Sayaki

Name of Race: Sayaki, plural Sayaki

Height range:
Males 5'4" - 6' norm
Females 5' 2" - 5'10" norm

Weight range:
Males 130 - 190 lb.
Females 100 - 170 lb.

Age ranges: Child 1 - 12, Young Adult 13 - 15, Adult 16 - 50, Old age 51 - 80

Build: Lithe, slender frames with a fair amount of condensed muscle, usually.

Hair colour range: Dark browns and blacks, very rarely darker shades of red.

Eye colour range: Lighter greens and blues tend to be prevalent, but amber, hazel, and dark blues making up the less common colours

Skin colour range: Lighter, fairer shades to deep tans, depending on lifestyle

Population: 10K

Number of villages: 1 Major Village (Kizuni Odawi) Means Stalwart Castle Many small clan-based homesteads/outposts

Average number of offspring per family: 5, though usually only 2 or 3 make it to adulthood

Technology Level:
Quite similar to the other human groups, though different cultural aspects have led them to different discoveries, and certain gaps in understanding, as well.

Weapon Types:
Whips are prevalent among the lower castes, as are single-bladed knives and daggers. Polearms are a favourite, but swords are strictly prohibited to all Sayaki other than the Shavaell Akir, who wield a special weapon, unique to the warrior, called a shavaell.

Armour Types:
Scale, brigandine and chain are highly used among the warrior types, whereas plate is common among the most elite warriors, if they bother to wear armour at all.

Building Type:
Mostly wooden, shoji, very little stone is used except in fortifications.

Main Foods They Eat:
Fish of varying colours and sizes, grown crops such as rice, and grains such as wheat, barley and rye tend to constitute a typical Sayaki diet.

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Typical Clothing Style:
Men and women alike tend to wear a multi-layered robe-like garment known as a kimono. These garments typically are darker colours, and sometimes bear patterns from nature. Women's kimonos have longer sleeves and more layers, about ten typically, a cultural tradition of limiting the gender to less difficult work and certainly restricting them from combat. As such, women in these professions must dress notably differently, and it will earn them some ire from traditionalists. Men's kimonos are usually only a few layers, five on average, and have sleeves which cut off a few inches above the wrist.

A sturdy cloth belt is worn with these kimonos, called an obi, and varies widely with other cultural influences. Sometimes they are padded heavily, contain some measure of decoration, or even are made from leather, but always they are tied very skillfully, able to hold up most sheaths a normal belt could while leaving one comfortable. A traditionalist obi is made from thick linen, or if the individual has no need of a weapon, cotton or silk.

There is another garment similar to the kimono, known as the yukata. They are much the same, excepting that the yukata is made of only one or two layers, made of a very light fabric, and is not for general wear. It is worn during bathing, mostly, as it is easily removed, put on again, and one can dry off easily while wearing it.

A haori is a 'kimono coat', simply spoken. Originally meant to indicate formality, the weather of Heas has turned their make to thicker fabrics and their intent towards warmth and dryness in bad weather.

A nagajuban, often simply referred to as a juban, is an under garment worn by both men and women. It is a simple robe no different than the kimono, really. It consists of three layers, is made of linen, and typically remains undyed. Only the collar, and on less traditionalist dress the collar, can be seen under a kimono, but the colours are still highly indicative, just like all other clothing colours are.

Finally, the hakama is an article of clothing worn over a kimono that covers the belt line and lower, little more than a pleated skirt that resembles a very very wide pair of pants. It is almost exclusively worn by men, as wearing it allows one more freedom and women seen wearing them are thought of as trying to impersonate men. Still, the Rhythmist movement encourages such things, and women increasingly find themselves donning the hakama as part of their daily outfit, especially if they work in close proximity to demon sightings.

Cross-culturing, especially with the Skrel'eth and Tir, has led to the formation of a Rhythmist movement within the Sayaki. While it will be detailed elsewhere, it is worth noting that open members of this stand against restrictive traditions often wear kimonos which are far shorter, ending at the knees, and simply wearing typical pants in conjunction. This isn't widespread, however, and carries significant disdain within the Sayaki culture.

As far as footwear goes, the Sayaki are less restrictive of what is allowed. Traditionalists stick to the sandals native to their culture, of course, but wearing boots or shoes such as the other cultures do would not be -too- badly frowned on. Certainly it doesn't carry the horrible social stigma others do, to the Sayaki elders.

One could write an entire volume on what symbolism is produced with any exact coloring. However, some key points are presented here, for general knowledge:

• Clothing is typically season oriented, reflecting colours and patterns related to the season itself.
• Special events such as births, deaths, marriages, deaths, and gatherings amongst the most prominent in society warrant special colours and patterns to reflect one's station and mood. For example of station, note that only Shavaell Akir (Lord/Lady and member of the warrior caste) may wear clothing with a large symbol or character presented on their back and/or that same symbol or character on the breast, over the heart.
• Women are expected to follow certain rules, as mentioned above in individual clothing descriptions.
• Wearing non-Sayaki clothing is NOT acceptable, under ANY circumstances, though this rule does not necessarily apply to armour.
• A kimono of entirely fuschia is reserved solely or a member of the Imperial line or its direct representatives by blood (Shavaell Akir Azuchi, which roughly translates to the title of Duke)
• A kimono of pure white is to be worn ONLY if one is the bride of a wedding, or the parent of a child about to be born.
• A kimono of pure black may be worn only at one's father's funeral, and if the man was a Shavaell Akir, a shavaell must be worn with it, but kept sheathed.
• A kimono of mixed black and white may only be done in the following manner: black on the left side, as viewed when seen by others, and white on the right, with a single teardrop on each side emblazoned in the opposing colour, on the chest... May be worn only by priests of the Four, Two and One or those meditating before battle.

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Typical Occupations:
Soldiers, first and foremost. Fishermen and master craftsmen are prized. artists of every form find more acceptance here than in other cultures, oddly enough, and even those with heavily martial careers are expected to know some form of art to ease their minds.

Differences (if any) between male and female and how they are treated:
Sayaki culture is heavily biased, and while contact with the Skrel'eth and Aartiran have lessened this, they still are quite disgruntled about females with any kind of life other than keeping house and/or becoming a priestess to any of the Four, Two, and One.

Method of Transport:
Warships (the only kind of ship Sayaki people know how to make!) foot, litter, and officers often have a warhorse, though such animals are kept for the privileged and the skilled alone.

Gods and Worship of:
See lengthier article on religion! Curiously enough, they don't believe in Belial, or know anything of him. Any manifested power of his is explained as the risen forces of darkness within any given person (most often magic users, who supposedly walk closer to the gods in order to wield their gift,) and thus meditation is often prescribed to any who even THINK they might do something wrong. Meditation cleanses oneself, and allows one to connect to the gods and banish the darkness within.

The Darkness:
The Sayaki feel that the Darkness is a world-wide manifestation of inner darkness, an ultimate form of inner darkness if you will... 'All must be cautious of their inner darkness, these days, lest the true darkness only grow.' the average Sayaki would say, and they do just that, even going to epic lengths to preach the word to the other races.

Their View of Magic:
It is the direct power of the Four, Two, and One, and any who wields it with skill is duty bound to ward away the inner darkness of us all. However, if they don't control themselves, and let the inner darkness take them over... they can be dealt with. Sharp weapons pierce these folk too, y'know.

Their View of the Other Races:
The Sayaki view themselves as inherently superior, due to believing they worship the Four, Two and One the only 'proper' way. The Skrel'eth are seen as, at best, cultural sparring partners, but the only common link the two have is their love for battle. The Aartirans are seen as horribly weak due to their highly festive society, and the Sayaki almost feel honour bound to lead the lost flock to safety. Almost any Sayaki will treat any other human as if said human were a social class lower than them. The Tirrish are true masters of art, in Sayaki eyes, and might be worth keeping around. Some would argue they seem to have obtained an inner peace, in their society, and though it means weakness of body, strength of heart is far better.

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Sayaki - Towns

Kizuni Odawi is the central location for all Sayaki people, whether they wander nearby in the various clan holdings, are out at sea, stationed in Seahaven or even its far eastern border. It is located very far northwest of Seahaven, approximately three day's walk on foot, the only real available transportation to any but the wealthiest, and the castle itself serves as the primary buffer line between the demons and Seahaven's fair walls. The Sayaki reached an agreement with the rulers of the coastal city years ago, and a team of expert architects (and the pseudo-slaves Seahaven has plenty of,) soon erected this fortification from which the Sayaki people would live prosperously, manage their land, hold fast to their traditions, and ultimately cut down the demons with their amazing combat prowess.
A mighty stone wall surrounds the keep and nearby village, three stories tall and a third of that wide. Barricades of all manner face north, where defences are primarily concentrated, but all edges of Sayaki land enjoy the best in protection. Tightly packed housing and buildings fill the streets, mostly made of shoji, a thicker parchment-like substance, combined with lighter woods, stray, and occasionally stone. It has a single market square, where one can find nearly every merchant in the fortress city, as well as several stations for Seahaven and Perran goods.

The Sayaki are very distrustful of unwanted guests, needing neither the trade nor the attention from those who aren't in the aptly named settlement by invitation. Also, as Kizuni Odawi bears no dock of its own, one can only reach it by passing through the wilderness.

History, what they have been doing over the last couple of centuries:

The Sayaki are actually, believe it or not, refugees from the overthrow of a human Kingdom. The leaders no longer followed the 'proper path' and the Four, Two and One saw them smote for it. The traditionalist nobility led whom they could to the seas, and by fate, they ended up on Heas.
In light of this failure, their true nature has come out: Those in charge now are the most skilled combatants and leaders. They will settle for nothing less than everyone else submitting to their superior way of life, by sword or otherwise. The Darkness only proves to them that these infidels are letting their inner darkness prevail, which means the Sayaki must show them the righteous path soon, or never.

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Sayaki - Religion

In order to understand the Sayaki mindset regarding the Gods, one must first come to the conclusion that Sayaki culture groups all things into cycles. The weather, the seasons, life... All follow rotating patterns of some sort, and the Sayaki extend this to be true of everything.

This is especially true with the Gods. The Gods are each believed to have cycles of high and low power, by the Sayaki, influenced by their divine 'rank' compared to their other deities, and by how faithful the Sayaki (who consider themselves THE children of the Gods,) are.

While the virtues and characteristics the Sayaki associate with the gods may, in some cases, conflict with the traditional human worship, it is important to note that the Gods themselves are the same, even if their mortal followers have a different understanding of them.

Each of the four major gods represent a major direction, a major element, a greater and lesser virtue, and a vice.

Cymur, referred to as the Draken by the Sayaki, is associated with the East, Fire, Loyalty and Valour, and finally Pride as a vice.

Balor, known as the Rajim (a ferocious and powerful species of large cat,) is associated with the West, Air, Strength and Confidence, and Wrath as a vice.

Morhiag, the Raven, is associated with the North, Earth, Patience and Wisdom, and Jealousy.

Ylessa, the Dri'iv (dolphin,) is associated with the South, Water, Benevolence and Mercy, and Cowardice. (slight irony here: one is expected to be merciful, but not TOO merciful, or they are considered craven.)

The three 'lesser' gods, as they are understood by the Sayaki, represent smaller aspects, though just as important.

Melchior, represented by the Gull, is the divine expression of one's inner spirit, calm, inspiration and, ultimately, potential. Everything about one's inner self is explained as being that which Melchior is. Dreams, Goals, Memories, and Experiences.

Elbahn, the Hare, is change, luck, and the random probability of anything that happens to oneself. These events are uncontrollable by oneself, and thus is a different aspect from that of Melchior.

Sykala, the Wolf, is the nature around oneself, surrounding oneself in every way. The spirits of every animal, the lie energies found in a strong, thriving tree, and the inevitable way everything must pass on: these are all Sykala. The transient phase between birth and death is life, and life belongs to neither the beginning nor end.

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