The Ashrootmar are a people that live on the lower end of Ibabaw.
Society
Early History
The world was brought together by a series of tribal wars. When the seven villages stood with only a fraction of their original numbers they knew that it would be wrong to kill off all men. They are all under the impression that they are the only living humans so they set aside their differences and set up a new village for new beginnings. They chose the highest mountain in the land and built their city on it. If you can call a city with less than 500 people a city. They formed an “army” developing advanced fighting skills and animal partnerships.
A group of men formed the first academy of knowledge. Together they unified the languages and formed a writing system. The language was to be revised every ten years according to what the people had done with it. They sent it out into the village and set up a public school and a military school. The public school was for minimal teaching of adults. The military school was for young children. The arts of riding, archery, climbing, fighting, reading, writing, and religion were taught.
The villages’ shaman joined together and wrote their recipes and techniques in a medicinal journal with pictures of the plants. This was inspired by women deciding to write down their recipes for the first annual feast know as [ɪɹɒt keme], good time. The recipes were shared so that as many women as possible could make a type dish from a different tribe. Thus was born the culinary arts.
The mountain was covered in clay that was found to harden when exposed to the high heat of the community fire. The people first thought it a pain since it always dried uneven and rough. It made removal of ashes hard. But later kids had found that when you through the mold slightly dried mud into the fire after the weekly pit cleaning the molded clumps where hard and were made into marbles. After a mom found a net full of them and inquired how they were made and what mud they used the people’s natural inventive instinct took over and she experimented and made the first bowls and jars and plates that didn’t burn when exposed to fire. After word of this art spread through the village, it led to the creation of the art of ceramics. ===Marital Structure===
Marriage
The marriage is made up of couples always male and female though married couples often join into a group marriage of close friends.A man claims a woman's vagina and a woman claims a man's sperm. And by that I mean that no man can directly enter her (except the claimer) through the vagina. Though a man can pleasure her with anything else and/or anywhere else. No woman, after a man has been claimed, can take their sperm into their vagina. This is to ensure the right woman get's the right man's children. Though it is common for a group marriage not to have claims and have the children be the group's and not a couple's. Get it? Though other forms of sex don't matter as long as it is in that marriage group. Gay straight or lesbian don't exist. All forms are accepted and embraced. Marrying age for men is 16+; a female often waits till she is 21+ for health reasons.Though love is important it is also an option. If two people do not agree to marry by the coming of age it is then an elder's choice. Group marriage happens after a couple has formed. Then they either keep or release there claim over each other. A single person is allowed to join a group. Though it is rare it usually takes couples. All children are (sometimes/always) raised by the group. All women are expected when they come of age to maintain lactation. This is for children. Though it is also a symbol of love for a female to share her milk with adults of the marriage group after the children no longer need milk from the mother. A man is expected to bring home food and maintain the house, fire and tree.
Domesticated Species
Domesticated animals and their uses:
Mammoth
This animal was domesticated 3,000 years ago. The mamoth is an animal used by farmers, traders and warriors. Farmers use this beast for cultivating fields and transporting tools and goods to the markets and back. Then other village members also have elephants. They often breed these animals in a way that optimizes traits while avoiding inbreeding. Large pastures are almost always found nearby in order help feed these animals.
Traders use this beast for obvious reasons. They carry large amounts of goods. A trader often has a small herd in order to carry both the goods he intends to sell and the supplies he needs to survive. Often times a removable hut is built on top of the elephant much like an RV. They are also used in the markets because they can be taught how to take goods to a certain person. A note is tied to the mamoth's neck that states how much payment is needed and the command required to send the beast or to the next location. A mamoth can easily tell how much of its load a person is to take. Many commands are given to the beast by its owner and it remembers them all.
Warriors use this beast to frighten their enemy and crush all in their way. Weapons and supplies are carried swiftly along. They are fearless and strong and make a huge advantage over their enemy. When they go on crusades they are rarely defeated. These beasts are treasured for their strength, memory diligence and their obedience.
A mammoth is a sign of wealth.
Farmers have also domesticated cows, sheep, and goats.
The Hawk
Every kid over the age of three is found with a hawk. Falconry is a sport and a necessity. After all, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Hunting is almost impossible without these animals. Young children are encouraged to bring home rabbits and small animals for supper. They are also required to cook and preserve their catch.
The Big Cats
These people have domesticated several big cats. These include the Tiger, the Cheetah and the Jaguar. All of which have been bred into gigantism. This trait allows them to be ridden.
Tigers
Tigers are used for ground travel, hunting and war. They are swift and stealthy. Most fathers want their sons to ride tigers as it is a sign of strength and bravery. Talented riders can aim a bow and arrow while clinging to the beast with their feet and knees while running full speed. When this society eventually makes contact with other societies they will use them throughout the nearby lands. This animal is valued for its strength, intelligence and speed.
Cheetahs
Cheetahs after going through gigantism are slower, though their endurance has risen. A Cheetah can now maintain a speed of 40 miles an hour for 10 miles and 50 miles an hour for 2 miles. This animal is used by messengers. A system has been set up where after a certain amount of distance a station is set up so that he can switch Cheetahs. At these stations the rider gives some of the “mail” to the station head and then checks out a new Cheetah. Cheetahs are also used in battle and in hunting prey.
Jaguar
The Jaguar is the most common most common beast. Most people own one. They are used for transportation. The jaguar is prized for its speed and agility. Most people ride them up in the forest canopy away from the dangers below. Jaguars are mostly for personal use.
Sukrit
The Sukrit, or "good bad"
has become a staple of life though it is also feared because of its poisonous roots. It comes in three varieties vine, tree and bush. It is also considered highly invasive because of its root systems and its dispersion. The only animal able to eat the roots is a type of mole and it keeps it from spreading.
The roots spread fast and deep. About ten feet from the mother plant the roots surface and start another plant and so on similar to spruce trees. The fruit is sweet and nutritious making it like the siren of the plant world. It has several colors making it attractive to different animals and birds.
The fruit forms in a specific way that I was hoping was unique but believable please tell me if it is or not. When the flower petals form it releases strong scents into the air to attract the animals that eat nectar. After the spores have been transferred from another sukɹɪt onto the receivers in the petals seeds start to form. The petals then gorge and round out developing a tough skin and fruit forms within. A different petal color appeals to different animals. After the petals can grow no more they are picked or eaten by humans and animals. The seeds are then swallowed and the waxy shell that covers them slowly dissolves. It is then excreted and is able to germinate after being carries far enough.
Because of the nature of the plants and the way they spread human communities that have the plant; households have a ceramic jar to contain feces outside the front door. These jars are then filled with water and boiled. After being boiled the contents are dried and through into a community fire. They often harvest the fruit but try to keep the plant away from the village because of the animals and insects they attract.
This plant’s petals (before fruiting) are also harvested and used in tea. This tea makes green tea look like soda, while the fruit makes pomegranates look like a Mc Donald’s burger.
Fruit
The stem on the shrub and vine varieties are hemp like and can be used for much of the same things.
The leaves effect the nervous system and make it ten times more reactive. This means every sense is enhanced. Though this means both pleasure and pain. The leaves cause an addiction to not more leaves but more fruit. The fruit holds seeds which are then able to germinate once excreted. But the fruit causes an addiction to the leaves. A vicious cycle.
Now this addiction is only activated after tasting both so a child can eat the fruit with no addiction but the adults who are allowed to eat both are addicted. Though if you eat the leaves and no fruit you are done for.
This stimulant puts coffee to shame. Warriors are powerful and ten times as quick mentally and in reaction. Hunting parties are usually successful.
It is used in coming of age ceremonies which are closely followed with marriage.
Infrastructure
Their plumbing system consists of large sheets of cloth made out of a hemp equivalent that are covered in natural latex. They rope them in between three or more trees. They have a hole in the latex but not the cloth made so that water can pass through but decree may not. A latex covered cloth is placed over the hole to close it off when not in use. Now as it rains water levels rise. This being the rain forest overflow is an issue. A system of bamboo, clay, cloth and latex get water to different houses in the trees. Above every house are two large pottery containers. One has cold water the other is specially designed to keep a fire away from trees and flammable materials.
The water goes to two places both are close together. A wash room and the kitchen. The wash room has a bath/shower that give warm baths and so on, it has a waste removal device that is just a bucket with a chute under it, and a wash basin with hot and cold water.
The kitchen has a wash basin. The wash basin is like old western sinks with two spouts and a different temperature come out of each.
Postage
There is a network offices in the country. Each town is assigned an office. Each office is connected to another office in some way. Now each office shares livestock with another. The animal goes on the same route every trip back and forth. Food is on the other end of the line. the animal carries letters, packages, and official messages of the state. A pigeon is used for express delivery of small packages. the packages are often exchanged several times before finally reaching their destination. This process takes from as little as two days to a week (depends on package size).