Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros breathed through his nose and smiled at the reminder of Ahnasha's aptitude with magic in comparison to his. The question of agility was interesting though, Fendros could run fairly fast and had good balance and coordination, but he was no acrobat.

"I would say so, why?" Fendros asked, a little unsure.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros looked up in thought. It seems that Ahnasha was more suited to this lifestyle from the beginning, he mused. "I think I was judged for different reasons," Fendros answered, "but I was just beginning to find my own place in that society until I ended up here. It was something of a comfort, to be at peace with fate." Fendros' mind whirred considering the differences that they had, "this... this is really just another society I think. I have to accept my fate all over again. It sounds like it was easier for you."

Trying to keep the tone more upbeat in his mind, Fendros opted to try and find common ground in discussion, "So, when did you first start hunting? My father taught me, I didn't catch so much as a rabbit until my third trip, but I persisted. Eventually it became one of my favourite pastimes."

The Gods are Crazy

So... yeah... Bear people:



Country Name: Uraka Federation

Government type: Stratocratic Ecclesiocracy

Ruler: The Great Spirit Khivas Geslichia ji'Khivon Vidfara ('Great Spirit Khivas' suffices otherwise)

Location: Westernmost area of region 6 bordering the lake of region 5, to the hilled pass of the lake's eastern river.

From north to south, the cities are: Hannaurd-Ren, Caruk-Ren, Sarid-Ren, and Ptyer-Ren

Capital City: Sarid-Ren, the current seat of government.

Language: Uraks-Yek, though New Ordovin is becoming more prevalent.

Species: Khari, Human, and traces of other races.

Army: Roughly 8% standing army.
The Uraka army is well geared toward fighting cavalry raiders from the east, employing disciplined shieldwalls and polearms to great effect. An Uraka general also has a variety of other weapons available for his men to use to adapt to other situations when the need arises.

History:

History

Beginnings
The central continental kharis that resided in the labyrinth of the central mountain ranges are not clear on their origins from the ice age, only varied and fantastical interpretations of what is commonly referred to as an 'awakening' was ever passed down as history from that era. What is known is that for a long period of time, they were content to reside in the mountains, isolated from most humans. That was, until groups of pioneering Kharis founded settlements that were meant to claim prime fishing points on the lakeside, but ended up discovering and facilitating sustainance through agriculture. This caused a boom in sustainability of higher populations that saw more and more kharis migrate from the mountains and settle arable land. This period in history had all but no records, but for a nursery rhyme that names one "Jikna Clever Jikna" as the first Kharis to have been recorded practicing agriculture.

The Uraka federation started out as a number of khari tribes that had spread out from their mountainous homes to settle the central lowlands and the edges of Desnt-Nyric (The name of the great lake, lit. "Eye-Waterbody"). The tribes had scuffles between them in regard to territory or various other disputes, but an orally carried set of laws and other guiding principles by each tribe's chief kept relations between tribes cordial at worst... most of the time. Relationships with human tribes were almost always negative, save for druids of the 'old way', who influenced a curious race into its first mostly-standardised religious practices.

The Uraka Order
This religious spread eventually reached a particularly powerful tribe known as the Raka. The Raka saw their own interpretation in the druids' teachings that inspired the chief of the tribe, Dirfvas ji'Dirlah Raka, to form his own devoted order of monks to 'The Horned One' and 'The Fluid One'. This would become the Uraka Order. He proclaimed himself as the first Great Spirit, and would take his elite warriors far and wide amongst the khari tribes to spread a new communal philosophy, where the survival and prosperity of the kharis would be guided by a universal mutual agenda of safety and progress among all other objectives in order to defend the nature of their land and of their people, where every kharis had a role to play.

Life went on, and in the space of a few decades, the Uraka Order would erect small walled monasteries where communities would be administrated by a hierarchy that was based mostly on merit and dedication to Uraka principles, and was structured similarly to military rank. These monasteries would lead dedicated training to various skills and vocations, not least of which was the levy, of which every able-bodied Uraka khari was obliged to be prepared for at any time. The organisation and efficiency of these monasteries evolved over the years until they became notorious as miniature fortresses filled with disciplined soldiers and meticulous records. The tribes that had decided to remain outside of the Uraka Order were not persecuted, but lived out of reach of the order’s protection. These monasteries had always been independent of each other, apart from having great respect for the current Great Spirit and his or her retinue.

Federation
Before long, the Kharis had successfully established a number of independent city-states bound by the principles of the Uraka Order, each one protecting and controlling various hamlets surrounding them. These city-states were self-governed, like the monasteries. The Great Spirit remained only a spiritual leader. Progress would continue until incursions from human, goblinoid, and other warlords intensified to the point where many khari holdings in the fringes of kharis’ reach were completely annihilated, save for the holdings surrounded by the four city-states that had adopted the Uraka Order; Hannaurd-Ren, Caruk-Ren, Sarid-Ren, and Ptyer-Ren. While each of these states was holding their ground valiantly, they knew it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. The Great Spirit at the time, Hanuts ji'Dutreim Targui, led a surge of support for a mutual defence pact between all four of the city states, uniting a grand army from them, and driving the invaders out. Eventually, this army was set to reinforcing and consolidating the holdings that they could defend. Tribes that had survived joined the order, and a spiritual unity came to the land. During the rebuilding effort, the city states became so used to the centralised applied authority of the Great Spirit, that more negotiation was carried out until a written treaty of federation was signed by the High Spirits of each of the city-states, as well as the Great Spirit.

At the signing of the treaty, each city's High Spirit was presented an identical, well-made steel glaive as their badge of office. These glaives feature on the Uraka banner, below the golden rose native to the lakeside. Continuing the tradition of the founding warrior monks, the High Spirits train with these glaives every day until such time as they are incapable of leading.

Since the establishment of the federation, the Uraka lands have become the unmoving pivot point of invasions from the east or the west. Reigns of progressive and radical Great Spirits had the Federation prosper further by taking in non-khari refugees from other lands upon the understanding that they would answer to the Uraka Order and make themselves useful. They had also opened up trade missions to neighboring kingdoms offering iron and steel goods, food, various crafts, and goat stock as main exports, and exploiting their waterway routes as middlemen between the western deltas and the eastern lowlands. The Uraka Order itself represents the governmental and military hierarchy in one. Different aspects of the hierarchy operate virtually independent from each other under the Uraka principles and law, but may join forces at the order of their common superior. Eventually, non-kharis were even allowed to join the Uraka Order officially, rather than just functioning as helpers. Kharis still make up most of the ruling elite, but heavy influx of refugees has rendered them a minority behind humans. There is still great debate throughout the entire Federation about whether khari influence is under threat in their own lands, but such a debate has been rife with misinformation.

Uraka Federation Power Structure:

Most of the time, issues are relayed up the chain of command of the Uraks order, but pressing issues may be petitioned to higher ranks if someone does not have confidence in their direct superior to solve the problem. Much of the politics and corruption is weeded out through the ranks of the order through its guiding principles, but the kharis about as fallible as humans are. Culturally, the kharis are able to reduce these failings as their sense of personal advancement is deemed less important than the advancement of the group.

Common rankings

Great Spirit
Currently: Khivas ji'Khivon Vidfara
Highest authority, has a retinue of honour guard and advisors. The Great Spirit is chosen from all cubs of the Uraka Order presented to the council when they are under the age of four. These choosing ceremonies happen during solstice festivals, where the reigning Great Spirit does not have an existing successor from a previous festival. During the ceremony, the Horned One and the Fluid One guide the minds of the council and the reigning Great Spirit in order to choose the next Great Spirit from among the children. A child is chosen and is then raised amongst the highest of the Uraka order, trained, groomed for military command, and eventually educated for being the head of the Federation. This child is also mentored by the existing Great Spirit and may sit in absolute silence as one of the few witnesses of council meetings. If a successor to the current Great Spirit has not been chosen before the Great Spirit dies, a wooden effigy of the Great Spirit sits in on council meetings until the next choosing ceremony. There have been tales of the effigy coming to life in council meetings to reign until the next solstice, but with so few witnesses in meetings, and the members being sworn to secrecy about all discussions, such tales are merely myths. The myths are likely propogated by early practices of not publicly announcing the Great Spirit's death until solstices, such events often become too difficult to hide nowadays.

Federal Council (Honoured Spirits)
Currently:
- Commerce - Jhiro ji'Unro Finistic
- Agriculture - Harmon ji'Barmic Fegdnaro
- Druidism - Kedgi je'Kedla Sarlam
- Military - Winleo ji'Wasfor Monyad
- Espionage - Siirnde je'Siirfi Quarl
- Administration - Safous ji'Vitfous Denstdouk
- Engineering - Thir ji'Fircas Talnaro
The Great Spirit governs with a hand picked council of Honoured Spirits; experienced kharis from the fields of Commerce, Agriculture, Druidism, Military, Espionage, Admisitration and Engineering respectively. Each council member has his own responsibilities and powers, the greatest of which being able to supercede decisions of the Great Spirit if they vote in majority to do so. The High Spirits respect the power and role of the council members, but may petition the Great Spirit and the rest of the council if they feel that their own duties are being undermined by a council member. Each Honoured Spirit must have served in the Uraka standing army for ten years, with the exception being for the seat of military, which requires fiveteen years of standing army experience. Each council member is also expected to be able to lead a requisite number of soldiers where required. Where a council member is no longer able to fulfil his or her duties, they are duty-bound to step down and demote themselves, but can be forced to resign if all other members of the council vote to do so.

High Spirits
Currently:
- Sarid-Ren - Tarig ji'Derig Harthod
- Hannaurd-Ren - Havia je'Sevia Argot
- Caruk-Ren - Diarous ji'Safous Denstdouk
- Ptyer-Ren - Derog ji'Ferod Saras
Each of the four city states are run by a High Spirit, who reign with their own council similar to the Great Spirit's federal Honoured Spirits, but have more involved administrative roles within the city according to their disciplines. High Spirits are promoted through the order hierarchy and ascend to their posting as the last High Spirit steps down. All High Spirits have great command experience in the standing army.

Dakt-Khari (Master Person)
The Dakt-Kharis are managers of several thousand people within the order, making sure that their jurisdiction functions to better the realm and serve the High Spirits above his or her rank. They are expected to lead the levies of their jurisdiction in times of war. They are also responsible for the representation and wellbeing of their Kiks-Khari and other people in their service. Comparable to a count.

Kiks-Khari (Clerk Person)
Kiks-Kharis are the rank down from Dakt-Khari. They share all of the Dakt-Kharis’ responsibilities, except only to their jurisdiction, which numbers about one thousand people at the most. Comparable to a mayor.

Ret-Khari (Head Person)
Similar to a Kiks-Khari, but a rank below again. They are in charge of a few hundred people at the most, and are often elite warriors, or just particularly skilled and experienced people. They are also expected to lead their levy in war, under the command of their Kiks-Khari. The Ret-Kharis and their jurisdiction are often specialised to run a particular function of a city state, whether it be smithing, fishing, farming, etc. They are also responsible for representing the people below them and their wellbeing.

Tyinu-Khari (Work Person)
This rank encompasses both serfs and the core military forces within the order. Depending on their Ret-Khari, they may be assigned to any number of tasks and responsibilities. They are not expected to command, but are expected to be part of the levy if they are able bodied. Tyinu-Khari also make up non-officers in the Uraka’s standing army.

Tyuntar (Helper)
Not officially a member of the order, but assists with the tasks of the Tyinu-Kharis. Most of them are resettled refugees and other migrants. Unlike the Tyinu-Kharis, the Tyuntaris are not expected to uphold the principles of the Uraka Order, but they forego many of the rights and privileges of the members of the order. Tyuntaris under the jurisdiction of less compassionate and undisciplined Ret-Khari are sometimes treated like slaves behind the backs of their betters. Each Tyuntar, as part of agreeing to live amongst the Uraka order, also are required to be among the levy in times of war if they are able. Unlike the Tyinu-Kharis, who are often trained especially to serve under their Ret-Khari, the Tyuntar are often transferred to where more hands are needed for certain tasks.

Religion:
The Urakais follow a divergent interpretation of the old way that is in many ways an amalgamation of the human old way and forgotten shamanistic beliefs of ancient tribal kharis before them. The Uraka government is made up of a monastic order dedicated to 'the Horned One' and 'the Fluid One', this is known as the Uraka Order. This interpretation encompasses the kharis (and other races in the order) within the concept of nature, and sees a mutual responsibility of all in the order to defend and honour it beyond their personal agenda and self-preservation. The ultimate goal of such practice is to attain purity through balance of mind and discipline, and ascend to amongst their ancestors, or else be cursed to an existence of suffering for a lifetime amongst their remaining impurity before being reincarnated to start over. The Uraka order recognises the human 'Horned Protectors' and 'the Sisterhood of Water and Wind' as separate orders that are ultimately supporting the same ends, but with more emphasis on protecting nature outside of civilisation. Relationships with said orders vary.

Population: Roughly 1,200,000. 40% Kharis, 58% Humans, 2% other races.

Species Form

Kharis

Name: Kharis

Physical Features:
The kharis are a ursine race, resembling brown bears in particular, with many bodily proportions resembling humans and an upright gait and intelligence to match them. They are native to the mountains between the great lake and the lowlands, living in tribal groups if not in the Uraka Federation, and are occasionally seen elsewhere in the central parts of the continent as well. They have inherited a keen sense of smell and their front grasping paws have claws that they often keep groomed and trimmed back for convenience. Their diet and longevity is similar to humans, but they tend not to eat meat and fish in as great proportions outside of a feast. While culturally the public image of the kharis is of renowned fighters, they hold very little base racial advantage over humans in terms of might or martial prowess. A khari that lives a sedentary life with little physical labour may not necessarily beat an equivalent human in an arm wrestle, for example. Where the kharis do have an advantage is the strength of their immune system, a product of their previous livelihoods as scavengers and foragers of the mountains.

Each khari traditionally have a first name, a middle name which is rarely used except on official business, the name of their gender-matched parent prefixed by ji' for sons and je' for daughters, and a family name.

Picture:

The Gods are Crazy

Hmm... I'll consider it then.

The Gods are Crazy

sharply_inhales_through_teeth.jpg

I've already got a textbook I should be reading, I think trying to tackle the PoW lore is going to burn my eyes out.

The Gods are Crazy

So, a couple of little birdies fluttered up to my windowsill a while ago and let me know that you folks had reared your beautiful heads and charged in from MCF. I thought I'd have a look at the mischief you have gotten up to so far and, against my better judgement, I ended up writing up an nation sheet for this gig. I'll give it a proofread tomorrow, when I can responsibly decide whether I'm not insane for committing to this, but in the meantime, is the area below still free?



Additionally, is someone going to rage if I have bear people who aren't really better than humans?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sorry, I was a bit occupied yesterday. Couldn't post.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Smiling at the amusing mental image that Ahnasha placed in Fendros' mind, he followed her out towards Cheydinhal. "I don't think I would like to continue the habit of pilfering drinks from the winery. Beforehand it was just my brother and I putting aside discards, or entering a lower number in the ledger here and there," Fendros said, "I would also like to keep away from the winery, in general, as much as I can."

The two kept a fairly consistent pace through the woods. Brisk, but not hurried. It wasn't long before they reached parts of the woods where Fendros began to find his surroundings familiar. "Did you have any brothers or sisters, Ahnasha? Before you were turned, I mean." Fendros asked to make conversation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It's alright, I'll write in a macguffin wine that can get an Argonian tipsy.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Without a sound, Sabine scurried off back to the encampment. Fendros nodded and followed the others out to dry himself. By the time he redressed, Sabine returned with a scroll of parchment, a quill, a board of wood for writing against, and a small bottle that held ink. Sabine handed the materials to Fendros and went back to where she was sitting beforehand. "Thank you, Sab-... Runt" Fendros said as she walked, the only reaction she seemed to have was to pause for a moment at Fendros' apparent indecision at her name, but she just as quickly resumed her hunched stride.

"Do you know what you're going to write?" Ahansha asked.

Fendros cocked his head to the side, biting the inside of his cheek, "I have an idea of what to write, yes." Despite his own words, when Fendros sat down and leaned his back against a tree, he had to sit for a while longer than he had hoped, composing the words together. After a few minutes, he began scratching the ink onto the page.

Dear brother Monderyn,

If you are reading this, then efforts to try and find me have resulted, or will result, in finding my remains in the great forest. While it may give comfort to mother, father and Llarasa to know that my fate is known, you are likely to believe as well as I that those remains do not belong to me. I know that you are probably confused, maybe even angry, but you mustn't show this letter to anyone else. Herein, I am sharing with you the truth for your own safety, rather than have you come after me in denial of a staged death.

Do you remember about seven years ago, when we found that dusty tome on father's bookshelf? Within, it had a lot of words we couldn't read, but it had descriptions of Daedric princes. It had them all, from that strange one that had crab arms attached to a blob, to the little one with the horns and a pet dog. There was one that had a great antlered beast's head and carried a spear, its name was Hircine, lord of the hunt.

As you know, I left to go hunting after I had another argument with father. I had had only intended to stay in the woods for one night, but I wandered until the late afternoon of the second day. That afternoon, I was attacked by a beast I had never seen the likes of before; a great wolf with huge claws, faster than a mountain cat. It killed Josey,-

"Who's Josey?" Fendros was so startled by the voice behind him that he nearly put a line of ink across the entire page. Janius was looking over his shoulder at the letter. "Lay off!" Fendros said, waving his hand as if warding off a fly, "Josey was my horse, now please leave me alone. This is private, ok?" Janius put both hands up and walked off, "okay, okay, just wondering."

-but I killed it before it could finish me off. In the process, I was infected by an illness that turned me into one of them. I have since found out that it is likely that the event had been premeditated by Hircine himself. For what reason, I know not. I only know that this illness has cursed me to be the host of a savage and dangerous beast that would kill anyone to sate its hunger, if I do not control it. This is the reason I cannot come home, I have become a danger not only to the family, but anyone living nearby, as well as myself.

If it were up to me, I would never think to abandon you, Llarasa, or even mother and father, but this decision was not mine. Know that for now I am well, and I am going to put in as much effort as I can to finding out why Hircine has transformed me into this monster, and if possible, find a way to release myself from this curse. Under no circumstances should you try to come and find me, or let anyone else know about this letter. To do so would be to put yourself and others in mortal danger.

You must now become the heir to the family. Father may wail on about how you are not of Avarul blood, but his wailings are of days long passed. You are my brother in blood as much as any family member, and I believe that you are as capable as I, if not more so. I hope that the circumstances that we may be reunited upon are among our ancestors.

A pale finger came into Fendros' view, pointing to the sentence that he just wrote. Fendros, already feeling sensitive at the difficulty of writing the words down, was about to explode, infuriated that he wasn't been given the space he needed. He beheld Sabine standing over his shoulder, looking at his letter. "You will not meet him there, you will join Hircine in his hunting grounds." Sabine's words were quiet, but deadly serious. Fendros, a sense of reason coming over him again, changed his expression from fuming to one of dread. "What did you say?" Fendros muttered. Sabine looked at Fendros directly, her blank face communicated that she knew he heard every word. "What do you mean?" Fendros said, "Runt?! What are you talking about?!" Sabine turned and walked off. Fendros looked back down at his page, processing the information. Sabine's eyes didn't lie, as always. Reluctantly, Fendros struck through the sentence about Monderyn and he reuniting in the afterlife and pinched the bridge of his nose, scrunching his eyes shut to hold back tears. The more I look back to home, Fendros thought, it seems that I see more of it that Hircine has taken from me.

He sat for another minute to compose himself, before sniffing and opening his sore eyes. Fendros' hand was now shaking, he wiped away another tear forming at the corner of his eye and took a deep breath. Once he had slowly finished exhaling, he continued writing the final passage, continuing from the lined-out sentence.

We are unlikely to meet again, in this world and the next. I wish you a long and prosperous life.

Goodbye,
Fendros

Fendros wiped the quill clean and read over what he had written. It all seemed in order to him. He had no doubt that the other pack members would know most of the letter's content, but he would not show it to them. Once the ink dried, Fendros went to his belongings and equipped his sword and shield, his skinning knife, his quiver of arrows, and his bow. He didn't know what would be out in the forest to surprise them, but he didn't want to have to resort to transforming this time. Out of his quiver, he took out a single arrow, one recognizable as one his brother had fletched for him, and rolled the letter around it to prove its authenticity. With his eyes still red around the edges, Fendros found Ahnasha. "I'm ready, let's go."