Postby Zarn Ishtare » Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:29 am
he Tumino Tribe And the Is Nation
Race: Man
Physical Description: The Tumino are usually long haired, dyeing it to blend into the trees during Hunts, which usually looks distinctly wolfish and bristly. Skin is dyed for Hunts and for Tribal purposes, so while one might color themselves oak-bark to hide in the forest, they could change the next day to watery colors to hide near the ponds and pools. Eye color varies from normal colors to radical hues, due to their affiliation with the wolves. With greater tolerances for weather and wear, Tumino wear clothing that is tight-fitting and dark colored, save on feast-days or around strangers. Shorts, tunics, thin shirts and tight fitting sandals that are molded to the feet usually sufffice. On the rare occasion of War, or Man-Hunt, leather armor with iron-disks woven in is worn, with leather greaves guarding the thighs.
Powers: The Tumino are resistant to cold and heat, are physically stronger and faster than humans, and have a pack mentality that enables almost speechless understanding, looks and glances sometimes speaking whole conversations. Thus, hidden hand signals, verbal cues, and secret looks permeate the society, confusing outsiders and creating a uniformity amongst the tribe. Speak with wolves via a shared mind-link, and have recently been taking on more bestial appearances when angered or anxious, though this is rare as of yet.
Weapons: preferring the hunter role to the typical warrior, the Tumino prefer spears, hunting knives, bows and axes to swords and shields. When facing an outlander, Tumino may use a light buckler, but other than that do not carry shields into battle. Several ancient relics are possessed by the tribe, weapons that are locked in a shrine revered as a sacred armory for the "Chosen Warrior", a warrior chief born every few generations that expands their tribe and makes them closer to a true people again.
Bio: The Tumino are the descendants of an older tribe called the Is, which branched off into several tribes that still inhabit the area. After several generation of wandering alongside wolf packs, the Is married into a tribe called the Arc, a tribe of white-haired demi-humans who gave them their written language, as well as much of their culture. Settling in the massive northern forests, they split off when the Is could not decide on one chieftain to take the burden up of Is the long living (Who is thought to have been the chief for several hundred years, making this part of the history many regard as legend), dividing the Great Pack which had dwelt with them for so many years amongst them. When they left, the last son who stayed by Is's side, called Zann Rushudo, was named by his father to be the True Chief. Sadly, afterwards war broke out against this remnant of a tribe by the jealous brothers, causing them to seclude themselves to a region of the Great Forest far away until friendship was restored several generations later. The Tumino are thus named for Zann Rushudo's Wife, supposedly a nymph of the Gentle River, a long, blue river running through the camp of the tribe. With her magic, she taught the first Mystics, and is still referred to as the Blue Lady in modern day.
In the Present day, the Tumino are lead by an aging chieftain called Tal Rushudo, usually called Rushu-Chief, who brought the surrounding tribes nominally under his leadership, allowing secrets of Tumino to be taught to the other tribes descended of Is. With it's survival assured, the Tumino experienced a population boom that tripled it's size, causing it to gain a strong if loose association of warrior/hunters who occasionally act as police and military. Now, the tribe is split into several small villages, each a day away from the other, with the Refuge in the center, the name by which the Tumino call their oldest dwelling place.
Political Construction: Because the tribe is so spread out, Each village is governed by a village Chief, who follows the Great Chief Rushudo. Because much of the tribe prefers to live in small groups along with their wolves or travel, each gathering of Tumino is governed by a "Rath" (Scout) who takes care of the gathering, usually referred to as a pack. Military is informal, although a good host could be gathered if the Tumino came together with their allies.
Religion: The Tumino pay reverence to the Creator El, and honor him with prayers and dances, but there is no organized religious institution. Clan myths and stories are divine truths, and thus go unquestioned. However, the Tumino do pay respect to an Entity named Mika, a beautiful Sprite who rules the water, rocks, and trees. While she is not worshiped, she is honored, and many will travel to her home in the Hidden Wood in order to receive a task from her. She favors the Tumino with visits on occasion, and has brought many strange being with her to Feasts and Parties, which has influenced much of the younger generation. She keeps her court in a underground hall called the UnderFount, where several Tumino hunters, Mystics and children have gone to learn in her halls. She has natural powers over the earth and water, and her daughters are said to give gifts to anyone who can sing of "Nymphs Bright And Fair" or "Tumino And Rushudo's Ballad". Mika has an important part in the rituals of the Tumino, as she creates the unique items given to each Tumino tribesmen/women at their Adult-hood ritual, with the help of her daughters and the mystics. Several items she has given during times of great trial are not actually of her hand, but placed their in keeping ages ago by another power, greater than she. The Crown Of Eternity is one of the fabled treasures she is supposed to keep, a Crown that marks its wearer the True Emperor of the Races, although this is just fable and myth.
Rituals: The Tumino have several important rituals, but the three most important are:
The Birth Ritual
Bonding With the Beast, the ritual that binds a Tumino to the wolves,
and the Manhood ritual when a Tumino child become a full-member of the clan.
With your doubt, all is comfort
We are all as we appear
No more questions left unanswered
No more wonder, no more fear
Nothing is beauty, nothing's feeling
Blood where there once was a soul
So I ask you, prove yourself
Make me believe that you are whole