The Bāribai - "boar people"
Bāri - A type of wild boar native to the home islands. Known for its black stripes and its aggressive nature, it is the most dominant predator on the islands.
Bai - People
Papu-papua'a - Bāribai cultural religious system which consists of idol worship, cannibalism/power absorption, and warrior mentality.
The Bāribai people worship a large quantity of god-like spirits as well as physical objects around them in nature, both called Ta'argi (both plural and singular). Each Ta'argi is master of itself. For example, the Sea is a Ta'argi for all oceans and seas while the Fish is a Ta'argi for all fish. People generally show Ta'argi respect as to prevent their negative effects on their lives (for example, angering the Tree Ta'argi may cause a tree to fall on your home, while angering the Storm Ta'argi may cause a large storm to hit). Physical objects (animals, the weather, etc) as well as ideas (war, intellegence, etc) each have a Ta'argi. Ta'argi are nearly infinite in quantity. Kedi-kedi are used to pay homage to Ta'argi.
The Bāribai people believe they are able to absorb the power of any creature or man by eating it. This is so key to Bāribai culture that it is the massive portion of their creation story and the reason they are named the Bāribai. [Long ago, a people travelled a great distance across the sea and landed on some islands where they encountered the Bāri. Life was hard on the islands and the humans floundered while the Bāri continued to flourish. One day, a man, Ikut, in order to feed his starving family, began to hunt the Bāri, which was previously unheard of. Suddenly, Ikut and his family began to thrive. Ikut and his offspring were stronger, his wife able to birth more children, his elders lived longer, and the family's males became great warriors. This was attributed to the introduction of the soul of the Bāri to each of their own souls. As many other families died off, more people turned to hunting Bāri, and they too became like Ikut and his family. Those who survived from the soul of the Bāri went on to be the Bāribai. In respect to the creature that ensured their survival, men bear black stripes and patterns (Pitu) all over their bodies, which resemble those of the Bāri.] Specific body parts of a man or animal can be eaten to acquire their abilities (for example, a leg would be eaten for speed, an arm for strength, the loins for fertility, the heart for the soul, etc). It is not uncommon for a warrior to eat a worthy foe to gain his strength. The Bāribai will never eat a man for nourishment.
The Bāribai people are fierce warriors. It is believed the natural warrior instinct is from the Bāri. Bāribai warriors are known for their intimidation, both deliberate and unintentional. Every warrior, like all the other males, is covered with black stripes called Pitu, which has been incorrectly viewed as warrior markings by foreigners. A warrior's tendency to eat worthy foes to gain their strength is seen the same way, but it is actually an important part of the Bāribai culture. The kedi-kedi made before battle, however, is used to intimidate an enemy, but it is also used to prepare warriors psychologically as well as for non-military uses. Bāribai warriors use obsidian knives, swords, spears and arrows. Bāribai warriors are known to try and finish off entire groups of enemies, as to prevent them from attempting to wreak vengeance against them. All males are trained in basic combat at a fairly young age.
Ta'argi - An idol.
Pitu - Black markings covering males. They are given to youths between the ages of 8 and 12 in special ceremonies. They are homage to the Bāri.
Kedi-kedi - A dance used in worship/prayer, communication, paying homage, heraldry, and combat preparedness. Involves stomping, jumping, chest-beating, and chanting.
Mexā - Volcano
Tepari'i - Bāribai ship (catamaran/outrigger boat)
Iai - City/Town/Village
Beni Iai - "Home City" The capital.
Pok - Islands
Beni Pok - "Home Islands"
Varmoa Pok “Explorer Islands” The small islands off the northern tip of Beni Pok. Named due to its importance as a starting point for travelers who found Pekshi and Siru Pok.
Pekshi Pok - "Coral Islands" The small islands between Varmoa Pok and Ichan and Erlias. Named for their extensive coral reefs.
Siru Pok - “Lonely Islands” East of the Varmoa Pok and west of the Leli’i Pok. Named due to their isolation from the rest of the island chain.
Leli'i Pok - "White Islands" Western islands near Hanakahi. Named after the white sand beaches, vastly different from Beni Pok's black sand beaches.