Kiva (KEE-vuh)
The westernmost country of Icalar. Its capital 'city' is Seishmeb. Although most of its population lives in semi-nomadic tribes, its modest military -- primarily of koza riders, known as bahn-komaat -- can be mustered through a kega initiated by any Head Tribesman, and is referred to as the Valnoc.
It is predominantly steppe and plains, though there is a cluster of high mountains (the Horizon Watchers) in the far west. Although the northern fork of the Praethin River ends in northern Kiva, disappearing into the tumbling Baon Well (also known as the Phaetun Cradle), their largest freshwater source is the Tycephaur Lake south of Seishmeb.
Structure
Inherently tribal. Kivans are composed of several distinct ethnic groups that in turn contain a small number of tribes; within each tribe may be dozens of families or lone individuals. Additionally, some tribes occasionally have faun steads that travel or are associated with them, and depending on the closeness of the relationship, may be considered of their number and thus subject to their laws, protection, etc.
All tribes are considered equal and are overseen by their own Head Tribesman; the Heads meet once a year at Seishmeb to discuss matters of mutual concern, address trespasses between tribes or too large to be handled in-tribe, and agree on general modes of conduct or outside relations. While all tribes contain Members, within a tribe there are several blood families, each of which is represented by a Crest.
Sixteen Key Tribes: Auut, Bephtalpet, Dezalka, Dhin, Drohr, Etir, Hezar, Imratepi, Jekril, Jiermeb, Kaolevne, Moul, Oss, Savsvir, Venkuseth, Yerkbesh
Culture
Flag:
The country's flag consists of two dark red triangles as base; lower triangle with Kivan crest (black) of a hawk seizing and being clutched by a viper; the upper triangle is typically filled with an individual tribe's crest. The hawk and viper are a nod to a teaching by the Plains Hunter. Anthropology:
Belief in the Plains Hunter is prominent and has influenced much of their values of autonomy, equity, and pragmatism, and their nomadic lifestyle. They have retained their tribal nature as a result unlike most other countries, and this has supported the continued presence of distinct ethnic groups and their dialects rather than area accents. Veneration of one's aecasha (ancestors) is common whether or not one is a Creedist. Kivans are often recognizable first and foremost by their tuch-bahn. Carved horn ornamentation, braided leather details, and ochre or earth-tone designs (especially geometric) on their clothing are also common. Braids also feature in their hair, and decorative display of one's venia is normal. Given the prevalence of koza-riding, tall-bellies are common atire -- sometimes even whether or not the individual is a rider. Tribal Identity and Naming Conventions:
Tribal identity is important and especially reflected in introductions. In formal settings one introduces oneself with one's first name, place in the order of siblings, and the names of one's parents (mother, then father, with both parents' surnames joined [Mother-Father]), followed by one's tribe and ethnic group. Married individuals are typically referred to by / include their unmarried names. For example: (of an unmarried person) "I am Kotia, only daughter of Amiraenta and Andras Usbet-Acosaphaura, of the Etir of the Onshecaat." or (of a married person) "I am Devatska Uvya-Acosaphaura, youngest daughter of Kethesanta and Edur Fraesi-Uvya, of the Etir of the Onshecaat." Unmarried individuals carry their father’s name, but when they marry, their spouse’s name is brought to the front. For example: Andras Acosaphaura, the son of Devatska and Eraleon Uvya-Acosaphaura, married Amiraenta Usbet -- he became Andras Usbet-Acosaphaura and she Amiraenta Usbet-Acosaphaura; their daughter Kotia is unmarried and is thus Kotia Acosaphaura. In less formal situations, however, or outside of Kiva or in familiar settings -- or as a deliberate demonstration of estrangement or scorn -- an individual may choose to use only one of their surnames. For example, Devatska lives outside of Kiva and is estranged from her parents but was close to her husband and his family, and thus has dropped her unmarried name and is known largely as simply Devatska Acosaphaura. Etiquette:
A standard greeting from a member of one tribe to another is "The way has been long," to which the other responds "But the hunt remains glorious"; typically the first phrase is initiated by the host and the second by the arrival. This features in particular in the practices of arriving at a camp not belonging to one's tribe -- the outsider waits a suitable distance from the camp perimeter to be approached by the Head Tribesman or designated stand-in, who carries a small brazier on chains (known as a chel-tuk) containing a burning ember from the camp's fire. After the greeting is exchanged, the Head Tribesman will either reject the outsider or welcome them with "The [tribe name] welcome you to our ground and our fire." and hand them the brazier; the outsider may then follow the Head to the fire, where they must pluck out the ember (tacked to the bottom of the brazier) and toss it back in the fire. It is also expected that outsiders (Kivan or not) bring a gift to their host, and this may either be given at the perimeter (especially if a welcome seems unlikely) or after returning the ember to the fire; gifts vary, though ostentatious ones are less appreciated than meaningful or useful ones. Death Practices:
Unlike most Icalaran cultures, Kivans do not cremate their dead; instead they are left on specially-constructed biers for the animals and the elements to consume according to the believed preference of the Plains Hunter. This practice is known as 'the final offering' or, more commonly, feyil medot -- a 'carrion burial'. Consequently, they do not employ Shepherds and indeed, are superstitious about them. Expressions of Deep Humility:
A notable ceremonial act rooted in Creedist practices is the 'prey pose', wherein the individual first prostrates deeply forward on the ground before leaning up and back onto their heels to expose their bellies, holding the pose for a beat before returning upright.
The country's flag consists of two dark red triangles as base; lower triangle with Kivan crest (black) of a hawk seizing and being clutched by a viper; the upper triangle is typically filled with an individual tribe's crest. The hawk and viper are a nod to a teaching by the Plains Hunter. Anthropology:
Belief in the Plains Hunter is prominent and has influenced much of their values of autonomy, equity, and pragmatism, and their nomadic lifestyle. They have retained their tribal nature as a result unlike most other countries, and this has supported the continued presence of distinct ethnic groups and their dialects rather than area accents. Veneration of one's aecasha (ancestors) is common whether or not one is a Creedist. Kivans are often recognizable first and foremost by their tuch-bahn. Carved horn ornamentation, braided leather details, and ochre or earth-tone designs (especially geometric) on their clothing are also common. Braids also feature in their hair, and decorative display of one's venia is normal. Given the prevalence of koza-riding, tall-bellies are common atire -- sometimes even whether or not the individual is a rider. Tribal Identity and Naming Conventions:
Tribal identity is important and especially reflected in introductions. In formal settings one introduces oneself with one's first name, place in the order of siblings, and the names of one's parents (mother, then father, with both parents' surnames joined [Mother-Father]), followed by one's tribe and ethnic group. Married individuals are typically referred to by / include their unmarried names. For example: (of an unmarried person) "I am Kotia, only daughter of Amiraenta and Andras Usbet-Acosaphaura, of the Etir of the Onshecaat." or (of a married person) "I am Devatska Uvya-Acosaphaura, youngest daughter of Kethesanta and Edur Fraesi-Uvya, of the Etir of the Onshecaat." Unmarried individuals carry their father’s name, but when they marry, their spouse’s name is brought to the front. For example: Andras Acosaphaura, the son of Devatska and Eraleon Uvya-Acosaphaura, married Amiraenta Usbet -- he became Andras Usbet-Acosaphaura and she Amiraenta Usbet-Acosaphaura; their daughter Kotia is unmarried and is thus Kotia Acosaphaura. In less formal situations, however, or outside of Kiva or in familiar settings -- or as a deliberate demonstration of estrangement or scorn -- an individual may choose to use only one of their surnames. For example, Devatska lives outside of Kiva and is estranged from her parents but was close to her husband and his family, and thus has dropped her unmarried name and is known largely as simply Devatska Acosaphaura. Etiquette:
A standard greeting from a member of one tribe to another is "The way has been long," to which the other responds "But the hunt remains glorious"; typically the first phrase is initiated by the host and the second by the arrival. This features in particular in the practices of arriving at a camp not belonging to one's tribe -- the outsider waits a suitable distance from the camp perimeter to be approached by the Head Tribesman or designated stand-in, who carries a small brazier on chains (known as a chel-tuk) containing a burning ember from the camp's fire. After the greeting is exchanged, the Head Tribesman will either reject the outsider or welcome them with "The [tribe name] welcome you to our ground and our fire." and hand them the brazier; the outsider may then follow the Head to the fire, where they must pluck out the ember (tacked to the bottom of the brazier) and toss it back in the fire. It is also expected that outsiders (Kivan or not) bring a gift to their host, and this may either be given at the perimeter (especially if a welcome seems unlikely) or after returning the ember to the fire; gifts vary, though ostentatious ones are less appreciated than meaningful or useful ones. Death Practices:
Unlike most Icalaran cultures, Kivans do not cremate their dead; instead they are left on specially-constructed biers for the animals and the elements to consume according to the believed preference of the Plains Hunter. This practice is known as 'the final offering' or, more commonly, feyil medot -- a 'carrion burial'. Consequently, they do not employ Shepherds and indeed, are superstitious about them. Expressions of Deep Humility:
A notable ceremonial act rooted in Creedist practices is the 'prey pose', wherein the individual first prostrates deeply forward on the ground before leaning up and back onto their heels to expose their bellies, holding the pose for a beat before returning upright.
History
Kivans have a surprisingly bloody early history prior to the end of the Bloodwater Period, dominated by tribal war, blood feuds, and fierce raids into other territories. Contrastingly, compared to other countries they have then experienced far less conflict since; thus, the decision to involve themselves in the War of the Six was significant.
Hezath Zalesper, one of the generals of the Host of Selephise of the Violet Accord, hailed from Kiva as the head tribesman of the Hezar. Contrastingly, one of the tribes that did not choose to align itself with the Accord and instead found itself with the Pact of the Blessèd was the Etir, of which the notable Acosaphaura family was part.
It is typically agreed that in the three years of the War of the Six and the Long Wake, Kiva lost as many Members, koza, and horses as it had collectively in three hundred years of its own civil wars. Additionally, only four of the fifteen Head Tribesman that entered the war survived (the exception being the Etir) -- of the Kaolevne, the Drohr, the Jiermeb, and the Yerbesh -- and thus they are well known for having decreed that the Valnoc would never be raised again.
Territories
Kiva holds the majority of the Sunset Steppes, but also the western third of the Uscerre Shelf. A small part of the Mourning Forests straddles its border with Unenshuut.
Military
See Valnoc.
Technological Level
Moderate
Religion
An estimated 55% of the Kivan population belong to the Phaetun Creed explicitly, while another estimated 40% adhere to the older tribal beliefs from which it sprung. The remaining 5% -- particularly around Seishmeb and Hemon -- contains a mix of other faiths such as Sehndism and the Order of the Burning Crown, as well as atheism and agnosticism.
Although not subject to persecution or even strong prejudice, anyone who does not adhere to 'the old ways' or Creedism (considered an acceptable modern adaptation of the old ways) is regarded with skepticism, pity, or mild ridicule. This is only ever really seen in the more cosmopolitan areas of the capital and the port of Hemon -- i.e., the primary entry-points of these belief systems via traders and visitors from other countries.
Foreign Relations
Prior to the Age of Reformation Kiva was somewhat isolationist due to the nomadic nature of its people and their reputation for being a strong participant in civil wars, culminating in the Bloodwater Period. However, the Age of Reformation and the settling of national borders improved trade agreements and interpersonal relations, even if it did not totally quell Kivans' strong sense of national pride. In fact, one could argue that they are even more on guard in the preserving of their traditions and interests -- marked especially in the tightening of their husbandry and koza trades (see Trade) and the declaration that the Valnoc would not be raised again, especially for a foreign war.
Agriculture & Industry
Nomadic nature outside of Seishmeb means that agriculture is limited among the tribes, and most subsist as hunter-gatherers. However, Seishmeb's continued permanence has supported the growth of grain fields and orchards -- many of their byproducts are preserved and taken by the traveling tribes as supplementary rations. Regardless, Kiva is usually highly-regarded for its husbandry, both of koza and horses.
The Horizon Watchers once were a sparse source for agokil, used in enstreng, as well as other useful minerals. However, due to the outlawing of firearms in particular this has fallen out of favor; instead, the high concentration of Kivan whitebark there and the resin they produce has become of more interest.
Trade & Transport
Kiva's primary export is that of working animals and fine cattle stock. All Kivan-originating animals are known for their health and resilience, and their koza are prized for their spirited nature, longer flight capability, and good handling in chaos. The trading of koza with other countries is rare, with any agreements being particularly significant. Likewise, while select specimens of horses or cattle may be purchased from Kiva for additional breeding elsewhere, this is not typically done for koza and indeed, is closely-guarded as a state secret. Thus, it was a strong matter of contention when Kiva then had to fight the Ustrarian Itoqir's Razakir in the War of the Six -- the Itoqir had previously managed to broker a historical trading and breeding agreement with Seishmeb, only to feel a sense of betrayal.
Trade for the above is not usually done from outside-in, or in random locations. Seishmeb is usually the only place where trade is conducted, with transportation typically then occurring at the port of Hemon -- primarily for logistical ease -- but special escorting to other Icalaran trade posts can be arranged. Typically particular individuals are entrusted with the task of escorting trade-designated animals to Seishmeb, and even more trusted individuals for escorts out-of-country; the Hezar tribe (once led by Hezath Zalesper) have been trusted with this role for generations. This role is of diplomatic import and significant risk, as attacks on convoys -- both by other Kivans and other nations -- are not uncommon.
Education
Although two Holdings exist in Seishmeb, due to the tribes' nomadic nature homeschooling is the norm.
"The way has been long, but the hunt remains glorious."
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
"The Great Steppes", "The Hunting Grounds"
Demonym
Kivan
Government System
Tribalism
Gazetteer
Currency
Venia for large/important/unusual transactions, mutually-agreed trade for small/everyday.
Major Imports
Fruit, cloth, metal goods
Legislative Body
Mutual agreement by vote of all Head Tribesman.
Judicial Body
All tribes outside of Seishmeb; Seish’shula have jurisdiction over the capital itself.
Official State Religion
Location
Controlled Territories
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