Lepdo'ami

The Lepdo'ami exhibit a variety of appearances based on their clan, and the Ag'amaa, K'amaa, Varani, and Crokadi all look wildly different from one another. Their people do have some shared traits regardless of their lineage, however. They possess scales that take a variety of patterns, shapes, and colors, making each individual look unique. While they do not possess hair, some have crests or spines that are often styled in a similar manner. Many Lepdo'ami will also adorn their scales with various piercings or other accessories, which usually have some form of significance. Beyond their scales, they possess many other lizard-like traits such as claws and tails that differ among the clans. The Lepdo'ami often wear little clothing, but the clothes they do wear are often made of simple cloth or animal hide. Their reptilian eyes are often said to dart around quickly, almost as if their people are always watching for potential threats.

Alongside their innate connection to nature as Demi-Beasts, the scaly skin of the Lepdo'ami acts as a natural armor that shields them from some of the dangers of the rainforest. Beyond this, their people's traits and abilities are dependent on what lineage they are a part of.

The Lepdo'ami people have existed in Q'Farrun as long as history can remember, and the specifics of their origins are unclear. Their people claim, however, that they are descended from the original Dragons, with their supposed purpose being to see the world from a place that the Dragons could not. They spent their earliest times living secluded in the rainforests of Q'Farrun, striving to maintain the environment's balance to show their thanks towards their ancestors. This tradition sparked their conflict with the Xirapans upon their arrival, as the Lepdo'ami and these new settlers had vastly different perspectives on the jungles they both called home. This set the course for the constant fighting now present in Q'Farrun, which has taken up the majority of Lepdo'ami history up until the modern day. Furthermore, the loss of history from before the Cataclysm have made many modern Lepdo'ami forget the details of their origins and have further fractured their people. Now, the four clans disagree on which one of them are truly the children of the Dragons, and the bond their people once shared is now practically nonexistent. In the wake of this division, however, a portion of their people have chosen to band together and fight for a reunified race. The battle for any outcome, however, is far from over.

For the Lepdo'ami, the act of harming or altering the life around them is a horrible taboo. As such, groups of Lepdo'ami will take residence in mud huts or natural shelters that minimize their impact while also looking inconspicuous to any dangers. Each lineage of Lepdo'ami also tend to make their homes in areas that suit their strengths most, such as the Crokadi living predominantly near bodies of water. Within these tribal settlements, daily life often focuses on foraging for resources or defending the tribe from threats. Lepdo'ami warriors will aggressively defend their homes from any outsiders regardless of intent, mostly due to the presence of their nests. Whenever a clutch of eggs is laid, the eggs are placed in hatching pools at the base of the Amn'toc, or Hatching Tree. When the eggs finally hatch, the newborn Lepdo'ami feed on the sap of the tree while the tribe celebrates with music and dance. Throughout the different clans of their people, the celebratory process varies.

Regardless of what lineage a Lepdo'ami belongs to, young individuals are all taught how dangerous the world is from an early age. As soon as one can wield a weapon, any future warrior is taught how to defend themselves and their tribe. While the intent is to ensure that these young Lepdo'ami survive, it also teaches them to be incredibly cautious and distrustful of any stranger: An outlook that fuels the animosity that continues the perpetual warring of Q'Farrun.

For those who have interacted with the Lepdo'ami, or simply heard stories of others' experiences, they often remember them for their perceived savagery. The environment they live in has made their people experts in guerrilla warfare, which is what makes encounters with them particularly dangerous. With the exception of the Ag'amaa, the many Lepdo'ami clans have scales that naturally blend in with the environment, and most warriors take advantage of this to gain an upper hand against a foe. Furthermore, their knowledge of their surroundings allows them to use many natural hazards to their benefit. Many stories of clever Lepdo'ami individuals outsmarting battalions ten times their size have been passed around, and these tales aren't mere exaggerations. When one is raised with the premise that the entire world is a threat, they will find ways to keep the scales tipped in their favor, even for a single warrior against an army.

It's hard to say if the Lepdo'ami have made much of an impression on the other people of Asobria, aside from their Xirapan neighbors. The interactions between these two races are defined by violence and animosity towards one another's traditions. The Lepdo'ami are also known for the division amongst their own people, and how that division seems to be growing further. Beyond the scope of Q'Farrun, however, the Lepdo'ami haven't really had much effect on the world. Outsiders know of the conflict that perpetuates their homeland, but few have actually experienced the Lepdo'ami and their culture for what they are. Perhaps, when the sounds of battle finally cease to echo throughout the rainforest, the Lepdo'ami will have an opportunity to finally find a place for themselves in Asobria at large.