Mountain People/Tribe

The mountain people live in the range of tall snowy mountains in the west. Compared to the grasslands people, they are racially similar, having once been a single people. The major factor splitting them is religion. The mountain people worship the Great Spirit and only the Great Spirit, whereas the grasslands people have accepted the High Spirits as their gods. They live in villages scattered throughout the mountains, all with access to a large cave system serving as storage and a last defense. Despite the rocky soil many villages have gardens of useful herbs, vegetables, and berry bushes. Besides that, they mainly rely on fishing from rivers/lakes and small hunting bands that rove the valleys for deer and elk. Most villages take turns with different jobs, like for one moon this group hunts while the others tend the village, and the next moon they change roles again. This allows for everyone to keep their skills sharp and rest from a certain labor. The old, very young, wounded, and infirm stay in the village. Those who train solely as a warrior after their debut battle do not stay in their home village but join the other warriors--both new and experienced--in their secret mountain hideout, which is half supported by villages close to it. That's all the grassland peoples know about it.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Once their language was a dialect of the major grasslands peoples', but over the centuries of separation it has evolved into its own. So while bearing similar roots as the grassland peoples' languages, they are dissimilar enough that if a mountain person and grasslands person tried to communicate in their native languages, they would fail to understand another.

Shared customary codes and values

Their society is shaped around a single precept: Endure. Survive whatever the world throws at you, adapt, overcome. They've found that the best way for their people to endure is to work as a single unit. Thus they do everything together. Eat, hunt, train, fight, poop, dance, celebrate, reproduce, bathe, sleep, play, tell stories, mourn, pray, and most of all, be honest. That's an essential code/value to the mountain people, telling the truth. It's so ingrained in them that many problems that arise in a developed society don't exist, like stealing and adultery. As long as you're honest, most things can be forgiven or easily and quickly resolved. Those caught lying are punished severely, even if what they lied about seems insignificant. They're a highly independent people. Each village can fully sustain itself--trade between settlements is not common, and unheard of outside the mountains. Every person is trained in how to support themselves. If you can support yourself, then you're not a burden to others. And if they are separated, they are still strong individually and can carry on the mountain people culture. They have a very strong "for the good of the many" mentality. Very unselfish, self-sacrificing.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

If a person of the Makkah Nation wants to join the mountain tribe, they're run off, maybe beat up a bit if they need some encouragement. If the Makkahian still refuses to leave and poses a serious threat to the secrecy and safety of the mountain tribe, like a spirit binder or brave, they're killed. If a person was formerly of the Makkah Nation but rejected it or was banished from the Nation, the mountain tribe considers allowing them into their mountains. It helps if the person has a legit reason to want to join the mountain tribe, and if someone of the mountain tribe vouches for them. A council is held to decide how trustworthy the person is, and if the person passes, they are allowed a trial period where they're kept under watch but have limited freedoms and opportunities to prove themselves. If they do prove themself, they become a full member of the mountain tribe.

Coming of Age Rites

Children are taught spirit binding with all four elements, then focus on whichever one they choose until they feel comfortable permanently binding themselves to a single spirit of their preferred element. Permanently binding a spirit is the first step to adulthood. Most have bound a spirit by their middle teens. Throughout their teen years they are trained in their chosen element until their teacher deems them fit for combat. Once they fight in their debut battle, they are considered adults. From there they can choose whether or not to continue training as a warrior or to choose a different job.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Deceased are buried in the soft mud banks of rivers, their graves covered in river stones to protect against scavengers. It's said the rivers protect their souls, keep them safe in the water until the Great Spirit returns to release them in thanks for their diligence. Bodies are buried with their personal items so that they can have them with them when the Great Spirit returns. Funerals are carried out with honor and ceremony, a time for all to grieve and remember and promise not to forget. Those slain in battle are treated with particular respect, and often a warrior who was close to them swears vengeance in their name, if they think they can find whoever killed them.

Common Taboos

The number one no-no is betrayal to the grasslands people. Anyone suspected to be trading secrets with the enemy or anything similar is considered a threat to their society and is punished immediately. Depending on the level of threat you pose, you could be executed. The mountain people will do anything to stay alive. Endure.

Parent ethnicities