The Akmorda Tribe have a very interesting way of living, The female live in villages which are called a Sounder led by an elder matriarch. Males live in the outskirts or further out in camps. The males only venture into a Sounder from November to January. During this time there is a lot of battles between the males. Usually duels but sometimes it can get wild and be the entire population of males that battle it out, the losers must leave the Sounder and go back to bachelor life or try to find a different Sounder. The victors are then left to fight over breeding rights. Once a heirarchy is established in the males, the strongest gets their pick of the females. The Matriarch at any point can veto a male's rights. So any female of breeding age that's been picked and doesn't wish to be bred by that male, or at all can bargain with the Matriarch. Usually spending the Season taking care of the Matriarch instead of participating to protect them from the rutting males. By October things have settled down enough that there is a feast. The cast out males are welcomed back for the hunt and if it goes well, they can catch enough for the winter and also have enough to give the outcasts for their lonesome winter as they are sent away again to their bachelor camps after the feast.
Orc blood runs thick though the Akmorda Tribe. Baeshra's children have always been strongly attracted to the Akmorda. A lot of times in the picking process males prefer the females with more Orc Blood and Features while what is considered attractive and beautiful in the Valley are those left to the males lower in the combat rankings like scraps. Primal strength is very important to the Akmorda and it can even be seen in day to day life.
Historically this is also what led to the large but weak group of Akmorda to join the Shadraca on their journey, natural selection as well as Breeding Season selection formed a cast off Sounder on the edge of Akmorda Lands and the failing Sounder joined the Exodus. The Matriarch of the Sounder and her daughters and their father became House Korshak.
House Korshak of Gauldalier
Because of their Akmorda roots, House Korshak are the emmisaries between the Kingdom and the Akmorda Tribe. They are also sent to help any Akmorda that might be having trouble adjusting to how things are done in the Valley. The sucess rate is varied and many a Korshak does not survive the 'diplomacy'. This has created a tradition of intermingling of the Korshak bloodline with the stronger Akmorda blood from time to time. The goal for the Korshak is to find that perfect balance between Brawn and Brain. So that they may survive any negotiation, should words fail.
Other hints of their roots can be seen in House Korshak and also the descendants of the Akmorda that call the Valley Home now. In the marshes of the west valley are small Sounders, though the buildings are different they still have Akmorda decorations and designs. The Matriarch of the Korshak lives in the largest of the Valley Sounders in the center of the marshland. Her daughters after they have had their first daughter leave the Matriarch's Sounder to go start a smaller Sounder of her own.
There is even still parts of the Breeding Season that are still done to this day. But now it is a tournament in November and only accidental deathes happen, unless a true duel is challenged over some matter. The male shows interest in a female by asking for her favor. It is up to the female to give said favor and ceremony dictates that it must be done before the Matriarch and her blessing must be given as well.
Marriage is a rare thing in the Korshak Marshes. But each new generation that calls the Valley home, more and more of the conglomerate of cultures of the Kingdom affects even the Akmorda and House Korshak and January has become a month of weddings if the relationship lasts the Breeding Season.
The extreme gender roles and separation of male and females still rear its boarish head as well. There is still outskirts of the Sounders and they house the males, often times the elder males are permanent residents and they teach and train and rear the younger males since weaning age. Young adult Korshak and Akmorda males of the valley roam the marshes sometimes in bachelor groups. Some just wander whereever they may in the entire valley and return home for The Season. Females seeking to live a different life must leave the relative safety of the Korshak Marshes an make lives for themselves in the greater and often times crueler to their kind Valley at large.
People with Akmorda Blood
