[ Info ] Welcome to the Wind Capital!

[Wind Tribe Balam]

[-Best graphic here ever-]

Welcome to Kumpania, the capital of the Wind Tribe! In common tongue, Kumpania means "Band of Families" and that is exactly what we are. Our homeland soars far above your own, drifting through the currents of the sky. We are the islands in the sea of clouds, the walking mountains, the floating continents. There are dozens of our floating landmasses. Why they float, we have yet to discover, but the why and the how matters little to us. This is our home. This is our family.

Our sky islands may not be the most fertile, nor the most hospitable, but they hold a wealth beyond compare for our kind. We cannot be assaulted by the wingless ones of the land, regardless of tribe. We fly close to the sun so the dark wings are limited. To us, our home means freedom. Freedom from danger and freedom from stagnation. We go with the wind, following only ourselves, and owing not a thing to not a one.

Selfish? Perhaps. Greedy? Maybe. Free? Always.

 

[Wind Tribe Balam]

[-Spiffy Banner-]

▬▬▬ Arch Magi ||
◘ Shandor "Riddle Mouth" || [ Thalion ] | |

▬▬▬ Culture ||

The culture of the Wind Tribe is one that revolves around the core of their very existence: freedom. When the first Magus of the Wind Tribe first awoke it was in the swirling winds of the skies, laying atop the largest of the wandering mountains. They observed their element with wonder and awe. The ever-changing wind, never staying still for even a moment. Wonderful but terrible, restless and powerful, free to come and go, never bound to one place or thing. The wind howls and it sings, it dances and it runs, it cannot be held nor can it be seen. The wind was impossible to define but the effects of it were all around. They felt it in their fur, their feathers, and in their hearts. Wind Tribe B'alam crave the open sky. Every tradition, law, and aspect of their culture revolves around the nature of the wind itself.

Wind Tribe B'alam typically have an extreme case of wanderlust. Some may grow out of it, others may only feed it. They grow restless in one place and they are exceedingly uncomfortable on the surface. The below-lands, as they call it, are open to danger and exposure. They are weaker than most B'alam physically, running a little small with delicate frames to accommodate for their flight. However, if Wind Tribe B'alam are anything it's resourceful. They must eat constantly to fly but they are not picky in their diet. They are swift hunters and clever gatherers but they are opportunists as well. If they can get their paws on it, it's as good as theirs. They are not above snatching up the crops or even livestock of other tribes. Some may see this as petty, but it's not frowned down upon to reap the goods from the surface lands.

The hardship of the Wind Tribe is driven by two main factors: their quick metabolism and their infertile homeland. The wandering mountains are composed of flightstone, a beautiful gem that pushes against the gravity of the surface in order to levitate. In short, they serve as giant magnets pushing against like poles, suspending themselves in the air. A thick moss grows on the rocks, but grass only spots where collected dirt and dust has become trapped in nooks and crannies. There's little soil to till. The trees that grow thrive off of the flightstone and act as massive sails to the islands themselves. The islands behave like massive ships, completely relying on the winds to carry them. Water collects in the grooves and natural bowls of the islands from the rainclouds and spills over the sides where the waters channel away from the rain-made lakes.

This is the homeland of the Wind Tribe. The land may not be fertile but it is far from the earth, safe from the world below. Here, the tribe stores its found treasures and lives their lives, flying from island to island and swooping down below to feed themselves.

The Wind Tribe is nomadic in nature, never laying down roots. They survive by savaging, hunting, and yes, even stealing from the land below. They also have magpie tenancies and aren't above snatching a shiny or two for themselves. They decorate their homes with their found treasures and use them as a sort of currency between themselves. While in time the Wind Tribe may become something of a nuisance to the world below, they are as close as a family. They abide by only their laws, live by only their codes, and rule the skies as kings and queens in their own right.

▬▬▬ Founding Culture
[ Current Timeframe ]
Starting out, the tribe will be brought together as one family. The importance of unity among the tribe will become the heart of their society. They will learn that while stealing is fine if done below, stealing from a brother or sister is punishable by exile. They will learn that their true names are something for only those of the Wind Tribe to know and that false names will be what they carry to the surface world below. They will learn to move swiftly, speak in riddles, and learn the tongue of the wind tribe. Words will be used between Wind Tribe members that will be alien to those of the surface.

The tribe will find entertainment in dances- both on the ground of their homeland and in the skies above. Where down below strength is valued, above swiftness and grace is as priceless as gold.

The tribe will also learn to keep what is theirs to themselves. Stories, culture, their true names, treasures, you name it. The treasure of the Wind Tribe is their culture. Their ways may become strange to the surface, just as the ways of the surface will be something of a curiosity to the Wind Tribe. Every member is encouraged to take a false name and sharing their birth name only with kin.

▬▬▬ Developed Culture
[ Future Timeframe ]

While nothing is set in stone, with the foundations as they are it is very likely that the Wind Tribe will be seen as a group of thieves and cowards by those of the surface. The Wind Tribe, likewise, will see those on the surface as backwards resources. The strange, root-deep ways of the surface will confuse and almost frighten the Wind Tribe. They could not imagine a life of living in one place for too long, experiencing one sort of climate, hearing one brand of stories, or even eating the same thing twice in a day. Tensions very well could build between the sky and the surface. This will only bring the Wind Tribe closer to itself and dull any guilt that they may have in snatching goods from down below. Some may see their stolen goods as a sort of badge of honor.

The Wind Tribe will value trading found goods, trades of promises and favors, trades of interesting stories or secrets above anything else. With the reputation they may build for themselves, it's very likely that they'll have difficulty establishing any sort of friendship with the surface.

The only tribe that may tolerate them, and likewise may intrigue them as 'civilized' by their standards, is the travelers from the Water Tribe.


▬▬▬ Social Structure ||

The Wind Tribe are essentially sky-gypsies. They have honor, but it's their honor. They have laws, but they are their laws. They have culture, but it's their culture. These ways may be strange, perhaps even seen as outright backwards by the surface, but they are a source of great pride among the Wind Tribe.

Their leadership splits into two- the Gypsy King and the Gypsy Queen. The king is in charge of defending the Tribe and enforcing the law. He is the iron paw, the father of the Tribe. The Queen is the mother. The caretaker, the one who keeps the culture, and settles inner disputes. She defends from the inside while the king defends from the outside. They work together, sometimes butting heads and sometimes performing their tasks like an intricate dance.

The Wind Tribe's structure is fairly loose. They do what they must to survive, to remain free, to remain unattached to the world down below. The pecking order is rather loose beyond the Arch Magus as everyone understands that to assist their brother or sister in survival is to assist themselves. To keep the secrets of their fathers is to keep their own secrets. Like most other tribes, they have a variety of talents and trades between themselves. There are bards, story-tellers, crafters, smiths, hunters, trackers, and historians. There is an endless number of professions that the Wind Tribe members can take but they all come together to serve the greater purpose of the tribe. They work like a flock of birds or a pack of wolves depending on the day. They could gather and scatter, or turn and bear their fangs.

Often times, the most respected members of society are those who have managed to experience the most and come out with a den full of trinkets to prove their stories. OOC- this means that the more you rp your Wind Tribe member, the more experiences they have, the more things they bring back to the island and the more scars they collect, the more well-known they'll become.

Wind Tribe Terminology

Gadje | A term used as an insult. Essentially, it means "non-gypsy". This could be applied to Wind Tribe B'alam not considered kin by their fellow Wind Tribe B'alam. This will be reserved for those who break tradition or betray the Tribe's core itself.

Abiav | "Wedding". A grand celebration is often held when two B'alam form a soul-bond.

Bar | "Brother".

Bhen | "Sister".

Doshman | "Enemy". This will be used for hostiles of the Tribe...which may become a thing quickly.

Dat | "Father".

Day | "Mother".

Pachiv | A celebration to honor special guests. This could mean diplomats from other Tribes or, eventually, a gathering of the Wind-lords under the Arch Magus.

Paguba | A raiding party. A flock of Wind Tribe B'alam that set out to the surface to gather for the Tribe.

 

[Wind Tribe Balam]

▬▬▬ Wind Season ||

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Every year a great celebration is held within the capital of the wind tribe during the months of March and April known to them as The Storm's Eye. The tribe will spend weeks prior to the celebration stockpiling supplies, food, wares, and goods so that they can devote themselves to celebrating and courting rather than gathering for their tribesmen. This is a time when the surface sees a calming of the Wind Tribe's activity and the Wind Tribe rests themselves to focus on the unity of their Tribe. This is the one time of the year where even those Wind Tribesmen who have taken to living apart from their core kin are welcome back within the capital. While they may not be seen in the kindest of light, this celebration is for the winged kings and queens of the sky.

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During this time, the Wind Tribe will be featured as a majority in freebies, raffles, auctions, and events. Customs geared towards the Wind Tribe will take priority and the shop will host in-character roleplaying events that focus on the Wind Tribe.

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With all the Wind Tribe gathered, this is the chief breeding season for their tribe. While breeding can occur during any time of the year, this is the season where the colorists and breeders will focus the majority of their attention on the Wind Tribe.

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This is also the time of the year where Wind Tribe magus are awakened. If you have collected enough RP's to have your B'alam awakened, this is the season where Wind Tribe Magus conversions take priority.

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Finally, this is the season in which most colony requests will be entertained by the Arch Magus of the tribe. Any Wind Tribesmen who have awakened as Magus, have collected a small group of followers, and have sought out a territory for their activities can come to present their request to the Arch Magus. These new colonies will be established within the jurisdiction of the core Wind Tribe. OOC, this means you'll get a mini forum within this guild for your colony's activities and information. While applications are always open, most approvals will be given during this time to comply to In-Character events and time frames.
 

[Wind Tribe Balam]

▬▬▬ Relations ||

◘◘◘ Within the Tribe◘◘◘

Starting out, there will be very little internal strife and the Magus will work very hard to ensure that there is none in the future. The tribe is a massive family, honor-bound to each other and their traditions. If there is a pebble between their toes, so to speak, it's against those that would defy tradition. In the Wind Tribe's case, they feel the only threat to their society that could ever rise up is from within. Any hostilities down below can and will stay there.


◘◘◘ Outside of the Tribe ◘◘◘
On the surface things are complicated. Since it's the beginning of the world, there are no established enemies or hostile relationships. However, this is something that will change very rapidly for the Wind Tribe. Their culture calls on them to 'harvest' from the surface. Their survival comes before the survival of anyone else. If it comes at the cost of another tribe, that's just how things are. After all, their survival comes at the cost of the lives of prey beasts too.

In time the Wind Tribe may have to watch their step among the surface-dwelling tribes, most especially the earth tribe.

The majority of the Wind Tribe may come to see the surface-dwelling tribes as...simple. Barbaric in nature in that they spend their whole lives rooted in one spot. Some dig about in the mud to grow things that, by the Wind Tribe's understanding, would have grown just fine on their own. Others spend their times basking near pools of lava. It all seems very silly and simplistic.

The only tribe that the Wind Tribe really fears is the dark tribe. This is the only other Tribe that was gifted the ability to fly. Because of this, they are suspicious and leery of the night time. There are several that will not sleep during the dark hours so they can keep an eye on the skies and defend their tribe.
 

[Wind Tribe Balam]

▬▬▬ Beliefs & Traditions ||

◘◘◘ The Grand Weaver ◘◘◘
The Wind Tribe, like all others at the root of the world, has great respect for the Grand Weaver. The Magus are very aware of his existence and credit him for their awakened mind that allows them to build a society at all. The Magus will not stand for slander or defiance of the Grand Weaver. After all, it was he that gave the Wind Tribe wings above all others.

That said, they do not enforce an open worship of any kind. Their tribute back to the Grand Weaver is in how they live their lives. Their words, actions, and duty to each other is how they express their reverence and gratitude. Singing, community prayers, all that seems like a waste of time. The Weaver knows he's great without a bunch of mortals telling him so. It would be far more rewarding, in their culture, to show that the Weaver's design was worth the time he put into it.

As time passes, the surface-dwellers may see the Wind Tribe as downright faithless. They'll not bother with a sacred text, organized worship sessions, or any kind of predetermined prayers. Their knowledge of the Grand Weaver will be passed orally through stories and songs, their praise is in their actions, and their acknowledgement of him will come through their acknowledging their own being. They honor their bodies, minds, and spirits as they were woven. Those that defy their own design are seen as heretics more than those that refuse to mutter a prayer from time to time.

◘◘◘ Life and Death ◘◘◘
Life is a gift. Some lives will be longer than others, some will be shorter, but life is precious regardless of how many loops the weaving contains for it. When a new life is woven to the Wind Tribe, regardless if it's woven from the hand of the Grand Weaver directly or through the totems, a "birth" is a time for celebration. Cubs are seen as the Weaver's way of showing his favor to the couple. Regardless of their actions, they must be doing something right to merit a family.

Down below, life and death become a little muddy. Yes, living things are all part of the grand weaving but not all lengths of yarn are cut the same. Some are there to bring out the color of another, others are there to pull another into place. In short- the lives of the surface dwellers aren't of too much concern to the Wind Tribe. They won't go out of their way to make their lives miserable or go as far as to outright take life, but they're simpler things. The surface B'alam are a means to an end, and that end is the survival of the Wind Tribe.

Death is a very serious affair. When a member of the tribe draws their final breath, that breath will be thought to have become part of the wind itself. While all souls return to the Grand Weaver's hand, the Wind Tribe believe that a part of the spirit remains. In time things as simple as gusts of wind or breezes will be thought of as the passing spirits of the fallen.

◘◘◘ Common Name Themes ◘◘◘
For the base name, their true names, the Wind Tribe have no real standard. Romani names are a good base, if only because they have a nice ring to them, but there's really no running theme or standard.

Gypsy names, however, are a big deal. They are names that are used on the surface and around non-kin. These names generally say something about the B'alam, their trade, their personality, or even their coloration. Examples of this are: Fleet Wind, Riddle Mouth (One of the Magus), and Still Song. They are generally two words that describe something about the B'alam.

◘◘◘ Gender Roles ◘◘◘
Genders are a non-issue with the Wind Tribe. There are differences between males and females in how they think, their builds, and their physical limitations but these differences aren't enough to hold any B'alam back within the tribe. Rather than focusing on the differences, they are celebrated, and sometimes even offer some entertainment among the tribe. The differences aren't seen as crippling in any regard.

Acknowledgement of one's half is taken seriously. Acting outside of the spirit given is seen as borderline blasphemy. It would be along the lines of a Wind-Tribe B'alam pretending to be a Water Tribe. No one was given the wrong body, to believe that is to believe that the Grand Weaver makes mistakes. That thought, for now, is unthinkable among the Wind Tribe.