Keshlaen worker unions are not only quite skillful at such tasks, but powerful political forces that command a due amount of respect. They do, however, slam heads constantly with merchants and peddlers who're always looking for cheaper rates and bigger margins on their sales. The line between personal glory/accomplishment and rapacious greed is both thin and ever-shifting, generating constant tension between socio-economic stratas.    

Interspecies Relations

One either loves or hates the keshlaen, and if they don't, they will soon pick one.   For those who can embrace the keshlaen's forthright and extroverted mannerisms, they're lively friends and passionate allies. Humanity, the muurun, and the nebusah are those who typically collide the most in this respect, forging a begrudging respect with the keshlaen in the process. Some even argue the keshalen are friendly with the likes of the rachtoh and lauraume, the former being high sociable (if aggressive) and the latter being highly aggressive (if sociably). It's hard to say if they're friendly with the karsoru as the two collide together at a moment's notice and leave a whirlwind in their wake; though the karsoru usually describe it as 'fun'.   Conversely, those of more even-temperament or less energetic mannerism find the keshlaen overbearing. The urni notably fall under this purview, particularly as a species that isn't native to the equatorial band the keshlaen love. Harpies, while an energetic people, are also the sort who value calm when they can get it, so the constant attention that keshlaen expect and give is annoying even for them. The petrakin are especially bothered by people forcing them to do things at faster or more urgent tempos, and it quickly irritates them when the keshlaen push as much.   And, of course, there are dragons. While neither species sees a direct blood relation to the other, the keshlaen do love seeing the dragons as potentially distant relatives, or at least 'people similar to them'; if superficially so. Dragons, meanwhile, exude the same indifferent contempt they give to most other species, especially those who cannot truly understand them. The keshlaen, however, have earned notable draconic regard for their persistence and, thusly, elevated to a position of 'unbearable annoyance'.      

Associated Articles

Notable Civilizations

     

Notable Characters

       

Design Notes