~Verbali Theatre~
Notice the title of this little paragraph here isn't "Nakam theatre", that's because, while Native Kavdek Nakam do indulge in ceremonies and dances, I wouldn't exactly call them "plays" or anything that you'd see in what you might think of as a theatre.
While some Native ceremonies are still carried out within the walls of Verbali, these are most often done by small groups of natives, simply performing on the street for handouts, or simply because they like what they do~
However, for the two actual playhouses/theaters within Verbali, such displays of story telling are often made with more traditional, eastern Altera-like story telling, in that actors and actresses will actually use speech, costuming, and exagerated movement to carry out a story, rather than a drum beat and traditional clothing/dancing.
Verbali plays are seen as a cultural and important center point for many of the citizens within the city, as not all plays are based off of fictional events. In fact, nearly a quarter of the plays staged at either of the two playhouses are often representations of real-world politics and current events, a preverbal "newsroom" for all the citizens and tourists to enjoy.
Unfortunately, this has also lead to some long-staying tourists to discover all too late that their homelands have been taken by war and famine through third hand accounts..
As for other, more fantastical plays, most are taken as easternised takes on traditional Nakam lore, the most famous of these stories being "The Banishment", detailing the banishment of the Naklefam from their homeland to Kavdek.
Unfortunately, many natives don't approve of these chauvinistic shows of their culture for profit. While it is no grounds for the actors to be called "heretics" against the elders, they are mistrusted, and seen as greedy.
Other plays have taken stories from other lands and adapted them for the stage.
It's worth a mention that, while the majority of actors in such plays remain Nakam, such troupes show no aversion to allowing actors of other races on the stage, especially those who may more accurately portray characters of the same race (though the stout, grumpy, bearded dwarf is always seen as the most fun part to play, following closely behind that is the posh, uppity, over entitled elf~)
Many playwrights have come from across the seas simply to make use of the Nakam and their unique bodily forms.
Unfortunately, plays from non-Nakam writers are rarely given much interest by serious troupes, as there is a stigma that has been proven true in the past that most write scenes which require excessive and unnecessary nudity purely for the sake of curiosity.
Though the actors of Verbali aren't unknown to perform nude should the right script call for it, they refuse to allow their stories be made into freak shows for the bumbling masses of curious tourists.
~Formal Attire and General Partying Conduct~
I've mentioned before that Nakam do have annual celebrations, though it seems I've failed to describe the finer details as to how these celebrations are carried out.
To begin, let's take a look at Nakam formal attire; Native villagers are known to take their best furs and apply stains to them, as to create spectacular patterns. These formal suits will not be used for every day recreation or work, as they are seen as outfits for special occasions. Often, these outfits will be made with additive flare, be it snow oxen horns, or amta'iluin feathers, to add to the visual impact of such an outfit.
Verbali formal attire, while still influenced by their native heritage, has been overcome by the unique mixture of multiple cultures found within the port city.
"Formal attire" may be sold as luxurious dwarven armor sets, fantastic elven robes, or even the intricate weavings of human dresses. However, to appeal to the Nakam, many of these outfits have been stained with patterns similar to their native cerimonial outfits.
Though it's important to note one color that seems to be of tabboo to many Verbali citizens: Red.
It should be noted that Kavdek is nearly void of any sort of natural source of the color, besides blood, and the ever so rare redstone deposit found deep within mines. As such, red has become the rarest of stains amongst the Nakam, often coming in from other lands at highly inflated prices. Red clothing and stains can set one apart as having lots of money, or, as many rumors have it, as a part of the Verbali slave trade. While Verbali in and of itself has no such slave trade, many slavers who come to the island use red flags and clothing to distinguish their trade and purpose from others.
Now- for conduct, like dancing~!
Native Nakam dancing has been said to be very fluid-like, usually involving more than a single person. The larger celebrations make use of damp kindling to cause the communal flame of a village to produce large amounts of smoke, leading tribal dancers to create patterns within the smoke using large cloth/leather "wings", while simultaneously keeping to the beat of the music, and the meaning to the song.
Again, Verbali has become a melting pot of many different cultures come together. As such, different forms of dance have come about from multiple different sources, often leading to what many see as heavily deformed versions of their own native dances.
~Nakam Burials~
Any and all life inevitably comes to an end.
As stated before, Nakam believe that all spirits from this realm of existence go off into the afterlife, controlling both the kind and cruel happenings of their world.
However, the physical remains are handled in a different respect.
To bury a Nakam is seen as sacrilege, it prolongs their journey to be accepted back into nature, and is seen as a form of torture to the soul.
Most Nakam remains are cremated, and their ashes spread amongst their home village, or a particular place the fallen Nakam may have favored.
Though grief is seen in Nakam burials, death is not taken as a purely negative happening.
Instead, it is a movement from one existence to another, and is met with bittersweet emotions of joy and sorrow.
Most often a Nakam who has lost their mate will not seek out another, as they believe their spirits to be bonded.
Should the proper wares to cremate a body not be readily available, leaving a body exposed to the elements is seen as the next best choice, as it is still absorbed by nature.
The worst insult a Nakat could receive is being told by a knowing person to be “Forever laid in stone”.
~And what if a Nakats’ Satob dies?~
Seeing as how Nakam tend to be unparalleled in terms of faithfulness in a relationship, this has transferred onto their culture as well.
Biologically, while a Nakam usually does only have a single mate at a time, if said mate is known to be unreachable for an extended amount of time, and I mean several years, if not decades, such as in death, Nakam may be compelled to find another love.
However, their culture does demonize the notion of having more than a single mate during one's lifetime, causing many to go through life alone if they've lost their mate.
The occasional Nakat may break said taboo, and while most tribes and Verbali have no official "laws" concerning this, said re-mated Nakam may be seen as "impure" to the general public, or anyone who knows of their previous mate. While they are not considered pariah amongst the general populous, they may be seen as deserving pity, rather than hate.
That brings up the entire notion of polygamy, which culturally is extensively looked down upon.
Though, very rarely, the occasional Nakam may break through their own instincts and have multiple mates, this is not the natural status of Nakam, and whomever should do this would be made a heretic amongst nearly all other Nakam, if they were not chased from the town with pitchforks beforehand.
~Nakam Celebrations~
So, this is a BIG concept, and thus there is much room for expansion.
But, I should begin by saying that, since most Nakam are tribal based, they've no singular calendar, not leaving much room for annual celebrations..
However, Verbali, being the ever so wonderful hub of civilization that it is, does have a few city-wide celebrations.
I've no idea what the passage of time is like in Altera, whether they use the same months as we do..
So ima just use the seasons as a general basis of when these events take place.
The first day of summer is generally wildly celebrated with a lot of parties, mostly because this means that the ice surrounding the docs is nearly thin enough to sail ships through! And that means money! Yaaaay money~!
This is known as "Veradek", the Beginning of Warmth.
Along with the first chill of winter, being the signal that most interaction with the outside world is coming to an end. This holiday is more of a "harvest everything and bunker down inside your house before you let the five feet of snow in" kind of holiday, wherein all the town's folk assist the local farmers in harvest, anyone capable of basic math helps the local bank keep tab on people's Coin, and where the basic warm feeling of a community coming together comes from.
This holiday is generally known as "Vibneshde", the Beginning of Chill.
Verbali Nakam might celebrate this away from home, even if it's just helping a friend with some errands on an exceptionally cold day.
The last celebration of the year is the biggest of all! Mid summer, the Verbali celebrate the amazing moment when a simple tribe began construction on the grand city, moving themselves into civilization!
A preverbal 4th of july for Verbali, it's celebrated by gifts to loved ones, often ones of the "cutting edge" that're imported. It's mid-summer, which means such gifts are not in short supply, due to the massive amount of trade going on.
Some adults drink, whilst the Verbali council ensures that festivities don't end up burning the town to the ground.
Thisn's known as "Sagevde" the Day of Construction.
~Diet & Lifestyle~
This is just a look into the general Nakam ways of life, which generally doesn't differ that greatly from a human's.
They do use shelter, even the most native Nakam are capable of basic stonework. Bathing is just like any other person's routine, some Verbali even use the finest soaps from across Altera.
Though Nakam do have a knack for being a bit "Lazy", that is, their average sleeping cycle lasts around ten to eleven hours.
As well as being a bit more naturally nocturnal, the Nakam are not by any means "morning people".
Now, diet, on the other hand, is a bit different than an average human's..
Grains, such as wheat, tend to upset the Nakam's digestive system, often leading to terrible stomach aches and diarrhea (though they're still known to eat cakes and cookies in moderation, and during celebrations).
Fruits, vegetables, and meats make up for most of a Nakam's diet.
Many have called a Nakam's table manners nearly non-existant, as they're known to carnivorously devour entire steaks within minuets.
Though, contrary to what one might believe, Fish is a bit of a rarity for Nakam.
This is due to the fact that most of their waterways are frozen over, and the abundance of wolf and goat meat tends to lead the Nakam to not pursue fish as a main source of sustenance.
And when fish IS available, it is treated as a delicacy, having it's place as a celebratory meal amongst cakes and cookies.
~Nakam Music~
Music is essential in a culture. No matter how primitive or advanced, every known culture in reality has been known to create music in some form.
The Nakam are no different, yet, as theirs has recently become a culture of mixed influences (Thanks to the Verbali port), their style of music has changed.
Traditionally, Native Kavdek Nakam would utilise drums made of any materials available, of all different sizes and tones.
Some metallic in nature, others created from stretched skin over a wooden base.
In recent years, some native tribes have taken to using string instruments as well, though the general consensus of any sort of wind instrument (flutes, pipes, etc) is distasteful.
This comes from the root Nakam belief in music, that it is an outer representation of one's inner self beyond words; and as such, it should not be stained by any sort of production of the mouth.
This means that most if not all Nakam music is free of singing.
However, this also leads to a sound from Nakam musicians many say is passionate beyond critique.
Another trait Nakam music shares is it's need to tell a story, to have structure.
Some music might have a bit of narration behind it, as a means of which to convey emotion within a story.
Most traditional Nakam folklore is passed down as music, though since hairless traffic has increased within Verbali, many of such stories have been adapted to the stage for entertainment purposes.
~Common Professions~
As one can speculate, professions vary greatly depending on Verbali or Native Nakam.
In Verbali, one can expect to see traders, butchers, housing, guards, mayors, councilmen, along with the underground slavers and thieves.
Native Nakam professions, however, are moreso focused on survival than profit.
Native villages would often have hunters, perhaps farmers (Though farming in trees would be difficult), gardeners, Elders (elders may still be working in another profession), and craftsmen.
Though know that currency is no object to the native population, as most are more concerned with food and water, and trade for such items.
~Working Ages~
As stated before, many Nakam are born into their line of work, and mate along as such.
The general age at which Nakam gain jobs differs depending on the choice of the parents, however, the social average age for beginning a menial or low-grade job is around eight.
This is meant as simple sweeping, table cleaning, etc.
Not terribly dangerous or demanding work, however, warriors are seen as leniently grown in Verbali, and harshly such in native villages.
Many begin at the age of ten in Verbali, studying battle tactics and strategies, as well as survival techniques. Though at the age of thirteen (or three years after initial studying), the physical conditioning begins, continuing their studies with added agility and strength training with their regiment's leader.
This continues until the age of sixteen (after three years physical conditioning, six study.)
Around this time, a warrior is required to make a field run with their peers, as to establish a hierarchy within the group and create bonds between future mates.
Many such groups are sent into situations which require the removal of hostile forces.
These groups of peers will continue to serve with each other as a single unit until each die out, or are retired at Dajakal.
Native Nakam warriors operate in a much simpler, yet much more brutal way.
Many begin study at early ages, possibly as early as five or six, by listening and observing their parents (or instructors, if the child did not come from a warrior family).
Throughout their life, they are chosen to assist with the most difficult of physical tasks around the village, along with their continuous study through their elders.
At sixteen, eight are sent to the jungle floor in a group, and told to spend two moons there.
The warriors in training must walk in opposite ways for one whole day, and spend the next walking back.
Whether or not they return shall dictate who makes the cut and who does not.
~Nakam Warriors~
Now, I know I've mentioned them in earlier updates, but I feel as if I need to go deeper into what they're like. Most Nakam are not above fighting, but will not generally jump to conflicts unless it's for a good reason. In fact, most Nakam would rather talk behind the backs of their enemies then punch them squarely in the face.
However, warriors in both Verbali and tribes are very well disciplined, never taking their jobs lightly. They understand that they are the defense for their culture, their civilization, and even their very species.
Tribal Nakam must undergo a rigorous training, part of which involves being shunned to the frozen jungle floor for days at a time. If the warrior to be is killed or turns feral, he is no longer considered of importance to the tribe's warriors.
That's not to mention their heavily padded leather-based armor, which has been designed in recent years to combat the wild slashing of Teshvadiik blades.
While some Nakam warriors are armed with Bows, most prefer spears and atlatls, and are known to attack from within massive brush of the trees above, as to not be seen.
Tribal warriors are also known to carry battle axes made of wood and sectioned wolf-teeth, making for easy repairs.
Verbali guards are just as disciplined, but in a very different way.
Such a large force currently employs around 4,000 Nakam of the total 16,100 or so grown citizens of Verbali.
They are endlessly trained in a controlled environment to live off the land, and to construct nature-made bows and arrows if need be.
However, a great deal of their training goes towards learning and mentally engraving militant tactics of attack and defense. Most of these tactics involve either snowstorms or light snow drifts in which to hide and surprise the enemy. They are able to use their crossbows as a large upper-hand, giving them better accuracy than any of the Native's weapons.
Verbali guards also carry small blades, about seven inches in length, for CQC encounters.
Their suits also come at an advantage, giving them a superstitious look of "ghosts" amongst the snow.
Even some Teshvadiik have fallen victim to the thought that Verbali guards are actually fallen Nakam seeking revenge.
Though, one interesting fact between both the Verbali Guard and Tribal Warriors is that having a Satob is generally a pre-requisite.
This is thought to be because most Nakam mate within their profession already, but, not only are teams of two small and easily concealable, but them being mates also means they are more likely to fight extensively to protect each other.
Do not expect to encounter a Nakam warrior couple and survive.
Chances are, you won't see them at all.
~Verbali Weaponry~
As previously stated, the Verbali guards have at their disposal weaponry that rivals that of any military.
The crown jewel of such a military would be the Verbali modular crossbow, which consists of the stock, grip/trigger mechanism, and bow.
While stocks and grips are used for personalisation and fit of the guard in question, there are three subtypes of bow sections, each of which has their own advantages.
The CQB bow is made for, of course, close quarters, and is built on a small bow with enough torque to fire a small bolt thirty meters or so with enough power to kill.
Then Next, standard bow is slightly larger, but also focused on a streamlined design to ensure that any guard could move about small areas without being inhibited by any wide bow wings. This bow can reach up to an estimated ninety five meters.
Both the CQB and standard bow sections of the modular crossbow use a top mounted pulley system, to easily re-cock the string and prepare another bolt.
This also allows for the mounting of (literal) iron sights.
The third, and final bow section, however, uses the standard "use your brute force to pull the thing back".
This is the long range bow, which can reach out three feet in either direction, and is able to reach two hundred meters with killing force.
The trigger mech/grip section all have a single thing in common, the lower forward facing part of the weapon, which is mostly held by the non-dominant hand to stabilize the weapon is curved to a near half-circle, and plated in iron. This allows for a pocket to catch blades within during CQC.
~Sooleran Nakam~
"Well..What if a Nakat were to chose the life of a desert dweller? "
"Do any such large factions exist..?"
WELLP- I'll say that desert-dwelling Nakam factions are often not very long-lived, so most of them have little to no political effect towards any sort of known establishment. However, since Nakam have been seen traversing along with the Sooleran, they have shown that desert life is possible for Nakam. Not easy, nor pretty, but possible.
First of all, a Sooleran Nakat is easily destinguishable from others, as they regularly shave themselves. Some choose to simple shave their necks, heads, upper arms, groins, and thighs, as to release the maximum amount of heat from the body, others, arguibly the more dedicated, have shave themselves completely.
Though due to the absense of sweat glands, their bare skin is still VERY susceptible to burning. You'll see more lobster-red Nakam with the Sooleran than you will baked brown ones.
Recently, a small backpack design has come about common use amongst these Nakam, which sits atop their shoulders, and is usually filled with water and various amounts of filters. These filters are not meant to purify any water put into the device, only to prolong the flow of water from the pack, to the user's skin.
This allows Nakam to survive long-term within harsh conditions, and is often seen used in tandem with loose-fit clothing.
However, this does require that the user in question have a readily available water source nearby, such as a river or oasis.
Those without the device are known to cover themselves extensively in robes, often being seen as walking cloth mounds.
"What'll other Nakam think of these Sooleran Nakam?"
"Oh! hey dude..? Where's your skin..? I mean, It's what I identify with. Most people have skin. And it's how I can tell them apart, rather than everyone being walking mounds of flesh."
...Basically A Nakat's point of view. A shaven Nakam is not very admirable, and may even be seen as a pariah amongst the furred. Since identity often comes from their fur patterns, pale, flesh-toned Nakam are perceived as being difficult to identify separately.
That being said, it is still rare to find Nakam amongst the roving trading communities of misfits, though it is not unheard of.