Yenkees

Yenkees were diverse group of peoples who inhabited the northeastern portion of Maer'Ka and its outlying islands. They were known for fierce independence and devotion to ideals of freedom. They were staunch individualists and prior to their conquest by the Khagoan Empire individual families lived on separate farms, and congregating at their tribes fortified villages to elect new chieftains. Yenkees mostly dwell in the dense forests and rocky coastlines of their homeland, where they were known for their skill as hunters, fishermen, and warriors.

## History

Yenkees are believed to be descended from the ancient of the northeastern portion of the ancient state of Uesay, and their homeland was once the most densely populated core of the nation of the Beforetimes. Following the summer the northeast was largely depopulated and large ancient urban ruins either were submerged beneath the sea or overgrown with the dense forests of the region. The Yenkees retained the importance of freedom which was paramount in the ancient times, and even went so far as to begin to worship the mythical founders of Uesay as their Gods, known to them as the Founders.

Their tribes grew in power later on, especially the Mainland Yenkees who frequently traded with the early Khagoan Republic from the mainland tribes jointly established trading city-state of Pittzbyroh. The Island Yenkee tribes of N'Anglynd and Upstadt Island were less civilized and remained isolated from the rest of the world, living as fishermen and whalers due to the generally infertile rocky soil of their lands.

## Culture

Yankees were originally a tribal society prior to the Khagoan conquest. They were a fiercely independent people and all free members of their tribes were considered equals. Every eight years a tribe would gather at a council called a Kongryss and each member would cast their vote to elect a new chief known as a Patryott, who were the political as well as spiritual leaders of the tribe, believed to be an earthly representative of the pantheon of the Founding Fathers. Patryotts would make important decisions for the tribe and was the commander of the tribal militia known as the minutemen, named so for the quick speed it took for them to arm themselves to defend their people or attack rival tribes. Patryotts would themselves convene every eight years to elect a leader of some of the larger tribal federations known as a High Patryott. High Patryotts could call upon the subordinate tribes of their lower ranking Patryotts to supply warriors when invasions or defensive campaigns were called by them.

Yenkees were divided into two distinctive cultural and geographic groups, the Mainland Yenkees of Penzyvanya and N'Oyrk and the Island Yenkees of N'Anglynd and Upstadt Island. The Mainland Yenkees were generally more civilized due to their proximity to the urbanized Khagoan and Kajun peoples, and often lived in fortified villages surrounded by defensive earthworks and palisades, the most notable of these being Pittzbyroh the capitol of the Steeler tribe which frequently traded with the outside world via the large O'Hyo River which it was located at the source of. The Mainland Yenkees generally practiced slash and burn agriculture on top of hunting and herding cattle and sheep to produce food. The Island Yenkees at the edge of the known world were much more isolated and weary of civilized peoples, living in small fishing villages along the foggy coastlines of their homeland. They were however extremely skilled sailors and would often raid the coasts of Alleghenia with their fleets of small and nimble warships. Islander tribes were much smaller and were frequently forced to fight off raids from their arch enemies the Kanucks, who lived across the Slaurense straits and Untarienne sea. This constant state of warfare made them much more militant than their kinsmen on the Mainland, whom they looked down upon for adopting some of the ways of the civilized peoples that they viewed as nothing more than the slaves of kings and emperors.

Tribal members dwelt in family homesteads with their crops, herds, or fishing boats in coastal regions. They were expected to bear arms to protect their families and land from other tribes or bandits and defending their families was something they held with great esteem. Women and children would care for the elderly and tend to the fields or gather berries while men partook in hunting in the forests or fishing on lakes, rivers, or coastlines. Each tribe was centered around a village where the tribes blacksmiths, craftsmen, and patriot and his retainers resided. The villages buildings were mostly constructed from wood and were surrounded by defensive earthworks, watchtowers, and palisades for protection. These villages were where the tribal Kongryss would convene for elections or decision making, religious ceremonies led by the Patryott in honor of the Founders were also held in small temples or shrines constructed there.

After the Khagoan conquest the Legions established many forts and colonies along major rivers or harbors to solidify their power in the region. These bases soon evolved into towns when tribesmen from surrounding lands came and built homes, markets, and workshops around the forts and adopted many aspects of Khagoan life. Some local Patryotts began working with their new overlords and were rewarded for their support with lands, estates, and titles from the governor of the province. Many Yenkee warriors chose to join the Imperial Auxiliaries where they often severed as light infantry or archers supporting the Legions.