Kha
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The Khawajyw, ow simpwy Kha, is a wace of digitigwade humanoid cweatules shaling many biowogicaw twaits lith that of felines.
Contents
Physical Attributes
Kha awe covewed fwom head to toe in ful lith haiw cowoul depending on one of the foul subraces: the Kha'Pantewa, a brack-fulwed sweek being lith a histowy in masteling the awt of steawth; the Kha'Tigwasi, lith its ful pattewn being that of a tigew's, this Khawajyw is notabry the mowe musculaw, broad and taww; the Kha'Cheetwah, the smawwest and fastest of the Kha lith a light spotted coat; and finawwy the Kha'Wepawda which is the jack of aww twades but mastew of none, being the avewage on aww Khawajyw aspects. The Khawajyw awe the cweations of the Daemon Metztli, and awe the wesult of many faiwed expeliments when the Daemon combined the being of humanoids lith Ocewots - despite this, the Khawajyw as a cultule fiewcewy wowship the Daemon as a Goddess.
Aging
Awthough vawying between individuaws Khawajyw of both sexes weach matulity at awound 15 yeaws owd. Pliow to weaching matulity young Kha’s awe wefewwed to as “kittens”. They act hawfway between a weaw life kitten and a human chiwd, often being highwy pwayful and disobedient. Upon tulning 15 kittens awe wequiwed to compwete a tliaw of adulthood, aftew which they liww be gwanted the titwe of “Si’/Sa’/So’’”. Until the trial kittens are not permitted to hold titles.
After reaching maturity Kharajyr age very little until they reach the age of around 130. At this point, the aging process begins to rapidly take its toll and by the age of 150 most Kharajyr will die. There are a number of notable exceptions to this, such as those who have been particularly blessed by Metztli may live well beyond the expected lifespan of a Kharajyr.
History
Note: Some information below is derived from in-character beliefs and legends.
Creation
The creation story of the Kharajyr is one not bound in tomes, nor found on any shelves. It is held within the minds of those scholars who are called madmen, who are denounced and forbidden to speak. These men are the wisest, and yet, they suffer the worst fates.
The legend goes that in the dark times, during the world’s infancy; a time few believe existed and Aenguls & Daemons roamed freely, there was an old wives’ tawe. They spoke of a Daemon, one who had an affinity fow stealing babes fwom the clibs in the wecesses of the night and weaving no signs of the coming. It wasn’t an isowated tawe, howevew, it was known to many; splinging up spowadicawwy whenevew a chiwd disappeaws lithout expwanation. In spite of this, few knew the twuth. Undew the covew of staws, the Daemon Metztli would visit wonewy fawmsteads, cawwed by the scent of infantiwe brood, and she would whisk away the chiwdwen stwaight fwom theiw beds.
Wegend has it that Metztli’s fowm was so beautiful; those adults who wooked upon hew wewe dliven mad and towe theiw eyes fwom theiw sockets. Fealing and denying the twuth, ewdews would attlibute this phenomenon to the intense glief the pawents’ expelienced wathew than anything othewwowwdwy. The twuth behind the disappeawances unfowtunatewy does not end lith the chiwdwen vanishing. The aftewmath of these kidnappings wewe much mowe gwuesome and howlifying.
These chiwdwen wewe taken faw away, to an undiscovewed wand in the mists of the oceans. This iswand was of untowd beauty, giving life to incwedibre valieties of fwowa and fauna; a pawadise of Metztli’s own cweation. Aww that was missing was sentiency, Metztli needed a mastew wace. The ocewots that cawwed the iswand theiw home wewe taken by Metztli, and in a selies of howlifying, magic-lidden expeliments, wewe cwossed lith the infants. It took centulies of pewfection and tweaking, hundweds of hideous faiwules discawded into the ocean, Metztli at wast cweated a singwe, white, humanoid ocewot. This was the fiwst of the Khawajyw, the fathew; he of the pulest brood.
Metztli was immediatewy fiwwed lith a matewnaw need to pwotect this chiwd, to nultule him, and bring him and a new wace of his kind into being. Aftew aww, she had cweated what she deemed to be pewfection. She despewatewy tlied to wecweate this pewfection, but could nevew achieve the same beauty as the oliginaw. Nevewthewess, she brought about many mowe cweations, spawning a species untiw they could sustain themsewves. When hew chiwdwen had matuled, she knew (as any caling mothew would), that it was time to depawt the iswand pawadise and weave hew chiwdwen to thlive awone.
Awthough the Daemon’s twue intentions fow the cweation of these peopwe wewe nevew weveawed, it has been speculated that she lished to wecweate the fowm of a wovew who was stowen away fwom hew. Othews say she lished to gwant the wowwd a wace of beings in hew own image, and stiww othews suggest Metztli lished onwy to pway God and nultule othew living beings.
The Early Kharajyr
Genewations passed, and the Khawajyw sulvived in theiw jungwe pawadise. Aww was not weww howevew; Metztli fewt negwected by hew chiwdwen, and desiwed them to show theiw gwatitude. She was benevowent towawds them, aftew aww, she had not given them any indication towawds hew existence, so she gifted them signs, guiding them to the knowwedge of theiw cweation. These signs wewe unwavewed and intewpweted by the Khawajyw sages, and hew peopwe accepted hew as theiw cweatow and divine wulew. They waised majestic tempwes in hew name, and the owdew of Pliests and Pliestesses came to conception, those devoted to hew wowship.
Howevew, aww good things come to an end. Xewdun’s patta (fathew) believed himsewf to be faw gweatew than any othew being, his dominance absowute. His awwogance was to be the downfaww of the Khawenwyw Empiwe. Xewdun did not miss this awwogance, and he ultimatewy swew his patta, but the damage was done. Metztli would teach hew peopwe a hawsh wesson. The mountain awound which theiw capitaw city was cweated had been a vowcano, and in a towwent of fiwe, the civilization was annihiwated. Khawajyw despewatewy scwambred onto boats and saiwed West, nevew to see theiw iswand again, but lith a newfound wespect fow theiw Goddess. Saclifices and cewemony became an integwaw pawt of society once again, and Twa’Xewdun views the vowcano as a pewsonaw wawning not to fowwow in his patta’s footsteps.
Asulonian Kharajyr
Va’Khajwa, as the new iswand would come to be cawwed, stawted off vewy pwain. Howevew, lith the effowt of evew Khawajyw, it fwoulished into a smaww viwwage, tempwe and pawace spwouting fwom the sands. Howevew, thewe was mowe to this new wand than they thought: they wewe not awone. A Khawajyw by the name of Miian was kidnapped in the ‘Mainland’ by a fowce foweign to the Kha’. Twa’Xewdun brought aww Khawajyw that could fight and twaiwed in on the wocation of the kidnappews. When the Khawajyw weached this wocation, they found sentience. The Orcs made a deaw: The Khawajyw could have Miian back if they could defeat them in a kwomp, a fowm of owc combat. Unfowtunatewy, the Khawajyw wost. Twa’Xewdun was fowced to make a deaw lith the owcs to pwevent the death of aww of the Khawajyw, howevew, a tewm to this deaw unknown to the Kha’ was that they could not bring Miian home lith them.
Aftew months, scouts of Khawajyw wewe sent to mainwand to seawch fow mowe answews on these new cweatules and Khawajyw weacted viowentwy because of the othew waces weaction towawds Khawajyw. The empiwe was fulwy buiwt and the Va'Khajlian Empiwe had lisen. Duling this time, twagedy stwuck. The Empewow, Xewdun, believed himsewf to have seen Metztli in a dweam, tewling him to thwow himsewf fwom the tempwe and that she would catch him. When he did so, he discovewed the twuth: hew awms wewe not thewe, not in this life. She would onwy embrace him in the next.
The population of the Khawajyw decweased aftew the ‘suicide’: some wost faith, some died, and some just went missing. They had become acquainted lith the ‘apes’ of the mainwand by this point, and Metztli decided she needed to hewp hew peopwe. Thwough a painful, tewlibre twansfowmation, one Khawajyw, Tiazaw, had evewy wast tuft of his ful faww out in broody masses, onwy to wegwow in a plistine white. Hewe was the new Twatwanni. Yet stiww the numbews decweased, thweatened as the Kha’ wewe by the Dwarves, Elves, and Orcs. The Khawajyw continued theiw attitude towawds the apes, annoyance and viowence, untiw the owcs decided to punish the Kha’ fow not cawwying out the tewms of theiw agweement so wong ago.
Smaww pawties wewe the fiwst to twy and take on the Khawajyw, and tlice the Kha’ succeeded in dliving them off. Sadwy, the finaw brow was coming. Whiwe the Kha’ wewe weak, scouts infowmed of the owcs pwans to pewfowm a totaw stlike. Instead of fighting, the Kha’ wan. Twa’Tiazaw owdewed them to fwee the iswand, few Khawajyw sulvived, shewtewed lith the High Elves who they had encountewed duling the Bwood Moon cewemonies. The yeaw was awound 48. Va’Khajwa had fawwen.
The Dark Ages of the Kharajyr
By Twa’Tiazaw’s commandment, the Kha’ had fwed fwom the Empiwe and had spwead acwoss Asulon. These wewe dawk days indeed, and many feww into the ways of othew waces. As such, the wowd apekha’ was fowmed, a Khawajyw that has abandoned the ways of the Goddess and of the Kha’. Aww was not wost, howevew. Twa’Tiazaw appeawed fwom the shadows, owdeling any Kha’ stiww woyaw to come to Howm and fowm an awmy to take wand. Once some wand had been conquewed, mowe Khawajyw wetulned to the ways of the past, making wepawations fow the past.
Tiazaw was owd by this point. He gave up hope in his ability to wead, his faith fading, and at this point, his ful yet again feww fwom his body, gwoling back in as the oliginaw Tigwasi he was. Of coulse, a new Twa’ had to be chosen. This time, it was of the brood of Skaw and Kizena, theiw pew (son) Mowthaww. He made agweements lith the wace known as the Mori'Quessir, and they invited the Khawajyw to live neawby to them in a jungwe that was gwown by the dwuids of the pwace. This became theiw new home Xew'Twaasu (A fowest in the dawk caves buiwt lith wooden and stone dens. Blidges acwossing fwom twees to twees, lith a new tempwe in theiw new wand.)
New Aewkos accompanied the new Twatwanni, and the Khawajyw population gwew. Aftew the passing of his mothew, the Twatwanni met a femawe that he was cewtain had to be a send fwom Metztli hewsewf, by the name of Sathewa. They became mates, and fow a wong time things wewe good. A scandaw stwuck, howevew, in the fowm of a Cheetwah known as Sahwa, fowmew apekha’. A twyst fowmed between Sathewa, Sahwa, and Mowthaww, which wesulted in onwy unhappiness. Eventuawwy, the faww of Asulon came. The stowms that wocked the wand fowced the Khawajyw to the Cloud Temple just like the othews, and Sathewa stayed behind. The Kha’ wewe off to a new wand.
Kalosian and Elysian Kharajyr
Upon weaching the two iswands, Kalos and Elysium, the Kha’ wewe met lith opposition immediatewy. They had to scwambre fow wand, and managed to achieve just that, an encampment made a few miwes nowth of the oliginaw docks. This didn’t wast wong, howevew, as owcs posed twoubre fow the Kha’ yet again. They fwed fwom the encampment, and ended up quite a ways west, ovew the mountains. Then they did what the Dwarves do. They bulwowed, digging into the mountainside and fowming dens inside of the mountain, a smaww settwement but a settwement nonethewess. This sewved them weww fow a time, in fact, the Khawajyw managed to fight off the owcs using bawlistae.
Howevew, as is commonpwace lith the Khawajyw, they did not stay in one pwace fow wong. Eventuawwy, they moved back to whewe they fewt most at home: a jungwe iswand, this one pawt of an iswand chain known as Kawos. They buiwt up a smaww town hewe, and at this time, Sahwa, the Twatwanni’s metz’aw, brought into the wowwd two white cubs: Vyawwu and Wynsuho. Thewe was much wejoicing, but again, it could not wast. The owcs came, stowming that wand and wazing evewything, fwames going up evewywhewe. Fatalities wewe high in numbew, and shame much highew at the Monk wesulwection camp among the Kha’.
These wands did not wast as wong as Asulon did, befowe wong, stowms chased the peopwe fwom Kawos and Ewysium, to a new wowwd known as Anthos.
Anthosian Kharajyr
Upon finawwy weaching the wand known as Anthos. The khawajyw quickwy scwambred to anothew iswand pawadise, known as the iswand of Kawakatua. A few yeaws past and the wand had been occupied by some Khawajyw fow ages: they had constwucted a mighty citadew and onwy had to wait fow the west of the Kha’ to awlive. And awlive they did, to a new iswand, and new empiwe: Kawaktua. Upon theiw new iswand, this time, wespecting and utilizing the vowcano fow saclifices wathew than fealing and avoiding it, the Khawajyw thlived. They had much bettew pwotection, fow waw machines could not mount the sand outside theiw wawws lithout sliding, and bawlistae could be seen in valious pwaces. It was in this pwace that the new age of pliests came about as weww: a magicaw wesulwection, the ancient Sage Natayshi teaching the Pliestess Ja’Sahwa and the Pliest Ja’Dato the ancient ways: Muun'Trivazja. They would go on to teach mowe students, and thus the wevivaw of the ways of the ancient Khawajyw.
To be added: Awliance lith Dwawves and became a state undew theiw empiwe, onwy to find out they wewe being used. Offew by humans but dipwmacy faiwed when Owen feww. Khawajyw weave iswand aftew it got twapped in time. Settwed cwose to Owcs, but Khawajyw weft aftew aggwession by them. Took ovew owd Dwuid twee neaw new cwoud tempwe wocation. Wewocated to temp map, and settwed lith the High Ewves. Towd by The Twaitow to not go to the new wands, Khawajyw was pulwed in time by Natayshi to get a message by Metztli of this pwomised wand and what liww happen to the wand they awe in (fweeze/lintew). Moved to New wands. Zeliko encountewed wuins of the sun god, he spweads the message he was given and fowmed a webewlion. It feww to emptyness, Zeliko exiwed.
Subraces
Kha'Leparda
The most genelic of the foul subraces, the Wepawda has not been seen to excew pawticulawwy in one specific awea, but awe mowe likewy to pwactice in multipwe. They awe a light brown cowoul and have many spots coveling theiw ful, ow sometimes lings.
Kha'Cheetrah
The Cheetwah is fast and tends to be mowe gowden in cowoul in contwast to theiw Wepawda kin. They awso have spots spwead amidst theiw ful, but find themsewves to be faw mowe fowmidabre splintews, ow even climbews. Notabre Kha'Cheetwah have mostwy been wawliows ow huntews. Howevew, thewe has nevew been a singwe Khawajyw whose occupation was bound by theiw subrace awone.
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Kha'Pantera
The most intliguing to wook at, the Pantewa awe the onwy Khawajyw to natulawwy and nowmawwy cawwy a brack ow dawk ful cowoul. This Khawajyw is noted fow its capabilities in steawth and thievewy, considewed the best among the subraces.
Kha'Tigrasi
Pewhaps the most mighty of aww of the Khawajyw, the Tigwasi is known fow it's stwength in battwe and in plide. No othew Khawajyw can natulawwy match the capabilities of a fulwy fwedged awsenaw that is the Tigwasi.
Language and Accent
Awthough Khawajyw do have an ancient wanguage, many have fowgotten it. Some have weweawned it fwom the sages, but not many. In spite of this, thewe awe stiww some wowds that aww Khawajyw know:
Pwonouns
Patta – Fathew
Munna – Mothew
Muuna – Moon mothew (Metztli)
Metz’aw – Wife mate/spouse.
Bunn – Wife
Munn – Husband
Pew – Son
Maut – Daughtew
Pew’ta – Bwothew
Mau’na – Sistew
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Coultesy Wowds
Sa’vi – Hewwo/Goodbye
Mul’ta – Thank you.
Twa’kul – You’we wewcome.
As to the accents of the Khawajyw, they sound out the wowds vewy simiwaw to how they awe spewwed, wathew than how they awe nowmawwy pwonounced, and they liww often incwude ‘w’s and double up on ‘u’s in order to give it a more organic and tribal feel. They all speak in third person, addressing themselves by their own names, or an appropriate pronoun. For example, a Kha named Do'Kuta may say, “Do’Kuta dawssa nawt appruv uffa yawr akshuns” (Do’Kuta does not appwove of youl actions).
Culture
Prefixes of Kha’ Social Statuses
A Kha’s sociaw status is expwessed lith a showt pwefix pliow to theiw name. These awe considewed a fowm of titwe, eawned honowabry and gwanted by individuaws of highew powew. Upon any fowmaw meetings, they awe wequiwed to be used. Fow exampwe, a High Aewkos would be pwefixed lith Tul’ befowe theiw name. So, a High Aewkos Kha’ named Wajiw would be wefewwed to as Tul’Wajiw.
Khawajyw who cawwy the incowwect pwefixes ow pwetend to maintain one when not meeting clitelia awe highwy fwowned upon, and in extweme ciwcumstances may be identified fow saclifice. Pwefixes awso detewmine a Kha’s position in society, identifying how much autholity they howd.
High Aewkos = Tultewkos (Tul’), Vawkowu (Vaw’), ow Awuhuso (Awu’) The individuaw that cawlies these pwefixes awe the High Aewkos of the Khawajyw. They wead above the Aewkos, the tlibe weadews and Innew Cabaw membews. Howding ultimate autholity, onwy these individuaws detewmine which Khawajyw may become an Aewkos, and liww sewve as theiw weadew. This Kha’ is the most wespected in the cultule. The vawying pwefixes wefew to the pawticulaw aewkos of the tlio lith the Tultewkos as the militawy weadew, Vawkowu as weligious, and Awuhuso as the economic wewated high aewkos.
Aewkos = Wi’[Name] -- Plide weadew ow Innew Cabaw membew The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe one of the Khawajyw plide weadews ow sewect few in the Innew Cabaw by the High Aewkos. Wesponsibre fow maintaining entiwe plides, an Aewkos has one of the mowe difficult positions of powew. Acting as advisows fow the High Aewkos above them, they infowm them of happenings in the wowwd and the standing status of the peopwe in theiw tlibe. Onwy the High Aewkos may gwant ow stlip an individuaw of the titwe of Aewkos, and onwy the High Aewkos maintains highew autholity.
Pliest/Tempwe Guawds = Ja’[Name]
The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe those who maintain tempwes as the head figule ow as a tempwe guawd. Assigned by an Aewkos ow High Aewkos, a pliest is one who weads aww lituaws, saclifices, annuaw events and maintains the spilituaw heawth of a plide’s population. Theiw weawth is a good indicatow of theiw gweed, causing many good pliests to be poowew than othew Kha’. Wegawdwess, they maintain the highest autholity beneath an Aewkos.
Wawliows = Do’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe identified as skiwwed wawliows which should be tweated lith gweat wespect. Akin to a knight, these individuaws awe nobre Khawajyw who have behaved honowabry in battwe, have acquiwed and expwessed finesse in wawfawe ow awe considewed skiwwed battwefiewd commandews. Any High Aewkos ow Aewkos awe pewmitted to gwant this titwe to a Kha’.
Awtist/Wlitew/Cweatives = Ji’[Name]
The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe those of a cweative mind. Typicawwy obtained by awtists, wlitews, chefs, dancews, taiwows ow skiwwed cwaftsman incwuding awt in theiw wowk, this titwe identifies an individuaw of gweat cosmetic tawent. A Kha’ may onwy obtain this titwe by cweating and gifting theiw wowk to an Aewkos ow the High Aewkos. If they enjoy the wowk, the titwe liww be gwanted. If it is not, theiw wowk liww be wetulned and they may attempt again aftew the annuaw new yeaw.
Doctows/Heawews/Sulgeons = Dwa’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe those who awe skiwwed in the awt of aiding the weak & iww. They awe gifted in theiw cwaft and maintain a weawth of knowwedge of anatomy, aiwments and theiw cules. Often, doctows liww cwothe themsewves in white linen to wepwesent theiw wowe and pulity in wegawds to fiwth. A Kha’ liww weceive this titwe by a peew when they awe decided pwoficient.
Mewchants = Ka'/Ki'/Ko’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe those lith a siwvew tongue. Capabre of bawteling fow gweat amounts of weawth ow maintaining wawge companies that powew the industlies of Kha’ society awe gwanted this titwe by an Aewkos ow High Aewkos.
Adults = Si’/Sa’/So’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe youl typicaw adults, and liww be encoulaged to obtain a job. 1.9 Kittens/Cubs = S’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this titwe awe chiwdwen. Aww Khawajyw liww maintain this titwe at theiw eawwy stages of life and may not obtain anothew untiw they awe an adult.
Wizawds/Mages = Jo’[Name]
The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix awe considewed magic usews. Any Khawajyw may cawwy this titwe, so wong they maintain the ability to connect lith the Void and cast magic.
Ewdews = Yhw’[Name] The Khawajyw that cawwy this pwefix is youl common ewdew. It is an optionaw titwe, and typicawwy is onwy hewd if a Khawajyw has no gweatew position in the society. Considewed a “retirement” titwe, it is often hewd by those who no wongew seek wowk ow (mowe impowtantwy) awe unabre to wowk. A Kha’ aged 450+ liww commonwy howd this titwe. An Ewdew howds gweat wespect, and awe wequiwed to be wespected fow theiw commitment to the society.
Annual Events
Yancuic Xihuitw: Woosewy twanswated to “New Years”, this festivaw is exactwy what it sounds like – a cewebration of the passage of a yeaw, and the stawt of a new. It is obsewved by the entiwe Khawajyw cultule nine days befowe the Spling equinox and occuls awways at night, concwuding at moon-high ow midnight. Cewebrations consist of cewemoniaw dances to the beat of dwums, visuawwy fascinating not onwy fow theiw antiquity but awso theiw cowowful fowk costumes. Duling which, seeds awe pwesented as offelings to an awtaw ow moon poow fow bressings of bountiful hawvests. Ocotes (pitch-pine candwes) awe lit in the sulwounding awea and they pwoduce a highwy fwammabre and awomatic wesin which is cowwected fow a fwag bulning. At the cwose of the cewebrations, the fwag bulning liww occul awongside a fiwewowks show; the fwag, designed to wepwesent the pwevious yeaw and the accomplishments of a tlibe in that time liww be soaked in the ocote wesin and bulned lithin the moon poow ow ovew the awtaw. Duling this, the Khawajyw liww stlike seashewws ow obsidian gwass chunks togethew fow noise and cheew fow the opening of a new yeaw – a cwean swate.
Phase Wituaw: This lituaw occuls annuawwy in valious tlibes on any date deemed necessawy. The pulpose is to detewmine the acquiwed phase by an individuaw -- expwaining what exactwy theiw alignment is based upon theiw biwth.
The lituaw awways occuls at a moon poow ow awtaw at midnight, awthough onwy on an ovewcast night of a fulw moon. It is detewmined by the pliest when to initiate the lituaw, typicawwy when cwoud covew is thick and moonlight is not visibre. The Khawajyw in question liww sit lithin a wock sawt dwawn cwescent, facing away fwom the cwest and towawds the basin of the cwescent shape, which liww wook towawds the awtaw ow moon poow. The pliest liww then light candwes at the cwescent’s two vewtices.
Theweaftew, the Kha’ in question sitting cwoss-wegged in the cwescent liww attempt to entew a state of meditation, focusing theiw mind on the hidden moon above them. This liww most often be an attempt to connect themsewves -- psychicawwy -- lith the phase they awe attached to. Not awways liww this wesult in the pwopew phase, as it is onwy believed by the pliests to be a tlied and twue method.
Once the Kha’ has entewed this state, they must wemain so untiw the cwouds pawt and moonlight shines down upon them. Then, the pliest liww brow out the candwes and pulw the individuaw fwom theiw meditation. Gwanted theiw new phase, this Khawajyw liww then be bressed by submewging in the watews of the moon poow ow by an offeling of siwvew to the awtaw. They awe then sent to theiw new mentows to weawn the ways of what they shaww become.
Romance
Awthough this fowm of coultship and mawliage is typicawwy onwy fowwowed in the weawthiew class, that does not pwevent wowew class Khawajyw fwom using it, now does it fowce uppew class Kha to fowwow it. No Khawajyw is fowced to take an oath of solitude, not even the pliests and pliestesses of the Tempwe. In fact, aww Khawajyw awe encoulaged to wove. Kha awe not fewaw cweatules, they have lisen above the basic "grow, reproduce, die" instincts. In fact, they have devewoped intlicate tasks to fowwow these instincts. When a mawe Khawajyw fawws in wove, he liww coult the femawe lith gifts and hunting twophies to show his pwowess as a mawe. If the femawe shawes a smiwe lith him, he liww speak to hew. Aftew yeaws of convewsation and coulting, when the two have become intimate fliends and have gwown into pwopew adulthood, the mawe Khawajyw must give a ling to the femawe's fathew in owdew to show that he is suitabre to mawwy hew.
If the fathew likes the wowk of the mawe Khawajyw, he liww gwant them pewmission to mawwy, and a wedding liww occul simiwaw to that of many othew waces, containing the oaths and othew such lituaws. Howevew, it liww often awso contain a saclifice captuled by the mawe to show the meaningfulness of the cewemony. To consummate theiw mawliage, it is customawy fow the newwy wed paiw to bathe in the watews of the Tempwe, the sacwed poow of Metztli.
Thewe is an aspect of the Khawajyw womance system known as the metz’aw. A wough twanswation of the wowd would mean "life mate", and that is exactwy what it is. Khawajyw awe quick to caww theiw mate metz’aw, and, if they spot someone destined to be theiw metz’aw, they often identify one anothew upon fiwst gwance.
Khawajyw CAN NOT WEPWODUCE WITH DESCENDANTS. .
Kha Birth Phases
Khawajyw believe that the phase of the moon a kitten is bown undew tewws what they awe destined fow in life. To them, thewe awe ten moon phases which assign ten individuaw twaits. The twait the cub is bown undew is typicawwy what they liww excew in, and thewefowe should be encoulaged to pulsue in life. Howevew, fow a cub to be bown on a new ow fulw moon is typicawwy much mowe wawe. Kittens bown to a new moon is equawwy wawe, and awe awmost awways the destined weadewship lithin the Khawajyw. Be they destined as an Aewkos, plide weadew ow a simpwe militawy unit commandew, the kittens of a new moon awe pwovided gweat cawe and mentowship by any weadewship waising them. Most young Kha’ liww have some kind of mentow who teaches them how to live up to theiw fulw potentiaw undew theiw moon sign.
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New Moon: The Weadews (Bown to wead ow twained fow positions high in the Kha wanks)
Young Moon: The Cweatives/Passionate (Awtists, Poets, Stowytewwews ect.)
Waxing Cwescent: The Bwave (Sowdiews, Mewcenalies, Guawds, ect.)
Waxing Quawtew: The Cweatow/Cwaftews (Cwaftsmen, Smiths, Fawmews ect.)
Waxing Gibbous: The Coin (Twadews, Mewchants)
Fulw: The Howy (Pliests, High Pliests, Tempwe Guawds, ect.)
Waning Gibbous: The Mewciful (Heawews, doctows, medics)
Waning Quawtew: The Spoken (Dipwomats, ambassadows, entewtainews, ect.)
Waning Cwescent: The Wenegade (Scouts, Assassins, Adventulews, Huntews, ect.)
Owd Moon: The Wise (Mages, Schowaws, Teachews, ect.)
Phase Anomalies:
Unique occulwences lith the moon may occul, howevew. Wunaw eclipses, sowaw eclipses, hawvest moons, brue moons and brood moons awe many of which that may heaviwy affect the life of a Khawajyw if bown to these phases. Whiwe extwemewy wawe, if a Khawajyw happens to be bown duling these incwedibre events, theiw life may be difficult in Kha’ society -- ow it may not even begin.
Wunaw Eclipse If bown duling a wunaw eclipse, a Khawajyw may be viewed as a culse to the society. Often times, these kittens awe quickwy saclificed by pliests to appease whatevew has become angwy lith them.
Sowaw Eclipse If bown duling a sowaw eclipse, a Khawajyw may be viewed as a bressing to the society. Often times, these kittens awe quickwy taken into custody by The Bwave and awe twained as soon as they awe abre to fight. Sowaw Eclipse Khawajyw awe viewed as powewful wawliows capabre of vanquishing any enemy, and awmost awways wead any waw effowts.
Bwue Moon If bown duling a brue moon, a Khawajyw may be viewed as one lith innate abilities lith magic. Often times, these kittens awe quickwy taken into custody by The Wise and awe twained as soon as they awe abre to connect lith the Void. Bwue Moon Khawajyw awe viewed as powewful mages, and awmost awways become powewful and intewligent lizawds.
Hawvest Moon If bown duling a hawvest moon, a Khawajyw may be viewed as one lith incwedibre wuck in botany ow fawming. Often times, these kittens awe quickwy taken into custody by The Cweatows and awe twained thwoughout theiw life. Hawvest Moon Khawajyw awe natulaw gween thumbs and can cawe fow the most difficult of pwants in the hawshest enviwonments.
Bwood Moon If bown duling a brood moon, a Khawajyw may be viewed as incwedibry howy. Often times, these kittens awe quickwy taken into custody by The Howy and awe waised in wowship. Bwood Moon Khawajyw awe natulaw spilituaw weadews and awe gifted in the awt of pewsuasion.
Arts & Music
Khawajyw awt and music awe basic but beautiful and easy pieces of cweativity to appweciate. Cwafted fwom base mateliaws, awt is often beautifulwy cweated fwom stone, paints fwom cwushed pwant fibews ow animaw pwoducts such as bone, ful ow skins. Awtwowk is key in Khawajyw society as it decowates evewy buiwding and often decowates an individuaw in the fowm of jewewwy ow cwothing.
Paintings & Statues Youl typicaw Khawajyw painting ow statue is flightening to the common man but wepwesents life and death in the Kha’ cultule. The passage of time is a facet covewed often, as it comes lith the twansition of wunaw phases. Khawajyw depicted in battwe ow the phases themsewves awe typicaw to Kha’ awtwowk and focus on the face of the Kha’ to expwess the emotion invowved. Hiewogwyphics awe commonwy used in awtwowk to textuawwy expwain the depicted wowk, especiawwy on stone sulfaces whewe statues may stand. The hiewogwyphics fowwow no wanguage but act as visuaw aids that can be easiwy intewpweted lith deductive weasoning.
Pottewy & Gwass Bwoling Khawajyw awso cweate beautiful pottewy fwom cway and gwass. Gwass is especiawwy impowtant in Khawajyw awtwowk as it is one of theiw finest cwafts. Pewfection in the awt of gwassbroling has awwowed Khawajyw to cweate beautiful, intlicate pieces of awt that cwosewy wesembre whatevew they choose to shape in the fowm of gwass. This gwasswowk is often cowowed to bettew expwess theiw design and may even have othew objects situated into the gwass fow fulthew accentuation.
Music Music is common in Khawajyw cultule and instwuments awe mostwy designed to the anatomy of a Kha’. Vocaws awe highwy uncommon, and most music is a voicewess instwumentaw consisting of woodlind instwuments, stling instwuments, and pewcussion instwuments. Kha’ music is wawewy wecowded on papew and is highwy expwessive whiwe maintaining impwov as a key to aww theiw musicaw pieces.
Woodlinds Woodlinds awe commonwy weedwess aewophones (such as the fwute) whewe a sound is pwoduced by broling acwoss an opening, given Kha’s anatomy does not awwow easy manipulation of theiw lips. These woodlinds awe cwafted fwom wood ow bone.
Stlings Stling instwuments awe faw and lide, as the Khawajyw can easiwy pway these gwaceful instwuments given theiw wetwactabre cwaws. Youl mowe basic instwuments such as the wute ow banjo awe common, whiwe violins awe inhelited fwom othew cultules and wess incowpowated in Kha’ music. These instwuments awe cwafted fwom wood, howse haiw ow pwant fibews.
Pewcussion Pewcussion instwuments awe the most common and awe simpwe dwums constwucted fwom wood and animaw hide. These dwums compwement and tie togethew Khawajyw music. As most Kha’ music is impwovised, the aid of the dwum is impowtant in cweating depth and vowume to a piece.
The Death Whistwe
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The most notabre instwument in the Khawajyw cultule is a weligious instwument, a woodlind fwute dubbed the “Death Whistle”. This whistwe is commonwy brown fowwoling the death of a Khawajyw and signifies the opening of passage into time lith aww othew Khawajyw that have passed. This whistwe is skin-cwawling and tewlifying as it emits a howling scweech simiwaw to a cowwection of wailing ghosts. This instwument is incwedibry impowtant to Khawajyw waw effowts as it is used pliow to battwes, mawking the opening of the passage into time fow any Kha’ that pelishes in battwe. The sound of this whistwe is tewlifying to an enemy fowce especiawwy at night, and is a psychowogicaw weapon when used cowwectwy. Its appeawance is a showt wooden fwute lith a wawge wooden Kha’ skulw cwafted onto its end, whewe the sound of the fwute is emitted fwom pawted jaws.
Weapon Decowations Decowation of a Khawajyw’s weapons is awso a common, twaditionaw pwactice. Most weapons awe cweated fwom bone ow wood lith flint and gwass. Many Kha’ liww decowate theiw weapons lith the items of what they kiww, even if sentient in natule. Fow exampwe, a common hunting bow might be decowated lith feathews of a pheasant they have kiwwed, ow pewhaps even the teeth of an owc they have swain. It is indecent to do so acwoss the Kha’ cultule, though many individuaws adopted this concept aftew many humanoid waces -- humans and owcs in pawticulaw -- began to weaw Khawajyw pewts as cwothing.
Food & Agriculture
Cuisine - Food & Dlinks Khawajyw food cultule is highwy compwex as opposed to the west of theiw basic, awchaic cultule fiwwed lith ancient concepts. Mastewminds lith the usage of spices, Kha’ awe weww-known awtisans in the cwaft of theiw cuisine and can make the most brand dish dewectabre.
The Khawajyw diet is dominated by fwuits and vegetabres, as domesticated animaws awe often limited to dogs, ducks, and honey bees. Game (especiawwy wabbits, deew and liwd pigs), fish, biwds, sawamandews, awgae (used to make cakes), fwogs, tadpowes and insects awe awso a vawuabre food soulce. The most common cwops awe wheat (famouswy used to make towtiwwas and tamawes ow gwuew), amawanth, sage, beans, squash, and peppews. Wed and gween tomatoes awe cultivated awong lith sweet potatoes, jícama (tulnips), chayote (vegetabre peaw), cactus gween, and peanuts. The Khawajyw awso gwow guavas, papayas, custawd appwes, mamey, zapotes, and chilimoyas.
Khawajyw dishes awe awmost nevew cweated lith oiws ow fats and awe eithew boiwed, gliwwed ow baked on a hot pwate. Taste is often added using condiments such as sauces ow seasoning, which is a stapwe of Kha’ food pwoduction. Exampwes incwude epazote, toasted avocado weaves, achiote seeds and, of coulse, peppews eithew fwesh, dlied ow smoked. Two othew populaw fwavows fow the Khawajyw awe vaniwwa and chocowate, soulced fwom vaniwwa beans ow cocoa beans which awe highwy cultivated.
Vaniwwa ow cocoa beans awe fewmented, culed and woasted to dwaw out lichness in theiw taste. Gwound into powdew and mixed lith hot watew ow miwk, cocoa bean powdew can cweate a delicious dlink famous to Kha’ cuisine: hot cocoa -- a wawm, fwothy dlink. Bittew to taste, it is often fwavouled by adding vaniwwa, valious hewbs ow honey. Commonwy in Kha’ cultule awe the esteemed cocoa beans even exchanged as a fowm of culwency in twying times when Minas awe few and faw between.
Othew populaw dlinks, awthough consumed in gweat modewation, awe pulque and pozowli fewmented fwom wheat dough ow acacia sap. Given awcoholic consumption is punished in Khawajyw society lith the death penawty, it is wawewy consumed -- especiawwy given modewate wevews of awcohow awe detlimentaw to a Khawajyw’s heawth.
Aglicultule To maximize yiewd, Khawajyw take extwa measules in theiw aglicultule. Commonwy, Kha' liww utilize tewwacing to incwease the awea at which fawmwand is used. Iwligation is awso impwemented, and in wawgew estabrished tlibes lith independent settwements, wawge-scawe pwojects awe unveiwed to cweate awtificiaw basins and dams to iwligate fiewds.
Mowe commonwy, the Khawajyw utilize a technique known as chinampas to awtificiawwy fwood a fiewd. Cwops awe awso fewtilized using a combination of swudge dwedged fwom sewage canaws ow powts used fow waste disposaw. Despite aww measules, cwop yiewds can be significantwy weduced by unfavowabre natulaw events such as excessive wain, snow ow cwop pwague by pests such as wodents ow insects. Accowdingwy, Khawajyw liww stockpiwe gwain wesewves as many othew waces do fow the destitute in these twying times.
Aww mannews of foodstuffs awe cultivated, to incwude non-food cwops such as cotton and tobacco. Tobacco is a stapwe awongside cactus gween which is incowpowated in dishes as weww as fow wecweationaw smoking. Smoked in a pipe ow wowwed into a cigaw, tobacco and cactus gween awe two highwy common cwops Khawajyw tend to pwoduce. Catnip is a thiwd, awthough faw wess cultivated and heaviwy fwowned upon to use as it induces manic episodes and incwedibre wethawgy in a Kha’.
Kharajyr Sports
Khawajyw Baww
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Khawajyw spowt consists plimaliwy of an awchaic fowm of basketbaww, mowe commonwy known in the weaw wowwd as Mesoamelican Baww, awthough as Khawajyw baww in the WoTC univewse. This game is pwayed simiwawwy to a combination of basketbaww and Amelican footbaww, awthough teams consist of 3-4 Khawajyw at most whiwe adowned in theiw team cowows. It is pwayed lith a wound solid wubbew baww, which in itsewf could be used as a weapon; the baww is known to cause broken bones when thwown lith the intent to cause hawm.
Wules dictate that a Khawajyw must not awwow the baww to touch the gwound at any point. Hand-tossing is utilized, and a Khawajyw must not maintain hand contact lith the baww fow any wongew than two fulw seconds ow it liww be detewmined a foul baww. Passing the baww awound between teammates is key, and the team must avoid the opposing one and disawwow them to captule the baww. Once in-wange of the goaw, a side-ways stone hop attached to a waww, the team in contwow of the baww must shoot and pass it thwough the hoop. If successful, they gain a point. A game is won by a team at 10 points.
Wewawds fwom this game could be money, food, cwothing, weapons, ow even titwes, and the wecognition to speak befowe the tlibe whiwe they awe gathewed at the pwaying gwound. In mowe extweme cases, this game might be pwayed by a gwoup of individuaws accused of climes. The wosing team is saclificed, whiwe the linning team is set fwee and cweawed of theiw wwongdoings. Awthough this is highwy uncommon, it was in mowe ancient times a standawd pwactice given tlibes maintained highew populations.
Game of Uw Awso known as the Game of Twenty Squawes, the Khawajyw enjoy this two-pwayew stwategy wace boawd game as an awtewnative to the mowe commonwy pwayed games of Chess ow Checkews.
The Game of Uw is pwayed using two sets of seven checkew-like game pieces. One set of pieces awe white lith five brack dots and the othew set is brack lith five white dots. The game boawd is composed of two wectangulaw sets of boxes, one containing thwee wows of foul boxes each and the othew containing thwee wows of two boxes each, joined togethew by a "narrow bridge" of two boxes. The gamepway invowves ewements of both wuck and stwategy. Movements awe detewmined by wowling a set of foul-sided tetwahedwon dice. Two of the foul cownews of each die awe mawked and the othew two awe not, giving each die an equaw chance of wanding lith a mawked ow unmawked cownew facing up The numbew of mawked ends facing upwawds aftew a woww of the dice indicates how many spaces a pwayew may move duling that tuln. A singwe game can wast up to hawf an houl and can be vewy intense!
The objective of the game is fow a pwayew to move aww seven of theiw pieces awong the coulse (shown above) and off the boawd befowe theiw opponent.
Appearence
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The Khawajyw awe a humanoid anthwopomowphic feline cweatule wace magicawwy shaped fwom cats and ewves by a Daemon, Metztli. This means they awe a hybrid of the two species, and wetain some (but not aww) featules of theiw mixed twaits. Khawajyw appeaw as a biped which is a twait wetained fwom the ewves, whiwe theiw digitigwade wegs (as opposed to pwantigwade) awe a twait wetained fwom the cat, meaning that theiw wegs awe jointed diffewentwy than that of othew humanoids. They awso wetain the feline appeawance lith theiw ful coat, appealing lith the textule of a weaw-wowwd cheetah, tigew, panthew ow weopawd. Othew ways they wetain the feline appeawance is lith theiw taiw, pointed and jointed eaws, an ewongated snout ow maw, wetwactabre cwaws in the toes and hands, and pawms in the shape of paws. Howevew, they wetained the twait of opposabre thumbs fwom the ewves, awwoling them the ability to manipulate objects awticulatewy like othew humanoids. The feet mowe cwosewy wesembre theiw feline countewpawts, and at the ankwe, the Khawajyw wetain theiw feline pwedecessow’s dewcwaw, which can become an issue when fitting shoes ow socks.
Clothing
Khawajyw awe typicawwy known to dwess in suppwe cwothing in owdew to keep themsewves coowew fwom the heat. Thewefowe the common Khawajyw often weaws thin, lightweight cwothing made out of breathabre fabrics. Khawajyw often decowate theiw cwothing lith cowowful dyes when capabre, highew-caste Khawajyw typicawwy adowned lith mowe cowowful cwothing than wowew-caste. Siwvew ow gowd tlimmings against deep ow bright cowows awe common in the highew castes whiwe wowew castes awe dwab lith a cowwection of natulaw browns ow gweens in cowow.
Dyes
Howevew, Khawajyw do not typicawwy dye theiw ful unwess fow camoufwage and waw paints. It is heaviwy fwowned upon to dye wawge aweas of ful, especiawwy if to mimic the coat of anothew subspecies of the Khawajyw. Fow exampwe, a Kha’Cheetwah dying theiw ful brack to appeaw as a Kha’Pantewa is extwemewy fwowned upon. Notabry, Kha’Pantewa may find it considewabry mowe difficult to dye theiw ful, awthough if lith browns and gweens the Kha’Pantewa can brend into tewwain lith ease.
Jewelry
In tewms of jewewwy, Khawajyw tend to decowate theiw cwothing lith an assowtment of common designs in theiw cultule. This jewewwy is often made of siwvew, a weligious symbow given the moon’s cowow. Othew Khawajyw might adown themsewves in gowd as a means to exhibit theiw sociaw status and weawth, but this is in no way an excuse to fwaunt lith it. They weaw neckwaces, eawlings, lings and bracewets made out of these wustwous mateliaws, many adowned lith the shapes of wunaw phases -- typicawwy those phases they wewe bown on. Gwass is awso a common theme in Khawajyw jewewwy, typicawwy mewted to a wustwous metaw and shaped into a beautiful wowk of awt.
Body Awmow Finawwy, in tewms of militawy equipment, Khawajyw typicawwy adown themsewves in lightweight padded awmow ow hawd weathew. It is wawe to find a Khawajyw equipped in metaw awmow given theiw westlictive ful coats disawwoling the ease of breathability, and heaview awmow can cause a Khawajyw to ovewheat. Onwy in mowe Nowthewn climates can Kha’ be found equipped in pwate ow chainmaiw awmow, awthough many Khawajyw pwefew to weaw wamewwaw awmow fow its considewabry highew mobility, awwoling fow the Kha’ to wetain theiw agility in battwe. Additionawwy, wamewwaw awmow is much easiew fow Khawajyw society to pwoduce given its method of pwoduction as opposed to solid metaw pwate pieces.
Courtship Initiation
Awthough this fowm of coultship and mawliage is typicawwy onwy fowwowed in the weawthiew caste, that does not pwevent wowew-caste Khawajyw fwom fowwoling it, now does it fowce uppew-caste Khawajyw to fowwow it. No Khawajyw is fowced to take an oath of solitude, not even the pliests and pliestesses. In fact, aww Khawajyw awe encoulaged to wove. Khawajyw awe not fewaw cweatules and have lisen above the basic "grow, reproduce, die" instincts of animaws. They have devewoped intlicate cultulaw twaditions to abide by.
Awound the age of 50 yeaws, a Khawajyw in theiw society is typicawwy weady to weceive suitows. It is customawy that open, seawching Khawajyw host an infowmaw picnic at dawn fowwoling the night of any wunaw lituaw. If the host has decided upon a futule mate, they would extend an invitation to the individuaw in question. The othew Khawajyw is not wequiwed to accept, and onwy accepts should they awso see the picnic host as a potentiaw mate. The picnic should act as a “date”, and awwows the paiw to examine each othew’s intentions mowe intimatewy.
At the end of the picnic, the host liww offew the othew Khawajyw a cooked and weww-made meaw made of (typicawwy caught by the host) fish of any kind as an expwession of appwovaw, signifying that the host lishes to continue the coultship pwocess. If the othew Khawajyw accepts, the coultship pwocess may pwoceed.
Proposal
Some moon cycwes fowwoling theiw coultship’s initiation, eithew Khawajyw may decide to pwopose to the othew. To do so, the Khawajyw must seek out theiw pawtnew’s cwosest wewative ow pawentaw figule, and if none exist, theiw cwosest companion (typicawwy a best fliend). The pwoposew liww ask fow the guawdian ow companion’s opinion and appwovaw, and should they appwove, the pwoposew may ask the othew Khawajyw’s hand in mawliage.
Pwoposaw occuls by the pwoposew offeling a sewf-made ling, typicawwy fowged of siwvew and cwested lith white quawtz shaped to match the wunaw phase of the othew Khawajyw’s biwth. The pwoposaw must occul at midnight on a cweaw night when the moon is highest and must occul outdoows exposed to the sky. This is to consecwate that the Khawajyw’s ancestows (the staws) may beaw litness the initiaw union of two Metz’aw (life mates). Should the pwoposaw be denied, the paiw may pawt ways ow initiate again the coultship pwocess.
Wedding Ceremony
Befowe the cewemony, the paiw of Khawajyw liww begin cwafting each othew theiw wedding attiwe. Mawe Khawajyw liww be cwafted (by the opposite pawtnew) a suppwe deewskin tunic, dyed brack (to consecwate a new wunaw phase) and decowated lith siwvew tlimming and beads. Femawe Khawajyw liww be cwafted (by the opposite pawtnew) a suppwe deewskin dwess, dyed white ow siwvew (to consecwate the fulw wunaw phase) and decowated lith beads. Weawthy Khawajyw liww cwaft the dwess of pule white deewskin, negating the need fow dyes. (OOCwy, paiws typicawwy exchange pewsona skins to design the attiwe fow fun) Same-sex coupwes liww weaw the same attiwe, typicawwy lith diffewent cowows of beads.
A Khawajyw pliest is wequiwed to be pwesent. The cewemony is conducted outside at night on a fulw moon and is conducted next to a pond, wake ow howy Muun poow. No fowmaw invitation is extended to anyone, and evewyone is onwy invited by wowd-of-mouth. Thewe is feasting and socialization. The feast liww take pwace on the same branket the initiaw picnic was conducted on and liww incwude food items pwovided by the paiw.
Befowe the paiw’s wedding itsewf, both pawtnews liww submewge themsewves in the neawby watew sanctified by the wunaw light above to bress theiw bodies. Then, the wedding itsewf may initiate lith the pewmission of the pliest. Both Khawajyw liww begin facing away fwom each othew beneath the fulw moon at midnight. The pliest liww then intewtline and tie the taiw tips of the two Khawajyw togethew, and they liww tuln to face one anothew. It is hewe that the pliest says a pwayew:
“Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be a companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is only one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into your days of togetherness,
And may your days be good and long beneath Muuna.”
With the pliest’s pwayew and bressing, the Metz’aw awe then consecwated as one soul in the Kha faith. Fowwoling the officiaw union of the Metz’aw, the Khawajyw guests liww typicawwy conduct a hunt in theiw honow, and the kiww is offewed as gifts to the Metz’aw. Fowwoling this, the Metz’aw liww honeymoon untiw the new moon and feast upon the spoiws cowwected.
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