Etoi

The **Etoi civilisation** was the dominant political and cultural power in Askedoria before the arrival of the Iskuzai. The Etoi are a theocratic, traditionalist, matriarchal society of seafarers, poets and skilled politicians, characterized by a highly formal, ritualistic community and organised in religious circles led by an Ariadna (a matriarch) who acts as the primary bridge between mortals and Divines. Their seafaring and shipbuilders skills made them a formidable thalassocracy.

## History

### Mythical Origin

The Etoi believe to be descendants of dolphins who were cast out from the seas because they aided Erigonio in an assault on a daughter of Zagrea. For this crime, Zephrios, the God of storms and the seas, punished them by transforming their fins into legs and feet and banishing them from his realm. From that time onwards, the Etoi were forced to settle the land and breath air. They still refer to the afterlife as the 'Kingdom of Dolphins'.

### The Antelope Migration

> *"When I was little, my mother sang to me with her soft, sad voice about Oikidas, our land, lost beyond the ocean. You must know that we arrived in Askedoria as exiles tied to a terrible promise that forced us on a long and painful journey. So listen to me carefully and bring with you the treasure of this precious wisdom: Oikidas was plagued by a mysterious epidemic that killed infants still attached to their mothers' breasts, turning them into salt.*
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> *The wise queens, coming to fear the end of our people, promised as a sacrifice to the Gods everything that would be born the following year, on the condition of being saved from the terrible disaster. Despite the sinful nature of mortals, the Gods were lenient and healed the Thiasoi and the cities of Oikidas. Without hesitation, great pyres were erected, and above those sacred fires, herds, crops, fruits and fish were burned; the flames consumed the offerings at every crossroads. But when the time came to sacrifice the newborn babies, mothers were appalled at the thought of that horror. There were many discussions to determine their fate; finally, it was decided to consecrate all of them to such an arduous task that it would certainly cost them their lives. They were raised with the responsibility of founding a colony by crossing the endless waters of the ocean and with the prescription of never turning the bow of the ships towards home again. At that time, it was thought that the sea was infinite.*
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> *Thus, our mothers crossed with solid ships unfathomable spaces, finding only small, rocky islands and many wonderful beasts and creatures, whose appearance terrified even the hearts of the bravest women.*
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> *In any case, Zagrea finally decided to lead us to a new land, perhaps to make our sufferings more painful and not to stop them with the bliss of death. It is said that after one hundred lunar cycles, the people of navigators finally came to see Askedoria. The beauty of that unknown land and the promise of rest filled the eyes with tears, so they brought the ships to shore without any hesitation, and the survivors began to disembark.*
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> *The poets say that after taking a few steps in the white foam, the colonists encountered a mysterious creature seated on a rock. She had hawk eyes, a woman's face, a lion's body and a snake's tail, and between her jaws, she was crushing the head of a large boar. This wonderful being greeted them and she explained that the Gods had given her the task of awaiting the arrival of sailors from another world. She said: 'I am the Sphinx, and I will be your queen. You will dominate Askedoria until my death. You would do well, therefore, to protect me and obey me. This land is rich; here, you can build a kingdom that will repay you for the suffering and make you forget your faraway land, as a new lover makes you forget the pain of a finished relationship.'*
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> *So it is sung, and it was thus that the Etoi came to Askedoria."*
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The Etoi originated from a landmass south of Askedoria separated by the Ophiotaurus Ocean. In these lands, called Oikidas (meaning 'home') by the Etoi, they had already established a thriving civilisation. Over the course of a century, a group of them migrated north across the sea to colonise distant lands - an event referred to as the 'Antelope Migration'. The wandering Etoi tribe reached the southern Askedorian shore where they quickly founded a number of settlements which would eventually develop into powerful city-states. The first of these cities lay at the mouth of the Zautas river and was named Beitrizidas after the daughter of the mythical sphinx-queen of all Etoi.

### Colonisation of Askedoria

> *"In the following years, the colonists built large ships and fought against the Agrauran, the Hattusas and many others, even driving the Silver Peoples, Those-who-never-show-their-face, back into their mysterious realm. At that time, the mighty Beitris, Pandosia, Naumpactus, Coeia, Akria and many other wonderful cities were built. But since there is no kingdom that can last forever, the glorious Eparchies of Askedoria also fell. Many stories are remembered and told of the Iskuzai Invasion, such as the fall of Naumapactus, the Sacrifice of Ipicles, the Contention of the Seven and many other tragic cycles."*
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Their colonisation efforts brought the Etoi into conflict with the native Agraurans. After a series of defeats, the Agraurans were gradually pushed back into the mountainous and sparsely populated hinterland while the fertile coastal plains fell under the undisputed rule of the Etoi. During this process, the Etoi also took over many ancient Agrauran settlements such as Naumapactus and Adramittum.

With the Agraurans expelled from most of the land, the Etoi urban centres slowly gave rise to various 'kingdoms' (usually ruled by queens) which formed a loose alliance and were collectively known as the 'Coastal Eparchies'. Although these eparchies were ruled independently, they all recognised the legendary sphinx-queen as their ceremonial ruler.

### Conflict with the Iskuzai

The Etoi remained the dominant political power of the continent until the Iskuzai invasion.

## Society

Etoi society is largely collectivist and matriarchal. Social and political power is usually held by women. The primary social unit is the thiasos, a large social and religious community in which women bear collective responsibility for all offspring. Men, usually of lower social status und often enslaved, are shared as partners among women whereas monogamous relationships are frowned upon.

Within a thiasos there are many siphne, akin to family clans, that are led by a single matriarch. The matriarch's favourite lovers form the highest class of members in a siphne. Below them are the other women and below them the other male members. Etoi matriarchs are either elected by other female members of a siphne or chosen through difficult trials. Especially for high-ranking positions at the head of thiasoi, selection process is extremely dangerous and often deadly for candidates. Once elevated to their position matriarchs usually hold it for life.

## Culture

The Etoi are a technologically advanced civilisation that introduced the art of navigation, beekeeping, music and shipbuilding among others to the Askedorian peoples. According to legend, the Etoi received a prophecy from the Shrine of Mindos that their kingdoms would soon be destroyed by the Gods if they did not share their wisdom with their neighbours. Being a deeply devout people, they heeded this warning and gifted their knowledge of navigation to the Iloboi, the art of beekeeping to the Agraurans, and their poetic language of Purple Etoi to the Hattusas. However, since they did not share any of their knowledge with the warlike Iskuzai they were eventually conquered by the latter.

The Etoi are a sea-faring people and feel deeply connected to the sea which is reflected in many of their myths. Their skills as navigators and sailors were honed over centuries of maritime exploration and are rivalled only by the Hattusas. Their unique shipbuilding techniques produced the fastest known ships. This knowledge also enabled the Etoi to navigate the high seas and to set out on numerous colonisation missions to lands across the Ophiotaurus Ocean. The colour blue has a special symbolic significance for the Etoi and is widely used in their clothing and on buildings. The exact meaning behind the colour is uncertain but it is likely connected to the Etoi's mythological origin in the sea.

Poetry and music are also arts that are being held in high regard by the Etoi. For their tales and songs the Etoi bards or Aoidoi used a ceremonial Etoi dialect, called Purple Etoi.

## Religion

The belief system of the Etoi is polytheistic. Among the multitude of supernatural beings they believe in, twelve divine and immortal beings hold elevated positions in their religion. These twelve Gods are widely worshipped.

The thiasos is, first and foremost, a religious community. Each thiasos worships a totemic animal, called "Paratestos", The-One-Who-Intercedes.