Yarro

The yarro (Yarro: ߜߋ߲ߙߐ gêro [ˈʝæːɣ.ɣo]), also called the kourganais, are a non-Chilovakian species native to the Ger Valley around the Dead Firth in western Aresra.   Their endonym yarro derives from the name of the river, Ger. Despite the significant sound differences, spelled in their native script, yarro is simply Ger with an adjectival suffix -o, making them, approximately, the Ger-ish. Their exonym kourganais comes from the barrow-like subterranean homes of mounded earth many live in; which are similar to the kurgan burial mounds of the ancient peoples of the Utrisch and South Sossian Plain.  

Description and Phylogeny

The yarro are known to be non-Chilovakian, but any further classification is controversial. Their small stature and presence in the cold, dry, inhospitable Ger Valley has led to widespread speculation they either are, are descended from, or are related to the ancient, pre-Caliemhan skochets, but no real evidence has been produced to support these theories.   They have two fingers on each hand and two thumbs, one on each side of the hand. They have heavy white fur (with a lighter summer coat). They have eyes and ears in the expected positions, but they have vertical mouths and nasal openings on the sides of their heads just below the ears. Due to their fur coat, they must largely rely on panting for thermoregulation, which is facilitated by their large vertical mouth. Their fur also means they don’t need to rely on clothing to cover themselves; clothing serves an entirely decorative, social purpose among the yarro.   Yarro very seldom leave Yarroland, and those that do usually involuntarily, taken forcibly to be exhibited in freak shows or zoos.  

History and Culture

They are recorded in various central Aresran sources under names like “bear-people”, “dog people”, “small, hairy people”, etc. Indeed, trade with the humans, mustelins, and saurians of central and western Aresra seems to have been common for thousands of years, including with the ancient dracates of Blackrock.   The yarro never developed an indigenous metalworking tradition, but have traded for metal items both decorative and functional. Bronze has been preferred over iron for tools due to its lack of structural rusting and ability to be cold worked. It’s likely that writing was adopted by the yarro from these trade links, borrowing some form of Nenic-derived abuguida from a central Aresran people, though a definitive relationship has never been established.   Despite their small stature and technological inferiority, the yarro have historically resisted all attempts at conquest due to the sheer inhospitability of the Ger Valley.  

Religion

Yarro religion believes that Geshkara (Ohnor) and the moon (Tarem) are gods. They believe that Tarem is jealous of Ohnor, and most of their practices and rituals centre around trying to avoid taremsog, which can be translated as “moon-death”, which is what they believe will happen if certain conditions aren’t met in life; whereby the jealous moon captures your soul upon death where it is forced to wander eternally separated from Ohnor.