Meskilak

Meskilak
Capital	None
Ruler	Ambassador-Chief Tenye
Government	Electoral chiefdom
Demonym	Meskilak
Adjective	Meskilakian
Languages	Goblin, Common, Aserdian, many others
Religions	Chaskan and Aserdian pantheons

The Meskilak (pronounced MESS-kill-ack), also known as the Gate-Crashers, are a nomadic goblin tribe in Brightmarch. Known for their ability to live anywhere, eat anything, and get along with anyone, they have carved out a niche for themselves as diplomatic and cultural intermediaries.

History

This is the story of the Meskilak as told by their ambassadors. They lived in temperate lands to the north for ages, a mostly peaceful existence alongside other peoples. Many generations ago, they were forced out of their old home by tyrannical invaders called the Teary Ones who desired their territory. After a long search for a new place to live nearby, they decided to leave their former homelands entirely and find somewhere new across the desert, in places unknown to the goblins. The Meskilak trekked for years, through desert, arid lands, and along the coast of a great sea, meeting a number of strange tribes along the way. They met dwarves made of sand, elves shrouded in darkness, and giant bugs afraid of music. The Meskilak thought all these groups were rather odd. This thought turned inward. If we consider them unusual, the Meskilak thought, then they must believe the same of us. Their journey continued. Eventually the goblins reached a great city that kept the desert at bay, and they saw the verdant lands beyond. The tribe decided this would be where they would stay, and they would seek to understand and appreciate everyone they met.

In the analyses of historians, this account appears to be collaborated by other sources. The Meskilak departed the Western Coast sometime around Y9640^*, setting south into parts not previous explored by the other goblin tribes of the region. After spending a great many years on a meandering route, they arrived in Brightmarch by Y9665^*.

Demographics

The Meskilak are entirely goblin. While most are descended from the original group that migrated south, some goblins from Brightmarch and elsewhere have joined the tribe in the years since. The Meskilak consider themselves a single tribe, albeit a rather large one.

Culture

Religion

The Meskilak have somewhat atypical religious beliefs, a unique blend of the Chaskan and Aserdian pantheons. They particularly emphasize the worship of Taliash/Tucana, Marya/Izar, and Usumu/Auva. Unusually, they do not fuse these deities. Taliash and Tucana, for example, are seen as separate goddesses, albeit rather similar ones, who work together to guide and protect their worshipers. They have adopted many other gods as well from various sources, who occupy smaller roles in Meskilakian religious life.

Religion among the Meskilak is unorganized. They have clerics, but no religious or clerical structures.

Society

To outsiders, the Meslilak are known above all else for their ability and willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, and get along with anyone. No matter the situation they find themselves in, they make do with gusto. None among the Meskilak will let others take advantage of them, however - while they can find the best in bad situations, they are quick to leave in the face of mistreatment.

As a result of their propensity for gregariousness, the Meskilak have adopted the role of diplomatic and cultural intermediaries in Brightmarch. They widely serve as mediators, envoys, and messengers, gluing together the disparate cultures around the Gulf of Aserdus. The arrival of the Meskilak in a settlement or camp is always a ceremonious event, where all can learn about the events and happenings of far-away places and add their own stories to the mix.

The goblins make a living both though a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and by trade. The information they carry can be greatly valued by those they meet, and the most precious of their knowledge typically carries a price in food, shelter, or luxury resources.

Migration

Rather than maintain their own cycles of migration, as do most of the nomadic peoples of Brightmarch, the Meskilak instead prefer to follow other groups as they move. Bands of Gate-Crashers will accompany another tribe or group for a time, camping nearby, joining in their activities, and following their lead until they decide to split and go in different directions. For this reason, the entire tribe is rarely in one location. Their movements make the Meskilak one of the most well-traveled groups in Brightmarch, regularly venturing from Yarma to Kiyashe and into the Laqto Rainforest.

To the groups the Meskilak follow, the accompaniment of the goblins is usually appreciated. The Gate-Crashers rarely remain with one group for long, and quickly depart if they feel that their presence has become undesired.

Food and cuisine

The Meskilak have developed an elaborate food culture that fuses aspects from many traditions. Most meals are communally prepared in massive dishes using whatever ingredients are convenient. Clear influences can be found in Meskilakian cuisine and cooking techniques, incorporating not only their ancestral goblin traditions but also an emphasis on use of earth-ovens from the Akwarai and stone-cooking from the Idrimi, a preference for dinosaur meat from the Kemish, a taste for very spicy foods from Yarma, and more.

Languages

The goblins of the tribe speak their racial language, Goblin, as well as a multitude of others. They are one of the few groups of peoples in Brightmarch who have near-universal fluency in Common, and a great many know Aserdian as well. Possessing a knowledge of many languages is a status symbol to the Meskilak, and many make a point to learn at least a few phrases whenever they meet someone who speaks a language they had not previously heard.

Government

The Meskilak govern themselves as an electoral chiefdom, in which the leader, called the ambassador-chief, is given effectively unilateral control to direct the tribe as they see fit. Ambassador-chiefs occupy their positions indefinitely, either until they die or they choose to step down. New chiefs are selected through an open vote in the tribe, in a ceremony that can change rapidly between cheerful festivities and utmost solemnity.