makiar
Makiar
clansmen
Pronounced: Mac-ear

'Strong of sword, swift of hand,  life to unlife know; live by the sword, die by the sword.'
    - Makiarian saying.
 

Race
Human.

Clans
        Elkenvale
        Old Owl
        Eagle
        Ragnasti
        Brown Bear
        White Horse
        Black Hawk
        Wolf
        Grey Fox
        Red Fox
        Hummingbird
        Osgosi

They're known for their skilled cooks.
They're known for wearing powerful invisible tattoos.

Tribes
        Kothmere, whose cheif is __ of the __ clan -
            Ragnasti
            White Horse

        Norando, whose cheif is __ of the __ clan -
            Brown Bear
            Onager
            Black Hawk
 

        Erion, whose cheif is __ of the __ clan -
            Elkenvale
            Eagle
            Grey Fox
            White Wolf
 

        Still independant of a tribe -
            Hummingbird
            Red Fox

General
    The country of Makiar lyes east of the Kingdom of Tarse, with whose relationship is a tangled one.  Because Makiar is so divided by Tribes and further still by clans, if a clan raids into Tarse or its lands it can not be seen to be representing its entire country, hence being an act of war on the whole.

    Three seperate Kings rule Makiar, heads of the three tribes, elected by vote of the Clan Cheifs within the tribe.  Clans and tribes often feud with each other, many becoming blood sworn enemies, but those within a tribe, and hence the benefits of being within one, support each other both with trade, support in raids and early warnings of raids against them if enemies are spotted.

    Disputes between clans within a tribe are either taken before the King to be resolved by his judgement alone (be that clear or impaired), or a moot may be called of all the clan cheifs to judge the dispute, the majority opinnion winning.

    Whilst calling a moot is more expensive its end course may be more easily altered by bribing clan cheifs to change their judgement with cattle, horses, trade goods or even calling on old favours owed.
 

Clans
    Black Hawk
        The Cheif of the Black Hawk clan is ___, patron to the god Elongi.
        The Black Hawk people are often aloft, observing before acting.  They are thoughtful and their wildland hunters are the most renowed in the lands, and yeild great stock from the forests from their tula, also sevring as a stealthful guard of tula along-side the Sword-thanes.

    The Black Hawk tula is near the coast, their border brushing across it, and they are one of the few Makiar people to take to water in boat crafts.

        They're know for dancing in every thunderstorm.
 

    Brown Bear
        The Cheif of the Brown Bear clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        They're know for their large cattle herds.
 

    Eagle
        The Cheif of the Eagle clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        They're known for making Clearwine.
 

    Elkenvale
        The Cheif of the Hummingbird clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        The Elkenvale are very strong of sword-arm, and are a renowed war-power, but they have lost some of their humility and are arrogantly proud of it.  They have many faimlys of the oldest linage of nobility within the country.
        They're know for their collection of ancient texts.
 

    Grey Fox
        The Cheif of the Grey Fox clan is Argan Argar, patron to the god ___.
        They're known for careful planning
 

    Hummingbird
        The Cheif of the Hummingbird clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        A fey and unusal clan, well know for its scouts and the swiftness of its people and messages.  They are more a peace loving clan, but are far from pacificsts and in times of war their speed and agility often more then makes up for their slightly lacking strength of arm.

    They strive to remain neutral to the point of near fault, loosing many of the advantages of joining a tribe and such.
    They're known for their vineyard, and a holy site devoted to <Ernalda> and <Flamal>.
 

    Old Owl
        The Cheif of the Old Owl clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        They're known for their fine apples.
 

    Osgosi
     The Cheif of the Osgosi clan is ___, patron to the god __.
        They're known for their hunting prowess and the fiercness of their warriors.
 

    Red Fox
        The Cheif of the Red Fox clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        Their banner is a black silhoutte of a dancing fox on a field of blood red.

        The Red Foxes possess the secrets, or more so a order of craftsment known as Illuminators, of fireworks.  These secrets is coveted, and an Illuminator of the order may never share any such secrets to those outside of the order under penalty of death.
        The Red Fox clan have got extremely wealthy off of this, thier skill with 'sparks' often being in great demand among the clans, and also from charging extravagantly.

        They're known for their unrelenting hatred of the Kingdom of Tarse, and their order of Illuminators (who hold the secret of fireworks).
 

    White Wolf
        The Cheif of the White Wolf clan is Thormur Rane, patron to the god Odyla.
        Their banner is a completely white wolf head outlined in black on a field of dark red.

        Their armor is mainly black dyed leather, often studded or linked with chain, with a white wolf pelt worn across the shoulders both in decoration and as a means of warmth, for the White Wolf's tula is the northen most of the country of Makiar.
        They favour as a weapon of choice the great hammers of war, used by both infantry and cavalry, and held on a belt loop (like an axe) when not in use, though they still keeps swords or large hunting knifes of some sort.  Lances, spears, pikes and such are secondary weapons to them, but still used.
        Archers are of course still used, and cunningly so, by the White Wolf clan, though this role is filled by those that are usally the hunters of the clan, skilled both in archery and woodcrafts.
        Horses are often reserved for nobles and Wolf-thanes.  The barding of horses when used in battle is dark red, matching their banner, often with a metal spike adorning the centre of the horses head like a horn.

        They're known for their worship of a dead river goddess.
 

    White Horse
        The Cheif of the White Horse clan is ___, patron to the god ___.
        They're known for their large pig herds.
 

Metallurgy
Although gold, silver, iron and other such minerals have been found and the secrets of smithing then long know, bronze is still a highly common metal, often still used for the blades of axes and swords, and is still respected as a metal whereas other nations now see it as a lesser metal, used by those with little coin or desperate need.

Pantheon of Gods
The Makiarian people are very pious in their belief and worship of their gods.  Their patron's god symbol/sigil is tatto'd onto their bodys when the come of age, showing it to the world with pride, but also stating they follow the code of honour and ways of that god.

Nagashgar  - Lord of the Gods.

Elongi - Master/Lord of the Sea.

Kalonth - Lord of the Halls of the Dead.

Ancestors

    Makiarian's hold great stock and respect in their ancestors.  One is not only judged by one's actions, but also by the actions of their fore-fathers.  If a father dies before taking revenge on his enemy, it is up to the son to honour his fathers memory and faimly name and take that enemy now as his own.  Faimly and clan feuds are pasted down the generations unless some end is made whether by peace or submission.

Customs/Festivals
    Kite Festival - The sheperds of a clan are invited to participate in a fighting kite festival.  They stamp the borders between the clan in a way that expresse's Nagashgar's battling, stormy nature though friendly competition.  The festival takes place over several days.

    The competitors use sharp edges on their kites to try and cut of the strings of the other kiters.  The clan that wins the most matches is thought to have the favour of Nagashgar.  This tradition also shows that they respect each others borders, and pays tribute to Nagahgar's competitive nature without shedding blood.

    If a clan throws an elaborate feast for other clans, it is a way for them to seem generous and may improve their standing amoung the other clans.

    The kites can be any design, from diamond to the shape of out-stretched wings, to anything else that can be thought up and crafted.  The kites are often elaborately painted also, either with clan sigils, fearsome monsters faces or just bright colours.

    Fire Walk Ritual - A ritual in devotion to Nagashgar,  it is performed on Mid-summers night, when the people mark themselves in war paint and <Twirling fire sticks (batons. bat-tons) will dancing around a bon fire>.

Dreams
    Makiarian's also hold great stock in dreams.  They believe it is their spirits are free from the limits of their mortals sights and can things then can not see in waking life, like omens of the future or advice and warnings of ancestors of the past.

    Also if a certain animal is seen in a potent sense, as the image of it is strong when first waking, this also holds omens.  The animal can either represent its common characteristics, or the clan that claims the animal as it clan spirit.

    Some are:
Alligator
Aggression, survival, adaptability

 Ant
Group minded, perseverance, step by step. The ant represents self discipline and a group effort. Teamwork.

Bat
Guardian of the night, cleaner

Bear
Power, mother cunning, healer, gentle strength, dreaming. In the Makiarian tradition, the bear symbolizes the direction West.

Bear Paw
Power, direction, connection to creator

Beaver
Builder, gatherer

Butterfly
Metamorphosis, carefree, transformer

Cougar
Leadership, courage, power, swiftness and balance.

Cow
Sacredness, life builder. The buffalo provides all good things for living, and bestows great curing powers.

Coyote
Prankster, insight, playful. The coyote symbolizes duality and the ability to present both sides of an issue. Clowning and humor, perhaps sarcastic.

Crane
Solitude, independence

Deer
Love, gentleness, kindness, gracefulness and sensitivity. Deer carries the message of purity of purpose, and of walking in the light.

Dolphin
Kindness, play, bridge man to ocean. Dolphin brings us teachings from the water. Breath control and the awareness of tone is also Dolphin power.

Dragonfly
Flighty, carefree. Dragonflies symbolize whirlwind, swiftness and activity. The dragonfly is an important insect in Makiarian legend, where they are shamanistic creatures with supernatural power

Eagle
Divine spirit, chief of all the creatures in the air, the primary servant of the sun. Powerful in battle, the eagle protects the people from evil. Eagle medicine attributes include clear vision and soaring spirit. The eagle is associated with success, prosperity and wealth. In the Makiarian Tradition, the Eagle symbolizes the direction Up.

Elk
Strength, agility, freedom, power and nobility.

Fox
Cunning, provider, intelligence. Fox represents twilight and feminine magic.

Frog
Connection with water element

Grizzly Bear
Mother, nature's pharmacist

Hawk
Messenger of the sky, observer

Horse
Stamina, mobility, strength and power. The horse has always been with the Makiarian people for as far back as they came remember. Shamans are often pictured flying on mythical horses. Horses can symbolize coping under difficult circumstances. Horse is love and devotion, loyalty.

Hummingbird
Messenger, stopper of time. Hummingbird represents optimism and sweetness. Being able to roll with the punches is an attribute of Hummingbird.

Lizard
Conservation, agility. Lizard promotes dreaming.

Moose
Headstrong, unstoppable longevity. Moose represents value and integrity.

Otter
Laughter, curiosity, mischievous. Otter is a feminine power, and the symbol of grace and empathy.

Owl
Wisdom, truth, patience. The Makiarians believe that Owl carries the souls of the recently deceased, a death messenger. Owl is the totem of clairvoyants and mystics.

Rabbit
Alertness, nurturing

Raven
Trickster, teacher, hoarder. To Pacific Northwest Coast tribes, Raven represented the shaman's powers and a belief in transformation between human and animal spirits. Raven symbolizes change in conciousness and is the mark of a shape shifter.

Salmon
Instinct, persistence, determination

Seahorse
Confidence, grace

Shark
Hunter, survival, adaptability

Snake
Shrewdness, transformation. Life, death and rebirth are represented by the shedding of skin. Among the Makiarians snakes and lightning are equated with rain and fertility.

Spider
Creative, pattern of life. Spider connects the past with the future, creating possibilities. Spider-woman is a major Makiarian goddess.

Swan
Grace, balance, innocence

Turtle
Self contained, creative source. Turtle represents Mother Earth. Informed decisions, planning and adaptability are attributes of Turtle.

Wolf
Loyalty, success, perseverance, stability and thought. Wolves are also regarded as pathfinders and teachers. Wolf is represented by the constellation Alrius. In the Makiar tradition the Wolf symbolizes the direction East.

Wolf Print
Tracking, movement