Altan's Few

History

During the period of uncertainty after the departure of Ymir’s Pantheon, a sect of Ualdir worshippers left for the Silent Expanse. The divine war now over and the aging population of devout left in decline, Ualdir gave his followers a straight-foward tenant. His companions fiercely loyal to the conceptualization of Ualdir’s very domain, they chose to forfeit their sacred independence to the grand-lord. A man bearing Ualdir’s blood led them, a hulking warrior by name and title of Altan. Looking down upon the Nephilim which bears his creed and the followers behind them he said naught but a single word.

"Fight."

The rest of Meranthe licked their wounds and the rise and fall of kingdoms occurred, yet Altan’s Few leapt into the Silent Expanse. A culture of nomadic tribes and salvagers erupted as a result, the numerous corners of the desert carrying a variety of influences upon the desert tribes of Ualdir. Unheard of besides the occasional outcast or pilgrim, Altan’s Few remains far from an organized or even orderly banner. The departing word of Ualdir becoming all they sought, war between families, friends, and lovers tears into the multi-tribe expanse of nomadic warriors endlessly. Pride and moral evolves from bloodsport, desensitized to battle entirely by their upbringing, believing it part of their birthright to challenge all who bear sight to them.

Not until the rise of Aetius does Meranthe see the tide of the expanse’s ‘Red Dawn’ flood into the western lands. At the direction of Enarr’s voice, Aeacus, a short-lived political meeting in the desert occurs with not a word spoken during it. Soon after the nomadic warbands meet for one sole purpose, which is to force the Empire of Aen to retreat from their holy lands. An offensive push against the occupying forces by the forces of Aetius, accompanied by a flank of ruthless bloodletters turns the tide for the overarching war. A reward is not accepted by the warring tribes, accepting the heads of several Aen generals and departing for their crimson expanse once again. Since then the generations of Altan have faded from memory, lost to their own gut tearing devices in the golden wastes of desert.

Culture

Some tribes forgot entirely of Meranthe, not maintaining an academic agency to spread said knowledge, let alone holding a longstanding residence to gather it. Much of their history, culture, and science spreads through word, written letters holding a great deal of superstitious paranoia. Despite this lack of proper academic structure the tribes of Altan maintain an ancient art of runemancy, used exclusively through warpaint and murals. Cave murals which bend to unknown influences in the Expanse are suspected to be leftovers from the roaming forces. Although known to be salvagers and users of magitech they’ve discovered in travel, they show no interest in replicating it, finding the ‘advancement’ to be largely subjective. Their unique and sometimes unsettling runes are rumored to originate from Sheng and Gehenna via influence of immigrants, yet lacks any true record to confirm this thesis.

The ranks of Altan’s Few differ significantly in origin. From the Merante originated selection which began them to the foreign travelers which stumbled into the maddening wastes they inhabit. Finding no truth in superiority from purity, the tribes have sought out strength and greatness over noble rites traditionally given. Each warlord within the Expanse bears the last name and title of Altan, yet only a torn throat and a few wounds stop his closest guard from being the Altan as well. Despite this the bloodlines which have maintained a heir to heir rule are highly respected, believing them to be descendants from the Nephilim who founded the self-destructive tribes. Although the various tribes remain in constant conflict, they maintain a council of warlords which meet sparsely during fleeting traditional peace times, with the largest warband’s leader holding the title and traditional name of Emir Altan.

Most notably among the non-traditional followers of Ualdir remain a large collection of fennec-like fox people. Though they share many similarities with their Sheng counterparts, they entirely forgo worship of their apparent creator, Jiuweihu. Instead many of these ‘Tilki’ have found renewed vigor in their fiery roots within worship of Ualdir, their environment within the desert shaping their form to vary from their Shengese ancestors. A great family of these fox-people integrated within the dominant lines of Altan long ago, due to their natural affinity for fire, leaving many of the ruling tribes exhibiting their features. They are seen as religious catalysts due to their move for independence from their creator, their defiance serving as an example to the beliefs of Ualdir’s faith. As such these Kitsune descended beast-kin are known for their bright, self-confident, and kingly demeanors, causing them to be widely disliked in most foreign communities they interact with.

Altan’s Sea remains ever shifting, new tribes formed frequently from trials built into their traditions. As the child of an Altan reaches their teen years they are sent to build their own warband. The creation of independence provides the young heir and the individuals who follow them a trial of achievement, considered to be a deep honor to form a warband in image to Ualdir. Often said bands find themselves lost, murdered, or in opposition to their origin tribe, though successful remerging with their origin warband is signature to greater success. The accomplishment of greatness within Ualdir’s tribes remains a vague yet clear goal. Thus giving up parts of valued liberty to serve a grand-warband is culturally considered with pride, not shame. Warbands which become part of foreign nations are frowned upon, members of the violent religion expected to participate within the sea or be disowned by it. This comes with exceptions for mercenary work and other beneficial temporary arrangements of course, wealth a sign of greatness which transcends language and cultural differences.