Ranjari
The Ranjari, Xi'iz Kaaj (Blessed People), in their tongue, are a nomadic people of Xusmalat origin who came from Utanar with the Eshtem. In Utanar, they had lived for millenia as sea nomads, plying their trades along routes that moved along the ports of the nations of coasts surrounding the narrow Mahasam Sea separating most of Utanar from Xusmalat. After arriving in Kalmasa with the Eshtem, they eventually split into two separate groups, those who hold to the sea nomad life and those who roam the land, based primarily in the Chilacaualco Desert where they have merged over the years with the native Inokal nomads. Ranjari are similar in appearance to the Calmaxtec, but of slighter build and somewhat darker. Their language also bears a close resemblance to southern Calmaxtec dialects, especially Chol'ak. They traditionally live by trading, repairing, entertaining and salvaging.
A major component of Ranjari business consists of smuggling between Neztlalpan and the provinces of the Kalmasan Samraj. They easily pass for Calmaxtec peasants when wearing Calmaxtec traditional garb instead of their own. Because of this, similar tongue and their wandering ways, Calmaxtec call them Polikalpoli, the Lost Tribe, or more affectionately, Polinctlimeh, the Lost Siblings.
They are tolerated by the Eshtem elite, largely in respect for the now ancient edict issued by Arbiram bas Gheran shortly after landing in Kalamasa that the Ranjari were now Eshkari citizens by birth, in gratitude for their help in surviving the long, harrowing passage across the Atyanta Ocean during the Great Exodus. However this tolerance is stretched thin by the commonly held suspicion that many act as spies for Neztlalpan.
The Ranjari are not a particularly religious people compared to most cultures in Ashar. However they do commune with their ancestors, summoning their presence in rituals to participate in important tribal considerations, or to celebrate with them at festivals or momentous life events. But they do not worship their ancestors or anything else. The Ranjari do not follow any gods. They teach that powers such as gods and the great land spirits have their own agendas, like any other tribe or type of being. They instruct and caution their children that involving yourself in the affairs of such beings is dangerous, since the relationship is so unequal and the beings so different. To be a follower of such a power is to them to be taken over, to be a paltuk, a mind slave.
Ranjari primarily believe in a spiritual freedom that is not isolation, but that any mingling of oneself with another or many should be done with full knowledge, volition and the ability to separate when desired. They believe that the spirits of those who were tricked into, suppressed or forced through violence or circumstance in life to serve another linger in the world of the living and cause ill luck and suffering, become vengeful and angry, often not knowing why. Such acts are vile transgressions within the tribe. These beliefs are a motivation or explanation for their nomadic lifestyle, prizing freedom, within and without. The Ranjari are known to be experts in banishment and exorcisement of spiritual beings, especially elanic spirits and their services are often retained by those haunted by such beings.
They do not disown or disallow tribal members who wish to follow gods or go into service to other people, but such people will never be allowed to join in tribal councils or participate in rituals until they renounce such entanglements and have undergone grueling cleansing rituals to regain spiritual and mental freedom.
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