T'chunak

The tribes of the T'chun Wildlands are considered some of the friendliest in Emala, and are inviting to outsiders. There is a common saying amongst the T'chunak, emblematic to their genial natures: 'All roads are one under the sun'. Their roots are nomadic and mercantile, roaming the deserts and steppes and trading along the way. Several tribes, especially the Yedran tribes, travel far beyond the bords of T'Chun and have established trade lines across the whole of Akzoriel.

There are three peoples within T'Chun: the Vkdalm, the Dalmul, and the Yedran. The Yedran roam far outside of T'Chun while the Vkdalm and Dalmul only really trade along the borders of the wildlands.

Vkdalm

Vkdalm tribes are reclusive compared to the other peoples, roaming the heart of the Etchari Desert and rarely travelling outside. Little is known of them by foreigners. Vkdalmak believe it is their duty to ensure the horrors of the Etchari are kept away from outsiders, protecting them. Of the three peoples of T'Chun, they are the most unified. Vkdalmak tribes work together to ensure most of the desert has someone watching it or passing through it at some point, travelling in spiralling patterns eventually converinging at the center of the desert where the tribes meet and celebrate before seperating once again.

Most of what outsiders know of the Vkdalm comes from their trade goods, cosmos warp skeins. This type of warp skein is extremely rare and valued as they often unlock unique powers related to teleportation. The origin of these skeins are a mystery to outsiders and the Vkdalm refuse to part with this one secret, leading to much speculation about the Vkdalm and the Etchari desert as a whole.

Dalmul

The Dalmul live around the edges of the Etchari, concentrated along the Final Steppes. They occasionally roam beyond the borders of T'Chun to trade with neighboring communities like the walled cities in Iozan. The Dalmul have built entire buildings on the back of various domesticated giant beasts found in the Final Steppes and Hast Wildlands such as driftmaws, and stoneback drakes, many people liken their passage to walking cities. Many Dalmulak tribes care for herds of domesticated animals, including magical livestock.

Dalmulak produce many magical goods still yet to be cheaply reproduced with weaving from the bodies of hunted and domesticated creatures of the Wildlands. The Wildlands has a much larger population of large and powerful monsters, and proportionally, the Dalmulak are an important source of filled Soul Traps for other countries.

Yedran

The Yedran tribes call T'Chun their homelands, but can be travelling abroad for years at a time before returning and even speak a different language than the Vkdalm or Dalmul. The other peoples of T'chun consider Yedran more like cousins than fellow T'chunak people. For many people, especially those in rural areas, Yedrani merchants and performers are the primary source of news from other nations. Yedrani have a reputation for 'abducting' people from their homes in sleepy hamlets and taking them on adventures across the continent. Unlike the Dalmul and Vkdalm, the Yedrani truly have no permanant settlements. While the others are mostly nomadic, there are occasional towns that call themselves Dalmulak or Vkdalmak. The Yedran are truly the travelling people.

Species

T'chun is mostly made up of Azar, Mujab, and T'ha. Jull can be found in significant numbers, but almost exclusively along the coastlines. Estras can be found in more settled regions in the northern lands outside of the Etchari Desert. Vecora and Nath are not native to the lands and are mostly found as travellers and merchants. The Nath have a hard time sustaining themselves in areas with such sparse vegetation and avoid the desert. The Yedran have a more balanced mix of species as they pick up people from across the continent and incorporate them into the tribe.

Culture Type

Nomadic

Language

Dalmak, Yedrani

Customs

T'chunak

Standard Skills

Endurance, First Aid, Locale, Perception, Stealth, Athletics, Ride

Professional Skills

Craft(Any), Culture(Any), Language(Any), Lore(Any), Musicianship, Navigation, Survival, Track

Example Combat Styles

Keeper of the Etchari, Dalmulak Hunter, Yedari Outrider

Cultural Passions

Loyalty (Tribe), Love (Travel)

Magic

Channelers are extremely common in T'Chun compared to civilized cultures. Among the Dalmulak and Vkdalmak, it is a warriors rite of passage to gain their first domain from a monster they kill by themselves with no assistance. The Dalmulak and Vkdalmak give domains to all of their people eventually, which is only feasible given their access to monsters. Warp skeins are less available however, and even though most people have domains, less of these Channelers are high echelon or have all of their powers unlocked.

Weaving is practiced amongst the T'chunak, but it is less of a science compared to how countries like Kyawas, Kjist, and Geshal practice weaving. The T'chunak use weaving more ritualistically, using it to recall the memories of the land or talk to ancestors and spirits. Few runewoven artifacts are created or used, though simple magical items are often crafted from naturally magical materials.