South Hótics

Rexlas: Silhótei

The south hótics¹ are inhabitants of the empire of Resak, native to southern Laxilþía, around the lower Noron River and the coast of Akral Sea. Like their cousins the North Hótics, they are renowned for their bravery in battle and making exquisite jewelry out of gold and turquoise, but have retained far less of their native culture than the former.

History

The Hótics, common ancestors of the north and south hótics, were originally one of many ethnic groups who were subjects of the Káaxans, the dominant culture in Laxilþía during bronze age. After their empire collapsed, the hótics spread throughout the region along Noron River, from the Katark Mountains to the north to the coast of Akral Sea to the south.
After the Ænateans from Túlmikkía across the sea established colonies along the southern coast of Laxilþía, the coastal hótics gradually adopted some of their customs and religious traditions through trade and working as mercenaries for the ænateans.
When the Rexans began expanding their empire throughout southwestern Laxilþía, it took them two hundred years to conquer the south hótics, who proved just as fierce and far more organized then their northern brethren. South hótic communities are also found in Ænadó, who've managed to preserve their culture better than those in Laxilþía.

Culture

Apparel

Traditional south hótic clothing consists of short, sleeveless tunics, wraparound loincloths or ponchos, all of which are generally lighter than similar clothes worn to the north, though nowadays most wear rexan clothing; loincloth and a kind of shirt for men and long dress for women, often decorated with traditional patterns.
Long, usually braided hair is favoured by men and women alike, and some men still sport long, braided mustache as well.
Unlike north hótics, there's a general preference for tattoos rather than body paint among south hótics, a custom adopted from the ænateans.

South hótic jewelry by Lappalingur

Cuisine

Traditional south hótic diet consists mostly of wheat bread, vegetables, cheese, fish, beef, hares and quail. Before Resak, peanuts and corn beer from the ænatean colonies were also quite popular among the aristocracy, and still are among south hótics living in Ænadó. Like the north hótics, they prefer drinking neat wine instead of diluting it with water like rexans do.

Language

Once widely spoken throughout the province of Atal-Ódolalx, the south hótic dialects have gradually been supplanted by rexan tongue, and are now mostly spoken in more remote parts of the province or in religious context.

Religion

Most south hótics currently worship a pantheon of syncretic native, rexan and ænatean deities, with rituals varying from one part of the province to another. Unlike rexans, burial is the norm in their society, either with the body placed in a (often elaborately carved) sarcophagus or a painted jar similar to those used to store wine and olive oil.
Another funerary rite is cremation followed by burying the ashes in an urn; originally restricted to royalty, this has become popular among soldiers of south hótic descent serving in the rexan army.

Warfare

South hótics fought the rexans using a mixture of native and ænatean equipment, including serrated swords similar to those used by rexans along with ænatean kaagymta swords, daggers and axes, with armour restricted to metal pectorals and helmets.