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Basics
Jun 29, 2012 5:28:55 GMT -5
Post by Dread Gnat on Jun 29, 2012 5:28:55 GMT -5
~The Vicaul: A hearty warrior people who live to the far northeast along the southern end of the destroyed islands of Eur. They survive through fishing and raiding the coastlands of the eastern expanse. They are superstitious and intolerant of weakness. With no means of mining ore, most of their weapons and armor are gained through raiding. Clad in furs from the mightiest of beasts and the bloodstained armor of slain enemies, the Vicaul know no fear.
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Basics
Dec 4, 2014 19:27:12 GMT -5
Post by Dead Things on Dec 4, 2014 19:27:12 GMT -5
(Written by Crystal Boughton and Josh Noel, some names have been removed or changed to preserve PC anonymity.)
Clans
Past: Oakenthorn Esturmann Boneheart
Currently in existence: Goldhammer
Currently there are 12 Vicaul kings (clan heads), and each rules a clan of roughly 5,000 warriors/raiders - none of the 'civilized' nations recognize them as kings
Southern Vicaul clans tend more towards raiding, Northern Vicaul tend more toward trapping and fishing - Iiyanger and Synnove are from southern clans, Caeli and Yeong/Sung are from northern clans - Superstitions among northern clans include it being a bad idea for a woman to be aboard a ship because it will tempt Balaeish to destroy the ship
Death Rites (Josh sent these to me a while back): Vicaul: Passion and strength are the hallmarks of the Vicaul, and both are very present in their death rites. The raider lifestyle of so many of the tribes means that there are two distinct groups of rites to be found among the Vicaul: Raiding-rites and Hearth-rites. Both strongly feature the heart, the source of what makes the person themselves. As an interesting note, the same lifestyle that leads to these rites also exposes many Vicaul to a wide array of other cultures and lifestyles. As a result, it is not unusual for individuals to request a specific type of funeral that they have seen, or ask that parts of it they care for be adapted into their own death rites. Raiding-rites are very practical – when a brother-in-arms falls in combat, it is not always practical or possible to recover the body. Instead, each raiding band will contain several designated “Skimmers” whose role is to support their comrades in battles. Channelers are particularly valued as Skimmers, as their true function once things have begun to settle – one way or another – is to see to the fallen. If it is possible to recover them, they arrange for it. If one of the band is well and truly beyond recall however, their task is to recover the heart. It will be smoked later to preserve the organ, and in the case of a dedicated warband it will be added as a badge of pride and courage to the crew’s trophies. In the case of a short-term crew, it usually falls to the captain to take the hearts of the fallen back to the next of kin. Should the deceased have heirs, they are entitled to a full share of whatever loot was owed the dead raider. The dead are mourned together at the next dawn or dusk, whichever is sooner. The tribe’s gods are invoked, and the captain (or priest, if any are present) is then responsible for extorting the living crew into a frenzy by alternately extolling the dead, invoking tribal pride, and instilling crew spirit. Luxuries are then broken into, and the rest of the day/night is spent in indulging in the pleasures of life. Experienced captains know to designate crew to necessary functions, or to keep a limit on the revelries.
Hearth-rites are for those who die at home. The body is taken the tribe’s Skimmers who remove the heart; what is done with the body varies by tribe. Some throw it into the sea, as a source of life for the lives it still feeds. Others leave the body in a designated location for the elements to claim it again in short order. Once the heart has been removed, smoked, and returned the tribe gathers at dusk of the day the family once more takes possession if it. The heart is formally presented to the tribal leaders, who take possession of it and add the organ to a small shrine kept for exactly that purpose. Whatever strengths and passions ran in the hearts of the deceased are considered virtues to inspire the tribe for future generations. The gods are invoked, and the ceremony ends with a rallying moment for the tribe. Afterwards, food and drink usually break out and the rest of the evening is spent both celebrating the dead and affirming the living.
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