Akka

Daughters of Phryscara who embody the love of the family.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Akhoata

• Taxonomic Family: Phryscarans

• Alignment: Celestial

• Energy: Banaru

• Lifespan: 300 years

• Diet: Common mortal fare

• Habitat: Boreal forests

Origins

Born from the blood of Phryscara, they are the children who sought to form familial bonds immediately.

Description

Akka appear to be human women, but taller on average - about 7’ tall - who are known, culturally, to wear red and blue outfits. Their skin is pale lavender, almost white, and their hair ranges the gamut of human appearance.

Procreation

Akka reproduce with the male-assigned members of any sexual species that has male-assgned members, always producing akka children, except when reproducing with enders. Because akka can shape the unborn, sometimes akka give birth to other species if they so choose, but this is rare.

Powers

When akka have sex, thunder rolls.

Children

Akka can sense and shape the unborn immediately after conception, whether this is their own child or that of any other being that can get pregnant. They can also shape the unhatched, but this is more difficult.

The touch of an akka will convey protections to any child, assuming the touch is not traumatic or harmful to the child (not an act of violence or violation). The protections must be specified during the touch - protection from disease, from cold, from a specific person, etc. The broader a protection, the weaker it is.

Akka can also convey protections to adult women and non-men, but they must do so by marking them with their own blood. The protections work the same.

They can only convey one protection at a time.

Clan Powers

All akka belong to one of five family groups - heimot (sing. heimo), sometimes distantly related, always matrilineally. As many akka have connections to multiple families, the one that manifests powers is the one most recently connected, the one they are part of the clan of:

• Jabme-Akka: Jabme-Akka was the last daughter of Maderakka. She was a psychopomp who sought to protect children in the afterlife. Those of her line can see the souls of dead children and offer them protections as if they were alive, and they can use mirrors to check if children are okay in the afterlife.

• Juksakka: Juksakka was an archer who protected children during times of strife. Those of her line have inherent skill with archery and combat.

• Maderakka: Maderakka was the first akka, the mother of the tribe, protector of women and children, who granted bodies to the unborn. Those of her line - most akka - can sense the bloodlines of those whom they can see and repel evil using their menstrual blood.

• Sarakka: Sarakka was the eldest daughter of Maderakka. She was very much like her mother. Those of her line can instill fertility in the infertile, have skill and insight into sex, can soothe pregnant people with their touch, and can tell when people love one another by sight.

• Uksakka: Uksakka was a midwife. Those of her line are more skilled at shaping the unborn than other akka. They can also open and seal doors.

Every akka has an affinity from their non-akka parent’s line as well. This varies by species.

Weaknesses

If an akka harms a child intentionally and not in self-defense, the akka will begin to rot while alive. Their stench will warn children to stay away.

Pravum harms them.

Nations

In Remak and Surva, there is one akka nation, the Perhe. Most akka around the world are assimilated into the cultures they dwell in, though they hold onto some traditions of their own.

Culture

The Perhe live in the boreal forests of Remak and Surva in small communities. They are nomadic, though they have small territories they wander through. Their encampments feature tents that are made of reindeer-hide, but to keep warm, they often dig small burrows below the tents to sleep on.

They practice duodji, crafting items with purpose, and gákti, reindeer-leather dresses with a special shawl with silver brooches. These are usually bright red and blue. The patterns and ornamentation on the gákti indicate the family and territory of the akka.

Like many in the region, the Perhe are reindeer herders. They move the herds through the forests, letting them graze just outside the wooded areas, and keep a watchful eye out for wolves, bears, and poachers.

Their music is joiks, unaccompanied chanting; though they enjoy dancing, there are no traditional dances associated specifically with their culture. They love board games.

Most of their traditions surround sex, pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing.

Though patriarchal concepts of marriage are foreign to them, they do have ceremonies they practice individually before sex. If an akka wishes to have a child, she will burn pine needles and spruce bark in reindeer fat. If she does not wish to have a child, she will burn sow-thistle and lady’s mantle without fat. If she is indifferent to the result, she will burn rosebay willowherb in any kind of tree sap. If she does not perform a ceremony before sex, it is believed the sex will not be enjoyable.

After sex, she will gather spilled fluids and the sheets or anything they made love on and hang them over a fire wherein butterwort is burned, letting the smoke purify the sheets. This will seal the intention of the pre-sexual ceremony.

If an akka misses her period, she will perform a ritual during which she creates an ointment out of boska, smear it on her belly, and sleep facedown for the next three nights. If her period later comes, she will perform a ceremony where she washes her belly in a stream. If she finds that she is pregnant, she will tell the whole tribe, who will perform a ceremony of blessing that involves a feast, sharing of blood, and burning of an entire birch tree.

If an akka wants an abortion, she will not tell the tribe (unless she has done so and changed her mind, which is acceptable). Instead, she will perform a ceremony wherein she creates an ointment out of juniper berries, smear it on her belly, sleep facedown for three days, then find the appropriate materials for an abortifacient tea. She will tell up to three close family members, who will care for her for the next week to make sure she recovers physically and emotionally, even if it is not necessary.

If an akka has a miscarriage, the whole tribe will gather and perform a ceremony wherein they bring bird eggs to the akka, wash her in the yolks, and sing mournful joiks. At the end of three days, she is taken to a nearby stream or pond, washed, and then given three gifts - one of food, one of clothing, and one personal to her.

Through a pregnancy, the akka works and contributes to the tribe, but with consistent care from other members of the tribe. She is only expected to do as much as she is able. Various treatments are given to ensure the health of mother and child, and she will perform personal rituals passed on by her immediate family.

When an akka goes into labor, those designated to care for her will perform a ceremony during which they share their blood, gather water and blood spilled from the birthing akka, and use it to draw a circle around her for protection. Then they will burn candles and keep them lit the entire time. They believe that if for one moment all candles are out, the child will either die or be born with a curse. Once the child is born, she will be marked with wax from each of the candles as protection. Then, the child will be given to the mother, who will offer protection in the form of a kiss. If she is unconscious, she will perform this ceremony as soon as she is able. She is also fed a special porridge prepared by the Sarakka members of the tribe.

After two weeks, the whole tribe gathers for a naming ceremony. They are washed in a nearby stream or pond, and that body of water gives them their baby name. Thus, they have a given name (granted by their mother), a family name, a clan name (Maderakka, etc.), and their baby name, which is used by the tribe until they are an adult. After they are an adult, everyone uses their given name except those closest to them, who will sometimes use their baby name as a term of endearment, usually in conjunction with their given name. Thus, an akka who is a minor will only be called their baby name (“Leammijohka”, for example, which means “warm river”); an adult will be called by their given name by most (“Iggá”), or by both by those who are close to them (“Iggá Leammijohka”).

There are three other ceremonies for akka babies:

• When they laugh for the first time, the baby will be anointed in pine sap and rolled in reindeer leather blankets to hold that joy within them, so they may have a happy life.

• When they take their first steps, the baby will have their feet poked with needles dipped in lingonberry, giving them marks of protection to guide their steps through life.

• On their first birthday, the baby will be celebrated by the whole tribe, given gifts made via duodji, merry songs, and a feast. The baby will be fed a special porridge.

Growing up, akka children are taught the ways of the tribe, allowed to play and be free, and given special ceremonies each year on their birthdays that involve songs that teach them new skills and lore.

On the day of their first menstruation, they are subject of another ceremony. They gather the blood, wash their forehead with it, then go to the whole tribe and declare their readiness for life. They are then celebrated, washed in nearby waters, and lightly tapped with pine branches to protect them. This is definitively not a coming-of-age ceremony. The Perhe consider an akka of-age when she turns 20; on her 20th birthday, she is wrapped in reindeer leather, spruce branches, and red ribbons. She is carried by the whole tribe in a singing circle, then cast into a bonfire. The protections the tribe has given her will make her impervious to the fire, and she will walk out, naked, and be given a knife made via duodji.

Akka who are found to be infertile are honored by the whole tribe in a ceremony similar to the one for miscarriages, though they use whites of the egg instead of yolks.

Funerals involve burying the akka with objects they will need in the afterlife, such as tools, weapons, or special protections. There is always a two-week mourning period where those closest are not expected to work, and during that time, they are brought gifts of food and condolence. If an akka dies as a child, she is mourned for a year and a day, and the mother is allowed to retire for the rest of her life, if she chooses.

In any Perhe tribe, there will be a group of elders who lead, those who specialize in hunting and guarding, those who specialize in reindeer husbandry and care, those who specialize in leading others in worship of the goddess, those who specialize in healing, and those who specialize in duodji. While everyone will have some training in these, only some will focus on them. Everyone else will be generalized in their roles.

A tribe is not a clan. A clan is a family grouping. Tribes are territorial and political groupings. Intermarriage and shifting alliances may lead to tribes being composed of people of many different clans. A tribe will be named for its territory. Anyone is allowed into a tribe, but a clan is measured by bloodline. The only exception is when a “father” is accepted into a clan, if they have a child with an akka.

At times, clan and tribe conflict in their priorities or purpose. At these times, clan usually comes first for a Perhe.

Non-akka in Perhe tribes have full rights, but they may only participate in certain ceremonies if they have a blood-relation in the tribe (i.e., if they are part of a clan), and even then, some things they will physically be unable to perform.

Esoterica

Akka are being of banaru and its most potent wielders. Most akka in a tribe are low-level clan mages; a few will be more powerful. Akka also commonly wield aemoa, curacion, hegnh, juaih, b’qar or fuinneamh, yahas, ujjval aatma, tyvka vlast, hvittodgg, nzwara murazvo, tmakikan, and lunar aether. They will use any kind of celestial essence, aether, or poioumenonic energy, but almost never wield infernal essence.

Religion

The Perhe worship Heimon Äiti, the Mother of the Clans, who is said to encompass the whole clan (thus contains all genders). Those who lead religious rites are called papittaret (sing. papitar); they are experts on all the ceremonies of the tribe. She may designate some akka as pyhiinvaeltaja, or pilgrims who are sent to the place the clan is said to have been born; there, they make offerings on behalf of the entire tribe in times of difficulty.

At the center of their faith is the importance of protecting children and women. Those who harm either are condemned and cursed by the whole tribe.

In every tribe is a tietaja, a shaman who connects to the ancestors and serves as a leader and spiritual guide for all.

Gender

All akka are assigned female at birth, but if they indicate that they are another gender as they grow up, this is celebrated. They are allowed to explore gender roles, often taught to them by their non-akka parent, but they are encouraged to hold off the decision until adulthood in order to give themselves time to explore if they wish to explore. If they insist on something before adulthood, they must get special dispensation from the elders or priestesses; this is rarely refused, as insisting is seen as a special sign among them. In adulthood, they can declare themselves another gender at any time for any reason.

Courtship among the akka is casual. They often leave the tribe for a year or two to seek a mate, if they wish to have children, but otherwise, they remain with the tribe if pleasure or love is their only consideration.

Economy

The Perhe are matriarchal.

Military

Those who specialize in hunting or fighting within the tribe are called keihäsnainen, and they are granted special powers by the clan mages within the tribe. They wield spears.

Language

The language of the akka is Finnish and Sami.

Trade

Reindeer-based goods are their commonest trade good. They are also known for their baskets.

Occupations

Roles among the akka often include but are not limited to the following:

• Etsiva: someone designated by the clan mage to investigate something within the clan.

• Jousimies: an archer empowered by their bloodline.

• Kätilö: midwife.

• Kauppias: one who is designated by the elders to barter for the tribe.

• Keihäsnainen: spear-warriors granted powers by the clan mages.

• Kippari: a clan mage bonded to a transportation vessel.

• Kirjuri: those who keep records for a clan.

• Kokki: one who specializes in cooking for the clan.

• Korin kutoja: basket-makers who sell to outsiders.

• Laulaa: the best joik singers.

• Noita: witch who protects children.

• Nukkevalmistaja: dollmakers who use duodji to make their dolls protective charms.

• Nayttelija: one who leads special theatrical performances to entertain the tribe, based on their own clan traditions.

• Opas: those designated by a clan mage to protect the boreal forests.

• Päällikkö: the head of a clan (informally, a chief), but not necessarily the head of a tribe.

• Paimen: reindeer husbander and herder.

• Paljastaja: a tahawal who takes on a trans masculine or non-binary gender as part of a ceremony to become a special guardian to children.

• Papitar: priestesses.

• Parantaja: healers who use clan magic.

• Puutarhuri: those who keep the plants in the tribe.

• Pyhiinvaeltaja: pilgrims sent to the birthplace of the clan.

• Ratkaiseminen: clan mage who studies the Puzzle of Bloods.

• Ratsastaja: a reindeer rider.

• Sanansaataja: one who bears messages for the clan, going from tribe to tribe with news from the clan chief.

• Taidemaalari: painters who imbue their work with clan magic.

• Tappaja: a clan warrior sent to kill a specific person, an assassin.

• Teitaja: shaman.

• Työntekijä: generalized work in the tribe.

• Vanhin: elders.

• Velho: clan mages.

• Viettelijä: one who specializes in ensuring fertility via sex magic.

Outside View

Akka are usually demonized as child-killers, cannibals, witches, and sluts by the patriarchal powers of the world.

Notables

• Jabme-Akka, Protector of Dead Children

• Juksakka, Archer, Protector of Children

• Maderakka, Mother of the Clans, Shaper, Akka Manifest, Aeonian

• Sarakka, Bringer of Fertility, Protector of Pregnant Mothers

• Uksakka, Keeper of the Door, Midwife

Estimated Populations

• Perhe: 100,000

• Other: 50,000

Sample Stats

PRO 8
ATH 9
STR 8
AWA 8
WIL 9
PRS 8
STH 8