Tiger Warriors

The 'Tiger Warriors' is a term that refers to a variety of entities, most often associated with the Amata people. They are commonly attributed as being integral to the ethnogenesis of the Amata, as being an inter-tribal law-keeping institution and as mercenaries. The last agreed upon 'Tiger Warriors' institution dissolved around 180TT.

History

It is likely the Tiger Warriors originated from the initial clans and family groups that lead the Amata migration west during the establishment of the Kingdom of Okso.

In ----TT the Okso Kingdom attempted to conquest Amata polities directly to its west, which included territories controlled by the Tiger Warrior. 'He who has wild eyes' was a historical Tiger warrior leader who united the various Warbands and led tiger warrior resistance. Oksonite records describe him a as a great tactician who often employed brutal and bizarre scare tactics against Oksonite forces. He would later be captured and executed publicly under request of the Far. His character would be used by both the Tiger Warriors and the Okso government to justify their respective causes. The Tiger Warriors characterized his actions as examples of bravery and resistance, whereas the Oksonites would paint him as the picture of Amata savagery, justifying their invasion. These traits which he is often characterized and remembered for are most likely due to contracting syphilis late in his life.

Function

The function and purpose of the tiger warriors changed over time as the Amata progressed as a culture, along with Okrit's technological progression as a whole.

Legacy

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Relations with the Ofot

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Customs

The Tiger warriors uphold an intricate tradition, of which many aspects are shared with the general Amata population, however the separation of the tiger warriors from general society and different historical and cultural influences has lead to customs still distinct from Amata settlements.

Belief

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Kamkam

Kamkam, 'the bloodying', was a ceremony held to inaugurate newly chosen Tiger warrior leaders, and was often used as a dramatic declaration of war. It is likely that kamkam originated under 'He Who Has Wild Eyes'. In the ceremony, the subject takes hallucinogens and is then blindfolded by priests while onlookers chant and play music. A bag is placed over their head and they are spun around while their body is painted in turmeric paste. The subject is then waterboarded with blood while the priests and onlookers chant. This is all to 'instill them with the power of the tiger' (place the subject into a drug-induced trance). The bag and blindfold are then removed in silence and the subject opens his eyes and screams, before leading the group into a chorus of screams and yells, most often the chanting of 'bah'. This ritual also acts as a declaration of war wherein the party partake in a gruesome attack on the select target while continuing to yell and chant 'bah'. It is for this reason that the ceremony is it is often referred to as 'the bah ceremony' by outsiders.

Maitoro

'Maitoro' refers to a directly targeted violent action against a designated target, sometimes to be enacted by a specific chosen party. The Tiger Warrior tradition of Maitoro is directly connected to the Amata tradition of the same name however bears immense spiritual connotations, and often results in much more dire consequences. A commonly stated tradition among the peoples adjacent to the tiger warriors is that the resulting death of a target not only kills the body, but also their very soul. Tiger Warrior Maitoros can consist of personal vendettas relating to specific individuals or groups, but can also relate to political entities and general military actions.

Daimok Maitoro

Daimok Maitoro, literally: 'that one, he is like lightning', involves the ritualistic hunting down and execution of a specific individual, to be enacted by a select persons. Daimok Maitoros are declared in cases of personal vengeance, most often to avenge the deaths of family, friends or significant numbers of people.

Legend

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He Who Has Wild Eyes

He was so distrought by his brother's death in battle that he mounted his head on a club and used it for the rest of his life so that his brother could continue to enjoy the glory of war, even in death. During his capture he was knocked unconscious, but the head sprung to life and bit his captor, whom would then succumb to infection. It is likely this story has historical basis, however it is most likely that a fully wooden club would have his brothers' likeness carved into it, whereby the club would be reserved for symbolic and ceremonial purposes. Okso records do not mention the usage of such a club in battle and describe him using a variety of weapons.

He was executed by being tied down to the ground and beheaded in front of a large crowed, continuously screaming and fighting against his restraints. He broke free just as the blade met his neck, but his fighting spirit was so strong that the body continued to rise and struck his executor down before tossing his still screaming head at the Far of Okso, whom thus lost their right eye. Oksonite records indeed corroborate that he continued to struggle and yell whilst restrained, prior to and during his execution (which was not necessarily via beheading). The tale has probable origin in his body convulsing at some point after being executed. The Far at the time did then gain an eye injury during the months after but this is most likely unrelated.