Fiction:Min Lagosi

"The sun; it rises and then sets. The moon; it manifests and then fades. The Lagosi'min; we forever persevere and never fall. You shan't either should you not succumb to greed and vanity."

The Lagosi'min (Usagengotut: Peoples of Lagosi) are a collection of tribes that reside within the Kame Isles and isolate themselves, their resources and their territories from the outside world that dominates the rest of. A spiritualistic, highly-cultured civilization that has existed for an unspecified amount of time, although are thought to be considerably ancient, the Lagosi'min promotes two important aspects within itself that all tribes follow; dignity and respect, although such terms are otherwise subjective to the Lagosi'min in comparison to other societies. While isolationist, it is ironic that the Lagosi'min support strong ideals revolving around family and community.

They are a defensive people who pride themselves for their culture, thus their architectural, structural and artistic designs are often beautiful. Art also extends towards other aspects of their society, such as their military; weaponry, armour, even their styles and methods of combat are made to be both efficient and creative. Their pride often leads them to come across as somewhat xenophobic towards those outside of the Lagosi'min, although in truth they are fear outsiders and aliens due to several justifiable reasons.

Okamaguq te Fuyuq
The Okamaguq te Fuyuq (Usagengotut: Wolves of Winter) is the Lagosi'min's primary military organization and is responsible for the well-being of tribal leaders, the enforcement and maintenance of the established Lagosi'min laws and the defense of the Kame Isles as a collective. The Okamaguq is built up of each tribe's local militia, with each division of the Okamaguq being called a Mure. All fully-grown men are expected to be part of the Okamaguq and, aside from the resident Daigakkuq, must defend their tribes when the time calls for such, as well as the Kame Isles if they are placed under threat. Okamaguq recruits usually begin their training between 13 to 16 years and train in the basic arts for a single year before moving onto specialized arts in order to utilize their specialties.

Warriors of the Okamaguq are recognized by via war paint, which varies between tribes, their ornate and decorative armours, ceremonial scars that mark their graduation from Okamaguq training trials, and their self-forged blades which they carry with them throughout their whole lives. Okamaguq soldiers are also known to be adept Source users, expanding on the Lagosi's natural Source-sensitivity in order to manipulate their environments and devastate their enemies.

The Okamaguq te Fuyuq's arsenal consists of specialized blades, longbows, various pole weapons and staffs, cluns and truncheons, and various chain weapons, with the most iconic weapons of the Okamaguq being the blades that most warriors carry with them; kaatakuk, which are blades that follow a basic katana-like template but are all, in some aspect pertaining to the blade, unique due to each Okamaguq recruit having to forge their own blade in order to pass their training trials. Soldiers of the Okamaguq are known to make use of mounts for easier transport and for a combat advantage - while horses are the most common mount seen, there are also large snow wolves, polar bears, and snow leopards that can be tamed and mounted.

The Okamaguq te Fuyuq possesses four ranks; Initiate (Gaakukkuq), Soldier (Heiishokkuq), Warrior-Captain (Senshiuk'taachokkuq), and Warmaster (Shogakkuq). Each Mure of a tribe is led by at least one Warrior-Captain while there are only two Warmasters, one for the Eastern Tribes and one for the Western Tribes, whose authority ousts that of Warrior-Captains and are responsible for leading the Mures of their respective divisions against large-scale threats and enemies.

The Okamaguq is renowned for its code of honour; a soldier is to always respect his enemies, his allies, his weapon and himself, is to never flee from conflict without viable justification, is to not kill or harm the unarmed unless they pose threat, is to never draw his soul-weapon unless they plan to use it, is to never use Source outside of battle, and is expected to end his own life or face death or exile should he disgrace any of the previous values.

Raaidaluk tega Hirogaartuk
The Raaidaluk tega Hirogaartuk (Usagengotut: Thunder of the Expanse) is the naval fleet of the Lagosi'min and is responsible for patrolling their territories and defending them against seafaring invasion forces, as well as transporting people, resources and materials between the Kame Isles. Effectively, as well as a naval protection force, the Raaidaluk functions as a civilian transport service with specific vessels dedicated to public travel between the Kame Isles. Unlike the Okamaguq te Fuyuq, where each tribe has its own local militia consisting of members of its population, the Raaidaluk's crewmen are not bound by conscription and can consist of both male and female crew. The vessels of the fleet are built and designed by Lagosi engineers under supervision from the Odaigakku of the Eastern and Western tribes.

The Raaidaluk possesses multi-purpose ships in order to fufill various tasks at the same time, such as transporting materials as well as patrolling and scouting for enemy forces with full capability and preparation for fighting them. Vessels are often reinforced with plating and soldiers, usually those of the Okamaguq, are positioned onboard and equipped with arrows and spears for ranged combat. As with most aspects of the Lagosi'min, Raaidaluk ships are decorative and artistic in aesthetic yet sacrificing nothing in terms of efficiency and function.

Vessels of the Raaidaluk tega Hirogaartuk are commandered by Navigator-Captains (Shidiuk'taachokkuq), divisions of the fleet are commandered by Admirals (Teeitakkuq), and the entirety of the fleet is under the authority of two Lord Admirals (Oteiitakkuq), one for the Western tribes and one for the Eastern tribes. To assist in ship-to-ship conflicts, onboard soldiers will often use Source-based methods in order to deal damage against enemy crewmen and even opposing vessels if they are within range or strong enough to do so.

Society
The Lagosi'min are divided into two distinct, collective groups of tribes that are classified in terms of their place of residence; the Eastern tribes (Azuumannguq) and the Western tribes (Nishiinnguq). The Eastern tribes are noted for their larger Mures, higher sensitivity to Source, wider range of local flora, and their focus on spirits while the Eastern tribes are noted for their smaller but more efficient Mures, higher skill of forging and crafting, wider range of local flora, and their focus on deities.

The Lagosi'min tribes within either division sustain a minimum population of 20, not including militia, and population growth is monitored by the resident Daigakkuq, who is to ensure that his tribe's numbers are not to breach 60, with the only exceptions to this rule being the Odaigakkuq who are allowed to sustain a tribal population of a maximum of 250 members each. Tribal politics and economy usually revolve around territory and resources; trading and sharing are important aspects, alongside working for favours, and as such tribes will often contribute farmers or soldiers to one another in exchange for particular materials or services.

Tribal disputes are solved with the assistance and decision of an Odaigakkuq, who is also informed of events such as the merging or sub-division of tribes within his territory. While laws are important to be upheld, it is often considered far greater to uphold one's morals, respect and dignity as it displays one's individuality and decency. Those who do not uphold such values are considered deserving of punishment and berating, with some cases being punishable by death. Family, frienship and community are considered vital virtues to the Lagosi'min thus respect and dignification is always directed towards them, being honoured through cultural practices and traditions.

Between the two divisions, there are severals means of supporting one's tribe; hunting, farming crops and harvest fruit, and fishing are considered the primary means of gathering food. Some tribes are known to support themselves through acting as a third party in the trading of these materials between populaces, usually allowing themselves a share of the exchange. Tribes are usually given specific areas in which to reside rather than allowing nomadic traversal, as such can cause some concern in terms of territory. Lagosi'min residences are designed to fit and support large families as well as preserve warmth.

To display affection, sympathy or respect amongst tribe members or show tribute to allies, jewellery is often exchanged between both males and females, with earrings being more masculine and necklaces more feminine while bracelets and rings are considered unisex. Sports are often played between tribes, usually ranging from standard sports such as racing (iukitann) and volleyball (qaalakiuk) to intelligence-based games such as diagonal draughts (Uulaqaq) to more dangerous games such as swordplay (kaatinnguk'giikuq). Music often involves drumming, singing, chanting, and dancing and is generally enjoyed throughout both tribal divisions.

Within the Western tribes marriage of free choice is not practiced while within the Eastern tribes males must impress their partner's families in order to gain permission to marry her, usually through social gatherings and gift-giving. Marriages within the Western tribes are large events while Eastern marriages tend to be more private and intimate. Divorce, protected sex and abortion are not options for either. Boys can also only marry once they've completed and graduated military recruitment and training, as it symbolizes the confirmation as a man of status.

While the Lagosi'min uphold moral virtues and ideals at an equal standing to law, religion is also a major factor although they are not perturbed by the thought of foreigners not supporting their faith. Howevers, those that openly admit to atheism or antitheism within the Lagosi'min specifically are treated with much scorn and disrespect, being considered "undignified" and "soulless" by most of the population from both the Eastern and Western tribes, despite their accepted differences in faith. There are no specific priesthoods or religious orders that fulfill the role of preaching or teaching, as the responsibility is left to tribal families.

Daigakkuq
The Daigakkuq is the tribal chieftain of a single tribe and as such there are an unspecified number of them. Daigakkuq are usually officially males, although in the absence of a Daigakkuq it is possible for a female to stand in and act in his place until a new Daigakkuq is selected. The selection method of a Daigakkuq ranges between the Eastern and Western divisions; in the Eastern tribes the position of Daigakkuq is determined through nomination of and for those outside of the Daigakkuq status while within the Western tribes it is the responsibility of the Daigakkuq to select an heir from within his tribe.

Unlike other men within a tribe, it is optional for a Daigakkuq to attend duties pertaining to the military although they themselves must have the necessary military training as all boys and men do. Daigakkuq usually oversee and sustain their tribe from their election up until their death, meaning they are greatly respected as it is they who lead and guide tribes to prosperity and survival. It is also the responsibility of Daigakkuq to discuss political matters between tribes, usually concerning an exchange in resources, materials and land.

Odaigakkuq
An Odaigakkuq performs the role of representing a collective of tribes - in this case, one of the two tribal divisions. It is their authority and sustenance that has kept the Lagosi'min surviving through harsh, cruel times and it is they who ultimately represent the voice, actions and achievements of the people. An Odaigakkuq is determined similarly to how a Daigakkuq is selected; depending on the division, an Odaigakkuq is selected either through nomination and democracy amongst a gathering of Daigakkuq or the previous Odaigakkuq selects a Daigakkuq from a particular tribe to become his replacement. As with most cases, the position of the Odaigakkuq if fulfilled by men.

The responsibilities of an Odaigakkuq range from confronting foreign threats diplomatically and concluding inter-tribe conflicts and affairs to organizing festivals and celebrations for the tribes throughout the Kame Isles. The tribe of the Odaigakkuq also recieves an elevated status that allows for a significant increase in populace and territory, while the tribe of the former Odaigakkuq divides itself into smaller tribes in order to support the population restrictions. Those of the Odaigakkuq are often portrayed as being past their prime or elderly, mainly due to the fact that it is mostly older Daigakkuq that are likely of recieving this elevation in status.

Allies
"Their spirits yearn to do good deeds."

Neutral
"Please, we mean you no harm. Do not mean us any."

Enemies
"Their spirits scream to do evil, if they have spirits at all."

Quotes
=Notes=