Ðekhnai (ðekhˈna)

Ðekhnai (sing: Ðekhna) are the inhabitants of Ekhna, known as Kilmo in Kiljarlean documentation. Ekhna is the capital of the Kilmo region and it's only major population centre. Of the region's 18,000 permanent residets, Ekhna is home to 12,000 of them. The population is overwhelmingly (86%) yutaaq with the remainder being ljudoy.

Language and culture

Ekhna is the only remaining location where any variant of Huswat is spoken as a primary language. Ðekhna culture is believed to be largely unchanged since the $PRECURSOR_NAME empire and contains several unique features that have been lost from more cosmopolitan regions, making it an important but potentially fragile historical touchstone.
The traditions of hospitality are foundational to Ðekhna culture. Established traditions of nonagression within homes and businesses, sharing food and drink from a single platter, and securing the safety of guests are strongly enforced, with the rights and responsibilities of guests and hosts enshrined in law.

Religious practices

Primarily animists, Ðekhnai venerate a number of local deities and a small pantheon of concept-deities. The pantheon appears to be a subset of the old $PRECURSOR_NAME imperial pantheon, and includes:

• Mogkaw
• Hetpëshich
• Aygë
• Ashnë
• Dej
• S̀eykaw
• Tjaim, Luu'u, and Djai 

One aspect of precursor culture that appears to have been preserved in Ekhna and lost elsewhere is the role of S̀eykaw as psychopomp. During the Sunwake, the Ðekhnai believe that S̀eykaw, in Xir aspect as the sun, guides the souls of the dead to the afterlife under the ice. This predates the inclusion of $DEITY_NAME as the guide to and proprietor of the afterlife, as is indicated by the $LOCATION tiles.

Education and childhood

Children finish schooling at around 13 years old, after which they join their family trade or are fostered into a family whose trade they show an affinity for, or which has too few children to secure their trade and traditions. This apprenticeship lasts until twenty-oneat which point a Ðekhna is considered and adult and may be married, rise to the judiciary, begin active military service, or own a business. All citizens, including children, are expected to participate in defending the town, according to their ability and aptitude.

Contact with outsiders

Contested by three countries, Ðekhnai consider themselves citizens of no empire, subjects of no monarch, and pay no fealties or duties, apparently unconcerned about the wider Kijarlean Empire. The prevailing thought universal among the Ðekhnai is that any ruler who wants their taxes may collect them in person.
Few Ðekhnai leave the town permanently. The only visitors are research expeditions documenting Acostail and the Ðekhnai themselves. Known as 'daylight strangers' - expeditions are usually timed to coincide with the most hospitable - researchers appear to fall into a new, fouth, class category where they are treated as perpetual children and treated appropriately. This makes accessing age-restricted cultural aspects difficult and large portions of the culture remains undocumented.

Social structure

Ðekhnai social structure has three tiers - rulers, warriors, and labourers - comprising an approximate 1:7:92 percent split of the population. The members of the ruling class handle civic, religious, and judicial matters. Members of the warrior class are responsible for the defensive of the city, hunting and administration. Labourers do everything else.
Prior to the the winter of 4.1763, the ruling and warrior classes took the first pick of the food as their legal right, but the labouring classes violently ovethrew the then-ruling family and presented the second family with the heads of the previous leaders and the exhortation to do better by the town. Since then, food has been evenly distributed and appointed heads of various trades are entitled to bring complaints to the rulership for redress.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Ðekhnai usually name their children by combining component parts of the parents' names. Historically, members of the labouring class did not use family names, but in the past two hundred years, low genetic diversity has necessetated keeping written geneological records to verify degrees of separation. Labouring classes have adopted the militant class' use of metronymic family names, deriving from the mother's trade, rather than her name, suffixed with -ondir (son), -innyæ (daughter), or -ðold (intersex and third-gender), but these are rarely used in daily life.
Labouring class family names are trade-based; the children of a fletcher (lefaft) would be: Leaftinnyæ Leaftondir, and Leaftðold.
Militant class family names are name-based, eg: Swodændinnyæ, Swodændir, Swodænðold
Ruling class family names are god-based, eg: Ashnëdinnyæ, Ashnëondir, Ashnëðold

Other names

Appellations and ifrawarft

Given to recognise a personal accomplishment, significant feature, or positive or negative trait, appellations are common for notable and historically significant individuals. An individual, object, or concept may be known by multiple descriptors, known as ifrawarft, which might be used to describe them poetically or abstractly.
The legendary hero Swodæng is said to hunted and skinned a bear at thirteen years old, gaining the appellation 'bear-skin'; they were also known as 'hawkeye' for their skill with the bow and 'bright-hair' for their long white hair. The poem 'Snow's shared grief', features an argument between three different charactes known as Bearskin, Hawkeye, and Brighthair - all of whom are Swodæng. 'Snow's shared grief' is itself an ifrawarft referring to flooding caused by rapid snowmelt.

Diminuitives

Shortened version of full names, usually a single syllable, diminuitives may bear little resemblence the long-form name. They are a mark of familiarity.

Forms of address

A system of naming is used to denote circles of intimacy. Full names (personal, family, appellation/descriptor) are used for strangers and in formal settings. Historical records prior to 5.652 may omit the family name if it is unknown.
Personal names may be used if the person is a friendly acquaintance. Unfriendly acquaintances use family name only.
Descriptors and appellations may be used to address a friend. Ifrawarft are a poetic device and their use in real life is for comedic effect.
Close family may use a person's diminuitive name.
Intimite diminuitives are used by a partner or spouse. Use of an intimite diminuitive by a non-partner is considered extremely offensive and may warrant legal redress.

Culture

Shared customary codes and values

Typified as surly, standoffish, and blunt to the point of rudeness, Ðekhnai are not fond of outsiders but are dutiful, if brusque, hosts. Living in close quarters surrounded by hostility makes for a culture which values hard work, resilience, and generosity, and discourages dramatic emotions, gossiping, and infidelity. Regardless of class, Ðekhnai will close ranks with each other against an external threat, valuing community need over personal desire.

Average technological level

Despite gifts of firearms and contemporary textiles, Ðekhnai continue to use traditional tools, materials, and techniques. Magical traditions in extreme environments tend to be highly adapted and poorly replicable outside of their home culture, and no functional examples of Ðekhnai enchantments have been observed outside of Acostail.

Related Locations

• Acostaal