Kohrun

Fast Facts

Height: 5'8"-6'2" Males, 5'4"-5'10" Females

Weight: 150-200(lbs) Males, 100-140(lbs) Females

Lifespan: Please see 'Reproduction, Aging and Death'

Notable Features: Glowing Blue Eyes, Intricate Tattoos, Strong Physiques, Undead Traits

Player Restrictions: None

Racial Ability: Neverborn: Kohrün are not birthed, they are revived, through a Necromantic-like energy that is naturally imbued into their race. Y'shendra, their patron and creator, has given their bodies the ability to retain their souls in death, creating infinite cycles of death and rebirth for their kind. So in-tune with these souls are they that they can manipulate them for a variety of abilities, as is described later in this article.

Population: 15,000,000

History

WIP.

Physiology/Biology

Kohrün are rare in that they are effectively living humans in many ways, but are distinguished from men and mankind. This is not an arbitrary decision; there are notable differences between Kohrün and man, often more severe than the differences separating a Hyr'Norai and a Sil'Norai. To begin with, Kohrün are undead, though what this means in their case is different than one might expect. They do not smell, look or act as walking corpses, carrying the same level of life-like vibrancy as any member of humanity. Their muscles are, however, constructed of undead tissue. The Kohrün are known to be enduring warriors, and this is a large reason for why; their disconnect from pain, unable to feel it to the same degree as most other intelligent life. Their muscles can be torn asunder, burnt or subjected to any method of torture, and they simply will not feel pain in the same way. Most of the nerves within their muscles do not transmit pain to the brain; in fact, they transmit less sensation entirely.

However, that is not to separate the Kohrün from the realities of life and death, or pain and pleasure. They simply experience things differently. The Kohrün enjoy sexual intimacy as much as any other race, mostly because their body was allowed to, their nerves functioning in tune with their original, mortal physiology. They can even enjoy the relief of a massage of those same muscles that do not easily transmit pain, and in fact, many of them feel an undeniable discomfort, anxiety and unease at the sensation of their hand being ripped in two. Kohrün describe pain as a dull, yet oddly existential sensation. Rather than a stinging pain, perhaps intermingled with a shock at what has become of their fragile form, Kohrün are instigated by pain: they are led to focus and fight back when they feel their life to be in danger, and in many ways, their limited sense of 'pain' appears to ignite their internalized hunger and ferocity, which brings us to the Neverborn.

Neverborn Abilities

Kohrün, all of them, wield what is called a 'deathless soul'. A soul that has been anchored to their form by Y'shendra, who does not allow them to truly die or pass on to the afterlife. This augmentation is naturally imbued with 'abilities', crafted by Y'shendra to serve her people throughout their many lives. Chief of all abilities is the 'entity' known as the Neverborn. The Neverborn is a hunter: it is an internalized, quietly-kept aspect of the Kohrün, responsible for a compulsion of theirs towards savagery. It is an undead spirit within a deathless soul, one that gnaws at a Kohrün's sanity and must be bitten back and restrained. It holds an instinct towards cannibalism and rage, and compels the Kohrün to endeavor to sate those desires.

Kohrün are able to project their consciousness of theirs outward. By closing their eyes and focusing deeply on the hunger within, they may bring it out and peer through its eyes as it may do with them. In truth, the Neverborn is something of a pitiful being. Wielding an incorporeal form, even as it lashes out, it cannot claim victims. Instead, it can peer through the Dead Realm and gather information, observing others from afar. When a Neverborn is present, an uncomfortable chill can be felt by those it is observing, and they often begin to feel the same as one would as if being predated upon: the hunger becomes tangible, palpable within the air.

Interestingly, the Neverborn also improves upon the Kohrün's proficiency with Animus. It can inhabit animals and allow the Kohrün to peer through them in short, temporary bursts, though these bursts are proven to be highly effective at improving their Immersion and Synchrony, and even making them naturally more acute at the ability 'Warging'. With all of this the case, the Neverborn can be a potent ally for hunting and scouting, though it is also known to be difficult to control. Neverborn frequently escape the bodies of the Kohrün while they sleep, only to inhabit animals and force them into a visceral rage, preying on other beasts or even leading them to suicide. Neverborn frequently torment the Kohrün's minds with its own grim curiosity, leading to nightmares, and an inescapable fear-mixed-exhilaration that they often live through in frequent if short bursts.

The Neverborn is limited by time. The longer it is controlled, the more strain it can result in as the Kohrün begins to face a flood of lethargy and even pain. Even a few minutes of separation can lead to severe retribution, with the Neverborn forced to wander back to an unconscious Kohrün. The creature cannot be seen by any observers save for other Neverborn, ghosts or those who can peer into the Dead Realm, and it cannot be permanently killed, reforming within the Kohrün's soul over a period of days. It appears much like a wildly tall (nearly nine feet), bent over, lanky man-like shape of frost-like, blue ethereal limbs.

Susceptibility

Kohrün do not wield undead organs. Like any other mortal, their heart, brain or perhaps other internal organs failing to function can and will lead to their death. They are susceptible to disease, like other mortals, and in fact are truly as vulnerable as their human peers, only with a final face of resilience that can often mislead others -- and even themselves -- as they face their final, fleeting moments.

Psychology

x

Culture

x

Clothing, Grooming and Art

x

Religion and Worship

x

Reproduction, Aging, and Death

x

Language

The Kohrün speak Kokalath, the primary language of the Rünskaldr archipelago, as well as the Kingdom of Tyrclaid.

Common names for the Kohrün include:

Males: Erik, Svend, Ulfran, Bjørn, Jorek, Hakandr

Females: Jaela, Saoirse, Gunhild, Runa, Sigrid, Veljya