[Gossamer]

Originally posted in the Compendium, written by Sidhe. The Kemite Contribution "The Kemite People, guided by honor and tradition, have accomplished much in the face of adversity. Having been driven from their coastal homes by the enslaught of the Xet horde, those brave humans who escaped certain slavery managed to find their way to a fertile valley along the River Laroo. Therein they founded a great city that would house and protect the culture and civilization of the Kemites, so that the many deaths from their homeland would not be in vain. The city of Zinn'Sunn rose to become a regional power in the heart of what we know today to be Lauryl Province. At its height, the city-state was a veritable empire of commerce, trade, agriculture, art, literature and culture. Before the Aelyrian Kingdom had even begun its expansion, Zinn'Sunn cuisine was renowned throughout the human world. A rich language that speaks of discipline is only the first stage of attonement, for the Kemites also developed Zinn'ka, the unarmed combat. With a deep, spiritual culture and a society based upon strong virtues and norms, the Kemites joined the Empire on their own terms, and not brute conquest." - Prof. Niferra Iulia Li, "Kemite History 101", University of Aelyria. The Kemites believe that they are the direct descendants of Aslan (Torek in their tongue) and a woman from one of the early human tribes, believed to be the Archaxetanians. The Kemite legends state that the woman, Keme, was a warrioress that fell in love with Aslan. To make up for the fact he could never return her love, he fathered a new human tribe that would always bear her name. The Kemites believe that they are the first tribe of humans to break off from the Archaxetanians. In reference to the legend of Aslan and the warrioress Keme, there is constant debate among both Historians and Theologists as to its validity. It should be noted that the Historians who argue the point are all members of the Church of the Faith. The members of both professions argue that it is much more likely that Orod created the Kemites when he created all other Humans, stating that Aslan is not of a creative mindset and that Keme was most probably the first of the Kemites to come into existence, hence the eponymous name of this subculture of Humanity. They also state that the Kemites most likely created this legend because it is more amenable to their militant mindsets and ways of life. Many Kemites have argued that this tradition is true, but invariably their voices have also been stifled, as they are by far the minority in the intellectual communities. The Kemites were a coastal people that originally inhabited a portion of the lands now controlled by the Xet Alliance. They originally lived in small but beautiful and prosperous seaside villages. Eventually they spread inland, establishing farming villages. The villages in time turned into cities and the Kemites established their historic empire. According to recently written Kemite histories, a race of insect-like creatures, now known as the Xet, came down upon them with an overpowering force. In these relatively new documents it states that these creatures attacked the Kemites, driving them out of their cities, and decimating most of the population, though the Kemites fought valiantly against them. It is said that those Kemites that were able to escape fled to what is now known as the Aelyrian Empire and established the city-state of Zinn'Sunn in modern Lauryl province, while the Xet forced the remaining Kemites into slavery. It has come to light that this is in fact a false history, created to mask what the Kemites regard as a personal dishonour to their race, for an older history states that the Kemites were once unwittingly loyal to what is now known as the Xet Alliance. Physical Appearance Kemite Humans have pale yellow or olive colored skin. Dark black is the usual hair color, though shades of brown are not unheard of, and their hair is almost always straight. The usual eye color is a brown so dark it looks almost black, but other shades of brown and hazel are occasionally seen. They vary in their body build as all humans do, but a very lean and lithe body is the norm. Height ranges from five to six feet, but most, especially women, fall within the lower range. The Kemites are fast and agile, but they are not as strong as other humans and races. This is believed to be in part because of their dietary habits and their training regimes. It is a Kemite tradition to get a tattoo on the neck or chest of an animal or creature they identify with, but it is not a strict custom. Language The Kemish language is not considered to be incredibly complex. In fact it has been stated that the language is much simpler than Charismean. Many who have heard the language have noted that when vocalized Kemish is often a series of very loud and quickly spoken words making the language seem very harsh when, in reality, it is not. Many of the Kemites have suggested that the reason their language is so simple has to do with battle effectiveness. As many a general and tactician could attest, a simple form of communication is best during any military conflict as it helps to avoid confusion. Organization The Kemite lands did not constitute of an empire; rather, their society was clan-based. Marriages outside the clans were not only permitted, they were necessary to avoid interbreeding. Individual clans warred against each other and often clans joined together to remove a particular clan from power. A Clan Lord ruled each clan, and the position was not purely hereditary. Each Clan Lord was selected through a “Trial by Swords” wherein all eligible men and women fought in a competition (not to the death). The winner of the competition became the Clan Lord. Today, Kemite society is still warrior-based, though ultimate allegiance is granted to the Aelyrian Empire and not to the Clan Lord, whom is still selected through the Trial by Swords. Only three clans remain: Draeg R’tol (Clan Dragon), Qishk R’tol (Clan Gryphon), and Vhali R’tol (Clan Minotaur). Climate/Terrain In the now Xet infested lands, the Kemites lived primarily along the coast and preferred warm to moderate temperatures, but the Kemites are adaptable like all other humans. Even today, both extreme heat and extreme cold are conditions to be avoided unless absolutely necessary and the Kemites, for the most part, no longer live near the ocean. They are known to have some mountain top habitations, which are usually temples or secluded martial arts training centers, and often the two are combined. The highest concentration of Kemites is of course in Zinn’Sunn, the city that was originally founded by them. Kemites have also been found in higher concentrations in the city of Arakmat due to the large Aslan worshipping population there, and Mystique as a result of the strong alliance the two cities have fostered. Religion Almost all Kemites follow Aslan as their chosen god, although through patronage to the crown of Aelyria they respect all of the Aetherian gods. A select few of the Kemites have been known to secretly worship one of the Aeternians, but if they are found out they are ostracized or punished for their crime by death. The former is more common, as loss of honour is considered worse among the Kemites than death. Religion is an important aspect of Kemite society, and is not taken lightly. Though the Kemites as a whole are very religious and honour bound people it has been noted that in their beliefs they are not entirely unified. Each of the three different clans has a different interpretation on what it means to be a true Aslanite. Every one of them also has a different view on honour. As with many other groups in history and the present day, Kemites find themselves fractured because of religious disagreements. Combat The most common weapons among Kemite culture are tantos, katanas, yaris, and wakizashi. The modern day katana did not originate with the Kemites, but rather with the Elves, who refined the predecessor of the Katana. Occasionally a Kemite warrior will use a long or short bow, but the swords are more usual. The lighter swords allow them to use their speed and agility to its full extent. Most Kemite warriors will commit themselves to one weapon, to allow themselves to train up to the master level. The Kemites have been renowned as excellent martial artists, cited as creating the unarmed art of Zinn’ka. The Darui’Torek, which roughly translates into “Aslan’s Warriors,” were the elite Kemite warriors. Strict and difficult training was required for admittance, though not all that completed the training were allowed to join. A final test of battling against one of the existing Darui’Torek was requisite; the trainee had to win. The Darui’Torek served the entire Kemite population and lost their own clan identity. The Darui’Torek not only protected all Kemites, they settled disputes and in effect became the ruling party of the Kemites. The Darui’Torek still exist in the modern Aelyrian Empire, though not in the same capacity. For most young Kemite warriors, becoming a member of their race's elite force was a childhood dream, if not one that accompanied them into adulthood. Racial Prejudices A century after the founding of Zinn’Sunn, the Orcs unleashed a violent attack upon the Kemites, from which their deep hatred for Orcs spawned. The Orcish horde stole all that they could and destroyed the Kemite's arts and other aspects of their culture, as well as killing women and children and taking the Kemites as slaves. The Darui’Torek and other Kemite warriors ambushed the Orcs as they left through the gates of the city. Very few Orcs survived the attack, but approximately half of the Kemite warriors involved died as well. Kemites also have a deeply rooted fear of Dracons, but it stems from fear of the Dracons’ innate abilities rather than from the Dracons themselves. On more than one occasion, Dracons disguised as Kemites were found within the ranks of the Darui’Torek, the most sacred Kemite society, and were killed for their deception. Honesty is an important Kemite value, and taken very seriously. Consequently, the actions of the few have been made into the racial stereotype that Dracons are not to be trusted. As a result of their worship of Aslan, Kemites have deep respect for the Dorins. They believe them to be honourable, disciplined warriors and unwavering in their faith. Elves also hold particular favour among Kemites, specifically for their help in the refinement of the Katana and various other weapons of Kemite origin. Special Abilities or Weaknesses The Kemites, like all other humans, can master any ability with enough practice and training. The Kemites have a practiced chant, “'Torek Aldaine qor'u cha ae runak foray ae qilkaru!” which in Common Aelyrian translates into “Honored Aslan give me strength to defeat this evil that I face!” It is rumored among the Kemites that when a Kemite chants this phrase they receive divine aid, but this has never been proven. Kemites are excellent swordsmen and martial-artists. Many spend their whole lives honing a particular skill to utter perfection. Some Kemites have the aptitude for the arcane arts, and their preferred sphere is Mysticism; however, occasionally the other spheres are studied. The concept of Honour is valued and comes to play in all of their martial arts and swordsmanship. Kemites have a large intolerance for cold weather and are wary when it comes to drug use due to historical issues of dependency. The Kemite are a proud people, who seek a balance of the mind, body, and spirit. This demand of perfection has led some Kemites to insanity, in a few infrequent cases it has been determined to be the cause of religious conversion, such as the situation with the Aeternian worshipping Kemites.