Mosori
The tribes of Mosoria
Overview
Various independent tribes in the western Karoa region share the loose identity of "Mosori". While each tribe has its own, unique identity, and the Mosori people at large also have a kindred relationship with the Sabani people to the east, the Mosori are unified by language, religion, mythology, trades, and shared cultural values. The land these tribes occupy is called Mosoria. The Mosori people are most famous for their borosai: elite warriors who fight with trained wolves. They are the only people to successfully domesticate the Karoi wolf, or to breed and train canines for battle rather than for hunting.Physical appearance
While physical appearance does vary among tribes, the Mosori tend to be somewhat short, with light-brown skin, brown eyes, and dark hair. Mosori hair may be flat, wavy, or curly, though each tribe tends to have a norm. (For example, the Olo tribe tends toward curly hair.) In some cases, Mosori may have green eyes or reddish-brown hair.List of included tribes
The twenty tribes of Mosoria are as follows:- Abo
- Ali
- Ari
- Daho
- Hali
- Hari
- Ina
- Lahi
- Ka'i
- Kano
- Olo
- Osi
- Oti
- Sahi
- Sani
- Samo
- Ta'i
- Tavi
- Toa
- Uri
Tribal relations
The following chart represents the relationships between the Mosori tribes, at the time of the late Dorish Empire (1022 IA).Attitudes toward the Sabani
The Mosori see their neighbors, the Sabani, as rather strange when it comes how they express and understand gender. (See the "Gender Ideals" section on the Sabani page.) They also have disagreements on certain aspects of spirituality. Mosori believe that spirituality is tied to air, wind, sky, and weather; Sabani believe that spirituality is tied to the earth. Because the Sabani elevate different things as sacred, and do not adhere as much to order and tradition, and organize their society more loosely, the Mosori see them as a bit unhinged, perhaps disconcertingly on the verge of social instability. Mosori also look upon the Sabani's love for grandeur with disdain. While Sabani enjoy crafting magnificent statues, multi-story buildings, and populous cities, Mosori see it all as a waste of resources, and just indescribably "wrong". The Mosori value simplicity and humility, and they shake their heads at Sabani wastefulness. However, there is still a net-positive relationship between the two cultures on account of their trading system, so they keep most of their disagreements to themselves. Mosori and Sabani are both more likely to fight within themselves, from tribe to tribe, than they are to come into conflict with each other.Naming Traditions
Family names
The Mosori do not have family names – only tribal names.
A boy named Masano who hails from the Ari tribe would call himself "Masano Mae'ari", which literally just means "Masano of Ari".
The usage of forenames in Mosori culture
Naming traditions
Every person in Mosoria has at least two forenames during their life. First, a "birth name" is given thirty days after an infant's birth. This name usually reflects the timing, place, or circumstances of the child's birth, or may be an expression of the parents' hopes or fears for the child's future. The second name – known as the "true name" – is given when the child is between five and seven years old. This name is meant to be a declaration of the child's character and essence. The official naming happens during a public ceremony, called the hásana. The hásana ceremony is the most important moment of a Mosori's life, as it also the time when they are initiated into one of the five gender classes, and they become an official member of the tribe.Changing a name
Names are powerful and have deep meaning in Mosori culture. They are seen as spiritual in nature; a name, especially when spoken out loud, is connected to a person's inner self. To speak someone's name is to call to that inner self. Because of this, it is very uncommon that a true name should ever be changed, and it is in fact looked down upon. But in some rare occasions, an adult may feel that their true name – and/or their gender class – is completely at odds with their nature and essence. In such situations, an adult Mosori may change their name and/or gender class, if they are fifteen years or older, and have two to three close friends or family who will join them in the name/gender-change ceremony. The ceremony is generally a private affair, and is conducted by a priest. The person's two to three friends or family participate in the ceremony, serving both as witnesses, and as authorities that allow the priest to make the change.Names in everyday life
In everyday life, Mosori people often refer to each other by their forenames, often more so than titles of respect like "chieftain" (daroha, maraha, saraha) or "sir/ma'am" (daroí, maraí, saraí), or even "mother/father/parent" (mara, daro, sara). It is not that these titles are never used, but forenames are preferred in many situations. Mosori never refer to each other by surnames only.Nicknames and honorary names
While it is uncommon, and undesirable, for Mosori to change their true name, it is much more common for Mosori to adopt lesser, honorary names — or nicknames. These names are reflections of the person's reputation, rather than expressions of their inner nature. A name may be acquired by courageous deeds or outstanding virtue, or by living up to the reputation of an already-esteemed relative. For example, Lasía Mae'olo, daughter of the esteemed Kalino Mae'olo, may adopt the nickname Kalinomae if her community believes she is worthy of his name and reputation. Her full name would then become Lasía Kalinomae Mae'olo, and depending on the situation she may be addressed with either forename. Nicknames may also be humorous in nature, such as Saelano Do'umae – literally, Saelano the Stubborn.Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Mosori people all speak slight variations of the Karoi language.
Shared customary codes and values
Important values:
- Humility
- Community
- Respect
- Self-reliance
- Restraint
- Tradition
Ideals
Gender Ideals
The gender system in Mosoria is rather complex. It relies on strict gender roles, expectations, and expressions, but at the same time it is multi-layered, because it has more than two gender categories.
An introduction to gender in Mosoria
The Mosori recognize five salato (which can be loosely translated as "genders") and two obaro (sexes). The fifth gender, isadi, is the rarest of the five. Generally, it is applied to individuals who do not fit easily into any of the other, more common gender categories. Or, in extremely rare cases, it is given to individuals who are born with bodies that are not discernibly male or female. In the vast majority of cases, however, all people will fall into one of the first four gender classes. These four genders (salato) can be sub-categorized in two ways: by sex, and by energy.Categorization by sex
In Mosori society, there are two genders that fall within each of the two recognized sexes. Though the translation into English is not perfect, you could say there are two male genders (salato sadari) and two female genders (salato samari). The two male genders are masamae and nasaru. The two female genders are láhasi and adosae. Generally speaking, formal terms of address are dependent upon a person's sex (whether they are male or female), and not upon their gender.Categorization by energy
The four main genders in Mosoria can also be organized by energy. Two are associated with "earth" or "masculine" energy, and two are associated with "air" or "feminine" energy. The two masculine genders are masamae and adosae. The two feminine genders are láhasi and nasaru. Each gender shares some common expectations and roles with the other gender in its energy category. The feminine genders are both responsible for cooking, creating and repairing clothes, healing, spiritual leadership, cleaning, and producing artistic goods such as jewelry, engravings on wooden and stone furniture, rugs, and tapestries. While not every láhasi and nasaru will participate in every one of these tasks, a masamae or an adosae will never participate in these tasks. The masculine genders are both responsible for building and repairing houses, constructing and maintaining roads, forging tools and weapons, chopping wood, carpentry, growing food, raising and slaughtering animals, hunting, and fishing. While not every masamae and adosae will participate in every one of these tasks, a láhasi or a nasaru will never participate in these tasks.The first gender: láhasi
The láhasi is the more common of the female genders (salato samari), and when translated to a two-gendered language is generally associated with words like "girl" and "woman." In other words, this is the female gender that is connected with a feminine or "air" energy. In addition to the roles, tasks, and expectations that láhaso share with the other feminine gender, nasaru, the individuals in this gender class have two available roles in society that no other gender class may hold:- Administering justice: A clan's decisions in determining guilt and administrating justice are handled by the láhasi elders. Punishments may be carried out by others, but the punishments are decided by the láhaso.
- Religious guidance: Only individuals in the láhasi class may become religious leaders, or priestesses. This is, in part, because spirituality is deeply associated with femininity in Mosori culture. While anyone may participate in religious practices or join monasteries, only a láhasi may guide those practices or be leader of a monastery.
The second gender: masamae
The masamae is the more common of the male genders (salato sadari), and when translated to a two-gendered language is generally associated with words like "boy" and "man." In other words, this is the male gender that is connected with a masculine or "earth" energy. In addition to the roles, tasks, and expectations that masamaeo share with the other masculine gender, adosae, the individuals in this gender class may take on very specific roles when they are children (fifteen years old or younger). These are as follows:- Serving boys: A group of young masamaeo that are responsible for attending to the needs of the chieftain and the elders. To specifically serve the chieftain, or even the high elder of a clan, is a highly honored role, designated only to those boys who show the greatest character and trustworthiness.
- Waste management: It is the very young boys of the village who are assigned the task of taking waste buckets and garbage and emptying them outside the village. Carrying out this task excellently and in good spirits, without complaining, can be a way for young boys to demonstrate their character, and earn the role of serving boy or warrior aide. Misbehaving children of any gender, though, may be assigned this task as punishment, and no boy will be unhappy to give up the role for a day.
- Warrior aides: Another honored role is that of aide to the clan's warriors. An aide will accompany a fighting force during their campaigns, and will take care of cleaning and sharpening weapons, feeding wolves and horses, setting up tents, and the like. Most of the time, these boys will older (twelve to fifteen), and will be training to become a warrior themselves upon reaching adulthood (sixteen). Exceptions do exist, though they are uncommon. Note: Young warriors-in-training of other genders may accompany a fighting force during their campaign, to get the same introduction to combat, but will take other roles such as medic assistant or cooking assistant. If a young adosae assistant is present, any tasks relating to the care of horses and wolves will fall to this individual before they will go to the warrior aides; and some of the warrior-aide-typical tasks will be shared among masamaeo and adasaeo, as needed.
The third gender: nasaru
The nasaru is the less common of the male genders (salato sadari). This is the male gender that is connected with a feminine or "air" energy. While people of the nasaru gender may take on a number of feminine roles, they also have the distinct responsibility of carrying out trade missions that require long and dangerous traveling.The fourth gender: adosae
The adosae is the less common of the female genders (salato samari), associated with masculine or "earth" energy. While people of the adosae gender may take on a number of masculine roles, they have the distinct responsibility of overseeing and managing the care of livestock and other animals.The fifth gender: isadi
On very rare occasions, a person is found to not fit into any of the main four gender classes, and will instead be labeled as isadi. The isadi are seen as gender-neutral, and simultaneously as a representation of all the genders. Clans who have an isadi in their ranks are considered blessed, and the isadi are seen as sacred, often taking on religious roles.Roles that are not restricted by gender
Anyone may become a warrior or a chieftain. That being said, masamaeo most often take these roles, despite the fact that Mosori value feminine traits as very important for effective leadership. Masamaeo who become chieftains are encouraged to become more in touch with their feminine side, and traditionally grow their hair and beards out as an outward sign of their inner balance of energies. Adosaeo are second most common in fighting forces, followed by láhaso and nasaruo.At a glance:
- Social structure: Tribal
- Dominant food flavors: Sweet and salty
- Dominant art forms: Wood engravings, tapestries
- Music style: Woodwinds played either slow and soulful, or fast and staccato with drums
- Common colors: Green, brown, white, orange
- Famous for: Borosai warriors, teams of human + trained wolf
Parent ethnicities
Related Organizations
Languages spoken
Related Locations
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