Tcho-Tcho Culture The Tcho-Tcho are an unusual subset of humans, whose They have almost no sense of pride: a Tcho-Tcho will long separation from others of their race has resulted happily grovel or crawl before a stronger enemy with in a subtly different evolutionary pathway They rarely no hesitation The Tcho-Tcho almost never engage in intermarry with outside folk—human or otherwise— warfare, preferring a longer game When a stronger and not engage in many friendly transactions with group attacks their tribe, they immediately surrender, other cultures (a Tcho-Tcho merchant is rare, for then promptly begin subverting their conquerors, often example) The Tcho-Tcho as a group tend to share some by bribing or extorting the enemy leaders Notably, the physical traits, but most fall within the human range Tcho-Tcho never seek revenge for wrongs committed They tend to be small in stature and heavily pitted with against them They will certainly destroy their enemies, acne scars Almost all Tcho-Tcho file their teeth, which but it is always coldly-calculated, and they are as likely tend to be slightly larger than the norm Their hair, to bring doom to a neighboring tribe who has never skin tone, and other physical features resemble those of harmed them as to their most hated foe the humans they split off from; the most well-known group has black hair and light brown skin not because of Tcho-Tcho raids or attacks, but due to Tcho-Tcho Technology other forms of duress Quite commonly, the Tcho- The Tcho-Tcho are not master metalworkers nor builders Instead, they are highly knowledgeable about the ways of the Mythos, as well as biological and otherworldly science Their leaders are able to produce cancerous growths, deadly plagues, parasites with horrendous abilities, and magical infections This is their true power Tcho-Tcho devices include the assassin's teapot and Tcho-Tcho oculus More innate modifications generally rely on rituals like the acid blood curse or the secret mouth The Tcho-Tcho also know how to manufacture selenine and can even emulate mi-go digestive replacement The difference between Tcho-Tcho and average humans exists largely within the brain and the psyche: fundamentally, Tcho-Tcho not think like other humans It is hard to tell how much of the difference is cultural, and how much is inherent, but there is clearly a difference The Tcho-Tcho are far more ruthlessly cunning and heartless than most sentient beings, and almost never make emotional decisions 192 The neighbors of the Tcho-Tcho hate and fear them Tcho will send an emissary to a neighbor and demand tribute—often in the form of nubile youths and maidens Failure to obey results in dreadful retribution in the form of manufactured diseases and other such scourges Tcho-Tcho disease vectors are not restricted to sentient beings If the Tcho-Tcho want to destroy an elf forest, for example, they blight the trees themselves and leave the region a wasteland If rival groups take over Tcho-Tcho grazing lands, their cattle or goats often end up with hideous growths, start giving poisoned milk, or suffer from other horrific ailments Because the Tcho-Tcho never engage in open warfare, most of their weapons are designed for assassination, extortion, and ambushes rather than open battle To the Tcho-Tcho, a blowgun that fires a deadly spider is more useful than a two-handed axe Almost all of the Tcho-Tcho weapons are envenomed in some way They favor poison, disease, and sleep drugs, but they also use hallucinogens, mind-control drugs, and magic potions