Innothule Swamp, Southern Antonica
Guktan High Court along with the Assembly of Gukta
Gukta is a hot, humid city built of rock, mud and woven reeds. For the most part, the city is built around a natural labyrinth of rock formations, formerly a network of caves that have eroded by some unknown means, leaving large sections of the city open to the looming, cloudy sky.
Exclusively Frogloks.
Gukta was once the city of Grobb, owned and inhabited by the foul Trolls, who fought constant minor skirmishes against the Frogloks of nearby Guk. However, squabbling within Trollish factions over a relic known as the Grozmok Stone weakened their hold over the city. When the Trolls of Broken Skull Rock stole the stone from Grobb, and massive numbers of Trolls marched out of the city to pursue it, Grobb was left open for its downfall.
During this same time, the God Mithaniel Marr appeared to certain chosen of the Froglok Race and gathered them to make an assault on Grobb, claiming it for Light and Valor. These Frogloks, both mentally and physically changed by the blessing of Marr, made a passionate assault on Grobb that left the few surviving Trolls scurrying away in deep, primal fear. The city was rebuilt and renamed Gukta, Outpost of Marr.
Today, Gukta is still very much in a state of war. The Trolls will not rest until they have reclaimed their homeland, and it takes all the strength and focus of the Guktan Army to keep the invaders at bay.
The two forces that most shape Gukta are the ancient tribal caste system of all Frogloks and the newer military structure that is unique to the Outpost. At times, the Frogloks' tribal legacy and their new Marr-enhanced way of life make for uneasy bedfellows.
The caste system is and has always been fairly rigid. Traditionally the Froglok tribes were divided into the following six castes: The Gaz (rulers/nobles), the Dar (Warriors), The Jin (Wizards), the Yun (Shamans), the Zok (tradesmen), and the Rukta (lorekeepers). Though mating occurred between different castes at times to preserve the health of the gene pool, tads were considered to belong to the caste of their mother, regardless of the caste of the father.
With the coming of Marr's blessing, the Frogloks made changes to their societal structure. Two new castes have arisen: the Kor (Clerics of Marr) and the Shin (Paladins or Knights of Marr). There is tension between the Yun shamans and the Kor clerics, as the Kor are coming to replace the Yun as preferred healers. Younger and more adaptable Yun are learning to emphasize their powerful magical enhancements to strength, grace and speed in battle, as well their versatility on the battlefield. Still, the Yun are something of a dying caste, and many feel bitterness toward the Kor and even toward their god for this reason. There is also a lesser tension between the traditional Dar warriors and the "new and improved" Shin knights, who can use their divine blessings to heal and inspire their fellow soldiers. The Dar are less resentful, however, for they still outnumber the Shin, are considered the toughest and strongest of all Frogloks, and are the only caste allowed to serve as city guards.
As for the other castes, the Jin wizards are now and have always been the most intelligent of the Frogloks, but these are no theoretical arcanists. A Jin's reputation is measured solely by the number of trolls he has barbecued in the swamp. The Zok and the Rukta are the only Froglok castes who do not directly participate in the war. The Zok, merchants and craftsmen, help supply the soldiers and keep the economy of Gukta thriving. The Rukta, teachers and historians, record the details of significant battles, make notes on the progress of individual soldiers in case any should become great heroes, and teach young tads the recent and ancient history of the Froglok race.
Frogloks are social creatures who enjoy being in a group far more than being alone. They tend to form strong networks of friends, but would sooner spend time with an amiable stranger than alone. This does not mean they are necessarily chatty - like Humans, they vary widely in personality. Frogloks have a rather unusual family structure by Human standards. Only females typically own homes, and their sons, brothers, or male friends often live with them in informal and frequently changing arrangements. As Frogloks do not amass many possessions (a remnant from their nomadic tribal days), the males can move frequently with little fuss.
Females lay anywhere from two to ten small eggs a month, which are usually disposed of discreetly. If the female decides she wishes to reproduce, she lays her eggs in a small, private indoor "nursery pool" at her house. She will then invite the males she most respects to fertilize the eggs. On average a female will invite two or three males to perform this honor: inviting only one seems like putting all her eggs in one basket - so to speak - and inviting more than three seems indecisive. A male may turn down the offer, but it is considered a direct insult. There is no pressure on fathers to "provide" for their eggs in Froglok society, so a man's commitment to his offspring need only be whatever he wishes.
Usually within two or three months, successful fertilization will occur, and from one to four tadpoles will hatch. The mother ensures a healthy growth of algae and other foods in the nursery pool. About half of the tadpoles die in the first few months, but after that, the little polliwogs tend to be strong and healthy if properly fed. Within a year the tadpoles will begin to sprout limb buds and occasionally come to the surface to interact with the parents and learn to talk.
By about age five or six, the legs are functional enough that the tadpoles can use them to drag themselves about on the ground, though they still need to return to the water to breathe. At around age eight to ten, the legs and lungs are nearly fully developed, and the children (or "tads" as the Frogloks tend to call them) can begin to help out around the house, so long as they are able to return for frequent "naps" in their pool. The tails fall off at around age thirteen to fifteen, and the tads are now sexually (though not emotionally) mature. During their childhood, Frogloks are educated solely by their mother and any other family members living in the house. There is no formal school system until maturity.
At eighteen all Frogloks are expected to join their mother's caste unless they have shown a marked preference or talent for another calling (this sort of "caste-hopping" is very new and would be shocking to tribal Frogloks). All Frogloks recruited into the Guktan Army go through a rigorous and orderly training program run by experienced soldiers of their class.
There have been occasional "romances" reported among Frogloks - a strong attachment between one male and one female - but they are rare and considered "foreign." Frogloks who have been influenced by the Human worshippers of Marr are the most likely to practice this form of social arrangement. The male in these cases will stay with the female, often driving out any other males (with the possible exception of the female's father) and insisting on being the only one to fertilize her eggs. In exchange for this exclusivity, he shares in the care and feeding of the tads.
For the Frogloks of Gukta, gone are the days of small tribes led by charismatic, hereditary, dictatorial leaders. With the blessing of increased intelligence has come a tendency toward lengthy discussion, collaboration, and debate.
There are two main bodies of Government. The Guktan High Court is something like a "House of Lords" or "Senate." It is the more prestigious governing body and its members, or Zokta, have the ultimate authority to make executive orders. It used to be made up entirely of Nobles or members of the hereditary Gaz caste, but gradually, as the now-useless Gaz caste dies out, the members of the High Court have become replaced by Elders of different castes who have risen to fame through their deeds in battle or through service in lesser governmental positions.
The Assembly of Gukta is a lesser, elected house of government, its members (or Lokta) chosen by the ranks of the several castes. The Lokta are meant to be closer to the people than the Zokta: they hear the concerns of their castes, discuss them amongst themselves, then communicate the consensus to the High Court and make recommendations for action. They also vote amongst themselves to choose replacements for the Zokta when they die. The Assembly is notorious for spending months deliberating something that a tribal leader might have decided on the spot. However, inefficiency is the price one must pay for balanced power.
Crime in Gukta is almost unheard of. The government is not to be credited for this. The blessings of Marr are conditioned upon absolute obedience to His will: Frogloks who commit crimes often suddenly find themselves physically and mentally diminished, forced to flee the city in exile and return to their tribal state. These exiled Frogloks are among the most angry and dangerous enemies the true followers of Marr face.
Most Frogloks are deeply religious. Religion is not theoretical to them, because there are Frogloks alive who witnessed the appearance of Marr before the great assembly of Guk and the transformation that occurred among his chosen. However, the continual state of military emergency prevents excessive ritual and celebration. Instead, the Frogloks worship Marr by destroying his enemies and protecting his loved ones. Perhaps in time holidays will arise to honor certain great moments in Froglok history, but for now, the city is still too new, the fear of takeover too real and imminent.
Gukta has no formal alliances; however, the people of Halas are strongly sympathetic to these valiant fighters, and followers of Mithaniel Marr respect them deeply and wish for their success.
Neriak - the last refuge of the hated Trolls
Oggok
Yun Initiate Kidak
Jin Initiate Bebboruk, Dar Initiate Ninaga