The Kgat

Kgat are the orc-like species to the west of the Galzhür mountain range. They have resisted colonization and domination by their eastern neighbors for hundreds of years, quite impressive given their low amount of magical prowess and primitive tools. To many, they seem like nothing more than strangely colored orcs -- being a rusty-orange sort of color rather than the typical green. This ideation could not be further from the truth, I tell you. Some of the most brilliant alchemists of my time have been Kgat mystics and seers, and every Kgat has a connection to the natural world that I have yet to observe in a single orc.   The Kgat are nomads, following their prey from north to south and back again as the seasons change. There are a few permanent settlements, but these are mostly large trading posts and spiritually important sites. The species is not entirely united under one banner, but they have not warred with each other in many decades. Each group of Kgat will belong to a clan of sorts. Some clans have a single chieftain, and some have a whole council -- the rules of government vary from clan to clan. Passing through a clans territory can be a hazardous affair for outsiders. General Kgat tradition demands that those passing through the territory must pass the inspection of a Kgat warrior, and may only pass if deemed worthy. This "inspection" can range from a simple look-over to a full fledged trial by (non-lethal) combat. If deemed worthy, the visitor will be marked and allowed to pass through that clan's territory. Based on the amount of respect for the clan that a traveler is marked by, other clans may choose to recognize his or her worthiness without subjecting the outsider to a trial. Those that fail their trial are barred from passing through the lands of that clan on pain of death until they can prove their worthiness in some other way (often by gaining permission to kill some local beast).   Those who are lucky enough to visit a Kgat village are often awed by the spirituality of the citizenry. Small offerings litter the paths through their encampments -- small woven things, made by the children or mothers. These are given up to the forces of nature -- the only authority that the Kgat truly respect. They are expert herbalists, excellent trackers, and devout protectors of the land, combining the ferocity of the orc with the dedication, discipline, and spirituality of the Druidic Enclave. Marking a Kgat as nothing more than a simple brute with no sense of spirit or self is an injustice to their race, and is ignorant in the extreme.