Argenti

The Argenti Settlers

The Argenti are a unique and resilient people, in that their home country of Argentia was destroyed by war, but they were undaunted and sought home elsewhere, building the kingdom of Alok Malagan. Unfortunately, the land fell to a terrible plague and they were once again forced to move. While many took to less permanent homes, favoring caravans and mobile tent cities, others turned their gaze back across the sea toward their homeland, and sought to rebuild Argentia. Many Argenti define themselves by their settlements and homes, allowing them to keep a piece of their homeland with them in a way.

Argenti

Proudly keeping their heritage close to heart, the Argenti - who hold dear to the name coming from their old home country - stick well with the practices and traditions that have been passed through the generations. Those who identify themselves as Argenti have looked towards the horizon, and started their return to Argentia, working for its reconstruction. It was the Argenti who led the attempt to rebuild in Palmydia with the nation of Alok Malagan. It is common to find an Argenti who can trace their lineage back to when their family once lived in the old kingdom.

Domitthon

The Domitthon might be considered the hardiest among Argenti settlers, in that they are a group who chose to remain in Doth Moria, rebuilding a smaller collection of villages just in the western Nazogora Mountains outside of the ruins of Argentia. While less invested in rebuilding the old kingdom, they took the destruction as a sign for moving forward. Though unlike many others, they chose to remain in the same region as the old country, not straying too far from the familiarity of their geographical comforts.

Kyvatka

The Kyvatka - many of whom have adopted the nickname Kuyaris, after the deity of Song and Revelry, Kyari - are a people who built their home in the northern region of Septefus in Coast Haven. To say the Kyvatkan are full of excitement and wonder is to say the sun shines bright. The Kyvatka took to the hedonistic lifestyle of the aristocracy of Septefus high society and adopted it to their way of life. In the early years of the settlement, one of the town founders entered what was initially a political marriage with the Estrovan family and secured their new home’s prosperity for decades to come. Now, the Kyvatkan enjoy a peaceful and joyous life throwing care and caution to the wind.

Sevrezji

The Sevrezji chose to rebuild themselves in an extravagant way, spreading out to the corners of the world and building smaller settlements within other countries. In their vast expanse, they maintain a consistent network of carrier ravens and travelling merchants who constantly keep these hamlets in communication with each other. The network is so strictly maintained that one might assume that these hamlets were simply just one village.

Tayezji

The Tayezji are the truest form of nomadic Argenti. With no desire to return to the stagnation of a structured home, they took to the roads, almost instinctively following in the footsteps of the deity Taylos. One who identifies themselves as Tayezji have turned away from the majority of old traditions and care more for the survival of their immediate family, whoever they may choose them to be, and to spend their days travelling from city to city, country to country, absorbing and immersing themselves in the local cultures as Taylos would.

Culture

The Argenti peoples, having lost their ancient home of Argentia, have long since abandoned traditional written history, as much of what was written was destroyed along with the city. When they had first left, many of the Argenti began different forms of record keeping, though it was the Sevrezji who founded what would be the form in which much of their history was kept.
The Sevrezji would weave the stories of the homeland into fabrics and tapestries that would withstand travel and time. And so from then, the history of the Argenti was found literally woven into the clothing and textiles produced by the Argenti people, no matter where they would find themselves. This form of record keeping also became an apt means of storytelling and communication between the now several tribes of Argenti spread across the world.
However, having split into several new tribes, each had a somewhat different recollection of their history, and so it is often difficult to find what might have been a perfectly accurate record. What did remain consistent, though, was the symbolism for many of the major events, and so for those who know where and how to look, the truth of it all can still be traced.

Holidays

Cadou de Tapiserija - "Gift of Tapestries"
The Argenti, while keeping few formal dates, celebrate the birth of a new family member with the beginning of a tapestry at dawn of the day after the child is born. The event is a celebration of the beginning of new life, and continued lineage of the family. One of the most prominent moments during this celebration is the naming ceremony, where the newborn’s name is woven as the first piece of the new tapestry, and thus, solidifying their place in the world along with bringing fortune to the family.
Zi de Prima Pasi - "Night of First Steps"
In most cultures, the step into adulthood is an important one. To the Argenti, it is a sign that a person is able to stand on their own, and possibly even start their own family. The encouragements for adding to the family, or carrying on the family name, or making alliances with another through marriage all begin this day, as it means they are ready to take their first steps into carrying on the legacies and traditions. Traditionally, the festivities occur at night because it is the final moments to celebrate the family member's final days as a child.
Zakat Lohkavild - "Sunset of the Final Rest"
Death is not mourned like in many other cultures. The Argenti see death as the end of a person’s journey, and thus the completion of their tapestry. The tapestry is hung up for all to see for the majority of a day, so that all could come and see the accomplishments and life led by the deceased. When the night comes, the people burn the body along with offerings and gifts to take with them. Tradition has said that the bigger the fire, the more notice the gods take of their entrance into the afterlife. Some also choose to burn the tapestry with the deceased so the gods may read their story, while others keep it hung up like a monument.

Religious Beliefs

Religious practice among the Argenti is varied from tribe to tribe, and sometimes even person to person. Rarely does one approach the Zyavenijk - or Ordrim as they have come to be known - with a sense of mediocrity. An Argenti will usually either be wholly dedicated to them, or treat them with the same respect as a passing acquaintance.
Calling to the Zyavenijk most often involves bundling offerings into a cloth with the name of the deity or deities woven into the fabric. This offering is placed in a fire and burned, usually accompanied by stories of the deity, praising them so they may look favorably upon the invoker.
Among the Ordrim worshipped by the Argenti, there are some that are held in higher regard and are more widely known across all the tribes:

Zyavenijk, the Patron Ordrim

Taylos - Patron of Wanderers, Wealth, and Good Fortune. His name is invoked on long journeys and in hopes of freeing those who have been beset by poverty. He has been thought of as carefree and whimsical, but always protective of those on the open road.
Kyari - Matron of Song, Revelry, and Hope. She is invoked at festive gatherings most often, but also in times when gloom has taken a grip of the soul. Maybe believe that she offers second chances to those who invoke her name in their darkest moments.
Solsim - Patron of Retribution and Protection. He is known to be a vicious patron who metes out “justice” against those who wrong the invoker. Those who do must take care when invoking him, as he has been said to exact his own vengeance against those who call to him with unjust purpose.
Amaris - Matron of Sight and Destiny. She is prayed to in times of desperation and uncertainty. Her followers believe she guides the lost towards their destination through prophecy and visions of the future, and her more devout clergy have commonly been regarded as prophets and oracles.

Political Relations

Among the tribes, the Sevrezji are the most well respected with many nations across the world, because of their willingness to ferry and provide information. Sometimes their network has been found to be more reliable than messenger ravens, and such reliability has earned them a seat at many a lord’s table. The Kyvatka’s strong rooted alliance with the Septefan aristocracy has garnered similar notoriety with the various trade guilds who pass through Coast Haven.
The Tayezjii, on the other hand, are regarded more fondly by the common classes in the varying nations, as the others find the Tayezji to be more relatable to their own ways of life. The Domitthon and Argentians are more diverse in their relations with others, as they have less formal contact with them in a political capacity as the tribe.

Notable Figures

Maximillian “Pesmerga” Malagan
Whether revered or reviled for his later actions, this is a name known to almost every Argenti. When the Argentians had resettled into their new country of Alok Malagan, Pesmerga, a powerful dragoon commander in the army of Francisco Alok, served to defend his peoples’ new home with fervor. Though he came from old Argentian royal blood, he hid under the name “Kainen” to keep his station and avoid unwanted attention. He was a devout and loyal person, doing everything for his people. It was not until later that when his daughter fell ill with a sickness that he doomed many into the curse of vampirism.
Francisco Alok
Before the land fell to its necrotic state, it was a once flourishing country. After losing the homeland of Argentia, Francisco, previously royalty in the Argentian court, turned to build a new homeland, so that their ways would not be lost. He reigned as the leader of this new-found Alok Malagan, but unfortunately, it would not last forever. His ambitions to rule a great country were not swayed, even after his affliction of vampirism, and the country had eventually become the undead necropolis known today. Despite the turn to undeath, he still held a special place for his people, and the Argenti were always given the freedom to come and go as they pleased.
Rodavan Kovac
Rodavan is the current Magister of the Kyvatka in Septefus. They have held the station since 1195, making considerable improvements to the township’s infrastructure and people in their time as an elected official. Rodavan has noted the push for expansion north in an effort to turn the township into a fully independent city by the Queen of Coast Haven. So far, their steps taken have been wildly successful and it is likely that the city of Sjevepryt will secure its new territory soon.
Chetyre Vetra, The Four Winds Trading Company
Chetyre Vetra has come to be known around the world as the most reliable and expeditious trade company to ever operate on Arawyn. The trading company was formed in the late 1160s in an attempt to more efficiently monetize the network of settlements the tribe has formed over the years. The company is managed by a group of guild masters, each of which hail from a different village of the Sevrezji. The company has carved a name for itself among the continental market that it is one of the most widely used trade guilds in Palmydia.

Folk Lore

Petr and Petra Belglaz, “The Heirs of Calamity”
Petr and Petra were born twins, and lived relatively normal lives in Argentia until they swore themselves into the clergy of the Zyavenijk as prophets of Amaris. The twins were blessed by her with a gift of clear sight, which manifested as the irises of their eyes turning a glowing stark white. Petra was one of conviction and sense, and foresaw the dangers of their gifts, while Petr chose to use his power to see to the immediate needs of the people.
In time, the twins saw a vision of a danger within the cursed Djolvora Forest on the southern border of Argentia. It was Petr who saw a vision of their own doom, but Petra who saw what would happen as a result of their actions. At the urging of Petr to solve their immediate crisis, Patra followed, knowing of what was to come, but hoping to sway the course of the spiral her sibling was soon to set in motion.
What neither had seen when they came to the forest, was the force through which their inevitability would manifest itself. The Djolvora Forest was known to be cursed, but by what remained largely a mystery. The twins never returned from the woods, as the story tells. They were swallowed by the darkness that resided within.
Over the years people have spoken of the glowing eyes in the forest watching and tells of doomed prophecies whispered out of the shadows. Some have even claimed to see the twins, twisted and vile shells of their former selves, eyes still glowing stark white. Since then, the sign of Amaris - the white eye - found in a twin, has been seen as an omen of ill luck.
Son of Calamity
When the world was still recovering from the destruction wrought by the Storm of the Gods, twins were born, yet one had a peculiar feature. He was born with a single white eye - often considered a gift of prophecy - and many thought it to be a blessing. The priests of Amaris warned of great calamity from his birth, but few paid heed to them at first. As he grew up more and more became wary, starting to fear the warning. Many believed that he would be influenced by the evils of the fabled Belglaz twins and become a force of destruction. Still, he was let to live.
A time came when he finally reached adulthood that disaster began to fall. He had served as an oracle for a nearby kingdom, but had been scorned by the ruler and cast away for a vision that did not show promise of the King’s future. Enraged by this act, the man used his powers to enact vengeance on the king, tearing the land and kingdom asunder. Eventually, for this act, the man was put to death. It was only afterward, people began to fear the presence of the white eye. The legends would come to tell of the evil influence of the twins. Twins such as they, born with white eyes were marked as cursed by the monstrous night creatures.
Umbre Viata
In the darkness exist shadowy creatures that hunt the unwary. They lie in wait, like hungry piranhas swimming through the night hunting and devouring anything they come across. The Umbre Viata are said to only fear two things; the light of dawn, and the tolling bells of the Undertaker’s Cart. The undertaker is death himself, and creatures that thrive on killing are far closer to his doorstep than any other. Because of this, many have taken to adorning themselves with bells to mimic the call of the undertaker, warding off the Umbre Viata from killing them in the night.
The Courier
One of the most mysterious and elusive legends among the Argenti, and especially Tayezji, is the story of a courier who often presents himself as a messenger of the Chetyre Vetra or one of its guild masters. He has always arrived and left without giving a name, and shown to be the most punctual of messengers. Some have guessed that it could be some kind of supernatural being or many, others have suggested it is actually Taylos, masquerading as a way to praise and aid the guild.
Colors
Through their time of weaving history into textiles and tapestries, the Argenti have taken to forms of shorthand in their work to imply significance and meaning in their works. Across the tribes, this shorthand has taken the form of colors as signifiers to tell stories, or as hopeful invitations of varying fortune.

• Red - A symbol of death. This represents having met with death, or having been near death.
• White - An omen of doom. Often thought of as approaching death or great destruction.
• Blue - A symbol of diplomacy. It is believed those in blue are more peaceful than others.
• Green - Represents Healthfulness. The sick are often given green jewels and clothing to encourage quick recovery.
• Purple - Royalty or Fortitude. Many wear purple, believing it to make them strong, as they believe their leaders to be the strongest of them all.
• Black - An Omen of Emptiness. It represents nothingness, or lack of being. Some wear it believing it to help them avoid being seen by the Sight or the Divine.
• Yellow - Enlightenment. To wear yellow often implies that one is gifted with prophecy, or greater knowledge.
• Orange - A symbol of Wisdom and Luck. More often worn to denote status, it also encourages favor with decision making and good fortune.
• Gold - A color of the Divine. It is believed that the color of gold brings one closer to the Zyavenijk, and the more gold one has or wears, the more in touch with their patrons they become.
• Silver - Omen of Disaster. - Silver represents having survived or to ward away disaster from befalling oneself.