Mona Ki Ngi Xica

The lands to the south of the Badgassi Mara Honi are populated by a tribe of black-skinned warriors, who ride large horse-zebra hybrids to battle.
These nomadic warriors, the Mona Ki Ngi Xica, are on bad terms with their honey badger neighbors, who often overstep their lands' boundaries, and into the Mona Ki Ngi Xica's savannah. It's widely believed that their zorse mounts are related to the Zulutaurs at the north, although that is false, since it's a different species altogether.
== The Green and Blue Savannah ==
The lands between the south of the Badgassi Mara Honi and the Eldritch Jungle are formed by a strange savannah. The plant life in the area has evolved to change color depending on a series of factors: Some experts believe the plants release chemical signals to scare away parasites and herbivores, and this has escalated into colorations that are usually seen in animals. This means that the landscape can turn from a regular grassland to a sea of colors, changing slowly in seemingly random patterns. The region has thus received the name of “Ngi Xica”, or “the Green and Blue Savannah”. The exotic coloration of the land, more typical of a coral reef rather than a tropical savannah, has also affected the physiology and behavior of the wildlife living there, many of which have adopted wild patters of stripes, spots or other patterns to try and camouflage to hunt or to avoid being hunted. 
In the middle of the Ngi Xica, there is a small but incredibly high mountain range, the Devil’s Horn Peaks. In the middle of it, the Devil’s Horn, an inactive volcano covered in snow, watches over the entire region. The Devil’s Horn Peaks are the main source of water of the region, and it is of vital importance for the populations of the region.
== The Mona Ki Ngi Xica ==
The Green and Blue Savannah is inhabited by the “Mona Ki Ngi Xica”, which literally means “the people of Ngi Xica”). They are a nomadic culture of humans, organized in a tribal fashion all around the savannah. They move around in groups consisting of a couple of families, taking care of their cattle and hunting the big beasts of the land. Their charges mostly consists of cows and sheep, from which they obtain most of their meat, leather and wool. They are also famous for raising zebroids, a hybrid between horses and zebras. Zebroids are in general more unruly and difficult to tame than regular horses, and lack their strength and stamina as well. However, they compensate by resisting much better the harsh conditions and parasites that lurk in the savannah, not to mention their camouflage can partly mimic the coloration of the grasslands at the time, with its stripes able to change color in the same way a chameleon would. They use these zebroids both as a tool of war and as a way to hunt some of the biggest and most dangerous animals in the region.
The origins of the Mona Ki Ngi Xica are discussed by historians. The Mona Ki Ngi Xica themselves tell legends of their ancestors reaching the lands of the Ngi Xica because they were chasing a golden lion all the way to the Devil’s Horn, and once they reached it, they couldn’t find their way back home. Their arguments over how to go back eventually causing divisions, and this gave room to the tribal and scattered organization of today. Even today, the sight of a golden lion means both opportunity and misfortune for the Mona Ki Ngi Xica, since hunting it down will bring great honor and accolades, but the chase may lead you to places you might not enjoy.
The Mona Ki Ngi Xica are proud warriors, usually fighting each other for access to the best grazing areas. This generally takes shape of highly ritualized combat, with pitch battles where the warriors will enter individual duels with their opponents. They will use long spears and bronze axes, combined with oval shaped shields made out of wood and thick leathers. These fights generally leave many wounded, but few dead, since they are pretty much designed as displays of strength, and not really meant to destroy their opponents.
=== Religion ===
The Mona Ki Ngi Xica worship spirit animals, representing many of the aspects of their lives. Their totemic religion centers around the Great Golden Lion, father of all, whose mane became the suns and his teeth became the moons of the world. The Great Golden Lion watches over the Ngi Xica Savannah, keeping the circle of life going. The Mona Ki Ngi Xica create totems made out of stone and ivory all throughout the region, offering gifts such as weapons, hunting prizes and other treasures to the different spirit animals.
=== Foreign Relations ===
The Mona Ki Ngi Xica are probably the southerners that have interacted the most with the ones in the west. This is all due to a land route that was established originally by the Azan Empire and is now maintained by the Blind Bastard's Domain. This said land route passes through the savannah and near the borders of the Terrania Freeholds, where it meets the southern ocean. Even though the Mona Ki Ngi Xica usually keep to themselves, they have taken advantage of the need of a land route that connects the Sea of End to the Sea of Fog, and many locals sell their wares (which includes herbs, animal pelts and small carved religious figurines, trading them usually for weapons) at the various trading posts. 
Nowadays, this land route and the trading posts of the savannah are in the control of the Blind Bastard's Domain, whose soldiers and mercenaries guard with zeal. Tensions between them and the locals are not uncommon, and there are certain Mona Ki Ngi Xica elders who fear that these people are looking for opportunities to seize their lands.
The Mona Ki Ngi Xica's limited seafaring abillities have made their interactions with Ortuga relatively rare, especially since the pirates tend to not raid the shores of the savannah, due to lack of coastal settlements to plunder. The Eldritch Jungle is avoided by the locals at all costs and is considered a place full of demons and foul spirits, where even the Great Golden Lion's light cannot reach it.
The Mona Ki Ngi Xica have created an unofficial alliance with the Bakir Sahabaharadad Sultanate, due to the Badgassi's aggressions in the northern reaches of the savannah. The Mona Ki Ngi Xica are counting on the sultanate's help in case of invasion, but the sultanate has its eyes on the land route between them and the badgassi, and is planning to take control of the badgassi's lands in order to monopolize the trade.
== Outposts in the Mona Ki Ngi Xica ==
=== Mandrill Bluff ===
Mandrill Bluff, also known as Baboon Hill, is a trading settlement in the westmost Mona Ki Ngi Xica savannah, north of the Victory River. Its name is derived from the steep, rocky hill upon which it is located, originally (and still) inhabited by hordes of large feral mandrills. The settlement serves as a foothold to the savannah for the pirates and mercenaries of Ortuga, as well as a busy trading hub for bandit slavers, fur-traders and herbalists of the northern lands. Peace is kept within the outpost largely by the fierce reputation of the ruling sheriff and his militia. Any major quarrels are settled by duel outside the settlement, losers remains are fed to the mandrills. The Bluff host a variety of events such as big game trophy exhibitions, arms fairs, and pit fighting tournaments, the most infamous of which is the “Bone Dust Rowdy Roundabout”.
The Bone Dust, for short, is a mounted race in which participant jockeys ride bareback around the bluff for thirty-three laps as spectators cheer from atop the settlement walls. Anyone may enter the race. Combat between jockeys is common and expected. Mounts may not finish without a rider. No outside inteference is allowed. No other rules apply. The contest is hosted annually and attract large a number of spectators and wagers. Many bandit warlords are known to sponsor jockeys with weapons and exotic mounts, hoping to make back their money back many times over through betting and influence. The winner is crowned with a mandrill skull, and gain a percentage of the amount wagered on them. Celebrations last for many days. Remains are left to feed the mandrills.
Laws of the bluff is stipulated in the Book of Baboons. It is an ancient document, and laregely unreadable, which leaves a great deal to be intepreted by the ruling sheriff. The election of sheriff is a difficult process by virtue of the outpost board members consisting of representatives of various mercenary factions (primarily the Blind Bastards), bandits and pirate lords. The board is made up of thirteen seats of which two are permanently reserved for the current sheriff and the Bone Dust champion. The remaining eleven seats are held for life. Anyone can make a nomination for the position of sheriff or an open seat, but only board members may vote. Bribery between board members is commonplace.
The interior of the settlement has no apparent structure and is occupied by a haphazard bunch of tanneries, smithies, taverns, shops, barracks and warehouses. Many of the permanent residents live inside the settlement walls, which have been carved out of the rock of the hill itself. The bluff’s main population consist of humans, with the other two large demographics being goblins and desert ogres, mainly occupied as bouncers, bodyguard and by the local militia. The settlement have a complicated relationship with the Mona Ki Ngi Xica tribes whom they sometimes employ as an external defence against badgassi raiders. Surroudings adjacent the bluff are occupied year-round by tents of visiting parties with the one exception being the day of the Bone Dust.
Category:Society
Category:Giantstep