Anklok Concept Test

The most aggressive of the Dragon Kings, the Anklok, or Southern Dragon Kings, dwell in deserts and arid, rocky plains. These slow, hulking creatures prefer a life of seclusion but occasionally join with others of their breed to praise the Unconquered Sun with vast, intricate rock carvings and masterful fire rituals. The Anklok believe their fire mastery and connection to the heated lands of the South brings them and connection to the heated lands of the South brings them closer to the Unconquered Sun’s true nature than the other closer to the Unconquered Sun’s true nature than the other Dragon Kings, these connections thereby making them the Dragon Kings, these connections thereby making them the god’s foremost priests. Others, including other Dragon King god’s foremost priests. Others, including other Dragon King breeds, gladly concede them this point, for they fear the breeds, gladly concede them this point, for they fear the overly aggressive and volatile nature of the Anklok, who overly aggressive and volatile nature of the Anklok, who have been known to attack those who disagree with have been known to attack those who disagree with them—though always outright and never with guile, them—though always outright and never with guile, for they are an honorable breed. (The more civilized of for they are an honorable breed. (The more civilized of their kind tend to offer to duel disagreeable individuals their kind tend to offer to duel disagreeable individuals instead of mauling them in the streets, but truly civilized instead of mauling them in the streets, but truly civilized Anklok are rare.) Anklok are rare.) The Southern Dragon Kings’ passion for their religion The Southern Dragon Kings’ passion for their religion is boundless, and most individuals who have encountered is boundless, and most individuals who have encountered them consider them zealots. One might think this zeal them consider them zealots. One might think this zeal would lead to the creation of elaborate temples to appease would lead to the creation of elaborate temples to appease their god and bring in converts, but such is not the case. their god and bring in converts, but such is not the case. The Anklok do not erect massive or ornate temples to the The Anklok do not erect massive or ornate temples to the Unconquered Sun at all. As they believe they share a strong Unconquered Sun at all. As they believe they share a strong connection to their god on an individual basis, they have connection to their god on an individual basis, they have no need of such edifices. Instead, the Anklok prove their no need of such edifices. Instead, the Anklok prove their devotion to him through skillful hunting and sacrifice. Ank- devotion to him through skillful hunting and sacrifice. Ank- lok seek out formidable prey to vanquish his name, lok seek out formidable prey to vanquish his name, enduring great hardships and showing unwavering enduring great hardships and showing unwavering persistence and patience to prove they are the persistence and patience to prove they are the mightiest of Creation’s hunters. And, when one mightiest of Creation’s hunters. And, when one successfully vanquishes his chosen foe, he offers successfully vanquishes his chosen foe, he offers up the prey’s heart at the site of the kill, ripping up the prey’s heart at the site of the kill, ripping it from its body and burning it to cinders with it from its body and burning it to cinders with magical fire, all while shouting out prayers to magical fire, all while shouting out prayers to the Unconquered Sun. the Unconquered Sun. Most Anklok care little about the state of Most Anklok care little about the state of politics or whether the people around them are politics or whether the people around them are living a good life or being oppressed. They living a good life or being oppressed. They value only their religion and a few individuals value only their religion and a few individuals lucky enough to be considered part of their lucky enough to be considered part of their clutch. If, however, a Southern Dragon King clutch. If, however, a Southern Dragon King decides to take notice of anything outside of decides to take notice of anything outside of his normal concerns, he does so in a manner his normal concerns, he does so in a manner that is just as serious and zealous as his other that is just as serious and zealous as his other interests. The Anklok are fiery natured creatures interests. The Anklok are fiery natured creatures in this regard, either burning brightly with conviction in this regard, either burning brightly with conviction or offering not even a spark of interest whatsoever. or offering not even a spark of interest whatsoever. Anklok are excellent hunters and fearless warriors, Anklok are excellent hunters and fearless warriors, and they enjoy both activities on a level that can be and they enjoy both activities on a level that can be only be termed sacred, for like hunting, they see battle only be termed sacred, for like hunting, they see battle as a way of proving their worthiness and devotion to as a way of proving their worthiness and devotion to the Unconquered Sun. the Unconquered Sun.