Hidesmyn

The People of the Hides hail from the wilder and harsher environments of the Urth. There are many tribes, clans and even a few nations that are predominantly hidesmyn. Their name comes from the fact that most of the warriors from these tribes wear armor made of the hides of various beasts and wield weapons made of the materials other than steel. The notion was reinforced as more was discovered of their culture and crafts. Each hidesmyn tribe holds a special bond with their lands and the creatures within them.   When a hidesmyn reaches the age of majority or when they seek a bond with a new land, they search the urth for the location that serves as their Waespring, the point that they can navigate any journey in their lands, then they must spiritwalk in the Unseen Lands to find their guide. If the Waespring is destroyed while the hidesmyn is spiritwalking, then the hidesmyn is lost in the Unseen Lands and must find another way back beginning a new journey once they are able to return. Once the hidesmyn has completed their journey, their Folkemark manifests. The Folkemark is a mark of vital, vibrant magic and spirit that cannot be hidden. It represents the hidesmyn’s bond to both the land and its beasts. Like both the silvani and the kindari, hidesmyn are linked to the land and its beasts. This link is real and serious issues in the land, or the beasts can affect the hidesmyn. The folkemark of a hidesmyn allows the hidesmyn to channel arcane energies associated with the bonded Icon. The powers of their Icon affect all hidesmyn who share that bond.   Hidesmyn follow similar traditions with other peoples who manifest a Folkemark. The bond to their shared Icon is represented by a Tether, a physical item fashioned from one of the local beasts by the hidesmyn or their family to symbolize their belonging. Taking a hidesmyn’s tether is a grave insult while being gifted one is a high honor. A hidesmyn can tell if the tether was given willingly or taken by force or deceit.   This relationship grants the hidesmyn an aspect of the icon that they may call upon to strengthen their body and combat their enemies. The people of the hides call this ‘going wild’ or their ‘wild will.’ While Wild, the people of the hides are in control of their actions, though there are tales where some have lost themselves to the call of the wild, becoming permanently Fierce.   It is possible for a hidesmyn to change or lose their Folkemark. Such a loss robs the hidesmyn of a measure of their passion. Breaking this bond, even intentionally to accept a new Folkemark is a serious and life changing event for the hidesmyn. This process is known as the Walking the Unseen Way. Tales of hidesmyn who have successfully bonded with multiple Icons are told by their people, often representing a hero who bridges two peoples or lands in much the same way that other peoples use the practice of marriage, throthing and handfasting. Those that lack a Folkemark are sometimes called Untethered. This can occur because the hidesmyn has not preformed the rite or has lost their affinity for their icon for some reason. If one loses the favor of their icon then their mark becomes blackened and loses all color. Such a hidesmyn is known as a Dark One or Dark [Beast] as their Folkemark turns black.   Much of the hidesmyn history is kept orally, but several fine written records of their history do exist. Hidesmyn much prefer the direct interaction, the telling of tales, singing of songs, and hands-on instruction rather than the use of letters and books. Despite this preference, hidesmyn are perfectly capable of reading and writing or employing scholarly pursuits when the need arises.