Wolfe Tracks: Windtracer Lore - Ishnanori

More worldbuilding from the background of Windtracer Tales. This would be the culture that helped shape Tela into who she is!

Going with a little of the theme of the last Wolfe Tracks, I thought I would share more of the lore. This time it’s the culture that Tela, the main character, grew up in. The Ishnanori people! Pull up a chair and settle in, this one is a bit long.

Ishnanori (Ish-nah-nor-ee)

Colorful. Boisterous. The Ishnanori are as surprising as the city state they call home.

— Idemon Narsallis, Traveler

They come from many places, many walks of life from Centrum, to the Radiant City of Sol, or even from the centaur kingdom of Jata in the deep plains of the Planus Continent . However, they share a common bond.

They were all refugees looking for a home. These are the people that became the colorful and passionate Ishnanori.

A Cultural Quilt

The Ishnanori, or the people of Ishnanor , are a mixture of seafaring traditions from distant cities and the various plains tribal cultures of the centaurs. Predominantly the Jatari of the kingdom of Jata.

This has resulted in what appears to visitors as a disorganized, loud, and colorful culture. However, the Ishnanori merely value individual expression and an equal voice among their peers. This is a holdover from their collective roots of privateering and centaur tribal ways.

They have a diversity all their own and a uniqueness. However, they did grow out of refugees banding together to make a trading post survive. So really, it isn't that much of a surprise they are the way they are.

— Idemon Narsallis, Traveler

Ishnanori and The Great Collapse

Living among the ruins of an Ancient settlement has given the Ishnanori a unique perspective on the Ancients. This has shaped their opinions on Ancient ruins and the Great Collapse itself.

Ancient Order ruins are dangerous places. All Ishnanori agree on that. Where they disagree is how the ruins are handled. Ishnanori do love a good debate, especially a historical one, and so this topic and the Great Collapse is a favorite subject.

Most agree that the Ancient Order ruins should be explored. Reasons differ. Some see profit while others, such as the Windtracer Company , see a valuable chance to learn from the past so people will not repeat the mistakes of the future. Then there those that are afraid of how dangerous the ruins are. Stories from the plains describe all manner of dangers from roaming packs of enchanted undead to broken devices that seem to summon magic storms or worse. This last is why Ishnanori do agree the exploration should be done by those trained to have some ability to handle such dangers.

This inevitably leads to a conversation about the Great Collapse. All Ishnanori have a theory. The ruins that Ishnanor is built on top of have given no end of tantalizing hints that lead to no firm conclusions. However, the Ishnanori do love a good tale, so the most common theory is that the Ancient Order brought on the Great Collapse simply through not being careful. Specifically with magic.

Ishnanori generally agree the ruins they live in and on were some means for the Ancients to study the stars. They believe that the Ancients delved among the stars too far and found something they were not prepared to handle.

The way I've heard it told, the Ancient Order opened one mystic portal too far and found another land. Another place. But there were things there that didn't appreciate being found and turned the Ancient's own magic against them! Crushed it all from the sky. At least, that's what my Gempa told me growing up...

— Gemma Strongcrest, merhorse rancher

Concerning Magic

Magic is a complicated topic for the Ishnanori. On one hand, spellcasting is a skill and a difficult one at that. It requires in-depth study and concentration. The results can be miraculous and deadly. Yet, their beliefs around that the Ancient Order and being not quite as careful as they should with magic, color their view on magic use.

The Ishnanori have no qualms about the use of magic. In fact, several do practice magic but exercise extreme care about its application. An Ishnanori mage will not cast a spell for any just situation. To the them, magic is a tool that only a certain few have the skill or aptitude to wield and should use it only when necessary. This is perhaps one of the few times that their natural passions are tempered by strong caution.

To them, the concept of a person being just a wizard is unusual. Because of this, Ishnanori mages often have a second profession. Many, if not all, are blacksmiths, herbalists, bakers, alchemists and more. They blend their spellcrafting with that profession in unique and different ways. Yet, make no mistake, those few Ishnanori spellcaster are quite capable of casting a lightning bolt if the dire need arose.

Meddle in the affairs of wizards? Bah! Don't mind if I do. Now, if you really want to put your life at risk, meddle in the affairs of an alchemist! Now there's going the right way for a bad end!

— Lorekeeper Rudigar Brockhouse

Customs of the Ishnanori

Names and Naming

Ishnanori names span their wide cultural roots so they don't have names that stand out as 'masculine' or 'feminine'. But it's their practice of a 'public' and a 'private' name that stands out.

A public name is the name a person uses when out among people that are not family or blood relatives. This is the name they will use when making a mark on an Article of Bargain or other official document. This name is sometimes selected by a person's parents but it's just as common for a person to select their own public name.

A private name is the Ishnanori's actual name given to them at birth by their parents. This is only used around relatives and family members. In some cases close, lifelong friends may use it as well. Knowing and Ishnanori's private name is sensitive business. Using it in public is a terrible insult and has caused more than one duel.

The only other time an Ishnanori will share their private name is when they marry. As part of the ceremony, which does take days, the betrothed retreat to a secluded location to exchange their private names. This exchange of names is considered to seal the bond.

Common Family Names

Armsong, Faramane, Ivemon, Zniber, Al-Mohktar, Yasin, Longbrand, Whitspine, Rumbleaxe

Common Names

Lassria, Jamal, Teleas, Thomocles, Archadir, Idlien

Greetings

Ishnanori greetings are unusual, yet as colorful as the rest of their culture. The Ishnanori do understand and respect clasping forearms or shaking hands. However, to the Ishnanori, a proper "hello" is more involved.

To greet one another, the first person claps their hands once. Then the person being greeted claps their hands twice. After that, each places their dominant hand over their heart. The meaning behind it is to symbolize greeting the other person with "open hands and open heart".

This same motion is repeated in other situations as well. Most often when concluding a trade, bargain, or purchase. The result only adds to the loud, boistrous nature of an Ishnanori marketplace or tavern.

When introducing one person to another, the person doing the introduction places their hand over their heart, then gestures to the person being introduced.

In all those situations, an Ishnanori will conclude the greeting by saying "Yoi T'kalo", a phrase meaning "Good Trade" that is rumored to be a phrase adopted from the Ancients.

Gambling

The Ishnanori love a good game or contest. One of the best examples of this is the Springtime merhorse races around the lake that are the height of the Springtide Festival.

However, visitors soon learn that there are subtle nuances to Ishnanori and these contests.

Their love of a good game or contests is a love of the challenge. A fascination with strategy. To the Ishnanori, games are not about the 'take' or the 'winnings' but more about the experience of the challenge. A chance to test a person's skill or mettle.

So it's forbidden for any of the Ishannori to gamble at any contest, especially cards or dice, for money. In fact, using real money is an insult to the Ishnanori, who would view that as an attempt to "purchase victory" instead of earn it.

Those that break this law are shunned for a time prescribed by the local elders. Usually, they are exiled to the plains side of the Tugard Marshlands for a short time as punishment with only a blanket and one weapon of their choice.

In games, such as with dice or cards, instead of money the Ishnanori trade in crafts.

These crafts must be items made by the people in the contest. The most common items used are polished wooden animal totems, or wooden rings, scrimshaw on devilfish beaks, or candles made from Tugart Marshland bees.

Weapons

To the Ishnanori, a weapon is like an arm, leg or tail. It's a part of them.

In other lands they will, with much reluctance, surrender weapons if they have to enter a city or establishment that forbids them. However, they are quick to recover their weapons when they leave.

Among the Ishnanori, there are strict rules governing weapons. All Ishnanori are taught the measure and method of the short sword, bow, staff and knife at an early age. They are expected to always keep their weapons clean and fit for use. This comes from both the seafaring traditions and centaur tribal traditions of being ready to stand in defense at a moment's notice.

All Ishnanori always have at least one weapon of choice on them in their daily lives. This is most often a dagger, long knife, or both. They add other weapons such as the bow, staff, or other armaments for defense when they travel.

On Fighting vs Dueling

To an Ishnanori, there is a large difference between 'fighting' and 'dueling'.

Fighting encompasses most any sort of conflict from open warfare on land or sea to the average tavern brawl. These are a no holds barred affair for the Ishnanori with their fiery passions. Dueling is a different matter. To an Ishnanori,a duel is a matter of honor. These are always settled one on one and never inside the borders of a town or settlement. They feel its an insult to the settlement to duel in one.

Duels are conducted until first blood is drawn. In some instances, the duel can be to the death, but that is only for revenge for murder or other serious offenses. Duels to the death are rare.

Lorekeeper Notes

I've wondered about the newcomers that trickle in from Jata. - Lorekeeper Ihodis Jenro 

Why they look so haggard? Or what drove them here? - Lorekeeper Gwelunis Istril 

Not me. I'm not surprised a bit. - Lorekeeper Rudigar Brockhouse 

Oh, I'm going to regret this... why? - Lorekeeper Ihodis 

Because we Ishnanori throw the best Spring festivals! - Lorekeeper Brockhouse 

All right, you have me there. - Lorekeeper Ihodis

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Until next time!

-Kummer Wolfe