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Chapter 3: RACES & REALMS ing no part in further thinning their blood that might taint their own (see Chapter 6) • Attites believe their Trakeen Tongia priests have reestablished contact with the Dragon King MaiRong, and will reassemble soon beneath his banner • They also believe that Attites are the original humans, splintered after offending the creator, SangTao, long before the moons and stars appeared around their world The world’s mountains, they feel, are the bones of Sang-Tao, who died of grief for having lost the love of the people Chindi The major distinction between the Chindi and other human tribes is their matriarchy: women hold power among the Chindi Many human men who meet any Chind express relief that their isolated location beyond Prajalu territories keeps many from discovering this heretical form of governance, for they not wish it to spread A diminutive tribe of slight build and pale coloration, Chindi have fair to white skin with white and grey eyes Men wear their black, white or grey hair cut close to the scalp, women much longer Some Chindi women have long pointed ears, seen as a portent of good fortune Skin painting and tattoos are common among adults Chindi fashion their traditional clothing from netlike fabrics with other cloth, bright gems, metal ornaments, beads, and even tiny ceramic tiles Men wear long sleeves and trousers with short boots Both men and women wear capes that also serve as bags with many pockets To the surprise of other tribes, relatively few Chindi train with weaponry Those who so learn the javelin (cuthra) to serve as part of local militias Many carry the traditional yuvek, which is a long, curved dagger that is often an heirloom passed to favorite children Many Chindi are master swafa riders, and a large part of their village life revolves around capturing, training, riding, and even racing the swift lizard mounts The Chindi also use elephants as draft animals, the only group apart from the Pachyaur to so However much they wish to, they not have the skills or sheer strength needed to capture and domesticate the much-larger colossadants Chindi villages seem impermanent to outsiders Most buildings are light wooden structures with paper and leaf walls, their only strength derived from large rocks or stone walls against which they are often built These structures are interspersed with colorful tents, incorporating all available trees and brush to make open areas shaded from the equatorial sun History The original Chindi tribes emerged from the deep southlands beside their human kin, driven in long migrations north and far to the east Today, in expanses rarely visited by others, they are concentrated far beyond the Prajalu lands on the edge of virgin wilderness Most know the Chindi by the rare wanderers and traders, primarily women, who find their way back west into the turbulent lands The Chindi feel the closest lingering association with their patron Daragkark Mangkir Only the priests can interpret whether or not that love is still reciprocated, but the tribal faithful believe it to be true Eventually, they believe Mangkir shall emerge to return Khitus to order, presumably with his favored children elevated to a central role Chindi cultural history has more bad dealings with magic than most tribes Part of what drove them into such isolated territories was sorcery’s wrath plaguing them until their arrival in those lands As a result, all Chindi are highly wary of secular magic Secret names, never revealed outside one’s family, help people guard against magic; exposure of a secret name is betrayal of the worst sort and carries strict punishment both within the family and the local culture as well Ranks & Types Chindi society and governance derives its strength from extended families The more powerful families draw power through mercantile or military strength, which translates into political power • Phrama designates a family of great wealth • Rachini is a family of long history and genuine character • Athan families are relative newcomers to politics • Phyrha, the Merchant Wives, are the richest of the rich, matrons of vibrant trading organizations that manage vast wealth and people Some deal exclusively in ganshyer, the black steel alloy immune to the pervasive Iron Virus • Luksaw, daughters of all noble families, train as warriors and hold high ranks in their local militias and armies Strong and skilled, they often prove a match for fighters of any gender anywhere • Thawpi is a military commander or decision maker while Ca-Na and Gru-Na are functionaries in battle planning and logistical planning, respectively • Lexa: Most Chindi follow the teachings of Lexa, a philosophy that preaches togetherness The Lexai 37