Relkish
The Relkish are an ethnic group of predominantly orcish people who live in the Cradle Mountains in the divide between Sedia and Virias. A nomadic culture well-known for their strict spiritualism, they often regarded fierce and mysterious shepherds who guard the mountaintops.
History
The Relkish are an ancient group understood to have walked the Cradle Mountains since the First Age. Self-sufficient, ever-moving and generally not considered a threat by neighbouring cultures, the Relkish have been left more-or-less alone. This has not always been the case, and persecution, disagreements with neighbouring towns and even involvement in war have all been challenges they've had to face.
The majority of orcs in Sedia are of Relkish origins, though due to the assumption that all Relkish orcs follow Relka, very few choose to identify as such. Most Sedian orcs self-identify as simply Sedian, or increasingly as Relmarr; a Relkish word meaning "off of the Path".
Distribution
It's well understood that in ancient, First Age history, the Relkish were widespread across Sedia and much of Virias. Evidence by means of artifacts, artwork and ancient roads all point to a widespread Relkish population. It is thought there were once more specialised Relkish groups in the First Age, travelling across ancient and sacred paths to important cultural sites and taking advantage of the land by season. The shepherding of sheep seems intrinsically linked to Relkish people, regardless of time or location. The only places in Aresia where the ancient Relikish were not widespread in the First Age are places too hostile for sheep to thrive at any point in the year.
While orcs who identify as Relkish are widespread across Aresia and even other continents, those who practice Relkish culture are more-or-less limited to the Cradle Mountains, a hostile but fertile mountain range that divides the border between Virias and Sedia. It is thought that the Relkish who resided in the mountains were better equipped and protected than those in the plains during The Ruination and that other groups dwindled or retreated and integrated with the mountain Relkish. It's commonly argued that the other populations in Sedia and Virias played a role in pushing the orcs to the mountains, with evidence of skirmishes for resources between groups remaining in physical relics and the ancient tales of the orcs.
Spirituality
Relkish culture is strongly defined by the belief in Relka. Relka, meaning "Own Path", is an ancient guiding way of life, its origins lost to time. Unwritten in physical form, the teachings of Relka are carried from generation to generation through storytelling. Relka can refer to the code and culture of the Relkish, or it can refer to an individual's own sacred path.
Each Relkish orc has their own Relka, a path laid out to them governed by the sacred wills of fate and the magic tied into that fate. Each individual spends a great deal of time consulting the Orratta in their group; a coven of magical practitioners who specialise in reading Relka. Using divination magic, they can read the fates of those around them and help guide them on their individual paths. Orratta are the vital, beating hearts of Relkish groups.
On a religious front, most Relkish orcs worship a wide range of deities when they need or desire assistance, though their names for these gods usually differ from their Common names. They tend to work most closely with the Gods Ervian and Liesiel, due to their strong ties with nature, the seasons and natural cycles. Orratta worship Aetheris, the Goddess of Dreams. It is said in an ancient tale of how the Orratta gained their power, that Aetheris came directly before to the first Orratta and taught them all they knew.
Perhaps the most well-known cultural and spiritual aspect of the Relkish to outsiders is the Relk- a physical trinket carried by all Relkish Orcs. The Relk is a physical representation of an individual's Path or Relka. A small pouch, usually leather or wool, contains meaningful trinkets and items that tell the story of the individual who carries it. It almost always holds a lock of hair from the individual's parents, grass or soil from the hill on which they were born, and their shed deciduous tusks. Other common additions include matrilineal sleepstones, flowers given by romantic suitors, bones from their first processed sheep or hunt, wool from their first time shearing or umbilical cords of children.
Orratta exhibiting the typical protective veil and gold paint
Culture
The Relkish code is a set of rules carried by oral tradition. These rules do sometimes vary slightly from group to group, but the rigid cultural structure of the Relkish has kept them alive for many thousands of years, and they consider the code essential to continue their legacy.
Family
Relkish family systems are very important to Relkish communities. Though the Relkish do not document much in written form in the way that many other cultures do, they record family lineages meticulously and in an intriguing way. Family lineages and trees are recorded through knotted braids; different families carrying different names are assigned different colours, and the interweaving of the long braided ropes illustrates their connections. These braids allow the groups to keep track of their family ties multiple generations, preventing intermarriage between related parties and showing the groups when new blood needs to be introduced to their lineages.
Marriage and children
While love and romance are important factors when two Relkish are choosing to marry, arranged or planned marriages in some form are also quite common. Orratta will often begin weaving the fates of two young folk together while they are still very young, indicating to the two that they make an ideal pair. The suitor's Relka readings, family "political" ties, and personality compatibility are all considered when these planned marriages are encouraged. These marriages are never forced, merely highly encouraged; though parental and spiritual pressure often leads to the suitors choosing to follow through.
Same-sex marriages are not unheard of, though in many groups they can be controversial due to their inability to produce children. Couples from same-sex marriages are pressured to still produce children, in many circumstances directed to discuss with the community's Kolta to see if an alternative surrogate birth can be arranged. This pressure to produce children is not reserved for same-sex couples, and couples who cannot produce children for any reason are often pressured to seek out an alternative. Children are incredibly important in Relkish culture, and for every couple it is well established that at least two children should be born to meet social expectations.
Work
An individual's work is usually predetermined by a special part of their Relka, a part that is determined at a very young age. The Relka Tie, meaning "Path of the Hands", is a term used to categorise individuals into working groups for their community. Children are guided towards learning the skills they need for their path at a very young age. Relkish do not work for monetary gain or for the prospect of trading, each playing a vital role in their community to ensure the group is well looked after.
All Relka Tie professions are highly regarded within their group, and it is widely understood that speaking poorly of another's Relka in any way will bring disastrous bad luck upon their own community. All roles are gender-neutral and chosen based on their spiritual readings and their personal appropriateness for the work at hand.
During their life, some Relkish have two or more Relka Tie paths. Many consult their Orratta later in life and find they are better suited and guided toward a new path, and career changes are not uncommon.
Example Relka Tie professions:
- Orratta: Meaning "Sacred Witch", Orratta are wise-folk who read the fates and determine the Relka for the others in the community. They also read the fate of the group, the lands and the herds, and help guide decisions for the community as a whole. They are magically skilled, and also act as healers and mages for all affairs regarding magic. Orratta practice traditional witchcraft, an ancient form of wizardry with occult workings and ties.
- Tieatta: Meaning "Hand Witch", these mages are often considered less innately skilled or less gifted than Orratta, but still magically inclined. Tieatta act as assistants to the Orratta, lending their time and energy to help with their workings.
- Orrsaa: Meaning "Sacred-tounged"A storyteller, often blessed with some level of bardic magic. Orrsaa are often also visual artists, and are usually in charge of creating the knotted braids that tell the storylines and family ties of a group. They are responsible for composing songs to tell the tales of their families and continuing the stories of those who came before them.
- Torkha: Torkha are shepherds that guide the group's herds of sheep and sometimes cattle or fowl. They deeply understand the care requirements for their animals and are highly knowledgable how to feed, shear and treat their injuries or sicknesses.
- Keelah: The housekeepers and artists of the group, Keelah are skilled in cleaning, cooking and sewing and art. Keelah also often take care of potted plants and flowers within the group's care.
- Ta'Rettan: Ta'Rettan, meaning "wise wanderers" are hunters who roam away from their community to bring in supplemental herbs and food for their communities. Ta'Rettan must be very proficient in navigation, herbalism, hunting and butchering processes. This role is often considered one of the most dangerous Relkish professions.
- Orrkar: Meaning "Sacred Warrior", is thought to be the origin of the common word "Orc". Orrkar are fighters, protectors and guards who are trained for combat to protect their community, but usually also double as craftsmen and "fill-in" manual labourers when time permits.
- Kolta: Coming from the orcish word "Kolt" meaning "birth", Kolta are childrearers and caregivers for children. Many also elect to become wetnurses or even surrogate parents for couples who cannot produce their own children.
Food
Food is important to Relkish groups, and their limited dietary options have birthed a great deal of creative ways of preparing and preserving food. When following Relka, it's important that one should eat well and eat plenty. Food insecurity is considered almost shameful, and the success of a Relkish community is illustrated through their abundance of food. Because of this cultural factor, it is often undesirable for Relkish orcs to be slender or wiry in build; large bodies are considered more beautiful in almost every way. It is highly desirable to be tall, as well as either bulky and muscular or plump to an extent that may be considered overweight to other cultures. Being well-fed and strong is important to nomadic people and their lifestyle, and this also plays a factor to this beauty standard.
Guests are always well-fed when they visit a Relkish community, a tip that many hiking travellers have learned to lean into when travelling light. Despite this cultural need to feed others, they can be very distrustful and ignorant of outsiders.
Song and Stories
Storytelling is considered sacred to the Relkish, and many children learn to harmonise and sing before they can speak properly. Stories can be told in many mediums, though oral tradition and song are the most common. Painting is also a common way of recording history. Written form story is considered bad luck, as it is thought to "tie" someone's path and story to a point in time, blocking and interrupting the flow of the Relka.
Holiday Observances and Special Occasions
Relkish people usually celebrate moon and planetary-related occasions. The Solstices are particularly important, is it is said that on the solstices the Orratta can read Relk more effectively. Full moons are also important for Relk reading.
Etiquette
Relkish orcs are known for their soft speech, politeness and gentle nature in social circumstances. They can be a little cold or apathetic towards outsiders, but politeness is incredibly important socially no matter who the conversation is with.
Despite their soft speech, Relkish greetings and socialisation involve a lot more physical touch than many cultures consider normal. Embracing, holding hands, pressing the foreheads together in greeting, leaning on one another during a conversation, and kissing the cheeks of another are all normal interactions between Relkish acquaintances. This social contact does not typically extend to outsiders until they are considered friends, but the threshold into physical touch is very subjective between individuals and groups.
Sharing meals is a vital way to bond with others, and the storytelling that takes place around food holds great significance. Leaving the table early for any reason other than an emergency is considered particularly rude.
Fashion and Body Modification
Relkish clothing is primarily made from wool, sheepskin, and leather. Their garments have changed little since the First Age, as they are highly suited to their lifestyle and climate. Typically, their clothing consists of woven tunics, complemented by sashes and belts. Many items are lined with sheepskin for added warmth and comfort. While comfort and functionality are prioritised over appearance, the colour variation seen in Relkish clothing is suprising. They have developed a variety of natural dyeing techniques, allowing them to produce spun wool in a wide range of colours and shades. Although these colours are often not particularly bright as they cannot farm the materials they produce the dyes with, they are beautifully employed in their clothing.
Jewellery
Jewellery is also important to the Relkish. Much of their jewellery consists of braided and knotted leather necklaces and bracelets, often adorned with bone, antler or precious stones. Metal is not commonly used for jewellery unless taken from an outside culture, as it is much more valuable for weapons and more functional processes.
Knot Charms
Knot Charms are commonly made by Relkish craftspeople, and are said to bring luck, fortune or other good omens depending on the number and style of knot, as well as the intent of the creator.
Paint
Face and body paint are often utilised in fashion and as a form of spiritual protection. Black is often used for protection, white used to assist with spiritual guidance and exploration. Gold is reserved for Orratta and Tieatta, and is thought to bring spiritual protection while also acting as a kind of offering to guiding spirits.
Blue is often worn on weddings and for childbirth, and red is worn to war or to battle.
Veils
Black is considered very protective, and Orratta wear black veils at all times other than during readings as a form of spiritual protection. During solstices and certain ceremonies other community members will often choose to wear a veil for the same reason. These veils are made of silk produced by moths and are very time-intensive to make, and are therefore often passed down from generation to generation. They are almost always black in colour, and are pinned into the hair and held in place with weighted beads.
Tusk modification
Tusks are often adorned with jewellery; as with other jewellery, tusk decorations are rarely made of metal. Bone, antler/horn and precious stones are most common, as well as woolen wrappings. Another common decorative modification involves engraving the tusks with filigree type decorative patterns or sometimes runes with magical or protective properties.
Naming Conventions
Often given a name that is a symbol of their Relka, Relkish orcs usually have short names, usually between 2-3 syllables in length. "K/Kh", "Sha", "Orr/Or", "Tel", "Ir" and "Ta" are common elements in names. Many names are at least somewhat gender-neutral, with very few strictly feminine or masculine names.
Children have their Relka read by an Orratta shortly after birth, and oftentimes this reading will influence their name. Children destined to work with magic may have names that mean "spell", "magic" or "arcane" or children that are well suited to working with their hands may be given names meaning "crafty", "strong" or "bold".
The names are often crisp and sharp but tend to carry some melodic flow. Some examples of names include:
| Khargir | Orthorion | Ketta | Kharis | Telva |
| Telsha | Tellon | Miskha | Shaor | Morna |
| Lor | Helkha | Monir | Irsha | Forir |
| Tellor | Kho | Rellta | Ortel | Tafah |
| Khol | Orrta | Orrsha | Khata | Kol |
Shepherding
The Relkish are well-known for their sheep. The special breed is known simply as "Relksheep" in Common and is a massive, hardy sheep with dense, highly waterproof wool. The wool is coarser than most other producers would prefer, but its highly waterproof quality and strength is worth the rough texture. The sheep come in a variety of colours, from warm brown through to white, black and spotted.
Relksheep meat and dairy products are also an important source of food, with up to 80% of the meat in a Relkish group's diet consisting of sheep. Relksheep are good milk producers compared to other sheep breeds, and while they don't compare to a cow in terms of milk production, dairy makes up a good portion of Relkish diet.
An Orcish Sleepstone, commonly made by Relkish orcs.
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