The Sayune (say-YOO-nee) are a nomadic folk who wander the
civilized lands in caravans. Each caravan consists of a single extended family, including
cousins, aunts, brothers and great grand children. Such a caravan is a known as a
Wandering and may contain as many as 100 people. The Sayune are of short stature and dark,
curly hair. They are a displaced grumman clan from the
Falkir Hills region, though they
are no longer
grum. Centuries of mixed breeding have produced a mixed heritage and a
people that share traits of grum, human, elven and other races. The Sayune Clan was
banished from the Falkir Clans in 2320. The exact reasons are shrouded in myth and fable,
much of which conflicts. According to the most widely accepted legend, the Sayune took to
the worship of a demi-god from the nether realms, a being they named Jyroga (pronounced
Je-ROW-ga) and that he taught them the ways of the dark arts. This Jyroga assumed mortal
form and walked among them. The other grumman clans opposed this religious movement and the
mysteries it taught, some of which involved the sacrifice of animals. Jyroga proved that
he was very influential and held much control over his believers. When diplomacy failed,
the clans went to war. Three years of feuding ravaged the Falkir Hills until Jyroga
himself was slain. The Sayune were banished - the entire clan driven out of Falkir Hills.
The remaining clans razed the shrines of Jyroga, toppled his statues and burned his
trappings. It is said that Jyroga appeared in spirit form and cursed the Sayune for
failing him. To remind them of the beautiful Falkir Hills which they lost, Jyroga
cursed them such that they would never know the land again. Any land the Sayune settle on
will wither and die within a month. The Sayune have wandered all the realms ever since.
Today, the Sayune are a persecuted people. Because of the legendary curse (which may or may not true, though most peasants believe it to be), the Sayune are usually unwelcome in most lands and sometimes literally walked off a plot of land at sword point. This treatment has embittered the Sayune over the generations and they have degenerated into a poverty-stricken culture of panhandling and thievery. Many realms consider them nothing but beggars and charlatans, the children of evildoers who deserve their fate, a minor annoyance to be tolerated as they pass through. The Sayune still practice their dark witchcraft and consort with spirits. Most of the magic is conducted by the women. The older, more experienced women practice a special type of sorcery, concocting elixirs and fashioning charms.
The Sayune are a strong willed people who refuse to allow past misfortune to destroy them. Their camps are filled with dancing, singing, wine and laughter. Young women of the Sayune practice a unique art form called sword dancing which is quite beautiful. Sword dancing is graceful and fluid. The dancer wields a long, curved scimitar and literally dances with the blade. A good sword dancer can mesmerize her audience.
A sayune wandering will travel for a week, camp for a week, travel for a week and so on. They are a matriarchal culture and each group is lead by the eldest female. There are about 50 sayune groups in the world and these are scattered across the continent.
Sayune Wagons
Tthe sayune travel the world in wagons. However, sayune wagons are huge things.
They are more than three times the length and width of a normal wagon and very
often two or even three stories tall. This massive things roll along on four
immense wagon wheels and are pulled by teams of oxen. Typically 12 to 20 people
will live in a sayune wagon. Sayune wagons have living quarters including
kitchens and dining rooms. They are heated by fireplaces and belch smoke through
chimneys. Some even have hidden rooms. Great rolling houses they are, made all
of wood, crowded, cluttered and full of life. Sayune wagons are very decorative
and colorfully painted.
This page last updated Monday, October 08, 2007. Copyright 1990-2008 David M. Roomes.