Muhkala

Physically, Muhkala often stand around 8 to 9 feet tall and are an imposing bunch. Their trademark lethality in battle is second only to Kuwakens. Since they’re almost always encased in a suit of power armor, their exact physical characteristics are unknown. But we can infer basic biological traits based on universal characteristics seen through all Muhkala armor sets. Muhkala stand twice as tall as the average human with twice the muscle mass. They have two eyes like us and come from a planet with a similar atmosphere to Earth's. Their lower jaws are flanked on each side by mandible-like tusks. They stand in a slightly hunched posture. Which may be exacerbated by their armor. They have trunk-like legs to accommodate their bulk. Yet are remarkably agile. Their superior agility may also be attributed to their homeworld's higher gravity; the additional strength required to move normally in a high-gravity environment would likely cause them to be more powerful in lower-gravity situations. Female Muhkala are nearly indistinguishable from the males save for two characteristics: Their slightly thinner build and a series of braid-like extrusions that emerge from the backs of their heads. Whether these are biological features or parts of the female's helmets is unknown. Thanks to a sighting of one who had removed its arm gauntlet to repair it, we know they have bluish-grey leathery skin.

Bipedal humanoid reptilian body structure, distinct facial tusk/mandibles.

The Muhkala often had no unified government; typically they are splintered into numerous feudal, meritocratic states. A given state is governed by a single clan residence and assembly house known as a keep, headed by a group known as the Council of Arbiters. There are usually a number of families under the clan's rule, though a state's elders will assume the clan name as a title signifying their position, regardless of the name of their own family.   Military promotion among the Muhkala is by merit. A Muhkala soldier must succeed to advance among the ranks, with this success being measured in combat kills. A Muhkala near the top of the military hierarchy may have personally slaughtered thousands of individuals to reach that status. Keep Elders are old warriors who have accomplished countless battles over many years, having cultivated and brandished their own unique fighting style in the interim. Elders are highly respected for their prowess and skill in combat. It is their responsibility to record the history of their clans as well as train the next generation of warriors. Muhkala of advanced age who have achieved a distinguished rank for their battle prowess or leadership are appointed as Arbiters. Arbiters are highly venerated members of Muhkala society who act as officials and diplomats for their clan. In addition, despite their warrior culture being the most well-known, it has been noted that the Muhkala actually have almost innumerable roles within their society, from political entities like Arbiters and keep elders all the way to the more technical artisan-engineers and farmers. The maintaining of a clan's familial records is typically the duty of a female keep elder.

Their adeptness at using and creating technology is evident. Despite their strong code of honor that dominates their culture, Muhkala favor practicality over religious fervor in combat. Exhibiting keen tactical and strategic acumen. Using shrewd, pragmatic tactics and are willing to engage in subterfuge in lieu of open combat.

What is a result of their technology and what is actually the Muhkala's actual senses can be hard to tell. We know they must at least have keen eyesight because they all seem to display adept marksmanship.

Names and titles are sacred to the Muhkala, and consider names to be a privilege given only to those who are worthy. In their culture, a child may not even be named until the age of four and the naming of the child is considered to be a momentous occasion. Muhkala children do not take their parent’s name. Instead, their surnames. For example; a Muhkala child named Rouka whose family name is Galamsha belonging to the clan Chorkavme’s full name would be Mukhala Chorkavme Rouka. This is to prevent them from abusing their family name and reputation as a way to increase their own status and reinforce the idea that their loyalties should lie with the clan and the Muhkala species as a whole.

Each one of their five settlements is home to a particular clan that can be further subdivided into eight families.

While as humans generally, our beauty standards for women are typically a thin body with dainty features. But if you were to call a female Mukhala thin or dainty, she would take it as a grave insult. Muhkala value the physical prowess and skill of an individual. Both sexes are expected to be disciplined, strong, and athletic. Traits such as valor and heroism alongside skill in combat are what Muhkala of both sexes look for in a mate.

If you thought human dating is weird, be thankful it is not Muhkala. When a Muhkala male wants to marry a Muhkala female, he doesn’t get down on one knee and offer a ring. Instead, he challenges his potential bride to a duel. (Not to the death) The victor is free to accept, decline or recant the proposal. The outcome of said duel also determines which side of the family the young couple will join. If the man wins, his wife will join his house, and vice versa if the female defeats him. Should the two duel to a draw, they will join neither family and instead form their own.

While Muhkala place great importance on the bond between parents and their children, Muhkala children are sent to a central teaching ground. There the children are divided into groups of four and refer to each other as Co-dai; a word that translates to sibling. The Co-dai groups are an ancient tradition based on the hunting strategy of a predator native to the Muhkala homeworld, and like their basis, each group of these four Muhkala Co-dai will do everything together. Eat, sleep, train, and when they reach adulthood, will be deployed together. The bond forged between Co-dai from this training is deep. While mainly taught under the tutelage of a pair of Keep Elders, the entire clan is expected to provide mentorship to the Co-dai. It is not clear at what age Muhkala begin their training as Co-dai. It isn't clear if Muhkala have a concept of adolescence, or if their only age markers are child and adult. This "training" includes advanced combat techniques, learning the lore of their species, survival, how to use their weapons and armor, and the Muhkala code of honor and clan laws. Bullies in Muhkala society are rare, and an elder would take such an individual on a long survival mission to sort them out. Those who did not learn the ways of the elder often did not return.

Muhkala possess technology far in advance of any seen on Earth. This is evident just from looking at their armor. Each set housing its own flame projector, the aforementioned active camouflage, some sort of invisible, protective blister that are resistant, or can altogether stop, small arms fire, alongside who knows what other internal systems appear to be standard issue. Their weapons are unlike anything seen before. Plasma weaponry, radiation bombs, and advanced siege weapons beyond current science are their bread and butter. They appear to be in possession of technology that can allow them to grow their own food in the dark corridors of the Trench. Which may explain how they've survived so long in their walled off settlements without trading with any outsiders.

The Muhkala honor code is similar to a few throughout human history, sharing concepts such as skill in combat (with an emphasis on sword and marksmanship), loyalty to master and family/clan, and views on death. The Muhkala display respect and admiration for honorable fighters, whether they are allies of the Muhkala or not; it is not unusual for the Muhkala to have such an admiration for their adversaries. They believe in the importance of strength, skill, and courage. Seeing warfare as a way of preserving their way of life. Muhkala respect and revere veterans and often follow their lead. Many Muhkala believe that a weapon is to be drawn only if it is to be used, because a drawn weapon "demands blood." However, it appears that the user's intention when it is being drawn matters more than the weapon actually being used. For example, a Muhkala may draw his weapon when he is not sure if an incoming dropship contains friends or foes, only to deactivate it upon seeing friends exit the dropship.

Muhkala hold a high reverence for their power armor, (the importance of which will be discussed in more detail below) and are rarely, if ever, seen without it. According to their rank, they may wear additional garments over their armor. For example, the rank of Arbiter is signified by the wearing of an orange cape draped over the left side. This garb harkens back to and honors the captains of ships of the ancient times when the Muhkala were still a seafaring people on their home planet.

The Muhkala are a proud race that strongly values martial prowess. Military service seems to be mandatory for both males and females, at least for a time. Though their history is coated with the blood of many, Muhkala are intensely honorable beings who believe in fair fights and fair punishment. Although, Muhkala seem to prefer to avoid fights if they feel they can. Family history and lineage are greatly valued, with each family having their own unique "saga wall" detailing the deeds and actions of its members during times of war and peace. According to them, the Muhkala were once a seafaring warrior race on their homeplanet of Muhkalas before they developed interstellar travel. Where they began colonizing habbitable planets and building clan keeps as they did on their homeworld. Thus, Muhkala communities have cropped up across the galaxy, and there are many Muhkala who have never even stepped foot on Muhkalas. Muhkala hold a high reverence for their power armor. In their culture, armor is synonymous with personal identity. With personal markings on the helmet and arms added by the wearer possessing immense symbolic meaning. The symbols often detail the wearer's personal history and deeds. A Muhkala's armor is their honor, a public record of victories and valor. Every battle-born rent and scratch is a mark in the tally of their esteem. Few things short of death will pry them of it. In fact, only when armor is irreparably damaged will a Muhkala switch to a new set. Customization seems to be encouraged so long as it does not deviate too much from the standard set. The journal of a Muhkala who broke traditions and assisted an outside tribe details his disgust at their imitations of Muhkala armor. "They... had taken scraps of metal -the walls of their very prison- and twisted it into some crude visage of Muhkala armor. As if to show that they, like me, were of Muhkala. Every rent and curve in their armor spoke of heathen violence, savagery, and ignorance of tradition. Of responsibility. Like many others, there would be no balance in power. No moderation. They thought it honored us. They defiled it. I lost myself trying to read the armor they crafted, But it was lifeless, hollow. A shell of what it should’ve been. They had placed no meaning in it. It did not tell of the deeds of their clan, nor their own history. They didn’t even know the insult they’d placed with every crude swing of the hammer."

The Muhkala are quasi-religious. While none of their religious practices have been seen, most of their military ranks translate into religious titles, such as Prelate and Hierophant. And presumably religious symbols decorate their armor around the shoulder areas. In order to retain their heritage in the face of outside influence, Muhkala placed a high value on rigorously carrying out the tenets of their honor code in a daily manner. Muhkala have a sacred tradition known as "ay' wadIch." An ancient martial tradition in which, during their first combat mission, a new Muhkala soldier will take a trophy from the body of their first confirmed kill. This trophy is usually the finger and its removal is done with great care per the Muhkala honor code and respect for the fallen opponent's body. The finger is mummified and turned into a necklace. It serves as a sort of memento mori to all Muhkala warriors to remind them of the horrors of their first battle and that no matter how great a warrior they become, war should not be treated as a game. A similar tradition, known as "le'baj" occurs after the first time a Muhkala's armor is penetrated in battle. When the armor is repaired, a special symbol is placed over the site of the repaired damage. Serving as a reminder that no warrior is invincible. In stark contrast to their views on their armor, the Muhakla seldom view personal weapons as anything more than tools of war and rarely attach extra importance to a weapon simply because it once belonged to a great warrior. However, even the most passive among them will always insist on carrying at least a single weapon with them at all times.   The Muhkala have very pragmatic views on being captured by their enemies. Unlike many honor-centric cultures on Earth, which would demand an individual take his own life in recompense for such an embarrassment, Muhkala see more value in perseverance. In their language, "imprisonment" translates to "test of will." A captured Muhkala is expected to refuse to give their captors any information they seek even under torture. No matter how long they remain imprisoned. But a Muhkala does not just quietly endure their hardships. The real reason former Muhkala POWs are so highly venerated in their clans is that during their imprisonment, a Muhkala must be cunning and bide their time. Quietly gathering information about their captors that will be of use to the Muhkala's clans. When they feel like they have gathered as much vital information as they can, a Muhkala is expected to make their escape through whatever means necessary and bring their new knowledge back to their clans. Upon returning home these Muhkala are honored with the privilege of taking a direct role in the destruction of their former prison when the Muhkala army attacks it.   Muhkala have strong musical traditions. It is not uncommon for Muhkala soldiers to be heard singing in choirs when traveling in larger groups. This is one of the few instances where Muhkala are heard openly communicating around outsiders. (It is believed that they talk via radios inside their helmets when outsiders are present.) When they sing, they're usually marching, and when they march, they use some sort of active camouflage system in their armor. So it's like an invisible choir marching past you. Which is why they have the nickname: "Ghost Soldiers." Poetry is also greatly valued in Muhkala society. It is common for all warriors to compose around ten or more poems during the course of a campaign.   As a symbolic gesture of love for his people, a Mukhala leader may choose to walk among his followers and help them in their duties, even doing what is normally considered females work such as helping tend to the home. This is also done to inspire the Muhkala to work diligently so as to not be outdone by their superiors.

Given how advancement in Muhkala society is based on the number of enemies personally slain in combat, one would assume this would give the Muhkala, especially the younger warriors hoping to make a name for themselves, an incentive to be reckless aggressors who kill anything that moves. However, it appears that this reward for bloodlust is tempered by the Muhkala honor code being very selective about what counts as a combat kill. Similar to humans with our Geneva Convention, slaying civilians and other non-combatants, on the battlefield and otherwise, is considered to be distasteful and does not count as an “honorable” kill to a warrior’s tally.

While little is known as to the specifics of their religion, it is believed that at some point they had contact with the Maya's Feathered Serpent god Kuklkan as he explored the cosmos.

Though they're one of the most well-armed factions in the Trench, the Muhkala seem to have little interest in the acquisition of new turf or interacting with the Trench at large. They're rarely seen interacting outside of the five settlements they have established inside the Trench. However, this is the extent of our knowledge about their settlements as the Muhkala are staunch isolationists that won't interact with outsiders unless they feel it is absolutely necessary. They will not hesitate to fire upon anyone who gets too close. Whether their xenophobia stems from a sense of superiority or part of their culture is unknown. Another trait of note is that the Muhkala are highly protective of their technology and will reclaim any piece if found in the hands of outsiders. Often violently. The grisly aftermath of their handiwork is very distinct. Not many beings in the Trench leave plasma burns and vitrified skeletons in their wake. So if you find some fancy-looking sci-fi gun or suit while you're out scavenging, leave it alone. It'll only end badly for you.   The Muhkala generally regard humans and other supernaturals as nameless, aside from generic labels. They resent that the humans have assigned the seemingly inoffensive label "Ghost Soldiers" to them,