[[:Template:Kanus]]
Kanus
(pronounced: Kān-'əs)
Amongst all of the “civilized” species through out the known Omniverse, perhaps only Rhakas acts on their primal instinct more than the Kanus. Kanus are natural predators that savor the hunt. They are well known for their aggression, fanaticism and loyalty to their religious believes and deities. Nearly all Kanus prefer the wild world more than collecting in civilized forms of towns, cities or other civilized enclaves. Though they are civilized enough not to be considered monstrous, they are still looked upon with a bit of mistrust and mystery. They are also well known for their deep loyalty to family and friends, their unusual kindness and most of all their desire to be the dominate individual or group, either within a group or a region.
Most other species have difficulty relating to the Kanus, due to their overall feral aggressiveness towards the world. From their perspective the world demands that they show strength at all times. This does not mean that they are evil, or that they wish to control the world, they just believe that they must always show strength.
Ever present in the back of their minds is the draw of the hunt, and the primal bloodlust of their ancestors.
Within the world of the Kanus you are either pakyti (pronounced:PAH-KEE-tī; pack) or not pakyti. There is no in between. When it comes to functioning within the Kanus culture, not even the Great Houses of the Ta’Jahu or the Clans of the Chovah can compare to the power of the pakyti. Similar in believe and world view as the Bhahuul, Kanus are from birth placed into one of three castes: warriors, philosophers and citizens as decided by the great kiongo of their pack. And one very rarely moves into a new caste.
Kanus society is pinpoint focused upon their pakyti as well as their military life or shujak (pronounced SU-JAX). Kanus easily fall into a militaristic rule and life, either within their own packs or in the service of other armies or military rulers. Much like the Bhahuul, Kanus are well trained in war despite the fact that they life in small packs scattered through out the Omniverse.
Much like the Jakara that have their apacik, the Kanus are divided into their pakyti. There are five commonly found pakyti within the thirteen tribes.
Koyotes
Koyotes are reserved and shy. Rarely do they go adventuring except for a short time during their youth called “Dust Lust” which can lasts for several years as they to explore the world. Many adventuring Koyote become fighters, because of their natural love of hunting. All Koyote have strong, natural born Kai talent.
Robur
The mostly common encountered through out the Omniverse are the Robur. These large and powerful wolf humanoids are the strongest of the Kanus. They are self-righteous, and extremely suspicious of all non-robur, as they feel only they can live up to their high ideals. As far as the world is concerned, the Robur are the most shrouded in mystery and fame. They are solitary and have strong codes of honor and respect. It is rare that more than three will ever be found traveling outside of their own family pakyti and hidden territories.
Rokas
The smallest of the Kanus, the Roka are known as the “Foxmen.” These four foot to four-and-half feet tall Kanus often make close alliances with Aelwyn and Ha’Vatu, and often will live among these other beings, despite their pakyti affiliations. They are quick of foot and wit, and love to play pranks on their larger cousins, as well as the rest of the world. Of all Kanus, the Roka enjoy adventuring the most and spend a great many years roaming the world once they have left the clan as a cub. They make incredible spies and thieves, as well as warriors that can get behind an enemy with effectiveness.
Sanguinarius
The Sanguinarius or Jackal Men, are often misunderstood and viewed as evil, murderous and foul. It is a reputation that they feed into as it helps keep away outsiders. They are a rare breed within the Kanus population and seek out others like themselves to live in remote locals often gathered in dark, secret societies through out the world. They are brilliant individuals, but most tend to be twisted and corrupt at their very core. They are often making bargains made with demons and dark gods. The Murderous, as they call themselves, are renown for their cunning and powers of the mind. They are often aligned with those that are evil or evil-inspired, but this is a relationship that the Sanguinarius will eventually destroy for their own benefit. Those that can break away from this tormented life of evil are seen as traitors and disloyal to the pakyti and are often hunted down and slain, and will be attacked on sight by other Sanguinarius. The Sanguinarius are just a bit bigger than a small human, standing at about 4’6” to 5’. They are rusty brown in color, with sheer black eyes, and short tails.
Deridere
Roaming the vast plains of the world in large pakyti of 90-250 the Deridere, or hyena-man, make a home out of the land. They are sly and dangerous beings that have only their instinct to help them make it through their lives.
Dereidere females take their reputation of boldness and licentiousness as well as their fierceness and aggression to a greater intensity and rule their pakyti with an iron fist. Most members within a pakyti live under oppression, a state of perpetual desperation and poverty. With absolute power females control the castes and the militaristic power within the pakyti. Males tend to have little to no authority unless they managed to change their caste, which rarely if ever occurred. For the Dereidre, war and violence were just as much a part of the natural order of life as peace or serenity.
They are a society ruled by dark magics, eldritch alchemy and ancient rites that drive the them to great acts of evil in the world. Rarely does one individual stand out from the rest as an honorable being, these are the gosic, the enlightened, and are considered doomsayers and traitors to the species as a whole.
Psychology
Those who encounter a Kanus adventurer for the first time is going to find them overbearing, domineering and highly aggressive. Most other cultures, especially those that do not prize highly militaristic mindsets, are often at odds with Kanus sensibilities. Kanus come from a very structured, militaristic environment where the strongest often rule, though the cleverest can gain as much dominance as those that bolster strength and aggression.
Yet, most Kanus are valiant warriors with a reputation for strength, justice, and loyalty in addition to their natural aggression. They are masters of subterfuge. Their aggression is also tempered by their discipline, their military organization, and justice.
While they have not formally established great cities, they are by no means wanders connected in loose-knit tribes. Most communities of Kanus embrace the land and wilderness around them, often blending right into the surroundings. Beyond this they are very civilized with rules, laws and regulations. Most Kanus are not inherently cruel or evil, most are another species trying to carve their place in the world and the Omniverse.
Society and Culture
Kanus life is above all else a militarist state and emphasis on Kanus life and fitness begins shortly after birth. Kanus are known to give birth to 2 to 4 mabwa once every 15 years.
While many view the Kanus as unsophisticated they are unaware of the high value that they place on education, duty, honor and service to the pack from birth. While they value combat and military excellence over most everything else, they are also very keen on strong intelligence and knowledge.
Kanus want their offspring to be intelligent, and philosophical, but most of all they want them highly educated in the sport of combat. For them excellence in these areas, the realm of the body was the most important goal and the most respected in Omniverse.
From the moment they are born Kanus are divided into the three classes based upon the declaration of the kiongo: warriors, philosophers and citizens. Once placed into their caste a Kanus rarely moves from it and they begin their twelve year training in their caste. During this twelve years of apprenticeship Kanus are not only taught what their caste focuses on but are also taught some of what the other castes do, which is done so that all Kanus understand what it means to be Kanus. Once these twelve years have passed they are then initiated into the caste and given honor within the caste. For those that live into their older years they transition into Masters.
Female Kanus have a reputation of boldness and licentiousness as well as their fierceness and aggression. They are well known for their strong voices within the pakyti. While the males dominate most of the politics of the pakyti; females are the dominate forces within the pakyti itself. Female Kanus are treated in the same manner as are the males in each of their castes.
Kanus have a deep belief that mating should be between the most physically fit parents. Thus, it may occur that an older Kanus will grant a younger, more fit Kanus to mate with their wives in order to produce strong children. This practice is greatly encouraged in order that Kanus females bear as many strong-bodied children as they could. The Kanus population is hard to maintain due to the constant absence and loss of the males in battle and the intense inspections of the mabwa.
Family and Structure
All Kanus have a strong loyalty towards family (jahmak). Jahmak are as defined in their structure as the pakyti is in the larger life of the Kanus.
Each jahmak is under the auspicious of both a male and female partners (though same-sex partnerships have existed, Kanus see this as the extreme need). These partnerships are generally life long until death of one of the partners. The jahmak is generally made up of 5 to 10 individuals and include several mabwa, mated partners, any surviving elder Kanus of both partners and the oldest daughter and her partner.
While the pakyti is not matriarchal in nature, the jahmak is matriarchal in nature though not ruled or guided by the dominate female. While the male tends to make the final decision he does so with the agreement of the female, and they generally are in agreement. Should the female ever not be in agreement, the male will make adjustments to appease her, but in extreme situations, the male will make the final decision.
Each family has a defined standing within the pakyti, and the male naturally seen as the leader and his decisions are not to be argued against, at least not in public.
Community
Despite most Kanus living within the mountain regions of the worlds and that their overall view is more animalistic than humanoid, nearly all Kanus communities are a highly organized, and very militaristic.
Each pakyti is made up of 10 to 30 jahmak (families). The pakyti are organized into coalitions known as katacs (clans). From these the members of the community’s refukuu raza (high council) are chosen, and these individuals make up the members of the five nations of Zak-Cha.
Kanus social structures are divided into three types: warrior (shujak), philosophers (wanakfal), and citizens (wanaki). This social division assists with military structure of the packs. The warrior class is the ruling class within a pack, and within the shujak there is a single dominate kwahnka that dominates over the whole of the pakyti with absolute power.
The Kanus species is ruled by two individuals known as the Kartuith – usually a mated pair of Kanus, but sometimes two siblings. Regardless of how the Kanus are ruled, their packs are organized into different social standings. These standings change regularly, as one Kanus proves themselves better than their peers.
As a general rule Kanus tend to avoid gathering in large groups to avoid militaristic conflicts between two dominate males of different packs. Most Kanus live within small villages scattered through out the region.
Outside of the villages the most encountered Kanus are one of two types: Duc’ark (wanderers) and Bac-turik (explorers). The first are those who have somehow upset the balance of their pakyti and were banished, left to wander the world on their own. The second are individuals that have been selected to journey into the world for a specific reason: to locate a lost item, explore distant lands, recruit allies for the pakyti, or look for weaknesses in other pakyti or species.
Art
As noted previously, the Kanus are a cultured people. Despite many misconceptions, they are practical, placing function before sublime performance. They are inspired sculptors having many statues decorating community buildings. Each of the five Kanus cultural kin has a specific theme that they tend to adhere as well as specific material that they prefer to use from wood to stone to ceramic to metal.
Kanus have a great love of music, particularly horns and drums. They prefer epic ballads that often end group howling that can echo for many miles.
Kanus have a natural distrust for anything technological beyond their swords, shields and traditional armor. Though they are known to use rifles and pistols.
Customs, Traditions and Beliefs
First amongst traditions within the Kanus species is the idea of Strength Prevails. Kanus believe that only the strong will succeed and this begins the moment a being is born. Kanus are required to prove their fitness even as young mabwa. Just after birth a female Kanus places her mabwa out in the wild for one full day to see whether the mabwa were strong enough. If the mabwa survive they are then brought before the kiongo. The kiongo then decides whether or not the mabwa are to be reared within the pack. Those that are not found to be strong, aggressive and fit are put to death in the wilds. This is done to improve the strength of the pack as well as the nation. It has been said “Kanus do not fear death, the nation not the kafami is the focus of every Kanus male.”
Those that do pass this test still do not have it easy. To test their constitutions Kanus are often bathed in ghuruk (a fermented wine-like liquid), they are frequently ignored and commanded to never fear the dark or solitude.
Another harsh tradition of the Kanus arises from Strength Endures. To toughen up their linage and clans, young warriors are often instigated into fighting amongst themselves. They were also pushed into living against hardships such as cold, hunger and pain. Those that showed signs of cowardice or timidity are targeted to teasing and violence by all those that witness the sign.
Kanus have a strict tenure of beliefs. Their militaristic views in their own culture, their beliefs deeply reflect this. Kanus belief that the old ways are the best ways and are very resistant to new ideas. They believe that new ideas will weaken their way of life, and change must be avoided.
Weakness is to be forcefully removed from the spirit. To the Kanus the greatest virtue was bravery and the greatest honor was to die in battle. Kanus do not believe in retreat from battle, and those that do are often ridiculed, forced into a lone existence to live on the fringes of Kanus society. Only those that perform a glorious act in battle, once forced into isolation, are allowed to return to their clan.
Marriage
Marriage within the Kanus people is strictly a monogamous institution: by law partners can only have one spouse at a time. Marriage tends to be arranged by the dominate females between jahmaks and can only take place between jahmak within the same caste; unless a more powerful jahmak takes a keen interest in a lower caste female.
Mothers had the absolute authority over her children. Particularly, her daughters are under her direct authority. She has the right and duty to seek a good and useful match for her children and will arrange her daughter’s betrothal long before she came of age. Most Kanus’ daughters tend to be married or partnered by the age of 15. Most wives are encouraged to remarry after either the death of the partner.
Holy/Dates of Importance
Many of the important dates of the Kanus people are also their holy religious dates. Each of the various katacs, pakyti, and jahmak have their own holy dates as much as the entire species has. There seems to be a ritual or rite or celebration happening nearly every week, and in some pakyti happening every day.
One of the most important holy days for the Kanus is what is called Kutsanu. Called the Feast of the Great Mother, is a festival that celebrates the birth of the Kanus species by the goddess Kaukaz, goddess of birth, creation and survival. This festival generally takes place during the Spring Dawning of each year.
Kosundo is another Kanus date of importance as it represents the commemorating of the passing of the winter solstice, and the longest night of the year. It generally is celebrated on 12th night of Derekan during the week that the Kanus call the Yihntasi (week of the moon). It begins on the sundown and goes through the night with grand celebrations, gift giving, and often marriages.
The rhenk estiv (festival of color) is celebrated 5th day of the month of Menet and represents the Kanus celebration of spring and the god Mihr, believed to hold power over Light, Morning and Re-Birth.
Tanrigusu is an annual festival that celebrates the birth of Khul Thal, the first avatar of Ednra, who lead the Kanus species out of the darkness of savagery and brutalism of their ancestors and into their enlightened ways of civilization. It is observed in the month of Sotetseg and is set to coincide with either a new or full moon. The festival is highlighted with dance-drama enactments of the life of Khul Thal according to the holy Khutsu Katu, devotional singing through the midnight when Khul Thal was born, fasting (erhiz), a night vigil (obeti gecu), and a festival on the following day are a part of the celebrations where gifts are given in honor of the birth.
Dress/Clothing
Most Kanus tend to dress in loose fitting shirts and cloth or leather, pleated skirts, made from cotton or other fabrics that they have gained from trade with more industrious species. Most females dress in a uniquely designed and stitched loose, long-sleeved outer silken robe over cotton skirt and a soft cotton shirt.
Occasionally, on holy days and festivals, males wear a similar style, but are thicker, heavier and more decorative than females.
Day-to-day males wear leather shorts, cotton shirts under a thin leather chest piece. As a species they do no wear boots, but will occasionally wear a type of soft leather shoe when it is very hot or very cold.
Food
Like Jakara and Rhakas, Kanus are predominately carnivore, but do enjoy a wide ranging palate and taste of foods, other than meats.
Antukuc is a popular dish that originated long ago and can now be found through out the various communities of Kanus. It consists of vinegar marinated rabbit or venison covered in various spices. It often comes with boiled potatoes, or a dense brown bread all on a skewer that is roasted.
A type of casserole dish, chunaeof, is mix of sliced various types of meats from rabbit, to beef and pork mixed with onion, garlics, spices and beef blood. It is traditionally served wrapped in thin sour bread.
All Kanus are taught how to make one of the most basic of food type that they are known to carry. Called sertisanet, a concentration mixture of fat, meats, dried berries, and spices. It is hard packed into foot long logs and then dried for several days. These logs are known to replace iron rations with a single slice of sertisanet replacing a single whole ration.
Religion and Spirituality
Kanus are a superstitious and fanatic lot and believe that all things are divinely initiated. They believe in the power of prophecy, the sanctity of sanctuaries and festivals and the threat of divine punishment. There is a deep religious connection between the shujak, the military life and the various deities of the Kanus as well as those of Ta Los. They have a affinity for prayers and believe in the asking for divine favor in everything they do. Within the Kanus mindset religion and spirituality is a way of bringing the clans together and uniting the deities with everyday going-ons.
Religion is taking very seriously, the deities are to be obeyed unsuspectingly, based on a mutual respect that “the deities are on their side and will assist them in all their ventures.
The Gods
Amongst the civilized species of the Omniverse, very few have as many gods as the Kanus do, which is only out done by the human cultures.
Kanus mythology contains fifteen different gods and goddesses which have a very strong influence over their daily lives. There are also a number of minor gods and goddesses that individual pakyti venerate.
Foremost among the gods are Kaukaz, Mihr, Aralez and Dagana. The Kanus deities are thought by other species only to be extensions of or another aspect of Elal, Gishra and Azahak; though this is slanderous and hearsay among the Kanus.
Death and Funerals
To the Kanus’ death is not a tragedy, even when it occurs early in life or through unfortunate circumstances. To the Kanus’ death is a natural process and is believed to be overseen by the god Kalac and viewed as the plan of the gods. They hae a firm belief in the afterlife where those that have served and lived a worthy life with be rewarded.
Kanus’ mourning practices are extensive, but they are not an expression of fear or distaste of death. Kanus’ practices relating to death and mourning have two purposes: to show respect for the olu vhucut (dead body) and to comfort the living.
After a Kanus dies, they eyes are closed, the body is laid on the ground and covered and candles are lit next to the body. The body, if it is possible, is not left alone until after the burial.
Where it is possible the Kanus wash their dead and is wrapped in a simple, plain shroud. The kiongo decree that the dress of the body and its entombment should be simple, which should be done in the earth.
After Life
Like other spiritual traditions, Kanus’ traditions suggest that they believe in a place of great good called Khulam Hac-Ba and a dark, foreboding place of death and anguish known as Yeral Ucuru (Underground Abyss).
Khulam Hac-Ba is very similar to the notion of the heavens of other species it is a place of great wild mountains where the souls of the dead and ancestors reside after death.
Yereal Ucuru is described as a region deep and dark, a region of forgetfulness where the souls of the unloyal and hateful Kanus descend into after death. This netherworld is controlled by demonic beings that separate the Kanus’ soul from the gods and mortal kind, here the desperate souls live on in some shadowy state existence.
Language
Ras al Jaum, voice of the Kanus is a language of deep guttural tones interspersed with high, sharp tones that are used for emphasis. A single word, depending on the stresses, can mean several things. For example kiongo, generally means leader, but with an emphasis on the last O means father, where as the emphasis on the first O means chief-leader. These emphasis’ are difficult for non-traditional speakers to do because it is a result of the Kanus to be able to reach higher pitches mid-word than other species. Each sub-culture speaks its own dialect variation of Ras al Jaum. Koyote speak Nusuk, Robur speak Rastaban, Sanguinarius speak Sadal Saik, roka speak Kul-ark and Dridere speak only Ras al Jaum.
