Ahazu

The Ahazu are a fierce race of four-armed nomadic predators, standing over seven feet tall and possessing an imposing, almost demonic appearance. They are characterized by bright-yellow skin with fiery red markings and dark-green, pupil-less eyes.

Appearance and Biology

• Physique: Long and lean with four arms, sloping foreheads, and forked tongues.
• Markings: Red striations line their face and spine, helping them blend into dense jungle vegetation.
• Attire: They dress in reptile-hide loincloths with numerous thongs tied at the joints.

Nomadic Lifestyle

The Ahazu are nomadic hunters who subsist entirely on raw meat from fresh game.

• Dwellings: They make no permanent settlements, instead sleeping in the treetops.
• Territory: Tribes aggressively guard their current hunting grounds until the game is exhausted, then move to a new area.
• Social Bonds: Ahazu mate for life. The young are carried in woven-vine backpacks everywhere, including into battle.
• Suicide Ritual: Those too old or infirm to keep pace with the tribe typically commit suicide by jumping from Leaper's Ridge. [^1]

Shan-Ya: The Battle Madness

Ahazu are governed by dark moods and strange passions, most notably shan-ya (literally "battle madness").

• The Rage: When "the rage" takes them, they attack any living creature with incredible ferocity, feeling no pain or fear.
• Glory: To die during a fit of shan-ya while slaying scores of enemies is considered the highest possible honor.

The Warrior Code and Slavery

Ahazu adhere to a strict and secret code of conduct regarding combat and capture.

• Captivity: A warrior who is captured in battle is forbidden from escaping and must serve their captor as a slave for life.
• The Pact: This bond can only be broken if the captor assaults the slave. However, an angry Ahazu may interpret even an accidental touch as an "attack."
• Self-Governance: Formal punishment is rare; individuals who fail the tribe's standards generally commit suicide.

Ahazu Characters

• Skills: Language (Sign - native), Language (Ahazu - native), Cultures (Ahazu) +5, Survival (jungle) +2, Weapon (2-Handed or Thrown) +2.
• Special Abilities: Extra attack/parry per round (no penalty); +3 Stealth in native environment. [^2]
• Quirks: Shan-Ya, Multiple Limbs, Obedient (to slave master).

Relations and Religion

• Enemies: They regard the Moorg-Wan as ancient territorial rivals. Most other races view them as blood-thirsty savages.
• Taboos: They will never harm a Green Man, fearing the wrath of the ancient Forest Gods.
• Faith: They revere a secret warrior-deity but observe no formal rituals or holidays. Magic is despised as the domain of cowards.
• Language: The Ahazu tongue consists of harsh shrieks, yells, and violent gestures. They have no written language.

[^1]: Ahazu who have failed in any way to live up to the tribe's rigorous standards often choose this path as well. [^2]: Ahazu characters never receive armor from Paths. They may replace Path weapons with a gwanga or matsu.