Post by Harkovast on Jan 20, 2016 21:35:39 GMT
"I will tell you the story of our people, as it was told to me, as it was always told.
In the beginning, The One That Is Above created the great herds of monmul, the most precious of beasts. He gave them to Batatu, the brave and noble King of the Kumaru.
But Shakala, the treacherous and cruel leader of the Foshtor was jealous of this honour and tried to steal the monmul.
When That Which Looks Down saw them struggling and he was angered and cast them both out of his hut and down to Harkovast, where we struggle still.
Now the legacy of Batatu, that ancient duty, falls to you. We must guard the monmul and take back those that the Foshtor have stolen, so that It Above Us will honour our nation."
The Kumaru live in various tribes situated across the Great Savannah, each ruled by chiefs who in turn owe loyalty to the King. The Kumaru monarchy has poorly defined rules of succession, so when a king dies, plotting, assassinations and open combat can often break out to settle which of his relatives or favoured followers will take power.
Kumaru society has a clear gender divide.
Men are the rulers of the society, and within any house hold. They own the huts in which families live and hold all leadership positions. Men are always served before women and eat before them, with women and children eating once they have finished.
Men are expected to be the guards the precious monmul herds as well as steal them from their enemies.
Women are responsible for farming, raising children and brewing beer (which the Kumaru use monmul nectar for flavour and to aid fermentation.)
Since the men are away with their herds most of the time, they can spend long periods away from their women and often take no role in the raising of children.
Once boys reach age twelve, they leave their mothers and the care of the women to go live out with the herds and learn from the men the ways of the warrior.
At social gatherings and celebrations, often conducted when the men return with their herds or from a successful raid against their enemies, the Kumaru will gather in large huts, with warriors sitting on their shields and women on animal hides, drink their beer from ceramic cups on saucers, and tell tales, from their own lives and also their ancient legends, carried on through oral tradition.
The Kumaru are a fiercely competitive people, both with each other, with other tribes and most importantly with their arch rivals, the Foshtor.
Kumaru men compete with each other for who can gather the most cattle or support the most wives or achieve the most daring feat. Sometimes tribes will come into conflict, trying to out do each other or secure monmul from each other, and these rivalries can get so out of hand that chieftains and sometimes even the king may be required to mediate a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile women compete to raise the best children, bring in the largest crop of food and (perhaps most of all) on who can brew the best beer. At social gatherings the warriors reactions to the different brews will be watched very closely by the women in attendance, each looking for a positive reaction that will provide evidence that their work is superior to her rivals.
Kumaru do not have a currency as such, but trade is often conducted with Monmuls, that are the only real measure of wealth they have. They are given as gifts in celebrations, and to honour new leaders, as a payment in order to secure a marriage or to cement alliances, but they are never traded to outsiders.
Foreigners may buy the nectar if there is enough to spare, but monmul are considered property of the Kumaru by divine mandate. They cannot be given away or sold as where ever the Monmul are, they ultimately belong only to the Kumaru. Besides, to the Kumaru mindset, there is very little a foreigner could offer that would be more precious than a monmul!
For this reason, however competitive the Kumaru may get with each other, the worst wrath is always saved for the Foshtor, who are seen as underhanded thieves, constantly trying to steal the Kumaru's herds.
Successfully defending the herds or, even better, liberating animals for Foshtor herds (made up of what the Kumaru consider stolen animals) is the greatest glory any Kumaru can hope for.
Kumaru are physically large and powerful, and their magic is extreme destructive.
Battle yells that can hurl opponents off their feet, or temporarily turning their bodies into virtually invincible steel makes them terrifying opponents. However, becoming steel is tiring and cannot be maintained for long, so a Kumaru warrior must time his attacks carefully, or the swift and agile Foshtor will have the advantage over him.
Kumaru make use of hard wooden clubs, short stabbing spears and large animal hide shields. Though simple, in the hands of a mighty Kumaru they can deliver terrible damage.
Interestingly, the Kumaru and Foshtor share the same religion, both seeking to earn the favour of their often indifferent, enigmatic Sky God, that is known by many names. This being is a creator, but does not respond to direct worship or cries for aid. Only by proving themselves worthy by gathering as many of the monmul as possible can the Kumaru earn this being's favour.
The shamans of the Kumaru do not offer prayers to That Which Looks Down, but instead seek to commune with various unseen spirits, including those of the Kumaru's ancestors, who may act upon their lives for good or ill.
Kumaru take this spiritualism very seriously, believing it can bring blessings and good fortune but also that it can be used to bring harm and sickness if used for evil. Anyone found to be invoking the spirits for such purposes would be considered a witch and risk being driven out of the community.
Even against the hated Foshtor, the use of evil sorcery is an unthinkable crime.
On the Great Savannah, the tribal people do not have a concept of mass warfare, and their battles are small skirmishes, focused more on stealing cattle rather than taking land or causing slaughter.
Most conflicts with the Foshtor are simply bouts of yelling insults between herdsmen and the occasional thrown spear.
Their relations are far more like a feud and rivalry rather than what might be considered a war.
On some special occasions, sacred times of the year when kings and chieftains gather to seek recognition and favour from Him That Is Above, both Foshtor and Kumaru are expected to attend.
Because of the ancient stories of Batatu and Shakala angering the One Who Controls The Sky with their fighting, Foshtor and Kumaru are forbidden to fight or even show hostility at these gatherings.
While they might not be friendly, both sides at least do their best to be civil to each other, presenting gifts (not of monmuls!) and performing rituals together.
If anyone breaks this truce or behaves rudely to the other side, it would be considered a horrifying dishonour and a sure fire sign that Him Who Is Above will not favour that nation over the coming year. Anyone going so far as to fight or spill blood at such a gathering would most likely have to flee for their lives from both sides!
At these gatherings, rivalries are still played out, as both sides will try to out do each other with more impressive dances, by presenting larger herds, laying out bigger feasts, taking part in contests of skill and any other means to one up their rivals.
While their is no official judgment on these gatherings (aside from the silent opinions of It That Is Over Us) but if one side clearly outdoes the other in some matter, there will be great recrimination from the losers and much celebrating by the victors later on.
Kumaru have a relatively relaxed attitude to sexuality. Relations outside of marriage, including those between people of the same sex are viewed as acceptable as long as there is no penetrative intercourse and certainly no pregnancy. To break this taboo carries a great social stigma, especially to the man involved.
Kumaru consider the idea of a half caste to be offensive and are usually hostile to such a person, forcing them to live apart from the community. This may be largely the result of their only normal dealings with foreigners being with their sworn enemies!
In the beginning, The One That Is Above created the great herds of monmul, the most precious of beasts. He gave them to Batatu, the brave and noble King of the Kumaru.
But Shakala, the treacherous and cruel leader of the Foshtor was jealous of this honour and tried to steal the monmul.
When That Which Looks Down saw them struggling and he was angered and cast them both out of his hut and down to Harkovast, where we struggle still.
Now the legacy of Batatu, that ancient duty, falls to you. We must guard the monmul and take back those that the Foshtor have stolen, so that It Above Us will honour our nation."
The Kumaru live in various tribes situated across the Great Savannah, each ruled by chiefs who in turn owe loyalty to the King. The Kumaru monarchy has poorly defined rules of succession, so when a king dies, plotting, assassinations and open combat can often break out to settle which of his relatives or favoured followers will take power.
Kumaru society has a clear gender divide.
Men are the rulers of the society, and within any house hold. They own the huts in which families live and hold all leadership positions. Men are always served before women and eat before them, with women and children eating once they have finished.
Men are expected to be the guards the precious monmul herds as well as steal them from their enemies.
Women are responsible for farming, raising children and brewing beer (which the Kumaru use monmul nectar for flavour and to aid fermentation.)
Since the men are away with their herds most of the time, they can spend long periods away from their women and often take no role in the raising of children.
Once boys reach age twelve, they leave their mothers and the care of the women to go live out with the herds and learn from the men the ways of the warrior.
At social gatherings and celebrations, often conducted when the men return with their herds or from a successful raid against their enemies, the Kumaru will gather in large huts, with warriors sitting on their shields and women on animal hides, drink their beer from ceramic cups on saucers, and tell tales, from their own lives and also their ancient legends, carried on through oral tradition.
The Kumaru are a fiercely competitive people, both with each other, with other tribes and most importantly with their arch rivals, the Foshtor.
Kumaru men compete with each other for who can gather the most cattle or support the most wives or achieve the most daring feat. Sometimes tribes will come into conflict, trying to out do each other or secure monmul from each other, and these rivalries can get so out of hand that chieftains and sometimes even the king may be required to mediate a peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile women compete to raise the best children, bring in the largest crop of food and (perhaps most of all) on who can brew the best beer. At social gatherings the warriors reactions to the different brews will be watched very closely by the women in attendance, each looking for a positive reaction that will provide evidence that their work is superior to her rivals.
Kumaru do not have a currency as such, but trade is often conducted with Monmuls, that are the only real measure of wealth they have. They are given as gifts in celebrations, and to honour new leaders, as a payment in order to secure a marriage or to cement alliances, but they are never traded to outsiders.
Foreigners may buy the nectar if there is enough to spare, but monmul are considered property of the Kumaru by divine mandate. They cannot be given away or sold as where ever the Monmul are, they ultimately belong only to the Kumaru. Besides, to the Kumaru mindset, there is very little a foreigner could offer that would be more precious than a monmul!
For this reason, however competitive the Kumaru may get with each other, the worst wrath is always saved for the Foshtor, who are seen as underhanded thieves, constantly trying to steal the Kumaru's herds.
Successfully defending the herds or, even better, liberating animals for Foshtor herds (made up of what the Kumaru consider stolen animals) is the greatest glory any Kumaru can hope for.
Kumaru are physically large and powerful, and their magic is extreme destructive.
Battle yells that can hurl opponents off their feet, or temporarily turning their bodies into virtually invincible steel makes them terrifying opponents. However, becoming steel is tiring and cannot be maintained for long, so a Kumaru warrior must time his attacks carefully, or the swift and agile Foshtor will have the advantage over him.
Kumaru make use of hard wooden clubs, short stabbing spears and large animal hide shields. Though simple, in the hands of a mighty Kumaru they can deliver terrible damage.
Interestingly, the Kumaru and Foshtor share the same religion, both seeking to earn the favour of their often indifferent, enigmatic Sky God, that is known by many names. This being is a creator, but does not respond to direct worship or cries for aid. Only by proving themselves worthy by gathering as many of the monmul as possible can the Kumaru earn this being's favour.
The shamans of the Kumaru do not offer prayers to That Which Looks Down, but instead seek to commune with various unseen spirits, including those of the Kumaru's ancestors, who may act upon their lives for good or ill.
Kumaru take this spiritualism very seriously, believing it can bring blessings and good fortune but also that it can be used to bring harm and sickness if used for evil. Anyone found to be invoking the spirits for such purposes would be considered a witch and risk being driven out of the community.
Even against the hated Foshtor, the use of evil sorcery is an unthinkable crime.
On the Great Savannah, the tribal people do not have a concept of mass warfare, and their battles are small skirmishes, focused more on stealing cattle rather than taking land or causing slaughter.
Most conflicts with the Foshtor are simply bouts of yelling insults between herdsmen and the occasional thrown spear.
Their relations are far more like a feud and rivalry rather than what might be considered a war.
On some special occasions, sacred times of the year when kings and chieftains gather to seek recognition and favour from Him That Is Above, both Foshtor and Kumaru are expected to attend.
Because of the ancient stories of Batatu and Shakala angering the One Who Controls The Sky with their fighting, Foshtor and Kumaru are forbidden to fight or even show hostility at these gatherings.
While they might not be friendly, both sides at least do their best to be civil to each other, presenting gifts (not of monmuls!) and performing rituals together.
If anyone breaks this truce or behaves rudely to the other side, it would be considered a horrifying dishonour and a sure fire sign that Him Who Is Above will not favour that nation over the coming year. Anyone going so far as to fight or spill blood at such a gathering would most likely have to flee for their lives from both sides!
At these gatherings, rivalries are still played out, as both sides will try to out do each other with more impressive dances, by presenting larger herds, laying out bigger feasts, taking part in contests of skill and any other means to one up their rivals.
While their is no official judgment on these gatherings (aside from the silent opinions of It That Is Over Us) but if one side clearly outdoes the other in some matter, there will be great recrimination from the losers and much celebrating by the victors later on.
Kumaru have a relatively relaxed attitude to sexuality. Relations outside of marriage, including those between people of the same sex are viewed as acceptable as long as there is no penetrative intercourse and certainly no pregnancy. To break this taboo carries a great social stigma, especially to the man involved.
Kumaru consider the idea of a half caste to be offensive and are usually hostile to such a person, forcing them to live apart from the community. This may be largely the result of their only normal dealings with foreigners being with their sworn enemies!
