The Azery People

The Azery people are a race and culture that many would consider to be "uncivilized" or "savage". Their homeland is the northwester most continent which they know as Kainga. This wiki will go over the basis of the Azery culture, and a few key pieces of myth and lore.

**Basis:** Aesthetically it is very tribal with emphasis on bones/fur/wood in nearly everything (building shape varies between tribe). The people are called the Azery (have not made a conlang yet) and they venerate the 6 aspects of nature: Wind, thunder, stars, spirit, earth, and beast. Each aspect grants blessings to the Azery (commonly referred to as magic) for instance, blessings from the Aspect of Beast are things like temporary magic claws or large tail to attack with. These blessings have only been seen to be used by the Azery people themselves (the beastfolk race above, non Azery that are part of the culture are called Azeni) non Azery require a talisman made of a material favorable to a specific aspect, and engraved with a symbol for the blessing that you want to use (tail blessing would have a respective symbol). The Azery build totems to serve as places of worship for the Aspects, each with a specific design or material based on the Aspect. The Azery are hunter/gathers and do not waste any part of a kill. However as part of their sacred law: "The skull(s) of one's kill must be placed high for Wind to carry the soul onward, then it will be born anew. The heart must be placed below the skull for Earth or Beast to do as they wish." The Azery prefer to use bows but if needed cary a cleaver like weapon with them, It is also common for Azery of age to train a bird of prey (preferably a falcon). Azery that do not take up the bow either train as shaman/druid/tempest (tribe/aspect dependent) or care for the home. Tribes do not have a set government, but ever tribe should decide on a chief to lead in case of tough times.

**Dragons**: There are two types of dragons, the Wyvn-do (feathered wyverns) and Wyrm-ki (four-legged flightless dragons). Each embody three of the Aspects; Wyvn-do embody Wind, Thunder, and Stars. While Wyrm-ki embody Earth, Beast, and Spirit. Wyvn-do: these are large bipedal creatures with majestic feathers and mighty wings. In flight they will use the power of Wind to fly at great speeds, they use their Thunderous breath to attack with, and create a calming miasma of the stars in the night skys (nebulas and Arouras). These creatures are calm and wise, and will help tribes in need. Wyrm-ki: these decently sized quadrupedal creatures have tough, stoney scales. They fight with the ferocity of all beasts and can inflict curses and disease on those who cross them. They are known to be the cause of plagues among tribes. While these creatures are mighty, they are not as calm and peaceful as their flying cousins. There is a third dragon, but this dragon has not been seen in many, many years. This creature is called Awykoda (ah-we-ko-da) and embodies all 6 aspects. However Awykoda has not been seen in such a long time that it has become a myth, and many tribes today do not believe it existed at all.

**Oksha-rodi:** Monsters are created when Oksha, the first corrupted spirit, and its corruption infects a lingering spirit. When a spirit is not given a proper burial then it my linger in the world of the living, making it weak and susceptible to corruption. These tainted spirits are known as Oksha-rodi, children of Oksha, and when killing one you must slay it then remove the corruption. Oksha-rodi take physical forms (often undead) and a new heart made of malice replaces the old, these new hearts are the source of corruption and must be removed then burned to cleanse a spirit.

**Death Rites:** When Azery or Azeni die, they are to be left out in a clearing near a village. That night, non but a tribes spirit walker (priests of the apsect of Spirit), if they have one, my leave their homes. For a Death bird will arrive to claim the souls of the dead and carry them on to the spirit world. After the bird comes "Those Who Feast" who eat the dead and leave the bones. afterwards the bones are to be burned the next morning so that the spirits may pass on properly.

**"Those Who Feast":** these creatures, also known as Shokanri (Sho-kan-ry), are larger towering, gaunt, and eerily resemble that of an Azery. With long spindly arms and nothing but skull and antlers for a head. They flock two places where a Death bird has struck, and bring the chill of the night with them. It is said that if you leave your home on the night of a Death Rite, you may be eaten along with the dead.

**Death Birds**: large skeletal falcoms with wings made of Ghost flame (a bluish black fire made when burning bones). They collect the souls of dead Azery/Azeni on the night of a Death Rite. They travel between the living and the spirit worlds at will, taking souls with them.

**Worlds:** There are three worlds; the living world, the spirit world, and the Huri-Waiko (hue-re way-ko). The Huri-Waiko is the ever changing world of the Aspects, sometimes beautiful and sometimes terrifying. Very rarely does it every look the same as before, but the Aspects shape and mold it to their whims. No creatures live here, and few plants either, and very few Azery have ever laid eyes upon it.

**Music:** The Azery/Azeni people create songs purely of sounds to honor the aspecs, places of nature, or a tribe's legacy. They create flutes out of horns or tusks, and Hoki-swe (strings of clanging stones or wood, similar to wind chimes). At times of ceremony all three forms of music played in tandem to create a chorus of sound in the same way that a forest is never quite.

**Art:** The Azery/Azeni make carvings out of wood, colorful stones, and bone. They also have mastered how to work with Bismuth, and imbed polished pieces into their work or jewelry. Common themes in art is stories of the tribes, myths, powerful creatures, and interpretations of the Aspects.

**Society:** The most important part of Azery society is the tribe, all members of a tribe work together to provide. If required a chief and a tribe's priests will determine how resources are distributed in time of crisis. No one member of a tribe is any more important than another, the chief must pull the same weight as others. Law is determined a tribe together, while punishment or disputes (court) is managed by the chief. If the chief can not handle it then the case will be dealt with by the high chieftain.

**Bismuth:** Bismuth or Koa-Koa, is said to be one of the first things the Aspects created. It is said that when the Aspects discovered the living world, it was empty and barren. The aspects began to sculpt and create, the very first thing was a test. Koa-Koa was a test to see how well the Aspects could work together. They argued and clashed to create something, eventually creating Koa-Koa out of their bickering. Ridged and yellow like thunder, swirling like wind, shimmering like stars, strange like spirit, solid like stone, and free like beast (Koa-Koa was given the freedom to choose its colors). And thus the first creation came to being, from there the Aspects worked together and separate to create the world we live in today.

### Tribes:

currently the only Azery tribe is the Takengo tribe.