Khoruun-Tesh (ku-RUEN Tehsh)
Deep in the wild and wind-swept Azigi steppe, stretching south from the foothills of the highlands down toward the marshy wetlands of the Sarib River delta, roam the Naürezun tribe (sometimes referred to by outsiders as the Azigi due to where they are from and an ease of pronunciation). They are a nomadic people with more clan loyalty than nationalistic fervor. However, despite their lack of centralized government--or perhaps due to it--and in spite of their nomadic ways, the city of Khoruun-Tesh rises like the grass from the hills.
The city is more accurately described as a semi-permanent ritual encampment and ties together the daily life of the Naürezun and their deeply spiritual roots.
The city is more accurately described as a semi-permanent ritual encampment and ties together the daily life of the Naürezun and their deeply spiritual roots.
Demographics
Khoruun-Tesh is an almost exclusively Naürezun settlement. Various outside trading caravans and the occasional Efareti settler who is more accustomed to steppe life may wander into the encampment, there is no practical reason for anyone who is not there for spiritual and cultural purposes to stay in the encampment.
Every fourth full moon, the city is the city of a banner council. This is when the clans handle all of their administrative duties and the Wind Mothers announce the next migration. During the councils the city generally hosts contingents from all nine of the Echo Clans and may reach a temporary population of up to 12,000 people. However, this quickly dwindles following the ceremonies, with an average population of around 8,000.
Every fourth full moon, the city is the city of a banner council. This is when the clans handle all of their administrative duties and the Wind Mothers announce the next migration. During the councils the city generally hosts contingents from all nine of the Echo Clans and may reach a temporary population of up to 12,000 people. However, this quickly dwindles following the ceremonies, with an average population of around 8,000.
Government
Traditions of the Naürezun hold that the Echo Clans, as they are known, are nine in number. The number mirrors the cycles of the year: the hot season, the windy season, and the rainy season. Within each season is the coming, the being, and the departing--three within three. Although the tribe is recognized as a consistent whole, the clan mentality always prioritizes the smaller, autonomous groups with minimal nationalistic style government.
In practice, the system is divided on the lines of spirituality on one side and civic duty and honor on the other.
The councils last for up to a week, with the main business of the council occuring in the last couple of days. The banner chiefs negotiate any disputes that have arisen between the clans as well establish an appropriate allocation of shared resources, such as water and pasture lands. If any external threats are currently troubling the clans, a unified response is established. The final and most impactful decision of the council is made by the Amaatiin when they announce where the Spiral, the encampment as a whole, will be moving for the upcoming season.
Once a year, the banner council renews the Pact of Echos, which confirms the Spiral Law, the honor codes, and the support of various clans for each other.
There are several limitations to the council's powers. The council cannot force an individual clan to abide by any proclamation it makes. The autonomy of the clan is paramount, and any clan or clan member may move or act on their own free will at all times, as long as Spiral Law is maintained.
Additional discussion on the governance of individual clans can be found in the article discussing the Naüruzen people as a whole.
In practice, the system is divided on the lines of spirituality on one side and civic duty and honor on the other.
Kherün Amaatiin, The Wind Mothers
The Wind Mothers are the keepers of memory in a land where voices roar like the winds, but exceptionally little is written down. (The constant travel of the nomadic lifestyle makes keeping tangible property a matter of necessity and written documents are not generally considered a necessity.) it is also the responsibility of the Amaatiin to interpret the dreams that are so prevalent and powerful among the clans of the Azigi. Alongside the dreams, it is their responsibility to listen and hear the nature omens and maintain the spiritual and seasonal flows of the community.Teshkaar'gin, The Banner Chiefs
Banner Chiefs are selected from each clan in preparation of a Banner Council. The selection of a Banner Chief is based on merit and decided by the clan as a whole. The banner chief can be either male or female, old or young. It is their responsibility to act as the civic guidance for the clan in secular matters. This includes items such as resource management, training warriors, organizing for defense, and speaking on behalf of the clan with outsiders as well as at the Banner Council. Generally speaking, a chief remains on duty until the subsequent banner council is called and may serve multiple seasons if the clan so wishes.Teshkaar Deluun, The Banner Council
The tribe recognizes three major seasons. At the turn of each season, a Banner Council is held within the Hall of Winds at the center of the Khoruun-Tesh encampment. The council consists of the nine elected Banner Chiefs and the three Wind Mothers, and the Keeper of the Fire.The councils last for up to a week, with the main business of the council occuring in the last couple of days. The banner chiefs negotiate any disputes that have arisen between the clans as well establish an appropriate allocation of shared resources, such as water and pasture lands. If any external threats are currently troubling the clans, a unified response is established. The final and most impactful decision of the council is made by the Amaatiin when they announce where the Spiral, the encampment as a whole, will be moving for the upcoming season.
Once a year, the banner council renews the Pact of Echos, which confirms the Spiral Law, the honor codes, and the support of various clans for each other.
There are several limitations to the council's powers. The council cannot force an individual clan to abide by any proclamation it makes. The autonomy of the clan is paramount, and any clan or clan member may move or act on their own free will at all times, as long as Spiral Law is maintained.
Additional discussion on the governance of individual clans can be found in the article discussing the Naüruzen people as a whole.
Defences
Khoruun-Tesh is a nomadic, semi-permanent encampment. Because of that, there are no permanent defensive structures. However, there are several layers of both physical and non-physical defense systems.
Additionally, the city itself houses nothing of note to the outside world. There is no mass of material wealth and riches there. It does not house the seat of an adversarial government. Only during the Banner Councils are the leaders of the clans there, and they are not permanent themselves. This gives an outsider little reason to attack the encampment.
From an internal perspective, individual clans would have almost no reason to attack the city. The city is spiritually symbolic and any aggression toward it or toward the Wind Mothers would be anathema to even the most unfaithful Naürezun.
All Naüezun are trained warriors and this includes the Amaatiin and their apprentices. Within the ranks of the Kherün-Naü (the Wind Bound) exist a small but elite group of women trained in lethal combat. This group, known as the Keth-Dör, the Windless Step, acts as sentries amidst the overall encampment as well. They are not stationed in a specific location, as are sentries in other cultures. These women continue their daily routines, but are prepared to intercept and negate any incoming attacks. As with all Kherü-Naü, they consist of members of all clans are, therefor, aligned with the tribe as a whole and the Wind Mothers in particular.
Non-Physical Defense
One of the main methods of defense from outsider invaders is the transient nature of the camp. It only exists within one spot for a few months before moving to its new seasonal location. For an outsider to locate the camp, plan an invasion of any sort, and execute that plan, the camp would already be gone.Additionally, the city itself houses nothing of note to the outside world. There is no mass of material wealth and riches there. It does not house the seat of an adversarial government. Only during the Banner Councils are the leaders of the clans there, and they are not permanent themselves. This gives an outsider little reason to attack the encampment.
From an internal perspective, individual clans would have almost no reason to attack the city. The city is spiritually symbolic and any aggression toward it or toward the Wind Mothers would be anathema to even the most unfaithful Naürezun.
Physical Defense
The encampment maintains a herd of horses at all times along the outter rings of the city. Additionally, anyone staying in the city has access to their clan's tesharr--pastures--within the spiral. Herders trained in reading the actions of the animals are always alert to the signals of the horses which indicate predators of any sort and act as a type of alarm system for the city.All Naüezun are trained warriors and this includes the Amaatiin and their apprentices. Within the ranks of the Kherün-Naü (the Wind Bound) exist a small but elite group of women trained in lethal combat. This group, known as the Keth-Dör, the Windless Step, acts as sentries amidst the overall encampment as well. They are not stationed in a specific location, as are sentries in other cultures. These women continue their daily routines, but are prepared to intercept and negate any incoming attacks. As with all Kherü-Naü, they consist of members of all clans are, therefor, aligned with the tribe as a whole and the Wind Mothers in particular.
Industry & Trade
The people of the Azigi Steppe are renown for their quality herd animals and the products associated with them. This includes everything from milk and dairy products, to supple hides and furs, to generous amounts of smoked and dried meats.
The steppe is fertile land with vast fields of wild grains and shrub fruit, but the clans themselves have never taken to farming. This untapped potential for agriculture is the single significant factor that incited the expansion of Efaret in approximately 500 ATL.
The steppe is fertile land with vast fields of wild grains and shrub fruit, but the clans themselves have never taken to farming. This untapped potential for agriculture is the single significant factor that incited the expansion of Efaret in approximately 500 ATL.
Districts
The Khoruun-Tesh encampment is a spiritual vortex and is treated as such by those who are there. It is laid out in a precise and regimented manner that remains consistent every time the camp migrates.
The layout of the camp is a spiral consisting of nine arms that represents the continuous mystical flow of time and spirit, as well as the reverberation of sound and constant wind throughout the steppe. At the center is the Hall of Winds, which is the ceremonial hub of the Naürezun people. It is an open plaza where carved totems representing each of the nine echo clans form the concept of a perimeter. At its center, stones sculpted to resemble the flora and fauna of the steppe form the hearth of the Great Ring.
Each clan is designated an arm of the spiral, as indicated by the totem in the Hall of Winds. Each clan's arm begins with its individual hearth tent followed by the tents of the most prominent clan members. Each arm terminates with that clan's totem circle (a type of Hall of Winds specific to that clan).
The crescent of land between each spiral arm is known as the tesharr fields and is a sacred space where clans can stable their livestock and graze their heards in times of consolidation (ie. when the peoples have been called in for some variety of reasons).
The rings around the outer edges of the spiral are where outsiders and visitors to the city camp are permitted to stay.
The layout of the camp is a spiral consisting of nine arms that represents the continuous mystical flow of time and spirit, as well as the reverberation of sound and constant wind throughout the steppe. At the center is the Hall of Winds, which is the ceremonial hub of the Naürezun people. It is an open plaza where carved totems representing each of the nine echo clans form the concept of a perimeter. At its center, stones sculpted to resemble the flora and fauna of the steppe form the hearth of the Great Ring.
Each clan is designated an arm of the spiral, as indicated by the totem in the Hall of Winds. Each clan's arm begins with its individual hearth tent followed by the tents of the most prominent clan members. Each arm terminates with that clan's totem circle (a type of Hall of Winds specific to that clan).
The crescent of land between each spiral arm is known as the tesharr fields and is a sacred space where clans can stable their livestock and graze their heards in times of consolidation (ie. when the peoples have been called in for some variety of reasons).
The rings around the outer edges of the spiral are where outsiders and visitors to the city camp are permitted to stay.
Assets
The main assets of Khoruun-Tesh are its herds. It is an exceptional hereditary line that the herdsmen take great care in maintaining in a healthy and diverse way.
And while it has no value to others, the clan totems are the only other material product that is considered a priority to the Naürezun
And while it has no value to others, the clan totems are the only other material product that is considered a priority to the Naürezun
Guilds and Factions
The clans themselves form the most natural divisions within the city. That is then followed by the spiritual leadership: the Amaatiin. The Wind Mothers and their daughters (a title given to apprentices taken into training, not biological daughters) make up the major inter-clan group of people.
History
The history of the Khoruun-Tesh settlement reaches back to the original migration of the tribe, before they were the Nine Echoes.
The stories tell the tale that when the original tribe arrived in the Azigi, it was a place of darkness. It was filled with evil and distorted creatures. The Old Ones--those before the clans existed--waged war against this darkness and its children through long generations of struggle. It was during this time that the skills of horseback riding, Twilight Riding, Dream Hunting, medicine, and so many more that are natural to the clans now were first developed. Over time, the wind cleared the land of the darkness and the tribe splintered. They had grown large in number and spread out among the fertile grasslands.
Again, time blew away with the wind and a Mother received a new and terrible omen. The stories say it was Ama-Shaür, however, this name is more likely an amalgamation of all the early wind mothers. In this vision, she saw stillness. Not the stillness of a peaceful day but the dör: absolute stillness, no wind. The tribe had spread itself thin across the vast steppe and all manner of things were seeping into the cracks just as the late summer rains seep into the cracked and dried earth. She saw the darkness returning on one side and wild animals rushing down from the mountins. She saw the waters of the Sarib rising and flooding the grasslands and swarms of insects from the marshes alighting like clouds in a storm.
In her fear, she knew she must reunite the tribe. They had been formed of the echoes of the wind and the wind was calling them together once again. Her visions called to nine people, scattered across the land, who would bring their skills and their minds to the task and reunite the tribe. Some versions say her dreams lead her, one by one, to each of the selected; others say she sent nine of her attendants to search out the marked ones. The reality is lost, but the result was earned.
The Mother had created nine banners to be delivered to each of the selected. They were to arrive at a central point in the steppe on a specified day--the first full moon of spring the following year. Each was to arrive flying their banner high; it was to serve as a greeting to the wind and a recognition that the dust on the horizon was a welcome visitor and not the stillness coming to swallow her.
All nine heeded the warning of the Mother and arrived with many of their tribesmen on the appointed day. They gathered in an open field marked by their banners. The wind would meet with them and recognize the banners as its own. This moment is considered the moment when the singular fractured tribe became the Nine Echo Clans, blessed by the echoes of the mighty wind that had attended them that day.
The Mother and her attendants remained in that spot for several more months, listening. A year along the great spiral of time elapsed with some moments being exceptionally difficult to survive in the area. The Mother was haunted by nightmares and visions. She was fighting the wind by remaining stagnant; it was unnatural. But she remained so that the people of the tribe could find her if she was needed.
As the first full moon of spring neared once more, the clans Banner Chiefs of the clans were once again summoned to reunite, and re-pledge their loyalty to each other and harken to the omens of the wind. This time, however, the Mother indicated she would be moving, as is the habit of the nomad, to a spot the wind had shown her. The clans were to join here there in four more full moons so that she could read the signs for them and let them know where she would be the next season. Over time, this practice continued and the settlement of Khoruun-Tesh became a firmly established concept within the minds of the tribe. The Banner Councils are now seen as vital reunification of the clans to remain a single tribe, birthed of the wind. The Hall of Winds is sacred because it marks the spot of this reunification and of collectively listening to the world and the wind. It remains a center where any lost traveler or clans member can return to and find respite and welcome. Khoruun-Tesh stands independent of any clan. It is the home of the wind. It is the moment the wind calls out in echoes across the steppe and the people respond.
The stories tell the tale that when the original tribe arrived in the Azigi, it was a place of darkness. It was filled with evil and distorted creatures. The Old Ones--those before the clans existed--waged war against this darkness and its children through long generations of struggle. It was during this time that the skills of horseback riding, Twilight Riding, Dream Hunting, medicine, and so many more that are natural to the clans now were first developed. Over time, the wind cleared the land of the darkness and the tribe splintered. They had grown large in number and spread out among the fertile grasslands.
Again, time blew away with the wind and a Mother received a new and terrible omen. The stories say it was Ama-Shaür, however, this name is more likely an amalgamation of all the early wind mothers. In this vision, she saw stillness. Not the stillness of a peaceful day but the dör: absolute stillness, no wind. The tribe had spread itself thin across the vast steppe and all manner of things were seeping into the cracks just as the late summer rains seep into the cracked and dried earth. She saw the darkness returning on one side and wild animals rushing down from the mountins. She saw the waters of the Sarib rising and flooding the grasslands and swarms of insects from the marshes alighting like clouds in a storm.
In her fear, she knew she must reunite the tribe. They had been formed of the echoes of the wind and the wind was calling them together once again. Her visions called to nine people, scattered across the land, who would bring their skills and their minds to the task and reunite the tribe. Some versions say her dreams lead her, one by one, to each of the selected; others say she sent nine of her attendants to search out the marked ones. The reality is lost, but the result was earned.
The Mother had created nine banners to be delivered to each of the selected. They were to arrive at a central point in the steppe on a specified day--the first full moon of spring the following year. Each was to arrive flying their banner high; it was to serve as a greeting to the wind and a recognition that the dust on the horizon was a welcome visitor and not the stillness coming to swallow her.
All nine heeded the warning of the Mother and arrived with many of their tribesmen on the appointed day. They gathered in an open field marked by their banners. The wind would meet with them and recognize the banners as its own. This moment is considered the moment when the singular fractured tribe became the Nine Echo Clans, blessed by the echoes of the mighty wind that had attended them that day.
The Mother and her attendants remained in that spot for several more months, listening. A year along the great spiral of time elapsed with some moments being exceptionally difficult to survive in the area. The Mother was haunted by nightmares and visions. She was fighting the wind by remaining stagnant; it was unnatural. But she remained so that the people of the tribe could find her if she was needed.
As the first full moon of spring neared once more, the clans Banner Chiefs of the clans were once again summoned to reunite, and re-pledge their loyalty to each other and harken to the omens of the wind. This time, however, the Mother indicated she would be moving, as is the habit of the nomad, to a spot the wind had shown her. The clans were to join here there in four more full moons so that she could read the signs for them and let them know where she would be the next season. Over time, this practice continued and the settlement of Khoruun-Tesh became a firmly established concept within the minds of the tribe. The Banner Councils are now seen as vital reunification of the clans to remain a single tribe, birthed of the wind. The Hall of Winds is sacred because it marks the spot of this reunification and of collectively listening to the world and the wind. It remains a center where any lost traveler or clans member can return to and find respite and welcome. Khoruun-Tesh stands independent of any clan. It is the home of the wind. It is the moment the wind calls out in echoes across the steppe and the people respond.
Points of interest
As with most things on the steppe, Khoruun-Tesh is designed for function above all else. This is reflected in the settlement by the fact that there are no extraneous buildings or spaces, such as parks or arenas, that exist for purposes of recreation or interest. However, within the functionality of the encampment, there are locations that stand out as unique.
The Hall of Winds is considered a sacred space where the winds come to meet and speak to the Mothers. It is generally only used during banner councils and other significant, tribal level actions. While entering the space or passing through the space is not directly forbidden or punished, it is generally not done out of respect by the individuals transiting the area. In reality, most daily activity occurs at the edges of the spiral and not in the center near the Hall.
Hall of Winds
The Hall of Winds is the central axis of the spiral encampment. It is an open-air plaza demarcated by the circle of nine totems representing each clan. Within the circle of totems is a large hearth and fire pit known as the Great Ring. The hearth itself is made of stones carved to resemble the animals and plants common on the steppe. This architecturally simple center point is the spiritual focus of the entire tribe.The Hall of Winds is considered a sacred space where the winds come to meet and speak to the Mothers. It is generally only used during banner councils and other significant, tribal level actions. While entering the space or passing through the space is not directly forbidden or punished, it is generally not done out of respect by the individuals transiting the area. In reality, most daily activity occurs at the edges of the spiral and not in the center near the Hall.
Tourism
Outsiders do not generally come to Khoruun-Tesh. While the Naürezun do trade with outsiders, most trades are made with individual clans at their encampments and not within the settlement itself. Additionally, some caravans crossing the Azigi stumble into the encampment and are generally welcomed, as is Naürez culture. However, these are generally accidental encounters.
When an outsider is in the camp, they are able to come and go as they please and no public area is off-limits. That is to say, they can wander at will. This, again, is in line with the hospitality culture of the Naürez. If an outsider arrives during a banner council, they may observe but are not granted the right to speak on behalf of the people. The Naürezun do not claim ownership of land and space beyond what is immediately theirs (i.e. their personal gers), nor do they claim ownership of time (i.e. the time during the council sessions). Because of this, they do not feel the need to restrict movement or observance. However, the ability to speak in council is merit based and internally focused; no new comer to the tribe from the outside would have sufficient history with the clans to warrant that, even in the most hospitable circumstances.
When an outsider is in the camp, they are able to come and go as they please and no public area is off-limits. That is to say, they can wander at will. This, again, is in line with the hospitality culture of the Naürez. If an outsider arrives during a banner council, they may observe but are not granted the right to speak on behalf of the people. The Naürezun do not claim ownership of land and space beyond what is immediately theirs (i.e. their personal gers), nor do they claim ownership of time (i.e. the time during the council sessions). Because of this, they do not feel the need to restrict movement or observance. However, the ability to speak in council is merit based and internally focused; no new comer to the tribe from the outside would have sufficient history with the clans to warrant that, even in the most hospitable circumstances.
Architecture
The architecture of the nomadic encampment is designed for easy transport with maximum protection from the harsh steppe climate. Most gers are round, with a central support pole. Wooden rafters and a side frame of wooden lattice form the internal skeleton of the structure. Reams of embroidered felt are used to line the exterior walls, with an additional layer of canvas or leather that acts as a waterproof barier when needed. A lighter cotton or linen fabric is used to cover the interior walls. Each layer of wall is on an individual pully system that allows it to be raised or lowered to provide various levels of insulation or weather protection.
Geography
Khoruun-Tesh is a semi-permanent encampment. That means that it is relocated up to three times a year: each time the seasons turn, the camp moves. The reason for this is to ensure a centralized placement among the clans (who are themselves migrating) while also remaining true to where nature dictates the city to be.
At all times, the settlement remains within the borders--and generally near the center--of the Azigi Steppe. The steppe itself is a vast, rolling grassland that lies to the south of the central uplands and north of the Sarib marshlands. To the west lies the Sarib river and beyond that is the Severan Mountain Range; the eastern border is within the coastal forests that separate the steppe from the lowlands.
With an area of 75,000 square kilometers, the steppe is a slow transition from the marshlands to the uplands. While significant natural landmarks are rare, the wind is almost constant in this place. The overall geography can be summed up in distance, time, and wind.
At all times, the settlement remains within the borders--and generally near the center--of the Azigi Steppe. The steppe itself is a vast, rolling grassland that lies to the south of the central uplands and north of the Sarib marshlands. To the west lies the Sarib river and beyond that is the Severan Mountain Range; the eastern border is within the coastal forests that separate the steppe from the lowlands.
Ecology
Flora
Dense, hardy grasses are the dominate feature of the area. These include edible grain grasses that grow wild, but are harvested by the people in the area. Large trees are exceptionally rare outside of some protected lowlands and the north eastern borders that begin to transition into more wooded areas. Low shrubs are common along the few seasonal streams and depressions that collect water during rains.Fauna
Herd animals are the major animal life on the steppe. They migrate for long distances in the ever changing environment. Ground nesting birds are also a major player in the ecology of the steppe. They survive on the grains as well as on small rodents and insects that abound in the grassland.With an area of 75,000 square kilometers, the steppe is a slow transition from the marshlands to the uplands. While significant natural landmarks are rare, the wind is almost constant in this place. The overall geography can be summed up in distance, time, and wind.
Climate
The climate on the steppe is extreme and variable. The summers are generally hot and dry while the winters are bitterly cold with sudden violent storms. Rainfall is low and unpredictable outside of a short seasonal wet period and heavy snowfall in the winter.
Natural Resources
Living Resources
The abundant pasture lands of the steppe serve as the basis for supporting the large herds of animals that live there. The herds themselves being another natural resource that is largely available and self-sustaining. The byproducts of these animals--both domesticated and wild--serve as a resource in their own right. From dairy products to leathers, the use of what is available is maximized.Naürez medicine also maximizes the use of the array of plant species in the area. Numerous grasses and shrubs contain medicinal and decorative capabilities that are vital to their way of life.
The lack of large trees makes wood--including the lattice works of the gers--exceptionally valuable.
Mineral Deposits
While the Naürezun do not use the mineral deposits themselves, they are aware of their existence and have been known to trade with outsiders for their locations.Additionally, salt deposits in various quantities are to be found throughout the Azigi. These deposits are used extensively by the Naürezun
Etymology of the Name
Khoruun references an enclosure or gathering. Tesh maintains a sense of place or ground. Combined, the name reads as "gathered ground."
Type
Camp, Temporary
Population
8,000 - 12,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Naürez
Related Tradition (Primary)
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