Steppe Warrior Cultural Information.
The material contained herein will be the basis for each Initiate's cultural knowledge examination, required before advancement to Warrior may take place. This will be an informal event, the primary purpose of which is to ensure that full members are aware of some specific terminology and customs to enhance the role-playing aspect of the game.
The following terms are integral to 'SW Speak' and should become a part of every members vocabulary:
Ail: Clan-like household
Anda: Blood brother, sworn ally and friend
Auruq: Headquarters campsite
Beki: Title denoting honor
Boga: Wizard
Bogdo: A sending of the gods, endowed with the power of High Heaven
Kvass: Fermented milk drink with intoxicating effect
Sechen: wise, knowing
Tuman: military unit of 10,000 men
Yassa: code of laws (our charter is the currant Yassa)
Yurt: Dome shaped, felt covered tents inhabited by Steppe
Warriors
In addition to these terms, Initiates will be expected to know the SW chain of command, and which ranks hold certain privileges, such as formation of an ail, etc.
Brief history of Steppe peoples:
During the 12th and 13th centuries a brave man-child survived the death of his chieftain father and subsequent hunting and capture by rival tribes to weld together all the people of the Central Asian steppe, in territory which is mostly modern day Mongolia. Through cunning, and the ability to inspire fierce devotion among his followers, Genghis Khan conquered all of Asia, and most of Eastern Europe.
After his death due to complications from battle wounds not allowed to properly heal, his son, Ogotai took command of the horde, and became the KhaKhan. Only his death in 1242 and the subsequent return of General Batu (who had just conquered Hungary, and was marching on Vienna, Austria) saved Western Europe from Mongol domination. Stopping at the Volga river in modern Russia, Batu (son of Jochi, a brother of Ogotai) established the Golden Horde which dominated Russia until 1481.
After taking over the empire in 1260, Genghis Khan's grandson Kubilai Khan ruled half of the known world as Kubla Khan for 34 years.
The last Genghisid ruler, the Crimean Khan Shahir Girai, was deposed by the Russians in 1783.