Entry #355120, added on 06-22-05 @ 9:29 am EDT
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| Conflict With The Free Apsiu | Entry #355120 |
There is not much to say regarding this topic, but I thought I would give it a shot anyway.
The tribal Apsiu of whom the Ameni Chronicles are about are not the only type of Apsiu to be found in Kemet; there is also the large subclass of the "Free Apsiu," as they are called by both the Kemeti and the tribal Apsiu. I should like to think that the Free Apsiu have another, more impressive name for themselves but I have yet to make one up. ^_^
The story of the Free Apsiu will be given in a future article, "Free Apsiu Culture." Basically, they came about when a group of Moru, led by Leader Antakh (a Moru posing as a Kana), rebelled against their masters and fled into the western desert. Over time, more Moru, and even some Kana, joined their ranks, and even more Apsiu were born into this splinter culture, and eventually they dispersed into different tribes mainly occupying the western oases. For the most part they do not interact with the tribal Apsiu, but when they do, relations are incredibly difficult and most often violent.
After so many years of living free, the Free Apsiu are now fully accustomed to their lifestyle, and regard themselves as completely separate from the tribal Apsiu. Aside from those who have joined them from the tribes, they do not recognize the caste system, and even those who grew up under this system are no longer allowed to practice it among the Free. Being a soldier is not viewed with as much pride and respect as it is among the tribes, and women are seen as nearly equal to men. More will be said in the upcoming chapter.
These attitudes, of course, bring the Free Apsiu into frequent conflict with the tribes of regular Apsiu. The tribal Apsiu do NOT recognize such distinctions as the Free Apsiu make, and in fact view the Free Apsiu as merely rebels and traitors, all of Moru status, free for the taking (no pun intended) as slaves. The tribal Apsiu do not recognize the Free Apsiu as autonomous, and there is a great deal of hatred and enmity between the two groups, against the tribal Apsiu for failing to recognize the Free Apsiu as beings of equal worth, and against the Free Apsiu for failing to learn their proper place as slaves. In fact, most tribal Apsiu even view it as an affront that there should be Moru running about free, as this is an insult to their own status as Kana who can control their slaves.
Raids upon the Free Apsiu are not as frequent as the tribal Apsiu would wish simply because the Free Apsiu are masters of avoiding contact, staying mainly in the western oases which for the most part the tribal Apsiu do not frequent. They are also known to be incredibly vicious fighters, both males and females, and most would rather die than be taken alive--the suicide of captive Free Apsiu is not uncommon. And so the tribal Apsiu raid them only when they have a specific reason to do so, such as when the Free Apsiu are within near reach, or when there are not many of them to put up a decent fight. Even when they are taken captive, the females, which are primarily taken to be mates, are usually not nearly tractable enough to play the part of slaves, choosing instead to maim and injure their masters in any way they know how. Most Kana simply prefer Moru who have been bred and raised to be slaves, as they are much less hassle to deal with. (One good exception to this in the story is with the characters She'hekha, a Kana, and Ze'thet, a captive Free Apsiu female, who happens to be trained in the use of small arms. Ze'thet never proves to be a very docile mate, as She'hekha learns.)
For the most part these two groups simply prefer to avoid each other, for the sake of avoiding trouble; the Kana see little point in messing with slaves who are likely to injure or murder them, and the Free Apsiu are more inclined toward peace than fighting. Yet when the two clash, trouble almost always follows.
Please see the upcoming "Free Apsiu Culture" for more information on this group.
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