Aer O-Erken
The small humans, who call themself the Aer O-Erken, roam an enourmous territory that ranges from the north of the Intepa Veld, down south the Marauder Bestiae, turning again up north around the World Spine up the Regio Arida. They are pretty small for humans, with an average of 4 feet, sometimes being not much taller than dwarfs. They have dark sun-tanned skin and are more on the sturdy side. Women and men share the same work and are seen as equals.
Magic
The few Aer O-Erken that are born with a talent for magic, are trained from early youth on, to become Shamans. As these Shamans are essential for travelling somewhat safely in the beast-infected regions and both the amount of Shaman canidates are few and the death of a clan member can happen anytime, the upbringing of new Shamans is a grave necessity. The Shamans are to safely guide their clans through the steppe and keep the clan together. In order to achieve that they ask the goods for guidance and always watch out for possible signs and warning. They also hold up the contact with the ancestors and after deadly encounters they reunite in grand ceremonies the clan with the deceased to allow for a peaceful transition. At encounters with beast from the Marauder Beastlands they try to communicate and appease it; hence the surviving of an entire clan, can depend on a single Shaman.Structure
Erkis Immortalis
The undisputed leader of all Aer O-Erken is Erkis Immortalis. He is an old man with dark, cracked skin, which is covered all over with tattoos from the deeds he has achieved for his kin. Nobody remembers his birth for he is many generations old. In times of peace he impalpably leads his clan and stays in the shadows. It is in times of war and hardship that he proves his might and if needed forms a warcamp.The Shamans
The Shamans of the Aer O-Erken are the mediators between the clan and the gods, sprits and beasts. They consult the gods for guidance, communicate with the ancestors and appease and tame beasts. Once every year close clans gather together to celebrate the festival of exchange; at the same occasion the Shamans exchange knowledge between each other and organise the upbringing of the future Shaman generation.Public Agenda
The Aer O-Erken don't have any particular goals beyond survival. They roam the huge areas of the Macer Steppe, Marauder Bestiae and Regio Arida content as long there is enough food and no enemies. When they encounter other populations they sometimes exchange excess food and pelts against anything that might help in their daily work. Sometimes a clan pillages a lonely village, but they wouldn't risk anything bigger, exept they have no other choice, because of a famish or something equally dangerous.
History
Origin of Humankind
The Aer O-Erken are direct descendant of the first humans created by the gods and still live just like them as nomadic hunters and gatherers. The first recording of the Aer O-Erken can be found in the earliest recordings of the rocelian elves around the 3rd century AD, where few skirmishes are recounted, but also some peaceful cultural exchanges, in where both groups exchanged goods and knowledge, are reported. Till this the day the Aer O-Erken still use and write in old elvish characters.Gift of Magic
With the beginning of the Second Age the gift of magic was distributed to all races. For the first time individuals with magical talent are born into the Aer O-Erken tribes: the Shamans. Their talent and abilities are quickly integrated into the everyday life, radically reducing the death toll of the steppe and of the beast inhabitating it, resulting in an enourmous growth in population. Triggered by the population growth, after not much more than a century, first clans started settling down forming the first human villages Andarias, which quickly grew to cities and later on kingdoms. Especially important for this epoch are the rise of the populations around the cities Jakkur at the Cudduru mountain range, Varteck that lay unto the High Peaks and the city of Lixa; the only ancient human city, which managed to last to modern days.Shifts in Power
With the strengthening of the human kingdoms in the Second Age and the expansion of Great Lixis in the Third the Aer O-Erken began globally to trek more to the south. When the wars erupted into long drawn-out battles and conflict, only a few, but massive Aer O-Erken clans where left to the north of the Marauder Bestiae; most of the Aer O-Erken population had wandered south around the World Spine. Only with the destruction of Great Lixis and the weakening of the associated kingdoms, the Aer O-Erken clans returned into the Macer Steppe and the Intepa Veld.Aer O-Erken Timeline
History of the Aer O-ErkenDemography and Population
It is difficult to grasp the actual population of Aer O-Erkan as there is no documentation in any form and they tend to roam over a giant uncivilised area in small clans, but sages estimate the population between two and four million individuals. The Aer O-Erken live in clans of 200-300 people, further divided into little communities, called Orlocks, of 20-30 people. These Orlocks can communicate with each other by sending messages with trained birds of prey. Together they follow and channel the giant herds of wild Ferseleys, smaller medium-sized horse-like herbivores, who roam the Macer Steppe. The Ferseleys not only provide their main mean of food, but also provides a steady supplie of mounts, for the Aer O-Erkens have perfected the mounted combat. The Ferseleys are one of the few products the Aer O-Erken export and trade with. It is difficult to find a better steed, than a Ferseleys, which was trained by an Aer O-Erken.
Territories
Lapis Columnae
In the middle of the Intepa Veld lies a smaller mountain range, which onces belonged to the kingdom of Oppond and which was at these times densely populated. Many stone structures and ruins remind of this past and give an ancient distinction to the thin forests. At night dark creatures roam these ruins and nobody, who drifts around here, is seen again. The Aer O-Erken shun this area and try to avoid it under any circumstances.Nohir Vadum
A few miles east from the Nohir Cime where the river originates, stretches a large 150ft. wide natural bridge. It is one of the few possibilities to cross over the river by foot and the only one for a large herd. The passage is so important that it is known to all Aer O-Erken.Pons Sandclot
The possibilities for the Aer O-Erken to cross the river Sandclot is narrowed down to two possibilities. They can either take the path over one of the large bridges that are controlled by Calimtra and prepare themself for the following skirmishes with the local military. Or they can cross Sandclot close to the mountains between Manitara Groove and the city of Sarazen; somewhere there is ford that is shallow enough to be crossed, most times of the year at least.Vultus Erkis
At the most southern edge of the World Spine is engraved high up onto the mountain a detailled over-sized face of Erkis the Undying. At its feet is a natural swale shielded from bad weather, where traveling Aer O-Erken often make rest./*If somebody takes the effort and travels closely to the engraving, one can find in small letter the name of the mage, who created the face: Warron Salis: "Strange folk these Aer O-Erken. But they are damn strong. I've seem them once kill a sandworm just with spears and axes. Fearsome racket!"*/
Religion
The Aer O-Erken worship Kinara, Shiv-Shar and Eydreen and they live their lifes in the ways of Erkis. Which is peculiar, is that apart from the regular celebrations of the official Holy Days the regular Aer O-Erken never prays. They walk through their regular life with a strong stoic interpretation of the world, focusing on what has to be done in the moment.
Foreign Relations
Most of the kingdoms tolerate the Aer O-Erken, when they pass near their borders. There have been some smaller recurring wars, between the Northern Alliance and different Aer O-Erken warcamps. In times of war the small Aer O-Erken clans unite under a single banner and form a warcamp. The biggest warcamp ever created was at the end of the second age, when Erkis himself united a giant warcamp of more than 10.000 people. The warcamp raided Varteck and layed siege to Erzcanyon, which surrendered after less than a month and gave great amounts of riches, in return of the safety of their lifes. Since this day the kingdoms of the Northern Alliance deal with the Aer O-Erken with careful distrust; except for the county of Rovarnon, which opposes them and strongly guards its western border.
The only regular skirmishes happen in the vicinity of the Ryonriku Kingdom with the elven raiding parties and the Aer O-Erken are always on their guard, when they have to go near their borders.
free and true
Type
Geopolitical, Nomadic tribe
Leader
Neighboring Nations
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