Ögchuk Fiefdoms

Southwest of the Giants Handprint Desert lies the **Ögchuk Fiefdoms**. The fiefdoms are a loose alliance of petty lords, warriors and knights knows as the Ögchuks, centered around a few centres of power. The Ögchuk are fearsome riders traveling through the sky, their mounts being insect-winged horses with the heads of beetles. Each Ögchuk, or groups of them, has carved out tiny fiefdoms to rule for themselves, often fighting each other over meaningless disputes in jousts in the sky. Whenever the Ögchuks manage to unite over something their armies are heralded by the sound of buzzing wings and windpipes, groups of Ögchuks flying over the slings and spears of their just as often hired as coerced footmen.

## Culture

   The culture of the Ögchuk fiefdoms largely revolves around the **garl**, the mount of the Ögchuk riders. A garl is a horselike creature, with four inspectoid wings, with an insectile head with a set of compound eyes and mighty pincers on its head. The body is like a hairless horse. An Ögchuk will bond with one or more garls from childhood, learning the art of riding one through land and sky as intimately as walking. While there are many within the fiefdoms have no access to garls, only a rider, or son of one can call himself a true Ögchuk.

## Government

The Ögchuk are loosely organized in a set of clans, each clan denotes ancestry from a legendary Ögchuk, foreign noble, or having been adopted into the clan. While Ögchuks are often very proud of their clan, there are many clanless ones as well, and clan membership does not denote clan LOYALTY, as infighting is just as common as conflict between clans.

The Council of 23 is what closest constitutes an Ögchuk central authority. Situated in Vakögchuk, the council are the only entity allowed to make binding decisions for all Ögchuk. They mostly deal with religious matters, external threats and are the final authority on the delegation of honorary titles. Membership in the council is for life, and on the death of one, the council decides the new member in a secretive process. Every 6 years, or when the council deems it necessary, the council holds the Graciögchu, a great meeting of Ögchuks, where one can bring up ones grievances to the council.

While there are over 200 different titles in Ögchuk society they can be categorized in four groups: Warriors, knights, lords and the Lord of Flags. A warrior is the ordinary Ögchuk, almost always being pledged to the service of a higher rider, or holding a small fiefdom at maximum a hamlet of 3-10 people. A knight usually have a few warriors working for him, and control larger fiefdoms at the size of villages or larger areas. A lord is an Ögchuk controlling large areas of land, or a city, with knights and many warriors under his control. A Lord of the Flags is the closest thing to an Ögchuk marshal or king. It is a temporary position, being named by the council of 23 for a set amount of times in times of crisis or the invasion of a foreign nation. There is no set amount of Lords of flags. During a punitive invasion from Changrila 4 clan leaders were named Lord of Flags to not offend anyone. The Changrila army was beaten back, but the Ögchuk could do no counter-invasion, as the four lords ended up quarreling over who would lead the Vanguard.

The pride of an Ögchuk is his dhur band, a band of knotted coloured cloth, sometimes with pearls or gold attached. Having a band or more is a great honor for an Ögchuk. A warrior is entitled one band around his leg, or around his arm with the permission of a lord as a reward for mighty deeds. A knight is entitled to one on his arm and one on his leg, or 2 on his arm if not in the service of a lord. A Lord is entitled to 3 on his arm. A Lord of Flags can have 3 on his arm like a lord, and to carry the 3 flags of Vakögchuk. The combination of the color of the band, as well as style, number and size of the knots, and any embroidery or jewelry is complex symbol, denoting the wearers clan, father, accomplishment, strong features, lord, and fiefdom. Besting a rival Ögchuk in battle means you are entitled to his dhur band, and these are often hung upon a spear or a saddle.

## Fiefdoms

There are a large number of fiefdoms, ranging in size from two houses and a an orchard of plum trees, to the size of a small nation.

### Vakögchuk

Vakögchuk is the largest city within the fiefdoms, it holds the seat of the council of 23, and is considered neutral ground for all Ögchuk. No fighting is allowed in the city, and therefore it is often the site of non-violent conflict resolution between knights or lords.

### Vokichen

Vokichen lies on the border of Dsrvyth. The people of this city and area around are known as strong warriors, often being hired as mercenaries for Dsrvyth. The largest fiefdom of the area, the fiefdom of Vokichen, constitutes the city and most of the land around. It is currently held by Ghataç, patriarch of the Ök-Fuvhen clan.

### Gorok

Gorok is the richest city within the fiefdoms, trading with the neighbouring Changrila. The area around is largely peaceful, dominated by fat knights and wealthy merchants.

### Northern fiefdoms

The area north of Vokichen and Gorok is the most contentious area of the fiefdoms. Hundreds of competing Ögchuks fight over the land, with every rising lord quickly being despatched by his rivals.

### Central fiefdoms

In the centre of the lands of the Ögchuk lies the city of Ükmen and the fiefdom of Gkum, as well as the Golden Plains, the legendary land of clan Ök-Farfh, now split between 15 knights, all dreaming of lordship.

### South-eastern coast

The south eastern coast is dominated by the fiefdom of lord Grakkc. The area has the largest concentration of Garl roosts, and as such is frequented by people from the rest of the fiefdoms.

## Religion

Ögchuk religion consists mostly of ancestor-worship, with tales of legendary heroes being an important part of the rites. Shamans and Priestesses are important for every fiefdom, with any lord worth his salt having a dozen to consult the spirits and bless his weapons and Garl. The Ögchuk also pays tribute, sometimes token and sometimes genuinely, to the Changrila God-emperor as a "living spirit." Ritual combat is also important for the culture of the fiefdoms, with two Ögchuks on foot covered in Garl blood beating each other half to death with wooden clubs in a haze of incense being a sacred rite.

The Ögchuk also worship the two moons as watchful protectors, and sometimes take pilgrimages to the giants handprint as penance for sins if commanded by a shaman or the council. Those surviving the journey are considered cleansed, and are forgiven any wrongdoing.