Paxorak

Paxorak
Species
Homeland(s)	Mohra
Language(s)	Paxorak Matoric
Species Category	B+
Size Category	Medium 1.5 - 1.8 Bio
Can Use Kanohi	Yes (Great)
In the Doronai Nui	Yes
BS01

The Paxorak are the boisterous and sturdy species of the Barraki warlord Carapar, and the primary constituent species of Hakori. Endowed with great strength and natural shell-like armor, they are often pirates or warriors.

List of Members

• Carapar
• Hanrai
• Urprar

Overview

Purpose

One of the reasons for the Great Beings' design of the Paxorak are as a countermeasure to the Zyglak.

Traits

Paxorak are bulky, Toa-sized beings. They possess immense strength and endurance, being capable of lifting over twice their own weight - though they are not quite at the level of the Steltian Kumopak. Despite their brutish appearance, the Paxorak are highly intelligent (something often underestimated by foes). While the Paxorak do not possess any notable powers, they are immune to the protodermis-eating virus of the Zyglak.

The most notable feature of the Paxorak physique is their remarkably thick shell-like armor made of chitin, which gives their appearance a slight reminiscence of a crab. While said carapace armor is resistant to physical attacks, it is also conductive, making them vulnerable to electricity and extreme temperatures. The armor also grants the Paxorak resistance to disintegration. However, certain powerful means, such as Tren Krom's disintegration power, are still able to destroy even a Paxorak. The carapace does not heal naturally.

Though they do not need to wear masks, Paxorak are capable of accessing the powers of Great Kanohi masks. However, many Paxorak only learn how to access the powers of Noble Kanohi.

Paxorak speak standard Matoric, as well as their own dialect, simply called “Paxorak”.

Culture

Paxorak are the constituent species of Hakori, the southern-most kingdom. They are native to Mohra, and have settled several islands around their homeland, including Loyra, Varn, and Pauroga.

While most Paxorak have a love for battle, they should not be generalized in this regard - Paxorak sailors, fishers, and artisians are also not uncommon, who keep day-to-day society running for the benefit of the smaller number of elites who sail abroad to pillage. Those elite warriors are known as Paxorak marines, and are known as the bane of any lesser pirate captain in the southern oceans. Each is trained in the art of taking a ship by force, with little regard for whether their prisoners survive.

Due to their incredible strength and endurance, those Paxorak that settle in northern regions often find work as warriors. Those Paxorak, commonly known as "bruisers", can be mercenaries, thugs, or bandits. With their armored shells, they are ideal guards for crime syndicates and organizations requiring muscle, and their natural strength lets them go toe-to-toe with creatures far larger and more ferocious than themselves.

The Paxorak are widely known by their island neighbors as simple pirates, though that is not how they would describe themselves. They adhere to a code of honor, one that just so happen to permit plundering and raiding. Paxorak do not lie or cheat, and do not believe in ambushes, traps, or assassination, but rather the power of raw strength and skill.

As a society focused around combat, they hold a deep respect for the strongest and most capable warriors among them, and it is through that recognition of strength that their unity is forged. Serious disputes - whether between a leader and a subordinate, or two Paxorak of equal rank - are most commonly settled through unarmed one-to-one combat as outlined by the code of honor. As such, a Paxorak does not question a superior unless they believe they can prove their own strength greater. Weapons are rarely used to settle grudges, and are reserved for war, genuine self-defense, or rituals overseen by higher-ranking Paxorak. To use a weapon against a less than deserving foe is considered to be a stain on one's honor. As Paxorak put it, “blades are dulled on a friend's armor.” Killing one's allies tends to be discouraged, though it is generally accepted that these things may happen in the heat of combat.

The Paxorak are divided into tribes held together by the respect for their chieftain's strength and achievements. As such, a chieftain is typically the most capable warrior of their tribe. The leadership of these tribes may be challenged by other Paxorak of the tribe, if they find their leader unfit through the same method as other disputes. While deceit and betrayal is rare among the Paxorak, generally speaking, Paxorak - especially their chieftains - tend to harbor a reluctance to following authority higher than their own. As such, the tribes and those settlements under them are fairly autonomous, and only direct pressure can force them to work together. The most common way for a chieftain to ensure loyalty is to regularly visit the various holdings and settlements that are sworn to them, ensuring that any insubordination is swiftly quelled. Leaders who fail to keep track of their constituents will find themselves rapidly losing influence over their tribe - or worse. In times of war, Paxorak tribes may band together in temporary alliances, which quickly evaporate as soon as the mutual enemy is defeated.

While Paxorak tribes are led by chieftains, the whole of Mohra and Hakori are ruled by a High King, a mantle worn only by the strongest warrior. The High King rules from the fortress of Horo Feyakhai, and is determined through ritual one-on-one combat with the previous High King (or a tournament, if the High King has perished), held inside the fortress. A High King wields significant political power, similar to that the chieftains have influence over their settlements. They are one of the very few entities under which the disparate tribes of Mohra will begrudgingly unite in the face of a significant threat. Most will never have cause to convene the full power of Mohra, but those few who do will have a nigh-unstoppable army at their disposal.

Paxorak culture ascribes honor to evidence of physical hardship. As such, individuals will proudly display scars, cracked armor or carapaces, and other injuries as visible signs of their love for battle. To the Paxorak, a scar is proof of one's ability to survive in combat or other dangerous situations, showing that they have stood against mighty foes and endured all that was brought to bear. Some Paxorak will go as far as to rework their armor to show particularly impressive markings, or engage in scarification rituals to sear intricate patterns into their carapaces. These displays are viewed with respect, as they are clear proof that the individual is willing endure any pain in pursuit of greater glory. Paxorak chieftians will often be covered from head to foot in old wounds and faded scars, showing anyone who dare stand against them that they are an accomplished leader who has withstood far worse than what a discontented warrior or rebellious newcomer can bring.

The Paxorak have a deep respect for the arts of other cultures. When the pillagers return from their conquests with cargo holds filled with trophies and treasures from other lands, they use their spoils to furnish their elegant palaces, said to be the most magnificent structures in the southern reaches of the universe.

On the battlefield Paxorak approach brazenly and openly, confident in the protection granted by their carapaces. The war drums of Paxorak announce their presence before they can even be seen. Common Paxorak weaponry include broadswords, warhammers, flails, and crossbows.

Due to the location of their homeland, the Paxorak have become sworn enemies of the Zyglak, often encountering wandering bands of these savage beings which commonly originate from the southern islands. Because of their immunity to the Zyglak's disease - which the Paxorak boast is due to their incredible strength and resilience - they are widely considered to be a bulwark against the threat of Zyglak invasions to the rest of the universe. In their efforts to fend of the Zyglak, the Paxorak have allied with the Vanaki of Varn and Onekiri of Kozeni.

Skalds of Hakori - or "warrior-poets" - record and orate the histories of powerful warriors and great chieftains. These poems hold the rhythm of battle to their command, and inspire their allies to fight like the heroes of legend. The Paxorak possess a strong tradition of oral tales chronicles the exploits of legendary pirates from the past, and their battles against Toa, Zyglak, or other enemies.

History

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It is believed Carapar was the first High King of Mohra. Uniquely among the power structures of the six kingdoms, the system of chieftains and High Kings has remained unchanged past the age of the Barraki, and since Carapar's disappearance there have been many High Kings who have risen and fallen - some have been strong warriors with long reigns, while others have proved ineffective and had comparatively short life expectancies.

In the Doronai Nui

See Paxorak/Doronai Nui

Behind the Scenes

Originally called Axopakar (later changed due to conflation with the mask by the same name), the Paxorak are designed to serve as the species of Barraki Carapar. Their culture draws heavy influence from vikings and pirates, and to a lesser extent, the cardinal sin of gluttony. Their tough armor and incredible strength is maintained from Carapar's mutated form, though both of these aspects are amplified by the mutations.

The alliance between the Paxorak, Vanaki, and Onekiri is to some extent inspired by valkyries of norse mythology.

The original name, Axopakar, translated to “Great Endurance” and was knowingly picked despite the shared name with the mask, with the mask being closely associated with the species. The newer name shares the same meaning, being a reshuffling of the same particles.

The Paxorak were orignally going to have an ability to chemically change the color of their armor to a limited extent, providing a means of partial camouflage. This ability was inspired by certain real-life crab species, but was ultimately cut.