Broken To Ashes, Reborn Of Fire

"They must not merely fear us and think us to be savages who murder without purpose. They must know why their lives are forfeit and why I shall be their executioner. For I am of the Kheïtanni. The fallen. The reborn. The eternal. And I will have my vengeance!"

– Kahil, The Black Hand of Nekhára

The Kheïtanni burn with the grim darkness of a race who have built their entire existence around vengeance – yet also with the bitter nobility of a people who have lost everything they ever held dear. These two vastly different aspects of their character conflict in the hearts of every Kheïtanni warrior. They are driven by the burning need to see ultimate justice done, but will go to such lengths to see their will done that they will spare nothing to meet their ends, not even their own souls.

Their hated kin, the Lánaraï dote upon their connection to their Aëdr forebears and their raiment reveals much of their yearning to regain what greatness they have lost in the many years after the war. The Kheïtanni have no such connection. Despite having suffered such a great loss, there is nothing about them that reminisces or looks back on what they once were. Their eyes are fixed firmly forward, into the future, towards a time when their vengeance is finally sated and not a single Lánaraï remains alive to stain their honour.

There is no mistaking the Kheïtanni, however. Their imposing figures are grotesquely framed by horrifically burned and broken wings – cruelly ruined in their tragic fall. The tremendous heat of atmospheric re-entry and the crushing forces of their being cast down upon the lifeless world of Vónekh VII left almost nothing intact. Now only blackened bones remain in place of once beautiful, white feathers and arched wings.

What remains of their wings is now used as a grisly trophy rack. The severed heads of their most prized kills are displayed proudly, impaled upon their shattered wing bones. Many Kheïtanni warriors create sinister tribal fetishes made from feathers taken from slain foes, as well as other more gruesome body parts. These are used as symbols to mark the prowess of the warrior, each one indicating the number of hated Lánaraï who have fallen to their blades.