Anya Venari
Star Queen Tirathana VII
http://pre03.deviantart.net/3075/th/pre/f/2014/306/2/2/drow_matriarch_by_seraph777-d82679e.jpg
Source: Deviant Art, Seraph777
Name: Xioquo, the children of darkness.
Designation: Sentient
Homeworld: Tygara
Language: Xio and its various dialects have remained remarkably similar over time due to the close confines of the Underealm.
Average height of adults: 1.5-1.8 metres.
Skin color: Light grey to dark obsidian. Xioquo have dark skin in the way humans or the Qadiri do not, their skin is grey tending to black.
Hair color: White or grey.
Breathes: Type I.
Strengths:
As with all Eldorai, females are larger and stronger than their male counterparts, and this takes on a cultural component in the interplay between genders.
The Xioquo, living their life in the subterranean caves, also are resistant to cold temperatures and all are excellent swimmers in the glacial streams in the caves. As noted above, bright light can dazzle them, and UV radiation can cause serious burns. One of the more cruel, yet effective means of torture devised by their Qadiri enemies is to simply secure a Xioquo in the midday sun and let the brightness and burns torment their captive.
The Dark Side can take a terrible toll on those who use it most, and so it is with the Xioquo. In cases like this, vain Xioquo will often wear masks to cover their faces or concealing veils. Others flaunt it as a show of their obvious power.
Average Lifespan: 300-350 standard years. Xioquo become fully physically mature at about 50.
Races: No notable sub-races.
Estimated Population: About 25 million total, concentrated almost entirely in the Underealm.
Diet: Like all Eldorai, the Xioquo are omnivorous. However, meat or fish is an extreme luxury available only to the wealthiest and most powerful. Most Xioquo survive on a vast fungal forests cultivated in the caverns. These fungi, similar to the ones on Felucia, can reach heights of ten metres. These giant mushrooms are ‘logged’ and divided up. The stems are hard and woody and are given to the slaves and poorest, whilst those who are better off can afford the caps or spores mixed with water. Kelp and other plants are cultivated too. Food is always scarce in the Underrealm, especially because of the metabolism problems, so parties are being continually sent out to obtain new provisions. Cannibalism is not unknown, though usually for use in Dark Side rituals where slaves’ blood will be drunk when they are sacrificed.
Communication: The Xioquo, like the other Eldorai, have a highly developed spoken, written and literary system of communication. Due to their reliance on stone and metal, the alphabet is straight lines, but complex symbols are nevertheless in place. Literacy is not high outside the elite and scribes, so more often pictographic messages are used.
Like all Eldorai, the Xioquo language is flowing, yet difficult for an outsider to speak, requiring many more stops and conjunctive words than the Qadiri usually use.
Slaves of the Xioquo have developed a pidgin language which is a mix of Qadiri, Vashyada and Xioquo dialects. With this they can communicate between themselves, even if it is officially banned and using it is punishable by death.
Culture: (For the purposes of cleaner delineation, culture will cover the arts of the Xioquo whilst General Behaviour covers their ‘culture’ as it pertains to actions.)
Though characterised as brutal savages by the Qadiri the Xioquo are not without cultural leanings, and in some ways surpass their southern cousins.
Performance and Poetry:
All Eldorai love oral poetry and performances. Bards are held in high esteem by wealthy patrons if they can relate the noble’s family history. His almost borders on hagiography, but the bards must always be careful never to ‘push the envelope’ too far lest they arose the anger of their patron.
A very popular genre is epic history, especially epic history relating to the misdeeds of the Qadiri. As a societal way of justifying their poor conditions this makes a lot of sense, but it can lead to some long and fairly epic stories.
However, the Xioquo are not all about revenge and praising their betters, folk performances of dance and theatrical renditions are popular with the common people.
There is also a broad-based subversive streak in the lower classes and slaves which hold impromptu performances which satirise the nobles and priestesses. Certain ordinary words are ‘code’ for other more scathing ones. An ‘egg’ in this context for instance is a derisive term for a noble (empty headed).
Prose, History and Research:
Independent inquiry and research are not admired traits as they can lead to subversive thoughts. Most research and histories are funded by the various noble families to honour their heritage and glorify their ancestors.
The sole area of unbiased research is in the area of weapons, poisons and natural phenomena which are carefully recorded as they may be usable.
Since literacy is relatively minor there is only a small market for fiction, mostly for the children of nobles. Some of this can get quite racy.
The other area of written prose are the various religious texts and decrees which are often read aloud at services.
Visual Arts:
This is one area where the Xioquo meet or even exceed the Qadiri in skill.
Mosaics and statues are often beautifully coloured and are often of impressive scale. Statues of one’s ancestors are especially ornate as honouring one’s family is a way of honouring one’s own glory. Mosaics depicting people, events or natural images adorn not just private houses but public areas too.
Xioquo metal artwork though is something unique to them though. It consists of plates of metal etched or carved into scenes just like they would do with stone. The results are magnificently painted scenes usually etched in bronze but sometimes silver or gold for the most opulent.
Clothing, especially silk is highly ornate and often becomes an artform. The use of certain materials because of their rarity makes them a prestige item. Bright colours and often fantastical patterns are used.
On a more practical level weapons and armour are often heavily decorated so everyone can know the quality of the person by looking at their equipment.
Jewellery:
With a relative abundance of precious metals and gems, the Xioquo arts of jewellery are beautiful. Emeralds, sapphires and diamonds set with gold or silver are most loved. Rings, necklaces and circlets for the leaders of houses are the most favoured. Families often gift precious jewellery to allies as a sign of faith.
Technology level: The Xioquo are the most advanced of the cultures on Tygara, but are still far behind the galactic curve. They are best described as ‘Early Industrial’ or around 1875 in a rough Earth estimation. In some areas they are further ahead, in others lagging behind Earth technology of the time.
Building and architecture:
Building underground, the Xioquo do not have to worry much about weather, but damp and cold are continual problems. Freestanding structures are extremely rare, with most structures being built into the natural or excavated walls of the caverns. For the wealthy and powerful, homes and buildings are well formed with dressed walls covered in tiles, mosaics and plaster. For the poorer or slaves, a rough-walled cave with a dirt floor is all they might have.
Furniture and fittings are made most often of metal or stone, with wood being rare and valuable.
As might be expected, Xioquo architecture is angular and plain. Carvings and mosaics tend to be aggrandising for the family of the one who makes it and is often destroyed if one family overtakes another.
Those settlements outside of the Underealm are usually fortifications or slaver camps. Where possible these are built into caves or hills naturally, but if not possible covered ways and heavy stone construction is common to ward off the sun and heat.
The Sea:
Unlike the Qadiri who are natural sailors, the Xioquo were late to nautical adventures. Though they have subterranean lakes and rivers, nothing prepared the Xioquo for the vast, stormy, open seas. To a race used to living in caves the agoraphobia was crippling. However, as the population grew and technology developed the means and need to explore further was matched. The need came in the form of a demand for slaves, luxury goods and food, and the means came in the form of slave powered galleys built by cutting down the arctic forests of the land above. These slaves, usually Qadiri made useful power for the coastal galleys. Later, technology allowed the Qadiri to dispense with this unreliable form of power and use steam to power their ships. First wooden, then ironclad, finally all metal ships became used so that within the last century the Xioquo have leapt ahead in seagoing technology. Navigation is still poor, and many ships have been lost at sea.
Medicine:
Xioquo medicine for any but the richest is almost non-existent. Folk remedies and herbal cures are all most Xioquo have available. For the richer ones, the medicine is almost as ineffective, just more expensive. The Dark Side does not give much weight to healing, but some Priestesses specialise in draining the life from slaves to heal themselves or another.
Warfare:
Like the Qadiri the Xioquo are incessantly warlike, but in different ways. Lacking the population, geography or formalised systems of the Qadiri, Xioquo warfare is much more subtle. Fighting between noble houses is endemic, but usually takes the form of raids, ambushes and assassination. Open battles are very rare due to space constraints, and the Xioquo try to avoid getting into such battles with the more numerous Qadiri.
Recent technological advances have allowed the Xioquo to practically switch entirely to gunpowder weapons, though some retain crossbows for the accuracy and silence. In all cases the lack of wood means the quarrels and weapon butts are made of metal or from the oldest of the giant fungi. Common personal weapons include rifled muskets, revolvers and grenades. They also make extensive use of knives, rapiers and bladed whips. Axes, hammers and pikes are very rare, but spears and shields are used at times.
In the field of artillery the Xioquo are the most advanced. Their artillery, often rifled and firing explosive shells, are often mounted on ships for long-range bombardment.
The emphasis on all Xioquo warfare against the Qadiri is to ‘hit and fade’. Their usual plan is to quickly attack an enemy settlement, bombard it then attack. After looting, enslaving and destroying the settlement they retreat to fortified camps and then return to the Underealm in large convoys. If attacked in these camps, the Xioquo choose defence sites where their superior ships and weapons can be used to good effect to negate the numbers of their enemy.
The Xioquo never attempt to conquer territory to settle, with the sole exception being the fortified camps on islands or in rough terrain.
General behaviour:
Gender:
For the Xioquo gender is an extension of power, and it is the females who are ascendant in this society. While the Qadiri have matters favouring their females, the Xioquo have a clear and hierarchical system in place which establishes which of the genders is (to them) superior. Even for the Eldorai who have come in with a similar system, it is viewed as extreme.
Absolute Enatic succession is the law for the Xioquo, which means only females can inherit. Males are overlooked in favour of a younger female sibling, and even for more distant relations. If a male was the last surviving heir of a family they will usually be forcefully married to a female and his property taken over.
Legally, only females can own property or represent themselves in courts before their head of house or at a religious court. Males are treated as a sub-class, barely above slaves.
Culturally, to maintain the legitimacy of their oppression, the Xioquo noblewomen push out the belief that the males are driven by emotion, weak and given to hysteria. The natural order of the world is for one gender to rule, the other to serve, and thus the balance must be maintained.
Family life for the Xioquo is highly dependent upon one’s status. For lower and middling Xioquo, family life is much as with the Qadiri or elsewhere, but headed by a matriarch. The matriarch always decides who in the family marries and other financial decisions. For upper class nobles the situation can be rather more extreme however. Females fight amongst themselves for favour and power, for the oldest girl does not always inherit, whilst the males jockey for the best marriages and status they can get.
There is a curious trend amongst the highest ranked Xioquo noblewomen to disassociate with male relations entirely. In these cases their husbands are instead given slaves to impregnate and the resulting children are taken to be raised. To fill the void, same-gender couples are both normal and expected, as are physical relationships with multiple servile males. A Xioquo of standing having a single male partner is considered odd.
Punishments at also decidedly unfair. Punishments for males are often brutally harsh and usually involve castration for seemingly minor offenses. Thus is 50% of the population kept in check.
Religion:
The Xioquo worship their goddess Mystra, or as they call her, Myrou. To them she is their creator (which is technically true) and from her the Force flows and empowers her children. Minor deities are also worshipped, but all are subordinate to Mystra. They believe that she sleeps beneath Tlaxqui and will one day rise and judge her people. The faithful will have proven their worth to take over the planet, the weak will be purged.
A strong clerical tradition exists within the Xioquo to serve the needs of the Goddess and the people. The local Priestesses (as there can be no Priests) are generally a more benevolent presence, but the upper echelons are full of ambitious and ruthless theocrats who seek power at the expense of others. Overall the religious and political are folded together, with many priestesses being important Ladies ruling houses as well.
The Force:
The Force is strong with the Xioquo but it is almost always the Dark Side that rules and corrupts them. Much like the ancient Sith, the Dark Side has become part of the Xioquo culture to the extent that it is practically a requirement for one to rule. This is not to say that the Light does not have its champions, but to gain and hold power in the ruthless world of Xioquo politics requires compromises and acts no Light-sider can long endure. Those who follow the Light and who are not driven out or killed work on a smaller level, helping the weaker and poorer. Even there they are liable to be targeted by fearful nobles.
The Xioquo are very adept at using the Dark Side to strike down their enemies. This includes traditional elemental powers and Dark uses such as draining life from an opponent or sending them insane or overwhelming them with fear.
The Dark Side is embraced by the Xioquo as the glue which binds their society together, and this makes Tlaxqui something of a vortex of Dark energy.
Those who are discovered to be Force Sensitive and are free are trained harshly but not cruelly by the Temples in their house. After this, providing they live, they become powerful members of their family. A Force user automatically is seen as more prestigious and a younger female might rise to be heir because they can use the Force. Naturally this creates tension often leading to murder. Female Force users are often given a smoothed path to promotion, and most war-leaders can also use the Force.
The Xioquo never take other Force users captive or enslave them, rightfully deeming them a danger. These, especially Vashyada mystics, who fall into their power are often executed painfully. Their power is an aberration to the Goddess after all, for She favours only the Xioquo. Thus any Qadiri or Vashyada who have such powers are demons who must be exterminated…or so goes the line of thought.
Slavery:
Whilst the Qadiri agree that slavery is a beneficial institution their approach is rather moderate. It is simply another state one can be in, and the definitions are somewhat fluid. This is not how the Xioquo see it.
For the Xioquo, so obsessed with survival, power and the influence of the Dark Side, slavery is the defining aspect of their society. Slavery provides the labour which allows mobilisation of their forces for war, keeps the population subdued and prevents population explosion.
Unlike the Qadiri, slavery for the Xioquo is racial and caste based. There are no free Qadiri or Vashyada in the Underealm, every one of them are slaves. What’s more, slavery is hereditary and almost impossible to escape from.
Becoming a slave is depressingly easy, even for a relatively well-off Xioquo citizen, especially for males. Punishment for crimes, demotion by the whim of one’s Lady or being captured in battle are all easy ways to be enslaved. After being branded and collared there is almost no way to return to freedom. Manumission of slaves is illegal, and even if a kind Mistress frees her slaves it is never legal and the death of the Mistress often means the forced re-enslavement of those previously freed.
Punishments are brutal and cruel to keep the population in line, as nearly 25% of the Xioquo population are slaves.
Perhaps the only way for a slave to better themselves is to be born as Force sensitive. Those who are Force sensitive are taken to be trained in the most brutal ways possible. The survivors form a sort of Janissary corps for their house. These slaves are better housed and treated, and can occasionally earn their freedom is they perform well. Mostly though they die in suicidal assaults and pointless defences to keep free Xioquo from being slain.
The lot of slaves can vary greatly. Worst of all are the labourers who quarry, dig and harvest for their Mistresses. Better off are those who belong to free citizens or nobles, though this can vary greatly on the owner. The exploitation of slaves physically, mentally and sexually is rampant and unchecked, moderated only by the worth of the chattel which gives incentive not to cause permanent damage.
Overall slavery among the Xioquo is a wretched, brutal and terrible institution which benefits only a small proportion of the population.
Government:
The Xioquo have a curious system of government. It is partly theocratic, partly republican, partly feudal, all despotic!
In basic outline, the Xioquo are not ruled by a single leader, but all the people are ruled by a collection of major noble houses. These houses, the number of which usually totals 20-25 depending on the era, are mutually competitive and violently opposed to each other.
Every family and clan is a ‘house’, but only a few have the power, wealth and influence to have a large impact. Lesser houses enter a client/patron relationship which is almost feudal with larger houses. They provide a certain resource or skill in return for protection and so on.
Technically the Xioquo are a monarchy, but the throne is left empty for the return of Mystra, and so what started as a regency council has become a more formalised council over time. This Council of Ten, which in reality only has nine as one seat is left for the absent queen, is the heart of the Xioquo leadership. Membership is for life and by election by all houses over a certain number of dependants, and existing members of the Council get multiple votes. As there are at least double the number of houses as there are seats competition is common, the politics Byzantine in complexity and assassination frequent. Many houses leverage their votes to the highest bidder while others reliably vote for their patrons in return for favours.
The Council itself makes decisions for the whole Xioquo people…in theory. Even if they were representative of their people (which they are not) the Council does not have power to enforce their laws as there is no central government. Any attempt at centralisation is met with stubborn and violent resistance. Thus, the Xioquo are always divided.
However, the Council does make some decisions which are accepted. Religious policy is set by the Council, high profile cases are heard – even if these are usually show trials – and military expeditions are organised. A rotation based on the month allots a commander and all profits are split evenly based on contribution. This approach is flawed in the extreme, and infighting even on campaign is endemic. Therefore, most expeditions are funded by single or groups of allied houses and very large coalitions are extremely rare.
Warfare:
War, battle and fighting are all linked indivisibly together with the Xioquo. Survival of the fittest is an idea articulated not in writing but in word and deed. The Xioquo are permanently on the brink of catastrophe, and when combined with the Dark Side’s corrupting nature it is only natural that bloodshed is the result.
Therefore the Xioquo fight each other and raid the Qadiri and Vashyada simply because it is a necessity. However, it goes beyond that. Even when not related to survival they fight each other because that is the way the society has been constructed.
As mentioned under technology, the Xioquo do not form large armies or formations, instead fighting in smaller groups. Where large groups are assembled they advance in a skirmish screen, using their superior agility and weapons to snipe at their enemies from afar. Since they lack the heavy armour and unit discipline of the Qadiri they avoid battles with superior forces and only fight where the enemy is weak.
Military service is divided roughly into three groups.
First are the slave troops, which are completely expendable. Usually used for manual labour, the ordinary slaves are herded towards the enemy as a last resort to tie them down and expose enemy traps. Force using slaves are used more cautiously, but are still expendable.
The majority of forces come from a sort of citizen militia. All free females are required to provide weapons and armour, or be provided with basic gear by their house. They can then be called up by their house to fight, and receive a share of the loot, as well as any slaves or treasure they personally find. Usually this results in a minor gain compared with expenses, but occasionally a warrior can become rich through her efforts and move her family up the rungs.
Finally there are the noblewomen who lead the armies. They are put into place by their house and serve beholden only to them. Despite this nepotism, unsuccessful leaders do not last long as penalties for failure are quite as brutal as with the Sith. Defeat is not down to luck or enemy skill, it is a sign that the Goddess has withdrawn her favour. Thus the wealth and power possible of a leader must be balanced with the consequences of failure.
One big effect of slavery is that it frees up a disproportionately high percentage of the female population to fight, as so much work is taken on by slaves. The military expeditions are as much to replace natural slave wastage as it is to siphon off excess population before it can reach a critical level.
Due to their naval raiding and lack of other settlements, the Xioquo do not employ cavalry or heavy artillery. Rather they use light guns which can be moved ashore or they fire from their ships. This limits their ability to break inland, and means that an alerted enemy can retreat out of range and be largely immune.
Currency:
As with all cultures on Tygara, the relative abundance of gold compared with silver inverts the usual monetary metals. To pay their warriors and keep their systems going, the Xioquo were the first culture to develop coinage. These coins, usually round or oblong with a hole through the middle, could be threaded together with a leather strap into easily transferable bundles of money. Usually it is gold coins used for small usage, with silver being rarer and more valuable.
Each house mints its own coins if it can as a symbol of their legitimacy and power. Coins from rival houses are usually melted down and restamped. The more of one’s house is out in the economy the greater their prestige.
Debasing the currency, since there is no central control, is always a problem. However, any house which dilutes their gold or silver coinage will be faced with an immediate backlash by rivals.
History:
The history of the Xioquo is a rather tragic one, though tempered with their frankly despicable acts since their creation.
Like the Qadiri the Xioquo were created by the Rakata to serve as warriors and experiments. For the Xioquo, their ability to use the Force was increased greatly, and an affinity – though not total – with the Dark Side was formed.
The results were devastating and yet empowering. As a result of the experimentation the Xioquo skin turned dark as night, their sight increased and their strength in the Dark Side grew. It came at a cost though, the sun burned them and their power in the Force usually drew them down a dark path.
To lead them the Rakata gave the Xioquo a powerful sorceress and Force user, Mystra, probably the strongest Eldorai in the Force to ever live. Like the other Paragons she was to lead her people when the time came.
Instead, collapse of the Infinite Empire plunged Tygara into turmoil. The Rakata left their children behind, the flaws in the Xioquo design unfixed.
However, Mystra immediately saw her chance. The Xioquo were the smallest of the cultures, but she attempted to gain dominion over the Qadiri and Vashyada, only for those two to combine against them.
Strong as Mystra was, and as brutal as her warriors were, in the end they were overmatched. The perpetual storm Mystra covered the sun with blighted the ground into marsh where her army went and Tylania the Vashyada Paragon matched her at every turn.
Finally, before the Great Pyramid where the Rakata had once ruled the final battle was fought. Tylania and Mystra clashed, the latter seeming to prevail until Tylania managed to dispel the clouds and let the sun shine down. The Xioquo, pained and blinded by the light, fled the field. Mystra was wounded by a powerful weapon of the Light Side and escaped with her surviving followers.
The Vashyada and Qadiri soon halted their pursuit and parted ways, but the Xioquo went ever north in a great ship the Rakata had left them, finally coming to rest by the Black Cave which lead into the Underealm. Under there the Xioquo found a place to hide from the sun and nurse their hatred.
Time passed, and the Xioquo had to adapt to the subterranean realm under the mountains. Monsters struck from the shadows, food was hard to come by, and Mystra was dying. Finally, the Paragon retired to her chamber and sealed the door, never again to emerge. It has been said ever since by the Xioquo that one day she will return and lead her people to final victory.
Decades became centuries and centuries became millennia. History became myth and then vague shadows. The Xioquo dwindled until barely 5,000 survived. From this tiny base they formed a new society based on strict hierarchy, religion and slavery. Conservation of resources meant that a slave society was the only way to contain the population and expand the realm.
Factions gathered and formed houses similar to those today, and the full extent of the Underealm was explored. At the start it was a vast expanse, but as the population grew it started to find its limits.
Living deep in the mountains, the Xioquo quickly became adept at mining, tunnelling and making objects of metal. Species in the underground were enslaved or destroyed, resources gathered from the outside lands where possible, and the population steadily grew.
Around 4,000 years ago, the Xioquo started to send out small expeditions to find other places to settle or gather resources. The former was deemed unsuitable as the burning sun was a deterrent. However, resources were gathered from nearby, especially wood and fish.
It was not until 1500 years ago that technology had advanced again enough for these explorations to reach and contact the Qadiri, specifically the ones on the northern continent. It was here that the beginning of the slave trade to labour in the darkness was undertaken. Later, contact with the Qadiri of Amikaron led to conflicts, and many of the outer lands and islands were ruthlessly pillaged and sacked. The Xioquo were able to strike their targets, enslave and pillage, then escape before help could arrive.
Finally, about 500 years ago with the rise of a new powerful Qadiri realm in Amikaron, a near constant war of raids and ambushes began, and the Xioquo built up their fortresses. In this time the Vashyada were again encountered and preyed on as well.
In the Underealm, the natural population growth as well as the influx of outside slaves pushed the bounds of their ability to maintain them. After this point the raids became vital not just for prestige and wealth, but for survival too. Were the Underealm to be denied even a year of slaves and provisions, it is likely that widespread discord would result.
The Xioquo therefore remain an enigma. A species in grim straits who nonetheless responded to their conditions with brutality and war rather than trying to find a constructive solution. And yet, their harsh conditions have given them great skills materially and with the Force. It remains to be seen how they will deal with the storm of the invading offworlders.
Notable Player-Characters: None yet.
Intent: To create the second of three Eldorai sub-races on Tygara. Though inspired by the Drow of other settings they are different in crucial ways. Strong in the Dark Side, they are a parallel to the Sith as much as the other Eldorai. Coming from a backward world the Xioquo are still dangerous because of their agility and Force skills, but balanced by strong weaknesses which limit them being overpowered.
Source: Deviant Art, Seraph777
Name: Xioquo, the children of darkness.
Designation: Sentient
Homeworld: Tygara
Language: Xio and its various dialects have remained remarkably similar over time due to the close confines of the Underealm.
Average height of adults: 1.5-1.8 metres.
Skin color: Light grey to dark obsidian. Xioquo have dark skin in the way humans or the Qadiri do not, their skin is grey tending to black.
Hair color: White or grey.
Breathes: Type I.
Strengths:
- Fleet Footed. The Xioquo are exceptionally agile and quick. They also have excellent co-ordination and specialise in finesse weapons like rapiers, daggers and pistols.
- Darkvision. Living in the Underealm means the Xioquo are able to see much further in the darkness than humans, Eldorai or Qadiri. They also have excellent hearing and sense of smell. Their dark skins allow them to blend into the shadows invisibly.
- Pillars of Darkness. The Force is strong with the Xioquo, but it is almost entirely the Dark Side which they wield. They have a higher Force sensitivity than other races, often around 1/10 of the population able to use their gifts.
- Minds of Metal. For Tygara the Xioquo are quite advanced technologically. If given the chance to use modern galactic technology they would be formidable.
- Glass Cannon. Though they are faster than humans or the other two cultures of Tygara they are physically weaker. As with all Eldorai cultures they also require more sustenance than humans to keep up with their rapid metabolisms.
- It Burns! Living in the darkness so long has made the sun and other bright lights painful. In daylight they wear robes and hoods to shield themselves, and often wear steampunk-like sunglasses on long operations. Their skins can blister in the sun if left exposed.
- Perils of Darkness. The Dark Side is strong with the Xioquo. Whilst this makes them powerful, it also makes them divided, power-hungry and ruthless. Even the non-Force sensitive Xioquo are influenced by the culture. This engenders making alliances uncommon and betrayal near certain.
- Slow Growing. Xioquo are very slow to increase population, and the constant strife between them doesn’t help. It is thought that the Xioquo population is actually in decline due to recent civil wars and conflict with the Qadiri.
- Powder Keg. The Xioquo society is a ticking timebomb where the small crust of nobles and priestesses actively dispossess and trample the freedoms of others. Currently the lower classes are held down by bloody force, but if ever their Mistresses were to show weakness a rebellion could sweep them away brutally.
As with all Eldorai, females are larger and stronger than their male counterparts, and this takes on a cultural component in the interplay between genders.
The Xioquo, living their life in the subterranean caves, also are resistant to cold temperatures and all are excellent swimmers in the glacial streams in the caves. As noted above, bright light can dazzle them, and UV radiation can cause serious burns. One of the more cruel, yet effective means of torture devised by their Qadiri enemies is to simply secure a Xioquo in the midday sun and let the brightness and burns torment their captive.
The Dark Side can take a terrible toll on those who use it most, and so it is with the Xioquo. In cases like this, vain Xioquo will often wear masks to cover their faces or concealing veils. Others flaunt it as a show of their obvious power.
Average Lifespan: 300-350 standard years. Xioquo become fully physically mature at about 50.
Races: No notable sub-races.
Estimated Population: About 25 million total, concentrated almost entirely in the Underealm.
Diet: Like all Eldorai, the Xioquo are omnivorous. However, meat or fish is an extreme luxury available only to the wealthiest and most powerful. Most Xioquo survive on a vast fungal forests cultivated in the caverns. These fungi, similar to the ones on Felucia, can reach heights of ten metres. These giant mushrooms are ‘logged’ and divided up. The stems are hard and woody and are given to the slaves and poorest, whilst those who are better off can afford the caps or spores mixed with water. Kelp and other plants are cultivated too. Food is always scarce in the Underrealm, especially because of the metabolism problems, so parties are being continually sent out to obtain new provisions. Cannibalism is not unknown, though usually for use in Dark Side rituals where slaves’ blood will be drunk when they are sacrificed.
Communication: The Xioquo, like the other Eldorai, have a highly developed spoken, written and literary system of communication. Due to their reliance on stone and metal, the alphabet is straight lines, but complex symbols are nevertheless in place. Literacy is not high outside the elite and scribes, so more often pictographic messages are used.
Like all Eldorai, the Xioquo language is flowing, yet difficult for an outsider to speak, requiring many more stops and conjunctive words than the Qadiri usually use.
Slaves of the Xioquo have developed a pidgin language which is a mix of Qadiri, Vashyada and Xioquo dialects. With this they can communicate between themselves, even if it is officially banned and using it is punishable by death.
Culture: (For the purposes of cleaner delineation, culture will cover the arts of the Xioquo whilst General Behaviour covers their ‘culture’ as it pertains to actions.)
Though characterised as brutal savages by the Qadiri the Xioquo are not without cultural leanings, and in some ways surpass their southern cousins.
Performance and Poetry:
All Eldorai love oral poetry and performances. Bards are held in high esteem by wealthy patrons if they can relate the noble’s family history. His almost borders on hagiography, but the bards must always be careful never to ‘push the envelope’ too far lest they arose the anger of their patron.
A very popular genre is epic history, especially epic history relating to the misdeeds of the Qadiri. As a societal way of justifying their poor conditions this makes a lot of sense, but it can lead to some long and fairly epic stories.
However, the Xioquo are not all about revenge and praising their betters, folk performances of dance and theatrical renditions are popular with the common people.
There is also a broad-based subversive streak in the lower classes and slaves which hold impromptu performances which satirise the nobles and priestesses. Certain ordinary words are ‘code’ for other more scathing ones. An ‘egg’ in this context for instance is a derisive term for a noble (empty headed).
Prose, History and Research:
Independent inquiry and research are not admired traits as they can lead to subversive thoughts. Most research and histories are funded by the various noble families to honour their heritage and glorify their ancestors.
The sole area of unbiased research is in the area of weapons, poisons and natural phenomena which are carefully recorded as they may be usable.
Since literacy is relatively minor there is only a small market for fiction, mostly for the children of nobles. Some of this can get quite racy.
The other area of written prose are the various religious texts and decrees which are often read aloud at services.
Visual Arts:
This is one area where the Xioquo meet or even exceed the Qadiri in skill.
Mosaics and statues are often beautifully coloured and are often of impressive scale. Statues of one’s ancestors are especially ornate as honouring one’s family is a way of honouring one’s own glory. Mosaics depicting people, events or natural images adorn not just private houses but public areas too.
Xioquo metal artwork though is something unique to them though. It consists of plates of metal etched or carved into scenes just like they would do with stone. The results are magnificently painted scenes usually etched in bronze but sometimes silver or gold for the most opulent.
Clothing, especially silk is highly ornate and often becomes an artform. The use of certain materials because of their rarity makes them a prestige item. Bright colours and often fantastical patterns are used.
On a more practical level weapons and armour are often heavily decorated so everyone can know the quality of the person by looking at their equipment.
Jewellery:
With a relative abundance of precious metals and gems, the Xioquo arts of jewellery are beautiful. Emeralds, sapphires and diamonds set with gold or silver are most loved. Rings, necklaces and circlets for the leaders of houses are the most favoured. Families often gift precious jewellery to allies as a sign of faith.
Technology level: The Xioquo are the most advanced of the cultures on Tygara, but are still far behind the galactic curve. They are best described as ‘Early Industrial’ or around 1875 in a rough Earth estimation. In some areas they are further ahead, in others lagging behind Earth technology of the time.
Building and architecture:
Building underground, the Xioquo do not have to worry much about weather, but damp and cold are continual problems. Freestanding structures are extremely rare, with most structures being built into the natural or excavated walls of the caverns. For the wealthy and powerful, homes and buildings are well formed with dressed walls covered in tiles, mosaics and plaster. For the poorer or slaves, a rough-walled cave with a dirt floor is all they might have.
Furniture and fittings are made most often of metal or stone, with wood being rare and valuable.
As might be expected, Xioquo architecture is angular and plain. Carvings and mosaics tend to be aggrandising for the family of the one who makes it and is often destroyed if one family overtakes another.
Those settlements outside of the Underealm are usually fortifications or slaver camps. Where possible these are built into caves or hills naturally, but if not possible covered ways and heavy stone construction is common to ward off the sun and heat.
The Sea:
Unlike the Qadiri who are natural sailors, the Xioquo were late to nautical adventures. Though they have subterranean lakes and rivers, nothing prepared the Xioquo for the vast, stormy, open seas. To a race used to living in caves the agoraphobia was crippling. However, as the population grew and technology developed the means and need to explore further was matched. The need came in the form of a demand for slaves, luxury goods and food, and the means came in the form of slave powered galleys built by cutting down the arctic forests of the land above. These slaves, usually Qadiri made useful power for the coastal galleys. Later, technology allowed the Qadiri to dispense with this unreliable form of power and use steam to power their ships. First wooden, then ironclad, finally all metal ships became used so that within the last century the Xioquo have leapt ahead in seagoing technology. Navigation is still poor, and many ships have been lost at sea.
Medicine:
Xioquo medicine for any but the richest is almost non-existent. Folk remedies and herbal cures are all most Xioquo have available. For the richer ones, the medicine is almost as ineffective, just more expensive. The Dark Side does not give much weight to healing, but some Priestesses specialise in draining the life from slaves to heal themselves or another.
Warfare:
Like the Qadiri the Xioquo are incessantly warlike, but in different ways. Lacking the population, geography or formalised systems of the Qadiri, Xioquo warfare is much more subtle. Fighting between noble houses is endemic, but usually takes the form of raids, ambushes and assassination. Open battles are very rare due to space constraints, and the Xioquo try to avoid getting into such battles with the more numerous Qadiri.
Recent technological advances have allowed the Xioquo to practically switch entirely to gunpowder weapons, though some retain crossbows for the accuracy and silence. In all cases the lack of wood means the quarrels and weapon butts are made of metal or from the oldest of the giant fungi. Common personal weapons include rifled muskets, revolvers and grenades. They also make extensive use of knives, rapiers and bladed whips. Axes, hammers and pikes are very rare, but spears and shields are used at times.
In the field of artillery the Xioquo are the most advanced. Their artillery, often rifled and firing explosive shells, are often mounted on ships for long-range bombardment.
The emphasis on all Xioquo warfare against the Qadiri is to ‘hit and fade’. Their usual plan is to quickly attack an enemy settlement, bombard it then attack. After looting, enslaving and destroying the settlement they retreat to fortified camps and then return to the Underealm in large convoys. If attacked in these camps, the Xioquo choose defence sites where their superior ships and weapons can be used to good effect to negate the numbers of their enemy.
The Xioquo never attempt to conquer territory to settle, with the sole exception being the fortified camps on islands or in rough terrain.
General behaviour:
Gender:
For the Xioquo gender is an extension of power, and it is the females who are ascendant in this society. While the Qadiri have matters favouring their females, the Xioquo have a clear and hierarchical system in place which establishes which of the genders is (to them) superior. Even for the Eldorai who have come in with a similar system, it is viewed as extreme.
Absolute Enatic succession is the law for the Xioquo, which means only females can inherit. Males are overlooked in favour of a younger female sibling, and even for more distant relations. If a male was the last surviving heir of a family they will usually be forcefully married to a female and his property taken over.
Legally, only females can own property or represent themselves in courts before their head of house or at a religious court. Males are treated as a sub-class, barely above slaves.
Culturally, to maintain the legitimacy of their oppression, the Xioquo noblewomen push out the belief that the males are driven by emotion, weak and given to hysteria. The natural order of the world is for one gender to rule, the other to serve, and thus the balance must be maintained.
Family life for the Xioquo is highly dependent upon one’s status. For lower and middling Xioquo, family life is much as with the Qadiri or elsewhere, but headed by a matriarch. The matriarch always decides who in the family marries and other financial decisions. For upper class nobles the situation can be rather more extreme however. Females fight amongst themselves for favour and power, for the oldest girl does not always inherit, whilst the males jockey for the best marriages and status they can get.
There is a curious trend amongst the highest ranked Xioquo noblewomen to disassociate with male relations entirely. In these cases their husbands are instead given slaves to impregnate and the resulting children are taken to be raised. To fill the void, same-gender couples are both normal and expected, as are physical relationships with multiple servile males. A Xioquo of standing having a single male partner is considered odd.
Punishments at also decidedly unfair. Punishments for males are often brutally harsh and usually involve castration for seemingly minor offenses. Thus is 50% of the population kept in check.
Religion:
The Xioquo worship their goddess Mystra, or as they call her, Myrou. To them she is their creator (which is technically true) and from her the Force flows and empowers her children. Minor deities are also worshipped, but all are subordinate to Mystra. They believe that she sleeps beneath Tlaxqui and will one day rise and judge her people. The faithful will have proven their worth to take over the planet, the weak will be purged.
A strong clerical tradition exists within the Xioquo to serve the needs of the Goddess and the people. The local Priestesses (as there can be no Priests) are generally a more benevolent presence, but the upper echelons are full of ambitious and ruthless theocrats who seek power at the expense of others. Overall the religious and political are folded together, with many priestesses being important Ladies ruling houses as well.
The Force:
The Force is strong with the Xioquo but it is almost always the Dark Side that rules and corrupts them. Much like the ancient Sith, the Dark Side has become part of the Xioquo culture to the extent that it is practically a requirement for one to rule. This is not to say that the Light does not have its champions, but to gain and hold power in the ruthless world of Xioquo politics requires compromises and acts no Light-sider can long endure. Those who follow the Light and who are not driven out or killed work on a smaller level, helping the weaker and poorer. Even there they are liable to be targeted by fearful nobles.
The Xioquo are very adept at using the Dark Side to strike down their enemies. This includes traditional elemental powers and Dark uses such as draining life from an opponent or sending them insane or overwhelming them with fear.
The Dark Side is embraced by the Xioquo as the glue which binds their society together, and this makes Tlaxqui something of a vortex of Dark energy.
Those who are discovered to be Force Sensitive and are free are trained harshly but not cruelly by the Temples in their house. After this, providing they live, they become powerful members of their family. A Force user automatically is seen as more prestigious and a younger female might rise to be heir because they can use the Force. Naturally this creates tension often leading to murder. Female Force users are often given a smoothed path to promotion, and most war-leaders can also use the Force.
The Xioquo never take other Force users captive or enslave them, rightfully deeming them a danger. These, especially Vashyada mystics, who fall into their power are often executed painfully. Their power is an aberration to the Goddess after all, for She favours only the Xioquo. Thus any Qadiri or Vashyada who have such powers are demons who must be exterminated…or so goes the line of thought.
Slavery:
Whilst the Qadiri agree that slavery is a beneficial institution their approach is rather moderate. It is simply another state one can be in, and the definitions are somewhat fluid. This is not how the Xioquo see it.
For the Xioquo, so obsessed with survival, power and the influence of the Dark Side, slavery is the defining aspect of their society. Slavery provides the labour which allows mobilisation of their forces for war, keeps the population subdued and prevents population explosion.
Unlike the Qadiri, slavery for the Xioquo is racial and caste based. There are no free Qadiri or Vashyada in the Underealm, every one of them are slaves. What’s more, slavery is hereditary and almost impossible to escape from.
Becoming a slave is depressingly easy, even for a relatively well-off Xioquo citizen, especially for males. Punishment for crimes, demotion by the whim of one’s Lady or being captured in battle are all easy ways to be enslaved. After being branded and collared there is almost no way to return to freedom. Manumission of slaves is illegal, and even if a kind Mistress frees her slaves it is never legal and the death of the Mistress often means the forced re-enslavement of those previously freed.
Punishments are brutal and cruel to keep the population in line, as nearly 25% of the Xioquo population are slaves.
Perhaps the only way for a slave to better themselves is to be born as Force sensitive. Those who are Force sensitive are taken to be trained in the most brutal ways possible. The survivors form a sort of Janissary corps for their house. These slaves are better housed and treated, and can occasionally earn their freedom is they perform well. Mostly though they die in suicidal assaults and pointless defences to keep free Xioquo from being slain.
The lot of slaves can vary greatly. Worst of all are the labourers who quarry, dig and harvest for their Mistresses. Better off are those who belong to free citizens or nobles, though this can vary greatly on the owner. The exploitation of slaves physically, mentally and sexually is rampant and unchecked, moderated only by the worth of the chattel which gives incentive not to cause permanent damage.
Overall slavery among the Xioquo is a wretched, brutal and terrible institution which benefits only a small proportion of the population.
Government:
The Xioquo have a curious system of government. It is partly theocratic, partly republican, partly feudal, all despotic!
In basic outline, the Xioquo are not ruled by a single leader, but all the people are ruled by a collection of major noble houses. These houses, the number of which usually totals 20-25 depending on the era, are mutually competitive and violently opposed to each other.
Every family and clan is a ‘house’, but only a few have the power, wealth and influence to have a large impact. Lesser houses enter a client/patron relationship which is almost feudal with larger houses. They provide a certain resource or skill in return for protection and so on.
Technically the Xioquo are a monarchy, but the throne is left empty for the return of Mystra, and so what started as a regency council has become a more formalised council over time. This Council of Ten, which in reality only has nine as one seat is left for the absent queen, is the heart of the Xioquo leadership. Membership is for life and by election by all houses over a certain number of dependants, and existing members of the Council get multiple votes. As there are at least double the number of houses as there are seats competition is common, the politics Byzantine in complexity and assassination frequent. Many houses leverage their votes to the highest bidder while others reliably vote for their patrons in return for favours.
The Council itself makes decisions for the whole Xioquo people…in theory. Even if they were representative of their people (which they are not) the Council does not have power to enforce their laws as there is no central government. Any attempt at centralisation is met with stubborn and violent resistance. Thus, the Xioquo are always divided.
However, the Council does make some decisions which are accepted. Religious policy is set by the Council, high profile cases are heard – even if these are usually show trials – and military expeditions are organised. A rotation based on the month allots a commander and all profits are split evenly based on contribution. This approach is flawed in the extreme, and infighting even on campaign is endemic. Therefore, most expeditions are funded by single or groups of allied houses and very large coalitions are extremely rare.
Warfare:
War, battle and fighting are all linked indivisibly together with the Xioquo. Survival of the fittest is an idea articulated not in writing but in word and deed. The Xioquo are permanently on the brink of catastrophe, and when combined with the Dark Side’s corrupting nature it is only natural that bloodshed is the result.
Therefore the Xioquo fight each other and raid the Qadiri and Vashyada simply because it is a necessity. However, it goes beyond that. Even when not related to survival they fight each other because that is the way the society has been constructed.
As mentioned under technology, the Xioquo do not form large armies or formations, instead fighting in smaller groups. Where large groups are assembled they advance in a skirmish screen, using their superior agility and weapons to snipe at their enemies from afar. Since they lack the heavy armour and unit discipline of the Qadiri they avoid battles with superior forces and only fight where the enemy is weak.
Military service is divided roughly into three groups.
First are the slave troops, which are completely expendable. Usually used for manual labour, the ordinary slaves are herded towards the enemy as a last resort to tie them down and expose enemy traps. Force using slaves are used more cautiously, but are still expendable.
The majority of forces come from a sort of citizen militia. All free females are required to provide weapons and armour, or be provided with basic gear by their house. They can then be called up by their house to fight, and receive a share of the loot, as well as any slaves or treasure they personally find. Usually this results in a minor gain compared with expenses, but occasionally a warrior can become rich through her efforts and move her family up the rungs.
Finally there are the noblewomen who lead the armies. They are put into place by their house and serve beholden only to them. Despite this nepotism, unsuccessful leaders do not last long as penalties for failure are quite as brutal as with the Sith. Defeat is not down to luck or enemy skill, it is a sign that the Goddess has withdrawn her favour. Thus the wealth and power possible of a leader must be balanced with the consequences of failure.
One big effect of slavery is that it frees up a disproportionately high percentage of the female population to fight, as so much work is taken on by slaves. The military expeditions are as much to replace natural slave wastage as it is to siphon off excess population before it can reach a critical level.
Due to their naval raiding and lack of other settlements, the Xioquo do not employ cavalry or heavy artillery. Rather they use light guns which can be moved ashore or they fire from their ships. This limits their ability to break inland, and means that an alerted enemy can retreat out of range and be largely immune.
Currency:
As with all cultures on Tygara, the relative abundance of gold compared with silver inverts the usual monetary metals. To pay their warriors and keep their systems going, the Xioquo were the first culture to develop coinage. These coins, usually round or oblong with a hole through the middle, could be threaded together with a leather strap into easily transferable bundles of money. Usually it is gold coins used for small usage, with silver being rarer and more valuable.
Each house mints its own coins if it can as a symbol of their legitimacy and power. Coins from rival houses are usually melted down and restamped. The more of one’s house is out in the economy the greater their prestige.
Debasing the currency, since there is no central control, is always a problem. However, any house which dilutes their gold or silver coinage will be faced with an immediate backlash by rivals.
History:
The history of the Xioquo is a rather tragic one, though tempered with their frankly despicable acts since their creation.
Like the Qadiri the Xioquo were created by the Rakata to serve as warriors and experiments. For the Xioquo, their ability to use the Force was increased greatly, and an affinity – though not total – with the Dark Side was formed.
The results were devastating and yet empowering. As a result of the experimentation the Xioquo skin turned dark as night, their sight increased and their strength in the Dark Side grew. It came at a cost though, the sun burned them and their power in the Force usually drew them down a dark path.
To lead them the Rakata gave the Xioquo a powerful sorceress and Force user, Mystra, probably the strongest Eldorai in the Force to ever live. Like the other Paragons she was to lead her people when the time came.
Instead, collapse of the Infinite Empire plunged Tygara into turmoil. The Rakata left their children behind, the flaws in the Xioquo design unfixed.
However, Mystra immediately saw her chance. The Xioquo were the smallest of the cultures, but she attempted to gain dominion over the Qadiri and Vashyada, only for those two to combine against them.
Strong as Mystra was, and as brutal as her warriors were, in the end they were overmatched. The perpetual storm Mystra covered the sun with blighted the ground into marsh where her army went and Tylania the Vashyada Paragon matched her at every turn.
Finally, before the Great Pyramid where the Rakata had once ruled the final battle was fought. Tylania and Mystra clashed, the latter seeming to prevail until Tylania managed to dispel the clouds and let the sun shine down. The Xioquo, pained and blinded by the light, fled the field. Mystra was wounded by a powerful weapon of the Light Side and escaped with her surviving followers.
The Vashyada and Qadiri soon halted their pursuit and parted ways, but the Xioquo went ever north in a great ship the Rakata had left them, finally coming to rest by the Black Cave which lead into the Underealm. Under there the Xioquo found a place to hide from the sun and nurse their hatred.
Time passed, and the Xioquo had to adapt to the subterranean realm under the mountains. Monsters struck from the shadows, food was hard to come by, and Mystra was dying. Finally, the Paragon retired to her chamber and sealed the door, never again to emerge. It has been said ever since by the Xioquo that one day she will return and lead her people to final victory.
Decades became centuries and centuries became millennia. History became myth and then vague shadows. The Xioquo dwindled until barely 5,000 survived. From this tiny base they formed a new society based on strict hierarchy, religion and slavery. Conservation of resources meant that a slave society was the only way to contain the population and expand the realm.
Factions gathered and formed houses similar to those today, and the full extent of the Underealm was explored. At the start it was a vast expanse, but as the population grew it started to find its limits.
Living deep in the mountains, the Xioquo quickly became adept at mining, tunnelling and making objects of metal. Species in the underground were enslaved or destroyed, resources gathered from the outside lands where possible, and the population steadily grew.
Around 4,000 years ago, the Xioquo started to send out small expeditions to find other places to settle or gather resources. The former was deemed unsuitable as the burning sun was a deterrent. However, resources were gathered from nearby, especially wood and fish.
It was not until 1500 years ago that technology had advanced again enough for these explorations to reach and contact the Qadiri, specifically the ones on the northern continent. It was here that the beginning of the slave trade to labour in the darkness was undertaken. Later, contact with the Qadiri of Amikaron led to conflicts, and many of the outer lands and islands were ruthlessly pillaged and sacked. The Xioquo were able to strike their targets, enslave and pillage, then escape before help could arrive.
Finally, about 500 years ago with the rise of a new powerful Qadiri realm in Amikaron, a near constant war of raids and ambushes began, and the Xioquo built up their fortresses. In this time the Vashyada were again encountered and preyed on as well.
In the Underealm, the natural population growth as well as the influx of outside slaves pushed the bounds of their ability to maintain them. After this point the raids became vital not just for prestige and wealth, but for survival too. Were the Underealm to be denied even a year of slaves and provisions, it is likely that widespread discord would result.
The Xioquo therefore remain an enigma. A species in grim straits who nonetheless responded to their conditions with brutality and war rather than trying to find a constructive solution. And yet, their harsh conditions have given them great skills materially and with the Force. It remains to be seen how they will deal with the storm of the invading offworlders.
Notable Player-Characters: None yet.
Intent: To create the second of three Eldorai sub-races on Tygara. Though inspired by the Drow of other settings they are different in crucial ways. Strong in the Dark Side, they are a parallel to the Sith as much as the other Eldorai. Coming from a backward world the Xioquo are still dangerous because of their agility and Force skills, but balanced by strong weaknesses which limit them being overpowered.
Do I win a prize for excessive length? 
