THE
HELVET'INE
KUGLIM
MEN
("BRAVE
HELVET
TRIBE") |
The Helvet’ine is a tribe of the Kuglimz’torik ("Home Tribes") that resides in the Southwest area of Northern Sarvonia. As the type of tribe, Kuglimz’torik denotes, this is one of the Kuglimz that centers its life around the hills of the Celeste Lowlands and the fortresses that are inevitably constructed upon those hills. This tribe holds some of the prime land in the Celeste Lowlands. Their land is cupped by the Heir’jyrl ("Horn River)" to the southwest and the Heir’otorm ("Snake River"), both rivers are out branches of the Luquador River. Also contained in their land is the group of tall hills known as the Beinaz’mur ("Three Sisters"). Because of the amount of land this tribe holds, along with the natural protection of the two rivers, they are considered the most powerful of the Kuglimz’torik.
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Appearance. The
Helvet’ine are like most Kuglimz, the men are on average between 2 and 2 ¼ peds
in height. They are of big bone and fair complexion. While the Kuglimz’ura of
the west coast have red hair, many of the Kuglimz’torik
seem to favor more of a blonde color. They of course have their hair hang in
braids with iron rings throughout it. The women are all nearly 2 peds in height
as well as having long blondish hair, though they wear theirs in one long braid.
Coat of Arms/Sign.
The Brave Helvet tribe's coat of arms consists
of a golden eagle spread upon it. Grasped within the claws of
the eagle is a golden lance. The design comes straight out of the Helvet’ine
myths. It is told that when Helvet left
Sur’tyan, the All-Father, he was gifted with a great
lance, with which he wrought great pain and sorrow upon his enemies. Then,
during the time of the Great Darkness, Helvet was taking his people and
safeguarding them from the orcs. During one
of the many days of night, a golden eagle appeared to Helvet and
led him and his people to the place they are today.
Territory.
As the
type of tribe, Kuglimz’torik denotes, this is one of the
Kuglimz that centers its life around the hills of the
Celeste Lowlands and
the fortresses that are inevitably constructed upon those hills. This tribe
holds some of the prime land in the Celeste Lowlands. Their land is cupped by
the Heir’jyrl ("Horn River") to
the southwest and the Heir’otorm ("Snake
River"), both rivers are out branches of the Luquador
River. Also contained in their land is the group of tall hills known as the
Beinaz’mur ("Three Sisters").
Because of the amount of land this tribe holds, along with the natural
protection of the two rivers, they are considered the most powerful of the
Kuglimz’torik.
People. The Helvet'ine are
the center of the Kuglimz'torik, and thus they have a strong sense of pride in
this position. Others among the Kuglimz have at times
thought of the Helvet'ine as brusque and arrogant. This is true of many of the
men, however others are simply confident of
their personal strength and the power of their tribe.
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Housing. The
Helvet’ine have three main cities, each city is located on a separate hill of
Beinaz’mur. A strong fortress of cut stone with strong bulwarks crowns the top
of each hill. Below the fortress is the town where the craftsmen and merchants
live. In many Kuglimz’torik this is enclosed with a sharpened timber wall, the
Helvet’ine though have used stone around these towns as well. Although the
stonewalls are not nearly as thick or high as that of the fortress they are
still solid. A straight road runs from within the fortress, through the town,
and to the base of the hill, this better allows a mounted charge to deploy with
great force behind them. Clustered at the base of each hill are the homes of the
farmers, herders, and foresters. These are not protected with a wall; the
villagers simply go up the hill into the town when there is trouble.
The three main cities are as follows:
Lu’Cargnathia (City of Cargnathia)
This is the most northerly city. It is the
Helvet’ine center of trade. Items traded with the Trk’matiu and the Fird’gormz
come through this city before heading to the other two cities. There
are also quite a few blacksmiths as the raw iron that
comes from the Fird’gormz is smelted and then finished products are sent out to
the other cities and tribes.
Lu’Weilima (City of Weilima)
This is the central city of the three. It is the center of government, and of
the Helvet’ine as a whole. Here the Chieftain of the tribe sits, governing and
meeting out justice as needs be. The great temples of
Sur’tyan and Helvet are here as well.
The city boasts the most grandiose temple in honor of
Sur’tyan. Many who travel through the
land of the Helvet’ine stop through Lu’Weilima, if for no other reason then to
admire the great temples.
Lu’Diedrema (City of Diedrema)
The last city of the Beinaz’mur is a strange mixture. On one hand it is pastoral
as it is the center of agriculture, looking
over the most fertile land of the Helvet’ine, but on the other due to it’s
proximity to three other tribes it is also the most fortified. Time after time
troops have broken against it’s walls and the town below its fortress has been
rebuilt, but it still remains the cornerstone of the Helvet’ine power.
Clothing. Every tribe
seems to prefer one color or a set of colors above several others. This tribe is
no exception. The Helvet’ine tend to prefer golds and
black. Getting the rare gold color from the Alth’tiert ("Yellow
Plant"). As with nearly all
Kuglimz, there is a set of summer and winter clothing.
In summer men wear an elbow length tunic that reaches to mid thigh and a pair of
breeches. The type of material used depends upon the use of the garment. Leather
and wool are mainly used for lower and middle class people, or for when work
needs to be done. Wealthier people have clothes of linen, as it can take and
retain dye better. The necks are done in a keyhole fashion, and embroidered
around the opening. The cuffs are embroidered as well. One thing that sets the
clothing of the Helvet’ine apart is the fact that they also embroider a line
from top to bottom, this gives the tunic a more divided feel to it. Women wear a
dress where the sleeves stop at the elbow and the bottom
at a little below the knee. Fabric use follows the same rule as the men. The
neck is a much more modest round cut. It is embroidered around the neck and the
hem, with two embroidered lines as well. One line of embroidery runs from neck
to hem, like a man’s, the other running around the dress at the hip area.
In winter fur is used liberally due to the climate. The fur of the Nul’tum is
used most often due to the natural dark coloring. Men’s tunics in winter reach
to just above their knees and the sleeves go all the way to the hand. These
tunics have a short slit up either side to accommodate riding. The same
embroidering patterns apply. A cloak of
Nul’tum fur, clasped with a heavy chain that is usually gold, also often
accompanies these tunics. Or, in the case of the poorer citizens a metal or
leather chain that is painted or dyed. The only real difference with the women’s
clothing is that the sleeves now go to the hand, and the dress falls all of the
way to the floor.
Diet. The
nul'tum makes up a fair amount of the
diet of this tribe, as when the Helvet'ine trade with the
Trk'matiu they don't only trade for the fur,
but rather the whole animal. Deer and bear make up much of the rest of their
diet, however woolly boar is eaten
at feasts and special occasions.
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Weapons. The
Kuglimz’torik are all considered heavy cavalry, and the Helvet’ine are no
exception to this. They wear a heavy chain mail or light plate mail, and cover
their horses in the same manor. They use a heavy bow to fire once or twice then
charge into battle. Lances, long swords, maces, and axes are all commonly used.
However, the Helvet’ine are most known and feared for
their use of the lance. Among the Kuglimz’torik they use the heaviest lance, and
wield it more proficiently than the others do their
lighter ones. When charging, especially down hill, the
lance can pierce, shield, armor and flesh. It is said the most feared sight is
that of a vengeful Helvet’ine charging downhill with a heavy lance.
Occupations.
[...]
Government. The
government of the Kuglimz’torik is a tribal system where the Dirg’mystrume ("battle
leader") is the chief. This is not necessarily a hereditary position, but is
rather one that voted on by the elders and wealthy men of the tribe. He then
determines what is best for the tribe, though given almost complete power, if the
tribe feels he has not been strong enough to make them prosper then they will
either dismiss or kill him. Unlike the Kuglimz’ura the Kuglimz’torik
are a bit more civilized and a Dirg’mystrume has not been killed for
generations. He has simply been put in command of front line troops
so that he may
prove his valor. Priests are another powerful force, though they often lose most
of their real world power due to squabbles between the priests of
Sur’tyan and
the priests of the Vir’togz.
Production/Trade. Trade is the reason for much of the Helvet’ine wealth. Internal trade
stays the same throughout the Kuglimz. Labor, food, and finished goods are often
traded for fabric, weapons, and the like. As far as external trade goes, most of
the trading is done with the Fird’gormz tribe in the North. The Helvet’ine trade
food, clothing, weapons, and finished goods for raw iron and whole
Alth’tiert
leaves. They then use the iron to make weapons, and the
Alth’tiert leaves to
make dye. These two things they trade with other tribes for a considerable
profit. Another main trade partner is the Trk’matiu, though this is more of a
luxury than a necessity. The trade is almost exclusively in
Nul’tum fur and
fish, both items that are destined for use by the wealthy.
Natural Resources.
[...]
Holidays,
Festivals and Observances. The Helvet’ine observe Taug’rik’tyan, and Taug’alth’ho along with the
rest of the Kuglimz people. In addition they celebrate Taug’mystrume’keir ("Feast
of the Holy Battle"). This is a feast that was begun by the priests the day that
the great temple to Sur’tyan was finished. It celebrates his power and ingenuity
in manifesting into a physical form and creating
Caelereth. This is held toward
late summer, during the longest day of the year.
History. Like all Kuglimz, the
Helvet’ine are a fragmented part of the once great kingdom
of Minar (or Mynian Kingdom), that was shattered and whose populace was
scattered. A brave hunter that brought them away from their old lands safely led
them to Beinaz’mur, which he had named for his three sisters that had died
during the Year of the Burning Night. All of this though is shrouded in myth as
no histories have been kept since the fall of the Mynian kingdom. He was
aggrandized as one of the ten great Vir’togz, who fought savagely against the
orcs and when all was lost struggled on to lead them to where they now are.
Information provided by
Drogo
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