Gokh Tribes

While by different lights, all of us are ultimately guided by the stars.

— A past Ghod Dath

The Gokh who occupy the towering peaks of Nipinoul are split into many clans, who band together to form three tribes. While each is self governing, Grondhal, which is home to Grondh— the meteor at the center of the Kogoth faith which most Gokh follow— creates its own laws which all three tribes must obey to retain access to the site.

From the Stars

Once, hundreds of years ago, the Gokh were enslaved by a mad tyrant. Miraculously, they were saved by what they could only describe as a gift from the stars— Grondh, the rectangular meteor, crushed the tyrant— freeing the Gokh from their bondage.
After this, the Gokh began to worship the meteor, and the stars that had delivered it to them, giving birth to the Kogoth faith. Unfortunately, they were split over what they believed had sent the meteor to them— and thus, what would be the focus of their worship. The bright star Xolik— called "Noghod" by the Gokh, Grondh itself, or the slithering Kilyounchlez nebula— known to them as "Tothog Nod"— were all attributed.
While these were not the only celestial bodies believed to be their saviour— they were the most prevalent. Fighting eventually broke out, but it was short-lived— after a child had fled the battle and hid in the great meteor's shadow. Once there, the child would be the first to receive wisdom from Grondh.

They must separate. None are incorrect, all these beings must be worshiped— but each requires their own followers.

— Grondh's wisdom, as told by the child

Capital

Grondhal

Government System

Tribalism

Location

Nipinoul: The Great Spine

Official Languages

• Dhogh

Related Ethnicities

• Gokh

The Fourth Tribe

While not officially recognized, there is a fourth Gokh tribe— Kohso Gud, or translated literally, Tribe of the Dark.
They believe that it is not the stars that delivered the Gokh from their tyrant— but the darkness between.
Mad chanting and strange lights emanate from their isolated village within the eye of Nipinoul— a great hole punctured through the three northmost mountains.
Feared and avoided by the other tribes, they are all too happy to leave Kohso Gud be— so long as they stay within the cursed eye.

This they shared with the fighting Gokh nearby, who, doubting them, went to pray in the shadow of the meteor themselves— receiving the same words. And thus, the Gokh split into three tribes; Kohso Noghod, Kohso Grondh, and Kohso Tothog Nod. Together they would share the holy ground of Grondhal, and, after a child was gifted wisdom of the future by Grondh— that of an outside invasion (which came to pass after the outside world had finally discovered them) they would begin to hold ceremonial battles between the tribes as practice for this day.
Today, the tribes continue to hold these battles in order to hone their skills should outside forces attack once more. Few leave the mountain peaks, beyond venturing to the trading outpost of Kohd which serves as the primary link between the Gokh and the world below their mountains.

For more info on Gokh history, read...

Governing Structure

Each tribe is ruled by a couple, who rule jointly as the Tohdahd. The Tohdahd is determined through a ceremonial competition, where the leader of each clan will choose a married couple from their clan to compete. The competition itself is held in Grondhal, where a sizable tower must be ascended by the couple— either by building a ladder, climbing on each other's shoulders, leaping, or whatever other method they can find to ascend.
Once at the top, they will find a group of priests, each cloaked by a large pelt. Only one of these priests carries the ceremonial Grondhan armbands worn by the Tohdahd— claiming these claims victory for the couple. To do so, they must first figure out which priest holds them, and then must convince them to hand them over without physical actions.

The Tohdahd settle disputes between the clans of their tribe, create tribe wide laws when necessary to solve these, and command their warriors. Otherwise, clans govern themselves. When within the borders of Grondhal, however, the Tohdahd has no power— instead, the leadership of the church governs all within the holy site. When dealing with outside forces, be it via trade, diplomacy, or war, it is the church that determines the best course of action— not the tribes, nor the clans— as they represent the shared interests of the Gokh.
It was they who founded Kohd, and who repelled the earlier invasions. However, some clans have made deals with foreign parties in order to gain more power— those who are caught doing so are swiftly punished.

Architecture

Each settlement has a thin, tall, stone wall surrounding it, made of various flat slabs, in order to protect its inhabitants from monsters. Along the tops of these are usually carved various constellations and religious symbols, believed to repel monsters and strengthen the walls against them. Most settlements are built around a central clearing, and are arranged in accordance with the stars above, either mimicking constellations, or simply lining up with key objects in the sky.
Places of worship are always the tallest in any settlement, many simply consisting of several open air platforms bordered by several stone obelisks punctured by various holes that align with various stars in the night sky.

For more on Gokh architecture, read...

Foreign Aid

Clan Rerdagh has made a deal with the Rocholdomn who control the territory around Kohd.
In return for lower taxes for clan members travelling on their roads, they are supplied with warriors and cheaper prices at their stalls.
When caught smuggling holy artifacts to their allies, they managed to pin the blame on their rivals, the Togh clan, with aid from a skilled Rocholdomn diplomat. Needless to say, the two clans' relations are more heated than ever.
Several of their warriors and travellers have remained below— fearing that they may return when the feud runs red.

Assets, Industry, & Trade

The Gokh tribes occupy the majority of the higher peaks along Nipinoul. Kohso Noghod occupies most of the northern peaks save for the feared northernmost three— which share a titanic punctured hole, Kohso Grondh occupies the peaks south of Kohso Noghod territory and north of Grondhal, and Kohso Tothog Nod occupies those in the south. Grondhal itself occupies only the peak Grondh landed upon, and retains authority over the outpost of Kohd.

Terraced agriculture

Along the lower edges of several peaks like great terraces, carved by hand into the sides of the imposing mountains. These are used by the Gokh as farmland, in the absence of readily available open space atop the mountain peaks. Here, they grow crops such as tarwi, quinoa, and gohnrag.

From above

Several materials commonly procured by the tribes are valuable elsewhere, as they are entirely unique to the mountain peaks. Most notably, the metal of the great meteor itself— grondhan— which is extraordinarily durable yet defiantly lightweight. Other valuable goods include various pelts, monster parts, and even gohnrag.

Military

The Gokh tribes do not have a military in the typical sense, rather, their fighting forces are drawn up from all those who are able to fight when necessary. Typically, clans will train and outfit their own warriors, who are then able to be led by themselves, their tribe, or in the case of invasion— Grondhal. Warriors typically don thick hide coats for protection, alongside amulets, bracelets, and belts believed to give them more strength, speed, or defense.
Many will paint constellations upon their faces, chests, and backs as well— in order to earn the favor of those celestial bodies in battle. Warriors trained directly in Grondhal will don armor made from Grondhan itself, however, all warriors have access to the metal for their weaponry.
Typical arms include gahran— stone maces with five-pointed grondhal heads, clubs, daggers, rodahd— spear-like weapons that instead have barbed hooks at their ends, and bolas made from animal hair and grondhal balls— which enable them to sail almost as far as arrows. Alchemists are also valued as warriors, charging into battle with offensive grenades— some adding them to bola.

Religion

Kogoth is recognized as the primary religion throughout the Gokh tribes, as Grondhal itself is the center of the faith and holds power over all three tribes— it effectively controls them all. The faith revolves around stars as deific beings, who have been graceful enough to grant the Gokh insight into the workings of the universe.
While all three tribes see a different celestial body as their primary deity, their other beliefs and practices are fairly similar. Seeking guidance from the stars is common, amulets, carvings, paintings, and obelisks are seen as powerful methods through which to channel the stars' favor.

Education

Each clan typically has a particular few elders designated as teachers by their leader, who will teach their youngest until they come of age.
The teachings of Kogoth come first, followed by survival— with subjects such as agriculture, hunting, and building.

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