Fantasy NES: Sekai II (PreNES / OOC)
- Thread starter kkmo
- Start date
kkmo
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Lord Iggy: I don't consider Fyirmenedd as having many roads, if any at all. I was thinking of having a medium-sized, old, well-worn thoroughfare end at your borders. I doubt roads would even be useful in the cold mountains, and you probably use caverns. Please correct me if you had a different vision.
Ninja Dude: I feel the Ajaman Elves would probably not desire roads in the technical sense in the Suruli, but moreso "pathways", which travelers could use nonetheless. But I was thinking the only major pathways going through Ajama are connecting it to the north and south vis a vis Si-drahal. Other than that, pathways would not connect the other major cities, for they would be exclusive to Elvish navigation. What do you think?
Fulton: Do you envision Mokata being a crossroads, with many different thoroughfares intersecting there?
Ninja Dude: I feel the Ajaman Elves would probably not desire roads in the technical sense in the Suruli, but moreso "pathways", which travelers could use nonetheless. But I was thinking the only major pathways going through Ajama are connecting it to the north and south vis a vis Si-drahal. Other than that, pathways would not connect the other major cities, for they would be exclusive to Elvish navigation. What do you think?
Fulton: Do you envision Mokata being a crossroads, with many different thoroughfares intersecting there?
I do. I imagine Mokata as the hub that connects the Orc half with the human/goblin half of the realm. The most important road would run along the main trade route from Dhirum to Mokata, then down the river valley to Morain, then down to Kandia and out of the country along the river.
Ninja Dude
Sorry, I wasn't listening...
Ajama's military relies heavily on its overwhelming numbers to help win its battles. Although given rather poor quality equipment, their fear of punishment from their superiors and their own confidence in victory gives even the lowliest Ajamani troop a boost in morale. Due to the longevity of Elves, those that survive one campaign may serve in another, and lend their experience to others. Very experienced Elves may even be offered a stipend for their services.
The Ajamani nobility prefers to wait for the lesser men and elves to put pressure on the enemy before charging into battle on great boars, which are often plated. They attack not only the enemy's ranks, but the enemy's psyche as well. The confusion and panic caused by the squealing, trampling, and goring has helped the nobility put down many revolts in the past, and the boar charge is a favored tactic by them. If not mounted, nobles often command professional infantry troops. These troops are armored in scale armor, and fight with ornate, yet effective katars. Often doubling as a ruthless police force, these troops have little mercy for the enemy and will zealously slaughter any resistors (as well as anyone else that looks like the enemy
)
Due to the lack of any major threat, the walls of Ajamani cities on the interior of the country are neglected, with vines and trees slowly tearing them down. On the frontiers walls are better maintained, and forts dot the countryside.
Dilli II has introduced a relatively new element to the military of Ajama: magic. Magic is largely seen a religious thing in Ajama, with those able to use it often becoming shamans, gurus, and priests. Those with exceptional abilities could gain a following and eventually try to build or join a temple. Less amazing magic users often resort to fortune telling and becoming glorified servants of wealthy aristocrats.
However, now Dilli II has launched a search for sorcerers and mages, hoping to incorporate them into the military. His dream is to create a legion of magic-users capable of crushing any foe of Ajama. Dilli II has been aggressive in pursuing this goal, conscripting some notable and respected priests and gurus into the military. Many mages and sorcerers not so lucky to gain a job in a temple see this as an opportunity to improve their lot in life and improve their status.
OOC: So basically, I would summarize it like this: Poor quality levies, with experienced veterans sprinkled throughout. Heavily armored boar cavalry. Extremely disciplined and zealous professional infantry. A handful of powerful mages, with a growing corp of inexperienced mages and sorcerers. Does that help you at all kkmo?
And yeah, the religious factions of Ajama aren't exactly happy with the way things are going right now. I should probably write about that soon
Edit: About the roads, I think there would be some leading to major cities, given the need for carting around goods and such places. Also, while humans aren't exactly thought of as first class citizens, they are allowed to build roads occasionally linking small villages with human majorities.
The Ajamani nobility prefers to wait for the lesser men and elves to put pressure on the enemy before charging into battle on great boars, which are often plated. They attack not only the enemy's ranks, but the enemy's psyche as well. The confusion and panic caused by the squealing, trampling, and goring has helped the nobility put down many revolts in the past, and the boar charge is a favored tactic by them. If not mounted, nobles often command professional infantry troops. These troops are armored in scale armor, and fight with ornate, yet effective katars. Often doubling as a ruthless police force, these troops have little mercy for the enemy and will zealously slaughter any resistors (as well as anyone else that looks like the enemy
)Due to the lack of any major threat, the walls of Ajamani cities on the interior of the country are neglected, with vines and trees slowly tearing them down. On the frontiers walls are better maintained, and forts dot the countryside.
Dilli II has introduced a relatively new element to the military of Ajama: magic. Magic is largely seen a religious thing in Ajama, with those able to use it often becoming shamans, gurus, and priests. Those with exceptional abilities could gain a following and eventually try to build or join a temple. Less amazing magic users often resort to fortune telling and becoming glorified servants of wealthy aristocrats.
However, now Dilli II has launched a search for sorcerers and mages, hoping to incorporate them into the military. His dream is to create a legion of magic-users capable of crushing any foe of Ajama. Dilli II has been aggressive in pursuing this goal, conscripting some notable and respected priests and gurus into the military. Many mages and sorcerers not so lucky to gain a job in a temple see this as an opportunity to improve their lot in life and improve their status.
OOC: So basically, I would summarize it like this: Poor quality levies, with experienced veterans sprinkled throughout. Heavily armored boar cavalry. Extremely disciplined and zealous professional infantry. A handful of powerful mages, with a growing corp of inexperienced mages and sorcerers. Does that help you at all kkmo?
And yeah, the religious factions of Ajama aren't exactly happy with the way things are going right now. I should probably write about that soon
Edit: About the roads, I think there would be some leading to major cities, given the need for carting around goods and such places. Also, while humans aren't exactly thought of as first class citizens, they are allowed to build roads occasionally linking small villages with human majorities.
Well, the fact that we're far away from the southern civilizations, and not actively trading with them, is one good reason to not have roads. Dwarven cities are quite insular, and connections between them would likely be mountain paths or underground tunnels (although these would be rare, it's not easy to build an extremely long tunnel unless you find a natural cave system and follow it). The nonmagical population of Fyirmenedd is quite immobile, with the exception of questers, and the magical population is likely to use magical means to transport themselves out of their great towers and fortress-halls (flying caravans, magical beasts or teleportation, if those things are all appropriate in this setting).
Roads are still quite useful in the cold mountains (living in the northern Rockies, I know this from personal experience) but they aren't necessarily useful for Fyirmenedd. Additionally, the magical ruling class has little interest in developing such infrastructure, so any roads in the area are of quite poor quality and maintained only by those who use them. Thus, I'd expect that there's one well-maintained road leading from the south into the capital, Gryddfyir, and it is used by questers and mercenaries traveling out to the south, or returning home with goods.
In summary, Fyirmenedd's roads are either ancient and decaying ruins from the last age, small local pathways, or a single well-worn thoroughfare heading from the capital southwards.
Seon
Not An Evil Liar
When can we expect Guild and Character Stats for players by?
kkmo
世界
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They: 1. Require less work, and 2. Require polities to be placed and situated first. So they will come last. I'll have something posted before Thursday, I hope.
Seon
Not An Evil Liar
Ah, alrighty then.
I will just go and quietly write more stories about Lucius and the Stranger then.
I will just go and quietly write more stories about Lucius and the Stranger then.
Seon
Not An Evil Liar
Spoiler :
kkmo
世界
- Joined
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- 1,245
Here is the most recent rendition. Please tell me of any errors, things you might want changed, etc. We can discuss.
[ By the way, there will be a glow around the roads in the final version. I also plan to add some more roads here and there. ]
[ By the way, there will be a glow around the roads in the final version. I also plan to add some more roads here and there. ]
Spoiler :
nutranurse
Unlikeliest of Slash Fics
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2009
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- 2,077
Kayuga Nation
People: Kayuga Orcs (90%; primary; dominant political presence) / Irwaquo Goblins (10%; secondary; minor political presence; dominant religious presence)
Capital: Moak
Government: Tribal Confederacy
Ruler: High Matron Mawab Eagle-Killer
Livelihood: Metallurgy, Limited Agriculture & Pastoral Efforts, Raids
Names: Kawami; Wyam; Negawa; Irqwa; Hawtah; Eoytwa; Huaisse; Monwa; Nuwa; Rowze; Tawu
A Typical Kayuga War-Party;
Notice the heads kept by the warleader, or the Wanaba; heads are a common ornament for any Kayuga in their majority.
When the flesh falls from the captured heads, the Kayuga will keep the skulls and decorate them with grisly carvings and markings.
The Kayuga Orcs have long been natives of the Agadan Mountains and have terrorized the peoples of the Eltalon forest for even longer. The orcs themselves are subjects of numerous myths that paint them as ignoble monsters prone to terror and warmongering. In truth their harsh natures stem from their equally harsh environment, which dictates that they gain much of their sustenance through raids on the more prosperous southern peoples. The Kayuga could have left their craggy homes long ago, but remain in the mountains out of a singular religious devotion to their 'Elder Pantheon', or the Jogah, a staggering collection of spirits that the Kayuga believe to inhabit every cave, cliff, and crest of Agadan. Their reluctance to migrate to greener pastures is also helped by the green-skin minority, the Irwaquo Goblins, who fulfill every priestly role save for the war-priest.
The Five Tribes of Kayuga;
Note that the Irwaquo Goblins have no real home of their own, their communities are largely transient and are scattered around all the tribes.
A Brief Overview of the Five (Six) Tribes
Beginning with the currently politically foremost tribe, the Ontagawo, who occupy the eastern region of the Agadans mountains. Coincidentally the eastern Agadans are somewhat more inclined towards peaceful prosperity, and so in-between raids the Ontagawo can look forward to managing meager farms and flocks. The Ontagawo also cultivate their reputation as some of the most vicious Kayuga by regularly conducting raids not only against the Dainelai elves, but the eagles who inhabit it Agadans as well. While many Kayuga choose to avoid the formidable elves, among the Ontagawo it is a common rite of passage to climb into an eagle's roost and steal an egg or die trying. This obviously suicidal practice has also lead to the Ontagawo being the least numerous of the clans. Ontagawo political prominence stems from their current high-chief, who also acts as the high matron of all the tribes, Mawab Eagle-Killer. Her epithet is well deserved and the Kayuga tell many stories of Mawab's impossible battle against a dozen eagles and twice that number of Dainelai elves during a Dainelai counter-raid against the Ontagawo. Due to her feats that day she was unanimously deemed High Matron of all the Kayuga orcs during the next year's moot.
Next are the Senawaqua, a brutal peoples in their own right, but whose brutality stems from the begrudging deference they show to all the other tribes. Where the Ontagawo, Anawaga, Ohnawa, and Mohaga all came together out of their own accord, the Senawaqa's knee had to be forcibly bent during a bloody war that almost saw the eradication of the Kayuga orcs after the Dainelai took the opportunity to strike at their ancient enemy. The Senawaqua did not willingly submit even when their brothers were threatened with external war, choosing to fight both elf and orc to the last man. The Senawaqua are free spirits and the most transient of an otherwise sedentary race. Senawaqua adventurers leave their homes in droves and do not often return, but when they do they bring with them the strange knowledge of the world past the Agadans.
The Anawaga prosper most and are in fact the largest clan due to their sheer success in raids and willingness to compromise with elf and orc alike. Many Anawaga warriors rise up to be Wanaba over war-parties of all the tribes due to the sacred tactical teachings kept by the Anawaga tribes. They are innately charismatic--as charismatic as orcs can be, at least--and have even engendered the deference, if not respect, of the northernmost Dainelai villages. They have also engendered tributes from these poor settlements, whose remote positions allows for the Anawaga to raid and retreat long before the Dainelai armies can respond.
The Ohnawa and Mohaga share a past and are the closest tied of all the tribes. Once they were one tribe--the Mohnaga, whose massive size saw the complete and total subjugation of the eastern tribes at one point in Kayuga history. The other three tribes, however, threw off the Mohnaga High-Kings, the monarchy was abolished, the confederacy created, and the Mohnaga tribe split into two. The three tribes were also aided by the Irwaquo goblins, whose religious dominance had begun to be threatened by the Mohnaga High-Kings. To this day the Ohnawa and Mohaga tribes see their eastern brothers with resentment, but above all view the Irwaquo as threats and commonly attack all but the most heavily guarded goblin priests on sight. This heresy has created no end of ire from the three eastern tribes, though as of late the Mohaga have begun to lose their zeal and develop an identity of their own--one strangely elven.
The Irwaquo deserve a special mention, for while they have no single home, they are very prominent members of Kayuga society. In particular the goblins control the religious aspects of the orcish society, mostly due to the fact that the worship of the Jogah stems from the goblins, not the orcs. Before the Irwaquo migrated into the Agadans the orcs believed in nothing and lead short, violent lives; they lacked law beyond their mottled homes, and even in there all things were based on physical power. The Irwaquo brought intellect to an otherwise stupid society, dazzling the Kayuga ancestors with magicks. The Irwaquo, however, were in turn dazzled by the sheer number of spirits inhabiting the Agadans, and set out to know the nature of every one--effectively creating the Kayuga religion.
Kayuga Government
Each Kayuga tribe is allowed to uphold its own traditional laws within its own boundaries, and the Kayuga are a fairly loose confederacy whose bonds really just stem from their agreement to not kill each other without good reason. To see that this is enforced the Kayuga meet each year and elect a High Patron or High Matron depending on the elected orc's gender. The High Patron is tasked with the harsh duty of touring all the five tribelands in the year he is elected (this year stretches from the day he assumes his office to the day he steps down) and settling the greater issues that threaten the national stability. The High Patron also acts as the commander-in-chief during times of war, and, in the de jure, the only being capable of calling together the Hadawako, or grand army. In practice, any highly regarded orc can gather the tribes if he or she deems fit. Generally once a High Patron is elected he can enjoy this position for the rest of his life unless he somehow shames himself or fails completely at his duties.
Every year a moot is called to a sacred spot that acts as a neutral grounds for the Kayuga. Each tribe sends one senior representative, and a few junior representatives whose number is determined by the size of the tribe. In greater matters (war, changes to high law, diplomacy) the junior representatives are unable to cast votes, but in smaller matters (domestic trade issues, religious issues) and in the event of a deadlock the junior representatives freely vote.
It is important to realize that this is not all the structure the tribes follow internally, and that each tribe has its own method for choosing leaders to preside over its internal issues.
Kayuga Culture
Compared to the Dainelai, the Kayuga orcs have almost no culture to speak of. However, their culture primarily lies with their warriors and the ideas that surround their perception of the 'ideal' warrior. Though from tribe to tribe the specifics change, but there are a few constants such as deference to elders, piety, ruthlessness towards outsiders, and cunning pragmatism. Much of the Kayuga's history is kept orally and there are literally thousands of stories surrounding an equally large cast of 'ideal warriors' who have come to the forefront of Kayuga society at various points in history.
At present the Irwaquo are leading an intellectual revolution of sorts. Written script has been introduced to the Kayuga Nation for the first time in history via captured Dainelai whose slavery underneath the Irwaquo has seen the bettering of the goblins' understanding of magick, and subsequently education. Before much of the Irwaquo magicks were crude compared to the refined Dainelai art, but the knowledged (forcibly) gleamed from the Dainelai captives proved invaluable to enhancing the goblin-priests understanding of the Jogah and their spirit-magic. Though much still has yet to be understood, the Irwaquo have taken to understanding the nature-spirits with an almost manic zeal. They have begun to produce the first 'books' made by Kayuga hands, though these books lack words and just contain pictures of identified Jogah. In place of their own spoken language, the Irwaquo have adopted a baser form of the Dainelai script to write what few words they can.
Kayuga Political Structure
The Kayuga are a melting pot. To most outsiders, specifically the Dainelai, the orcs seem to be all the same due to the many shared customs and laws between the five tribes. In reality, the Kayuga are a collection of numerous types of orcs who only share a few key traditions. Their society is just as piecemeal and the Kayuga boast an interesting mix of individuality and communal bonds.
First and foremost is a Kayuga's bond to him or herself. In the Kayuga mind all things begin and end with the individual, and so they will always strive to better themselves in order to better their family, clan, tribe, and nation--in that order. Some may think this would lead to a ruthless selfishness being bred in the orcish minds, and they are correct on the part that it creates a ruthless outlook on life, but (overt) selfishness rarely manifests. To be a good individual means that you come from a good family, a strong clan, and prosperous tribe. The state of those around you reflects as much about you as your own actions do. It is through this complex web of associations that the Kayuga navigate the world and judge their self-worth.
A Kayuga's family is, perhaps, his most important asset. Male and female Kayuga orcs are free to pursue the same goals, though it is expected of female Kayuga to breed more warriors at some point in their lives. The 'housewife' does not exist. Wives do not exist, actually, and marriage is a strange practice in the eyes of the mountain orcs. Unions sometimes do occur between male and female Kayuga, though these unions are hardly binding and more so speak to a vague willingness to put the children born from a male's 'mate' before others children born to him by other women. This differs somewhat from clan to clan--for instance the Ontagawo regard the bond to be a very grave and serious matter, though not necessarily one that ties two orcs into a same household. Who makes up a Kayuga's family is determined by friendship as much as by blood, and one Kayuga's father, mother, sister, or brother may not at all be related to them biologically.
The Kayuga clan is an association of like-minded families who once banded together for protection, but now more so do for economic (via raids) prosperity and political representation. Senior and Junior representatives to the Kayuga moot cannot be drawn from specific families (a high law, in fact, prevents this so as to make it difficult for positions to become hereditary), only from clans, and so without a clan a Kayuga may as well be a lost stranger. Clans do not necessarily even dwell in the same regions, though they certainly belong to the same tribe.
The five tribes are headed by a single High Chieftain(ess) whose position is not appointed, but won. To become the head of a tribe a Kayuga orc must challenge the current Chieftain(ess) to battle in front of no less than one hundred witnesses (the last part a high law enacted so as to prevent false claims). High Chieftains act as the final arbiters of tribal law (high law is the realm of the High Patron/Matron) as well as the symbolic heads of each tribe, and so in tribe-vs-tribe disputes it is the High Chieftain who is persecuted, as well as the offenders. High Chieftains are not guaranteed Senior or Junior positions within the annual moot, as these are posts appointed by the clan leaders of a tribe. This has, in the past, lead to unpopular, though powerful, High Chieftains to be effectively shut out from the national politics of the Kayuga Nation.
People: Kayuga Orcs (90%; primary; dominant political presence) / Irwaquo Goblins (10%; secondary; minor political presence; dominant religious presence)
Capital: Moak
Government: Tribal Confederacy
Ruler: High Matron Mawab Eagle-Killer
Livelihood: Metallurgy, Limited Agriculture & Pastoral Efforts, Raids
Names: Kawami; Wyam; Negawa; Irqwa; Hawtah; Eoytwa; Huaisse; Monwa; Nuwa; Rowze; Tawu
A Typical Kayuga War-Party;
Notice the heads kept by the warleader, or the Wanaba; heads are a common ornament for any Kayuga in their majority.
When the flesh falls from the captured heads, the Kayuga will keep the skulls and decorate them with grisly carvings and markings.
The Kayuga Orcs have long been natives of the Agadan Mountains and have terrorized the peoples of the Eltalon forest for even longer. The orcs themselves are subjects of numerous myths that paint them as ignoble monsters prone to terror and warmongering. In truth their harsh natures stem from their equally harsh environment, which dictates that they gain much of their sustenance through raids on the more prosperous southern peoples. The Kayuga could have left their craggy homes long ago, but remain in the mountains out of a singular religious devotion to their 'Elder Pantheon', or the Jogah, a staggering collection of spirits that the Kayuga believe to inhabit every cave, cliff, and crest of Agadan. Their reluctance to migrate to greener pastures is also helped by the green-skin minority, the Irwaquo Goblins, who fulfill every priestly role save for the war-priest.
The Five Tribes of Kayuga;
Note that the Irwaquo Goblins have no real home of their own, their communities are largely transient and are scattered around all the tribes.
A Brief Overview of the Five (Six) Tribes
Beginning with the currently politically foremost tribe, the Ontagawo, who occupy the eastern region of the Agadans mountains. Coincidentally the eastern Agadans are somewhat more inclined towards peaceful prosperity, and so in-between raids the Ontagawo can look forward to managing meager farms and flocks. The Ontagawo also cultivate their reputation as some of the most vicious Kayuga by regularly conducting raids not only against the Dainelai elves, but the eagles who inhabit it Agadans as well. While many Kayuga choose to avoid the formidable elves, among the Ontagawo it is a common rite of passage to climb into an eagle's roost and steal an egg or die trying. This obviously suicidal practice has also lead to the Ontagawo being the least numerous of the clans. Ontagawo political prominence stems from their current high-chief, who also acts as the high matron of all the tribes, Mawab Eagle-Killer. Her epithet is well deserved and the Kayuga tell many stories of Mawab's impossible battle against a dozen eagles and twice that number of Dainelai elves during a Dainelai counter-raid against the Ontagawo. Due to her feats that day she was unanimously deemed High Matron of all the Kayuga orcs during the next year's moot.
Next are the Senawaqua, a brutal peoples in their own right, but whose brutality stems from the begrudging deference they show to all the other tribes. Where the Ontagawo, Anawaga, Ohnawa, and Mohaga all came together out of their own accord, the Senawaqa's knee had to be forcibly bent during a bloody war that almost saw the eradication of the Kayuga orcs after the Dainelai took the opportunity to strike at their ancient enemy. The Senawaqua did not willingly submit even when their brothers were threatened with external war, choosing to fight both elf and orc to the last man. The Senawaqua are free spirits and the most transient of an otherwise sedentary race. Senawaqua adventurers leave their homes in droves and do not often return, but when they do they bring with them the strange knowledge of the world past the Agadans.
The Anawaga prosper most and are in fact the largest clan due to their sheer success in raids and willingness to compromise with elf and orc alike. Many Anawaga warriors rise up to be Wanaba over war-parties of all the tribes due to the sacred tactical teachings kept by the Anawaga tribes. They are innately charismatic--as charismatic as orcs can be, at least--and have even engendered the deference, if not respect, of the northernmost Dainelai villages. They have also engendered tributes from these poor settlements, whose remote positions allows for the Anawaga to raid and retreat long before the Dainelai armies can respond.
The Ohnawa and Mohaga share a past and are the closest tied of all the tribes. Once they were one tribe--the Mohnaga, whose massive size saw the complete and total subjugation of the eastern tribes at one point in Kayuga history. The other three tribes, however, threw off the Mohnaga High-Kings, the monarchy was abolished, the confederacy created, and the Mohnaga tribe split into two. The three tribes were also aided by the Irwaquo goblins, whose religious dominance had begun to be threatened by the Mohnaga High-Kings. To this day the Ohnawa and Mohaga tribes see their eastern brothers with resentment, but above all view the Irwaquo as threats and commonly attack all but the most heavily guarded goblin priests on sight. This heresy has created no end of ire from the three eastern tribes, though as of late the Mohaga have begun to lose their zeal and develop an identity of their own--one strangely elven.
The Irwaquo deserve a special mention, for while they have no single home, they are very prominent members of Kayuga society. In particular the goblins control the religious aspects of the orcish society, mostly due to the fact that the worship of the Jogah stems from the goblins, not the orcs. Before the Irwaquo migrated into the Agadans the orcs believed in nothing and lead short, violent lives; they lacked law beyond their mottled homes, and even in there all things were based on physical power. The Irwaquo brought intellect to an otherwise stupid society, dazzling the Kayuga ancestors with magicks. The Irwaquo, however, were in turn dazzled by the sheer number of spirits inhabiting the Agadans, and set out to know the nature of every one--effectively creating the Kayuga religion.
Kayuga Government
Each Kayuga tribe is allowed to uphold its own traditional laws within its own boundaries, and the Kayuga are a fairly loose confederacy whose bonds really just stem from their agreement to not kill each other without good reason. To see that this is enforced the Kayuga meet each year and elect a High Patron or High Matron depending on the elected orc's gender. The High Patron is tasked with the harsh duty of touring all the five tribelands in the year he is elected (this year stretches from the day he assumes his office to the day he steps down) and settling the greater issues that threaten the national stability. The High Patron also acts as the commander-in-chief during times of war, and, in the de jure, the only being capable of calling together the Hadawako, or grand army. In practice, any highly regarded orc can gather the tribes if he or she deems fit. Generally once a High Patron is elected he can enjoy this position for the rest of his life unless he somehow shames himself or fails completely at his duties.
Every year a moot is called to a sacred spot that acts as a neutral grounds for the Kayuga. Each tribe sends one senior representative, and a few junior representatives whose number is determined by the size of the tribe. In greater matters (war, changes to high law, diplomacy) the junior representatives are unable to cast votes, but in smaller matters (domestic trade issues, religious issues) and in the event of a deadlock the junior representatives freely vote.
It is important to realize that this is not all the structure the tribes follow internally, and that each tribe has its own method for choosing leaders to preside over its internal issues.
Kayuga Culture
Compared to the Dainelai, the Kayuga orcs have almost no culture to speak of. However, their culture primarily lies with their warriors and the ideas that surround their perception of the 'ideal' warrior. Though from tribe to tribe the specifics change, but there are a few constants such as deference to elders, piety, ruthlessness towards outsiders, and cunning pragmatism. Much of the Kayuga's history is kept orally and there are literally thousands of stories surrounding an equally large cast of 'ideal warriors' who have come to the forefront of Kayuga society at various points in history.
At present the Irwaquo are leading an intellectual revolution of sorts. Written script has been introduced to the Kayuga Nation for the first time in history via captured Dainelai whose slavery underneath the Irwaquo has seen the bettering of the goblins' understanding of magick, and subsequently education. Before much of the Irwaquo magicks were crude compared to the refined Dainelai art, but the knowledged (forcibly) gleamed from the Dainelai captives proved invaluable to enhancing the goblin-priests understanding of the Jogah and their spirit-magic. Though much still has yet to be understood, the Irwaquo have taken to understanding the nature-spirits with an almost manic zeal. They have begun to produce the first 'books' made by Kayuga hands, though these books lack words and just contain pictures of identified Jogah. In place of their own spoken language, the Irwaquo have adopted a baser form of the Dainelai script to write what few words they can.
Kayuga Political Structure
The Kayuga are a melting pot. To most outsiders, specifically the Dainelai, the orcs seem to be all the same due to the many shared customs and laws between the five tribes. In reality, the Kayuga are a collection of numerous types of orcs who only share a few key traditions. Their society is just as piecemeal and the Kayuga boast an interesting mix of individuality and communal bonds.
First and foremost is a Kayuga's bond to him or herself. In the Kayuga mind all things begin and end with the individual, and so they will always strive to better themselves in order to better their family, clan, tribe, and nation--in that order. Some may think this would lead to a ruthless selfishness being bred in the orcish minds, and they are correct on the part that it creates a ruthless outlook on life, but (overt) selfishness rarely manifests. To be a good individual means that you come from a good family, a strong clan, and prosperous tribe. The state of those around you reflects as much about you as your own actions do. It is through this complex web of associations that the Kayuga navigate the world and judge their self-worth.
A Kayuga's family is, perhaps, his most important asset. Male and female Kayuga orcs are free to pursue the same goals, though it is expected of female Kayuga to breed more warriors at some point in their lives. The 'housewife' does not exist. Wives do not exist, actually, and marriage is a strange practice in the eyes of the mountain orcs. Unions sometimes do occur between male and female Kayuga, though these unions are hardly binding and more so speak to a vague willingness to put the children born from a male's 'mate' before others children born to him by other women. This differs somewhat from clan to clan--for instance the Ontagawo regard the bond to be a very grave and serious matter, though not necessarily one that ties two orcs into a same household. Who makes up a Kayuga's family is determined by friendship as much as by blood, and one Kayuga's father, mother, sister, or brother may not at all be related to them biologically.
The Kayuga clan is an association of like-minded families who once banded together for protection, but now more so do for economic (via raids) prosperity and political representation. Senior and Junior representatives to the Kayuga moot cannot be drawn from specific families (a high law, in fact, prevents this so as to make it difficult for positions to become hereditary), only from clans, and so without a clan a Kayuga may as well be a lost stranger. Clans do not necessarily even dwell in the same regions, though they certainly belong to the same tribe.
The five tribes are headed by a single High Chieftain(ess) whose position is not appointed, but won. To become the head of a tribe a Kayuga orc must challenge the current Chieftain(ess) to battle in front of no less than one hundred witnesses (the last part a high law enacted so as to prevent false claims). High Chieftains act as the final arbiters of tribal law (high law is the realm of the High Patron/Matron) as well as the symbolic heads of each tribe, and so in tribe-vs-tribe disputes it is the High Chieftain who is persecuted, as well as the offenders. High Chieftains are not guaranteed Senior or Junior positions within the annual moot, as these are posts appointed by the clan leaders of a tribe. This has, in the past, lead to unpopular, though powerful, High Chieftains to be effectively shut out from the national politics of the Kayuga Nation.
nutranurse
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Tropes indeed! My initial creation some weeks ago had the Kayuga be more along the lines of noble savages, but then I saw you had created the Dainelai and figured why not make a bloody race of orcs to harass them? I hope to eventually break that with the Irwaquo, though, who are to real movers and shakers--at least intellectually. More on that in my forthcoming culture description.
nutranurse
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I knew Irwaquo would be a dead giveaway. At least the Kayuga do not eat hearts! (Only eyes)
I'd like to either have added, or will make descriptions myself when I have time of 3-4 small city states who are vassals to Madgraga. All but one of which will be heavily Elven, while one will be about half Elven, 1/3 Human, 1/3 Half-Elven and not be based in the Forest itself.
kkmo
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It would be easier if you just proposed which city-states you desired to have on the map, or if they were unveiled during our story. Not everything has to be perfectly placed and ordered from the beginning. Maybe one of them is just now ascending to power as an ally of Madgraga.
I tried to put many things on the map for the beginning so that we can have a decent backstory and a way to tie larger polities together. I do not mind if some city-states pop up during our game. Perhaps they were reclusive before, but have decided to exert more power/influence. The same could even occur with small nations.
kkmo
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To mayor: if I put your city-state in the Akkal Ridge, can I create some sort of interaction between you and Ufalmu-aw-Hanajj? Basically, I was thinking an offshoot of the desertfolk conquered your city-state and subjugated it, breaking away from the trade union which exists between many Goblin-Dwarvish city-states in the Akkal. Your isolation before this event would still be guaranteed.
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