Rashi Tribes

Description

The Rashi are a semi-nomadic, human people native to Qinhei who commonly ride on their Axe Beaks. According to their oral history they originate from the central plains of Qinhei, but they have been slowly forced out. First during the time of the Draconic Dominions when part of their population was enslaved and the rest fled further west, but they were pushed out even further by the Zhushen God-Kings who defeated the Dragons. They have forced to retreat all the way to the south-west where they live in the chilly taiga where the Giant God-Kings never cared to expand to. The challenging environment has cost them, but it has also turned them into a stalwart, tenacious people.
As they hold a lot of enmity for the God-Kings, the Dragon-Star Rebellion has approached the Rashi to assist them in overthrowing the Giants, but there is still some distrust between the two factions due to past conflicts. Their shared enmity and extensive negotiations and peace gifts have put them on somewhat neutral ground, but it may be a while before they band together, if they ever will.

Culture

The Rashi are organized in nearly a dozen distinct tribes, called 'Gota' in their native tongue. There are great differences in worldview and beliefs, but they have certain commonalities. In nearly all cases, regaining their homeland and loyalty to the tribe are exceptionally important. They will rarely accept a stranger in their tribe as well, unless they are from a different Gota and have lost their home. At important points in their life such as their coming of age, their first successful hunt, their marriage and such, they place a new tattoo on their bodies. These tattoos are specific to each Gota and they are drawn from specific iconography and totems. They treat these as marks of honor that allow them to proudly display their heritage on their body.

Lineage and Unity

On that note, lineage is very important in their traditions and a person's lineage is orally passed on from parent to child. This can be seen in the ritual that is initiated when one Gota intrudes on the land of another. The leader of the visiting tribe steps forwards and begins reciting his heritage loudly, from parent to grandparent and so on. This can continue dozens of generations back, but eventually someone from the receiving tribe will stand up when their lineage has intersected. From then on they will speak the names together, because it is their shared ancestry. The further back they go, other people from the receiving tribe stand up, too. This promotes unity among the tribes and it allows those Rashi who have lost their tribe to join another while feeling like they truly belong.

Religion

Due to little contact with the rest of the world, their knowledge of the Gods is more limited than other parts of Levantis and the names they give them are different. The true God they worship most is Tianlièn, the Sky Hunter, which is simply another form of Skarann. Dìmuí, the Earth's Bounty is the second most popular, and another form of Sicere.
The region they live in is also home to certain snow spirits shaped like caribou. The Rashi have called these the Xué Atami, who they worship as guides to the lost and forgotten.

Brothers and Sisters, Ride Together!

Type

Geopolitical, Nomadic tribe

Alternative Names

Rashi Gota

Training Level

Trained

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Demonym

Rashi

Government System

Tribalism

Location

Qinhei