Yigi

Children of the Ice

Amid the mountainous volcanic islands of the southern Shivering Sea, the rugged Yigi cling to life amid sparse shrubbery.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Aiyy Kuo, Aykhaana, Balaağiya, Bayaana, Chelgiyeene, Chemeliine, Dayaana, Doyduuna, Kharystaana, Kündüüne, Maariya, Michiye, Namiina, Nariyanaa, Ogdoochchuya, Oruune, Saaskiya, Saryada, Tebiya, Tuyguuna, Umsuura, Uygulaana

Masculine names

Aiy Siene, Atyrdakh, Barakhsan, Bukdur, Chağyl, Chokon, Darkhaan, Düpsün, Echiney, Erkhaan, Kencheeri, Keskil, Legentey, Nyurgen, Oğoro, Okokh, Saaryn, Sürgen, Talban, Tymyr, Uraan, Uygun

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Since prehistoric times, the ancestors of the Yigi people engaged in nomadic hunter gatherer lifestyles. In the bitter cold of the far south, the Yigi continue this ancient tradition of subsistence hunting, mostly surviving on fish, crabs, and shellfish, as well as harvesting sea mammals such as seal, walrus, and whales.

Shared customary codes and values

Yigi families band together to form clans of around thirty to forty individuals. These families theoretically follow the command of a nominal clan chief. However, in practice, these chieftains have little-to-no overarching authority, and the clans make their decisions based on a group consensus.

Common Dress code

Hailing from one of the harshest climates in all of Cùl-tìre, Yigi clothing serves first and foremost to ensure the warmth of the wearer. Both men and women wear thick parkas that extend below the knees. These parkas are sewn from the skins of large birds, and make use of the downy feathers of these creatures as added insulation. The parkas are waterproofed with the entrails walrus or whales, and featured a cinch-able hood and wrist openings, so as to keep out as much of the wind, waves and rain as possible. Beneath the parkas, seal skin tunics and breeches complete the outfit.

Art & Architecture

The Yigi construct their houses underground, to provide shelter from the harsh winds of the southern seas. These houses are constructed by first digging a rectangular pit in the permafrost. The pit is then covered by a roof of driftwood, grass thatching. The roof is then covered with earth to add insulation against the cold. Woven mats cover the floors inside to keep them clean. As many as four Yigi families can sleep in the rear of a single one of these subterranean structures, in screened-off bedrooms opposite the entrance. Rather than fireplaces or bonfires in the middle of the structures, oil lanterns are hung throughout the house, providing dim light and filling the dwelling with a warm, smokey haze.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Like many other Southrons, the tattoos and piercings of the Yigi people demonstrate their accomplishments and their dedication to following the ways of the old gods. Yigi tattoos are especially common among women who have reached sexual maturity, while piercings, such as nose pins, are common for all Yigi, and usually worn from early childhood.