The semi-Aelic Vendol tribes are a diverse lot... they're essentially defined as all the Vendols that speak an Aelic-Vendol creole, and worship some, but not all, of the Fey gods. Currently, they seem to be in a loose confederation led by a strange druidic figure known as the Elhaz Cyng... this is the source of the Vendol mob that attacked Timber with some 1,000 strong warriors. However, to characterize these tribes as a single group of people is inaccurate. Mostly, they are individual nomadic families, hunter-gatherers that travel between various religious sites. Each religious site is tended by a mystery cult, and collectively, these practices are called the Vendol Mysteries.
The largest Vendol Mystery cult is actually the Wahla... they grew so large that they became an entrenched culture. However, travelers to Wahla confirm that the culture meets all the criteria of a semi-Aelic Vendol tribe: they worship most Fey gods, although Danna is conspicuously absent, they have the hereditary disposition for magic, and the Wahlan language is simply a very developed Aelic-Vendol creole. The Wahlans, however, are a very pastoral culture, with a highly develop tradition of arts and storytelling, and a state of craftsmanship which is amongst the finest on the isle. The contrast between the Wahlans, and say, the Wolf-Blooded, demonstrates the difficulties in making sweeping statements about the semi-Aelic Vendols.
In the Seaspur Mountains, these cultures are considerably smaller and much more savage. They have had extremely limited contact with the Aels due to the Aelic tradition of the Rochben... essentially a group of warriors who have taken it upon themselves to range the Seaspur Mountains and keep the Eastern Slope as a buffer between the two peoples. However, beyond the Eastern Slope, there are traditional migration patterns of small family groups, who make their way between mystery shrines that dot the western reaches. The various cults that tend these shrines are diverse, but tend to be between a handful of dedicated priests and nothing more, to tribes of up to two hundred Vendols.
Some of the more significant mystery cults are listed below.
The Forest People - The Forest People are an example of a larger cult, numbering probably well over a hundred men, women and children, who wield tremendous influence over the nomadic Vendols of the Seaspurs. It is likely the Elhaz Cyng is a member of this cult, although because the Forest People are typical of many small cults, it is difficult to say. The distinguishing characteristic of the Forest People is the division of worship: they have chthonic gods tended to by male priests, and fey gods tended to by female. This division of labor is common to the Vendols, and actually reflected in the Wahlan culture (which have noble priests and wise women). The Forest People place a strong emphasis on animism, and the belief that their gods are present in everyday objects and animals.
The Guardians of the Unroofed Vault - This cult is typical of a group with a specific purpose... they are about twenty or so people who banded together to protect the approach of the Unroofed Vault (where the Viltem fiend called Typhon supposedly dwelt). While they ultimately failed in their purpose, as they were recently attacked and defeated by a very small group of Aels, they show what particular type of cult looked like.
The Touched - A particular group of Vendols, constantly changing, who are devoted to aspects of fertility, death, birth, and life-cycles. A festive and debauched group, who are usually only visited to either feast or pay homage, they are also known for their violent sprees against other Vendols. They seem to worship some fey gods, and are obsessed with the sexual coupling of their King and Queen (and often the subsequent slaughter of said monarchs). They are generally younger individuals, have a high turnover, recruit forcibly, and rarely number more than two dozen.
The Weird Sisters - A small cult that exists close to the western shore, and probably only ever numbers three women at a time. This cult is extremely mysterious, as those that do known them value them for their divinations and prophecies, but outside of a handful of rangers and the Vendols, they are virtually unknown. These small, strange cults dot the Seapspurs, and no one knows exactly how many of them there are.
The Wolf-Blooded - The Wolf-Blooded are an example of a cult that is really more of a tribe, and has taken a single god as their patron (in this case, Parza). Numbering almost two hundred, they are incredibly insular and will attack anyone that approaches. Naturally, many rumors surround them ranging from cannibalism to shape-changing. However, while rare, they are not unique... there is at least one cult of Wraun somewhere deep in the Seaspurs which is supposedly even larger.
The largest Vendol Mystery cult is actually the Wahla... they grew so large that they became an entrenched culture. However, travelers to Wahla confirm that the culture meets all the criteria of a semi-Aelic Vendol tribe: they worship most Fey gods, although Danna is conspicuously absent, they have the hereditary disposition for magic, and the Wahlan language is simply a very developed Aelic-Vendol creole. The Wahlans, however, are a very pastoral culture, with a highly develop tradition of arts and storytelling, and a state of craftsmanship which is amongst the finest on the isle. The contrast between the Wahlans, and say, the Wolf-Blooded, demonstrates the difficulties in making sweeping statements about the semi-Aelic Vendols.
In the Seaspur Mountains, these cultures are considerably smaller and much more savage. They have had extremely limited contact with the Aels due to the Aelic tradition of the Rochben... essentially a group of warriors who have taken it upon themselves to range the Seaspur Mountains and keep the Eastern Slope as a buffer between the two peoples. However, beyond the Eastern Slope, there are traditional migration patterns of small family groups, who make their way between mystery shrines that dot the western reaches. The various cults that tend these shrines are diverse, but tend to be between a handful of dedicated priests and nothing more, to tribes of up to two hundred Vendols.
Some of the more significant mystery cults are listed below.
The Forest People - The Forest People are an example of a larger cult, numbering probably well over a hundred men, women and children, who wield tremendous influence over the nomadic Vendols of the Seaspurs. It is likely the Elhaz Cyng is a member of this cult, although because the Forest People are typical of many small cults, it is difficult to say. The distinguishing characteristic of the Forest People is the division of worship: they have chthonic gods tended to by male priests, and fey gods tended to by female. This division of labor is common to the Vendols, and actually reflected in the Wahlan culture (which have noble priests and wise women). The Forest People place a strong emphasis on animism, and the belief that their gods are present in everyday objects and animals.
The Guardians of the Unroofed Vault - This cult is typical of a group with a specific purpose... they are about twenty or so people who banded together to protect the approach of the Unroofed Vault (where the Viltem fiend called Typhon supposedly dwelt). While they ultimately failed in their purpose, as they were recently attacked and defeated by a very small group of Aels, they show what particular type of cult looked like.
The Touched - A particular group of Vendols, constantly changing, who are devoted to aspects of fertility, death, birth, and life-cycles. A festive and debauched group, who are usually only visited to either feast or pay homage, they are also known for their violent sprees against other Vendols. They seem to worship some fey gods, and are obsessed with the sexual coupling of their King and Queen (and often the subsequent slaughter of said monarchs). They are generally younger individuals, have a high turnover, recruit forcibly, and rarely number more than two dozen.
The Weird Sisters - A small cult that exists close to the western shore, and probably only ever numbers three women at a time. This cult is extremely mysterious, as those that do known them value them for their divinations and prophecies, but outside of a handful of rangers and the Vendols, they are virtually unknown. These small, strange cults dot the Seapspurs, and no one knows exactly how many of them there are.
The Wolf-Blooded - The Wolf-Blooded are an example of a cult that is really more of a tribe, and has taken a single god as their patron (in this case, Parza). Numbering almost two hundred, they are incredibly insular and will attack anyone that approaches. Naturally, many rumors surround them ranging from cannibalism to shape-changing. However, while rare, they are not unique... there is at least one cult of Wraun somewhere deep in the Seaspurs which is supposedly even larger.
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