Inhabitants of Katapesh

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A Katapeshi swordfighter.

The inhabitants of Katapesh are a diverse lot, dominated by Keleshite humans but intermixed with traders from across Golarion.

Humans

The most common human ethnicities in Katapesh are Garundi, Keleshite, and Vudrani. In large cities like the city of Katapesh, Solku, and Okeno, the hodgepodge of cultures is constant but also always changing, as traders leave and new ones arrive.1 However, Katapesh's desert natives—the Badawi—are nearly all Keleshites.2

Dwarves

Dwarves arrived to Katapesh centuries ago to mine the rich ores beneath the Barrier Wall mountains. Many dwarven settlements, whether abandoned or still occupied, are located on the mountains.1

Halflings

Halflings have a long history in Katapesh. They were tied to ancient Osirian families for generations as indentured servants, and when the families they served collapsed, halfling slaves migrated south and settled in Katapesh. Today, local halflings command good wages as hired servants to traders and merchants.3

Gnomes

Most gnomes in present-day Katapesh live in the city of Katapesh. The Finderplain has also stood for 300 years as a waypoint for gnomes traveling south of the Inner Sea.1

Elves and aiuvarins

Elves do not have a notable presence in Katapesh, but aiuvarins seem drawn to the area.[citation needed]

Orcs and dromaars

A Katapeshi dromaar.

Dromaars remain a small but constant presence in Katapesh. No orc tribes still live in the area, but in ancient times a race of desert-dwelling orcs made Katapesh their home. Their descendants form the bulk of the dromaar population.1

Kholo

A kholo tribal leader.

Kholo4 are native to Katapesh and the nation's most recognized threat. Katapeshi kholo consider Katapesh to be their eternal birthplace, and attack settlements and raid caravans not only for the joy of the kill and the profit it brings but also out of fervent pride.

Hundreds of kholo live in the mountains, most notably White Canyon and Pale Mountain. Dozens of smaller kholo encampments also dot the Barrier Wall mountains and Brazen Peaks, and bands of kholo nomads roam the plains and deserts in search of prey.

Despite their ferocity, Katapeshi kholo posses their own unique culture and occasionally enter cities peacefully. When slavery was still legal in Katapesh prior to 4722 AR, kholo slavers appeared in Okeno and Katapesh with slaves for sale.5

Packs

Kholo in Katapesh belong to one of five packs:5

Dragons

Katapesh's many hidden treasures attract dragons, though no one knows the exact number of them in Katapesh. At least one has been spotted, a great red near the Barrier Wall mountains, and there are evidence of others in the form of clawed tracks, vague sightings, and large herds of animals that have vanished with only a few bones and some blood remaining. The vast mountain reaches and lonely empty deserts offer fine lairs for several types of dragons who prefer arid terrain, while the few jungles and swamps also might attract dragons drawn to more temperate climates.67

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “Land of Adventure” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 15. Paizo Inc., 2009
  2. Brian Cortijo, et al. “Braving the Desert” in Legacy of Fire Player's Guide, 20. Paizo Inc., 2009
  3. Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “Land of Adventure” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 11. Paizo Inc., 2009
  4. Paizo referred to all kholo as gnolls until the publication of The Mwangi Expanse, and renamed all gnolls to kholo across Player Core, GM Core, and Monster Core. For details, see Meta:Kholo.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “Land of Adventure” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 15–16. Paizo Inc., 2009
  6. Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. “Land of Adventure” in Dark Markets, A Guide to Katapesh, 17. Paizo Inc., 2009
  7. Paizo ceased the use of chromatic dragons with the publication of Monster Core, as part of the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. When mentioned in Monster Core and subsequent publications, existing chromatic dragons might be retroactively changed to new or equivalent types of non-chromatic dragons. This also affected metallic dragons. In such works, red, gold, blue, brass, and copper dragons were drawn to mountains and deserts, while green dragons were an example of those drawn to jungles and swamps.