Thaumantic Cultural Preservation Society

[Clarenthia]

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Thaumantic Cultural Preservation Society
Est. 1985​

“Guaranteeing our future begins with remembering our past.”
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In 1985, Dr. Bernard Winthrop tasked his Thaumantic History III class to collaborate on a research paper detailing the history of the Kamachina Empire from his origins up until the present day. Using a multitude of secondary and primary sources, the students collectively published the article in May 1985. The paper was so complex and so detailed, that Chatham University offered to provide Dr. Winthrop with a budget to begin researching and detailing the histories of other cultures that inhabit the Thaumantic subcontinent. To complete the task, Dr. Winthrop founded the Thaumantic Cultural Preservation Society.

Using Chatham’s funding and grants provided by other academic and scientific institutions, the Society grew at a rapid pace and began conducting their own research expeditions and archeological adventures that unearthed more information than had previously been collected. They had accumulated so much information on a variety of cultures that they published a book called Before the Engells: Detailed Account of the Original Thaumantic Horizon in 1987. Becoming the definitive collection on the native populations of the Treaty Lands, the next obvious step was going abroad to become the definitive collection on natives across the Thaumantic Horizon.

Since the 1990s, the Preservation Society has opened offices in Beautancus, Sylvania, the First Republic, the Vaquero Free State, Engellachia, Natalia, and Wrenhaven – partnering with universities in those countries to replicate the work done and create an extensive work on the original cultures that lived in these countries.

While the Society continued a biennial publication, they have also moved their work to an online database. The Society also maintains a strong philanthropic endeavor to place ancient artifacts safely into museums to preserve these unique pieces of history. The 17th Edition, published in 2019, continues to expand upon the stories of the original peoples and how they influenced the countries that exist today.

@Beautancus @Engellex @Sylvania @Engellachia @Natal @Wrenhaven

 

[Clarenthia]

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The Kamachina Empire​

At its height, it was the largest empire on the Thaumantic subcontinent before the arrival of the Engells. The Kamachina are renowned for having one of the most developed administrative and political apparatuses of the indigenous tribes of the new world. The vast empire extended from the Ataguchu Mountains in Northwest Clarenthia down the western coastline into what would eventually become the Provinces of Westmoreland and Iskamayu. The center of the Empire’s power was in the Rumihanani City of Ollantaytambo.

Etymology
In the Kamachina Language, called Khuskarimay (Engelesh: Common Voice), Kamachina directly translates to “ruler.” At the height of the Empire, “Kamachina” did not refer to their civilization but rather the people who ruled over it. When the Engells arrived, the civilization was called Kamachina over a misunderstanding of terminology. The Kamachina would have referred to their nation as Santuhallpa (The Blessed Land).

(Brief) History
Actual accounts of the founding of the Kamachina Empire are diluted in myth with little factual basis. It is generally believed by most scholars that their society was “pristine” in that it was genuinely indigenous and not derivative of other cultures.

The stories tell of the God of Creation, Ataguchu, grew tired of the peoples who occupied his land and decided to approach an individual of great worth. Ataguchu approached Awasiyaku and told him the secrets necessary to reform society to better match Ataguchu’s wishes. Proclaiming to have spoken to Ataguchu, Awasiyaku lead his people and founded the city of Ollantaytambo – the first permanent settlement of the Kamachina. Since that moment, Kamachina Rulers were given the title of “Uyarii” which roughly translates to the “one who hears” as it was believed that Kamachina Emperors spoke directly with the Gods.

Actual historic records cannot confirm if Awasiyaku was real or not, but the first confirmed member of a Kamachina Uyarii was Uyarii Izhi, the great conqueror who expanded the empire to greater lengths than any other Uyarii. Myth states that he received the blessing of Apu-Punchau, the God of the Sun.

The Empire would grow and expand to dominate a large swath of the western portion of the continent. It is believed that about 14 million people lived under the banner of the Empire. The Kamachina used a combination of peaceful assimilation and conquest to bring new cultures to the Empire.

The first recorded contact between Engells and the Kamachina came in 1599. While at first peaceful, conflict eventually came as the fiercely territorial Kamachina saw the Engells as pushing too far into their own territory. The constant wars, internal infighting, and disease brought by the Engells destroyed a good portion of the Empire and lead to its eventual collapse in 1657.

Today, Kamachina culture still remains strong and prevalent in the Northwest, particularly in the States of Rumihanan and Sachara. Southern Nativists played a significant role in reviving Kamachina customs, as they respected the tenacity and strength of the old empire. There are about 150,000 people alive today who can claim direct descendance from the Kamachina Empire. They live on reservations primarily in Rumihanan and Sachara, but there are several others across the Commonwealth.

Society
Kamachina Society was remarkedly hierarchical with all political power vested in an elite ruling class (called Kamachina). At the absolute highest status of power was the Uyarii who was surrounded by a Royal Council that primarily comprised of women. Beneath the elite were the peasants, who lived in a surprisingly egalitarian society.

Private property did not exist and every item was shared. Taxes were paid to the Uyarii in the form of labor and in return, the Uyarii ensured that his people were well looked after and comfortable. Kamachina Elite kept large warehouses of sorts across the entire Empire which stockpiled supplies for which could be used by the people at free will.

The Kamachina made no distinction between male and female and in fact did not assign a gender to a child until around the age of seven. While men and women had separate roles they had to fill, both were considered to be equal. Marriage was also a crucial component of life and divorce was only possible if a child had not been born. Men of higher status could have multiple wives.

There was a well-developed “stages” of life structure to society as well. High infant mortality rates plagued the Kamachina Empire, resulting in most families not giving too much weight to their children until the age of 3, children even lacked names – all being called “Muru” or seeds. The coming of age period (3-7) was marked by naming the child and teaching them the ways of society – they would be given a name and taught the roles of their gender in society. At 7-14, they would be welcomed into society as full members and this is the first time that strong gender distinctions would form. At 14-20, “Q’umpuyasqa” would begin. This period is essentially a celebration of puberty and sexual maturity of an individual. Children would spend this time going through puberty and seeking a spouse. At 20, an individual became a full adult and was expected to integrate in all ways into society. Around 70, a Kamachina would be a “Yachaq” or wise one. Their only expectation was to guide the younger generation through troubles times and were cared for by their families and society.

The Kamachina believed that upon death, so long as one followed the moral code “do not steal, do not lie, and do not be lazy” an individual would frolic in a flowery, warm paradise. Those who broke it would forever live in the earth’s cold, harsh lands. Bodies were preserved through extensive ceremonies in order to aid a dead Kamachina in finding the afterlife.

Government & Administration
The Uyarii was conceptualized as divine and thus the Head of State. The Uyarii were joined by a council of advisors, all who were women, to aid in the general governance of the Empire. Second to the Uyarii was the Chief Priest, who was responsible for ensuring the nation continuously served the Gods. The Uyarii’s blood was considered divine and directly related to Apu-Punchau, the God of the Sun. Therefore, incest was an extremely common practice amongst the highest nobility.

The Empire was further divided into Suyu, each run by an Apu, who was responsible for administering their portion of the Empire. The Apu’s main responsibility was ensuring that their people were well fed and looked after so that they would in turn support the Suyu. In this way, the Kamachina Empire was a federalized society.

Where all they Today?
Around 150,000 people are alive today who have direct lineage to the Kamachina. Most of them live in Rumihanan and Sachara, but there is a sizeable population in Iskamayu as well. There exists, by the Treaty of Western Sovereignty of 1842, a total of 17 “Sovereign Communities.” These communities, while part of Clarenthia, are governed and administered by Kamachina tribes and are exempt from a multitude of Clarenthian law.