Kemmans
The kemmans1 are hunters and fishermen inhabiting the southernmost part of Túlmikkía and Gætíus' World in general, specifically the coastal Þem Desert and the Góak Forest northeast of it. They are native to the southern Gnákan Savanna to the north, but were pushed southwards long ago by the Vevúni.
Tattoos are commonly applied to the face and arms as a part of coming-of-age rituals, as apotropaic devices and to indicate marital status.
Most kemman languages are considered quite difficult by neighbouring Tederans and vevúni, as not only does the grammar tend to be very complex, but they often have sounds which are quite rare in Gætíus' World, including click consonants.
The desert tribes also make use of a sign language in order to ease communication for trading and generally exchanging information.
Culture
Apparel
Along the coast, where the weather is invariably cold and dry throughout the year, clothing is mostly made from sealskin, jackal- or hyaena hides, while more varied materials are used by the woodland tribes, where the temperature fluctuates more depending on the seasons.Tattoos are commonly applied to the face and arms as a part of coming-of-age rituals, as apotropaic devices and to indicate marital status.
Cuisine
Kemman diet varies between the forest- and desert tribes, the former mostly subsist on boars, rabbits, birds and their eggs, fish and especially rodents such as groundhogs and squirrels, while the latter primarily fish, gather mollusks and hunt marine mammals. Wild berries, bulbs and tubers are gathered as well when in season.Language
Kemman languages are currently divided into five major language families, two of which -spoken by the woodland tribes- are mutually intelligible for the most part, while the remaining ones spoken in the desert have limited, if any, mutual intelligibility. In addition, there are three isolates, two of which are spoken near the Gmeþon Highlands to the west and the third in the southeasternmost Þem Desert.Most kemman languages are considered quite difficult by neighbouring Tederans and vevúni, as not only does the grammar tend to be very complex, but they often have sounds which are quite rare in Gætíus' World, including click consonants.
The desert tribes also make use of a sign language in order to ease communication for trading and generally exchanging information.
Religion
Kemman religion revolves for the most part around hunting and fishing, with various ceremonies, use of masks and talismans intended to ensure successful hunting of certain animals and -more importantly- to ensure the spirits of said animals won't come to haunt people afterwards. The latter is especially important, as kemmans believe that a successful kill happens because the animal allowed the hunter to do so, rather than than due to luck or pure skill.
Kemman stick-mask and driftwood mask by Lappalingur
Funerary practices
Funerals among kemmans happen immediately after a person's death, where the body is either placed some distance from where the tribe has made camp or covered with rocks, with minimal rituals involved. Woodland kemmans believe that the souls of the dead live beneath the earth, while those in the desert believe their abode to be under the sea, and many tribes believe in some form of reincarnation.1Original icelandic: Kemmar, singular: Kemmi.
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