Sika'cesn

Sika'cesn (referred to as Sika when talking about the species) is a culture of mountain-dwelling humanoids who blend in with their environment well, are great at survival and have an odd symbiotic relationship with sheep. Dwelling in the Western Mountain Ranges of Cy'ǧetauriaz'zockistan'abulgra'der'iavichdriavillestondal'ewind-roadingt'o'n and the forests beneath them, these creatures love frigid and otherwise eery regions, finding beauty in (and even venerating) the desolate, harsh and inhospitable.

## Subcultures

At first, there were only 15 tribes who all lived on the mountain. However, they started to feel too crowded on the mountain as they kept growing and growing, and more tribes came to exist as more First Men were born. They first went to the West, to the tundra, then to the East and the North. A branch of the recent tundra dwellers went Southeast back into the Endless Cliffs. Right after the Reclamation Prophecy, almost every tribe had at least one first man born.

There are about 80 separately noticed tribes in the culture, which are grouped into ~4 different subcultures (with a few micro-cultures among those). The sub-cultures are generally biome-built. Naturally, a tribe moving into a new area would have to find new ways to build things suited their environment, and new methods are adopted for almost everything. New ways of thinking are evolved and ways of treating eachother. This is where the distinction lies. The four subcultures are Mountainous, Tundra, Coastal and Arboreal.

### Mountainous Sika'cesn

The Mountainous Sika’cesn is the oldest subculture among the main 4. The first women of the Sika came from the mountain, and the first men had to scale to meet them, and then they lived among them for ~4,000 or so years. All Sika feel as though the mountains are their home, even if they live somewhere else. While the Mountainous tribes aren’t the most “primitive” (in the sense that they haven’t stayed true to their “original” culture; it evolved) they do utilize many of the oldest methods for many things, such as sleeping in caves during winter and storing food at the top of the mountain. They also eat many of the same things they have for centuries. Tried and true foods and the methods of cooking them. The most recently discovered thing they commonly eat is cheese, which was evented 50 Earth years prior to the current period at which I’m posting this. In fashion, they stick to their Conta’skda, but most tribes love to trade with tribes away from the mountains for new materials to weave with.

Speaking of trade, Mountainous Sika are the most “connected” with the other subcultures as the others are involved with eachother. Trade circulates to and from the mountain like spokes on a clock, constantly moving. Because each woman who has a child needs an Ancestral Stone from the mountains, they also see the most foot traffic in the regions they occupy than any other subculture.

The Sika’cesn know that the mountains hold the secrets that they hold fundamental to their lives. As of right now, the population of all Sika are mostly Mountainous in identity. All of the subcultures came from and evolved alongside the Mountainous subculture. Living among the mountains is the greatest achievement a Sika can experience, even though most don’t seek it out. There is a constant yearning to be among the slopes and peaks of their birth, their ancestors lives and, of course, the great mother.

### Tundra Sika'cesn

While the Mountainous Sika keep their traditions close, no one keeps ancestral traditions closer than that of the Sika inhabiting the tundra. Nearly everything aside from the furs they use and the structures they build to survive are things which their ancestors did exactly. They partake in the same religious practices, they eat the exact same foods, don’t modify their clothing a lot and even keep their daily habits as close as possible to what their fathers and mothers did.

This sort of lifestyle evolved because of the general belief that the tundra is a much more difficult place to live than the mountains. All Sika know the seasons of the mountain like the back of their hands, it’s written in the songs, poems and on their hearts. The tundra, however, is a wild card when it comes to probability. One week there could be a hurricane and the next a mighty blizzard. Swarms of mosquitoes along the rivers and weeds that spread like wildfire can make this place seem uninhabitable. This Sika who live here, are obsessed with it. It takes a lot of skill, effort and knowledge to live in this windy hellscape and the Tundra Sika thrive.

### Coastal Sika'cesn

The Coastal Sika are regarded as the most serious and yet friendliest of the subcultures. Their culture is an odd juxtaposition between the Arboreal Sika and the Tundra Sika. Each tribe believes in the power of the individual, but all realize that danger can always seem afoot.

The Coastal tribes hunt in the Arctic Ocean, a vast, horrific endless sea full of eldritch horrors and massive beasts. Freezing cold hurricanes and icebergs come to their shores, and blasting Arctic winds from the North during winter, covering everything in thick ice. Because the forests are thick, dense and covered in everything from weeds to lichen and moss, not many things live so far North and thus, the temperate rainforests of the North are absolutely terrifying to all Sika. The Coastal Sika revel in their darkness. These are the exact lands where Zhonh created the men. Mist-covered, dangerous and yet comforting lands. The hills underneath the coasts are the only solace against the winters, and thus they migrate to them each year and then back to the shores when the ice melts. Oddly, not much snow falls in the Southern reaches of the temperate rainforests. The land is in a constant blanket of un-usable green.

These Sika are excellent craftsmen. They have faith in the power of tradition and yet, are extremely intelligent, crafting the strongest buildings and most useful tools. Their weapons are thin and sharp, perfect for tossing into the depths in hopes of pulling up a seal or small whale. These Sika know how to use what is given to them, they know the secrets of the Earth and their Gods, and they wouldn’t want to share it with the world.

### Arboreal Sika'cesn

“Arboreal” in this context means that the Sika who belong to this subculture live \*among\* forests and trees, not in them. This subculture is the most wide-spread, even though the majority of Sika do not belong to it. In the forest, tribes are scattered far away from eachother to limit the biological impact on one area to another. In each forested province, there are typically only about 1-4 Sika tribes. Arboreal Sika are split into three microcultures. They aren’t extremely different, only in methods of survival and building, but a distinction is clear. The separation is made between those living in temperate forests and those living in boreal forests, with the boreal forest tribes split in two based on those who are nomadic and those who aren't.

#### Boreal Forest Microculture

Boreal forests are those bordering the Endless Cliffs. There aren’t too many, and because they are the bridge between the temperate forests and the mountains, the culture is mingled and changes constantly. This is also because there is a constant movement of trade through the tribes of the boreal forests, so a lot of what they wear and eat is a hodge-podge of flavors between the warmer forests below them and freezing mountains above. Those living in the Boreal forests also have structures that are stationary all year round, just as their stationary brothers of the Temperate forests. The pines and spruces used in their architecture is surprisingly thick. Many do not last through the harsh winters of the high elevation, so finding solid and good wood to use isn’t difficult.

They build long log cabins with separate rooms. At the back is the storage, then the parent’s room, younger children’s room and the older children’s room at the front. For especially large tribes, it is common to see older children from different families building their own cabins, where the parents send their children after becoming old enough. These cabins only last about 2-5 years, and once one or two are no longer habitable the entire tribe moves across the mountain to a different place. This helps the animals in the area they were in regrow again, and the wood they use rots and becomes part of the earth.

#### Temperate Forest Microculture

Being at a lower elevation means warmer days, and therefore longer summers. Longer summers also means more plants to use for tools and medicine. The temperate Sika are very well hunters and trackers, and because there is so much land and so little of them, they usually have an excess of things they harvest. These things get circulated through trade all around the territory of the Sika’cesn. Temperate Sika have the most practices and traditions regarding religion and rituals. They also engage in the most celebration. Dances are held almost nightly during the summer, and when they are really celebrating things during holidays rite completions, their “parties” can last all throughout the night and even the next day when especially important. They also have the most variation among their tribes regarding specific practices of about everything, just as the trees around them are unique and individualistic. For more information on the difference between nomadic and stationary Sika, scroll down to "Architecture".

## Agriculture - Hunting/Gathering

### Plants

As of right now, the Sika do not farm any plants in large-scale quantities. They have no need to, but an argument could be made for the Rastìk Cherries, a tough, sour and bitter pit fruit which grows along the very edges of the mountain tree line. It has a slight citrusy, flowery flavor under the many layers of instinctual take-this-out-of-my-mouth feel. The bitterness can be boiled out. Boiling is necessary anyway because the fruit is so tough it feels like a rock in one's mouth, but it takes so long it is near impossible to keep any of the fruit's structure. After boiling, the resulting jam has a very sweet, tarty flavor reminiscent of oranges, vanilla and black pepper. Typically it is taken out of the pot now to freeze and keep for mixing into gravies and soups but it can alternatively be kept boiling to turn into fruit leather, or mixed with salt to crystalize and turn into a very lovely dry spice. They don't necessarily farm them, but an effort is made by tribes to keep existing trees healthy.

### Animals

A effort is being made by existing tribes to introduce more animals to domestication. Most animals on Western Cy'ǧetauria are wild, dangerous beasts and so only two animals have achieved domestication; Shikachizhian Sheep by the species, and geese by the Arboreal and Coastal tribes.

#### Shikachizhian Sheep

The word Shikachizhian itself comes from Sika'cesn, changed to be more Anglicized. The sheep are very useful and important to the Sika’cesn, but of the things they give none is as important as the skin. Normally, the sheep have skin as black as Nótţáska, but their insides are red and their wool can be any color. Sika’cesn have a belief that their gods have skin darker than the night sky, and black is thus seen as pure. This skin is strictly used for relic tents, and the tent of the Relicmaster. Only a small piece for the herder of that sheep is given to keep as a reminder of their sheep and their God. Any excess is used for ritualistic purposes or things relating to the Sika’cesn dieties. White, gray, or pink spots along the skin of the ship are seen as impurities, and are cut off and thrown away.

#### Geese

Geese fly right over the mountain ranges in Spring and Fall and sometimes nest on the mountain themselves. It makes an easy prey, aside from the fact that the Sika only kill them during fall when the geese do not have goslings to raise.

The feathers of the geese they dress are traditionally weaved into mesh made from fine plant fibers. Down feathers are used to make large quilts and comfortable insulating textiles meant to be worn under Conta’skda during the depths of winter. Longer flight feathers are tied into similar nets of fiber, but are usually warn strictly by the Relicmaster who always keeps a spare for times of rites and rituals during holidays. Flight feathers are made into cloaks rarely, because they have other uses around the tribe. Typically the shafts are hollowed out and made into thread shuttles for weaving Conta’skda or other textiles, but can be used as quills, needles, tree taps, beads and so much more.The feet are frozen and are given to the Shikachizhian Sheep during winter as a treat, and as a much needed energy boost.

Recently, Arboreal tribes have taken to domesticating geese after one tribe raised one back to health. The domestication of these creatures led to many cultural changes, For example, the dwellings tribes of the forest dwell in are now mostly lived in year round because there isn't a need to be nomadic and follow herds.

#### Leech Wyrms

It is seen as an especially high honor for any Sika to somehow kill a Ţáska, and one of the riskiest and most daring things most young Sika wouldn't even be able to stomach. When it is pulled off, something shifts in the Sika'cesn dynamic that lasts for a months (if not the whole year). The skin of leech wyrms are made into high quality reptile leather by the family and are worn by the hunter all throughout winter. The inside is lined with geese down or a Conta’skda so that it can also be used as a quilt for sleeping, and this skin is passed to the children (decided by the other parent who gets to keep it), who pass it onto their children and so forth. Each person who inherits this quality skin gets to paint a scale the color of their birth, and must upkeep the skin to be able to keep passing it on. It is seen as highly arrogant and rude for a Sika or their children to kill a Ţáska if a cloak is already being passed down through the lineage.The bones are fastened into the edges of the hunter’s and their families Conta’skda, which stay with them through to the afterlife. The skull is hollowed out and painted by the hunter, who wears it during hunts and rituals, and is carried with them to the afterlife.

#### Ganhiśh Monkeys

Of course, in their natural habitat they would try to let them live, but these little rascals love to steal things from Sika'cesn tribes. When one gets too close and gets caught, there are little chances of survival. These monkeys are like rats to Sika. The fur is seen as ugly and undesirable among the Sika tribes because it is course and wiry, thus it is used almost strictly for twine or rope. The bones are oddly heavy and thin like ivory, and so are used in decorative clothing Occasionally they can be hollowed out and made into very nice looking beads.

#### Sivatheres

These odd proto-giraffes are a rare food source, specifically among the tribes living in the great forest west of the mountains the Sika’cesn are native to. They are often quite difficult to kill because of their thick skin and tendecy to fight back. With antlers the size of shovel heads, it is dangerous to approach these magnificent creatures alone. Therefore, the Sika have immense respect for them, and refuse to kill them in most circumstances.However, about once or twice a year (usually during fall), a tribe bands together and go on hunting sprees to bring at least a few of these creatures down. With enough manpower, the task (although somewhat difficult) is accomplished. The tribe rejoices after a first successful hunt, usually throwing a traditional Sika’cesn “party” at dusk after the processing of the animal, which lasts into the morning.

The skin is stretched between two trees (to be used for tent making). Bones are used for tool-making and dress alteration. The antlers and skull (after eating anything edible off) are de-skinned, painted and used in rituals. The heart is fermented and made into a strong dye, which is made into a specific color of paint. The tails are given to the sheep.

## Cuisine

### Shikachizhian Sheep

The most common method of production are simple acid cheeses meant to be eaten as soon as possible. The most common cheeses produced are similar to bries, goudas, fetas, picorinos, gjetosts and Crottin de Chavignols, which are often made using rastìk cherries that sweeten in the heating process and act as an acid. Other products include butter, kefir milk and yogurt (in order from most to least used in a daily diet). The bones are hollowed out (and then used for various tools like needles, spears, arrows, etc.) and the marrow is eaten raw. Any leftovers are either frozen or dried. The actual meat is usually too tough to be eaten in jerky by the time the sheep die, so it is typically boiled in stews. A specific cuisine item eaten all the time in Sika'cesn tribes is a piece of feta sprinkled in "herbs" (mainly moss and crumble cherries) with a lot of oil spread over the top.

### Geese

Common food made from them includes jerkies, stews, and Guska na turopoljski (salted roast goose) during winter. They also have the option to eat it raw. During fall after the butchering process it is common to take the parts that won’t be used immediately and freeze them under the snow for use throughout winter. This is one of the most stable parts of the Sika diet from October to May because it has a lot of fat, oil and protein and tastes amazing. One large adult gander can feed a family of 4 for 2 weeks if used properly.

### Leech Wyrms

Unlike other meats, the carcass is taken to the top of the mountain to be butchered, to keep the meat as clean and fresh as possible. The skin, brain and skeleton are given to the killer or their family, but the rest of the animal belongs to the tribe. Ţáska meat is one of the highest forms of cuisine among the Sika'cesn. Traditionally, the meat bordering pockets of fat is divided into small chunks (consisting of ½ meat and ½ fat, respectively) and dried into jerky, where it is used for the women's mining expeditions and the men's solitary prayer huts. These last throughout a whole year. The larger portions of meat are saved for extra special occasions. Mainly: holidays, births, tribal feasts and other special occasions. The liver is eaten as soon as possible and is shared with the entire tribe in a celebration honoring the victor's triumph. The most common way to eat Ţáska is as an unseasoned pot roast.

### Ganhiśh Monkeys

Despite the moral standing that every part of the animal should be used, only the fur, meat, and bones stay and the rest gets tossed out in hopes it will attract something tastier. This is because the organs are inedible due to the poisonous insects the monkeys eat during spring and summer.Because their arms and legs are very muscular, they must be made into stew. Other than that, methods for cooking are very flexible. The tail of a ganhiśh monkey is a delicacy to Sika'cesn palates and is usually deboned, stuffed with cheese or yogurt and then fried with butter. No other food item in Sika'cesn cuisine is prepared this way.

## Belief System

Heavy beliefs center around the beauty in Earth, especially in harsh conditions. Because they believe a higher God created the Earth, and their Great Father rules over at least them, they need a way to justify the harsh conditions they are constantly in. It is their belief that in order for some beauty to shine in it’s greatest potential it has to be put in the most extreme circumstances. This belief also ties into their biology because when they reach about 60-70 F externally the shope-shifting/color-changing aspects of their skin stop working completely.

### The Pantheon and it's Lore

While a whole pantheon of gods exist in Sika lore, only one is worshipped. These other other gods are not necessarily seen as minor. In fact, most are seen as higher in power than the god they worship, Źhònh. Usually, they have something attributed to them that makes them unique somehow. The highest God in the pantheon (who hasn't been named yet, as they have not discovered a name) rules over the sun, for example. Their main god Źhònh is the ruler of the forests *and* the Sika'cesn people. He is seen as the father of everything they know and attribute to themselves. In tehir eyes he does not particularly rule over them (allowing them free will to do whatever they please and organize themselves as such) but they still pray for his blessings, and occasionally he will oblige them because he loves them. They are his pure and simple creation, and, while even being referred to as a runt by the other gods of the pantheon in their lore, neither he nor the Sika'cesn care. Nliltú is one of the more well known gods of the broader pantheon, a demon-trickster god who uses his power to bring curses unkown and distortions among the Sika people.

Demi-gods (while not technically a fully accurate name) are also at play in Sika'cesn lore. Unlike the gods, demi-gods do not have power over much. They can be killed, exploited, destroyed and so much more. The Sika'cesn, however, regard them as real as the people in their tribes. The demi-gods are given names by the Relicmasters when discovered. The people talk to them, give them gifts, and some even elect to die by the demi-gods they loved in life. But demi-gods to have traditional bodies in the way that the Sika do or their gods do. Instead, they are seen as curious and strange pieces of land, animals or plants. The mountain most of the Sika reside on for example, is seen as one of the higher demi-gods because the Sika women were created in the mountain's womb. Other demi-gods could be massive wrangled trees, large stags in the wood, odd rock structures, and (especially) lakes. Things are easily excluded from demi-godhood because they are either too plain or too interesting. Things too great and large to have a conscience like the great forest or the Arctic Ocean are great examples of these.

### First Men

Different tribes began with the idea of families. When the first men climbed the mountain, they obviously had children with the women already on the mountain. There were 15 of them, who created 15 tribes. These first men had a lot of power, so it felt only natural to disperse from eachother. Each newly formed tribe took a side of the mountain, and they all shared the very top for storage (because it was always freezing on the summit). Eventually, many of the tribes felt too crowded on the mountain, and that this many people would be detrimental to the beauty of the land, so they took their exodus down the mountain. Most went to the West, among the tundra, while the others went North and East, to the Arctic Ocean and the Forest. Eventually a few tundra tribes went South and climbed a separate portion of the endless cliffs to be along the mountain again.

Occasionally, a young man would be born who had powers precisely and intricately as large as the first men, and he would be called as much. First men used to only be born extremely rarely, about one every 300 years. Recently, a first man is born to a tribe once every 40 or so years. While uniformity exists among these young boys in the power of their magic, it is typically much stronger than that of his tribe's Relicmaster. It is believed these men are descended directly from Źhònh, just as the ancestors of the other Sika were, and are meant to start tribes of their own. When a Sika man is descended from these men, he counts his ancestors up to that man and not further than him, because there aren't any ancestors to count further to. The first man counts only one name, Źhònh. Just as a normal Relicmaster, when this man dies his powers are passed onto his apprentice (which is usually one of his sons, as unlike "normal" Relicmasters these men have children to grow their tribe). Most of the Relicmasters are descended from the first men but occasionally a male can be born with innate, wild powers he doesn't know how to control. The first men look nothing like their "biological" fathers (and with usually dark skin, rich skin tones), and are even born at random periods, often to older women who believed their child-bearing days were over. The infant, if already known to be a first man (or whenever he shows powers) is taken to the Relicmaster to be raised. This can happen when Relicmasters already have an apprentice, so he would have to care for two at once.

### Magic

#### Relicmasters, Stonemasters and Apprentices

All magic begins and ends through the Relicmaster and Stonemaster of each tribe. The Relicmaster is generally thought of to have more natural power than the Stonemaster, because the men descend directly from Źhònh while the women came from the womb of Rņté. The Stonemaster (and occasionally other women throughout the whole tribe) use their ancestral stones to heal the women of the tribe, while the Relicmaster and his apprentice/s are responsible for the healing of the men. In very special cirumstances, men can heal women and vice versa (which is common in small families, as women would heal their children of injuries regardless of gender). The Relicmaster is responsible for almost all rites and rituals throughout his entire tribe.

While the majority of the men participate solely in ancestor veneration, having almost no personal interaction with the Great Źhònh, it is the Relicmaster’s duty to form connections with the Sika deity. His powers are said to directly come from Źhònh, although in reality they are passed from him to his apprentice when the Relicmaster passes away. The powers bestowed upon each Relicmaster do not dwindle when passed down, but have to be relearned. Each apprentice spends their whole life learning from the Relicmaster, so picking up magical powers isn’t as much of a burden as it would be if the Relicmaster were to die before someone had learnt all of the ancient techniques, stories and rites.

The Stonemaster has a similar purpose and role in the tribe, but doesn’t have as much rights with overseeing religious practices, and doesn’t have powers directly given to her from anyone. Instead for women in general, the power to use magic and healing items is a right given to each of them. The Stonemaster’s responsibilty is to be the mother of everyone in the tribe. While all father’s get their healing from the Relicmaster, the Stonemaster gives healing to the all the mothers and single men/women throughout a tribe. Healing a child is a task given to that child’s mother.

Everyone can mine for jewels and minerals, but only women are permitted entry into Rņté. This is because they go mining of finding what are known as Ancestral Stones, which are glowing gems that are said to be the soul of Rņté given to the women to help them. It is a mother’s responsibility to find a gem for her daughter when she is born. It is unknown exactly how many Ancestral Stones reside inside of Rņté, but what is know is that each time a woman goes down with the strict purpose of finding one, she usually emerges in about 20 minutes, with the axact time frame being extremely varied. While the mother continues her caving, Rņté whispers to her all the information she needs to raise her children correctly.

Ancestral Stones have an immense amount of healing magic in them which are specifically “meant” to keep a woman and her family healthy and free from disease. Sometimes a mother can choose to not heal her children with a stone (and this one of the rites of passage), but would do so only in circumstances where she knows the child does not need to be healed.

One thing each Relicmaster and Stonemaster have in common is at least one apprentice. An apprentice is chosen somewhat at random, and the way an apprentice is chosen varies a lot between the different tribes. For Relicmasters, the most common practice held in the culture is randomly deciding one day (or, being revealed to say by Źhònh) that the next baby male in the tribe will be the next apprentice. Usually, this is said in the warm seasons when there are no pregnant women in the tribe, although occasionally a Relicmaster would wait until a woman gave birth to a male and then tell the family that their son has been chosen. The child would stay with his mother until he was weaned (about 2 years), and then given to the Relicmaster to raise. The child is always raised with the knowledge of who he came from, and to not do so would be seen as highly offensive. The boy is also expected to uphold all the other manhood rites the other men in the tribe have to do, but his expectations are greater, and he has a few extra to pass before he is ready to take the Relicmaster title for his own. The boy would call the Relicmaster his father throughout his life.

Stonemasters choose apprentices much differently. For Relicmasters, it is important to uphold all the tenants of their beliefs, rites and rituals in perfect fashion, but Stonemasters aren’t as strict, and mostly choose an apprentice just because they feel their time on the planet has neared its end. They specifically try to choose their apprentice based on individuality and personality rather than chance, from the tribal pool of females ages (in Earth standards) 8-15. Stonemasters don’t expect these young women to live with them, and the young woman can reject the offer of becoming an apprentice (although it might be left with some judgements from family members and tribe members. Not nearly as much as a Relicmaster apprentice rejecting his apprenticeship at any age in his life). The Stonemaster’s apprentice must pass only one rite (aside from the other womanhood rites) to become an official apprentice, and then another when the current Stonemaster is about to pass away when she gives the apprentice her title. During the period between the rituals, the apprentice meets with the Stonemaster each day of the warm months and every couple of days during the cold months to both learn of her ways and help her with the tribe’s healing.

Relicmaster healing rituals are also quite different than Stonemaster healing rituals. Because the women have their stones, the Relicmaster needs tools to channel his mana. These tools are some of the most varied between tribes. Some Relicmasters use pinecones with tiny runes etched on the scales. Others use bones, ancient relics, some wear the skulls of Sheep. One tribe in the South East of Sika'cesn realms even uses pumpkin seeds. They all use \*something\* though, because all magic done by Relicmasters is invisible, unlike the women's magic which typically reflects the skin color the woman was wearing when she first received her stone. Sparkles of light are cast over wounds. Relicmaster magic is (arguably) more strong than womanhood magic though, as it can even cast curses and blessings upon people.

#### Rites and Rituals

To be clear, a ritual in Sika'cesn ways differs from rites in that rituals are specifically the events in which a rite, blessing, or curse is formalized/acknowledged. A rite is a step of passage one must take in their life. Most rituals are held during the warmth months, when it is easier to get a tribe together. Usually (when not rites) they include wishing for rain, snow, better game or fertility. Rites of manhood are very different than rites of womanhood but both serve the purpose of making sure one is ready for adulthood and parenthood.

The first rite of Manhood is called an ancestral blessing, when the baby is left in the Relic tent alone for about an hour before being taken out and his face painted with black stripes. Eventually, the black stripes either crumble off or wash away. When they do, the baby is taken to the Relicmaster where Źhònh appears before him and gives him a blessing. The rest are "first for everything" type rites. First winter, first sheep, first hunt, etc. A rite happens for a man with every child he has. A man has black circles tattooed directly under his eyes for each rite he passes, and, while Relicmaster apprentices complete the same rites and more, their tattoos go on the backs of their fingers and hands.

Womanhood rites first involve very similar steps of progression, but the rituals are very different. Her first rite is also entirely different, when a ritual is performed before she receives her Ancestral stone. Then it follows: first winter, first sheep, first hunt, etc. Unlike the men, there is no ritual for any of her children because pregnancy is seen as the ritual.

Daily or weekly rituals are also observed. Every once in a while the men go to the Relicmaster tent, recite their ancestors and then pray to them. Fathers often do this practice with their sons but also alone. There in fact, is typically an uptick in a man's life of how often he prays when he starts having children. Because men refer to the Relicmaster as "father", they do include the current Relicmaster in their prayers, but not any that precede. A Relicmaster doesn't recite his biological line and instead refers to the line of Relicmasters before him. In the case of husbands, they also do the ritual together, but two men who are only friends do not.

Rituals between members of a family after eating a meal also occur. These family rituals are the only time in which tribespeople talk to Źhònh (aside from when they are born), giving thanks to him for supplying their meal, their bodies, their will and the land they live. Meal rites are first given by the father (as he is seen as having the closest connection to Źhònh), and then the rooms opens for any to give tribute.

Women do not initiate or do any sort of praying in their time. Rituals, however, are a common occurrence. Just like fathers, it is commonplace for mothers to partake in daily rituals with their daughters. Nursing mothers and pregnant women do not have to do these rituals but they are welcome to. They happen once all the men in their hit or cavern exit. Any participating place all their stones into their hands and hold them outstretched. When they turn their palms over, they read them. Each woman's palm tells a different story, and only the woman reading her own palm can decipher her message. It is said that the messages scrawled across fingertips and lines are from their mother Rņtè, and usually give directions to take throughout the next coming days. She doesn't have to follow these instructions, but it is said that those who do are blessed somehow.

### Current Traditions

The women delve deep into the caverns of Rņtè and find her jewels. They extract them but don't do anything with them, keeping them close and always at hand. The other mountains obviously have jewels as well (rubies, emeralds, etc.), but the jewels from Rņté hold magical value which refracts off the structures inside the minerals, causing them to glow lightly.

The men keep their veneration quiet and intimate. In each tribe their is a house full of relics where the Relicmaster sleeps. Such relics include dried leaves, twigs, small stones, and very old kilts. These relics are from the bottom of the mountain where the men originally grew from. Unlike the women, the men participate in ancestor veneration. In the relic house the men pray. They lay all their worries, concerns and fears at the feet of the relics and at the end, ask their ancestors to deliver them to Źhònh, who will bless them. You would be hard-pressed to find a Sika male who can't count and name every single man in his paternal line.

Constellations are extremely important to the Sika'cesn, not only because they help in navigatory practices but also in their belief system. There are over 80 different constellations acknowledged in Sika'cesn lore. Obviously I can't map out every single one or name every single one, but each represents and highlights either an important aspect of their culture or their beliefs. There is a section of brightest stars shown in early Spring who they attribute to their highest god Źhònh. A simple triangle, but so important because they use triangles in many designs on their clothing and building patterns. A certain section of stars is also known as "the graveyard", a place where evil people die and their souls are kept in the sky to be watched over by the big moon.

Obviously, a culture with only 15ish groups of 10-50ish will likely have a really hard time keeping their genes from going stale. However, the Sika are really good at combating this, although they do it subconsciously. In the Sika'cesn culture, it is common to have several children in one family. 2-5 is the most average number. The drive to leave their tribe in search of another is really strong in young Sika's heads, like an instinct (especially males). The process of leaving is simple. Of you're a male you would go to your Relicmaster who prays to Źhònh who reveals which tribe you should go to. If you're a female you simply use your stone to see for yourself. And single partners usually go *far*. Some take over a year on their journeys, pushing their way through cold, snow, and sub-zero temperatures most of the year. It is common for only two Sika in a family unit to stay. If more than that leave it is a mark on the parents for raising the children badly. However, in a family with two children, it's more common for only one to stay. Age does not matter for who goes and who stays. Its more-so attributed to who has and hasn't found love yet. For the Sika who have found love the drive to leave typically never arrives. This is why parents often try to put their kids together with one another, and usually younger people will marry new arrivals in the tribe (who, obviously have arrived from other tribes), even though the new Sika is likely much older than they are. As a Sika you have a less likely chance to find love if you stay in your tribe. This is another reason why many people choose to leave, even if they don't have a drive to go. If all of a parent's children have been married in the tribe, then often even couples will leave together in search of a tribe to share their genes with.

It is important for Sika’cesn to have a strong connection with both nature and their tribes. Some weave together. Others share huts, tents and caves in winter. But a practice among almost all tribes is the odd need to dance often. These cultural dances range from intricate to quite basic, and the style varies wildly from tribe to tribe, just as many other things. These dances used to happen only during times of immense celebration but now, as life seems to become just slightly more and more easier and simpler, having tribal dances occurs at least once a week.

#### Death Customs and Beliefs

##### Inheritance Traditions

A person is remembered through the items they carried in life. Their Conta'skda, their tools, etc. are distributed among the family members closest to the person who died. If a man dies, whoever inherits an item of his paints a dot on it of their birth color (the color they were born as, more on that at a later date) and then these items get continually passed down generation after generation until they are about to break. The more dots on an item, the more valuable it is seen. Really old items don't get used as much as an item freshly made and then passed on, except for rituals, until eventually its passed on so much its seen as holy item and placed in the Relic Tent. If alive, these items are divided to the children by the deceased's spouse. If neither are alive the task is given to the eldest child alive. If a child who hasn't completed their adulthood rites passes away, it's usually up the their grandparents to distribute their items, and if the grandparents aren't alive the task moves on to the child's parents. All this is directly applied to all men across the entire culture, but only some subcultures

Such emphasis is placed on items, because of the belief that a man's memories go directly into the item when he dies. As said before, all subcultures pass the items of their male ancestors on, but only a few do the same with women. Women's memories and souls are instead believed to go to mountain Rņtè when she dies, where she lives with her ancestors and guides her descendants through Ancestral Stones. These beliefs both tie into and direct many aspects of the Sika'cesn way of life. For example, this is why they don't have trouble killing animals. It's believed that the animal's soul goes back into the earth or the trees and plants it ate from, one of the many reasons why Sika regard nature as a whole as extremely sacred. The beliefs especially tie into their magic; when a Relicmaster dies a ritual is performed that transfers his powers to his apprentice. This ritual is not performed with the body around, and instead the Relicmaster's items such as his clothing, and then, because they believe that his soul was transferred into the new Relicmaster, his items are distributed among the tribe he governed.

##### Body Disposal

A dead Sika body (unlike something like a deer or goose) is believed to be immediately infected upon death. Sika don't usually die of natural causes (half of them have innate healing magic, so they live to be about 150 human years even in the Bronze age and even though they are closely related to humans biologically), so any Sika body is treated as highly toxic. There are a few items a Sika gets to carry with their body to the afterlife. When they die, the things on them are believed to go with them to so a Sika is usually dressed in comfortable ceremonial attire before they die. Extremely important things to them, like their...

* Ceremonial Conta'skda usually lined with small bones and highly decorated.
* Mountainous and Tundra Sika'cesn wear a goose feather shawl given to them by their Relicmaster as a rite of adulthood.
* If a Sika happens to slay a "beast" in their life-time, such as a wyrm or wyvern, they wear the skull over their head. In Arboreal tribes, if they don't have one they instead wear...
* A goose feather headress
* A shepherd's cane made of high-quality wood is made, and tied with colorful textile ropes.
* Finally, a woman carries her Ancestral Stone, and a man carries an oil lantern.

When just about to pass away, the Sika is carried to a remote area where they can rest in peace. Somewhere they won't be found easily, or somewhere of high importance to them. The current Relicmaster of the time has the final say of where they rest, although, if of sound mind, the Sika can have influence on where they'd like to pass.

## Technology & Progress

### Tools

Sika love to eat meat, after all, they are carnivores. They are not averse to eating raw meat, but cooking it is simply another option which also removes most chances of infection. The methods by which they cook vary wildly. Because soups are a common dish, large basins of stone are carefully chiseled. Obviously, the thinner the basin the lighter they are to carry, but it can be difficult to chip them down thin without cracking them. It is for this reason exactly that most tribes only have about three stone basins to cook in, or one for each family. Always sat right next the fire and not moved until they have to move camps. Soup is cooked by taking hot stones out of the fire and simply dropping them into the water. They wait a few minutes for it to cool and cook before eating. Obviously, it's really difficult to just cook *everything* in one huge stone basin, and, roasts are a very important part of Sika'cesn cuisine, so they also make very large dutch ovens of hammered copper, polished with beeswax to cook over the fire. These are painstakingly hard to create and maintain, so each tribe only has one which is only used during celebrations. Naturally, both of these options aren't widely available to some tribes, and many opt uut by choice because the copper reacts with acid and makes the food taste like metal occasionally. These families cook by heating food stuffed in animal parts such as stomachs and intestines which is quite common.

#### Textiles, Looms and Fashion

Longer summers have also provided the people with many, many more opportunities for experimenting with different textiles. With different kinds of weaving methods as well, Sika'cesn tribes all over the the places they inhabit are experimenting new designs to weave onto and compliment their Conta'skda. Carded tablets, intricate wristbands, silky nets and even hair decorations woven from feathers and strings. These things are made with a careful and meaningful thought process. Sika “fashion” is still developing of course, but steps are being made. While favoring browns and grays, these textiles are implemented many, many colors. Because the useful coloring of the sheep does not exist in other fiber types, new dyes are also being experimented with.

### Architecture

Unlike their mountain-dwelling relatives, the Sika'cesn of the tundra had to find new ways to adapt to the flat and windy lands they inahabited when they arrived. Used to their mountainous caverns, these Sika wanted tried something similar. First, they dig holes in the ground (about 4 feet deep, and, still, ~12-14 feet in diameter), then, they secure poles into the ground along the edges, bend them into a center and weave sticks through them. Next, they line the outside with animal skin, mud and leaves, and then pile a small amount of dirt over the top. A hole is left in the top for ventilation, so it is common to light fires and cook in these huts. The immense wind means that snow is less likely to fall in large sheets, feet deep, so the entrance is near ground level. These huts are only implemented in winter when being completely stationary is a must.

The most common structure like are caves along cliff walls they use for winter, but most of the tribes move around a lot so there's no defintive structure. Inside the winter caves, they're lined with dead leaves on the floor and white "tapestries" all along the wall so that the Sika skin stays white during winter. Other tribes mostly use fur to line their winter structures. Boreal Forest Sika don't need to, but they also hang white tapestries during winter. During summer the walls of their structure are lined in green or brown everything, but they're big fans of letting light in their summer huts so large nets of waterproof leaves are thrown over the huts when it rains and taken off when dry. Coastal Sika keep the nets on all the time.

## Daily Life

Nearly every living creature needs water and the Sika are no exception. They have somewhat of a stigma against water because everything it touches tends to freeze pretty quickly, which can damage the integrity of things. When they come inside their huts, the first thing they do is dry off as best as possible. It is probably one of the only gendered daily household tasks they do, but it is the men's responsibilty to melt ice during winter and bring in the pot of water for his family to drink from. During summer, water is more easily found, but in the deeper parts of the forest where there are no rivers or streams usually Sika will have to stay along the borders of a spring. All this being said, most of the water in Sika's diet is substituted in the amount of meat they eat. They only really need to drink because they consume jerky a lot, or when they cook a roast for example. A Sika would likely die of hunger before he or she died of thirst. Sika'cesn take their hydration seriously, because they see the warmth breath exiting their mouth as water evaporating right off of them and being sucked into the dry winter. They drink when they come, they drink when they go, and they drink when they're worried they haven't drank in a while even though they only can't remember they did 5 minutes ago.

### Sleeping Customs

The Sika love comfort when they can have it, and winterized huts, caverns and houses are no exception. Certain family members (if assigned one room together) don't have a specific place where they sleep with a bed for each person. Instead, the family just rolls out a large hide rug, pulls out extra (old, and unusable for clothing) Conta'skda, use their goose feather quilts, and any fur, if available, and then just sleep together. Its also common to sleep undressed, but they always kepe their Conta'sdka near and wrap it aroudn themselves when theu get up or someone walks in. Sometimes a child will choose a favorite piece of bedding, and they would have to search through the pile for it each night. In morning, when sleeping is over the mat is rolled up with all the bedding inside for ease of transport.

In Spring, for some subcultures, they build smaller huts that don't allow a large mat to be splayed in. Each family member choose two pieces of bedding from the pile, one to sleep on and the other to sleep under. They are rolled up together in neat bundles with the mat one facing outwards and then unrolled at night like a sleeping bag. In the cabins of temperate arboreal Sika, when young men and women from different families are put together it can be awkward to figure out sleeping arrangements. This is where the sleeping bag type bedding style from other tribes carried over into this microculture. And it's really up to the people sleeping in the same cabin, but they usually still sleep in the nude with a little more emphasis on keeping yourself covered when you stand or sit up.

The only uncommon thing to see is Sika sleeping in different rooms. Sure, parents might seperate themselves from their children (and this is more common in Arboreal and Coastal subcultures) but more people = more heat. In any given situation you would rarely see Sika opting to sleep alone when an option arises to sleep in someone else's hut or with a different family.

Sika'cesn are heavy sleepers and adults adults need to be asleep for over 10 hours a day. For children, they need much much more because their brains are still developing. With only 14 hours a day to get all your chores done, time can feel like it passes quickly. Many tribes, especially in winter have odd sleeping patterns to combat this. It's really impprtant for them to use as many hours of sunlight as possible, but when days grow longer some of those hours can be used for other activities. All throughout the year Sika fall asleep at sunset and wake up at sunrise, but in the middle of the night they wake up for 2-4 hours to converse, share stories, have sex and weave clothing. These nighttime hours are important to Sika'cesn, and it's even seen as a rite of passage for children to start waking up during this time even though no ceremony is held afterwords.

### Reproduction Customs

Despite no protection in this age or ways to safely abort children, sex is seen as a welcome and postive thing throughout Sika'cesn tribes. Summer intercourse is common specifically because Sika children are born perfectly suited for their environment. Having sex during winter and conceiving in summer is seen as a very bad omen; the mortality rate of children born in summer is extremely high, because once their first winter hits most are unable to handle the extreme cold temperatures. If a summer child makes it through winter, they are seen as very strong. This is not the same for babies born in the dead of winter, as they are able to handle a wide range of both warm and cool temperatures until they are older and their bodies internal temperatures are able to regulate to accommodate all environments.

There are no holidays celebrating sex, love or reproduction because those things just *are*. Married couples are known for their promiscuity. They share techniques for having contraceptive sex, have sex often, and occasionally even with other couples. The only thing seen as outright bad involving sex is when two Sika have a child when married to other people. In these circumstances the two couples would have to be married to eachother (although some Sika choose this, with many families being created with 3 or more parents). Rape is also very not acceptable, and in some tribes even leads to the dead of whoever instigated it.