The Anklok

 

The Anklok are the large and hulking Southern Dragon Kings. Although slow and heavily armored, they excelled at Paths that make them inhumanly fast and agile. The Anklok were the most aggressive and the most solitary of the Dragon Kings. They normally lived on the edges of deserts and in dry rocky areas. Here, they hunted all manner of large game and occasionally came together in large groups, where they performed great rituals and created vast rock carvings. Because of their mastery of fire and, by extension, their connection to the blazing heat of the Unconquered Sun, the Anklok were regarded by most Dragon Kings as the finest priests of their kind.

They made little use of vegetative technology, they never built cities, and they created and used only those pieces of crystal technology that they could carry and would need regularly. Their crystal technology was typically large, blocky and somewhat crude in appearance. However, these devices worked just as well as the more complex and delicate crystals created by the Raptok and the Pterok. The Anklok studied the arts of hunting and survival above all others and worshiped the Unconquered Sun by dedicating their kills to him. They offered up the hearts of their most impressive victims and prey as sacrifices. Instead of building elaborate temples, they ripped the hearts from their victims where they fell and incinerated those hearts with magical fire while they shouted prayers to the Unconquered Sun.

Most Anklok were deeply passionate creatures filled with the conviction of their beliefs. Although few Anklok spent much time with either mortals or Exalts, those that did were more steadfast and loyal than any other breed of Dragon King. Anklok cared extremely deeply about a very few things, which could include their religion, their ideals or even a chosen group of companions, such as their Clutch. However, they had little interest in anything outside their chosen interests. Anklok rarely had hobbies. Instead, they devoted their lives to the fervent pursuit of a single overwhelming ideal. Most were especially zealous about their devotion to the Unconquered Sun, and while normally taciturn, few passed up a chance to attempt to convert a receptive audience to his worship. Also, while the more civilized Anklok challenged anyone who strongly disagreed with them to a duel, many Anklok simply attacked individuals who openly argued about something that the Anklok cared deeply about.

Mortals and Exalts most often saw only this passion for battle. The Anklok were fearless warriors. In addition to enjoying battle for its own sake, Anklok saw fighting for something as the ultimate proof of their devotion and victory as vindication of their views. Shunning deception and trickery, they embraced honorable combat with worthy opponents as an almost sacred act. During the First Age, a few of the most powerful Anklok took service in the armies of the Solar Deliberative and looked forward to trying their skill in single combat with one of the nobles of the Fair Folk.

An Anklok’s word was its bond, and his honor was his most prized possession. While this meant that the Anklok were exceptionally trustworthy, anyone who questioned the honor of an Anklok had to be prepared to defend her statement with her life. Anklok never joked about their honor.

Appearance: Anklok are the largest Dragon Kings, standing seven feet tall. They have thick armor composed of large heavily ridged plates like those on the back of an alligator or crocodile. Their blunt muzzles are filled with thick conical teeth, and their broad muscular tails end in a large club-like bulb that they can use as a deadly weapon. They have crude hands, and many mortals who see them mistake them for animals.

Breed Attributes: Anklok gain +2 to Strength and +2 to Stamina, as well as an additional +0 health level. These modifiers can raise their Strength and Stamina above 5. However, they may only raise these two Attributes above 5 by spending either bonus or experience points. They also add + 6B/6L to their soak. However, their clawed hands are hulking paws that cannot use any tools or weapons not designed specifically for Dragon Kings. Even using such tools, they suffer a +1 difficulty to all Dexterity rolls involving fine manipulation, including all Craft rolls as well as any attempt to play a musical instrument or to pick a lock.

Breed Abilities: Anklok excel at surviving adversity. They have a natural affinity with Endurance, Resistance and Survival.

Innate Weapons: Anklok possess claws, sharp teeth and a heavy club-like tail.

Weapon                 Spd         Acc         Dmg       Def

Claw                       +1            +1            +3L         +0

Bite                         +0            +0            +3L         -2

Tail                         +1            -1             +4L         -2

Common Natures: Bravo, Gallant, Judge, Paragon, Survivor, Traditionalist

Sobriquets: Sand Hunter, Children of the Desert, Armored Zealots

Concepts: Proud warrior, zealous priest, honorable judge

 

 

To live, to fight and to

die under the face of the

sun, that is what is best.