Iskelkla

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A nation of spirituality ruled by the divine. Its stretch from northern lands covered in dense and lush forests up to the borders of Northern Prairie. Its people are devoted to their gods and leaders. Iskelklans are good-natured yet cautious people that love good food, beauty, and their festivals.

Basic Statistics

## History

### Legends - Lksiusaisha

Iskelklan legends say that in ancient times the world was ruled by Goddess of Winter, Wissu. During these times lands were covered by snow and ice, life was hiding underground and anything that came to the surface was immediately frozen. However, one day the Root was discovered, a source of heat and life connecting the world to the divine. With its power Lkshik people were able to carve out a place for themselves on the surface.

This did not please Wissu and thus a desperate struggle for survival begun. After many years of fighting the evil goddess, something reached out to the Lkshik people from beyond the Root. It helped them and in the final battle blessed their hero, Lksiusa with its power.

Although Lksiusa died in battle, he managed to slay the evil goddess. After this battle, the snow thawed and the land was covered by life in just few generations. Lkshik people spread across the land and formed various tribes and subspecies. Over the generations the connection to the Root was lost and its location forgotten.

One day, a baby was born among the Kelklan tribe in the west. His name was Iskla Llasc. He would later become the first divine king of Iskelkla.

When Iskla was young he claimed to be the reincarnation of the Great Hero Lksiusa. He said that he was send back to mortals by the grace of almighty god Shkullet. Although many did not believe him at first, he displayed many divine miracles and was able to retell final battle of Lksiusa in great detail. Over many years he gathered followers and befriended many tribes bordering Kelklan lands.

At the end of his life Iskla was able to unite western Lkshik tribes and for a nation of Iskelkla. He gathered his most devoted followers and ordered them to find his next reincarnation after his death. Although Iskla’s reincarnation wouldn’t be found for many years, his teachings became widespread all over the nation creating new religious belief later named Stli s’Hplu.

### Legends - Lshshu Isha

**RITUALS:**

* Tlikst s’Lskata - -TO DO-

**EXPEDITIONS:**

* An expedition was sent to investigate why White Spring didn't come this year. After weeks of travel, they discovered a huge ancient on a lone hilltop. It was strange, not many things grew nor lived around the tree, almost as if the roots of the tree strangled anything that got too close. When the expedition got closer, the roots of the tree attacked them. Only one priest escaped these roots. They returned to the camp but couldn’t sleep. In the morning the sunlight revealed the tree in its full ancient beauty in full bloom as white cotton-like balls flew on the wind. He returned and told Lksiu Hplis of this. This year White Spring was more bounteous than ever.

## Geography

### Fauna

Waissas - also known as Kelklan wolf. A type of canine that has evolved to easily be able to move on trees. It has long limbs adapted to grabing branches. It also possesses a pair of pincers attached to its jaw. It uses them to grab and hold its prey.

### Flora

Lashuffi, Tree of White Spring - A tree that can grow to enormous size. Each year it releases tens of thousnds of seeds covered in cotton like material, called shuff, that is harvested and used to make clothes.

## Languages

Kelkla Sse (Iskelklan)

Kelkla Sse is a language focused on consonant clusters.

## Politics

Government is theocratical feudal monarchy. The government is led by Lksiu hplis, who is also the head of faith, and the High Council chosen by Lksiu hplis. After Lksiu hplis's death there is the Great Search during which the High Council governs the country and searches for the new Lksiu hplis.

Lksiu hplis has his personal guard as well as a small army that answers directly to him. The realm is divided into few parts that are governed by priests appointed by Lksiu hplis.

Each village has at least two priests appointed by the government. They serve as local judges, law scholars. These priests are obligated to serve their community and help resolve local problems.

The law is enforced by small groups of priests and militiamen called Klpist.

## Religion and culture

### Moral values and principles

It is believed that all moral teachings are given by Shkullet the Reincarnator and delivered to people by Lksiu hplis.

Cleanliness and Filth - these are two major concepts in Iskelkla society as well as relligion. In the world there are thing and activities that are considered unclean. Things like slavery and spilling of blood in close combat are considered filthy, while things like leading pious life, upholding moral standards and beauty are considered clean.

Beauty is extremely valued in Iskelklan society. Beatufiul are things, that are considered close to nature in looks or in concept. That is why clothes are made to cover animal like features while show and accentuate plant like features of the body.

Iskelklan clothes are made from white cotton like material, that is harvested from pollen during White Spring, and consist of many overlapping parts. These clothes then are dyed to resemble colors of trees and flowers.

Comradery and hard work are also valued as these are the values of Great Hero Lksiusa and his companions.

### Traditions

Holidays:

* White Spring – a festival celebrating beginning of spring. As grasses from nearby grasslands pollinate they release pollen covered in white cotton-like material. This material is harvested during this time and clothes are made out of it. After the harvest of said material there are huge feasts and celebrations consist of dances, singing and other forms of entertainment. During this time social norms are loosened a little.
* Vleshs't s Lksiusa - (Birth of Lksiusa) First day of Spring. According to legends, on this day Lksiusa was born again. On this day Lksiu hplis adresses his people.
* Lksiusa s lsheus – (Day of Lksiusa) A day at the end of autumn celebrating the victory of legendary hero Lksiusa over god of death Wissu. Although according to legend Lksiusa died defeating the evil god he reincarnated next Spring.

Rituals:

* Every month a ritual praising Shkullet the Reincarnator is held in a local temple for two days. During this time everyone is expected to offer some products of their work to Shkullet. Not making an offering is viewed as a filthy.
* Ritual of cleansing - a ritual performed at a local temple by a priest. With this ritual one filth is cleansed.

Daily entertainment:

* For higher classes archery is a common sport. Many like it as they consider it “clean” and beautiful.
* People of lower classes also enjoy archery if they can afford it however a more common sport is so called “Branch racing” which basically is treetop racing (running, jumping, using ropes or other means of holding to branches).

### Religion

Stli s’Hplu (Voice of the cycle)

Gods:

1. Shkullet the Reincarnator – god of life and the cycle of nature. It is believed that he is responsible for changing of seasons and the reincarnation of Lksiusa. He is believed to be the highest being in existence and source of all that is virtuous. He is said to be the creator of Iskelkl’s ancestors.
2. Lksiusa – a legendary hero that killed the god of death Wissu. Although he also died during this battle, Shkullet gave him his blessing as a reward for defeating the evil god. Thus, Lksiusa ascended to divinity. Shkullet decided to reincarnate him to lead the people of Iskelkla. It is believed that current head of faith and leader of the nation is the reincarnation of Lksiusa.
3. Wissu, the White Cold – god of death and winter. According to legends Wissu ruled the world in distant times. She was slain by Hero Lksiusa. Winters and night are remnants of her malevolent powers.

Creation myth states that the world was created by Shkullet the Reincarnator but it was taken by Wissu. The world was turned into a cold and dark place. However, life that Shkullet created managed to thrive in the earth. When life emerged to the surface Wissu was enraged that she wasn’t able to destroy all of Shkullet’s work and so she begun The Hunt. Many years passed and a hero emerged. This hero managed to defeat Wissu and return the world to its original state.

It is believed that when a person dies, they return to Shkullet the Reincarnator who then reincarnates them as a part of nature so that they can be of use to next generations. The more pious and clean one's life is, the more useful will one be after reincarnation. It is also believed that unclean actions accumulate so called "filth" in the world. The more filth is accumulated the closer the Return of Wissu is. That is why Iskelklans must perform the Cleansing Ritual on themselves at least once a year.

Another important part of Stli s’Hplu is the belief that the Lksiu hplis, leader of the nation, is a reincarnation of Lksiusa. Lksiu hplis is considered Shkullet's voice on earth and thus infallible.

### Art

According to Stli s’Hplu teaching art should imitate or compliment nature. Painting is quite common however Branch Bending (growing plants to be works of art) is considered high art. Branch Bending is often associated with higher classes.

Iskelklan cities and villages are also known for their colorful homes that change colors with each season (Iskelklans build houses on trees as well as on the ground).

Writing isn’t common among lower classes. Among upper classes it is used to write religious texts and stories of families. Tales that are commonly told are the Lksiusaisha (Tales of Lksiusa) that tell the story of Lksiusa and his battle against Wissu. Another common tales are the Lshshu Isha (Tales of Spring) that tell stories of small groups of heroes that travel the world and fix it after Wissu’s death.

### Entertainment

Ekllak - traditional Iskelklan game originating from Shliktka region. The game is played on a round wooden board using four-sided dice and a set of small wooden figures. Each player must move as much of his figures to the center of the board while also capturing enemy figures. Some pieces of the game were inpired by things brought by Noveosian delegation in the past.

#### Instruments

Ltuu – a traditional instrument of Kelkla and Shliktka regions. This instrument uses blades of grass as its source of sound on which a person can play. The instrument is made from specially grown branch in shape resembling a horseshoe. There are four sets of small wooden blocks on the inside of the branch. Function of those sets is to hold blades of grass allow the person to adjust the length and position of each of the blades. Each blade of grass can be swapped out with a different one.