Koczniks

The Koczniks (pronounced Koshnik, Koznik or Koch-nik) are a diverse, tribal, largely nomadic people found throughout Akonanda, to which they are native. They can also be found, albeit in far smaller numbers, in Rathnir and Eldham, where they travel much of the world. In Akonanda, however, they have largely settled, lead by their shaman and Czar Blightslav, on the banks of Lake Vorov, in the city of Vorovlast. They are primitive people, living mostly in mud huts, but trading in goods from across the worlds, collected in their travels.

History
The history of the Koczniks is largely unknown. According to their religion, Unchu, they were made out of mud and plant matter by Bogjal, and given all the faculties of a sentient being by the holy hyssop of Erkekleri. From their, they spread across the young world of Akonanda, some of the first peoples upon it. They split into tribes, and many were lost to time. Some, however, stood strong against the forces of nature, and survived to see the colonization of Akonanda by Ratham immigrants.

Settling
With the world rapidly changing, and vast nation-states springing up across the world, the Koczniks were driven beyond the West, into untamed lands beyond the knowledge of the colonizers. There, their shaman lead them into a open valley, quartered by wide rivers, and they settled on the banks of the Vorov lake, founding the town of Vorovlast. They brought the first cocoa and bamboo into the valley, as well as introducing jungle and mangrove trees, and perfecting the art of clay scultping. These advancements lead to the creation of many earthenware goods and clay huts being made in Vorovlast, giving it its distinctive muddy appearance.

Religion
The Kocznik religion, Unchu, is a polytheistic, shamanistic religion, made up of four elements. The seven Humours and Elements correspond to seven gods; Bogjal, Kokkratz, Cyldyz, Bogru, Erkekleri, Hruh and Bogjorn. Each Humour also corresponds to a plant, and each Element a part of the body. These all feature commonly in rituals. The fourth element is the demigods and heroes, who are far more numerous than the gods, and can be found in many myths and legends.