Avanthar Unofficial Tribal Culture Expansion

[indyfan98]

Hello! I am not lore staff. I am simply an American who loves indigenous culture. As such, though I do not play one, I have a unique enjoyment of Avanthar, but feel they could use some fleshing out in terms of cultures. As such, this thread is my way of having people help other Avanthar players in terms of portraying them in a way that is both unique and respectful to the native people that inspired them. If lore staff wish to, they may shut down this project at any time, or review any submission and declare them as incompliant. I do not know all the lore, personally. Players, of course, can choose to forgo this information, but it's more so for fun.

This thread will include each state, with the description from the wiki, the tribes in that state, and (eventually) the player created lore for each tribe. Please follow the template given. Additional information is welcome, but excluding information should be avoided.

Avantar States

Avanth Antu

Avanth Antu was formerly one of the more powerful Avanths in the Ularen Plains, with a prestigious role as the main actors in the previous deal that had existed between the Avanthar and the Northern Elven Kingdoms of the Alexandros Mountain Chain. However, after fighting briefly with their allies in the Elven War of 302 AC, the Avanthar retreated, fearing reprisal. As a result, a large swath of territory they had over the northern reaches of the Plains were taken, and in the civil war that came later, Avanth Rokhaal absorbed a further third of the Avanth's territory. Now, Avanth Antu largely hugs the Western Calms, and does battle with the regional Pōlorcs as it fights to maintain its greatly weakened existence. They are the least accepting of the current Avanthar belief that the Regalian Empire is the strongest world state, and their population is also the angriest with the new order of the Plains. Some suspect they may be aiding in the frequent uprisings in the nearby Minaal Protectorate, but this is just speculation based on their current attitude.

Tribes:

• Salta

• Syäna

• Cri'iväl

Avanth Rokhaal

Encompassing the unusually chilly region of the Selldr'velle Steppes, a large portion of the northern Ularen Plains, and now possessing the largest territory, Avanth Rokhaal is poised to lead the Avanthar Race into the future. Their people have long been friendly to Ailor, as much as Avanthar can be, with multiple Qússrakón Ailor absorbed into their society over the past century with additional "respect" offered in a high number of foreign unions between Avanthar and outsider Ailor. With the auxiliary horse power of the Qússrakón, the Avanthar of Avanth Rokhaal have often also been a major force in military matters associated with the eastern lands of Daen. It was they who were primarily engaged in the Ranger Crisis, and they were also the group who contributed the most to the rampaging force of Avanthar who swept through the Ailor states of the region. Since the end of the civil war, their leadership has been remarkably stable and united, with several women also holding key positions of power as the Avanth here makes strides to repair regional relations with foreigners as well as absorb the last numbers of Qússrakón into their Bands.

Tribes:

• Apäthee

• Nëgepien

• Wythëtma

• Tëyäs

Avanth Olmaat

Avanth Olmaat is seen as the staunchest and more conservative of all the five existing Avanth. Their territory held the Royal Encampment, and in the wake of its destruction, have only begrudgingly accepted a general superiority of the Regalian Empire. Elsewhere, the Avanth is oddly the only Avanth with only male leadership, at least on the surface. Observers have noted that these leaders are often "advised" by female Elders, likely their mothers, suggesting a rather familiar situation to Ailor military officials: that of a male facade over female leadership. Despite this, Avanth Olmaat suffered the most direct chaos of the five during the civil war and its population has largely retreated into isolation, though they still actively trade with regional Cielothar settlements.

Tribes:

• Shytay

• Iöwak

• Tri'syaw

Avanth Himvatheer
In direct opposition to Avanth Olmaat is the rather liberal and free Avanth Himvatheer, extremely friendly toward foreigners and external Races for the possibilities they offer of expanding and improving an individual's Genos, as well as the Genos of the Avanth overall. They are also seen as the most peaceful Avanth, given their longstanding treaties with Sol Fazais over the Himvatheer Road, the only safe road through Avanthar lands to the Altalar States beyond. They were still wracked by conflict in the civil war, but were the first Avanth to condemn and end the chaos within their borders, followed shortly thereafter by their southern sisters in the Avanth Hortutor. The Himvatheer now look to get the trade lanes going again though the Juvvondor Plains, so that they might again benefit from frequent contact with the outside world.

Tribes:

• Ravän

• Kotanna

• Hydästas

Avanth Hortutor
Avanth Hortutor has commonly been seen by external Altalar as the epitome of Avanthar barbarity. Indeed, Hortutor is perhaps the wildest of all Avanths given its restless population. Easily able to harvest food from the forests of the Wildlands within their territory and that of Ol Lavei Aechir, their Bands are known to routinely violate borders in their travels though to call the vast, empty plains of northern Tanaar Llarana and eastern Tanaar Hyä-Ereya uncrossable boundaries is quite the overstatement. Additionally, they are considered the "wildest" Avanthar due to their constant conflict with the Wolathar Kathar of the Wor'lasïs Wald. They have adapted themselves to suitably combat these wild, vengeful Kathar by hardening themselves for battle, painting their bodies and faces, and dying their hair and placing feathers and more to give as fierce an appearance as possible. Their "screamers" are the most well known of all Avanths, and while they have been effective, they have frequently also clashed with Altalar desiring them to keep to their lands, and to "civilize".

• T'ivansör

• T'brassni

• T'ojkan

APPLICATION

Please first apply for a tribe to write, so that way we don't get multiple people writing one tribe, and then people will need to choose between two or more. Application is as below:

Username (IGN):
Tribe Applying For:
Tribal Inspiration(s):
Previous Lore Writing Experience (Optional):
__________________________________________________________________________

The tribal inspiration is to showcase that you have read at least a bit on Native cultures. They do not need to be Native Americans, but that is certainly a path to go. An indigenous people will work. Many native tribes have official websites. Make sure they make geographic sense. So, don't do the Hualapai in the plains, since they are the "People of the Tall Pines." If you can show me you've done some research, that'd be amazing. We don't want caricatures. We want people. Of course, don't just copy 1:1 from the internet. This is about creativity, as well.

Template for after being accepted

Spoiler: Template

Tribe Name:

Tribe Location (including geography types):

Major and Minor Tribal Inspiration(s):

Clothing Styles (Men and Women. Also include leaders and religious clothing. Include pictures, if you can!):

Housing Styles (tents, wooden huts, pueblo, Earth Lodges, etc.);

Design Motifs (Pictures welcome!):

Common Hair Color (Black or Dark Auburn):

Religious Ceremonies:

Common Symbols:

Preferred Colors:

Common Adornments (feathers, pelts, turtle shells, etc.):

Traditions and Customs:

Taboo:

Common Hobbies (fishing, basket weaving, leather working, etc.)

What really sets this tribe apart from others?:

Once accepted, write using the template above, and send the outcome to me in forums DM. I will add the writing to the page in a spoiler in the tribes section, if and when approved.

 

[indyfan98]

Hello, again! I'm still interested in this project being a thing! Anyone interested, please let me know!

 

[indyfan98]

Here is an addition an anonymous submitter: The Adoette. Note that this tribe is not officially mentioned on the Avanthar wiki page, though there are Avanthar on Talamoor

Spoiler: Adoette

Tribe Name: The Adoette Tribe (Roughly translated to 'Halfblood Riverfolk')


Tribe Location (including geography types): Talamoor


Major and Minor Tribal Inspiration(s): The Métis People (Major Inspiration)


Clothing Styles (Men and Women. Also include leaders and religious clothing. Include pictures, if you can!):


Clothing styles of the Adoette heavily differ from those of their distant Avanthar kin. Due to themselves living in Talamoor, a more temperate climate all the while tacked on top of Talamoor's relatively poor stature the Adoette people drape themselves into incredibly rugged, sturdy, simple deerskin jackets. To fineclass cultures their clothing may be seen as primitive, but hard working tradesmen commonly see the jackets as an inexpensive, worthwhile investment due to the fact that the jackets can last a lifetime if prepared correctly. The Adoette adorn their jackets with many draping strips of hide on the arms and back, fur trimming, and thanks to the Cielothar they make annual long voyages to trade with, beadwork. The jacket has taken the Regalian Empire's lower class by storm with many appropriating the jacket to their tastes, commonly hardening the jacket, staining it, and embroidering it to make it an even more robust, stylish and lasting coat. If prepared correctly the jacket can develop a heavy patina, a true way to tell just how much it and it's wearer has experienced together through their lifetime.


Another noteworthy, yet less known clothing item has to be their wide brimmed, fur based felt hats. Normally seen with Adoette herdsmen, ranchers, and other outdoorsmen to protect their faces from the sun. It is at times even able to be used as a water and feed bucket for their horses when none are available. The hat is made primarily with a blend of mixed furs, shrunk and bonded together through a process of repeatedly dunking the fur into warm water which brings the fur when pressed and rolled out, into a clean taut sheet. This sheet of felt is then formed through a heat and resin process then tipped, brimmed, and shaped into its iconic self. Many owners create bands to loop around the hats crown which is then adorned with feathers, cigarettes, or anything else that's small enough to fit in their band.

(On the far right image the clothes aren't representative, however the hats are)


Housing Styles (tents, wooden huts, pueblo, Earth Lodges, etc.): Chateau (Log Cabins in times of necessity)


Design Motifs (Pictures welcome!): The Motifs of the Adoette people are rather simple and resemble the flora of the Talamoor valleys, forests, and riverways where the Adoette people reside. These motiff's are normally applied to their jackets, and blankets in the form of colorful beadwork. A common motif has to be that of the painful thorny Lorwick Thistle and the colourful crimson Red Daisy.


Common Hair Color (Black or Dark Auburn): Dark Auburn


Religious Ceremonies: The Adoette follow a watered down, folk version of Vinelle Unionism (As they are crossbred with Burdigala and Ithanian Ailor whereas other Avanthar have been crossbred with Daendroque Ailor). Not exactly devoutly religious people, the majority of the Adoette people don't even know who makes up or what the Regalian Empire exactly is thanks to it having little influence over the quiet land of Talamoor and will most likely fight against it if it ever did try to strong arm them into submission. However the Adoette people have a close relationship with roaming Unionist missionaries and are taught the basic morals of Unionism, while for the most part completely ignoring the long drawn out parts that include the Emperor's divine right. Regardless however, the Adoette people are nearly incapable of possessing the mutations their Avanthar kin further west can hold. This is commonly said from missionaries that it is because of the Adoette peoples vigorous, 'inner humanity', but is actually because of their weakening bloodlines as they continue to crossbreed with Burdigala traders.


Common Symbols: Unionist symbols which would normally be a chain hung around the neck, side etc. or floral motif designs like above on their clothing which would be a primary symbol.


Preferred Colors: Suede brown, red, green


Traditions and Customs/Hobbies: The Adoette people are known to party as hard as they work. Being able to not only attract the non Adoette Avanthar and Cielothar of Talamoor, but also being capable of temporarily uniting the Talath and Camoor peoples in festivity. Common festivities revolve primarily around parts of their trade, being horseback riding, and canoeing. Foot races, horse races, canoe races are to constantly be seen. However perhaps their most unique and joyous act is their music they call 'fiddling' and its accompanying dance the 'jig'. A cheery, high pitched music produced by violins that rely on quick movements and note changes rather than slow, regular and sustained notes that's of traditional violining. This goes hand in hand with their traditional dance, a rather simple yet vigorous form of dance that requires slight arm movements (except for the occasional clapping some do to help relay the pace to others who may be further from the fiddler), clacky feet taps, shuffles and strides which leads outsiders to believe that they are dancing on the tips of their toes. The dance contains simple steps primarily as to attract many people to join in and follow the tune of the fiddler who ultimately controls the speed of the dance. If the group seems to be getting a hang of the pace, the fiddler may slowly and incrementally increase their tune before one at a time dancers eventually give up and run out of energy, sometimes leading to friendly dance offs to see who can outjig everyone else, immaturely called 'jigoffs' by those who detest the dance.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eNvv7GKp533hcUvjCMxMMcIVxpabVY_AZ1OcOBRvVIQ/edit

Keep in mind that this is simply a player made lore addition, and is not official canon. However, it is a great entry to this thread. A reminder that I am NOT lore staff, and thus nothing I say about lore should be taken as gospel.