Kemish

Kemish
Example of a Kemish scratch-sign, meaning "community" or "Kemish"
Capital	None
Ruler	No singular ruler
Government	Tribal meritocracies
Demonym	Kemish
Adjective	Kemish
Languages	Aserdian
Religions	Saurian hunts; shamanism; Aserdian pantheon, particularly Auva and Markab

The Kemish (pronounced KEH-mish) are a nomadic people that live in Brightmarch, known for their use of dinosaurs as beasts of burden and for defense. Dinosaurs play a significant role in Kemish culture, central to their society, religion, and livelihoods.

Demographics

Each Kemish tribe is generally no more than fifty people. The Kemish hail from a number of ancestries, though most are human, half-elves, or vishkanya. Some lizardfolk can be found within the Kemish as well, though they tend to form their own tribes.

Culture

Religion

Kemish religion combines a number of practices. Most Kemish hold shamanistic beliefs, which they closely combine with the practice of Saurian hunts that they share with other peoples of Brightmarch. Through the hunts and religious vigils, Kemish shamans form connections with the spirits of ancestors and the souls of great creatures, which they then call upon for guidance and protection. Some Kemish meld these beliefs with the worship of the Aserdian deities, particularly Auva and Markab, but many eschew the veneration of gods.

Society

Dinosaurs are important to the Kemish, both for ritual purposes and in everyday life. Hadrasaurs, edmontosaurs, and similar creatures are widely used as beasts of burden as tribes migrate. Quick and intelligent carnivores, particularly deinonychus, are tamed and used as guard animals, though the taming process for such creatures can be long and dangerous. Compsognathus and other very small dinosaurs are sometimes tamed as lookouts as well, though they are ineffective as guards individually. Other kinds of dinosaurs are occasionally used for more specialized roles, though less commonly.

Body paint for the purpose of disguise is a well-honed craft among the Kemish. They use a number of techniques to allow themselves to blend in with their surroundings, which are collectively seen as an important part of their hunting process. Some Kemish shamans and hunters take this a step farther and use chameleon magic to allow themselves to take on the colors and textures of whatever they stand next to.

Migration

Most Kemish tribes follow herds of large dinosaurs, especially sauropods, as they trek across Brightmarch. The presence of these immense creatures deters most threats, something the Kemish long ago learned to use to their advantage. Each tribe typically follows a herd for decades, allowing the dinosaurs to become familiar with their presence, though the creatures are rarely tamed due to the difficulty in doing so. Kemish tribes can usually be found in the lands around the Ikena River, especially in the inland stretches of the river where it passes through fern prairies and low-density forests.

Tribes frequently meet to share information and resources. When these meetings take place, it is also common for members of each tribe to join the other for a time, until their travels bring them together once again, learning their ways and forging new personal relationships.

Architecture

Kemish shelters are most typically hide tents. More permanent structures are made of treated dinosaur hides stretched over large bone frames, while those used by tribes on the move are usually the same type of hides over wood frames instead, in order to be more easily rebuilt when traveling to a new location. When not staying in a widely known and well-frequented location, such as one of their shared semi-permanent camps, most Kemish tribes go to significant lengths to camouflage their shelters, building them in unexpected locations amongst local vegetation.

Languages

Aserdian is, by a large margin, the most-used language amongst the Kemish. It is typical for at least a few members of each tribe to speak Common as well, but knowledge of this language is generally not widespread.

Writing

The Kemish use a unique system of logograms called scratch-signs. This system is typically used to write the Aserdian language, but it can be adapted to other languages as needed. Scratch-signs are designed to be easily marked into surfaces, and therefore are largely patterns of straight lines that can be made quickly and without specialized tools.

Though they are also used to write on paper, clay, or other transportable mediums, scratch-signs are primarily etched into rock faces, trees, or other locations in which they can be easily found in the future. When used in this way, the logograms inform future travelers of possible dangers, resources, or other nearby locations. They are also widely used to write records of events and special occurrences, or simply to note that someone passed through an area.

This logographic system is ever-growing in complexity and size. In addition to the standard (if very large) set of symbols, it is traditional for each Kemish that learns to write using scratch-signs to develop a personal sign to represent their own name. Some choose to have these symbols written on themselves using either tattooing or scarification.

Government

The Kemish govern themselves as tribal meritocracies. Kemish leaders are usually referred to as guides, reflecting their role in assisting their tribes while not having the power to unilaterally rule them. Guides are typically those that have demonstrated their strength and cunning through saurian hunts or by aiding their fellow tribe members through challenging times. Such leadership is not typically hereditary, though the high expectations Kemish society places on the children of guides means that they are often afforded more opportunities to prove themselves.

There is no formal process for the appointment of Kemish guides. Generally when a leader is replaced, their successor is chosen through an informal system in which prospective guides attempt to convince the rest of the tribe to follow them. This usually ends when one possible successor has gained enough of a backing that others concede - if none are willing to end their attempt to fill the role of guide, the tribe typically amicably splits. Agreements and concessions made in this time often play a significant role in the guide's actions from then on, as they must make good on their promises in order to enjoy continued support.