The Families of the Marsh
A Look at the Tribes that make up Argonia
Written by: Utakee'a

Table of Contents

I: Children of the Hist
1. http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1209149-families-of-the-marsh/page__view__findpost__p__18078320
2. http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1209149-families-of-the-marsh/page__view__findpost__p__18091569
3. The Splitting
4. Mark of the Families

II: Inner Families
1. Agacephs
2. Paatru
3. Sarpa
4. Nagas
5. Kilii

III: Western Families
1. Keewa
2. Archein
3. Tripaceph
4. Seexhleel

IV: Southern Families
1.Trohpa
2. Jade

V: Northern Families
1. Empawaa
2. Yarpa
3. Nata

VI: Eastern Families
1.Osawaar
2. Lixil

VII: Forgotten Families
1. Iwa
2. Proskia
3. Timiwia
4. Ujiwiiw
5. Karwa
6. A’Jeewa

Note: Decided to take a break on Argonia Stands to flesh out the tribes that are starring. All of this, except for a few words and tribes (poorly fleshed out to begin with) is completely created by me. Call this Fanon or whatever you like. I would love feedback and maybe some commentary that I can add in here by fictional characters. This is by no means the official draft. Changes are sure to come. Thanks for reading, be sure to comment.

I
Children of the Hist

Children of the Hist

I think it is first necessary to tell the readers of this rather long yet instructive journal of my origins. I am very well aware of the little knowledge of the deeper parts of the Marsh, and their inhabitants, but I believe it necessary for anyone who seeks knowledge, such as I, to understand the cultures and customs of each of the families. I once called myself a Saxhleel, as the Argonians in the Marsh call themselves. Even though I was born into the Yarpa Clan, my lust for knowledge went unstated. Though the Yarpa Eldermen, you will read about them later if you stick with me to the end, had much knowledge, they did not have much outside the history of their own tribe.

Before I tasted the sap, as is a custom of all Children of the Hist, I became part of the Karwa, literally translating into “together yet without”, a more rough translation being “the wanderers.” I traveled south and among my brothers, learning from them and learning of the ways of the people. Some of the families surprised me with elegance and grace and others disgusted me with brutal customs. However, these are all my brothers, and I believe it necessary for you to know about them.

Argonia, in and of itself, is a place of wonder. In all my travels, which have taken me to the northern tip of Skyrim to the most southern port of Elsweyr, I have never seen a more varied place than my homeland of Argonia. The province of the Black Marsh is a rose. Behold the petals but beware the thorns.

I would like to say that most disappearances of adventurers and wanderers were at the fault of my brethren, who still carry the customs of Jeewa among them. I would lie, however, if I told you that. There are beasts which rival that of The Wild Hunt within the Marshes, which have been known to destroy entire tribes within their rampages. I have witnessed very few of these monstrosities, as many do not witness and live. Evil beings, with fangs as large as a man, have been known to rip Hist trees from their roots, tearing them apart.

Living constantly under threat of these monstrosities, the Argonians know little fear. They embrace death, knowing that they will go to the Hist when they die, and forever be in that warm embrace. Argonian warriors are always tense, always on edge. I have yet to see a true Argonian warrior look relaxed, even when sleeping. I would speculate that if the Argonians ever became one, their armies would rival that of the Direnni.

However, I don’t see that in the future, so do not run to cover yet. The tribes within Argonia are many, each competing for land with the other. From what I learned in the Yarpa and in the Karwa, it seems that each tribe revolves around a group of Hist trees. The tribal leader, whatever he may be called, seems to listen to the Hist and then do their bidding. If I jumped to conclusions, I would say that the Hist are competing against each other, trying to gain more land and using the Argonians as their weapons. However, I would not dare to presume such a thing.

Argonian Tribes are constantly at war. Not only with their environment and the monsters that inhabit it but with other tribes and sometimes themselves. Several tribes have fallen to civil war, splitting and becoming two, and one tribe may split and one might die while another survives. However, fights between tribes are much different than war, if that can be believed, and that will be explained later. Being a tribal warrior takes much skill, more than that of the average city guard I would presume. Being always tested, always ready to fight, always fighting must tax one. Yet my brothers have learned to adapt, learned how to fight better than anyone we thought possible. Those who truly carry the tradition of Argonia are not like the Argonians that we see in Cyrodiil or Vvardenfall, they are much more deadly, much more exacting and calculating.

The cities of Argonia are something of an oddity. With the multiple tribes, the cities of Argonia are sparsely inhabited. Certain rules apply to Argonians when entering the cities of the Marsh, it seems, for no tribe will fight within eyesight of the city regardless of any blood feud or rivalry. The cities are for diplomatic talk and trading, but that is as far as it extends to the tribal families. The Argonians as a whole do not think of cities as we do.


Yet I have not written this book to explain the people as a whole, you have the Pocket Guide for that, but to explain in detail what the average man does not know.

Pretty awesome man! :thumbsup:

I don't know much (well as much as you would know from reading the USEP) about Argonia or the Argonians so this should help when you contiune *Argonia Stands* and judging by the table of contents it looks like theres going to be quite a bit of content so thats good. I really like this so far and can't wait for further installments.

Also the way you portry the Argonians helps me understand how they were able to take over Morrowind. I always thought of the Argonians as...lizards but from what I've read they seem to be highly capable warriors :poke: , which I think is really cool.

Keep it up. :goodjob:

Jeewa: Honor and Respect
The term “Jeewa” in the Jel, the language of the Argonian, literally translates into a combination of “honor” and “respect”. Most Argonians live by this code; one of multiple rules and is difficult both to explain and understand by one who has not been indoctrinated by it’s teachings. The Jeewa honor system is an odd one, or at least to those who have never seen such a thing before, but most Argonians would die before breaking such a code.

The teachings of the Jeewa tell of two kinds of fighting, both essential to Argonian life. Dueling and Fighting. Though the two seem interchangeable to our ears, they are very different in the eyes of an Argonian. If two are to fight, then that means it is to the death. This usually is only the case when an Argonian fights and outsider, one of the A’Jeewa, or a monster, for it does not touch one’s honor. Dueling is a more respectful and honorable way of fighting, and any conflict between two tribes are always made up of dueling, bloodshed being quite uncommon on both sides. Though death is possible, it is deemed fighting if one goes straight for the kill, which results in the becoming of A’Jeewa, or “without honor”.

Those who believe in Jeewa believe it is easy to kill, and that there is very little honor in it. Any reckless person can cut down another, and even the most ignorant can end a life. There are more honorable ways to end a duel other than death which most Argonians search for before reverting

When two Argonians fight, it is quite the spectacle. To draw a cut is somewhat honorable, and multiple cuts can end a fight which does not end in death. However, there are even more alternatives. Each Argonian has a flat-part of a spear. If one was to touch another Argonian with this flat-part of the spear, they would gain great honor. To touch a rival with one’s tail is slightly more honorable than touching with the flat-part of the spear. To touch one with a bare hand is one of the most honorable things to do, and is very highly looked upon, especially when dueling. To knock an Argonian off of his feet is to usurp all of that Argonian’s honor, leaving him with none.

One must ponder: how would this end a fight? The fact of the matter is, when one is touched or scratched, they lose honor. Because no Argonian wants to lose honor, there is an easy way out. Surrender. Surrender is not as unhonorable as it may seems in Imperialistic cultures; to surrender is to cut your losses. When one surrenders, he keeps the honor he was able to maintain in the duel. The surrendering Argonian retreats respectfully to go back to his tribe. When an Argonian is knocked off of his feet, it is an automatic surrender. All honor is lost when he is knocked onto his feet, and he must beg his tribe to be allowed back into their numbers. If he is denied, then he becomes part of A’Jeewa and becomes an exile. Much like the Karwa, they wander but they are not allowed contact with any tribe until they regain their honor. Many of these flee to the west to escape to a better life. No Argonian wishes even their greatest enemy to live the life of an A’Jeewa. But whilst in battle, if the opportunity arises, every Argonian will take it. It is rare to be denied entrance back into one’s tribe, though, and most often happens when one loses their honor over and over.

Now to discuss to the touchy topic of magic. Argonians of the Marsh believe that the Hist bestowed them a gift right before The Splitting, which will be explained later, that they called “Hist’ajaa” or literally “Gift of the Hist”. Though they understand that magic extends outside of the Marsh, most Argonians believed that the A’Jeewa took the Hist’ajaa to the westerners. Though we know that is a lie, that is what my ignorant brothers believe.

Jeewa touches Hist’ajaa just like it does all aspects of Argonian life. Hist’ajaa is unrestricted while fighting but while dueling, there are some honor restrictions. Those who excel in the practice of the Hist’ajaa - they go by different names in different tribes - usually break Hist’ajaa into three sects. War Magic (Empa’ajaa), Support Magic (Txthla’ajaa), and Summon Magic (Krifto’ajaa). In dueling, Empa’ajaa and Krifto’ajaa are strictly forbidden. Txthla’ajaa, on the other hand, plays a very large role while dueling. While the warriors of a tribe are dueling it is the job of the practitioners of Txthla’ajaa to support their warriors. What we would call Restoration, Alteration, and perhaps some Mysticism and Illusion would be what is generally referred to as the Txthla’ajaa’ixi - basically Support Mages - would use to support their warriors. While Hist’ajaa is not as prominent in the Argonian race as magic is in the rest of Tamriel, dueling usually does not come to an end until the Txthla’ajaa’ixi are either exhausted or defeated. Some tribes have bolstered their Txthla’ajaa’ixi so well that they have very few warriors to make room for more Txthla‘ajaa‘ixi. This recent strategy has begun what the Argoinans call “Lythit de Jeewa” or “Game of Honor”, “Game of Strategy”.

Lythit de Jeewa is the evolution of dueling. While ancient dueling was usually one tribe’s champion against the other in a one on one duel, dueling has evolved into what it is today. The implementation of Txthla’ajaa’ixi began the Lythit de Jeewa. Tribal leaders were forced to choose to either have strong warriors or strong supporters and to implement strategy into using these two. The best way to explain it is this. When two tribes duel, they try to go after one another’s Txthla’ajaa’ixi. However, they also have to distribute their warriors into defensive and offensive positions, protecting their Txthla’ajaa’ixi while attacking their opponent’s. The strategy that evolves around this is what makes up Lythit de Jeewa. What we would call war, the sons of the Hist call it a game.

Straying from the Lythit de Jeewa and battle, Jeewa is strong in other aspects of life as well. Most Argonians who still live in the Marsh believe that when a promise is made, or an oral contract is given, it is unhonorable to break it or to not fulfill the promise. Many Argonians have died while trying to fulfill a promise they made, and not even the most hated enemy will be attacked if there is a peace agreement between the two chiefs. Those who break such honors often become A’Jeewa.

Those with Jeewa respect their elders. In mostly all clans there is a hierarchy, from the lowliest child to the highest elder. Respect for those above you is part of the Jeewa code. Those in the lower ranks of the Argonian hierarchy often do chores for those in the higher ranks to show their respect to their elders. Some take this to the extreme and will commit suicide in place of a higher rank losing their honor.

Time is a funny thing when it comes to Jeewa. Those who follow it say that time needs to be respected in all aspects, meaning that an Argonian needs to honor the past and the future as they would the present. Though Imperialistic peoples have extreme trouble understanding this, even the most uneducated hatchling respects all aspects of time. The more hardcoe Argonians believe that there is no such thing as time, that all of life is one moment and needs to be respected as such. Even I do not understand them quite fully, but I know that they do not speak in the past or future tense as we do, they only have the present, even when discussing events that did happen in the past.

Though an individual can have Jeewa, the Jeewa of the tribe relies on the Jeewa standings of all of it’s inhabitants. It is the job of the tribe leader to maintain a high level of honor for his tribe, and he does that by usurping the honor of other tribes and by exiling those with low or negative honor. That is why all members of the tribe try to stay honorable, to keep up the Jeewa of themselves and the tribe.

Outside of Argonia, Jeewa does not exist. They believe us westerners have no honor, so they should not try and prove it to us that we have honor. It would waste their time.