Post by denealus on Apr 5, 2007 13:25:52 GMT -4
Hailing from deep in the Azurian mountains, Balkear was raised on a steepe overlooking the Kahura valley. Though his tribe prefers its solitude, they are not completely estranged from civilization. Trade with the valley is fairly plentiful, as though there are farmers, sheppards are sparse, and the inhabitants had gotten used to wearing clothing of cotton and silk as well as leather. Fur isn't as common a fashion there, for the active lifestyle they lead makes it far too hot to be comfortable.
The villages are situated amongst the plains, but one tree stands out in the midst, the Earth Tree, a giant growth in the middle of a light forest, standing above all others. The tribe has a certain reverence for the tree and the Earth Mother that protects it and all creatures, though some mistakenly call it a religion. The Kahura tribe does not bother much with any type of organized worship. To them, the earth just is, a solid fact and a flow of energy that encompasses every day life. Because of this, a lot of men and women when they come of age go through a "Journey of Solitude" to find themselves and their place in life, their connection with the harmony of the forest and nature.
There is no outright competition between the tribes and the "civilized" world unless provoked. One would be surprised to see a village of equal parts stone and wood deep in the valley, but that is a misnomer that the tribe doesn't seem to mind. The Kahura tribe mixes pieces of civilization in with their everyday life. Houses are made of stone just as easily as cut with wood. The tribe takes only so much wood as is needed and children make sure to plant new trees, while the tenders make them grow. Waste of any kind is frowned upon greatly, and though the tribe has learned the necessity of "money" when travelling, much prefer to barter good for good so that both sides benefit mutually from the trade (though the question of which side benefits *more* can still arise.)
Balkear, upon coming of age and completing his Journey of Solitude, felt kind of a separation from the tribe. It was too easy, especially for the elders, to start trying to create a dichotomy. The land inside the valley and surrounding the valley was to be its own, closed off to outsiders. The trade must cease, corruption of the outside world was influencing the tribe. Discord was running rampant, tensions were running high, and a dark cloud was beginning to shadow the once peaceful tribe. Much of this goes on underneath the surface, and visitors who travel there still see the serene village. It takes a keen eye to notice the hesitant stares, the looks of distain, and many merchants didn't catch it, but Balkear always felt it. Travellers outside merchants were turned away, and the latter are mostly only allowed because the elders have not yet figured a way to become self-sufficient for the need for comfortable, moveable cloth. Balkear felt that he wanted to journey to what they called the Outside Lands and see for himself.
Growing up in the tribe, Balkear was mostly a hunter. Though he enjoys short daggers and his trusty hunting knife and is able enough with it, his skill is mostly as a marksman. Balkear also often got into friendly brawls with his fellow tribesman (and sometimes animals) so his armed combat more resembles a rough and tumble affair than any formalized training, and Balkear will use all parts of his body with it. He knows well how to survive in the wilds and the different herbs and growths around the forests and plains, especially nearer to his valley, and can very much live off the land and is comfortable most anywhere.
His tribe's magic comes the Earth Mother and the flow of energy that connects life. Balkear hasn't been able to tap into it much, though he -has- tried. He's fascinated by magic users and would do anything to incorporate magic into his hunting.
The villages are situated amongst the plains, but one tree stands out in the midst, the Earth Tree, a giant growth in the middle of a light forest, standing above all others. The tribe has a certain reverence for the tree and the Earth Mother that protects it and all creatures, though some mistakenly call it a religion. The Kahura tribe does not bother much with any type of organized worship. To them, the earth just is, a solid fact and a flow of energy that encompasses every day life. Because of this, a lot of men and women when they come of age go through a "Journey of Solitude" to find themselves and their place in life, their connection with the harmony of the forest and nature.
There is no outright competition between the tribes and the "civilized" world unless provoked. One would be surprised to see a village of equal parts stone and wood deep in the valley, but that is a misnomer that the tribe doesn't seem to mind. The Kahura tribe mixes pieces of civilization in with their everyday life. Houses are made of stone just as easily as cut with wood. The tribe takes only so much wood as is needed and children make sure to plant new trees, while the tenders make them grow. Waste of any kind is frowned upon greatly, and though the tribe has learned the necessity of "money" when travelling, much prefer to barter good for good so that both sides benefit mutually from the trade (though the question of which side benefits *more* can still arise.)
Balkear, upon coming of age and completing his Journey of Solitude, felt kind of a separation from the tribe. It was too easy, especially for the elders, to start trying to create a dichotomy. The land inside the valley and surrounding the valley was to be its own, closed off to outsiders. The trade must cease, corruption of the outside world was influencing the tribe. Discord was running rampant, tensions were running high, and a dark cloud was beginning to shadow the once peaceful tribe. Much of this goes on underneath the surface, and visitors who travel there still see the serene village. It takes a keen eye to notice the hesitant stares, the looks of distain, and many merchants didn't catch it, but Balkear always felt it. Travellers outside merchants were turned away, and the latter are mostly only allowed because the elders have not yet figured a way to become self-sufficient for the need for comfortable, moveable cloth. Balkear felt that he wanted to journey to what they called the Outside Lands and see for himself.
Growing up in the tribe, Balkear was mostly a hunter. Though he enjoys short daggers and his trusty hunting knife and is able enough with it, his skill is mostly as a marksman. Balkear also often got into friendly brawls with his fellow tribesman (and sometimes animals) so his armed combat more resembles a rough and tumble affair than any formalized training, and Balkear will use all parts of his body with it. He knows well how to survive in the wilds and the different herbs and growths around the forests and plains, especially nearer to his valley, and can very much live off the land and is comfortable most anywhere.
His tribe's magic comes the Earth Mother and the flow of energy that connects life. Balkear hasn't been able to tap into it much, though he -has- tried. He's fascinated by magic users and would do anything to incorporate magic into his hunting.