Bothotlo

Infamous for wit and cunning humor, Bothotlo has made enemies with their wry comments. Some find them hilarious, others simply offensive.
Bothotlo’s crest is a Copper dragon.

Suggested Parentages

Category	Parentages
Dominant	Draconic (Copper), Human
Minority	Dwarven (Desert, Mountain), Kobold
Enclaves	Tabaxi
Groups	Gnoll, Gnomish, Leonin
Individuals	Elven, Halfling, Orc, Thri-Kreen
Singular	Sphinx

Upbringings

Category	Upbringings
Dominant	Cunning, Draconic, Laborer, Skilled Labor, Sharp-Witted
Minority	Caravaneer, Common Defense, Mountain, Nomadic, Spy, Story Collector
Enclaves	Acrobatic, Athletic, Graceful, Incognito, Nimble Combatant, Survivalist
Groups	Beastrider, Defiant, Guerilla, Hunter, Outcast, Scout, Specialist
Individuals	Dextrous, Dextrous Soldier, Dramatic, Natural Artisan
Singular	--

Backgrounds

Category	Backgrounds
Dominant	Desert Runner
Minority	Entertainer, Farmer, Soldier
Enclaves	Folk Hero, Guild Artisan
Groups	Poet, Rider
Individuals	Bandit, Criminal, Scoundrel
Singular	--

Classes

Class	Subclasses
Artificer	Draconic Tinkerer
Barbarian	Path of the Dragon, Path of the Dragon's Roar, Path of the Dragonheart
Bard	College of Glamour, College of the Jester, College of the Prankster, College of Shadows, College of Spies, College of Whispers
Cleric	Dragon Domain, Metallic Domain, Mischief Domain, Trickery Domain
Dragon Rider	Dragon Outrider
Druid	Circle of the Dragonfriend
Fighter	Battle Master, Blade Dancer, Champion, Fencer, Juggler, Sword Dancer
Monk	Way of the Ascendant Dragon, Way of Shadows
Paladin	Oath of Deliverance
Ranger	Drakewarden, Guerilla, Hunter, Skirmisher
Rogue	Acrobat, Arcane Trickster, Assassin, Mischiefmaker, Rapscallion, Scoundrel, Scout
Sorcerer	Draconic Bloodline (Copper)
Warlock	Ancient Dragons Patron, Pact of the Dragon God
Witch	Purple Magic
Wizard	Conspirator Mage, School of Illusion

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Draconic (Bothotlo Dialect)

Shared customary codes and values

Grievances between individuals or clans are often resolved through uvelucal lexri, a ritualistic contest of insults between the two parties. These are always public events, as the jeers, hooting and cheering of the crowd decides the victor. The more stinging and clever the insults, the more successful the duelist. uvelucal lexri can be use to solve property disputes, feuds, and more, but it usually leads to a purely temporary solution, as the stung ego of the loser churns and develops more caustic or cunning insults for later.

Common Etiquette rules

It's against Bothotlo custom to draw blood or commit violence over injured pride. Storytellers, bards and performers are to be given shelter and protection, in exchange for entertaining their hosts. The Bothotlo do not leave stranded travelers in the badlands to die, though they keep secret their homes.

Art & Architecture

Statuary and fine ceramics are hallmarks of Bothotlo arts and artifice, made with the quarried stones and clay of the badlands they inhabit. The Bothotlo live a semi-nomadic lifestyle driven by a free-wheeling spirit, and when they build settlements they tend to use clay bricks for permanent structures, or inhabit caves wherever possible. Their homes are highly decorated with painted designs, as are their ceramics.

Foods & Cuisine

Scorpions and their venom are considered delicacies by the Bothotlo, as they become inert after they die. The venom is used as flavoring in bitter alcoholic beverages, the scorpions themselves are fried or candied in higher end cuisine. Otherwise, the Bothotlo keep livestock and hunt wherever possible, preferring a meat based diet. Their lands don't lend themselves to heavy agriculture, so only the odd large settlement has well developed farmlands. There, they grow flax, wheat, barley and date palms.

Coming of Age Rites

Adulthood arrives at the age of 18 and is marked by anointing the new adult with (inert) scorpion venom, then their entire clan holds a roast in which their friends and family make fun of them at their own expense. The new adult is expected to retort as wittily as possible.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The dead are memorialized with art. It's customary to make a large funerary urn with designs celebrating the loved one's life. These are kept in a sacred burial site unique to a specific clan. Bodies are buried simply in unmarked graves or, when possible, cremated. It's not important that the ashes actually be stored in the urn, as the stories and memory of the dead are more important than their lost corporeal forms.
Clan elders and great heroes are ceremonially dissolved in acid in secret caverns, often with copper dragons presiding.

Common Taboos

The Bothotlo never leave a stranger to die in the desert.

Common Myths and Legends

Tales abound of the clever dragon god Bothotlo outsmarting and humiliating Infernals, Sovereigns and Titans alike.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Bothotlo tribesfolk often have short faces, backswept cheekbones, strong jaws and coppery skin tones & hair.

Courtship Ideals

Witticism, laughter and gift giving are ways to express affection and desire, a combination of tenderness and outrageous behavior. Small gifts of food and items of beauty are common, but making your potential mate laugh is most important.

Relationship Ideals

A free-wheeling spirit prevails among the Bothotlo, who are rarely monogamous for long periods of time. It's very normal to form a relationship with one or more people, then split off when its run its course. This is normal and usually there's no bad blood involved between anyone.