East-Þirks

The east-þirks¹ are a tribe of humans and half-orcs inhabiting the western banks of Rúk River in southeastern Gráhúlysía. They are related to the West-Þirks in the western Lakú Mountains.

Society

East-Þirks are members of the Abrirr Confederacy, along with the orcish hörraníans and törrans in Úrún, beyond the river. Although each tribe has its own chief or krú who oversees most matters relating to his own people, the chiefs meet biannually in Voló, main settlement of the hörraníans, to discuss things that involves the confederation in general.

Culture

Apparel

Like much of their culture, east-þirk clothing and hairstyles are heavily influenced by their orcish allies, with men and women wearing a similar kind of wide, short-sleeved tunic, often decorated with embroidery or soapstone beads. Long hair is favoured by men and women alike, warriors wear a single, long braid on the side of the head and often sport a long mustache as well.
Tattoos made from woad are common, both for their decorative as well as apotropaic purposes, with stylized floral motives being most popular.

Cuisine

Oats and barley, vegetables, pork and fish form the staple of east-þirk cuisine, along with wild game. They are the only people in Gráhúlysía to practice falconry.

Religion

The east-þirk pantheon features a number of deities from úrúnic mythology, but their patron god is Lúkún, a sky god associated with eagles, similar to Alkoníus of the Sikíronians and other predominantly human cultures. Lúkún is honoured by animal (and, in times of need, human) sacrifices accompanied by eagle dances- and songs.

Warfare

East-þirk warriors often travel eastwards to aid their allies against enemy tribes in Úrún, as well as to gain honour and riches, and generally fight similarly to the latter, with one exception. Although they sometimes use spears and iron swords in battle, the characteristic weapon of the east-þirks are long, fire-hardened and sharpened wooden swords.
According to tradition, this weapon was adopted after a group of east-þirk pirates were driven out by warriors wielding similar swords on the island of Annor.

¹Original icelandic: Austþirkar, singular: Austþirki