Shankhoran Tattoos

Tattooing in Shankhor is an ancient tradition passed down before written or oral memory. Tattoos and ritualistic scarring are closely tied to tribal identity. The people of Shankhor express their clan affiliation and heritage through tattoos and markings.

## Receiving a Tattoo

The clan tattooist is a position of high honor. They are responsible for preserving the clan style and important symbols, and teach apprentices who then spread that knowledge throughout clan lands. While it is a great honor to receive a tattoo from the clan tattooist themselves, it is often not practical. Instead, it is mostly the tattooist's apprentices or their students that maintain the style. It is not forbidden for a person to tattoo themselves, it is expected that they make the effort to maintain the style and important symbols in their work. Failure to comply with traditional styles is seen as taboo and often results in being shunned by many communities.

The most common form of tattoo application is with a curved instrument with a needle attached to one end. The tattooist uses a hammer or other blunt instrument to strike the top of the curved rod, pushing the ink-coated needle into the skin. This process is repeated in the desired shape of the tattoo. For people tattooing themselves, a smaller needle is used to push the ink into the skin. It is a slower but more manageable process for one person.

Depending on the type of tattoo, different rituals may accompany the tattooing process. Some people get tattoos at important moments of their lives or as good luck or protection charms. Important tattoos are often preceded by prayers or purification rituals. For some, the act of getting the tattoo itself is a spiritual and ritualized process.

## Colors

The most common ink color is black, made from a mixture of carbon from soot, animal glue, and water. Other colors are extremely expensive, as they require pigments from plants or rare minerals. Complex, colorful tattoos are a symbol of status and wealth. For example, blue tattoos (and clothing) are exceptionally rare because of the complex process required to render the indigo plant into blue dye and ink.

## Styles

Each clan uses tattoos to denote membership, with the subject matter and style differing between the clans.

### Adalan

Adalan Clan membership tattoos are usually twisting patterns depicting water, symbolizing the rivers of the valleys. Herd animals such as cows, sheep, and goats can also be depicted. Other possible tattoos include images symbolizing notable places the person has been to.

### Buushin

The Buushin Clan membership tattoos usually involve clouds in some way, reflecting the cloud-shrouded peaks of their mountain home. Buushin clan members are also known to get tattoos representing certain spirits that are important to them. Common animals depicted are large birds and the mythical sky-whales of Manutok.

### Chalut

When a Chalut clan member completes their pilgrimage to the top of Shal Kaddath, they receive a tattoo depicting events that happened during the journey, as well as important lessons they learned along the way. Tattoos often depict cranes or serpents that are common in Boraxilat, while some choose to get tattoos of stonework and architecture representing the ancient structures found in the region. Particularly pious people may get tattoos of flames or Shal Kaddath itself to demonstrate their devotion to the Eternal Flame. Some people choose to get important pieces of scripture tattooed as well.

### Eilek-Ar

Those who follow the deer god Eilek-Ar demonstrate their devotion and membership of the religion in the form of face tattoos. These depict the Great Tree of Eilek-Ar, the god's domain within the spirit realm. While all the tattoos represent the tree, they can take on many different forms, symbolizing the individual's relationship to the god. Some get leafy vines or branches, while others get bare branches or an abstract shape of a tree. It is forbidden for people that do not follow Eilek-Ar to receive these tattoos, punishable by exile or death.

### Gansukh

While tattoos are not required of most people in Gansukh Clan lands, those of the noble family receive a tattoo or series of tattoos when their falcon reaches maturity. Even though it is not required, many people still choose to get work done, although it is commonly geometric patterns and symbols of spirits or gods.

### Khalad

Khalad Clan tattoos are reminiscent of their agricultural dominance, with images of stalks of barley or other plants and flowers being the most common. Some people, especially Khalad Clan members living abroad, get stylized depictions of the two valleys to reflect their birthplace.

### Maragol

Military service in the Maragol Clan is mandatory, and people get their rank, unit, and other relevant information tattooed on them, usually on their upper arms. Usually, these are enough to denote clan membership, but some people (especially nobility) go the extra mile to get important battles of Maragol history tattooed on them. Dragons and other powerful beasts are also popular subjects of tattoos in this clan.

### Sanja

People of the Sanja Clan often show their membership with fish or scale tattoos, symbolizing the clan's proximity to the water and proclivity for water-based commerce. Merchant scales are popular among those in the mercantile profession, with depictions of spirits of trade, honesty, and luck also being popular. Like the Chalut Clan, many Sanja Clan members are very devoted to the Eternal Flame and use tattoos to show their piety.

### Ulust

Intense clan pride is very common among the Ulust Clan, and membership tattoos are mandatory for everyone. They are usually given shortly after birth and are designed to grow with the person. The tattoo is usually a matrix or dots or other small symbols around the shoulders. When a member comes of-age, they are required to get a tattoo of the clan symbol, a ram, somewhere on their body. This symbolizes their devotion to the clan and strength in the face of adversity. Tattoos of weapons, mountains, and wind are also common.

### The Divines

Although worship of the Divines is not popular in Shankhor, some still send prayers and offerings to the gods. Some of these people also get tattoos of the Divine's holy symbol or other representation of the god. While these are generally accepted, it is considered bad taste for these tattoos to be more prominent than the traditional ones.

### Criminal Organizations

Some illegal organizations require their members to get tattoos depicting their loyalty and commitment to the cause. The style and subject matter vary depending on the organization. Some more extreme organizations require the person to remove or cover up clan tattoos, symbolizing their commitment to the faction over their own clan.

## Removing Tattoos

It is considered taboo and is often a crime to remove one's tattoos, especially those depicting clan membership. If removal happens by accident, through scarring or significant injury, it is expected that the person seek to repair or replace the lost tattoos as soon as they have recovered. Very few people are willing to remove tattoos, and the ones who are willing are often associated with criminals.

## Guides and Tattoos

The clan Guide tattoos the history of the clan on their body with the help of the clan tattooist. This is a sacred process that is done in private, with the Guide only making a public appearance once they are completely healed. When the Guide takes on an apprentice, they are taught the history of the clan through the tattoos. When the Guide dies, the apprentice takes on the tattoos, combining some and moving others to make room for future events. Once a year, as the winter is about to begin, the Guide will host a ceremony to honor the clan’s ancestors, performing a dance that involves uncovering and covering different tattoos as they sing the history of the clan. After this performance, the elders and leaders of the clan will discuss important events from the year and the Guide decides which tattoos to add.