Grand Survaek Empire - Sarmandal Clan

Though they had not sent gold and arms as Ezria had, the Sarmandal Clan had recognized Raegar Khaitis' claim to sovereignty over Survaek, refusing to aid or harbor the rebelling Reed River tribes that came to it. For this, the Survaekom respected the Sarmandal, enough even to consider a request for marriage with one of his own family.

Crown Princess Ishui Seldu-Khaitis was a vibrant young woman of the Byrnian tradition, respected and independent beyond the tighter confines that bound women in Khaitis tradition. For her family's loyalty and adoption into his own family, Raegar was willing to afford her the place and freedom allowed by her culture, including regular excursions to the Sarmandal to learn the ways of the barbarians. It was during these trips that the Byrnian princess, armed and armored like the Byrnian warrior that accompanied her, had met Girghe Yuki.

Raegar was aware that the two had ridden together, hunted together, and a shared a whole host of activities ranging from the mundane to the sentimental. Little of it interested the Survaekom, however. What had truly sealed the monarch's respect for the arrangement was Girghe's willingness to enter the Khaitis family despite being a man, and the Sarmandal Clan's understanding that the marriage would entail a political alliance.

As the wedding approached, Foedinei's usual bustle of activity seemed to multiply every day, as trains of noble families, clan leaders, and Imperial officials filled the city center with the trains of their gifts and entourages. Though Survaekom Raegar and Ishui's own father, KingHuj Biedou-Khaitis, were out on campaign, the rest of the Khaitis family, namely Crown Princess Atalae and Jiien Haerk-Khaitis, had made an effort to invest in the upcoming ceremony. At the very least, they would be present to wish Ishui well and to accept Girghe into the family.

All that remained now was for the Sarmandal themselves to arrive. Citizens of Foedinei anticipated their arrival with a mix of curiosity and discomfort, unsure of whether to expect the Northern tribespeople to be more fierce warriors or primitive but exotic friends.

Girghe Yuki had ridden to Foedinei with a small band of relatives, close friends, a few guards. They numbered less than a hundred in all, riding swift mounts. They had arrived at the outskirts of Foedinei a day before the ceremony and camped that night near a water source. Taking the time to bath themselves and clean their horses. Girghe wanted to make an impression upon these city dwellers.

Getting up early Girghe put on his best clothes, clothes that were packed securely until now. Leaving most of their camp equipment where it was, with two of his guards to ensure nothing walked away, they rode their mustangs into the Foedinei City. The barbarians of the Sarmandal Clan truly stood out among the more civilized citizens of the Grand Survaek Empire. Girghe, a proud and stubborn clansmen, although amazed at the sheer size of the city, not to mention the amount of people it held, rode stone-faced through the streets, his entourage followed his lead, resisting the urge to gaze and wander off in their curiosity.

Like most of the Sarmandal Clan Girghe Yuki had a skin tone that was naturally tan, almost yellowish. Also like most of the clan was less than 6 feet tall. The people of the Sarmandal Clan all looked alike with their squinty eyes and dark hair. The males, had next to no facial hair, and those that did, it looked more like long grown peach fuzz then an actual beard. Not being too competent in the more civilized tongue he told his eldest son, "Thor, ask where the wedding is taking place. I do not wish to be parading around for all to gawk at us."

Thor, Girghe's eldest son was most fluent at the city dwellers tongue, "The wedding, which way." he asked a man standing off to the side. His teeth were a dull white, not perfect but clearly a sign that the Sarmandal Clan cared about hygiene to an extent. When he received directions he took out a knife. Tossing in towards the man it landed with the tip in the ground. Where other nations would give money the Sarmandal Clan dealt a great deal with weapons, most of their 'money' was in trading such items or metals. "You thank." Thor said to the man, attempting to say thank you, but it coming out wrong without his knowledge. Quite happy with his proficiency at the city dwellers language he informing his father of the man’s directions and they rode to the wedding.

The Foedinei citizen, now looking rather startled after having a knife thrown inches from his feet, had directed Girghe's party to Survaek Circle, a massive marble-floored clearing surrounded by concentric circles of canals. As the Sarmandal crossed the bridges over the small streams, they doubtless noticed the wide plots of soil on either side, magnificent gardens-to-be that would blossom in the coming months.

When the clanspeople reached the Circle, they beheld an overwhelming panoply of colors. Unlike the Sarmandal party, the Survaek were about as diverse in appearance as could be expected. Skin colors ranged from the dark brown of most Byrnians to the pale of Northern Haerk tribespeople, and many among the crowd even shared characteristics with the Sarmandal, such as squinted eyes and yellow-tan skin. Clothing was similarly diverse, with some dressed in heavy furs while others covered themselves in the splendor of layers of colorful robes. Completing the display were the dozens of banners flown, representing every tribe and kingdom that comprised the Union of the Many Peoples.

At the center of the crowd was, of course, Princess Ishui Seldu-Khaitis herself. The short but strong-built wore a robe of deep purple, embroidered with gold and silver. On her head rested a traditional Byrnian crown of a silver dome topped with a crest, and beneath it a head-dress colored blue. Though her garments were simple compared to some of the more lavish vestments of those around her, her face shone with anticipation and joy from her small but charming smile and deep brown eyes. Whether this was a genuine or extremely well-contrived expression, no one could know.

"Welcome to Foedinei," Ishui announced, for she was the only non-Sarmandal present fluent in the Clan's tongue. "It is good to see you all."

(OOC: Can get the shin dig started whenever, you can do like your wedding ceremony I’ll just add on seeing as it’s in your place, plus allows me to have to think less on creating something cool and unique lol -_-)

The clanspeople were more interested in the strange appearance of the citizens of Survaek than impressed with the magnificent Survaek Circle. Although they understood it was far better than anything they had seen yet in the city, they couldn’t completely appreciate the work that was put into it using mostly natural occurring scenes to hold their own weddings. They were unaccustomed to seeing such a variety of people, in color, shape, and clothing. The multitude of banners they understood readily and were quite amazed that so many tribes had fallen to the Grand Survaek Empire, enough so that they respected the city dwellers strength more so than before.

Princess Ishui Seldu-Khaitis’ charming smiled showed her anticipation for the ceremony and joy as greeting her future family, “Welcome to Foedinei," Ishui announced, speaking in the Clan's tongue. "It is good to see you all." Sliding off their mustangs Girghe replied back with her own language like a child, “Foe-din-e, good too c.” The gesture having not lost its meaning before he reverted back to his own tongue asking her questions about the how many Suvaek Tribes were present and where they all were from that they dressed so differently.

The others in his party, seeing no place where their steeds could readily be out of the way, led them to the magnificent gardens-to-be before seeking out the guards that generally travelled with the Princess when she visited knowing them and able to have some basic communication between them. Girghe’s three children joined their father to congratulate the Princess Ishui and him.

As was a Sarmandal Clan custom the well wishes would give a present to the bride and groom, but the grooms immediate family was to give presents to the bride and vice versa. A longstanding tradition amongst the clans, the three children, cousins to Tabitha first presented her gift to the Princess, “Our cousin Tabitha could not make the journey because she rode to meet the prince she’s been promised to. She ask us to give you this for her.” Thor, age twenty, said as young Felli, Girghe’s only daughter of sixteen, handed a sword that was made fit for her and finely crafted for actual use.

Lucciola, Girghe’s middle child who refused to speak to anyone other than Felli since eight years old, nodded to Felli three years younger than him. “From us Princess Ishui we used the tiger fur that we showed you last winter*, we all helped make it. Lucciola provided the fur of course, Thor the metal on these arm guards, and I did all the piecing together.” Handing the princess a set of clothes that included a something that resembled a bikini top and bottom, arm guards with metal in them to be used for deflecting blows, and leg warmers that would be tied around her leg and keep them warm from about her knee to where her shoes were.

*Thor told the story last winter of how a tiger had found the three in the woods. Thor spoke truthfully and said he had dropped his spear in sheer terror as the tiger slowly advanced. Felli was crying sitting down on the ground, her knee scrapped. They were in a heavily wooded area and before the tiger pounced; Lucciola was there, his spear butt driven into the ground, the tip impaled in the heart of the beast. In its dying moments a claw struck out and raked the middle child’s face. Three scars a constant reminder of that fateful day; one from his forehead across the bridge of his nose to his left cheek, another coming diagonally below his right eye coming across his mouth, and the third from next to his ear lobe to below his mouth ending on the forward part of his right jaw.