So you're interested in creating a character with roots with the Galgori; we welcome you to our elite ranks. This thread is designed to give you a quick background history on this near-extinct race, as well as answer any questions you may have. If you have any questions not covered in this thread, or if you want to include aspects not covered, please PM Kami (Toph). Please DO NOT include anything in your Galgori profile (in regards to Galgori-specific events/backstory elements) that isn't covered here without checking with Kami first.

Please note that the Galgori is a TARP-exclusive concept created by former member Halaku, née 'wordbearer2'. The Galgori has evolved some during his absense as a natural progression of the RP, so please note that there are some differences from the original version and the version we have today.

Note;; this thread has been approved by the aforementioned Halaku as of 11:15 AM EST, on 07.22.2010.

A Quick History and Brief Overview
(originally written by Taed Xoa)

Five hundred years ago, the Fire Nation conquered a small tribe of people and enslaved them. This tribe was called the Galgori Conclave. They revolted, slew their overseers, and fought their way to the coast with a vast army on their heels. The sacrifice of a third of their population, including their six greatest heroes, gave the rest time to flee by ship to the Earth Kingdom.

There, the story might have ended, the tribe absorbed into the Earth Kingdom and forgotten. These people, however, scarred, honor-bound, and fiercely loyal to one another in the wake of their losses, saw the Earth Kingdom as no kinder than the Fire Nation. Not where it mattered. Its offer was the first step to dependence and eternal slavery. So they fled into the wastes and reflected.

Lacking Benders of their own, they saw Benders as the problem, the thing that made their enslavement so easy and broke the will of so many others. They made a promise to their patron spirit, Ko the Faceless, to uplift the dignity of mankind by killing all those who would abuse gifts which rightfully belonged only in the hands of the spirits. In memory of their dead and their honor, this small tribe promised to free the world of the Bender Scourge. They declared the Long War and would fight it forever by whatever means necessary.

The Galgori have shaped themselves by this oath, evolving into a loosely-organized state spread out across the Avatar world. They live simple, stoic lives bound in honor, faith and law. The Council of Six, mysterious elders of the tribe, rule the Galgori and direct the general direction of the Long War, an autocratic body that rarely takes an open hand in directing their requests via a complex web of agents.

Hiding in plain sight in a hundred small villages, they train their children in the arts of death, having studied their Bender foes enough to know them better than they knew themselves. The best of their children undergo Trials at age twelve. Those who pass are further trained and unleashed as some of the best assassins this world has ever seen. To be Galgori is a strict path, one enforced by draconian law, but one offering a certainty unimaginable to Benders and their Slaves as some Galgori refer to the Bender's servants.

Important Notes:

1. Whilst most Galgori make it a mission to exterminate benders on-sight, there are cases where they will employ benders as a means to an end. Ultimately, it is about self-preservation, and there are instances where a bender would be the most viable means to that end. If this is the case, then a pact is formed between the leader of that particular group (or the only member) and the bender(s), with the understanding that once the objective is completed, they are fair game. Keep in mind that this is a very uncommon occurrence, and in most cases must be sanctioned by the Six.

2. Considering the history between the Galgori and the other nations, it is very uncommon for a Galgori to marry, date, or even have casual relations with non-Galgori. They are a very close-knit people, and as such mostly keep relations among themselves. If this does occur, the non-Galgori must NOT be a bender (unless of Mothguaith descent), and must renounce their association with benders and their nation of origin. Keep in mind, of course, that due to the secrecy surrounding the Galgori's continued existence, that this is very rare. There are some instances where this does not occur, but these instances must be approved by Kami (Toph).

3. Not every Galgori child will undergo the Trials; this series of excruciating tests will be undertaken by only the best of the children, and not all of them will survive. The ones that do are some of the deadliest warriors and assassins to walk the face of the earth. Even then, they must undergo further training to be accepted as full-fledged warriors.

4. The Galgori's patron spirit is Koh the Faceless. Not every Galgori is particularly spiritual, but it is a driving force behind the actions of many of the Galgori people.

5. The Monks of Koh are an integral part of Galgori tradition, and at least two can be found in every village with Galgori residents. All pregnant Galgori women must present themselves to a Monk to determine if the child in their womb is a bender; how this process works is known only to the Monks, but it is speculated that due to their blindness, Koh the Faceless endows them with the ability to 'see' into the Spirit World. (No, the Monks are not a playable class of Galgori, and must be utilized as a Staff-held NPC). Once they reach the four-month mark, the pregnant Galgori is confined to the village of her birth, or, if possible, an all-Galgori village (if she can make the journey in time).

6. Marriage is more of a bonding ceremony between two Galgori; the two betrothed must present themselves to a Monk of Koh. The ceremony itself is private, but some Galgori have been known to throw small celebrations afterward. The bond between two Galgori is a sacred bond, made before Koh himself, and is unbreakable until the death of one of the bonded. Bonding is not akin to traditional marriage, and often times (especially when both bonded are proven warriors) they will be apart more often than they are together. In some cases, bonded couples do not even share a home; this all depends on their chosen paths, and the will of the Six (for example: Halaku and Nanashi).

7. The Hunt is a time-honoured tradition of seeking and attempting to capture the Avatar. Note that the goal of the Galgori is not to kill the Avatar; killing the Avatar would mean reincarnation, and the cycle would renew. Capture is the ideal solution. The Galgori never believed that the Avatar was dead, and have never stopped searching and renewing the members/participants in The Hunt. At each renewal, one person is sanctioned by the Six to lead The Hunt; it is up to this person to assemble a team of his choosing to accomplish his goal, and up to him to appoint a successor in event he should fail. This cycle's Hunt was lead by Halaku, until his disappearance and presumed death; his once-bonded, Nanashi, has assumed this role in his stead.

8. All deeds and promises sworn to others must be fulfilled. Galgori are honor-bound, and this honor tends to be as important to them as life. Then again, there are ways and ways to make a promise say the exact opposite of what people think it says...

9. While there are a few scattered all-Galgori villages, they are few and far between. Keep in mind that these villages are well hidden, and are not generally known. If it so happens an outsider stumbles upon an all-Galgori village, beware: benders will be killed on sight (remember, Monks of Ko can sense bending ability) unless accompanied by one or more Galgori who speak on their behalf. Even then, they are generally encouraged to stay outside the village walls, for their own safety.

Current Galgori Members

{ The Galgori Six }

• Elder Mika - formerly RPd by Shijin
• Elder Hanajima - played by Kami (Toph)
• Elder Mako - played by Shio
• Elder Akima - played by Karena
• Elder Hakuin - formerly RPd by retired member Alianne
• Elder Aaron, deceased - formerly RPd by Halaku

{ Other Galgori }

• Halaku - played by Halaku :: Presumed Deceased
• Anei & Hokori (twins) - played by Halaku :: Inactive
• Coer Sae Morcaran - played by Taed Xoa
• Master Inoue Michiya - played by Taed Xoa
• Hitokiri Nanashi - played by Kami (Toph)
• Akki - played by Kami (Toph)
• Jiao - played by Shio
• Nuan - played by Shijin

If you create an accepted Galgori character, or find that a profile link is broken, please PM Kami (Toph) to make the proper edits. If the profile in question is yours, please take the initiative to find me the URL of the profile prior to PMing me.