Mysati
The Mysati people are an isolated tribe of humans that live on the distant island of Ysfor. Their culture is largely defined by their relationship to the rocky island they call home and the tempest tossed nature of the surrounding Auroric Ocean. Despite the tough and inherently violent nature of their surroundings (or perhaps because of it), the Mysati people live with a warmth, affection, and emotionally honest nature not seen in other human civilizations.
Culture
Pulling from the bounty of the vast ocean around them, the Mysati have persevered through eons in relative isolation. They have contact with the Elves of Amrun Told as well as the halfling folk from Delvingshore in as much as it serves them, but for the most part they content themselves to live their lives as their Old Gods have guided them.
Technological Level
The mineral and ore rich hills of Ysfor have given the Mysati particular skill forging tools and weapons, but their remoteness has prevented further innovation that comes with cultural exchange.
Religion
Due to their remoteness the Mysati people worship their own pantheon of elder gods.
These include the Deep Mother, Saademarraa, Kullletto, Kyntalla, and Myrsko.
Agriculture & Industry
Despite its rocky sail the Mysati have found ways to cultivate small crops of certain vegetables on their island, particularly turnips, radishes, and cabbage. Over the centuries the yield from these harvests has grown smaller and smaller.
Mythology & Lore
The Mysati Myth-Cycle
In the beginning was the Deep Mother, dwelling alone beneath the sea. There was no life, no land, only the Mother and the Sea. She welcomed the Sea into her embrace and gave birth to many children who swam freely within the waters – first the fish with scales, then those with shells, then those with neither (the eels, sharks, tuna), then the formless ones (squids and octopi), then the serpents of the water.
Some grew mightily huge and monstrous, and these turned upon their Mother, and the One-Eyed World-Serpent was foremost among them. He sunk his poison into the Deep Mother while she strangled him and together they brought Kullletto into the world, and with him came Time and Death.
Kullletto was obedient to his Mother and took the bones and scales of the World Serpent and from them made the lands of the world. But as Kulletto took to the Sea Above in his ship, he drew the blood from the World-Serpent, and from those drops of blood came the Ymarri, the Serpent-Born, and they rose in power and wickedness as had their forbear.
Here, too, did the great red eye of the World Serpent rise into the sky, chasing after Kulletto, and hangs there still today.
The Deep Mother then gave birth to Saad and to Marra, twin children, one male and one female, but the poison of the World Serpent birthed them but half-whole and embracing one another. Their moods and rages were uncontrollable and the Deep Mother banished them to the Sea Above, where they merged and become one, Saademarraa.
From the tears of Saademara came the men of Mysati, from the drops of Saademarra’s menses came the women, and they flowed together and were created at the same time. So did the Mysati become People of the Storm, born of salt and iron, sea and tears; and though the Ymarri ruled their bodies Saademarra ruled their hearts.
Then, of the Mysati, was born Great Kyntalla, Lady of Flame. It was she who stole the dragon-fire of the Ymmari to light the way of the Mysati, she it was who forged the first blades of iron. With her blessed sword Yrat she clove the skull of the World Serpent from the mainland and with the aid of Kulletto sailed the island far into the waters, to be nearer the Deep Mother and far from cursed Ymmari.
Death comes to all, and Kulletto in his ship places the souls of the dead according to their worth. But when Kyntalla died he found no place for one so bright and blazing, and destiny decreed that she would forge her own great hall in between worlds, where the noble warriors and craftsmen of the Mysati now gather after death, to watch over the people and sail once more with Kullletto should the threat of Ymmari ever return.
Elves and halflings and others have their tales and their gods, and this is well and good; but this is the tale of the Mysati, and on Ysfor no other tale is true.
Type
Geopolitical, Tribe
Demonym
Mysati
Government System
Tribalism
Deities
Location
Notable Members
Comments