Brief

The Ankhai tribe live in the northernmost mountains of the Azim Steppe overlooking the Dalvalan Grath, seemingly an inhospitable place to live, but generations of the tribe have adapted. History kept them away from the steppe itself, there are stories of allied tribes who betrayed them and with the wounds running deep, their ancestors reasoned it was better to stay where not many Xaela would and cut off ties from all other tribes.They believe in the spirit of the mountain, Khatungarid, as a messenger of Nhaama. They praise Nhaama for her guidance and to Azim for his sustenance. They are excellent navigators and have songs for every landmark and draw their strengths from land and sky.Given their features and location, one can speculate a connection with the Angura but you will be hard pressed to find Angura who know of them.They also possess their own language, separate from the Xaela of the Azim Steppe. Xaelan is comparable to Mongolian, whereas Ankhai would be comparable to Tuvan, which has some Mongolian influence, but is Turkic.

Background

Because of the cold and the harsh winters, the Ankhai condition themselves from a young age to deal with extreme cold, rather than rely on the warmth of their gers too much. Their proof of strength is challenging themselves in the cold, which includes swimming in the cold waters towards the North and traversing in blizzards. They may even handicap themselves based on what they wear and conditions they go out in to prove their resilience. But are rarely so foolish to just 'jump in the deep end' because they know conditioning is gradual and takes times. They have cautionary tales of young fools who tried to prove themselves too soon and met frosty demise. The pay-off is that they are able to survive even the harshest of blizzards away from shelter.Though there is a shared history with the Azim Steppe, there are differences that have come with their generations of separation. One such difference is their language, they have established their own in seeking to form their own identity, many of their words cannot be found in Xaelan. If Xaelan can be compared to Mongolian, the Ankhai language is comparable to Siberian Turkic languages, like Tuvan. The Tuvan comparison is also apt because of shared culture, history and religion, a separate identity and some borrowed language whilst belonging to a different language family.Many of their peoples are adventurous in nature, particularly in trying to find things to aid their tribe and their survival.The Ankhai have long held distrust in the Xaela of the steppe and in their travels heading West, ancestors also came across Ilsabardan people, who managed to gain some of their trust and a common ground for trade, which greatly benefitted the tribe. However, when the Garlean Empire spread many Ankhai in the area were either killed or conscripted. Realising they could not trust former brothers & sisters of the steppe and that Ilsabard was no longer safe they sought to persevere in solitude.But now, among them, the daughter of former Khatun Aldynay Ankhai, Khatun Xayana, has other ideas, as do others who support her. She reasons that those who have betrayed them had died generations ago and that connections on the steppe must be worth pursuing for the tribe's future. She believes new connections would be good for trade and opportunities for growth again, though she remains careful of whom she makes such connections with.

Language

The Ankhai language is partly influenced by Xaelan, however, it is a language that's separated from it.All Ankhai will learn their native tongue.Many (not all) will learn the Xaela tongue.Some will learn common, except this is more commonly found among those camping to the West whose families used to trade with Ilsabardans.The Ankhai language is based off of Tuvan. Like how the Xaelan language is based off of Mongolian.We of course, do not expect people to know Tuvan to RP with the tribe, but given some RPers like to use snippets from languages to add flavour and represent their spoken language, we have a few words and phrases that may be useful.

Alternative Language Ticks

If your character is a partial "common" speaker, if you want inspiration for language ticks you introduce to show this. You could use some of the following:Repeating pronouns, eg: "I am well I"
Yes/No Questions end with 'right', eg: "You are well, right?"
Question words go at the end, eg: "Their name is what?"
Use of gender-neutral pronouns.Example conversion with ticks:
"Hello, today you are well, right?"
"Yes, I am well I, thank you. You how are you?"
"Today I am not well I."
"Help you, can I?"
"It is my son, they are making me tired."If you are curious, these represent the following Tuvan:In Tuvan pronouns are sometimes repeat, eg: "men" is "I" and "men eki tur men" means "I am well".Questions end in a question word like "be", although it does not have a direct translation, you might end up think of it like making a statement and saying 'right?'There are no gendered pronouns: "Oong" is account for "his", "her" and "they".

Dialect Words

These are some example words that Wester Ankhai may use from their dialect:

Formation of West and East

Some of the early history of the West and East is lesser known among modern Ankhai, but is still passed down among certain circles.
The earliest ancestors of the Ankhai shared ancestry with steppe Xaela but what made up the East and West Ankhai were originally two tribes. The West Ankhai were a tribe called the "Uran". It was the Uran who surivived the deepest parts of the Dalvalan Grath, but the Ankhai who typically stayed towards and in the mountains of the East. The Uran mostly kept to themselves whilst the Ankhai traded with the steppe and formed alliances (before the inevitable betrayal).The Uran and Ankhai shared a common ancestral language, but with time developed separately, with the Ankhai being influenced by the languages spoken on the steppe.The Uran and Ankhai in their own travels ended up encountering each other, with the Uran wary and untrusting at first, but the Ankhai were not a warring or conquering sort, but were more keen to see what the Uran could offer and establish trade, which later became an alliance once trust was formed.Sadly, the Western Ankhai fell ill to disease and their people took casualties, the Ankhai sent their best shamans and many supplies to help the Uran, and whilst the Ankhai had saved them, they were unable to save their Khan. Khurultai was held and the Uran decided they wanted to join the Ankhai and the Ankhai accepted.
The name "Uran" was lost to time as they became known as "West Ankhai" and they adopted the Ankhai's language, meaning the Uran language was also lost to time, but pieces of it still exists, like in names and dialect words.

Culture

Azim & Nhaama

Nhaama and Azim play a big part for the Xaela of the Azim Steppe.
From the beliefs of the Ankhai, Azim and Nhaama remain significant.
Azim's sun gives life to and nourishes all things.
Nhaama's moon gives life to the sky that guides them.Hence it was an old attitude that men made for good providers and women offered good guidance. But it is only one that sits at the tip of the tongue of the older generation, as time only proved that people were best valued for what they were good at, which means avoiding such assumptions. The Ankhai believe in celebrating each other's strengths.The idea still rings true in some attitudes in what makes a good relationship, two sides that complement each other make for a stronger pairing. And it relates to the belief where it is better to have 2 specialists in separate things than to have 2 people who are skilled in the same things.

Khatungarid & Kite Hawks

'Khatungarid' was the name given to a creature in the Ankhai cosmos. Khatungarid is somewhat comparable to Garuda but is seen as the spirit of the mountain. She is modeled after a woman with bird features including a kite's tail. It is believed that Khatungarid serves Nhaama, she is wise and helps guide hunters and people lost in the mountains and in Dalvalan Grath.It is believed that she operates through kite birds and because of this kites are revered and given much respect by the Ankhai.One could speculate a connection between Khatungarid and Llymlaen, the Navigator, just as there can be comparison between Azim and Azeyma.Kites are also a symbol of courage and honesty.

Music & Navigation

Given the affinity for nature and their love of music and throat singing, it is said their music is inspired by the sounds of nature and they have a song for each landmark. When they find a new landmark, a new song is formed once they immerse themselves and are inspired by their surroundings.It is through their memorising these songs that they improve their navigation and if they get lost, all they need to do is remember the songs.

Old Trade

There used to be trade with a people on the Ilsabardan side of the Blindfrost. It is unknown what has happened with these people beyond Garlean invasion, but there was a shared culture, meaning Western Ankhai may carry some of their influences in name, culture and practices.It is believed the people could still exist. Families belonging to old trade sill exist and reside on the West of the Dalvalan Grath and make trips to the main Ankhai camp. These families may still carry Western influences.

Magic

Many Ankhai are at tune with the land and sky, something they achieve through music and they are able to draw power from both. It means that with the right songs sung in the right place may draw magical power through such a connection.These practices can be compared to Geomancy and Astromancy. But their ways of tapping into these powers is aligned with their cultural practices.

Painting & Social Tendencies

The Ankhai are a tribe who put an emphasis on social bonds and building (and never breaking) trust. It is due to their isolated nature and harsh environment, they must always have each other's back and be accountable for each other. It can mean friendship for a member of the Ankhai runs deep and they have traditions and practices born out of it. One of those practices is to do with paint, where they paint each other's bodies and faces as a mark of trust and friendship, meaning if a member of the tribe offers to paint you, then you've earned their trust and respect. It is not a mark of intimacy unless the relationship is intimate.

Relationships

The cultural attitude is that a good relationship is complementary, with the two most important things being that they can provide for themselves and that they have strong wisdom and guidance.Given the importance of holding good bonds, it is encouraged there is a loving relationship and care, so the desire to have each other's back is strongest. It is also expected that a relationship does not harm family bonds, but for a family to object to a relationship then they need a good reason to do so, else it is culturally inappropriate and would harm the reputation and integrity of the family. Love is the most important part of a relationship and therefore it is respected in all consenting forms, with a strong bond it is believed any weaknesses within that relationship can be resolved.It does not mean Ankhai are also co-dependent as Ankhai are expected to know how to survive if ever separated.

Attitudes

They are typically cautious in nature when it comes to outsiders, which comes from their history, which may improve with time. However, they are a warming and generous people who, once they've welcomed you, will consider you one of their own. If you wrong them, they will not be so gentle, as for them trust runs deep, which means when broken the wound runs just as deep and you may be expected to prove yourself if you want their mercy (but does not always mean forgiveness).However, they are more amenable to trusting the judgment of Khatungarid and Nhaama. If it appears you have their favour, then they are more amenable in moments of distrust.They have a great love and respect for nature and retaining a balance in things and not upsetting spirits. Though they still train to fight and defend the tribe, they do not favour conflict.

Professions

The Ankhai are a community who tend to be close to each other and work together. It means they tend to value the idea of doing what you're good at, rather than trying to be as good at as many things as possible, because your skills may complement somebody else's. Why send a good fisher when you have a great fisher? Why send a good hunter when you have a great huntress? So loners and jacks-of-all trade are less common, but it still happens; some types of people prefer to live that way.Despite this, survival skills are fairly universal between Ankhai. This is something everybody is expected to be good at for their own benefit.The Ankhai commonly have the following professions within the tribe:

Landmarks

Dosh-khöl

This is where the main Iloh is located, it is up in the snowy mountains overlooking a small icy lake. Its name literally means "Ice Lake".This is where the Ankhai's ruling power is situated and is the main Eastern Ankhai settlement. It's location is not public knowledge.

The Blindfrost

The icy sea far to the North, which extends to the shores of Ilsabard but not anything is known of what is beyond it. Although some members of the Ankhai have braved it but even they will only get so far before they turn back. Braver souls have tried and never returned.

Tail Mountains

These mountains are shared by other tribes, which they stay out of sight from, the Ankhai sit on the northern side and this is the border between The Dalvalan Grath and The Azim Steppe.You will find Eastern Ankhai settlements here, including a trading spot in a mountain pass that is accessible to people coming from the Azim Steppe.

Kuduruk Dag Trading Post

A trading post within a mountain pass in the Tail Mountains away from lands settled by Ankhai and closer to the Azim Steppe. It is accessible to people from the Azim Steppe and is where people from outside of the tribe can come to do business with the tribe, whether it is diplomacy or trade.It also exists as a buffer, it is a defensible space and allows for warriors to hold people long enough for others to initiate an exit strategy. This was formed when the Ankhai came out of isolation so that no trade or diplomacy happens on land occupied by Ankhai, de-risking their situation. To be allowed in Ankhai lands requires a great deal of trust.

Dalvalan Grath

This is an icy wasteland to the North of The Tail Mountains, there are some small settlements here but often move with herds and creatures they hunt.

Kezer-sook

One of a series of settlements that were connected to Ilsabard on a trade route. Kezersook was the main major settlement of West Ankhai, most of the other settlements no longer remain because they were closer to Ilsabard and ones the Garleans attacked.

Resources

They live off of the mountain from any animals and plants that reside there and any beasts capable of surviving the The Dalvalan Grath or venture their way there. They also survive off of fish from the ocean.There are precious rocks & ores in the mountain and rare plants & herbs as well as animals in the area, including reindeer, which they herd. The tribe has historically traded with Ilsabardans. In a time past they traded with neighbouring mountain tribes, but history meant they cut themselves off from the rest of the steppe.

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Ankhai Magical Practices

Ankhai magic ties closely to their religious and spiritual beliefs and how they understand magic works is confined to said beliefs.This means their terminology and how they describe magic does not match other parts of the world, but one can make comparisons to understand how things work.At the core of it, Ankhai magic is comparable to Conjury, but their understanding of how that works is that they are communing with the spirits that can be found in all things and up above and not that they are drawing aether from their environment.However, Ankhai will tend to use song and dance, rituals and divination as means of connecting with the spirits, hence you will find Ankhai have songs dedicated to particular locations.

The Three Pillars of Ankhai Magic

There are 3 Parts to Ankhai Magic.First, we could call them 'Sects' but they refer to what you are drawing inspiration from and the greater spirit you invoke.Second, is what you use for a focus, for example, it may be a musical instrument.And third, is your method of divination.

Sects/Inspirations

There are three sects to Ankhai magic, but nobody is restricted to one:NhaamaThis is magic inspired by Nhaama's domain, so the moon, stars and their constellation. Perhaps the night sky.
You may compare it to Nocturnal Sect if you're an Astrologian.For Ankhai Nhaama also represents guidance, fate and wisdom.AzimThis is magic inspired by the great blue sky and the nourishment it offers and the great orange day star of the sky, the sun.
You may compare it to Diurnal Sect if you're an Astrologian.For Ankhai, Azim also represents life, nourishment and nature.KhatungaridThis is magic inspired by the ground, mountains and environment.
You may compare it to Geomancy.For Ankhai, Khatugarid also represents navigation, virtue and the Ankhai homeland.

Focuses

For focuses, Ankhai may express inspiration through the following, which end up their focuses for magic:
- Musical Instruments
- Songs
- Geomantic Tools
- Paint
- Shamanic Stories
- Script

Divination

Ankhai are capable of divination through different means, but where they draw their source of divining is in the spirits of 3 different places and including the 3 types of spirits everyone has.Ami Divination - Divining with the upper world & the reading of stars
Suns Divination - Divining with the lower world & through the use of body paint
Suld Divination - Diving with the natural world & through the land & geomantic toolsPeople may use Ami Divination to get insight from a greater power.
People mat use Suns Divination to get insight on a more personal, deep level, from those who once were.
People may use Suld Divination to get insight from natural law.What are Ami, Suns and Suld? They are the names of the 3 souls within us according to Tengrism.
The significances here are that:
- The Suld is the part that returns to nature in death and is the most individualised part. So I felt it most appropriate for it to be relate to nature in the Ankhai beliefs.
- The Ami reincarnates but relates to the upper world, it's what gives your body life. Being of the upper world I felt it would be appropriate for it to relate to the sky and sky gods.
- The Suns also reincarnates but is related to the lower world and carry the experiences of past lives.

Divining Ankhai Geomancy - Kumalak

This practice relatss to Suld divination because of how Ankhai do Geomancy as a means of divination. Kumalak is a form of Geomancy from Central Asia and is still practiced in places like Tuva, who the Ankhai draws inspiration from.More information on how Kumalak works can be found here: https://www.serenapowers.com/kumalak.html

All The Mancies

Bearing in mind that Ankhai magic is comparable to Conjury it means it opens a few doors to Ankhai interpretations of other forms of magic related to Conjury.And also, due to how they invoke their magic, it opens up some alternative choices.
So it means you could represent things like the following:
- Astromancy
- Geomancy
- Conjuring
- Bard Songs
- DancesHowever, if one chooses to represent something similar to Pictomancy, this is not a concept that Ankhai have practiced. The first to discover you can invoke magic through painting is an Altaana, who is elusive and mainly unknown to Ankhai beyond her village. Whilst it is possible for another to discover it, it'd be considered unusual to Ankhai.How this works in the practice of Ankhai is not yet currently clear as this would be considered somewhat of a discovery and once understood means on step closer to understanding why the Ankhai's different focuses work.