Yndrys
Population: 196
Apparent Ethnicity: Yndric (Khanty mixed with Koryak)
Mythos: The Yndric peoples believe in three great spirits, Okhna, father spirit of the sea, Khana, mother spirit of the land, and Awekha, spirit of the sky. The sea murmurs and roars, and the sky blows and storms, but the land itself is silent. Eons ago, the three spirits worked together to create life to fill the earth, land, sea and skies alike. And so, the earth became full with living creatures. Khana, however, received the greatest gift of all, humans, which were incredibly smart and felt great emotions. Awekha, jealous of this creation, stole the voice from Khana and gave it to all the creatures of the land, and gave the best of the voice to humans. Awekha, in greater jealousy, taught humans to till the earth, to kill other animals and to chop down trees, but even so, they still praised Khana as she continued to bring forth prosperity and life to them. She taught them to kill animals of the sea to then use the prosperity of Okhna for their selfish desires, but they then praised the sea for it's prosperity. Having enough, she then taught the humans to kill each other. The humans, then, rejected the voice of Awekha, rejecting her gift of enmity, and instead using the gift of voice and song to praise the land and the sea.
Culture: Because song and voice is so pivotal to the Yndryssians, they conduct every manner of ceremony with song. (Most of their culture is seen through their power structure)
Power Structure:I. The FamilyThe family unit is an important part of Yndryssian culture. A family consists of individuals, or
Kamek, who are led by a family head, or
Kamek-li, who is the first available successor in a larger family unit, starting first with the male heirs in the nuclear family, then the female, then to the male first cousins, then to the female first cousins. If there is no one found in this group, then the title will go to the oldest in the family, regardless of love. The nuclear family and direct descendants of the Kamek-li are the
Pa-kam, and siblings of the Kamek-li and their descendants are the
Pa-kwey. Anyone of the Pa-kam who marry the member of another family's Pa-kam will merge the two families. The newly-merged family will be led by both Kamek-li until the most qualified and senior in order of succession can succeed as the new Kamek-li. Any Pa-kam who marries the member of another family's Pa-kwei will absorb the Pa-kwei and their direct descendants into the Pa-kam's family. Any Pa-kwei that marry another family's Pa-kwei shall form their own family unit, the husband becoming the Kamek-li.
II. The LeadersThe Kamek-li are granted rights above the rest of the Kameks, and form a council, or Ynyshu which helps to guide three political leaders of the Yndryssian people. The first is the Woshu-li, or the leader of the military who has earned the respect of the troops and approval of the Ynyshu. The Yaksha, or the spiritual and cultural leader of the people, serves
for life, selecting their successor prior to their death or removal from office. If they have not selected a successor prior to being removed from office or death, then the Ynyshu choose a new Yashka. The Yashka is more or less the head of state, and leads all ceremonies of note. The third is the economic leader, who is elected from the Ynyshu by the Ynyshu to represent the tribe's economic needs.
III. The DestituteThose who are orphaned, or the Kamek-kyo, are overseen by the Yaksha and the Ynyshu. They are raised independently until the age of ten, where they take part in one or both ceremonies to determine their path of life. In late spring, it's trials of spirits, they practice divination, making of salves and medicines, and ultimately try to enter a shamanic trance, where if they succeed, they may become a priest or assistant to the Yaksha. In the early autumn, the trials of war take place, where the youth may prove their aptitude in hunting and other physical challenges. Those that pass become hunter-soldiers. Those that fail in both areas are seen as a nuisance by society since they have no support except what small charity they might receive from the community.
Leader Name: Yaksha Tiwak te-Koh
Physical Description: An old shaman, age clearly showing on his face, arms and feet—anything not covered by voluminous garments. He has a long beard and a nearly bald head, covered only by sparse, whispy hairs. He walks bent over and with a hobble-y gait, using his staff as support—a stick with a deer skull mounted on its end, feathers and beads adorning it. Only recently, the people have been noticing signs of tremors.
Personality: Most of the kamek see the Yaksha as a kind and charitable old man, but those closer to him know that this is not the only dimension of his personality.
Men-at-arms: 58
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