Viverri

The nomadic tribes that inhabit the Sea of Sand and is comprised entirely of gnolls.

Naming Traditions

Unisex names

Among the Viverri naming conventions are most unusual when compared to many other ethnic groups. Pups are given names from the parents by taking parts from both parents' names. For example and couple by the names of Zubboh and Konzac may name their pup Zuzac, Konzub, Zacboh, or Bohkon to name a few options. All names are between 1 and 3 syllables long as the Viverri seem to not like drawn out things in general.
Examples of names: Amnak, Geirma, Krahaz, Omnad, Rizzok

Family names

Family names among the Viverri equate to their tribe names which they adopt upon entering adulthood. If a Viverri mates with another from a differing tribe whichever tribe the couple ends up residing in becomes their new family name.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

At one time many centuries ago many if not all gnolls spoke their native tongue, which even in their own tongue has no formal name, so many scholars simply refer to it as Gnoll. Over time however the language died out due to the assimilation of gnolls into other cultures, and now the only speakers of the original language are the Viverri. Gnoll has no written or script form, but occasionally the Viverri will utilize writing simple concepts in Terran.
The Gnoll language is a harsh sounding language full of hard consonants punctuated with cackling, howling, snarling and whining sounds with body language, facial expression, and gestures influencing the meaning of the words themselves. It is extremely rare to meet any non-gnolls that can communicate anything more than single words in the language as the nuance required is something that can't be taught.

Culture and cultural heritage

Matriarchal Societies

The Viverri place great importance on the women of their tribes, and women tend to hold the position of chief and other leadership roles. Blood ties are extremely important to the Viverri being traced through many different tribes but it is always matrilineal. Heirlooms or anything that would be inherited would be passed down typically to the eldest daughter. None of this is to say that the men were cast aside, in fact they held an equal amount of responsibility in their tribes. However women were seen as the bearers of life and as such the were given status and reverence. While being a mostly monogamous people many chiefs would commonly have multiple male mates who also acted as their guard and elite warriors in times of strife.

Hunters

As the Sea of Sand is less than ideal for agriculture and pastoral lifestyles the Viverri instead rely mainly on hunting. Prospective warriors and hunters are trained in the use of the crossbow, tekeli, kubata, gheda, and akhur mastering each of these tools within a year.
The kubata is a one meter in length straight sword. Kubata blades are double edged with a pronounced tapering from the guard towards the tip. The hilt is typically covered in tooled leather and the simple but deep crossguard is wrapped in ornamental leathers. Their scabbards, which most often hang from their backs, are where individuals make their mark with elaborate designs and colors. The gheda is simply put a javelin, and an akhur is a shield measuring about 3 feet tall.
The prey of choice for the hunters, and perhaps the most challenging is the bulette, predator of the Sea of Sands. Much of the Viverri armors are created from the armor plates of the bulette and they are plentiful in meat meaning they are not hunted often, but when they are it is always an exciting time for the hunters. Other targets of the hunters include: lizards, snakes, scorpions, spiders (all four sometimes of the giant variety), drakes, and desert hares.

Jahl Melon

The Jahl melon is an integral part of the Viverri culture and is used for food and water, hollowed and dried to make containers, and used to make red, orange and yellow dyes. The Jahl melon grows in the Sea of Sand floating just below the surface as it drifts about on the currents with its shoots peaking above the surface during the day for sun, and when rain is imminent before retreating to retain water. They can be spotted by their 7 petal yellow flowers that stay above the surface of the sand. The melon grows on a vine that extends in all directions but stays close to the surface, and at times the vines can reach 30 feet long. The fruit itself has a yellow orange exterior and ranges in size from 4"-12" in diameter in a spherical shape. The exterior is extremely hard to get through requiring a blade to cut into but the interior guts soft with a high water content.
The flower and guts can be used in the making of yellow dyes along with the shell for orange or red dyes. The shoots and vine have a high water content and can be chewed for water or they are boiled to soften them up and added to stews. The seeds shouldn't be eaten raw as the are as hard as stone until baked. From there they may be eaten alone or more commonly they are ground into flour and used to make a flatbread that is a staple of the Viverri diet. The shell of the melon are dried out and used to make containers for various things.

Nocturnal Society

Following in the footsteps of many other desert dwellers the Viverri people are a nocturnal culture. Their homes and tents are made in caves, outcroppings, or in narrow canyons where the temperature is more consistent while their fur saves them from the chill of the desert nights. From sunrise to sunset a small group of anywhere from 4-8 hunters will keep watch over the village to ensure the safety of their tribe.

Shared customary codes and values

Tribal and Familial Ties

The Viverri place a strong value on family, respecting blood ties perhaps more than any other aspect of a relationship. Most Viverri can recite their family trees going back several centuries or more which for their lifespan is a lot of names, and bloodlines were always traced maternally.
Second only to family is their tribal bond. As the desert is a harsh and unforgiving home it is essential that every member of a tribe contribute and leave behind disagreements in the face of survival. Disagreements are quickly settled either through a mediator who is the chief in most cases or through combat. However once settled Viverri are not known for holding grudges and quickly move on. Viverri who fight side by side regularly forgo personal glory in favor of helping their brethren.

Average technological level

Agabas

Bearing a striking resemblance to the catamarans used in Sanorio, these sand boats are the primary method of transportation for the Viverri tribes. There is no known exposure between the two groups making the development of these two similar boats a fascinating area of study at the Mage's Guild.

Crossbow

It is currently unknown when the Viverri came into contact with the crossbow, however through several accounts the Viverri claim that they were not initially part of the culture. It is believed that at some time around ~600 ME the Viverri entered into trade with a group of outsiders and the crossbow was introduced to them. Since then the Viverri have become adept at their usage and creation, and it has nearly supplanted the bow in their culture.

Common Etiquette rules

In Viverri society speaking your mind is actively encouraged and baring ones true feelings is expected in most situations. As a people they detest lies and secrets believing that harboring these things can only bring detriment to the tribe. As such outsiders many times consider the Viverri to be rude, but it is merely a cultural difference in values. Naturally this kind of honesty can lead to many arguments or fights, and this is seen as a natural progression. If a disagreement can't be solved by words a mediator may be brought in, and failing that the parties may engage in ritual combat with the winner being decided when their fangs are poised on the throat of the loser. The losing party is quick to move on in most cases as they feel they were at least heard out. This behavior however is not to be confused with cruelty as many outsiders seem to think it does.

Common Dress code

Art & Architecture

As a nomadic group permanent structures aren't at the forefront of viverri style rather tents are the main building of the community. On the exterior the tents are made to blend in with the sand and rock as much as possible keeping them hidden from afar to monsters, but the interior is where they really shine. Inside ones tent is where each viverri gets to express who they are through intricate weavings and leather work sewn into the interior of the tent. Murals are the most common sight and many are of either family or notable geographic features of the desert.

Foods & Cuisine

The Jahl melon plays a large role in the food of the Viverri as one of the few reliable things they can harvest apart from hunting. The jahl melon guts are used in stew recipes routinely with meat simmering in it. The seeds of the Jahl melon are baked and ground into a flour after which it is mixed with water until it is thick. Then the flat ball of dough is buried underneath the sand with hot embers placed on top which cooks the bread. This bread is a staple of Viverri diets. The shoots of the Jahl melon are also rich with water and are cut up and added to stews, bringing a slightly bitter flavor with them.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Tekeli

The tekeli is perhaps the most prized possession of each Viverri with each member having their own unique blade. The dagger measures 18 inches long with the blade usually coming in at around 13 inches. Tekeli blades are straight and double sided with no guard. The dagger is traditionally affixed to the left forearm and is used primarily for hunting, sometimes self defense, and is rarely removed except when sleeping or bathing. Each tekeli is unique as they are crafted by the individuals mother with her own tekeli before bestowing it on her pup when they reach adulthood. So important is this dagger that it is the only possession that Viverri are buried with when they pass on.

Seasonal Changes and Migration

Between the Spring Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox, when the Daylight is at its longest, the Viverri believe this to be the time of The Great Mother. During the Spring and Summer months the Viverri take up residence in the northern parts of the desert closer to the Ankarana Plateau where temperatures will be cooler. And between the Autumnal Equinox and the Spring Equinox, which they believe to be the time of the Moon Daughter, they take up residence in the southern parts of the desert closer to the equator where the autumn and winter weather will be tempered by the warmth. The equinoxes mark the beginning of the migration pattern for each time of of year, and hold a great deal of meaning to them.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a member of the tribe passes on their body is prepared by wrapping them in cloth and removing all else except their tekeli before taking them into the depths of one of the many islands in the Sea of Sand. In the caves and tunnels that twist through the interiors the body is placed in one of the underground sand rivers. From there the body is carried away by the current where the sand eventually grinds down the body into dust and the dead return to "The Great Mother", or at least that is their belief.
It is unknown what deity the Viverri refer to as "The Great Mother", but I posit that is their name for Eldath or Chantea as they refer to the Kilika River Valley Basin and oasis as the "Great Mother's Cradle". Seeing as it was their home long ago and it is a place rich with agriculture and peace it would make sense.

Common Taboos

Cannibalism

Nowadays many people see gnolls as voracious eaters with unfussy palates, however long ago the common thought was that they were scavengers who would even eat carcasses if they were hungry enough. This is no longer the attitude towards gnolls in the civilized world, but many uneducated still believe this of the Viverri. In fact though, the Viverri do have a few rules about what they can't eat perhaps owing to their unsavory history. Cannibalism is regarded as borderline sacrilegious to the Viverri with the only exception being in times of survival when stranded in the desert, but even then that person will carry a stigma with them until the day they die. Some Viverri will starve to death before consuming a fallen tribe member which goes to show how harsh the stigma is with regards to gnoll's large appetites.

Common Myths and Legends

Birth of the Gnoll Species and the Viverri

The story goes that thousands of years ago the great demon lord Yeenoghu, The Ruler of Ruin, came to the material realm and wandered the western deserts burning and destroying any life he came across looking only to sate his appetite for destruction. From her own realm The Great Mother (as refered to by the Viverri people, however evidence suggests that this is merely their cultural name for Chauntea) took pity on this poor being who had never seen life or creation, took pity on him, and she came from her own realm to attempt to show Yeenoghu a better way. The two travelled the waste land arguing and fighting, creating and destroying, yet Yeenoghu would not fully turn away from his nature. Until the two had children, and the gnoll species was born. This event changed Yeenoghu who for the first time had helped create and bring life to something, and he became a staunch protector of their children. However he was merely mortal in this realm and his strength could only go so far. And so the two decided to have another child, one that would watch over the gnolls at night while Chauntea rested, and so the Moon Daughter (who I believe to be their name for either Selûne, goddess of the moon or Sehanine Moonbow) was born. Chauntea watched them during the day, their sister Selûne watched over them at night, and Yeenoghu walked with his children and taught them what they would need to survive in their desert home. After giving birth Chauntea retreated back to her own realm to rest but vowed to watch over their children, and being of a mortal body eventually Yeenoghu passed away and returned to his own realm while their children live on with the protection and teachings of their parents.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Physical appearance seems to have little to do with attraction and beauty to the Viverri. Most commonly I've heard from the Viverri that scent is the defining feature they rely on. A common compliment amongst them equates to something like "You smell nice".

Courtship Ideals

Courtship for the Viverri begins with a gift, and there are no norms as to who gives the first gift male or female. These gifts range from jewelry made from desert glass, to ornate weapons, to anything. This gift is then reciprocated by the other with a gift of equal or greater value meaning a positive reply and one of lesser value or none is a negative. In the case of lesser gift it may be seen as an insult if it is too much lesser like giving a shirt to a suitor that gifted you a sword.
Once gifts have been exchanged and the two agree to courtship the male moves into the females tent and begins assisting and working with her on whatever her role is in the tribe. If after 3 months pass and the couple are still set on this pairing they will then prepare for a hunt. The two take what they need and embark on a hunt, just the two of them, to bring down a large monster by working together. If they complete this they set camp and feast on their kill, dance in front of their campfire, and consummate their pairing.
Upon return to the tribe they will have fashioned either jewelry, hide or something of the like from their kill so as to signify their union. The mothers of the newly mated will gift the couple some kind of inheritance which can vary greatly, and then the male will move all of his belongings to the female's tent where they will construct their new den.
On a side note, the Viverri have two euphemisms they use to refer to sex calling it the "desert dance" or they may ask another if they want to "go hunting".

Related Organizations

Kal Adagh Tribe

Related Locations

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