Zalnduu Amphi's, an in depth look

Compiled from notes by Cartographer and Explorer Tenelly Walkings. During her exploration to the Land of Giants.

I have been living among and studying this fascinating tribe of people for over a decade now. I still don't fully understand their religion or the reasoning behind some of their actions. However, I will document my findings in hopes that others may share in this wonderful culture I have discovered. Below I have compiled some basic findings relating to their culture and habitat. I will be going more in-depth into the culture and religion in my second paper.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Amphicyonidae

Sub family: Amphicyonidae

Genus: Amphicyon

Species: Amphicyon Inges

Common name: Bear-Dog

Tribe: Zalnduu.

Average height: 9-14 feet

Average weight: 1000-2000lbs

Language:
Primary: Basque

Secondary: Latin

 

Day one
Amphicyons are in general rather large creatures. Their muscles are usually naturally defined from a highly nomadic life style. The Zalnduu people constantly roam the lands and can be found in a variety of places. These will be listed below. When an amphicyon has reached the age of six or seven they are usually Sheppard out into the wilderness by their parents. Here they are left to fend for themselves and make their own path in life. Be that the rode of a Hunter, Warrior, Shaman, Seer, or Channeler. Under rare circumstances the children are marked with an X and are left in the wilderness at three. See Religion description for more information. 

Once an Amphi is left on its own they will generally seek out the nearest fox or badger Den and evict the tenants. Thus converting the den into a living space for them instead. The time frame that the individual will say here varies on climate, food availability, and other such things.  Amphicyons are naturally Solitary creatures. They only really get together again during mating season or during a specific ritual. However, it is not uncommon to see an Amphi connect closely with a tight knit group of three to five people. Either their own kind or other species.

Males and females display a bit of gender dismorphia. Males are usually taller, and stronger than females. This is so they can compete with one another for the rite to mate, and over territory. The territory of an Amphicyon can vary between something as modest as a watering hole to an expanse of 250 square miles. The size of their territory Depends once again on food availability. If food is plentiful they will usually have smaller territories. If food is scare they will have larger ones. Contest of territory only happens between males or in the case of a Rival invading a pride.

Prides of Amphicyons are defined as one amphicyon and their mate. This will grow with the addition of children, friends, and immediate family. If an Amphicyon is found with a group of humans it's still considered a pride. At least by their cultural standards. Invading individuals who are not part of the immediate family or close knit group are treated with hostility and are often chassed off or killed. An Amphicyon with an X on their chest is killed on sight regardless if the other Amphicyon is family or not.

Day nine
Every adult amphicyon has been found with long hair and will absolutely refuse to cut it. Even getting angry when prompted. This will be gone into further detail later. Amphicyons that are found with their hair cut are also always found with an X marking on their body. 

Amphicyons tend to mate for live. Both in sexual and social monogamy. They exchange these large gemstones as a token much like a wedding ring. Where they store these gems is something that has escaped me. Where ever they keep them it has thwarted every one of my search attempts. They call these gems Heartstones.

Day 20
Throughout my study I have witness many different fights between two Amphicyon especially the males who seem to be the most violent. Before each fight they complete a rather complex ritual and paint their bodies with a red paste like dye. These fights usually end when one party cannot continue. Usually they are knocked out of something of the sort. In this bout nothing happens after wards other then the defeated leaving the area. However, on the rare occasion that one party is badly injured, Wither mortally or to a disabling extent. The fight stops immediately. The defeated cuts their hair and marks themselves with an X. Once this is completed they are killed.

The Zalnduu have given me a tribal name as well. They'll call me Tenelly Hiria or just Hiria itself. Though every time I introduce myself as such the young ones especially giggle at me. It seems to be a bit of a joke name or some kind of coy Insult of some kind. I believe it means Born in the City but I'm not sure. Either way I don't understand why it's insulting. Perhaps it has to do with their connection to nature, and the disconnect that we, sophisticated and civilized creatures, are heir to in our city lives. I'll delve a little deeper into this later, since it isn't of great consequence. They could call me mud so long as it means I don't get eaten and can study them.

Day 40
Their religion fascinates me. It is possibly one of the harshest belief systems I have ever seen. This includes the belief held by the Lunadra or even the Quichen Anunaki.  It seems that literally everything they do is in service to these spirits. From what I can gather, it is a polytheistic religion with many different gods or, spirits, as they call them. Each god controls some aspect of their life. And each god demands a sacrifice. The frequencies of these sacrifices vary though. 

Oddly the five gods that are sacrificed to the most seem to be in the lowest tier of this hierarchy. Those would be Ametsa, god of dreams, Ibaiaren, god of the river and water, Sua, god of fire, Lurra, god of the earth, and Arnasa, god of breath. These are the ones that demand daily sacrifice or so I'm told. Fire seems to be the only one they have to think of and I'm told that simply smoking tobacco with a few herbs in it is all the sacrifice it needs.

However there are two others that are often praised daily but I've been assured that it's only from necessity.  Ehiza, god of the hunt, and Izaki, god of the animals are these two. However I'm told that when one of these people is fasting or pregnant they do not praise these gods.

The war god, Gerra, the blood god, Odoletan, and the god of battle, Borrokatzea, seem to be held in the highest regard and also demand the most from these people. Borrokatzea demands flesh in every battle. Usually skin. If he is not given sacrifice then the amphicyon will literally rip off a piece of skin for him. It's a rather gruesome sight to behold. I almost got sick the first time I saw it.  The same goes for blood. They give their blood usually by pricking a finger, or killing a foe, to offer it to them. But in extreme cases where their god is displeased for whatever reason they will drain quite a bit of blood to appease her.

It seems like no matter what you do in this religion you will trip over another spirit.  The Zalnduu people certainly do at least. Sometimes I wonder if this religion is the reason for such little cultural or technological advancement. It seems living a more savage lifestyle actually makes the tributes easier. I did try to introduce them to the monotheistic god that I grew up with but they just laughed and refused to praise such a "Lenient and powerless god" In their words. All of my attempts to convince them otherwise have been met with the same response.

Day 80
I got permission today to follow one of the Amphi's, in the particular pride I have been studying, on the hunt today and observe her daily habits. I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited, and I'm glad didn't the rituals started at dawn. Sanuye, the Amphi I had been given permission to study, woke up at the crack of dawn and immediately started to practice her religion. She walked outside to the brook near her den and knelt down to say a prayer over it before she took a drink. Then she went back inside and adorned herself with dyed designs across her fur. I was told what hey y mean but I will get to that later.

Only once she had finished marking herself did she dress herself and allow me to talk to her. She said nothing of real importance other than some arbitrary rules to obey while she hunted and things like that. Once we were on the hunt however things got interesting. Even though we had spotted a rhino, their favorite food source, she spent an entire ten minutes praying to the god of animals before she even went after the thing. I was afraid it was going to get away honestly. The hunt itself was spectacular in a gruesome way.  Sanuye slammed into the thing with her shoulder. I have no idea how fast she was moving but she hit it like a wrecking ball. Once she knocked over the rhino she ripped it's throat out with a clean swipe of her paw.  Though out this eniter ordeal she made almost no noise. Later she informed me that while charging she had to mouth the words to a ritual to once again appease the god of animals.

When the thing was dead my large friend sat down and started the same ritual as before over again. It took another ten minutes before she touched her prey.  Next she dragged the thing back to the den to eat it. Or so I thought. She skinned the animal and set the hide aside for later Presumable to make clothing and things and started yet another ritual. This time it was to the god of the hunt. Sanuye told me she had to offer her a bone from her kill before she ate. I believe she chose a vertebrae, she also informed me that which bone she offered didn't matter.

At this point I didn't have too high hopes for actually seeing any of the food within the next decade if things continued at this rate. She hadn't even lit a fire to start cooking the thing. It turns out that she wasn't going to light a fire at all. She just started into it eating it raw.  At first it was disgusting, but I hadn't eaten in a day or so and my stomach got the better of me. I reached out to grab a bite to eat, "try everything once" my mother said, and I almost lost my hand. Sanuye snapped at me and let lose a threatening growl. I had broken some taboo apparently even though I was unaware of doing so. She informed me that I would eat when she was done. If I didn't like it I could go kill my own.

I suppose that's fair, but what she left me with was somewhat sad. Filling and more than enough to satiate my hunger but compared to what the carcass had started out as it was barely scraps. Sanuye ate 85 percent of her kill. For my meal I was forced to scrape what I could off the ribs and snag a little bit from the legs and flank. She did offer me the brain but there is only so much I can take so I declined. When we finished out meal Sanuye took me out to perform another ritual. This was one to the god of nature she informed me.  Keeping the long bones of the limbs to herself she spread the rest of the bones out in a large quarter of a mile circle. Scattering them here and there this was to "Make sure the scavengers don't go hungry" she said. 

Once we returned to her den I finally made some headway on parts of her culture. And some of the quirks that they had. I was rather glad for this actually since the question of why this woman had 16 feet of hair had been burning in my mind since the first time I saw these people. I must say I was rather shocked at the answer she gave. In her own words, translated of course, "We grow out our hair because the god of life demands that we do so. Our hair is our life line and is sacred. The act of cutting one's hair is considered an insult to life and a form of suicide. Even if it is only an inch. When your hair is cut your Heartstone turns black"

I have no idea what Heartstones are other than speculation, but the gravity of a looser in a fight cutting their hair finally hit me. It was the equivalent of chopping off an arm or a leg to these people. Thinking back to the fight where the looser had cut his hair and marked himself with an X I inquired more into the symbolism behind it.

Day 88
The X in specific was a mark of death. It was painted on what they called Disgraced Ones. Those who have broken the laws of their religion, or the equivalent.  She told me that those marked with an X are to be killed on sight. You don't need to know why, you don't need to know how they got their X just kill them. Sanuye likened these disgraced ones almost to walking death. They were supposedly soulless, emotionless, lifeless, shells of the Zalnduu people. She spoke of them with fear, loathing, sadness, and disgust in her voice. The best I can understand it you put the Amphi out of their misery.

However, there is one and only one circumstance where the marking of an X for cutting your hair is not required. This is apparently a barging with Battle.  The looser will cut their hair and give it to the victor. In essence giving them their life. If the victor chooses they can keep the defeated one alive as their slave and even give them a chance to earn their hair back and with it their freedom. Though I'm not sure how that works. However, if an Amphi that is not the victor even glimpses this defeated Amphi the general rules of kill on sight apply.

Day 105
Sanuye went on to tell me that the length of the hair displayed that particular individuals age. She tried explain to me how but I just couldn’t' grasp the complexity of it. The gist is that if your hair drags on the ground you are an adult. If not you are a child. She went on to tell me a legend about a 300 year old Amphicyon that had 150 feet of hair. I suppose that your hair is half as long as your age. But it seemed to not be exactly accurate.

As we continued to talk about her ways of life I discovered that each individual has a specific, or maybe just a small number, of gods that they pay extra attention too. For those who praised battle for example, it was common to see them praise war and blood since they went hand in hand. Whereas someone who praises mountain usually does not praise many others.

She tried to tell me about how their patronage sacrifices differed from the everyday ones. And I only really understood half of it. According to her when one pays sacrifice to a patron god they I've up a major part of their body. For example sight which was common, smell, hearing, tough, or things. However it was not uncommon to offer things like a skeleton, or organs too. She assured me that they were replaced by these spirits and augmented. But I think it was just a metaphor. Amphi's insist that this give, take, replace, process physically happens though. I'm still not convinced.

Day 115
One interesting feature about their physicality though is a thing that they refer to as "The Ancient Eye." From what I understand it's an intimidation power. It's akin to looking in to the eyes of a shark or crocodile. In the sense that it give s you an uneasy feeling. However, it's a bit more intensified. I've seen Amphi's use it to freeze their prey in place and almost hypnotize it. It's only really effective on smaller creatures like rodent's mice, rabbit, and foxes. As well as some of the larger less intelligent larger animals like horses and deer.

It's even less effective against fellow anthro's. I call shenanigans on this one. I had to change my trousers after a demonstration on me. Sanuye said that if I were more of a predator I'd be able to with stand it better but ... still... They don't have much control over this power though and it's a reason that the Zalnduu rarely look someone, even their own kind in the eye.

There are those that seem to have an exponentially more intense gaze then others. Not only that but they are able to control it as well. Turn it off so to speak. Sanuye informed me that to gain this ability one must sacrifice their sight to the gods of battle war and blood. I'm still not totally convinced of the whole swapping vision thing but all of the Amphi's I have met with this intense form do have golden eyes. This boon you could call it does come at a rather interesting price though. An Amphi that has given up their sigh goes blind every time, and for the duration that they use their ancient eye. 

I confirmed this using a control group of none golden eyes and golden eyes. When using the ancient eye on a rabbit the non golden eyes pupils would dilate and contract. However the golden eyes pupil's dilated as if it was night time and did not react to light stimuli at all.

Day 180
It has been a few weeks since I last wrote in my journal. But just haven't' found the time I've been learning so many new things. Today I discovered something rather interesting about the tool that they use. Sanuye introduced me to her mate. A warrior apparently and he allowed me to look at his weapon collection. It was like stepping into a different time. Every weapon is made from stone, wood, leather, and sinew. They had not even entered the Bronze Age! I asked them the reasoning behind it and got a rather fascinating answer.

According to the Amphicyons it is forbidden that they smelt or work metal. They said that it would harm nature and be a bastardization of fire to smelt metal. This confirms my thoughts that the reason for the elusiveness of these people and the reason that they are so primal is because of this religion that I call Zalnduu after the people since they are the only practitioners. I make this bold claim because they haven o name for the religion itself other then saying "Munduko dira mundu munduan gaude. Dena dira "We are the world, this is the world, they are everything. I will journal again when I can.

Day 258
My legs are burning. We left the den some time ago and without telling me where we started to walk. It has been a week since I have had any food and I finally got enough time to stop and write this. I don't have much time the water ritual is almost over and we will be headed out again. Sanuye said that we required a new home. I still don't know why.

Day 260
I killed my first animal today. It was just a rabbit but my hunger pains were too great to take it any longer. Sanuye said that she had to stop treating me like a child and would no longer provide food for me. I'm engrossed in their culture now. To best study them I have taken up some of their customs and obey the laws of their people. I will document them as they come up. The most notable now is that I was not allowed in fact id say strictly forbidden to use a weapon to hunt my rabbit dinner. That would be disgraceful.

Day 285
We have finally stopped after walking for what seems like ages. I'm grateful to Sanuye for letting me stay with her. I hunt my own food now and tomorrow they plan to induct me into their religion. In the interest of scientific research I have agreed. I have written up a brief list of the gods, rituals, cultures, and meaning behind things. It is titled simply Zalnduu: The religion of the Amphicyon.
Day 288
My chest is in pain today. Sanuye told me that I had been asleep for an entire day.  Fortunately I do remember the ritual of induction. The gods... the spirits ... they took my soul. Harria, the mountain spirit owns it now. He gave me a heart stone in return. Mine is a beautiful Opal. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm grateful for his gift and I shall treasure it.  For now it rests inside me. It feel like a lump in my chest. Every time I place my hand over my heart I feel it.

I have a new name now... Sanuye calls me Neskatoak, little girl. In her eyes I'm nothing but a child. I have yet to complete my three rites. Tomorrow I shall make myself a name from the river clay.

Dena dira

Day 300
My face is on fire. I was struck by lightning today.  Sanuye has let me rest for a while, while I heal. Tomorrow the bandages will come off

Day 301
I officially have a name now. Idazle Hiria. The writer from the city. Appropriate to say the least. I'm not done though. Next I must enter the trial of life. This trial scares me. I wonder if I'll ever make it back home. I feel like I'm losing myself here. Here in the land of giants.

Day 320
My final trial has been completed. I'm not officially a woman. I have given my life to these spirits these gods.  As I did something came to my mind. They are not cruel. Their price is high but they are fare. I fell at peace now knowing that and my hair has started to grow. I feel ugly now.  This short haircut. How could I have ever thought I was beautiful? I'm disgusting. How dare I shame her like this? I will ask the spirits to help me and beg her for forgiveness. I will offer them my stomach. That should appease them. Bizitza I am sorry please forgive my folly.

Day 325
It was a good day today. The spirits have accepted my gift. I sliced myself open and ripped out my stomach for them. I'm thankful they gave me a new one.  Odoletan now rests inside me and seems to enjoy the food that I give her. Bizitza forgave me as well and has given me my hair finally. I feel... whole again.  Sanuye has been teaching me how to care for it and braid it for the past five days and I have gotten rather good at it as well. I can't believe I was ever so naive to disobey her.  Time is not longer so worry some for me. Things will happen as the spirits will them and I cannot change that. I must cut this short the night has fallen and if I do not sleep Lurra will hurt my back.

Day 370
Sanuye let me have one of the bones of her rhino today. I slipped up and forgot to pay Izaki before I hunted and while I hunted. So my deer escaped. The bone marrow tasted good and was surprisingly nutritious. Why hadn't I eaten bones before? My teeth are not fit for this though. I will give them to Izaki tomorrow. It's a wonder I lived this long with so many birth defects. I just hope that the spirits are kind enough to fix them. 

However, I was given a little time to write today since I have been with this pride for over a year. And I thought I should take this time to reflect on what I have learned.

This religion. Zalnduu is the world to my friends and pride-mates. Nothing we do will ever be without purpose.  Nothing I see is something the spirits have touched. They have been here for 30 million years. Who am I do defy them? The things that they ask for must be given. If they are not they are taken. Those who cannot hear them those who cannot see them. Those of the city of my disgusting last name. I pity them. How stupid they are.

These people are the kindest, gentlest creatures I have ever known. Sanuye and I have become connected as of recent. I view her as my sister and even as I write this she keeps me warm in these winter months. However, I dare not question her nor oppose her I have seen the ferocity that they can exude. It is unlike anything I have ever seen.

It was beautiful, horrible, brutal, and primal. Sanuye today stumbled upon a group of orcs. Just writing the name of that disgusting species incites rage in me. These orc had the gall... they dared to chop down a large tree. How could they? Did they not know that Izaera had not given them permission? They must have and did it just to spit in her face.  I am no warrior nor am I a hunter so I was not allowed d to wage war against them. Battle would not let me. Oh how I wished he would have though. Sanuye took care of it though. She is strong, and beautiful.

She killed them all. Every single one of them. The air around her was thick with the rage of the spirits.  Even my stomach and my teeth rattled as she walked into the camp. It was such a joy to see her give the offerings that war and battle demanded. She slaughtered them. Not a single orc was left standing. Not the women, not the children, nothing was left alive. Odoletan was pleased. Sanuye let me make an offering to her, to Odoletan, by drinking some of the orc blood. I'm thankful for that.

These are not people. They are not simply another tribe, an unconquered force, a slave to be held in a pen. They are forces of nature. Unlike anything I have seen. Our direct connection to these spirits have opened my eyes. Everything they do is necessary. If they, for even a day, for sake the spirits, disobey them, or attempt to... Bizitza forbid... destroy the land this world will crumble. 

The Disgraced Ones.... they disgust me. How dare they. How dare they cut their hair? How dare they forsake them? I killed one today. It seemed thankful. I laugh writing this. What a grand joke it is. A soulless one feeling something.  How silly the walking dead have no emotions. Hah I must have slipped up there for a moment. I almost treated it as a person.

The night approaches and I must sleep. As I reflect on my time spent with these glorious people wonder how I ever thought myself to be happy before.  Here I am at peace. Things make sense now.  Things are simple.

Day 486
Today is the happiest day of my life. I found one I found an Indocrin and she was so beautiful. Oh how good the spirits are.  This Indocrin was on the last of its life and about to give herself to Beltza. However, I managed to catch up to her before her final sacrifice.   She blessed me today.  The magnificent creature kneeled down and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I sat with her until her life had passed to make the sacrifice easier on her. How lucky she is to be able to see Beltza the final goddess.

I waited for hours letting the life slowly leave her body.  Finally she let me take her skin as her soul had finally left her body.  I took her hide as well as her thigh and skull.  I'm thankful she allowed me to eat from her flesh. She will become a grand tree. Of this I am sure.

When I returned to my sister with my newly found skin she celebrated with me. We danced and sang letting Zerua hear our voices. We offered the backs of our hand to battle, and she let me drink her blood to over to Odoletan. And I let her take my voice and offer it to Zerua who rests in her throat.  I feel we are closer now. I find myself falling for her as time goes by.  I hope that tomorrow the gods will make me more beautiful and give me a new voice. But if they do not I shall remain ugly. My roar forever silenced.  How beautiful Sanuye's is though.  Whenever I'm gone for too long I will hear her roar.  I can hear it from 100 miles away. Just thinking about it makes me happy.

I can finally have children now.

Day 580
I’m nervous today. I have made myself dress from the skin of the largest rhino I could kill; I have died it lack with the beetle crushing, and have painted myself with spirals in gold paint. Across my crotch sits the skull of a rabbit, my first kill, and under my dress I have pierced myself and placed the golden mating chains around me. All of this I have done without Sanuye's knowledge. I want to surprise her. I'm going to offer her my Heartstone.

Day 581
(Tears have soaked though this page making most of the text illegible.)
Worst.... can't stop crying.... Sanuye rejected my Heartstone.....  Ugly.... hate self....  must.... tomorrow.... mark of shame....stupid....

Day 785
The men will no longer come near me. My sister has abandoned me. These lines across my face and chest. The triple diagonal lines... They are burned into my very being now. These horrible, horrible lines. How could I have been so foolish? How could I have been so stupid? My sister, my pride, my family. They have left me here to die now. All because of a mistake I made. I offered my Heartstone to Sanuye. I wished to be with her forever. But she rejected me.  Her eyes.... those beautiful eyes...  and her hair, her roar... the color of her fur. Why did I think I had a chance with such a beautiful girl? My blue pink eyes snow princess is gone forever. For my stupidity Borrokatzea took my left arm. I will not get a new arm.

Ehiza is not pleased either since I cannot longer hunt without the assistance of a tool. All of my meals taste like sand.

I shall go home. Back to the city where I was born. Perhaps there I will find some comfort. Perhaps on the way I can find Sanuye's dead daughter. I must put her out of her misery at least. As one final act of thanks. I believe her name is Volvoretta....

Day 800
Fools. Disgusting fools. These people that know nothing of the world hurry about as if it is about to end. This city smells. It smells like fecal matter, rot, coal, and the stench of these soulless people. My once friend bill give me a strange look as I write this. He see's my hair, my stump, my clothing, my teeth. He must think me strange. Crazy. It is him who is crazy. Foolish little man. How ugly he is.

Day 801
I heard a rumor today. Some woman... Blume I think her name is of the Silverblade clan captured one of us. She captured a Zalnduu. I must see her. I must talk to her. I must find some on in this hostile city who understands. Who knows what it is to live. I hope she has the eyes.... I miss the eyes. I have given this journal to my publishers in hopes that someone see's it. Someone who can tell me where my sister is.

If they have taught you to read this language please my sister find me. I must see you.