Mathom/Mastanda

The mathom (or, in Yethera, mastanda) were sculpted from elemental clay by the Dust Gods. Slow, ponderous and powerful, they have vast appetites and until they developed beyond subsistence level, rarely travelled far from the comforts of home. Even in the modern world, they have a reputation for indolence and for never straying from the places they can be sure of a good dinner, but while they are hard to rouse, as the children of destruction as much as creation, they are terrible in their wrath. There are mastanda populations in eastern Yethera and south-west Suto, and mathom in northern and central Caino, where some act as sober advisers to the Minotaur Thunder Lords.
Early mathom culture was dogged by their destructive urges, but the three major populations found different ways to cope with this. Cainan mathom adopted the Code, conquering their destructive nature through rigorous self-discipline, allowing their herds to grow and standing them in good stead for their union with the Thunder Lords to create the Thunderhead Dominion. Moraean mastanda hewed to worship of the creators for a long time, but divided their population into makers and breakers, with the former dedicated to creation and growth, and to providing a constructive outlet for the actions of the latter.
Sutoan mastanda chose to abandon their destructive parent altogether, turning their backs on the Earthshaker and adopting a pacifist creed. They became passive, and never had the expansionist ambitions of the others of their kind, instead moving to isolated locations and establishing self-sufficient communities. They have litle contact with the outside world, but welcome any who share their ideals. Vanishingly few of these communities remain mastanda only. Instead, the members are unified by a passive philosophy, which also eschews religion. The Earthshaper is revered, but the gods are overall seen as possible, but not necessary, intercessories between mortals and the larger universe. Those who are born into the community, but feel the call of a more aggressive lifestyle are sent out into the world, but welcomed back if and when they feel ready to resume the life of peace.

Mathom and identity

While they have a significant degree of sexual dimorphism, Cainan mathoms conceal most differences with enveloping robes and cosmetic jewellery, most notably filing their tusks to a uniform length – males’ tusks are typically longer, but raw tusks are seen as a mark of poverty – and capping them with elaborate, golden decorations. They do not use gendered pronouns, instead referring to themselves, or those they are directly addressing, as ‘this one’ and others as ‘that one’.
Moraean mastanda do use gendered pronouns, but consider the distinction between 'maker' and 'breaker' more important, distinguishing between those whose primary social role is creative - builders, artists and artisans, social leaders and inventors - or destructive - mostly fighters, but also healers, especially surgeons. It is typically the makers who govern, while the breakers allow their proclivities to be guided, but some breakers opt for a more iconoclastic role, disrupting society and promoting revolutionary ideas. They favour ear jewellery, and while they do not file their tusks, many apply scrimshaw to their ivory. Some warriors also fit bayonet blades to their tusks for use in combat.
Sutoan mastanda eschew both ornamentation and body alteration, but like their Cainan kin they do not use gendered pronouns.