Vialidad y Transporte:

Long ago, the Ice and Fire Spirits joined to beget the four breeds of Tojeepah. They lived on Mother Land.

Two of the children, a brother named Fala and a sister named Lora, longed to know where Grandfather Sun went every year.

Where Lora and Fala’s parents had met there was a stream. The children cut down a tree, and Lora made the first dugout canoe while Fala made the first paddles. They followed the stream as it joined with others until it became a river, and they eventually came to Grandmother Ocean.

The two children had so much fun at sea that they never wished to return. They became friends with Sea-Lion and Dolphin, who in those days, had ears like the elk. In order to experience life on land, the sea-lions and dolphins traded their long ears to Fala and Lora in exchange for legs, which the children built for them out of wood.

Sea-Lion and Dolphin could now enjoy the meadows and forests, but they kept coming back to the river to sleep. Giant Beaver did not wish to share, so it gnawed their new legs to pieces. Sea-Lion and Dolphin had to stay in Grandmother Ocean. Fala and Lora kept their fine pointed ears, however, and that is why their children, the Falora, all have them today.

NOTE: The Falora have forgotten that there are other Tanui tribes, having traveled westwards from the others some time in the forgotten past.

Appearance

Tanui have fair skin, though some have a slightly greenish, bluish, or olive tint. Hair color ranges from black to red-blond and whitish blond, and sometimes slightly greenish white. Eye color tends to dark brown or various shades of blue.

The Tanui are slender and graceful, with very little body fat. They may have long narrow feet and long fingers. Many Tanui think that plump, sleek, and curvy bodies are attractive, however; it reminds them of the aquatic mammals they love.

Tanui eyes are slightly slanted, or almond-shaped, set in an angular face. Their ears are large and pointed.

Long hair is the norm amongst Tanui. They may braid it, or tie it at intervals with bits of gut.

Clothing

The Falora wear fur and tanned hides sewn into close-fitting clothing. In cold weather, they wear fish-skin jackets and leggings with specially made pockets stuffed with insulating material such as grass or goose down.

Tanui Shamans usually follow only one totem Spirit. If it is an Animal Spirit, they try to dress to look like it. For instance, an Orca shaman may wear clothes that are white on their stomach side and black down the back. A Lemming shaman may wear a coat made of hundreds of the tiny lemming skins sewn together.

On special occasions, they don animal-head helmet-like masks or hats made of grasses sewn into basketwork sculptures.

As a mark of devotion, a shaman of a hairless animal such as the walrus may shave their head.

They may wear ivory piercings resembling walrus tusks. Tooth-filing is also practiced. These shamanic affectations are considered inappropriate for non-shamans.

Lifestyle

The Falora live near lakes and rivers. They are mostly nomadic, except each clan of roughly 100 individuals always returns during the harshest winter months to a stationary long-hall. Their ability to bathe in very cold water allows them to keep themselves very clean even while traveling.

Falora boats are light enough to be carried by one or two people, but moving them long distances requires clear terrain or a wide trail. If a predator threatens from the water, the Tanui go to land, and if a land predator approaches, they take to the river, lake, or sea.

In winter, the Falora attach flat wooden skids to their boats, turning them into sleds. They use snowshoes to move over deep snow.

Very warm weather in which the other breeds are comfortable makes Tanui feel fatigued. In the warmer seasons, the Falora will become nocturnal to avoid the heat of the day.

Disposition

Tanui can be aloof and suspicious of outsiders. The Falora are no exception. Stealth is first nature to them, and the other breeds may be suspicious of them. They also have a reputation for being vengeful.

Diet

Like most Tanui, the Falora have little craving for sweets - but they love fish. They are harvesters of shoreline delicacies such as freshwater clams and roots. They prefer the tart blubber of a river mammal to fruit. Falora gatherers are usually outnumbered by seafarers, who fish in the rivers and lakes.

Falora preserve fish by drying it, without the aid of salt. This must be done outdoors, in cold weather.

This, in turn, requires them to catch fish during the winter. They may go out with nets, or chop a hole in the lake or river ice.

In each clan’s long hall, there is always at least one large black stone block with a dished depression in the top. Attendants heat stones in the fire, put them in this “pot”, and change them out to cook large amounts of soup. Traditionally, to earn a helping of the soup, one must contribute something. Even little children try to find something to offer. One person is in charge of choosing which of these ingredients to add to the soup.

The smell of this dish can be marvelous. Alas, the combination of the soup in the pot and the meat drying outside inevitably attracts large predators.

On occasion, the whole Falora clan must defend themselves against a hungry invader or three.

Mortality

Mishaps on a lake or river are the greatest takers of adult Falora lives. A flash flood, a river rapid, or even just a spar of a skin boat breaking can send a handful of Falora to their doom.

Predators are the second worst hazard. In the rivers and lakes, there are alligators. Bears with a taste for fish must gorge before winter, and they prefer to drive away competition, even when there is plenty for all.

Other land predators are the same as the other breeds face: lions and other great-cats, wolves and dire wolves. Because the Falora do not use salt, they

must wait until winter to stock up on meat and fish, letting it dry in the cold. When occupied, the Falora long-halls are magnets for deadly creatures.

The healers of the Falora make thick salves not easily washed away by moisture. They can often set and splint broken bones. Their treatment for bad cuts is to hold the wound closed with one hand, and bring burning chaga tinder fungus very close to get the blood to clot and dry. Only the worst injuries need stitches, for which they use a very thin piece of boiled and dried piece of seal gut.

The Falora rarely experience severe contagious disease. They tend not to catch colds or other minor illnesses from other breeds. When applied salves are not enough, they turn to medicinal teas.

Unlike the other breeds, child mortality and death in childbirth are low amongst the Tanui. Their birth rate is low as well.

Gender Customs

Women of the Tanui live significantly longer than the men, and there is status with age, especially for women who have many children. So Tanui tribes are often matriarchal at the top. The Falora are one such tribe.

Hunting parties are usually led by males, who are expected to take more of the risks. If a female dies, the clan has lost a potential child-bearer. A male is more expendable.

Outside of these two principles, there is generally equality between the genders. Falora males and females may practice any occupation.

Courtship

The concept of ‘marriage’ amongst all Tanui revolves around the uniting of two families in a bond of mutual support. For the Falora, arranged marriages within the same great hall are the norm.

The female head of the family does the negotiations. The young bride or groom may or may not even be consulted.

The Falora tribe is unusually draconian about this custom. The penalty for refusing to marry, or leaving a marriage, is banishment. This is so severe that Falora rarely exercise this option, even if they dislike their intended. Most would consider it a death sentence. In most cases, the matron tries not to make a match so bad that it would drive a youngster into the jaws of a saber-tooth.

The Falora Matriarch presides over the wedding ceremony, in which the couple share a piece of food - usually a cake made from crushed dried fish.

Weddings traditionally take place in the fall. The newlyweds then share a booth of the Great Hall during the depths of winter.

There is no ‘divorce’ in Falora society. A union is expected to last until death. Infidelity is punished by a beating (to the point of permanent disfigurement), and banishment. Weakened and thrown into the wilderness on their own, this is also likely to be a death sentence.

Once two Falora are married, they may leave the clan - provided that the bride’s brother permanently accompanies them, to protect her. His commitment is lifelong, too. He will prevent his sister from being treated disrespectfully or injured. If the groom misbehaves, the Matriarch will hear of it.

Brothers in his position often do not themselves marry. If the bride does not have a reasonably capable brother, she must stay with her Matriarch’s clan.

Child-Rearing

Producing a child is the couple’s sacred duty to the clan, but that is only the start. Protecting children is also a top priority. Having many children brings status to one’s lineage. The daughter of a mother with many children is viewed as more important, and more valuable, than one with few. Matriarchs keep a few of their most loyal adult children nearby as her personal guard. Children are future power.

Since young people perform many of the camp’s chores, they are not viewed as a burden. Many adults die a violent death and leave orphans.

Children will be adopted by a relative. If there is a rivalry for custody, the Matriarch simply decides where the youngster goes. Brothers who accompany their married sisters and are unlikely to marry are often the first choice. Without a wife, the man would have no children, and thus, no support in his old age.

Leadership

Leadership of the Falora tribe and of each Falora clan is inherited. The firstborn daughter of the current tribal matriarch or clan chief is her heir.

Marriage into the ruling line is called “kinning”, as in, making two families kin. Noble heirs are granted the authority to demand a feud end, and issue instructions on how the situation is to be handled.

Since the Falora are especially prone to long-

running feuds, the position of tribal Matriarch is very important. An heir is viewed as granting power to both parents’ families.

The current Matriarch is Silara Sharpspear. She is on her third husband. The first two both drowned in fishing accidents. The third, Keridan, is almost young enough to be her son. Her brother Lukaris (unmarried) is her assistant in ruling. Silara has seven children: two daughters (Bredani, Tashila) and four sons (Larinon, Azinilon, Kelkori, Sethanon). All but the youngest daughter are adults.

Beliefs

The Falora philosophy is “Be like water”. In general, they think it wiser to follow a path of least resistance, rather than stirring up trouble with others. When there is a conflict, they try to stay neutral.

When neutrality is not possible, then the Falora philosophy is “Reflect like dark waters”. This is a reference to “kettle lakes” (deep circular bodies of water left by glaciers), which are typically found in deep valleys with little wind. Essentially, the goal is to mirror behavior. The kind person receives kindness;

the raider should be raided. If a Falora is quiet, it may be that they are simply observing, waiting passively, in order to know how to treat new people.

The Falora tend to be quiet and passive upon meeting strangers, simply observing until they learn how to treat the newcomers.

It is said that Grandmother Ocean has no love for the children of Fala and Lora. Accordingly, they pay her no homage. As Mother Land provides a great deal, they honor her with an annual festival in the spring.

The Falora have a superstitious dread of blood.

Among other things, it attracts predators. It is taboo for anyone other than a dedicated healer to touch someone else’s blood. Even the smallest cut must be immediately tended if possible. If an animal has to be hung up to let out its blood, this is attended by a ceremonial, hypnotic, droning chant.

Women are considered dangerous during their menstrual cycle because of the wild Spirit energies they are supposed to attract. It is taboo for any man to touch her during this time, except her brother.

Pets

The Falora seldom keep pets. The Matriarch’s son Azinilon has a pet reindeer, but he is a shaman of the Reindeer Spirit (and the Matriarch’s son).

Lacking the concept of “potty training” pets, such animals are not allowed into the Long Hall in winter.

The dogs that may follow a Falora clan are tolerated because they can eventually be slaughtered for meat.

Shelter

Part of the year the Falora travel the waterways in their dugout canoes or skin boats. These are flipped over and propped up on one side for a lean-to when the clan stops to camp.

A Falora village (occupied only in the winter) consists of one long building that they all share.

Inside, it is partitioned into many separate booths with translucent sheets of hide. The Falora are fastidious housekeepers. Children are charged with changing out the bedding grasses from time to time, and collecting up reeds to cover the floors.

The air in the long-hall smells of fresh herbs.

Entertainment

Storytelling games and small handicrafts are favored Falora pastimes. Some carve soapstone using large finely-serrated shells.

Much of their energy is spent on traveling, and when they settle down they are very tired. To avoid attracting predators, this is a relatively quiet time.

Tanui therefore prize gentle recreations such as hair-grooming, giving and receiving massages, and reciting poetry.

Many of the Falora poems are teaching chants that preserve information, such as how to prepare a particular dish using wild onions and cod, or how to best fashion a trident. Some poems are morose yet beautiful laments. For the children, there are colorful heroic tales and strange old myths.

Appendix 5: The Mozo Tribe