Участница:Kilka
На этой странице рассматриваются региональные различия унати, расположенных от полюсов до экваториальных алмазных пиков, как вида. Жители Мирового Моря, Йоза'унати, имеют свою отдельную страницу.
Полюса
Исторически тропические земли Крайнего Севера и Юга имели богатые почвы, нетронутые леса и большие водоемы с чистой водой. Это привлекло много кочевых кланов, которые заселили область, начиная с 40 000 г. до н.э. С годами рост населения привел к тому, что местные жители осели на месте, чтобы более активно использовать ресурсы; преобладало крупное оседлое животноводство и кормопроизводство. В то же самое время, появились ранние города-государства; чаще всего они появлялись вблизи естественных ориентиров или сохранившихся руин Предтеч, которых было много.
В 2308 году полюса являются торговыми столицами планеты с инфраструктурой, достаточной для дозаправки и обслуживания прибывающих судов. Большинство пришельцев, скорее всего, приземлится здесь первыми, даже если они захотят отправиться в более глубокие глубины планеты. Города-государства в этих областях - самые большие поселения на Могесе, а Мумбак забирает главный приз за самую густонаселенность. Зеленые пастбища уступили место восстановленным промышленным комплексам, ржавым верфям и докам, кортежам и дорогам, заполненным дизельными транспортными средствами и вьючными животными, растянувшимся фавелам, заполненным домами Унати и гигантскими рынками для товаров вне мира и товаров Унати. Те, кто живет в полярных городах-государствах, имеют быстрый доступ к внешним технологиям и сетям, а оживленные рынки и зарубежные миссии служат витриной для инопланетных культур. Неудивительно, что здесь, в Мумбаке, на Южном полюсе, родилась одна из первых организаций с амбициями Пан-Могеса, могущественная Гегемония.
Величие, однако, имеет свою цену. По общим оценкам, в 2300 году около 70% жителей полярных городов-государств были недавними мигрантами из других регионов Могеса, причем большинство из них были из кланов саванны. В своем росте полюса стали все больше полагаться на гастарбайтеров. Чтобы контролировать массу вновь прибывших, правящие кланы больше не могли полагаться только на племенную милицию; они должны были приглашать наемников, которые в основном отправляли туземцев (известных как «Старые Деньги» или «Старая Кровь», в зависимости от уровня доходов) на административную и другую квалифицированную работу. Первоначальные полярные поселенцы неизменно занимают руководящие посты в большинстве местных гильдий и округов.
Будь то сезонный мигрант или крепко осевший, обычно считается, что полярные Унати наиболее терпимы к другим культурам; города-государства в этих регионах представляют собой странную смесь различных элементов Унати и внешнего мира. В то время как новички стремятся принять новые идеи во время своего пребывания, Старая Кровь предпочитают оставаться в стороне, сохраняя свои традиции с достоинством; в то время как полярные невесты пользуются большим спросом по экономическим причинам, считается, что полярные сиделки являются одними из самых проницательных на Могесе, подвергая женихов тщательному осмотру. Это особенно важно, поскольку городской образ жизни, по-видимому, отрицательно влияет на полярных унати, уменьшая их регенеративные способности и открывая путь новым болезням. Хороший брак стал инструментом обеспечения положения клана в местных делах, не давая ему упасть в безвестность и смешаться с растущей толпой Унати низкого происхождения.
С точки зрения веры, большинство полярных Унати являются последователями традиционной религии Унати. Более высокий уровень грамотности позволял печатать и распространять священные тексты в большом количестве, причем большинство из них касалось Предков и их подвигов на Могесе и за его пределами. Помимо празднования Предков, поклонение Предтеч несколько распространено, особенно в областях, благословленных святыми руинами. Основные центры для исследований, связанных с Предтеч включают Си'Гек Нельс'тар с Северного полюса и Инста на Юге.
Что касается культов, полярные кланы были особенно щедры по отношению к мастерам Плодотворных Огней, привлекая их из разных частей Могеса. Это покровительство оказалось настолько успешным, что многие вовлеченные в него гильдии и храмы переместились на полюса, сместившись с ранних мест Пахк и Коджа. В наши дни Си'Гек Нельс'тар рассматривается многими как «столица» культа.
Однако в последнее время полярные Унати стали очагом для менее респектабельных религиозных движений. Начало 2100-х годов было ознаменовано возрождением древнего культа Маркешелли. В то время как местные жители были далеки от терпимости по отношению к первоначальной версии, недавние события заставили правящие кланы Старых Денег смириться со спорным движением; перед лицом растущих волнений и хаотического межкланового насилия, вызванного растущими трущобами, последователи Маркеша оказались островом непростой стабильности - источником многих разочарований вновь прибывших. Окрестности Мумбака все чаще рассматриваются как территория Маркешели, в лучшую или в худшую сторону.
В культурном отношении Унати полюсов имеют сходство с народом саванны из-за их общего происхождения; хотя годы городской жизни изменили прежние, они все еще поддерживают тесные экономические и другие связи с сельским народом саванн. Отношения с другими этническими группами более напряженные; Полярные города-государства находятся в постоянном соперничестве с более изоляционистскими крепостями Алмазных Пиков за контроль над делами Могеса. Хотя это редко беспокоит среднестатистического полярного работника, присутствие наемников Пустынь и Алмазных Пиков, безусловно, не делает эти две группы популярными среди низшего класса. Тем не менее, когда нет полиции, есть жестокое правосудие клана.
Savannas
For centuries, Unathi of the savannas remained a nomadic folk. Their great Ogashes, massive animals with eight legs and hard shells on their backs, carried housing for many in the clan - simple wood shacks or tents made of leather. Alongside them came other herd animals - Ssisaliks, Threshbeasts, even Stoks. Great caravans wandered through the grasses, carrying merchandise of all kinds and great packs of seed and plant to plant and grow, and feed their animals. Bright vibrant colors filled the caravans, and the stench of dried meat and dung as well. Water was always at hand, always.
This changed, however, when agriculture and settled husbandry spread down from the Poles, starting in 15,000 BCE. Caravan trains made way for large clan estates or farms, with farmlands, orchards and pastures providing plenty of fodder; the herds grew, and so did the population. While some clans remained nomadic (or even reverted to hunting and gathering), they still participated in the increasing trade with the Poles, providing food for the growing city-states.
Savanna Unathi live up the most to the existing unathi stereotypes. They are tall and well-fed, often boasting good health; they usually have shorter horns or fins, if any. Unlike other ethnic groups (apart from Desert Clans), Savannafolk are exeptional riders, making most use of their mounts, especially ssisaliks.
The clans of Savanna have economic and cultural strong ties with polar city-states. Instead of splitting up ancestral lands, junior branches of savanna families often find themselves migrating to the Poles in search for work. This, coupled with great demand for food and pack animals, has made principal savanna clans quite wealthy and well-connected. At the same time, agrarian overpopulation has led to increased colonisation efforts, with smaller clans and families settling the very borders of the Great Desert, attempting to transform it into arable land.
In this light, it is no surprise that Hand of the Vine cult is incredibly popular with savanna Sinta, with it's focus on restoring and recultivating lost lands. The acolytes of said cult are welcome guests in any savanna settlement, and the celebrations associated with it have spread far beyond the cult itself.
While Savannafolk have been largely self-sufficient, imported goods and services found their way into the interior, with the clans making use of alien holovision networks, and sometimes NTnet. Literacy, while lagging behind Polar levels, is decently widespread. The locals make the most of Trans-Moghes Trade routes, receiving the goods from the Swamps and Diamond Peaks. While Savannafolk hold no great bias against other ethnic groups on Moghes, one exeption to that are Desert Clans, which sometimes raid their more affluent neighbours and attack the colonists; in responce, the border areas are patrolled by mounted savanna militias, armed with imported weapons - more than a dangerous counter to the desert bandits.
The Great Desert
The great wastelands of Moghes cover most of the planet's sole continent. Known as the Great Desert, those sparcely populated lands separate more settled lands - the Poles, Savannas and the Diamond Peaks. As the result, crossing the desert used to be the only option for many travellers and nomads wishing to resettle.
The Desert is, by all accounts, an inhospitable, hazardous place. The heat, sandstorms and pockets radiation make the journey more trouble than it's worth, especially with local legends floating around about some locals warped into hulking, cannibalistic monsters. Apart from those, more mundane dangers arise. Water is scarse; quicksands and sinks dot the dunes, with very few permanent roads available. Like other parts of the planet, a considerable number of Precursor ruins pepper the area, standing as monuments to the days of old; the majority of those, however, are well-hidden beneath the sands.
The Great Deserts are said to be the birthplace of Unathi as a race. While some areas have been settled by the exiles from different regions, the ancient native population dominates the central parts of the wasteland.
Desert Sinta are sturdy, violent folk, well used to the hardships of their native land. On average, they are thinner than their savanna or polar counterparts, with more prominent primitive features - long horns and claws are prevalent. Desertfolk have sharp sences, including great eyesight and keen sence of smell. Their version of Sinta'Unathi is considerably more dry, suited better for retelling the legends of old rather than everyday conversation.
Typically, desert clans settle around precursor bunkers, oases, caverns or other sources of water hidden within the deserts. While they engage in animal husbandry like all other unathi do, game constitutes a disproportionate part of their diet. The hunting skills of Desert clans evolved into something astoundingly deadly, earning them a certain degree of respect from other unathi races. It is often said that the best unathi marksmen come from the Deserts.
It is important to remember, however, that many minor desert clans to not have direct access to the cites listed above. While some turn to caravan driving or mercenary work to support themselves, others have no qualms about raiding their neighbors and taking their livestock and valuables. Shelter and land rights are decided by vicious combat, where combatants' skills, experience and endurance are a deciding factor. Because of that, a particulary crude version of the Great Strategem cult remains widespead among desert nomads.
In recent years, the deserts became a focus of many expeditions, wishing to discover what lies beneath the dunes. Advanced sensors and imported equipment facilitated possible excavations, providing savvy desert clans with income. The artifact rushes became a new sourse of conflict, pitching locals against the foreigners or other desert tribes.
Salt Swamps
The saltwater marshlands on the very margins of the World Sea are known as the Salt Swamps of Moghes. The swamps are a very special part of Moghes - lush with flora and abundant with fauna, yet filled with dangers. Despite the irradiated waters, poisoned earth and wild beasts, a certain group of unathi have braved the swamps and created several self-sufficient colonies and hamlets.
The Swamp Folk are the pioneers of Moghes, industrious all-rounders living on the frontier - fishing, hunting and cultivating the land where possible. More than usual foodstuffs, however, the swamps are rich in spices, medicinal herbs, rare wild animals and other luxury products.
Stereotypically, Unathi of the Swamps are short and stocky, with long, spiny frills more prevalent than horns. Due to the influx of the colonists from other regions, many local clans may posess uncharacteristic features - thick brown hides of the Peakfolk, large horns frequently found with the Desert Unathi, or the towering stature of Savanna clansmen. In terms of culture or religion, the salt swamps populations are noted for their eclectic approach, combining traditional religion with elements of cult practice, be that Hand of the Vine seasonal festivals, Grand Stratagem swordplay or Fruitful Lights fairs, with smaller groups adopting Precursor-themed rituals, especially in few coastal areas dominated by Precursor ruins. The Swampfolk are said to be the most religious of the Unathi, mostly due to many hazards and challenges of their homeland. Local ritual celebrations, simply called "parties" by Human explorers, tend to involve all the tribe members, with complicated rituals, theatric performances and great feasts happening throughout the year.
One defining characteristic of the Swamp Folk is their semi-aquatic nature. The locals feel at ease whether on land or on water; Swamp clans maintain sizeable fishing fleets and use the rivers to their advantage - for transportation and agriculture. In some places, the shores are lined with dock, instrumental in keeping the boats afloat - and sometimes more than boats. Major swamp settlements of Wasgaelli and Gaza'lor are both floating cities, built on great boats, platforms and rafts.
To maintain such fleets, a steady supply of fuel is required, and plenty of workhands. The salt-swamp Unathi are more welcoming towards newcomers, provided they work as hard as the natives do. The merchant caravans are welcome too. Those are, however, a favourite target of Desert raiders, although the latter rarely venture deep into the swamps - in combat, unarmored natives are quick and agile, and they know how to turn the difficult terrain to their advantage.
The Diamond Peaks
The equatorial region of Diamond Peaks earned its name for several obscure reasons largely unknown to the outsiders. The clans belonging to the area trace their lineage to the earliest days of Unathi race, which puts them next to Desert Sinta in terms of age, if not older. While this claim is difficult to corroborate, it is true that the natives of the Peaks were among the first to consolidate and create clan unions, also known as chiefdoms, starting around 20,000 BCE.
Such cooperation emerged for a reason. The Diamond Peak highlands, situated near the very equator of Moghes, are generally arid and devoid of good pastures. The cliffs and cave systems provided early unathi with refuge, clean water and malleable metals; some legends claim that a great basin of water lies deep in the mountains keeping the mountain clans strong. However, the hunting grounds were their to conquer.
Since the times immemorial, united Diamond Peak clans raided their lowland neighbours, taking away prisoners and cattle. With superior training, organisaition and weapons, the peak highlanders managed to conquer and subdue other locals, putting in place a complex vassalage system. Estabilished in 12,000 - 8,500 BCE, the system has greatly changed and eroded, but it survives up to this day nevertheless.
After the conquest of the Peaks, an attempt was made by the Diamond Peak clans to expand their realm further. 7,500 BCE marked the beginning of several conquest and colonization efforts in the Marches. Among the most notable was a campaign by Ssr-Kaahnepo (high warchief) of Durzakragh, Gadrak Ssorhize the Blind. While those usually failed, some produced interesting results - for example, the insular part of the floating city of Gaza'lor was founded in 7,400 BCE as a peakie outpost.
The Unathi of the Diamond Peaks are very proud of their leaders and their achievements. They are usually of average height, although very muscular at the same time - all male clansmen are bound to be engaged in military training or hard physical work. Thick grey or brown skin, long curved horns and claws are a widespread attribute. The local often have all sort of marks on their body to emphasize their status as a priveleged ethnic group - painted faces, brands or tatoos showing where they come from. The city-states of Diamond Peaks are called Fortresses - the massive citadels of stone akin to the castles of ancient Earth. The Fortresses dominate the surroundings, including the settlements of lowland vassals, who provide their masters with food in return for protection. While other unathi societies hold landowners in high regard, peak Sinta prefer to engage in industry, crafts and military drills instead, creating powerful and organised armies to maintain order in their domains and conquer further.
While this ancient order persevered for centuries, the growing population and the resulting food shortage led the proud peakfolk to participate more in emerging Trans-Moghes trade routes. Experience in crafting weapons, power armor and vehicles of war, as well as large mineral deposits were of great interest to the polar merchants and industrialists; more so, the highland chiefs began to lease their militias to the polar city-states, providing affordable security to the ruling clans. The regulations of the vassal system, already in decline, were eased somewhat. As of 2300s, the vassals (which outnumber the Peakfolk proper two to one) have considerable legal and economic freedoms, being able to move, trade and worship as they see fit, without much interference from the highland elites. Colonists from other parts of Moghes are routinely invited to settle on the lands belonging to local lords, to make up for the vassals that left or to make better use of the existing plots. Despite those changes though, the political power in the area remains firmly in the hands of highland clan Kaahnepos.
In terms of faith, the majority of Peakfolk are the adherents of the Grand Stratagem philosophy. It is sometimes claimed that Diamond Peak clans received the doctrine directly from the Ancestors - a fact they like to emphasise. The Peak version of the Strategem is considered more refined, as it is focused on spiritual strength and self-discipline, as well as preserving the hierarchy. The vassals, alongide the traditional religion, are involved in a vide variety of cults - Hand of the Vine and Fruitful Lights are the most prominent. The Peakfolk are surprisingly tolerant of those, finding it fitting that the farmers have their own ways - although Markesheli used to be exiled or attacked because of them preaching against the existing order of things.
While Diamond Peak clansmen accept other unathi, they are more vary of other races, some of which they consider dangerous for the well-being of Moghes and the Unathi race. The increased off-world trade and the appearance of alien (mostly human) workers in some of the mining settlements in the Peaks certain disturbances among the native population - and disagreements with the Polar clans, which the Peakfolk considered too careless and degenerate to handle the situation well. One of the direct results of this was the creation of Ssen-Uuma Convent by the Diamond Peaks Kaahnepos, who sought to access the danger and keep things under control.
