Crighua
The Crighua (KREE-hwah) are an orcish people who live north of the Calpii and Ivr̂ai humans, along both sides of the theoretical border of the Calpian empire, between the Atubin and Tinwe rivers.
They do not pay taxes to the Empire, and when imperial tax collectors try to collect them, they are killed. Beyond that, they are utterly indifferent to the Empire. The Throne has decided their presence on northern border is useful, so they have adopted a lassaiez-faire approach.
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Family names
The Crighua do not use true surnames. They will offer their clan name and tribal affiliation, instead. For example, an orc named Kreygh whose clan is the Crescent Moon and belongs to the Bronze Spear tribe would be formally styled as, "Kreygh Crescent Moon of the Bronze Spear."
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Shared customary codes and values
The Crighua venerate the following gods:
- Dominance: Ûnûzhî
- Courage: Krabvuthî
- Guile: Nuzhro
They recognize the rest of the orcish pantheon (Na, Nakyn, Robvî), but there is no particular reverence or worship of them. They are simply gods who are acknowledged to exist.
Art & Architecture
Architecture
The Crighua live in settlements of one hundred fifty to three hundred individuals. The houses are usually reeds and sticks, covered with dried clay, with thatched roofs. Every settlement features a meeting hall, as well. These structures function as town halls and temples, rolled into one. They are usually timber and beam, sided with planks with mud in the cracks. The roofs of these structures are plank, as well.
Art
The leather belts, gorgets, and headbands worn by the Crighua are intricatley tooled and carefully dyed. The designs feature vinework, dragons, wolves, the moon, and flowers.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The Feast of Dominance
Annually, each Crighua settlement will hold a Feast of Dominance. Offerings are made to Ûnûzhî in the morning. At mid-day, there is a great tournament among the adults of the community. Each takes on the others in bouts of wrestling. The strongest advance and the ultimate champion becomes the leader of the community until the next year. In the evening, there is feasting in the meeting hall, but community members sit in carefully ordered places, based on their performance in the tournament.
The Spring Gathering
On the first day of Spring, two or three communities come together at a neutral location for an open-air festival. There are (of course) games of strength and courage. There is feasting. Songs of past deeds and glories are sung. But the primary purpose of these gatherings is the introduction of those transitioning from late adolescence into adulthood to the members of neighboring communities. Marriage between members of the same village is common and permitted, but marrying outside of one's village is encouraged, as well. The explicit stated purpose of this practice is to keep bloodlines strong. The Crighua understand that too insular of a gene pool breeds weaker generations, and this is a way to overcome that.
