Jehis

Jehis is a nation of nomads to the north of Kessix with a strong alliance to Civiel.

GEOGRAPHY

The Jehisi lands occupy the northern plains and some of the taiga bordering the east side of the Dragonback Mountains. It is a relatively flat and rocky area with some sparse patches of trees and has some large lakes carved out by glaciers. Wood is scarce. Grass and dung are used as main sources of fuel in inland Jehis, while on the coasts seal blubber and whale oil are used as fuel. 

The official borders of the Jehisi territory are determined by the Frozen Ocean to the north and east, the Black River to the south, and the Dragonback Mountains to the east.

GOVERNMENT

Many of the Jehisi people are nomadic, and as a result have very little structured government. The bands are matriarchial, and the ruler is called a Heki, roughly translated to queen. There are three main bands, named for their main animal: the deerfolk, the goatfolk, and the birdfolk.

CULTURE

The Jehisi people are divided into three groups: Deerfolk, Goatfolk, and Birdfolk. The Deerfolk are said to be the oldest of the groups, following the caribou around the northern and western plains. They are often considered the most clever and most grounded of the groups. The Birdfolk are the second group, and in common tradition are believed to have been founded by an Ervaju shaman after she had a dream of a pure white falcon guiding her to a sacred grove in the southern forests. They are considered the wisest and most spiritual of the groups. The Goatfolk are the breakers of tradition, having been founded by Deerfolk herders who were introduced to goats by the Civielite people. They are seen as newer, although they have over a century of history.

The birdfolk band in Jehis is considered a safe haven for exiled or runaway magefolk, leading to some minor powers being present, mainly descendents of Amodoi mages. These people are seen as manifestations of the universal energy present in Ervaju and are respected as skilled shamans who can interpret and affect the weather.

Visual Culture

The architecture of Jehis varies by tribe, but typically the design is a conical structure called a Kiel. These are made out of layers of animal hide and fur. These structures have a curtain door, fastened to the wooden structure by rope or rings of bone. Often times, they are painted with designs mimicking the sun. Beds in the house are set up so that the members of an extended family sleep by generation, arranged clockwise. The beds of the younger children are on the east side of the house, and the beds of the oldest are on the west. The fire in the center is though to represent the sun.

Jehisi clothing is simple, made out of wool and animal skin. Jehisi people wear loose pants tucked into hide boots and thick wool tunics. In the winter, people wear thick coats of fur. For the deerfolk, clothing is made of reindeer hide and antler decorations. In the goatfolk tribes, clothing is made of goat wool with bone decorations. With the birdfolk, clothing is made of miscellaneous animal hides and fur (a mix of squirrel and rabbit), and bone/feather decorations. The tribes wear double-pointed hats that mimick the look of wolf ears, leading some to call them the wolf-people. 

The Jehisi keep their hair back with hide ribbons that are tied behind the head, while the hair in front is woven into the band. Most of the year, it is hidden with the knitted hats, but in the summer the intricate designs on them are shown. Many are etched with symbols of good fortune or mythological figures, and some have beads threaded on.

Trade in Jehis is an important part of life between bands. It is unheard of for two bands to meet without sharing some small gift between them, usually food or supplies that one group has in excess. Bands on the Jehisi-Civielite border are quite prolific traders, sharing handcrafted winter clothing and winter foods for goods as far away as Whitewatch. Some Birdfolk, although contact is rare, trade with Kessixian selkies for fish and tools.

Arts in Jehis is mainly present in painting and carving. The hides of drums are intricately painted to represent events that happened at and after the time of creation, making each drum a historical record. Carved antler and bone are found all over Jehis, used as anything from spoons and sewing needles to cermonial decorations.

Daily Life

The people of Jehis have meager food for most of the year, and are known for their ability to repurpose almost every waste part of a meal. Bone broths, fish, game, and foraged foods are some of the most common portions of a meal. The Deerfolk and Goatfolk have a steady supply of milk from the animals they herd, though the Birdfolk tend to have a diet higher in fish, since many live near the northern coasts.

DEMOGRAPHICS

People living in jehis are known as Jehisi. There is little distinction between bands in terms of demonyms. All of the population is elven.

The main religion is a shamanistic religion known as Ervaju, which teaches that all life is sacred and should be treated as such.

The pronunciation of Jehis in the native tongue is YE-his-ey, but in the common tongue it is pronounced JE-his.

Names

Feminine: Juhosk, Ava, Vihen, Liviet
Masculine: Leska, Tijver, Evnik