The Serpent Tribe
Secluded deep within the jungle, where most dare not tread, resides the Serpent Tribe, Nyoka. The toskals here are cold and cruel to outsiders, and oft none who tresspass on their territory leave with their lives. They are a tribe that sees beauty in death. They live in the shadows, and upon death, return their bodies to the deep darkness, where they will emerge on the other side, born again.
The Tribe
The Tribe
Many mysteries surround the tribe, and many write them off as scary stories mothers tell their young so they don't stray too far in the dark. Very few are permitted to leave Nyoka, as they would pose a threat to the tribe's secrecy if they were able to lead others to their home. Those who try to leave after their rites are often hunted down and stopped before they can get too far. While it is not impossible to leave the tribe, those that do will face many attempts on their lives from their former tribemates, and some have even resorted to faking their deaths to avoid consequence.
The tribe will keep to the shadows.
The tribe values speed and efficiency, as well as the ability to survive in the harshest conditions. Hunters and Warriors are among the highest regarded positions within the tribe, as well as alchemists and cooks. When a majority of their environment is toxic, being able to provide edible food is key. The tribe has adapted to be able to consume some of the more deadly toxins in their environment, a feat that no outsider could hope to achieve. As such, when edible food can be scarce, the tribe has also taken to eating the bones of their prey, which ranges from small toads to the occasional lost toskal.
Ladon is the current matriarch of Nyoka. The tribe leader is based upon strength and skill, rather than ranking or gender, however it is most common for alphas and females to take up the higher positions. Often times, if a high ranking member sees the current leader as weak, they will take the position by force, giving the former leader a worthy death, and presenting them to the rest of the tribe to take their place.
The current head of worship for Nyoka is Keres. The priests and priestesses of Death are chosen for their roles as pups and trained from a young age how to conduct all manners of ceremonies, funeral practices, and ways to commune with Lady Death.
Survival and Adaptation
Survival and Adaptation
Food in the jungle the toskals of Nyoka call home is scarce. While there are a wide and beautiful mix of both plantlife and animals, the vast majority of it is considered toxic and inedible to most. Despite this, the Nyokans, over much time, have adapted to eat and survive off of the land, with a diet that would spell death for those not born to the necessity of its consumption. Nyoka have learned to make many different dishes from the poisonous plants and animals the jungle provides, and have even come to celebrate the many different combinations and flavors they can produce, turning food from a terrifying gamble of survival, to a skill and artform within the tribe.
Most notable among some of the cullinary inventions is Sumu, or the Serpent Spirit, a highly potent poison to most, and a tasty alcoholic beverage to Nyokans that is present at nearly every tribe gathering and celebration.
- Natural to dark pelts are seen as essential to survive, and are praised as beautiful within the tribe.
- Markings that imitate the other creatures who inhabit the harsh jungles are also prided among Nyoka members, from big predators, to snakes, to hints of bright colors like those of toxic frogs and creatures similar.
- Many mutations are also highly regarded, from melanism and black eyes that invoke images of Death, to those that boast a deadlier demeanor like overgrown claws or fangs.
- Predominantly bright pelts, albinism, and heavy piebald are seen as bad omens within the tribe, as they are much harder to conceal within the shadows of the jungle, and make for easier spotted targets and hunters.
- Mutations like nub tails, dull/blind eyes, short claws, and deafness are also ill omens, as survival will be harder on those who cannot quickly adapt to life in Nyoka.
Those born outside of Nyoka will tell tales of the hidden tribe who's fangs are long stained red from the blood of their foes. There is some truth to this, as throughout the tribe's long life, they have adapted to have a higher buildup of iron in their teeth to avoid wear from the frequent consumption of bones and the toxic plants and animals native to their environment. This presents itself in the form of red pigmentation to the tips of their teeth, and serves as a point of intimidation alongside their boost to survival.
While the toskals of Nyoka do not posses any real venom, the bacteria and toxins from their diet lingers in their teeth and saliva, meaning a bite from one of these toskals has a higher likelihood of infection. Those who have survived enconters with Nyokans will often tell of their venomous bites that have left many to die of their wounds or lose limbs.
To the Shadows
To the Shadows
When death finds the members of Nyoka, they are returned to the shadows of which all was born from. Death is not a time of mourning, but a cause for celebration within the tribe, as they know in time, they will be reborn from the darkness. Birth is celebrated just the same as anywhere else, but unique to Nyoka, when a tosk is born into the tribe, the parents begin crafting a breastplate that they’ll eventually grow into. As the pup grows and begins earning accomplishments and praise, the parents will add things of significance to the breastplate, which both shows off their prowess, while also making the breastplate heavier. The toskal does not recceive their breastplate until they return from the rite, that way if they dont come back, it’s something to “bury.” When a toskal in Nyoka dies or is presumed dead, their bodies are sunk within the giant underwater crater that the tribe is partially built around. This crater is believed to be the portal to the afterlife, where they will be reborn as the shadows in our world, still fighting and hunting alongside their tribemates, but now within the embrace of Death herself. The heavier the breastplate, the faster it sinks/the faster they’re reborn on the “other side”, as their legacy in life grants them a faster journey into rebirth. The added weight on the breastplate also offers a unique challenge to them as they live, for one cannot boast their trophies without the skill to back it up. After a toskal has been sunken into the crater, rather than mourning, the tribe will hold a large feast in celebration of their safe passage to the shadows, with a large bonfire at the center of the festivites. Toskals will dance around the fire, and the dead will dance alongside them as their shadows, cast large by the light of the bonfire.
When a toskal is killed or has faked their death in an effort to flee the tribe, their breastplates are first stripped of their trophies before both are burned. It is said that these toskals will not meet Death or cross over into the shadows adjacent to the living, and instead they will simply be forgotten to time, a fate far worse than death. No feasts will be held in their honor, and their names will not be spoken again within the tribe.
Despite it's history and reputation as a ruthless tribe, Nyoka is one to jump at the chance of festivities and celebration. The birth of pups is celebrated when the parents first reveal them and their crafted breastplate to the tribe. The tribe is quick to welcome the new addition, as it is a sign that the tribe remains strong and thriving.
Rarely, a young pup will show affinity or promise for a particular path in the tribe at a young age. When this is the case, a ceremony of that path's respective leader at the time (often the head of Warriors, Priests, or Alchemists, etc.) will take place, and formally offer the pup an apprenticeship as a sort of track to leadership in their field before the whole tribe. If the child accepts, they will begin training directly under their field's leader, instantly gaining high praise and status from the rest of the tribe. A feast will be held in their honor, and the other members of their prospective fields will decorate them in paints and sometimes armor or jewlery, and they will recieve adornments for their breastplate at this time.
Upon returning from their Rite, a toskal will then request that they receive their breastplate. They will be decorated in various paints and other adornments, and will be asked to present any trophies they might have picked up along their rite. These trophies will be added to their breastplates, which will then be given to them by either a priest, or in some cases, the tribe's leader as a sign of accomplishment and acknowledgement from the tribe, and a speaker for Lady Death.
Throughout a Nyokan toskal's life, they will gain physical reminders of their accomplishments through trophies and adornments that will be added to their breastplates as a form of visual display of rank and social standing within the tribe. While the specific adornments will vary based on their field within the tribe, there are a few things that will remain universal. Bones and small crystals are highly regarded as some of the more impressive trophies, with the latter usually being handed out by field heads or the tribe leader for extreme accomplishments. Many other things may be added, such as scraps of pelts of impressive hunts, mummified remains of beasts or perhaps other toskals, braided scraps of manes from fallen tribe members who they once fought alongside, bits of jewelry and chains, teeth, claws, thorns, paints, etc.
Many things are worthy of earning praise within Nyoka, and as such will be awarded with additions to one's adornments. The most common things available to more of the populous than field specific things will usually be awarded by way of brightly colored paints and decorative patterns on their breastplates. Milestones in life such as celebrating the anniversary of one's birth, or years since returning from their rite may result in some of these common adornments. Small patterns and the additon of matching pieces of jewelry may be added for the unions between two toskals, and often times parents will add matching adornments to the breastplates of their children. Many members can also get accomplishments from protecting the tribe regardless of their station, and will receive adornments based on this. Many festivals will also present opportunities to gain accomplishments from efforts to set up, to small competitions within the tribe.
HTML by TheDemonicArtist