Val'Anukesh

Strength through unity, honor through loyalty.

[WORK IN PROGRESS, GOING TO DO SOME EDITING]

## **Clan History**

In a time long past, the elves of the Anukesh resided amonst the jagged badlands at the heart of the northeastern desert region. They however lived quite comfortably as their major city resided on a plateau bound oasis, and trade was good. Despite this the collapse hit them fast and hard, as they relied heavily on trade with other kingdoms, kingdoms that were too far away to grant aid when their own poorly controlled demon problem forced them to flee. Anu’kirelia fell in the first year of the collapse, it's people exiles in a dying world almost overnight. They fled north only to find other kingdoms gone or on the brink destruction.

The Anukesh wondered a demon infested world for over 2 centuries before finally finding sanctuary in the caverns that would become Har'ol'nek'preya. They arrived a people scarred but united. Late comers to the party as it were, they found their choices limited, however the unique mobility of their trusted and honored companion beasts, the cliff wolves of their lost homeland, opened up possibilities in the difficult landscape of the bluffs, into which they quietly disappeared, only to reemerge the undaunted masters the cliffs.

For a time, the Anukesh became a premier source of mercenary work, often called upon to act as enforcers in the lawless region south of them. However after a very brief "war" with the fledgling Indawo, the Anukesh began to pull further back from the public stage. Recent times has seen some emergence and interaction with other clans, but the wolves of the cliffs still keep mostly to themselves.

## **Clan Culture**

The Anukesh left the wastelands behind them, but the wastelands never left them. They took those memories of hardship and beat them into their bones. That's not to say they are dower, joyless people; an Anukesh is happy to be alive, and partakes in the joys of such life with boyster and gusto; but they are survivors, and true survivors never rest at ease.

   To this end Anukesh culture has always favored the lifestyle of warriors and rangers. Every Anukesh, from Val to commoner has some skill in combat as well as  fieldcraft, favoring a razors balance of action and patience. An Anukesh won’t throw themselves into a fight, but once they commit they’re hard pressed to relent. The Anukesh are people of action, but not of recklessness. Still they tend to be very direct and a bit tactless at times, lacking some level of decorum which was lost in the wastes, which combined with the fact that they rarely leave the Bluffs unarmed or unarmored, gives them a very barbarian warlord aura which contrasts their pure contentment to stay in the cliffs and bother no one.  They mostly contain their aggression to mock combat, local contests, and hunting what wildlife they allow to thrive in uninhabited areas and caverns along the region they control. Some even are glad to be hired out to other clans as rangers, trackers, and pathfinders.

   However, the true core of their culture is clan unity. Every member of the clan is considered family, part of the pack; and the pack protects their own. Picking a fight with an Anukesh is a sure way to get the attention of every other Anukesh around, and they won’t hesitate rush to the aid of their packmate no matter what interpersonal issues they might have. While their warrior traditions may favor the strong, it is considered the stronger members duty to protect their weaker kin. This sense of cooperation and teamwork pervade every aspect of how they live, love, and even fight. Most Anukesh combat training involves group tactics, and while one skilled Anukesh warrior is a challenge , a squad of them is a terror to behold. Loyalty colors their interaction with outsiders as well. Being very insular, Anukesh rarely truly trust anyone not clan. While they give whatever respect is given, they know there isn’t the bond there that they have with other Anukesh. The trust of the Anukesh is hard won and easily lost, but when it’s had, for them it’s death before betrayal.

### Cliff wolves

Much of Anukesh culture is tied into their relationship with their clan’s totem animal. A great philosophical question would be whether it is because the wolves exemplify the qualities of teamwork and loyalty the Anukesh hold dear, or because the Anukesh were inspired by their crafty, demon immune hunting beasts on that long road through Hell (the metaphorical concept, not to be confused with the city Hel) and took those qualities unto themselves. Whatever the case, the Anukesh have bound their destinies and souls to these animals. The creatures are not considered pets, but fellow clansmen and packmates. They fight just as hard for a wolf as a fellow drow, and in truth the creatures seem to hold the same loyalty in return. Aggression toward an Anukesh drow in their presence is often met with quick strikes and biting fangs.

Unlike other drow, the Anukesh don’t view the lack aura as lack of soul. It’s commonly said among the Anukesh that they do have souls, but it’s like a rock, solid, hard and unbitable, while a fae soul is like water; elegant, beautiful, but an easy drink. They often refer to cliff wolves by the title Petra’ba, stone spirits.

Every Anukesh Val, as well as every soldier and ranger, is given a wolf puppy at some point. For nobles it can vary from birth to coming of age, for military it’s when you begin training. An Anukesh is expected to raise, train, and bond with their charge until it becomes an adult, forming a trusted partnership. These are called Petra’shuts, stone shadows, and they are considered more than clanmates, but an extension of one's own soul. Insult or harm to an individual's shadow is considered to be deeply offensive and grounds for getting a body part removed, whether the offender is enemy, friend, or clan.

Among the Anukesh there is a specialist profession known as a kennel master, whose primary duty is to maintain the health, strength and well-being of the wolves. To this end they serve as vets, nursery managers, breeders, ecologist, training specialists, and even funeral directors of a sort, usually with the aid of hired hands and apprentices.

The Anukesh breeding methods are generally a light handed affair. Pregnant wolves are supposed to be brought to a kennel, where they are taken care of until the puppies are mostly weaned, at which point they are given to be partnered or specially train. Kennel masters keep careful note of every puppy born, their possible fathers, and the mothers cycle, from which they try track favorable traits. If they wish to forward particular line they ask the permission of both wolves partners or handlers to place them together in a humane way to promote breeding. It's not a perfect science, and many view it more of a casual artform.

    When a wolf dies, it's pelt is collected, along with a portion of it’s meat, while the rest is burned, all as part of a funeral rite. The meat is preserved and put in an emergency clan larder, while the hide given to their partner as memento. If they had no partner the pelt is burned as well. It is thought that something of the wolf’s soul lives in the pelt and grants protection, so they are typically kept in a safe place as a memorium, but other socially accepted uses are emergency blankets for cold nights, or using it to trim special clothing.  The latter is most often used by warriors and rangers with their armor. When a Anukesh dies all of their furs are typically burned with them. It considered a capital offense for any part of a wolf to end up outside of the clan, save for Rites of alliance, wherein the clan leader gifts a pelt from one of their past petra'shut as an act of trust, and to give their allies the packs protection. Such a gift is to be kept safe until the next leader is able to renew the ceremony with a pelt of their own.

### Nobility and authority

During the time of Exodus, the last Queen of the Anukesh strived to instill a sense of responsibility over entitlement into the noble houses of Anukirela. Houses that failed were exorcised from the refugee ranks over time. As such the Vals of the Anukesh use their status to better raise stronger members to better support their clan. Personal merit and strength is seen as more important than status, and as a result its not rare to find commoners in positions of authority, and all the houses run thick with "common" blood, since "purity" means little to survival.

A notable aspect of Anukesh hierarchy is the idea of loyalty to one's superiors, except when they prove inadequate. Every member has the right to challenge their superiors if it's justified. Such a challenge is handled via trial by combat. A trial of authority is held before all subordinates, unarmed and unarmored, no mana arts, fighting until one admits defeat or is unable to fight. The winner is decided by the spectators, so beating one opponent doesn't guarantee a victorious trial if the spectators feel the victory was dishonorable or unfair.

A similar trial by combat is held whenever a Voice of the Pack dies or steps down. The heir to the title must face off against a team made up of representatives of each house before truly becoming the new Voice. Typically this is a 1 v 3 affair as House Keb’e’chet does not usually send a representative, with the only recorded instance being the last Trial of Ascension for Amonet

### Spirituality

The Anukesh originally had 8 goddesses; the goddess of life, who created everything from the void and lived in/was the land, and her 7 daughters, who protected and guided the world of the living, each representing different aspects of life and culture. Much of the old religion fell to the wayside with their descent into the underworld, with the original goddesses only vaguely remembered across the Anukesh, save for the Guide, an ambiguous entity not among the goddess that judged the dead and lead them to the after life. Most Anukesh now hold faith in “the Will of the Pack”, a belief that a spiritual force connects all of the pack, past and present, that drives and guides the clan to survive and thrive. The leader of the clan is the Voice of the Pack, and is viewed as a semi divine calling held by descendants of the old noble family that lead them through destruction and exodus.

   One practice kept from the old world is the keeping and burning of hearts. The Anukesh believe the heart is where a soul is bound to the world, and it has some link to soul after death. When an Anukesh dies, the heart is taken and put in a stone container (in the old world it was ornate glass) with various preservative salts, and kept in a Hall of the Dead. Family and friends can go there to remember and talk with their dead until a number of years equal to the persons age at death, at which point the hearts are burned in a yearly ceremony known as the Festival of Aurora Fires.

### Economics

The Bluffs are not much for resources, save for security and being between the lower caverns and the upper mountain caverns. To that end their primary income is the route up and down the bluffs. The Anukesh maintain two main outposts: one on the Lower Western end and one near the Mountain pass. All commerce and trade outside of the clan happens at these outposts. From here they rent out specially bred rock lizards for hauling up sheer cliffs and over rough terrain. If travelers have adequate transport they are charged a small toll on entering the territory. Travelers are directed to specific routes through the region that are regularly patrolled and are not detrimental to the defence of the main stronghold or any other important region.

   The clans second main resource is man power. At one time the Anukesh sold their services as mercenaries, however they have long since shied away from the practice, as it threatened to embrew them in inter-clan affairs. They still sell their services as hunters, trackers, pathfinders and fieldsman in both the wilder regions of the underworld and on the surface, as the wilderness is a neutral battleground they have mastered.

   The Anukesh do have some material exports, most notably their skilled leatherwork, since the Anukesh, as hunters, are quite experienced with hides, and they use mostly leather armors among their warriors. Anukesh have also produced many skilled stone carvers who can sometimes be hired outside of the Bluffs, since they’ve already covered the Anukesh holdings in engraved and embossed murals and imagery.

### Mana Arts/Tech

The Anukesh have a very minimalist philosophy when it comes to the use of mana, a hold over of a time in high nether, low mana environments. Training in mana arts is mostly rudimentary and it isn’t uncommon to find even Vals that don’t know their affinity. Basic training does include special focus on defense and maintaining aura, and as a result the Anukesh are uniquely skilled in the deployment of Mana shields, as well being particularly resistant to mana drain. The Pale Light Conclave is the exception to this rule, being a special order of Anukesh who maintain and develop the knowledge of sorcery and high arts for the defence and development of the clan.

   The Anukesh’s minimalist attitude also means they rely significantly less on mana tech and have no golems. They focus heavily on more analog solutions, such as strength bred cliff lizards and complex pulley systems for heavy lifting, and specially crafted heavy duty ballistic artillery for counter sieges, though they do have mana cannons which they use sparingly. They still use mana lamps, though they keep oil lamps around in some places.

#### Nether arts

The Anukesh are not fond of the word hate. Violently distrust if perhaps a better word.The Anukesh’s past and long memory have greatly painted their feelings about the use of the nether arts. While not viewing demons as wholly evil, they view the use of forces you can’t simply break, lock in a box, or kill when it gets out of hand as being a the height of folly. However the world they live in is a world where nether summoning continues to be a reality, and a greater fool is one not prepared for the folly of others. To this end the Anukesh maintain a secretly trained cabal of Nether summoners known as the Unspoken, hidden away in a secluded citadel known as the Unspoken Bastion. There they train in the use of nether gates under controlled conditions so that they may slay and unsummon nether entities for their clans protection. They do this with the aid of specially trained and particularly strong and vicious wolf packs who act both as fellow hunters and executors of rogue or corrupted operatives.

   The Anukesh are not very trusting of tainted, viewing them as walking time bombs waiting to explode. They often call them “dead eyes” to note their belief that they are dead women walking. Tainted outsiders are not allowed any deeper into the Bluff than the outposts and designated paths for crossing through. Paths covertly watched by the Unspoken. If a member of the clan is tainted by accident, they are typically exiled, though in an honorable and respectful manner, usually given supplies and accompanied by their petra’shut. Unspoken who are tainted always are executed.

### Slavery

The Anukesh's view on slavery is nuanced. While the lath population at it's core has little issue with others partaking in the practice, their loyalty to some of their allies
result in their siding against the practice. Not only do the Yurak hate slavers, the naga of the Keb dislike the practice due to the prevelance of naga slaves both past and present.

## **Notable clan factions**

### Pale Light Conclave

Collection of sorcerers and mana masters that maintain arcane traditions among the clan. Those who seek to be members must seek out one of the senior members to take them on as an apprentice. Conclave members all have a large blue gemstone set into a ring as a mark of membership.

### The Unspoken

The secret cabal of nether summoners tasked with maintaining the safety of the clan from demons and the nether arts. Monastic in nature but dedicated to their task almost to the point of zealotry. All of their training is done in seclusion safely away from the populis, and their secrets are taken to the grave, a place every member know they will find early. Their exact recruitment methods are a mystery; some say they invite those they deem suited to the task, others say they collect orphans from slum regions. Members are marked by a red tattoo on their neck and chest shaped like an upside down tuning fork.

### Warmongers

This small but vocal political group formed in the aftermath of initial conflict with the Indawo due to discontent with the outcome, feeling they could have won had the heads of the clan not caved to political pressure from the "low" clans. They represent the discomfort the warriors of the clan have with the current "peaceful" state of the clan and push for more martial focus, instead of political or commerce based focus. Has seen decreased support since a failed attempt at a coup by its leaders during the last shift of clanhead.

### House Ke'be'chet

A tribe of naja naga that swore allegiance to the clan and followed them into the underworld. They were granted their own territory, kept secluded and safe by the clan. Valued originally for their herbal knowledge and skill as healers, they have since expanded their scope to more complex alchemical concoctions. While not elves they hold the same rights as other clan members.

### House The'oth

One of the official houses. The'oth is known for favoring traditions of intellect and wisdom, and its members are often found among the Conclave or clan archivists.

### House Anhur

One of the official houses. Long history of favoring military and martial skill. Many great warriors and members of the home guard are children of house Anhur.

### House Ammit

One of the official houses. Have a long standing rivalry with house Anhur for most skill warriors in the clan, though Ammit warriors favor mobility and aggression over defense. Also produces many skilled hunters and trackers. Originated from ranks of commoner hunters during the time of Exodus.

## **Military**

Anukesh usually begin learning the arts of hunting and battle from their immediate family at a young age. When they reach maturity, it is considered tradition for them to join the clan military. Warriors are organized into squads, which are each part of a larger company overseen by an officer known as a Packmaster. Companies are themselves considered part of broader legions assigned specific duties, handled by a senior officer known as a Packlord. One member of each squad is the designated pack leader per the choice of their Packmaster.

Cliffguards: Legion in charge of guarding the bluffs. Includes companies assign to forts, outposts, and trade routes. Partially under Seral'ket's authority in regards to trade routes. Includes companies of rangers and heavy infantry and calvary.

Outriders: Companies designated for operating outside of the Bluffs. Includes guards for diplomatic envoys and mercenary ranger companies. Contains rangers, medium & light infantry, and light cavalry.

Gravewalkers: Overworld rangers and relic hunters.

Irregulars (Warbands): Irregular companies are basic infantry used to supplement other military forces. Made up of novices and non career soldiers. This can include glory hounds or commoners working for extra ada. In times of turmoil these types of companies become more common as the "civilian" population enlist. Troop assignment is fluid, companies and squads switching units often as needed, allowing troops to learn how to work with many different groups

Anukesh warriors favor studded leather armor or lighter leather. Weapon choices include short spears, short straight swords, shields, sabers, hand axes, knives and daggers. Defensive units often go for heavier armor, long spears and heavy axes. Anukesh use both bows and crossbows, and some even carry slings.

Conclave Warcasters opt for lighter armor and usually wear a blue face cloth on their armor to designate their position.

## **Holdings**

Anukesh territory encompasses the entire northern cliff range of the greater cavern, with few holdings at ground level.

Cliff districts are referred to as "dens" and mostly began as natural caves in the cliff face. Most have have been expanded since. Typical dens consist outwardly of a deep inset ledge with a tall lip serving a wall between street and open space. The inner walls of these ledges have a number of two story units carved into them, with 1 or more tall passages leading to wide, 4 or so story "plaza" chambers with units carved all around them.

The largest of these is the High den, seat of the ruling house and location of the clan archive.

In addition to the dens, a number of small constructed fortifications are scattered along the few flat surfaces in the region.

At the base of the cliffs are the Tumbledowns, a rough collection of districts considered the the slums of the bluff that are regularly restructured due to falling rocks from higher up. Farther south are the Scars, a series of disputed districts between the Anukesh and Indawo, between which control shift regularly.

### The Sheer roads

Despite the name, the routes up the cliffs which the Anukesh regularly patrol and collect tolls to traverse can hardly be considered roads, often including pulley systems and small elevators between traverse-able ledges and a few strategic dens, or sometimes straight cliffs scaled directly with rock lizards. The routes change often due to minor seismic activity, however the Anukesh's familiarity with the region makes it still the safest and most reliable route between the lower caverns and the upper mountain.

## **Relations with other clans**

Due to their insular nature, the Anukesh have few political or military allies. They typically keep other clans at a distance, with most dealings between them being solely financial.

### Yurak'riti

Despite differences of race and background, their similar cultures of stoicism, communal unity, and martial prowess, as well as proximity, created a sort of kinship between the two, birthing the only true alliance the Anukesh have. True to their nature, the Anukesh view the grey skins as their own, to some lending credence to lower cavern joke that the Anukesh are more ssu than lath.

### Doeld’Uln

Despite both being in an alliance with the Yurak, the Anukesh and the Doeld'Uln are not allied with each other. Doeld, not wanting to jeopardize their alliance with Yurak, opt not to expand their alliance to another clan, and the Anukesh, knowing the Doeld tendency to trade in the information of those not allied to them, opt to keep them at arms length.

While they keep things close to the vest in their dealings, the Anukesh have a trade partnership with them, granting them special treatment when moving goods through their territory.

### Kor'taari

The Anukesh held a deep distrust of the now defunct clan, both for their prevalent use of nether arts and slaves.

### Duran'desh

The Anukesh 's feelings for the Duran'desh mirror those for the Kor'taari for the same reasons.

### Indawo

The Anukesh and Indawo have one of the few open aggressive relationships in the city. The Anukesh, do not trust the Indawo, due in part to an open conflict in the Indawo's early history, but also to the fact the Anukesh are absolutely sure the Indawo are related to banditry at their borders. The two have had numerous border skirmishes over the centuries.

## Members

### Main House

* Amonet Val'Anukesh. Ill'haress of the Anukesh.
* Khepri’chep’sut Val'Anukesh. First daughter of Amonet.
* Z'resset Val'Anukesh. Second daughter of Amonet.
* Marneith Val'Anukesh. Amonet's mother and previous Ill'haress. Deceased.
* Seral'ket Val'Anukesh. Marneith's sister. Handler of the clans economic and financial issues.
* Ozma’dii Val’Anukesh. Eldest son of Marneith. Gravewalker Packmaster.
* Streeka'sitre Val'Anukesh. Second daughter of Marneith. Member of the personal guard of the Voice of the Pack.
* Chathnese Val'Anukesh. Twin brother of Niarthnese, both fourth eldest children of Marneith. Outrider warrior.
* Niarthnese Val'Anukesh.Twin brother of Chathnes, both fourth eldest children of Marneith. Outrider Warcaster and conclavist.
* Nizzret Val'Anukesh. Third daughter of Marneith. Secretly acts as clan's intelligence master.
* Ptath Val'Anukesh. Ancient dark elf and master of clan archive.

### House The'oth

* Iasuliss The'oth Val'Anukesh. Dev’ess of house The'oth.
* Maatkare The'oth Val'Anukesh. First daughter of Iasuliss. Conclavist.
* Inene'kenti The'oth Val'Anukesh: Iasuliss's second daughter. Packlord of the Outrider legion.
* Tak'hajat The'oth Val'Anukesh. Third Daughter of Iasuliss.
* Iasuliss's 6 sons
* Seshalinth The’oth Val’Anukesh. Clan Envoy.

### House Anhur

* Karomama Anhur Val'Anukesh. Devess of house Anhur.
* Kirigypa Anhur Val'Anukesh. Packlord of the Cliffguard legion.

### House Ammit

* Bessrim Ammit Val'Anukesh. Devess of house Ammit.
* Thalken Ammit Val'Anukesh. Amonet's personal guard and mate.
* Sephiset Ammit Val'Anukesh. Previous Devess of house Ammit. Deceased.
* Maahest Ammit Val'Anukesh. Thalken's mother, Sephiset's sister, Bessrim's cousin.

### House Keb'e'chet

* Wad'jati. Eldest of the Keb broodmothers. De facto Devess of the Keb.
* Aintasha. Amonet's personal attendant.

### Houseless

* Hathmet. Disowned eldest daughter of Marneith. Serves under Ozma'dii as a Gravewalker ranger.
* Abhar. Packlord of the Gravewalker legion.
* Raza. Infamous Packmaster of Raza's raiders company.
* Scorpion. Veteran guard of the clan's leader. Unspoken agent.