Þrihaks
The Þrihaks1 are nomadic and semi-nomadic cousins of the Mörkels, wandering the arid steppe between the Plain of Kings and the Southern Desert.
This changed drastically in the late 3rd century a.Dr, when Þrihaks came into contact with Minotaurs, who were interested in selling goods such as glass beads, fine cloth and food in exchange for furs, colourful feathers- and feather cloaks. Some tribes began selling these goods to Mörkels and new trade routes were established, and some tribes began adopting more sedentary lifestyle and were allowed to settle on the kingdoms' borders. These tribes eventually became vital for securing trade routes from more aggressive tribes, and Þrihak mercenaries became vital in the wars between Mörkel kingdoms.
Today, there's a clear divide and rivalry between northern Þrihaks who have adopted Mörkel culture and more traditional southern tribes.
Different tribes have different ways of determining who's chief, some are elected by the whole tribe, in others the position is hereditary. Warlike tribes are generally more likely to have women as chiefs, as they tend to be better at inspiring their warriors.
While they don't have kingdoms like the Mörkels do, Þrihakía is divided into five territories based on differences in overall culture of the tribes. These territories are Tahranaska, Abarfó, Nystekal, Yrgan and Doletgar.
Clothes are mostly woven from hyrning wool, acquired from Mörkel by trading or raiding, while finer cloth comes from Minotaur merchants from the Southern Desert.
Common jewelry includes woven or leather bracelets adorned with feathers, necklaces made of wolf teeth or imported glass beads, and nose jewelry made of bone or imported chitin, the latter are used to keep away evil spirits.
Tattoos on arms are common, while only chiefs can wear tattoos on their cheeks. Both are applied by shamans, and the meaning of each tattoo is only known to them.
Fermented hyrning milk is a common drink throughout Þrihakía, often with a bit of salt added to it. Western tribes also make a kind of soup of it by heating the milk and adding some spices.
Food is eaten out of simple clay bowls, or, in the case of chiefs, colourful glass bowls from the south.
I. Órhel. II. Dough made of öndal meal and milk. III. Coconut milk pancakes. IV. Milk soup. V. Salted milk. VI. Milk mixed with blood. VII. Coconut milk.
Appearance
Red hair is more common among the Þrihaks than Mörkels, their eyes tend toward grey and blue, and are generally taller than their northern cousins.History
Þrihaks split from Mörkels soon after the Plain of Kings and Þrihakía were settled, partly due to fear of the monster that the settlers were fleeing from in the first place; by adopting nomadic lifestyle, Þrihaks would be less likely to be attacked than Mörkel villages. Relations between these two groups have always been mixed, early on Þrihaks often raided Mörkel farms and villages for food and other resource they couldn't produce themselves.This changed drastically in the late 3rd century a.Dr, when Þrihaks came into contact with Minotaurs, who were interested in selling goods such as glass beads, fine cloth and food in exchange for furs, colourful feathers- and feather cloaks. Some tribes began selling these goods to Mörkels and new trade routes were established, and some tribes began adopting more sedentary lifestyle and were allowed to settle on the kingdoms' borders. These tribes eventually became vital for securing trade routes from more aggressive tribes, and Þrihak mercenaries became vital in the wars between Mörkel kingdoms.
Today, there's a clear divide and rivalry between northern Þrihaks who have adopted Mörkel culture and more traditional southern tribes.
Society
Þrihaks resemble early Mörkel societies in a lot of ways, with a number of small tribes lead by chiefs, often fighting amongst themselves and occasionally invading Mörkel kingdoms. Unlike the former, many tribes practice a kind of diarchy, with a joint rule of chiefs (men or women) who manage everyday concerns and shamans who commune with the gods to make sure the support the chiefs' actions in war and peace.Different tribes have different ways of determining who's chief, some are elected by the whole tribe, in others the position is hereditary. Warlike tribes are generally more likely to have women as chiefs, as they tend to be better at inspiring their warriors.
While they don't have kingdoms like the Mörkels do, Þrihakía is divided into five territories based on differences in overall culture of the tribes. These territories are Tahranaska, Abarfó, Nystekal, Yrgan and Doletgar.
Culture
Clothing
Though Þrihak clothing resembles that of the Mörkels (wrapped loincloth and cloak for men, long, sleeveless dress for women), the patterns and colours are quite different to that of the latter. A variety of cloth hats are worn as protection from the sun, often very colourful, while feather cloaks are popular among tribal chiefs, and only shamans can wear yellow cloaks.Clothes are mostly woven from hyrning wool, acquired from Mörkel by trading or raiding, while finer cloth comes from Minotaur merchants from the Southern Desert.
Common jewelry includes woven or leather bracelets adorned with feathers, necklaces made of wolf teeth or imported glass beads, and nose jewelry made of bone or imported chitin, the latter are used to keep away evil spirits.
Tattoos on arms are common, while only chiefs can wear tattoos on their cheeks. Both are applied by shamans, and the meaning of each tattoo is only known to them.
Cuisine
Meat from Rekan Birds or wild animals, rekan-eggs and fermented hyrning milk form the stable of Þrihak diet. Eggs are eaten raw, scrambled or made into simple omelets, often spiced with sweet-root which is found throughout the steppe. Órhel is a common dish eaten during festivals, which is scrambled eggs mixed with the meat and blood of a rekan. Cereals (mostly öndal grain) and darg-roots are also eaten by more sedentary Þrihaks, while southern tribes are known to eat dates and coconuts traded from Minotaurs.Fermented hyrning milk is a common drink throughout Þrihakía, often with a bit of salt added to it. Western tribes also make a kind of soup of it by heating the milk and adding some spices.
Food is eaten out of simple clay bowls, or, in the case of chiefs, colourful glass bowls from the south.
by Lappalingur
Poetry
Poetry is an important part of Þrihakic culture, both in form of epic poems used to tell each tribes' story and traditions, and more personal poems often made on the spot to express ones opinion on a person or their actions. In the southern Mörkel kingdoms, particularly Kóvúrt, it's not uncommon for esteemed Þrihak poets to be invited to entertain the royal family.Religion
Þrihak religious traditions vary from one tribe to another, some worship deities similar to Mörkel ones, others have adopted Minotaur deities into their pantheon. Direct worship and divination is done by shamans, who carry the tribes' statuettes wrapped in special cloth when on the move. When the tribe pitches camp, the shaman arranges the statuettes at these places and presents offerings to them. Eggs, meat and feather bundles are wrapped in cloth and buried at certain landmarks such as springs, tall hills or large rocks as the tribe passes by to ensure the spirits of those places won't cause diseases or accidents.Notable deities
Aþíler
Aþíler, god of springs and music.Gáhire
Gáhire, goddess of poetry, often depicted as a serpent.Natarrú
Natarrú, goddess who gives birth to the sun every morning, often depicted with horns on her head. Originates from Minotaur mythology.Neke
Neke, rain goddess, Þerar's wife in most traditions. Þrihak version of the Mörkel rain goddess Nexþei.Öner
Öner (Úner, Onar), god of war, depicted with red feathers for hair.Örrahú
Örrahú, another horned goddess originally from Minotaur mythology, gives birth to the moon every evening.Þerar
Þerar, protector of tribal chiefs, Neke's husband in most traditions. Þrihak version of the Mörkel sun god Aþar.Warfare
Þrihaks are known for their speed and ferocity in war, and are often described in Mörkel epic poetry as bloodthirsty savages who gnaw on their enemies' faces like wolves. Stone-tipped spears, javelins and axes are favored, while armour of any kind is mostly used by chiefs, mostly restricted to leather scale armour and leather helmets. Shields tend to be crescent-shaped and painted with colourful geometric patterns.1Original icelandic: Þrihakar, singular: Þrihaki
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