Kiidsgay (ki:.i:'ʈ͡ʂɢaj)

''It is our key

It is our essence

It is our ship

It is our great law

-

What joins us

What makes us row

What guides us

What gives us strength

-

It is Kiidsgay

It is our common fate

It is all for us

It is our life's source''

-poem of the Kiidsgay

A peculiar mix between a military order, a secret society, a whalers' guild and a political party, the Kiidsgay has been around for two millennia. During this time they have done much, from founding cities to fighting Iter Laku Soksau.

History

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Origins

Foundation story

''In this wide lake I am trapped

Unable to stream swim or walls climb

In this wide lake I have no one but myself

Unable to with my lover meet

In this wide lake I can't rest

-

Dearest Tsilbau her laments heard and a plan deviced

To bring her beloved joy and warm company

Dearest Tsilbau a way around found

To ignore her brother's intents to keep her

Dearest Tsilbau wiser than all then thought of himself

-

In the shape of a salmon his seed did mold

To let it swim to that lake of hers

In the hopes of reaching her

To let her become full of his life

In the cell where she was meant to be alone

-

Thus fish thus swam up the river for seventeen days

Jumping rocks and avoiding the eagles' claws

The fish though of bears was not careful

Jumping into a she bear's mouth at sunset

The fish then ending his journey and in it failing

-

Pregnant thus the bear became

Full of Tsilbau's seed and joyful life

Pregnant thus with the twin sons of the Great One

Full of power even when unborn

Pregnant for five years she was''

-excerpt from the Kiidsgay's founding myth

Due to the fact they predate writing by several centuries, the society's origins are shrouded in mystery. If their traditions are to be believed, the lodge was founded by the legendary twins Hlen and Ikong.
After being born from and raised by a she bear, the heroes went on to accomplish many deeds. First, they tricked the wizards of the sea to teach them how to make boats (a skill they kept a secret from all), later giving that knowledge to the people.
Secondly, after realizing mortals could not master the magic needed to make boats navigate, they invented rowing. Hlen became the rower of the left side and Ikong the rower of the right side, always working as one.
And then, finally, after teaching people how to hunt whales and wage war from the sea, they decided it was time to establish a society to preserve and improve these skills. Thus they founded the Kiidsgay, the name literally meaning 'rowers', inviting their favourite humans to join.

More likely origin

''Would you be so naive so as to trust the words of a Suwanese?''

Even if there is no undeniable evidence, it is much more likely that the Kiidsgay were founded just like any of the other brotherhoods one can find in coastal Ikaharin. Thus, they probably appeared after whalers and raiders belonging to several clans decided to work together for their common benefit.
By and large, scholars deem that much more plausible than a bear being impregnated by means of a fish.

The lords of the shore

''In the year 4-34 of Adzane's Reign, Uk Iloch sailed the waters where the Balain meets the ocean. There he saw much salmon, so he said Hluq! Much salmon! And soon his fellows set up camp on the shore, calling it Hlang Hluq''.

-Suwan's foundation story in a nutshell

Regardless of the amount of boat theft involved in their establishment, the Rowers soon became a force to be reckoned with.

Founding Date

2000 years ago

Type

Social, Brotherhood