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Chapter 3: RACES & REALMS
ing no part in further thinning their blood that might
taint their own (see Chapter 6).
• Attites believe their Trakeen Tongia priests have
reestablished contact with the Dragon King MaiRong, and will reassemble soon beneath his banner.
• They also believe that Attites are the original humans, splintered after offending the creator, SangTao, long before the moons and stars appeared
around their world. The world’s mountains, they
feel, are the bones of Sang-Tao, who died of grief for
having lost the love of the people.
Chindi
The major distinction between the Chindi and other human tribes is their matriarchy: women hold power among
the Chindi. Many human men who meet any Chind express relief that their isolated location beyond Prajalu territories keeps many from discovering this heretical form of
governance, for they do not wish it to spread.
A diminutive tribe of slight build and pale coloration,
Chindi have fair to white skin with white and grey eyes.
Men wear their black, white or grey hair cut close to the
scalp, women much longer. Some Chindi women have
long pointed ears, seen as a portent of good fortune.
Skin painting and tattoos are common among adults.
Chindi fashion their traditional clothing from netlike fabrics hung with other cloth, bright gems, metal
ornaments, beads, and even tiny ceramic tiles. Men
wear long sleeves and trousers with short boots. Both
men and women wear capes that also serve as bags with
many pockets.
To the surprise of other tribes, relatively few Chindi
train with weaponry. Those who do so learn the javelin
(cuthra) to serve as part of local militias. Many carry the
traditional yuvek, which is a long, curved dagger that
is often an heirloom passed to favorite children. Many
Chindi are master swafa riders, and a large part of their
village life revolves around capturing, training, riding,
and even racing the swift lizard mounts. The Chindi
also use elephants as draft animals, the only group apart
from the Pachyaur to do so. However much they wish to,
they do not have the skills or sheer strength needed to
capture and domesticate the much-larger colossadants.
Chindi villages seem impermanent to outsiders. Most
buildings are light wooden structures with paper and
leaf walls, their only strength derived from large rocks
or stone walls against which they are often built. These
structures are interspersed with colorful tents, incorporating all available trees and brush to make open areas
shaded from the equatorial sun.
History
The original Chindi tribes emerged from the deep
southlands beside their human kin, driven in long migrations north and far to the east. Today, in expanses
rarely visited by others, they are concentrated far beyond the Prajalu lands on the edge of virgin wilderness.
Most know the Chindi by the rare wanderers and traders, primarily women, who find their way back west into
the turbulent lands.
The Chindi feel the closest lingering association with
their patron Daragkark Mangkir. Only the priests can
interpret whether or not that love is still reciprocated,
but the tribal faithful believe it to be true. Eventually,
they believe Mangkir shall emerge to return Khitus to
order, presumably with his favored children elevated to
a central role.
Chindi cultural history has more bad dealings with
magic than most tribes. Part of what drove them into
such isolated territories was sorcery’s wrath plaguing
them until their arrival in those lands. As a result, all
Chindi are highly wary of secular magic. Secret names,
never revealed outside one’s family, help people guard
against magic; exposure of a secret name is betrayal of
the worst sort and carries strict punishment both within
the family and the local culture as well.
Ranks & Types
Chindi society and governance derives its strength
from extended families. The more powerful families
draw power through mercantile or military strength,
which translates into political power.
• Phrama designates a family of great wealth.
• Rachini is a family of long history and genuine
character.
• Athan families are relative newcomers to politics.
• Phyrha, the Merchant Wives, are the richest of the
rich, matrons of vibrant trading organizations that
manage vast wealth and people. Some deal exclusively in ganshyer, the black steel alloy immune to
the pervasive Iron Virus.
• Luksaw, daughters of all noble families, train as
warriors and hold high ranks in their local militias
and armies. Strong and skilled, they often prove a
match for fighters of any gender anywhere.
• Thawpi is a military commander or decision maker
while Ca-Na and Gru-Na are functionaries in battle
planning and logistical planning, respectively.
• Lexa: Most Chindi follow the teachings of Lexa, a
philosophy that preaches togetherness. The Lexai
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