Dphon

The Dphon are a people native to The Southeastern Threshold. They are a tall, lithe people, hairless and notable for the unique pattern of their skin: black with white stripes across their faces, arms, chests, and legs.

The Dphon are found across the Southeast, espousing numerous religions and cultures. Generally they are warriors by nature, quiet but fierce, most worshiping Bright Spearpoint the God of the Southern Hunt as their patron. They are only occasional herders, worshiping Ahlat as war god rather than god of Cattle, but slavery is a commonly accepted institution, most Dphon tribes raiding each other or other peoples to take slaves and praying to the god of slaves Rabszolga for success on their raids.

The striped pattern of their skin has been called similar to that of the Dazzling Horse, confusing their foes and disrupting aim. It has certainly been seen to affect archers and insects such as the Fly of Torpid Slumber, allowing them to survive more readily than other humans in the dangerous landscape of the Flittering Morass.

Traditionally the Dphon speak Flametongue and wear little clothing, seeking to display their stripes. Leather or cloth loincloths, and striped or semi-transluscent sleeves,are the major items of clothing, with feathers as decoration and neck-rings of precious metals, feathers, or flowers. Their traditional weapon is a form of Tiger Claw, an armoured glove where each finger and the thumb bear a blade, borne on one hand while the other remains free for fine manipulation.

Their black and white skin coloration sees the Dphon, along with peoples such as the Dmarei and Djala, lumped together as the ‘dazzling peoples’. Though not heavily muscled, the desireability of their unusual skin pattern to slave collectors is somewhat counterbalanced by their fierce resistance to slave training. Many tribes find employ as mercenary companies in the conflicts which break out often across East and South.

Notable Dphon states include Navelborne and Arashakara.