Móerkels
Óraxtap: Gáhópa
The Móerkels1 were descendants of Útels who settled on the plains north of Ela'k Forest, from the Klalaþan Sea to the west and along the river Óf, almost to where it merges with the river Laanl from the north.
The Móerkels became a wealthy civilization, even while engaged in near constant warfare with the Knárs, natives of the plains, their power only grew after contact with the Óraxes from the south. The Óraxes provided many exotic wares, although their culture alienated most Móerkels and few settled on the plains.
Some 800 years ago, Móerkel explorers made contact with the Brariians, theropod-like people inhabiting a region south of the plains, whom the Móerkels conquered and turned the land into their colony. Relations between the two people, already sour, soon worsened as a plague spread throughout the southeastern Móerkel cities due to contact with the new subjects.
The Brariians secretly devised a weapon to drive back the Mórkels, but it backfired and destroyed the former and their lands instead, leaving nothing but a vast crater. A year later, a strange creature appeared from the wasteland and laid waste to Móerkel cities, marking the end of their civilization. Many Móerkels fled eastwards and settled what is now known as the Plain of Kings and Þrihakía, where their descendants the Mörkels and Þrihaks live to this day.
Long dreadlocks and numerous braids -often adorned with ribbons- were popular among the Móerkels, along with headbands and circlets to keep the hair away from the face.
Honey was popular, and the Móerkels were the first Elakic peoples to use artificial hives (using special clay jars) instead of collecting it in the wild.
The Móerkels1 were descendants of Útels who settled on the plains north of Ela'k Forest, from the Klalaþan Sea to the west and along the river Óf, almost to where it merges with the river Laanl from the north.
History
Originally a few colonies settled by the Útels to provide grain, their culture eventually became so different from their sylvan neighbors that the colonists became disgruntled and demanded independence. The Útels refused, the colonists stopped sending grains as tribute, and for a generation a series of revolts later known as The Summer Wars broke out. Eventually, a treaty was declared and the colonists, now calling themselves Móerkels (plains people) were granted independence, in exchange for continuing to sell grains to the Útels.The Móerkels became a wealthy civilization, even while engaged in near constant warfare with the Knárs, natives of the plains, their power only grew after contact with the Óraxes from the south. The Óraxes provided many exotic wares, although their culture alienated most Móerkels and few settled on the plains.
Some 800 years ago, Móerkel explorers made contact with the Brariians, theropod-like people inhabiting a region south of the plains, whom the Móerkels conquered and turned the land into their colony. Relations between the two people, already sour, soon worsened as a plague spread throughout the southeastern Móerkel cities due to contact with the new subjects.
The Brariians secretly devised a weapon to drive back the Mórkels, but it backfired and destroyed the former and their lands instead, leaving nothing but a vast crater. A year later, a strange creature appeared from the wasteland and laid waste to Móerkel cities, marking the end of their civilization. Many Móerkels fled eastwards and settled what is now known as the Plain of Kings and Þrihakía, where their descendants the Mörkels and Þrihaks live to this day.
Culture
Apparel
Móerkel clothing differed from that of the Útels in a few ways, the cloaks especially were larger and covered most of the body to shield it from the hot sun and cold nights on the plains. Another notable feature was cloaks were dyed in a far more diverse range of colours than those of Útels, where each caste has its traditional colour scheme. This meant that only the patterns on the cloaks signified each Móerkel's caste. Fringes were popular, a style adopted from the Óraxes.Long dreadlocks and numerous braids -often adorned with ribbons- were popular among the Móerkels, along with headbands and circlets to keep the hair away from the face.
Art
Architecture
Móerkel cities were centered around massive mounds, originally raised to defend the people from the Knárs, but eventually became a kind of acropolis for each city, with gardens, temples and elder councils at the top.Cuisine
Móerkel diet generally resembled that of the Útels', except that while the latter's was based on acorns, the former had cereals as its staple ingredient. Pigs, rabbits and rodents were eaten as well, along with domesticated Rekan Birds native to the plains, as Ykan Birds favoured by Útels could not adjust to the different terrain and climate.Honey was popular, and the Móerkels were the first Elakic peoples to use artificial hives (using special clay jars) instead of collecting it in the wild.
Religion
Unlike the Útels, Móerkels worshipped their ancestors as divine heroes who had power over rain, sunshine and fertility; an early form of what later became Mörkel polytheism. Ebism and the Cult of Zerrhúai were popular as well.Warfare
Móerkel warriors generally wore lighter armour than their Útel brethren, made from leather or padded cloth, carried small wicker shields and preferred ranged weapons such as bow and arrows and javelins, sometimes thrown by an atlatl.The Móerkels are partly inspired by the Mississippian Culture and Archaic Greece
1Original icelandic: Móerkelar, singular: Móerkeli
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