The ruins of a city nestled atop Mount Ihu, in the present-day Region of Ice. Legend has it that when two deities were in combat, one of them sliced the tallest mountain in Okoto, Ihu, in half. Atop its now-flattened top, Kokoro was built. The city of Kokoro was one of many with far-reaching, crystalline spires and Knowledge Towers, from which Okotans would do their research and studying, and observe the stars. After the Great Cataclysm, many of these villages collapsed, but Kokoro managed to withstand enough so as to be habitable.
Knowledge Towers still make up its skyline, but many of them are cracked and/or collapsed, requiring reinforcements. Some effort has been made to repair them, although the top of one tower had broken off during the Cataclysm and fallen in the center of the city. Its hollowed-out top was repurposed to be the city hall, where meetings held by Izotor and the ruling council are held. Despite the damage, Kokoro’s inhabitants still use the Knowledge Towers to look at the stars, or tried to- The perpetual snow storms have covered up any and all sunlight. Beneath Kokoro, at the center, is a massive furnace that is tended to and fueled by an Okotan who wields a Mask of Fire. This furnace keeps the inhabitants from freezing to death in Kokoro, and fuels many other applications as well. During the Gukko Airforce’s routine visits, they bring as much firewood as they can, along with food.
Kokoro’s direct placement atop the peak of Ihu, and Ihu’s icy slopes, have created the perfect conditions for warding off Skull Spiders. The perpetual snowfall gathers around the mountain, which is incredibly steep. Attempts by Skull Spiders to ascend the side of Ihu from the bottom result in the ordinarily fragile snow crumbling due to their sharp legs, and thus falling, knocking them down and burying them in avalanches. The Skull Spiders can never get far enough up the side of the mountain, and snow keeps gathering.
To access the rest of the world without falling to death, the Kokorans have installed several retractable metal bridges around the walls of Kokoro. When it’s time to hunt or gather other supplies and the Gukko Airforce can’t supply, the bridges extended outward, connecting to the peaks of other nearby mountains [These bridges may or may not be reactivated Life Automatons]. From there, the Kokorans walk along the bridges to the peaks, accessing as much of the Region of Ice as needed before coming back.
Should Skull Spiders attack and use these bridges, the bridges are designed to slant downward at a steep angle, nearly parallel to Ihu’s slopes. Due to the slickness of the metal bridge, which is made of a durable ore that the Skull Spiders can’t pierce, as well as the minimalistic railing, this causes most Skull Spiders to fall off into the depths below. Any remaining ones are easily dealt with from a distance. Unfortunately, times when these bridges are used have often stranded the Kokorans, or else thrown off the ones still using them. This is in order to thwart off any Skull Spider breaching, but even so, this measure is very rarely used if Kokorans haven’t made their way across yet.
Kokoro’s village mainly consists of a ruling council of elders and veterans, who work on certain decisions. Of them includes Nuju, who acts as the local wise man and chieftain, and is a scholar in his own right. Nuju only speaks in cheeps and whistles like a bird, which only his attendant Matoro can understand. Aside from him, there is also Izotor, the Protector of Ice. There are four other council elders.
In the remains of the Knowledge Towers, scholars collect and gather the texts that the Gukko Airforce has gathered and bring them there. In these Towers, old texts are deciphered and evaluated, so as to keep in touch with the history of the island, and also study other important things. Some of the texts in question have revealed the location of certain lost cities or even Masks of Power to be found and used. There is also a belief that if they study certain star patterns and constellations, as reported by other Okotans, they can gleam the future, or at least predict the weather.
Due to its status as the home of scholars, as well as the hub of ancient texts and artifacts, Kokoro is prominent for its cultural festivals and activities, being in touch with the lost culture of the Creation Age. Festivals are popular, with little stalls and booths to play games and win prizes, with many such as Kokkan or Kylma organizing these events. Kopeke often shows off his ice sculptures here as well, and art is valued.
One popular, recreational activity in Kokoro, besides the universal sport of Kolhii, is the Huai Snowball Sling. Players are put in a diamond-shaped arena, with immobile obstacles placed in certain arrangements. Armed with slings, the players throw snowballs at one another, hiding behind obstacles. [More rules to be added later]
There are many other Kokorans; One is Ehrye, an attendant to some of the local scholars who dreams to be a scholar himself, but is simply unneeded and too excitable, impatient, and foolhardy to be one. Nevertheless, he is earnest and tries to learn patience, and often studies archaeology. Another Kokoran is Kopeke- The names of the fabled Toa of legend are well known, so naturally many saw them as a sign of hope. Kopeke’s parents, unsurprisingly, named their child after Kopaka, although there may or may not have been a translation error. Appropriately (with some wondering if his name is because of this or vice-versa), Kopeke is particularly skilled in ice carving and is Kokoro’s best ice carver. On his days off he likes to brighten the spirits of others by carving fantastical sculptures of ice, and his small studio has frequent visitors who appreciate the pristine look of ice. As such, Hafu occasionally sees him as a rival. He is also skilled at Huai Snowball Sling.
Matoro is the aforementioned attendant to Nuju. A shy and quiet spirit who doesn’t believe in herself, Matoro is occasionally burdened by the knowledge discussed amongst the council due to her role as Nuju’s translator, which exposes her often to the grim reality of the Skull Spider threat. Despite her introverted personality, Matoro is still quick to be a friend to those who need her support. In her spare time, Matoro grooms many of her pets, and in the past she even had a bit of a pet store with help from Kongu. Matoro also has a bit of infamy as Kokoro’s ‘Resident Goth’, due to her obsession with death and knowledge of funeral rites, and as a child, she had to deal with the death of many pets, and even did funeral services for lost pets as well.
Kokkan is the local trader, who makes his business with Kongu. He owns a shop where he sells various goods that he has employed other Okotans to craft and/or find, and helps regulate the Okotan economy. Occasionally suspected by non-Kokorans to be shady, he is ultimately genuine, and treats his partners and customers well. He helps sell, advertise, and distribute Jaa’s works… for a price, of course.
One of Kokkan’s frequent associates is Arktinen, a tanner and fellmonger who works with the hides from the hunts of others. Arktinen is a bit of a fashion designer, which he won’t admit, and he makes hats and coats and other clothing that keeps the Kokorans warm. He makes a business with some of his more luxury, hide-related items.
There is also the Sanctum Guard, the designated patrol that regularly inspects the borders of Kokoro to make sure no Skull Spiders breach the city, and are tasked with its defense. Some Sanctum Guards are a part of the Hunting Parties that are occasionally formed. One guard is Pakastaa, who is so stoic and dedicated to her patrol job that she will stand still for who knows how long, enough to cause ice and snow to settle on her. Despite this she remains faithful and has an iron determination. Pakastaa often acts as a sentry, and her eyesight is particularly good at seeing through snow storms to detect potential threats or obstacles. Due to her stillness, some have jokingly believed that Pakastaa is Kopeke’s best sculpture and a natural Skull Spider scarecrow. Sometimes, Pakastaa is covered in so much snow that other Sanctum Guardians don’t even recognize her.
Another Sanctum Guardian is Talvi, who also acts as an operator of Kokoro’s bridges. She is particular about making sure the bridges are in proper condition, for a potential malfunction could lead to Kokoro’s doom.
Another Guardian, and frequent member of the Hunting Parties, is Toudo, an experienced hunter and survivalist. Toudo is esteemed for having once been stranded in the Drifts after a Skull Spider attack, only to survive months on her own and eventually make contact with another Hunting Party, and return victoriously. Izotor has considered Toudo as his potential successor. Due to her experience, Toudo has always been a little… intense, and wary. Toudo admits that she thought she saw Melum, Spirit of Ice being chased by a shadowy being during her experience, but she wonders if it was a hallucination induced by delirium and even insanity.
Jaa is a scholar and a scribe who helps reprint and recreate old tales, epics, and other novels from the Creation Age. He himself is a bit of a linguist, and he will, admittedly, add in some of his own alterations to the translated and recreated works, but don’t tell anyone that [Alternatively, he boldens or underlines his alterations, makes anecdotes, etc.,] Jaa is a bit of an aspiring author himself and likes to tell stories around the campfire. Jaa has a daughter, named Jaatikko (tikko being a suffix he discovered in his studies that means descended, child, junior, etc.), another scholar who interprets the stars and is also an architect, helping design or reinforce Kokoro using knowledge from the past.
Lumi is another scholar, and an acolyte who still prays to the old Okotan deities, including Melum, Spirit of Ice, who she hopes will bless Kokoro with less harsh cold and fewer storms, as those block the eyes of the Sanctum Guard but not the Skull Spiders. She uses her own meditations, spiritual rituals, and information from other scholars to see the future, adding in her own mystical data.
Kylma, a scholar, uses his research to act as a seer to predict weather, but is also avidly interested in Okoto’s past and culture. He and Lumi like to discuss the resurrected Okotan Mythos, and he has frequently cooperated with others to organize cultural festivals meant to bring the Kokorans’ spirits up, and keep the Okotan art and culture from dying. He often gives Kopeke inspiration, and he is an intense researcher into the Prophecy of Heroes.
Kantai was once a member of the Hunting Parties, but during a Skull Spider attack he was separated and presumed dead. Instead, he survived, and estranged from the others, he was forced to become a hermit, travelling and stumbling across the milder forests of the Region of Ice, where he lives.
