The Torbu

The Torbu live in the southern mountains nestled between the coastal Lu’Befrei to the west and near the Ramus on the other side of the chasm to the east. They are a hardy folk known for their love of story, tradition, and family. The Torbu, in general, live higher in the mountains and have long sense learned how to endure harsher winters. Their strength resolve is often compared to stone, an element they are often affiliated with.

Family
Most Torbu are known to hold family above nearly all else.  Blood runs thick, but their sense of ties runs even deeper. They are quick to adopt those who are lost, even if they are from other clans. Love and respect  are important aspect to their way of life in this department. Same-gender couples are not unheard of, though still somewhat rare, and are welcome openly. Torbu mate for life, taking part in a grand binding ceremony which often involves a great gathering of nearby families & clan, a feast, singing, dancing, storytelling, and gift giving which can take several days. After which, the couple are bound to each other for life.

Honor & Tradition
Both important aspects.  They are known for keeping stories from old going and passing on the knowledge and traditions of their ancestors to their young. Weather it is believed or not, these values continue to hold them to the old ways. Torbu believe greatly in the ground beneath their feet, the spin of the world, and their heritage among the stars.

Battle
Beneath an overall fluffy outside there sits an unmoving stone.  Not only do the Torbu often grow slightly bulkier and larger than the other clans, they are also known to be fierce and strong warriors when cornered. On the other hand, it takes quite a bit to cause a member of this clan to get into any sort of fight. Violence without good reason (such as the protection of another) is valued as greatly dishonorable.

Other
Mag’Ud of the Ramus are primarily stone oriented. Due to a great number of adoptions from the Ramus over the years, as well as a closeness to the Lu’Befri lands, it is not totally uncommon for other traits to manifest. There is generally one fire-bearer to each family group to help them stay warm during the harsh winters of the mountains. Thsie role is held with great honor.

 

The Ramus

The Ramus are female oriented society where the few males who remain are kept mainly for breeding purposes. Females are the hunters, gathers, leaders, and more. Males are deemed as property. The Ramus lands consist of the southern mountains east of the chasm which separates them from the Torbu. Ramus are often quick to temper and are known for being a bit fiery in such a manner. Most females regard even the males of other clans as no more than stock.

A Male Kip’s Fate
It is a general rule that only female cubs are kept. Young males are generally destroyed shortly after birth. A female of the clan always knows which male fathered her kips, and an often favored male’s male kips might be allowed to survive longer. Shortly after leaving the nest, he would be given to another female of the clan as her property. This could just as likely be another babe around his own age or an older female who may have already had a litter or two of her own in her life. It does not matter, as from that point on they belong to that female. Kips who are not chosen to be kept within the clan are often killed or abandoned in the Torbu lands. Those who are go to live with their new mistresses as soon as they no longer require their mother to do any bidding that female wishes.

A Male’s Role
As mentioned before, males are kept mainly for breeding. It is their main purpose other than looking over children, cleaning, or tending things the female wishes not to do. A male is, from his induction into the clan, the property of another female to whom he is not related. He is then expected to do any task that she wishes. She also owns any breeding rights to him and as such may keep him all for herself or force him to mate with another. Any offspring he sires he may not lay claim to, and is responsible to watch over all of the young of the clan.

It should be very important to note at this point that the very few males who live within the Ramus are still treated pretty good. They often live fat and sassy lives despite the roles that they are given.

Family
The topic of a male’s claim of fatherhood is covered above.  Beyond that, there are many different family units in Ramus life. Very commonly, several females will live together with 1-2 males as a unit. In this situation 2-3 females will share one male. Very rarely there are situations of monogamy between one male and one female. You might also find two females or a small group of them who choose to go without a male in the circle at all, and visiting another community (or a rogue in the valley) when they wish to breed. While it is often common place for females to have romantic relations with each other, romance between two males is next to forbidden as it is often seen as a waste of seed.

Other
Ramus  certainly do have a fier burning deep within them and from this clan we see most of the fire wielders of the Mag’Ud world. Occasionally those of other elements do manifest, but they most commonly leave the clan due to differences of opinion and not fitting in. If one does see any other element living successfully within the Ramus it would be stone. Quite a few Ramus females have slipped into Torbu land in order to find males to sire their children.

 

Lu’Befri

The Lu’Befri are known for being light-hearted and friendly. They are the winged ‘giet who make the cliffs that line the majority of the Western sea their home. Is it to them you’d go to trade for shells or other oceanic bits. They are great fisherman, often working together for exceptionally large catches to feed their families.

Family
Young are raised in cliff-side nests overlooking the sea. Parents will generally fly thick sticks and branches up to block the cave’s mouth with, leaving only enough room for them to slip in through a small hole. Unlike most young kom’giet who are allowed to play outside the nest under their parents watchful gaze once they can walk, a Lu’Befri kip must remain in the nest until it’s wings have fully grown in and it is ready to fly. This is, generally  several months longer nest-bound than the rest of the species. At this point the parents will fly the young down to the beach to practice & lessons during the  day and back up to the nest at night for safety. Parental units in this clan work much the way they do in the Torbu, but Lu’Befri do not hold so tightly to the tradition of life-mating. While some pairs will remain together for their whole lives, many choose a new mate every new breeding season.  Parents are not like to abandon their young for any reason, and will continue to love them and provide some support for them for their whole lives.

Land-Bound
Do to crossing bloodlines with the other clans, some Lu’Befri are born without wings. The majority of these choose to go off and join other clans while returning regularly to visit family members. A few, however, choose to stay and for this reason there is a small village in a clearing at the top of one of the cliffs near the Torbu lands.

Other
Lu’befri often manifest elements involving water and common abilities are often weather or stricly water oriented.

 

The Ca’Saan

The majority of the Ca’Saan are nomads, choosing to travel throughout the territories of the other clans. Their own territory, however, exists near a small lake nestled low in the northern mountains just west of the Great Mountain itself. Their personalities tend to vary greatly as well as any elemental manifestation due to their interbreeding with other groups on their travels. The most common element, however, is known as the dance (See: Mag’Ud Guide) which has given the whole lot of them the reputation of being excellent deceptionists, tradesmen, and liars.

 Violence
 Violence of any type is greatly frowned upon, and nearly forbidden. For this reason, they are allowed by ancient treaty to walk through the land of any clan unharmed.

The Voice
It is a common tale among them that at the beginning of the world there was a voice which called it all into being.  A soft, barely audible,  whisper that shook the heavens and formed the world around them. Most Ca’Saan claim to seek this lost voice and it’s meaning.

Performance
The Ca’saan are also known as great performers. Weather it is song or story or some type of art, every one of them seem to excel at it. It’s a talent that is encouraged and nurtured within all of their young at a very early age.

Family
Most roaming Ca’Saan choose to journey alone, or with a platonic companion. Occasionally a couple can be seen here or there. All nesting and raising of the young happens north in their own small territory, with both parents staying until their children are near adulthood.