Kao

Lifespan: Average 50-80 years
Average weight: 65-90 Kilograms
Average height: 140-180 cm

Society

Kao live in clannish kingdoms with relatively primitive technology. Even permaneant settlements may not look like it- thatch huts and quaint wooden structures are typical. Many kao in fact spend little of their time on land at all, roaming the oceans in nomadic fleets.

As a result of this, the Kao naturally have a close bond with the ocean. Alone of all races, the Kao have domesticated aquatic animals, and most of their food comes from fishing, though there are limited attempts at agriculture as well. The Kao generally live lax, simple lives, spending their time fishing and carving.

Biology

The Kao tend to have light brown, ochre, or caramel skin tones with black or blonde hair and grey or brown eyes. They trend towards being relatively large, and have high body fat. Some, particularly towards the Abyssal Reef, show signs of abberant mutation which grants them better performance in the water. Some of the most abberant clans may entirely consist of individuals possessing gills or small fins.

History

The Kao have always been at the fringe of history, and it seems this has continued to the present day. They largely have always existed in the northern Silver Seas, and seemingly will continue to do so with little outside influence.

Technology

The Kao are not an advanced people. They do possess one key point of technology- their boats are advanced, hydrodynamic designs, though they are simple to build and not complex in design. These are outrigger canoes, trimarans, or catamarans- larger groups of Kao often having more elaborate ones- with crab claw sails.

Otherwise, Kao typically are very primitive. Stone spears and woven plant fabric clothes are all they typically have, though soem groups have adopted metallurgical skills from their neighbors.

Government

Kao possess little in the way of a formal hierarchy, usually. Some Kao have herediitary kingdoms, but most simply exist without any form of administration.

Military

The Kao possess relatively little in the way of military- they rarely have need for one. Some Kao perform coastal raiding or piracy, and they often need to respond to Sidri slaving incursions, but other than that they face few threats, external or internal.

When they do need to fight, simple spears are most common. Some Kao do possess skill with water magic- at sea, this makes them quite dangerous indeed, as they may conjure waves to capsize their enemies.

The Kao take to sea in sleek, narrow trimarans, catamarans, and outrigger canoes, though they lack in weaponry. They typically fight in boarding actions, or unleash domesticated creatures of the deeps upon their foes.