Toloomùu

**Toloomùu** [tɔ˧.lɔ:˧.mu:˨] (literally, "our valley") is the name for the valley between the Eastern Continent's two mountain ranges. More specifically, it refers to the land inhabited by the **Mùusuu** [mu:˨.su:˧] people, and politically, it refers to the region controlled by the **Kèlee Nation** (*Kèlee Dúlámràg* [kɛ˨.lɛ:˧]), the most powerful tribe of the Mùusuu.

## Basic Info

* *Local Name*: Toloomùu
* *Years of Existence*: 0-Present
* *Ruling Figure's Name*: High Chief Kuul Gáantí
* *Founding Player*: theBigBadBonobo
* *Controlling Player*: theBigBadBonobo
* *Languages*: Káaykwári

### Technology

#### Tier One

* Trade and Diplomacy
	+ Nation's Representative: Faced with a number of new nations emerging alongside them, the Kèlee Nation has developed the idea of using war parties not for fighting, but for building relationships and learning more about these new powers. With this, they've developed a primitive form of diplomacy. (Sept. 26th - Oct. 2nd)
* Mobility
	+ Animal Taming: The Mùusuu have long used the eland antelopes of their home for labour and raw materials, and in recent centuries, have bred elands large enough to ride. (Sept. 19th - 25th)

## History

The Mùusuu people have inhabited the land between the valleys for thousands of years, existing as tribal nomads and developing their own local ways of life, based largely around the domestication of the eland antelopes for transport, labour, and raw materials. In the absence of a written record, all that is known about the history of the Mùusuu comes from legend.

According to said legends, all of humanity was created in Toloomùu, but a great struggle between the gods - particularly the violent actions of the great serpent Órukámáas, whose thrashing ripped the mountains apart and formed the valley they call home - drove most of humanity away, severing them from the gods. Only the Mùusuu remained, tending to the homeland of the gods with dignity; as a reward for their diligence, the eland-god Ábatí allowed the Mùusuu to use the labour and flesh of his children forevermore, provided they treat them with the respect with which they treat the gods. The exact details of the legend varies from telling to telling, but this basic outline remains the same, giving the Mùusuu a sense of divine purpose and giving them an excuse for some degree of cultural chauvinism.

However, we are seeing the beginning of a proper history, as in recent centuries, the Kèlee tribe has adopted a more sedentary lifestyle, taking up agriculture around the banks of the Northeastern River. This has turned them from nomads into a budding state, and a former meeting point of the tribe, Wóosetámbé, has emerged as a capital city. With a growing population and labour forces allowing for food surpluses, the Kèlee are starting to see themselves as separate from the other Mùusuu... perhaps, even, their rightful rulers.

### In-Game History

*Sept 19-25*: Toloomùu enters the game, with **animal taming** being established as an existing technology (though it still fills the research spot for the week), reflecting the domestication of eland antelopes as a riding animal, beast of burden, and reliable source of materials.

*Sept 26-Oct 2*: Campaigns of conquest subjugate many lesser Mùusuu tribes, **expanding Toloomùu's borders** and increasing the power of the Kèlee. However, learning of other nations rising nearby, they take another action: they develop a crude form of diplomacy in the form of the **nation's representative**, allowing them to learn about and interact with other nations. Delegations are sent to Kenlavein, Thakatra, Ńivgúŕi, and Széhyil.

## Language

*Main Article: Káaykwári*

All of the Mùusuu tribes speak Káaykwári, which translates to "the common/shared language." Káaykwári is an agglutinative language with many unusual properties: an ergative-absolutive noun alignment; a system of verb agreement with the topic of the sentence, rather than the subject; syllable tone; vowel harmony; etcetera, etcetera.

The Mùusuu are aware of other tribes, but rarely make an effort to learn to speak their tongue. But as the Kèlee emerge as a budding state, that may well change, as diplomacy becomes an important consideration.

## Government

Given that the Mùusuu are still relatively tribal, their political system is less rigid than our own, but is nonetheless governed by its own traditions and expectations.

At the bottom of Mùusuu society is the family (*lí*), the most fundamental political unit. All politics are rooted in a sense of family membership, and unless cast out of a family - a punishment worse than death, reserved only for the wickedest of individuals - a person will carry their family with them through their entire lives.

Families are organized into tribes (*ràg*), who live together and travel together for mutual protection. Generally, anywhere from 6 to 12 families will travel together, depending on any number of factors, and they are expected to take care of each other. This is where things get more complicated, because there are other forces in play that stretch across the tribes of Mùusuu: the *warrior lodges* and the *raven circles*.

### Warrior Lodges

Warrior lodges are organizations to manage the waging of war, and they can be found throughout the tribes. While there are several different warrior lodges in existence, they all have several traits in common:

* Each warrior lodge is meant to serve a specific purpose to the tribes, be it stealing to enrich the tribe, punishing those who commit crimes against the tribe, defending the tribe from attack, etc.
* Each warrior lodge is marked by a unique fighting style, unique set of symbols, unique philosophy, and unique folklore, all of which must be hidden from outsiders.
* Almost all warrior lodges are all-male, with the exception of the all-female Catcoon Lodge.
* Warrior lodges are treated like families, and thus, they extend the obligations of family beyond blood relations and tribal distinctions. Members of warrior lodges are to treat each other as family, and if they should meet each other in battle, they are obligated to treat each other with the utmost honour and respect.
* Warrior lodges tend to be spread alongside their members, but since they can only really be sustained by membership, smaller tribes will likely only have a single warrior lodge, while larger tribes can sustain a few.

### Raven Circles

Meanwhile, the raven circles extend to every tribe among the Mùusuu, because they are an order of mystics. While individual tribes will have their own concepts of proper religious practice, the raven circles are a unified group, made up of women and of those who don’t neatly fit into the gender binary. Much like the warrior lodges, they carry hidden lore; unlike the warrior lodges, the raven circles carry the lore of healing, wisdom, and magic, brought to them by the god Tunàamráa. Also unlike the warrior lodges, raven circles are allied; to belong to a raven circle means that you are kindred to members of all others. Therefore, this shared knowledge stretches across Mùusuu society.

### Tribal Politics

The warrior lodges are respected; the raven circles are feared and loved in equal measure. Either way, they play a central role in the politics of the tribe.

Tradition dictates that the elders of the tribe - the leading members of the local warrior lodge(s), the heads of the local raven circle, and the eldest couples of all the families - form a council to make decisions. Typically, the most powerful family gets the honour of a sort of “chiefdom,” granting them greater authority within the council; however, they do not rule alone, and their position gives them extra responsibilities. Whatever the case, this council meets regularly to ensure that the tribe is operating smoothly, particularly to resolve disputes.

Above the tribe exists the concept of the *dúlámràg*, “unifying tribe,” which can be compared to the idea of a “nation.” This is a shakier concept, but essentially, a dúlámràg is a group of tribes who have their own specific cultural traits that separate them from other tribes, and typically hold a specific area of land. The exact rules and responsibilities of a dúlámràg differ, but in general, they are expected to be gentler to each other than to others, and will hold annual meetings where all of the tribes of the dúlámràg come together for trade, ceremony, celebration, arranging marriages, keeping track of connections, and so on. This is the highest political unit among the Mùusuu… for now.

### The Kèlee Nation

The Kèlee are their own dúlámràg, and they do things differently from others. Because they’ve taken up a more sedentary lifestyle and adopted agriculture, they’ve seen their population grow, which has required more structure and new traditions. One consequence is that the role of chieftain has gained far more power, and the chieftain of Wóosetámbé has emerged as a kind of early king, holding influence and power even over other chiefs.

## Culture

### Religion

The folklore of the Mùusuu is not a fully organized religion yet, but they still have their own belief system. Put simply, the Mùusuu talk about two different sets of “gods”: the *wóoàahak* (sg. *wóoàah*), or “Great Winds,” who represent the basic forces of nature, and the *wúumìk* (sg. *wúumì*), or “Great Beasts,” the chiefs of each species of animal.

Their relationships with these two pantheons are very different. The wóoàahak are far beyond mortal understanding, and can only really be grasped in the majesty of the natural world, and even then, only barely. These beings can (and must) be appeased, but they are distant, the dominion of priests and mystics. The wóoàahak are held in common across the Mùusuu, with a few differences in importance depending on the physical landscape each tribe inhabits. Among the Kèlee, the river/rain god Siikèeás is particularly important, seen as a patron of the tribe itself.

On the other hand, the wúumìk, while powerful, are knowable, and far closer to mortals; therefore, tribes and individuals can have a more personal relationship with them. Tradition dictates that in the beginning of time, all of the tribes of living things made agreements with each other, dictating how they would treat each other to ensure some kind of order. Humanity, of course, was part of this; therefore, the Mùusuu are concerned about honouring their relationships with the other tribes. After all: failing to respect the other tribes could destroy the food supply, and throw everything into chaos, so respect must be given.

But the relationship with the wúumìk is not only based on fear and obligation. Because they are much closer to mortals, the wúumìk are more down-to-earth and popular, with folklore being filled by stories of their various adventures. In turn, tribes and families tend to identify with individual wúumì, and take them as totems. The wúumìk are also more plentiful than the wóoàahak, as there are as many wúumìk as there are meaningful distinctions of animals, and their presence or absence varies wildly from tribe to tribe. But a few important wúumìk include:

* *Ábatí*, “Father Eland-Stag,” considered an ally of humanity and a symbol of ideal masculinity, virile and just. His wife, *Ámakò*, “Mother Eland-Doe,” is typically worshipped alongside him as a dual figure of the divine family, but she is also worshipped independently as a symbol of ideal motherhood and fertility.
* *Gèerlah*, “Brother Wolf-rat,” is another benevolent figure. Honourable but hot-headed and easily provoked, Gèerlah is treated as a young man and a warrior, full of life and still eager to prove himself.
* *Hòonmè*, “Sister Catcoon,” is the rare female warrior, the defender of children and the household against sickness, vermin, and evil magic.
* *Tunàamráa*, “Body-eating Raven,” is an intelligent and clever figure, but also greedy. Seen as both the keeper of magic and a psychopomp, Tunàamráa gives nothing away for free; magic can only be learned through sacrifice, and his ravens will only carry a soul to the afterlife if they are given the body to eat first.
* *Órukámáas*, “Earth-shaking Serpent,” is a chaotic and dangerous figure with a habit of causing problems; indeed, it is believed that her moving causes earthquakes, giving her that name. However, Órukámáas can also bring boons, as she is associated with the unpredictable and the unexpected more than anything else.

### Values

**Obligation.** To the Mùusuu, the natural state of the universe is chaos; there is no inherent order to anything. The only order that exists is the order that we impose upon the universe, and part of that involves obligations to each other. I’ve already talked about how this applies to religious practices, but in daily life, leads to a keen sense of obligation. Failing to keep a promise or uphold responsibility is seen as one of the gravest sins a person can commit, and every Mùusuu is taught from an early age about their obligations to every other person in the tribe, so knowledge of those obligations weighs heavily upon them. On the one hand, this creates very rigid social structures without a lot of flexibility; on the other, it allows for accountability and a keen sense of fairness, as no member of the tribe is exempt from their duties.

**War.** The Mùusuu are a warlike people, though at this point, the wars they wage are relatively small-scale skirmishes over land and resources. They can’t really afford immense loss of life, so warfare is a near-constant, low-level state of violence between tribes, more interested in stealing materials, driving off civilians, and asserting strength. The domestication of elands adds another dimension to this, as elands have now become both instruments in fighting wars and prizes to be fought over, as a warrior on an eland is far more dangerous than a warrior on foot.

Because war is such a big part of life, the Mùusuu take it seriously, and take traits associated with it seriously as well. Courage, loyalty to your fellow warriors, cunning, physical prowess, and strategic wisdom are all held in high regard. Indeed, while war is typically the realm of men, it is not solely men’s work; women receive some training in defensive fighting, because if a tribe gets so bold as to attack their enemy’s camp, it helps to have all of the adults battle-ready, even if the men of the tribe are away on their own raids.

**Family.** The Mùusuu are very family-oriented, though their definition of “family” is much broader than the Western understanding. Extended families live together in tight clusters of huts, and among the increasingly sedentary Kèlee, longhouses can hold entire families under one roof. This creates a network of people for whom your obligations are most intense, and who can support you throughout your life.

This loyalty to family runs deep, and indeed, family loyalty is often more intense than clan loyalty. Through a person’s entire life, they are treated as a representative for their family’s interests, and an injury to one member is treated as an injury to all. Thus, the relationships between families are extraordinarily important. Among the half-heartedly patriarchal Mùusuu, women hold a reasonable amount of power as negotiators and ambassadors, acting as peacemakers between the family they were born into and the family they marry into.

**Conspicuous Generosity.** This is an element of life among the Mùusuu that feeds from their belief in obligation, but takes things in a very different direction, and is becoming increasingly prevalent among the Kèlee in particular. While skill and courage in battle is one way to win acclaim among the Mùusuu, another way is through “conspicuous generosity”: obvious, spectacular displays of generosity as a way of gaining prestige and/or power.

Because of the comparative social rigidity of the Mùusuu, conspicuous generosity evolved to defuse tensions caused by inequality. To some extent, the generosity of the wealthy is both rewarded and expected; the more generous a family can afford to be, the more powerful and respected they are believed to be, while miserly behaviour is seen to indicate weakness. Those who do give can expect accolades, but more importantly, they can expect power. After all, the importance of obligation means that generosity can be an easy way to gain power over someone else, so wealthy families will routinely “sponsor” poorer families as a way of accumulating allies.

### Traditions

**Great Giving:** As previously mentioned, conspicuous generosity is seen throughout Mùusuu society, but in few places is it more obvious than the tradition of the Great Giving. This is conspicuous generosity given ritual importance, and it is a high point of the year for many people.

At various points during the year, tribes will meet to trade, settle disputes, arrange marriages, and have a good time. One of these is the meeting at the very start of the dry season, practiced across Mùusuu culture, which is known as the Great Giving. The Great Giving is one last big blowout feast before the lean times of the dry season set in, and to give it appropriate festive weight, a very wealthy family is chosen to host and pay for it. Such a ritual demands ludicrous expenses, but being able to do so is the highest of honours; indeed, during the feast itself, the heads of the host family are ritually dressed as Ábatí and Ámakò, ritualistically making them out to be givers of wealth and fertility.

### Art

The low-tech nature of the Mùusuu limits the kind of art they can make, but by no means has that stopped them from making it. Two particularly important traditions are song and painting, both of which fill the lives of the Mùusuu.

Song fills the days of the Mùusuu, setting the timing of work, filling ritual spaces, and marking important events. Indeed, storytelling is typically done through song and theatre, acting out critical stories in folklore with surprisingly elaborate performances. Songs are passed from parent to child as a way of carrying the stories of the people, and a beautiful singing voice is often considered a mark of virtue. In general, when the words are too important for normal speech, the Mùusuu bring out the song.

Painting, too, has a long history among the Mùusuu. Traditionally nomadic, they worked hard to make the ordinary objects they carried with them beautiful, lending colour and charm to otherwise purely functional objects. In the absence of “art” that exists separate from everything else, the Mùusuu work to infuse art into everyday objects, turning ordinary spaces into riots of colour and life.

### Prejudice

**Outsiders:** The people of Toloomùu know of other peoples, and hold them in some disdain, particularly those less warlike than themselves; tribes on the borders frequently raid into the lands of other peoples for riches. Stories from the distant reaches of Mùusuu territory tell of strange cow-herders with mottled skin to the north, mighty tribes far downriver, peoples hidden away within the mountains... all of them are seen as the descendants of those who abandoned their duty to the gods, and are seen as lesser.

Nonetheless, as the Kèlee have moved from nomads to a state, they've developed some interest in understanding these strange peoples. After all, they might present a threat... or an opportunity for wealth, and for conquest. Either way, the chauvinism of the Mùusuu still holds strong, but it might relax as they go out into the world with plans other than going to war.

**Gender:** The Mùusuu are half-heartedly patriarchal. Through their association with war, men inhabit most of the positions of power; however, there are avenues within society where women can hold a good bit of power, and among higher-ranking families, the power gap between men and women grows thinner.

Most of the time, women hold power in their near-monopoly on advice. Tradition has always dictated that women, as the keepers of the household and the bringers of peace, should always be heeded when they offer advice. As such, while the final decision is left to the men, tradition and superstition have always held that a man should always consult a woman for advice before making critical decisions. Some women have learned to use this for their own power, and have learned how to convince the men around them to do exactly what they want.

Women also hold an important spiritual role. The ability to bear children is seen to indicate an ability to bear magic, which is why the spiritual raven circles are made up of women. This further blends with their role as givers of wisdom, as they are bringing wisdom from a far higher place.

**Sexuality:** The Mùusuu think of sexuality in a different way than most Westerners do, in that they see some degree of bisexuality as the default. Of course, marriage is between one man and one or more women, but to the Mùusuu, marriage is a social, political, and economic agreement more than a romantic one. In the realm of romance, homoeroticism is rampant, and even encouraged; after all, if there’s no risk of pregnancy, the potential for drama goes down a whole lot.

Because of this, homosexual attraction is associated with friendship and eduction. It is considered entirely normal for people to have sex with their same-gender friends; indeed, such activity is seen as an indication of close friendship.

**Age:** Probably the strongest division within society, Mùusuu society skews heavily in favour of the old. Age matters over just about everything else in terms of status; a respected heir to a wealthy and honourable family still owes some respect to the elderly grandmother of a poor family.