Kawani Village Herd: Open for Plotting~!

[elfstar89]

Ah, yes, hello, all. ^^;

Yes, you're probably wondering what this is all about. Well, it occurred to me today that, despite the connections Soquili have with two-leggers, especially those in the Kawani Village, there are no herds that are explicitly tied to two-leggers. Some incorporate them, but, for example, no one has put together the Kawani Village herd. It's one of the most talked-of herds, frequently referenced, the ones closest to the two-leggers, who may have access to all the news and excitement of every herd that has or had a totem pole in the village before the Great Fire, possibly the ones who hang out with the two-leggers who inhabit our teepees. And it has not, to my knowledge, ever officially been formed and developed.

My newest Soq (as of this post), Wohali Usti, is a survivor of the Great Fire and a member of the herd. Understandably, not every Soq with a two-legger may be keen on joining or returning, but Wohali has a personal interest in reviving the Kawani Village Herd. And there may be others like him, for whom this herd was home, the place of his loved ones and where he lived and was happy. Wohali himself lost his two-legger, and his lifemate and daughter are missing, perhaps perished in the fire. He even lost the prized collection of eagle feathers he put together as a rather silly and adventurous young colt. And in the wake of the Great Fire, he has been left with his shy and emotionally fragile son, as well as the orphaned only child of his two-legger, to whom he acts as father.

For many in the Kawani Village Herd, even in the lands beyond the Kawani Village, his story may be familiar, maybe the exact same story others have. But now, with the Kawani Village repairing itself, Wohali Usti, father of a colt and a young two-legger, is stepping forward to start a new chapter in the heretofore unwritten tale of the Kawani Village Herd.

Will you join in the writing of this chapter of the fabled herd?

 

[elfstar89]

Membership and Organization

I'll say this up-front, I'm open to ideas as to how to do this. The central idea is that the Soqs of the Kawani Village Herd are the Soqs who actively live with the villagers. Given that the other major guiding theme will be rebuilding, rebirth, and in general growing again, I'm inclined to think that the herd will be public and very open to new membership. A lot of Soqs probably ran away or died or were otherwise lost. Some Soqs may've always been written as a KVH (Kawani Village Herd) Soq, but given that there was no official herd, we didn't know the other members, but the Soqs theoretically knew each other on sight, if nothing else. I think the original KVH herd was probably mostly or even entirely regular Soqs with a fair sprinkling of regular Usdias, but I'm totally open to having them come from every species that wouldn't slaughter a two-legger or a male Soq on sight, no matter who they are.

Yeah, messy thoughts whut. Below are some suggested ranks. Please feel free to weigh in on this list~!

- Peace Chief (Alpha, often inherited)
- War Chief (Protector; earned through personal hard work, has a more equal relationship with the Alpha than typical)
- Pipe-Holder (master/mistress of ceremonies)
- Shirt-Wearers (negotiators; 2 - 4 total)
- Buffalo Runners (hunting/warrior Soqs, mostly male)
- Gatherers
- Storytellers and/or Shamans and/or Medicine Soquili
- Nannies (mostly female)
- Younglings
- Two-Legger

Please also toss out your Soqs who are or will be members of KVH, and the same with your Native American personas~! Like with the Soqs, not all Native American personas actually lived in the Village, but probably most of them did, on the basis that it's pretty unusual for social animals (like Soqs and humans and some of the familiars) to live in an even partially isolated state. Even those who lived on the fringe of the Village and KVH should feel free to post, as I figure that, after something like the Great Fire, the entire surviving community who's interested would probably jump in to help rebuild.

If you see a post your Soq or persona would shine in, please feel free to post that, too. For the moment, I'd like to ask people to refrain from offering their Soqs for Alpha or Protector just because Wohali will be one of the two, and I'd like him to ICly get along reasonably well with his partner. If you do offer, I'd actually really like to RP that relationship (which I'd also rather not be romantic, please; Wohali is in mourning and has two children to look after...). It may be slow on my end due to other commitments and you may have to quote me to get my attention, but I'd still be interested. owo

- Wohali Usti (one of the two chiefs, depends on the other leader's personality, relationship, etc)
- Vevina (Nanny)
- Unnamed son of Wohali Usti (will need to be customed, and will hopefully start as a youngling; please consult me before you try)
- Unnamed child of Wohali's two-legger (yeah, I'm gonna develop this later, sorry it's so vague)
- Litonya Suletu (Two-Legger)  

[elfstar89]

Traditions

Again, largely open-ended. KVH will probably mostly align their traditions with the Villagers, as well as have their own idiosyncratic traditions. This will involve frankensteining a plausible Kawani culture that reflects the source material of the shop, which covers a pretty wide span of Native American tribal elements from most of the seven cultural regions of the Lower 48 States of the US.

I'm developing a pool of potential traditions that people can add to or suggest we drop at some point; expect it to be reasonably well-researched, as I'm by education an anthropologist, and most New World anthropologists are taken through some education on Native American cultures, whether that's their interest or not. owo

The core cultures I'm borrowing from to develop a hypothetical Kawani culture are the following, from the following shop source material:

- Blackfoot (shop quote)
- Choctaw (the wind horse legend)
- Cherokee (shop language, the Ulun'suti, and Oyohusa)
- Lakota (linguistic origin of the word "tipi/teepee")
- Haida (thought to be the first makers of totem poles)
- Navajo (Skinwalkers and the corpse powder)
- Zuni (rain dancing)

I'm thinking we'll start with those cultures and use them for the core. There may be things we borrow from other Native American tribes, but those seven represent Plains, Southeastern, Northwestern, and both brands of Southwestern traditions; the only regional bodies not included in the shop's source material are the Northeastern and Californian tribes. And I am totally open to working in Californian and Northeastern cultural practices, as I'm pretty sure the porcupine quill-necklaces can be found across much of the Northern US, including the Northeast, and I'm pretty sure the abalone necklaces are derived from coastal Californian jewelry, as the abalone is native to the Californian coast. owo

Two Worlds: This is more or less shop canon, anyway, but since this is KVH, we should still see it here. The world is divided into two parts: a spirit world and a more mundane world inhabited by the mortal and the living. Ceremonies are often conducted in the name of balancing the spiritual and physical worlds, as is at least partly the case for the Sun Stomp Dance, the Tsu'nigadu'li, and the Pure Light Dance.

Seven Clans/Societies, Four Directions: Soqs may develop seven societies or clans (up to you guys!) based on lineage, occupation, etc which a Soq joins as an adult. Representatives of these societies/clans may participate in certain rituals on special occasions. Four trees and four colors are represented in the various rituals (which trees is up for debate! colors are white, blue, red, and black, with yellow as an optional fifth color), and they are connected with the four cardinal directions on the compass: North, East, South, and West.

Vision-Quests: One option for a rite of passage into adulthood, but may also be used in times of hardship or confusion or great loss or change. It involves purification in a set location, possibly a sweat lodge, but up for discussion, and one to four days and nights spent in isolation. Fasting is done during the vision-quest. During the process, a spirit guardian is said to appear in a dream or vision, giving the Soq guidance and purpose, even relating to them their destiny. Whether this actually happens or not is up to the discretion of the staff, or what happens in the Soq's dream (who knows, could be a plot point for anyone if the Soq has a crazy dream that has NOTHING to do with their future!).

Mother's Lineage: Lines of descent among the Soqs will be marked by the two-leggers through matrilineality; whether the Soqs also track lineages this way is up for debate!

Totem Pole: The totem pole tracks the history of the herd, family, group, etc. Smaller family totem poles may also be made, maybe four for the cardinal directions, maybe seven for the societies. Maybe some combo. Opinions on this?

Lhamana and the Sexes: Soqs who don't adhere to gender norms exist, and are not turned away. Traditionally, those Soq who considered themselves lhamana were stallions acting in both male and female roles, but there are more and more mares who do this, too. The lhamana, just like Soqs of traditional genders and occupations and heritage, get to participate in the major festivals and rituals. Other than participating in activities of both sexes, lhamana are functionally and treatment-wise the same as any Soq of any other gender.

Green Corn Ceremony: The herd's New Year celebration, held each year in late summer to call the rains to make a successful corn harvest. The main focus is the Sun Stomp Dance, in which the society/clan representatives, War and Peace chiefs participate, as well as, if none of the other participants are female or lhamana, at least one female Soq and at least one lhamana. Turtle shell rattles are used, as are feathers, masks, and costumes. Those who may have committed minor crimes during the year are pardoned, given a clean slate for the year. Very, very big deal. May also be accompanied by a generalized festival/carnival to celebrate the New Year and the incoming harvest.

Tsu'nigadu'li: Late autumn festival centered around a dance of the same name, characterized by masking and costuming. The dance is intended to appease those negative spirits that can be appeased, and drive those who can't away. Half the participants disguise themselves as tsu'nigadu'li, the bad spirits, and the other half perform as mortals.

(Late winter and late spring festivals in here somewhere? My seven sources didn't list any spring or winter festivals that correlated....)

Shirt-Wearers and the Pipe-Holder: The Shirt-Wearers are two-to-four Soqs who have demonstrated ability as negotiators who are chosen to settle disputes, no matter how big or how small, without resorting to war or violence. Sometimes, a game may be used to settle major disputes, but this should be used if things can't be settled more peacefully. The Pipe-Holder is a Soq with experience as a shaman or medicine soq given the responsibility to oversee the rituals of the herd and the activities of the societies within the herd.

Pure Light Dance, Hunting, and War: Dance performed by the shamans/medicine soqs as blessing and/or purification before Soqs go out on hunts or to do battle. Most Buffalo Runners are male, but there are female lhamana who participate as well. A mark of a particularly courageous Buffalo Runner is usually the claws of a bear, popularly the grizzly bear. Honor as a Buffalo Runner may also be earned by counting coup, a tradition by which Soqs run up to an enemy, touch the enemy, and run away very fast. It demonstrates one's strength of character and respectability to be able to get so close to an enemy without hurting or getting hurt by them.

Potlatch: A gift-giving and feasting ceremony between two herds or two other large groups. The chief(s) provide the best luxury and trade goods and the biggest and best feast possible for the chief(s) of the other group, and at a later date, the recipient will return the favor with interest. Very much competitive gift-giving with a goal of peace and no war in mind.

Sandpainting: Spiritual healing practice performed by some shamans/medicine soqs. A design is made in the sand using colored pigments (white, blue, red, black, yellow, even brown and pink!), designed to be symmetrical in some aspect. Some rituals involving sandpaintings are referred to as chants, which may last for days; each day past the first of these chants, an entirely new sandpainting is made. While they do result in beautiful artwork, they are not made for entertainment and are taken seriously by practitioners. Unfortunately, there's no absolute medicinal proof that they work, but they may still function by placebo effect.

East-Facing Gates: Gates and doors in the Kawani lands tend to face east, to catch the light of the rising sun each morning and to greet the sun.  

[elfstar89]

Totem Pole and Territory

Territory: Easy. Right around the Village. Size, however, will be up for debate. owo

Totem Location: Again, easy. In the middle of the rebuilt Village, along with any other totem poles salvaged from the Great Fire or built anew or otherwise donated to the Village as representation of the various herds of the Kawani Lands. ^^;

Totem Design: I will personally create a picture of the totem for the KVH once a design is settled on. That taken care of...suggestions? Please pick animals that would most likely go on the pole based on Kawani culture as we develop it, especially those animals that have a positive meaning for the village. I expect that a Soquili will be in there somewhere, and I'll organize the pole as one would be organized in the Northwest Tribes from whom the totem pole originates. owo

Suggested Totem Pole Animals:
- Soquili
- Usdia
- Eagle
- Wolf
- Bear
- Deer
- Buffalo  

[elfstar89]

Errata

Allies: (Please submit offers~!)
Enemies: (Please submit offers~!)

Plots: (Please submit offers~!)

Stories and Beliefs: (Please submit offers~! I figure the core beliefs and stories will be as outlined in main shop canon various places around the shop, and, as the Kawani have not yet been said to have a tradition of writing things down, knowledge gets passed down through oral tradition, and the oral traditions probably carry a lot of weight. Got a bit of oral tradition you wanna offer? Bring it~!)

(Below taken from the elders info thread)

- Asgaya Gigagei
The Red Man or Woman evoked in spells to cure the ill. Asgaya Gigagei is either male or female, depending on the sex of the patient.

- Kanati
"The Lucky Hunter." Sometimes called First Man. He lives with his wife Selu ("Corn") in the east where the sun rises, and their sons, the Twin Thunder Boys, live in the west.

- Ocasta
"Stonecoat." The name comes from his coat which was made of pieces of flint. Equally good and evil, Ocasta was one of the Creator's helpers. Ocasta created witches and drifted from village to village stirring up turmoil. Some women trapped Ocasta, pinning him to the ground with a stick through his heart. The men cremated the dying Ocasta, who while burning on his funeral pyre taught them songs and dances for hunting, fighting wars and healing. Some of the men were granted great power and became the first medicine men.

- Selu
"Corn." Sometimes known as First Woman. Kanati's wife. Selu created corn in secret by rubbing her belly or by defecating. Her sons, the Twin Thunder Boys, killed her when they spied upon her and decided she was a witch.

- Sun
A goddess. When Sun's daughter was bitten by a snake and taken to the Ghost Country, Sun hid herself in grief. The world was ever dark, and Sun's tears became a flood. At last the Kawani sent their young men and women to heal Sun's grief, which they did with singing and dancing.

- Twin Thunder Boys
The sons of Kanati and Selu. Kanati and Selu live in the east, the Twin Thunder Boys live in the west. When thunder sounds, the boys are playing ball.

- Raven and Coyote
Popular trickster spirits! The Coyote is a bit more of a jerk, and sometimes a very unlucky and very dimwitted jerk; a good reference for what he's like in traditional stories is to watch the Wile E Coyote shorts and check out some of his stories on the net~! Raven, by comparison, is definitely a more heroic figure, but he's also conniving, sneaky, and always very hungry for some good fun. Much humor and mythology can be derived from stories of Coyote and Raven, whether together or separate.

Games: Stickball/lacrosse, shinny/hockey among the field games; awithlaknannai mosona is an older board game that Soqs have been known to play with large pieces or sometimes with Soqs as living pieces; Sparks is a new introduction from the Imp Usdia, and may prove popular for all  

[elfstar89]

OK, got the basics sketched out. owo If you see something you like or don't like in here, please let me know; if you want something added, also please let me know. This is gonna be a bit of a collaborative process, since I have no clear ideas for this herd, aside from the fact that it will be the herd attached to the village, a herd badly in need of a rebuild IC, and in need of development OOC. owo

I may not breeze through here often (check my sig to see why!), so please do quote me to get my attention, unless/until I say otherwise. ^^;

So please, read through, check everything out, be free with your opinions, and please feel free to start posting~! heart