The Makah

History
Imprisoned on Sutekh early in the planet’s prison career, the Makah are one of the older bands of souls to still roam the desert. The reasons for their exile to his place have long been lost to the march of time. Throughout their history on Sutekh the Makah have risen and fallen in power. Most recently, they’ve fallen, and done so greatly. At one point, the tribe controlled the entire Sea of Sand, west to what is currently Muddy Waters, and south to the Grey Canyons. This reign lasted for just a few decades before the other tribes of the desert began to chip away at the Makah territory. When the Makah had lost half their former holdings, they forged an alliance with one of the other top tribes in the region: the Sanghaim. This alliance held true until very recently…

The Mohawk bandits, joining forces with several other large bandit groups, waged war against the tribes of the desert. Their motive was simple: Get rid of the tribes, so that they could be the big dogs on the block. This bandit alliance laid waste to the tribes of the desert, even the powerful Sanghaim and Makah. Both faced a powerful host of bandit raiders, each fighting its’ own battle. But, the tribes held on to existence. That Makah, however, were never to regain their old glory. The Sanghaim and the Makah, sworn by their alliance to come to the others’ defense, found themselves split by their combined defeats. They would never again be on friendly terms, each blaming the other for the massacre that had taken place.

Now, the Makah reside only in the mountains north of the Sea of Sand, the Soh Mountains. For the most part, the tribe has dropped off of the radar of the other groups in the desert, and they prefer it that way. Some likely believe the Makah to have been completely destroyed. But, this is not the case. They have merely adopted a reclusive stance, staying secluded in their mountain passes as they attempt to rebuild. Rarely, a representative of the tribe will drift into a desert town and seek out useful trade and information…

Territory
The Soh Mountains. Towering, jagged, and unforgiving. It is here that the Makah make their homes, among the dusty slopes and the jagged flanks. The tribe keeps watch over a large portion of this mountain range, rarely being spotted outside of their main settlement, though they’re certainly there… Masters of moving unseen in the rugged territory, they blend into the rocks and the dirt. Anyone coming into their mountains bearing hostile intent typically does not come back out.

The main Makah settlement, known as Zakladna, is deep in the mountains, accessible only by a maze of passes and trails. Most people who try to find it, simply get lost in the ranges of the Soh peaks. The settlement itself is a quiet, pragmatic place. Mud brick structures seem to emerge from the sides of a narrow valley, the structures partially sunken into the valley walls. The valley dead ends, and up one of the mountain slopes lies the homes of the elders. They are no larger than the homes of the others, some of them single room affairs, others having more. Water is drawn from aquifers in caves, as well as some small streams that mark nearby valleys. A small storehouse in the center of the village houses stocks of food and other supplies. There is no electricity, and sparse few signs of influence from the “outside”. At night, the glow of lanterns and small fires try to stave off the dark. A pair of old, battered trucks can sometimes be seen near the homes of the elders, though fuel to run them is scarce.

Customs and Dress
As a people, the Makah value family and community. Even more so now that their numbers have been so violently diminished. Hard work is the norm, not the exception, and no one hesitates to pull their weight. Among themselves, the Makah are openly affectionate, in a physical sense. With close friends and family, a typical greeting usually involves a kiss on the forehead. The bonds of families are particularly close. There is a great emphasis placed on the remembrance of family members and friends that have died, taking the form of mementos, small physical objects that signify the spirit of the deceased. Each person chooses these objects for themselves. The tribe does have a musical tradition, focusing mostly on wind instruments taking the form of different types of bagpipes, as well as singing. Occasionally, instruments from the outside will be heard as well, though this is rare.

Most of the tribe’s food is procured through hunting, and being a successful hunter is one of the goals of every Makah. Training in this art starts at an early age, as soon as the young can effectively hold and fire a rifle. As a result, almost every Makah is a proficient marksman. Conflict within the tribe is exceedingly rare, especially under the current circumstances. Though, when a conflict does develop, every effort is made to resolve it peacefully, and the elders often intervene in this respect. When things can still not be resolved, the next step is often a simple duel. Large, ceremonial knives are always the weapon of choice. These duels are officially to the death, but currently, they often do not go that far. No matter how angry either of the parties may be, the desire to see more Makah blood spilled, for whatever reason, is simply not there.

The tribe has no established form of “marriage”. Relationships simply develop, and two individuals become dedicated to one another. These relationships are almost always monogamous. Polygamy would probably be the more practical choice at this point, especially in respect to rebuilding the tribe’s numbers, but it is not their way. Women of the tribe hold the same status as the men, which is a good thing, as they are often just as dangerous in a fight as the men. Larger numbers of children are preferred, again due to the circumstances. Not only is the tribe lacking in numbers, but not all of the children live to see adulthood. The dangers of the environment and the lack of true medical care play a part in this. Those that cannot have children, either due to infertility or some other circumstance, are not as ostracized as one might think. The tribe can scarcely afford to alienate its’ own people, and tries to avoid it as much as possible. However, it is still a great disappointment when this situation develops.

Murdering one of the tribe, rape, stealing from one of the tribe, and other such acts, are all viewed as serious crimes. The former two are often punished by death, while other severe crimes usually result in exile. Fortunately, these things rarely happen.

Makah dress is a mixture of stylized and practical. Clothing is generally fairly “normal”, in that the Makah can be seen wearing simple shirts and tough pants, not unlike many other desert dwellers. However, beyond that, the influence of their culture is obvious. Many in the tribe go barefoot, or wear durable leather boots made from the hides of the creatures they hunt. For those away from home, a hooded shawl is standard. These are embroidered with various designs and motifs, which can vary from family to family. Typically, the designs revolve around the environment of the desert itself. Colors are kept muted and earthy, providing some rudimentary camouflage. Leather work is one of the primary skills of the tribe, and hardened leather bracers and greaves are very common. Sheathes for knives, slings for rifles, pouches and bags are all beautifully crafted. Usually, these types of items are embossed with similar designs to the shawls: Swirling, blowing sand, the sun rising or setting against the flat line of the desert horizon, etc.

Hierarchy
The Makah have several elders, though the number can vary at any point due to deaths or other events. These people, predominantly men (there is currently only one female elder), are not as old as one might expect. Most of them are in their early fifties. Collectively, they act as a sort of committee that decides on large issues within the tribe. This communal decision making, however, is done with the input of the whole tribe. Other Makah come to the elders not as individuals, but as the representatives of their families. Everyone is considered and accounted for.

Being an elder of the Makah does not grant one any special privileges. The elders live in the same conditions as everyone else; they simply have the added responsibility of deciding the course of the people. Such a responsibility is never taken lightly. Outside of the elders, there are no other real castes within the tribe. One is either a Makah elder, or a Makah. This simple form of government has served the Makah well for centuries, and continues to do so.