Hania

A hopeful spirit binder must have a full-binding and pass an initiation trial to become an official hania.

There are four tiers among the hania, called the Four Peaks, each with their own jobs and skillsets, though all with their own full-binding and extensive training. Generally new hania start out in the Fourth Peak and work their way up into their preferred tier (or stay in the Fourth), but if a new recruit shows certain qualities that qualify them for advancement, then they could be pulled into a different tier early on.   The First Peak (aka Spirit Chiefs) include the leaders, planners, plotters. They lead the other hania of the three other tiers and are the smallest tier. They make sure everything is running smoothly, that information is passed around quickly, and that misunderstanding is explained. Try to avoid problems and fix the ones that pop up.   The Second Peak (aka Whispers) are those who experiment with new types of spirit binding. They are the most secretive of the tiers and also cause the most explosions. They work closely with the First and Third tiers. They have a bit of a bad reputation but most of the Whispers genuinely care about their tribe and are working hard to help them live.   The Third Peak (aka Shadows) is the "upgraded" version of the Fourth Peak, in some hania's eyes. It's often described as "exciting" and "dangerous" and "most important", which make Fourth Peak veterans grumble. Their jobs include hunting deykeh, escorting exploration parties in the deep parts of the mountains, and infiltrating the grassland tribes for information on their activities (with a heavy emphasis on High Spirits, brave numbers, spirit binders numbers, and what the National Council is up to). Out of all of the mountain tribe, they're likely the most nomadic group.   The Fourth Peak (aka Guards) is often dismissed merely as extra training for new hania, but their jobs are just as crucial as the other tiers. They patrol the mountain tribe's claimed territory and trails, escort non-binders from village to village or on hunting trips, and train half- and full-binders. They don't seek deykeh and grassland spirit binders out, but focus on the defense and protection of the mountain tribe. Whereas hania of other tiers must learn other skills to work in their Peaks, the Guards train intensively to get really good at using their full-binding to their maximum in order to battle deykeh.

Since hania may not have time to garden, hunt, and gather food, or a family to do it for them, their physical needs are taken care of by the rest of the tribe. A village will often have a cluster of huts or caves maintained specifically for traveling hania or their own warriors. Though not a privilege not often used, if a hania doesn't have anything to trade, they are allowed to ask for anything from a village in order to fulfill their mission. If the village supplies the hania, it will later be reimbursed as much as possible, often with a little extra as a thank-you from the warrior(s).

Hania are respected by all of the tribe. They have access to more knowledge, training, and resources than most of the rest of the tribe. Every season they're given a moonturn to spend time with their families and pursue their own projects, no work time necessary.

Hania's main goal is to protect their tribe from all threats. Their different tiers address the many threats facing the mountain tribe and support another in eradicating them.

Hania are highly honored and respected by all of the mountain tribe, because of their hard work and dedication to keep the tribe safe.   In the grasslands, hania are feared and seen as cursed, because they have full-bindings and are of the mountain tribe.

The first hania were desperate to help their people survive against the deykeh. Sent by the tribe's chief, a group of hunters somehow "stole" the secret of spirit binding from the grassland tribes and taught it to their best warriors. They used spirit binding to fight deykeh and protect themselves against the Makkah spirit binders. But whereas users in the grasslands stuck to half-binding as a decree from their gods, the mountain tribe experimented with spirit binding, pushed the boundaries of what was possible and what wasn't, and discovered full-binding and other spirit binding techniques the Makkah Nation would consider cursed. This allowed for the mountain tribe to not only survive their cursed home, but begin to live there as well. Established villages and gardens never would have been possible had it not been for the early full-binders.   The current hania of the day are well-aware of their tribe's and profession's history, and strive to stay humble and dedicated because of their ancestors' sacrifices. They want to become stronger and more efficient in spirit binding to keep their people alive.

A hania's best weapon is their full-binding with a spirit. Those of the Third and Fourth Peaks are also equipped with a variety of physical weapons, such as spears, shields, tomahawks, knives, bows and arrows, and clubs.

The First and Second Peaks are typically stationed at the tribe's mountain hideout. Shadows and Guards are scattered all across the mountains--and grasslands.

While the First and Second Peaks are mostly safe in their hideout, the Third and Fourth Peaks face danger often. Deykeh like to kill hania even more than the rest of the tribe, and the grassland tribes of the Makkah Nation hate them.   Hania killed by deykeh are given every honor in their funeral.