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Since everyone appears to be enjoying the background material (I wasn’t sure you would), and the tractor isn’t here yet, I’ll throw in some more tidbits to tide you over until tomorrow. Or the next day. Nothing should be spoilerish for Kings or the books following…some outcropped in the original books and some didn’t. (And I don’t promise that there’s nothing new in background that might outcrop in this book or the next.)
Mikki-kekki. Dzordanya, the easternmost land north of the Honnorgat, borders Kostandan on the west, the Honnorgat on the south, and the Eastern Ocean on the east. Its northern border is undefined. It is a mysterious land, and not exactly welcoming to outsiders; it is heavily forested, damp, and cold. The mikki-kekki are a race of non-humans about which even less is known than about Dzordanyan humans. They are small (sometimes called “woods-sprites” by outsiders) and use some tools (including blow-pipes and simple bows.) These both shoot thin darts or arrows tipped with poison, possibly from mushrooms. They appear to travel and hunt in groups; if they have any permanent homes, these are far from human settlements. They are found in the densest forest (and most of Dzordanya is forest.)
They are generally hostile to humans, and their hostility has limited settlement there. Their weapons are not effective against armor, and even thick clothing may be protective, but any unprotected part of the body is vulnerable. Dzordanyan humans typically wear leather outer garments which do the trick, though if enough mikki-kekki attack (and they almost always attack in groups) they may close on the person, knock him/her to the ground and go from there with great efficiency to kill and consume the unfortunate traveler.
The first humans in Dzordanya are believed to have reacted to mikki-kekki hostility with an attempt to wipe out the creatures, but they were not successful. That, of course, did not reduce mikki-kekki hostility. Very occasionally, a human child will befriend, or be befriended by, a mikki-kekki–in that case, the mikki-kekki try to lure the child away to live with them. Such children are much more likely to become Kuakkgani than others, if they survive this early friendship.
Mikki-kekki communicate verbally and seem to have a sort of language (the children who make friends with a mikki-kekki troupe insist they do speak, and the child often learns some of that language–if it is a language in the true sense.) Their voices are high pitched, and they make some sounds humans can scarcely hear, let alone immitate: humans usually describe their speech as “chittering–high and fast.” It includes clicks and squeaks.
Oddly (at least the humans think it’s odd) mikki-kekki do not attempt to kill white-haired people…once someone’s hair turns completely white, they’re safe from mikki-kekki attack. Children have reported that this is because the old are considered “snow people.” Adults are not sure the children aren’t making this up. Is there a race of white-haired people in the far north somewhere? Nobody knows. And if there were, why would the mikki-kekki not be hostile to them? Nobody knows.
However, this has led human settlements to attempt a working relationship with nearby mikki-kekki groups, with the leadership of a “long house” being the person with the longest, whitest hair. If that person is always seen to be directing the others, the mikki-kekki are much less likely to attack. White-haired women create a bigger safety zone than men–a white beard is not protection. Hence the social structure of Dzordanyan settlements is–though not a true matriarchy–usually headed by an elderly woman (or it can be a younger one if her hair turns white early.) If she should be too sick to go outside (for instance) than everyone stays in the long house until a white-haired woman is able to go out with them. Attempts to fool mikki-kekki by bleaching the hair are fatal. They are able to detect natural white hair v. bleached hair and they appear to hate bleached hair.
Nobody but themselves knows the origin of the humans in Dzordanya. Some of them may have come from Prealíth, across the river to the south, but much of the population of Prealíth is Seafolk in origin, and the other Seafolk usually shudder when asked about Dzordanya. Dzordanyans, when asked, simply shrug and bring up another topic.
Two things are known for sure about Dzordanyans: they live in what they call “long houses” and many of them go on a long journey called “varkingla,” which roughly translates as “the wandering.” The itinerant Kuakkgani are all, as far as anyone knows, Dzordanyan. Kuakkgani who have Groves rarely travel (they can, but they choose not to most of the time) and they are more often not from Dzordanya. Anyone who has survived a visit to Dzordanya understands why the people go varkingla, but not why they stay. Dzordanyans don’t explain.
Comment by Moira — March 21, 2011 @ 9:57 am
Very cool! I always wondered about these guys; even if they’re completely hostile, you sort of have to root for the wood sprites over the greedy, destructive humans. And very, very interesting about the kuakkgani. (We’ve learned a fair bit about them, too, over the past few days. Also cool!)
According to Amazon, my book is only a couple of hours’ drive away, so maybe I’ll get it tomorrow after all… I’m bouncing in my seat. 🙂
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 10:06 am
I don’t think of all these humans as greedy and destructive–some, yes, but some are, like any other critter, just making a living. I wish I knew more about the mikki-kekki…if I need it for a story, it will bubble up, but for now, that’s it.
Comment by AJR — March 21, 2011 @ 11:17 am
I like the way the syllables of the mikki-kekki name apparently have some root in their (to humans) chittering-sounding language.
Comment by Dave Ring — March 21, 2011 @ 11:27 am
These chunks of background have been a treasure trove! Thanks so much for posting them.
I wonder about the mikki-kekki arrow poison. In our world, mushroom toxins may be potent, but tend to act rather slowly (hepatotoxins rather than neurotoxins).
Waiting until tomorrow, when I’ll visit my favorite of our surviving booksellers.
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Dave: I’m only guessing. I don’t think they have the tech to do more than dip the tips in something potent, and it’s not a tropical area so I don’t know what in their natural world would be that strong BUT mushrooms. And maybe the victims do die slowly. Just not sure. Will think deeper, when I have time…(G)
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 11:39 am
AJR: When I first “saw” Dzordanya, all those years ago, I heard the mikki-kekki and caught an incomplete glimpse of them. So yeah, I named them for what I heard.
Comment by Carolyn Rau — March 21, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
I love this background material also – a small book? I know, I know – cost. Well, can live and hope and pray.
TOMORROW! My favorite small bookstore will have it waiting for me.
Thank you thank you.
Done gushing now.
Comment by MaryW — March 21, 2011 @ 2:32 pm
Amazon has just informed me that the book will be here tomorrow! Now if life does not get in the way….
Comment by Eir de Scania — March 21, 2011 @ 3:42 pm
I suppose all this information is coming up on the Paksworld site as soon as you find the time. (Perhaps I should venture into Potterverse and see if any Time-turner has survived?)
Us not enjoying the background material? Here us shout Thank You and More! More! 😉
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 5:27 pm
Thank you! Gushing is good for the anxious writer’s nerves. (Doesn’t every birth come wrapped in anxiety along with joy?)
Comment by Kamil — March 21, 2011 @ 5:52 pm
Thank you very much for all of the backstory; it is greatly appreciated. I hope that my Kindle download will kick in promptly after midnight, but if not, I’ll begin as soon as I get in from work tomorrow.
A few weeks ago, I prepared for the release by rereading everything in the universe, beginning with Surrender and going forward. I’m glad I did that, because now, with the past more important by the day, I wonder if, say, Luap’s alteration of Gird’s story will have any bearing on the present difficulties. Time will tell, I’m sure. =D
Thanks again for the extras; they have been wonderful.
Comment by tuppenny — March 21, 2011 @ 8:15 pm
Perhaps they use venom derived from amphibians or a local snake?
Or maybe a combination of the above with a fungus venom.
Could be a very large local spider – What a nasty job harvesting and processing those!
I wonder what the local Kaukanni think about the use of that venom.
Comment by tuppenny — March 21, 2011 @ 8:16 pm
PS:
One hour and forty five minutes to go and we will see if the Kindle downloads which will hold me until the hardcover arrives.
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 9:34 pm
Hoping it arrives exactly on time!
Comment by elizabeth — March 21, 2011 @ 9:37 pm
I’ve always thought of poison frogs as being tropical or semi-tropical (we had a toad with poisonous skin secretions in South Texas) and not so far north. If an amphibian, I suspect it would be more like a salamander…hmmm…but spider venom…brrrrrr.
Kuakkgani would consider the mikki-kekki part of the natural world and would be no more horrified by them than by a snake or toad or spider.
Comment by Keenan — April 2, 2011 @ 4:53 pm
These bits of reference are delightful to read and only add to the richness of the world you’ve created. This leads me to something I had been wondering after rereading The Deed. Is it possibly that there may exist some of those stories of the lives and events of past paladins? The Marshal General was putting such a great effort in to recording everything to do with Paks for the archives, but it would be such a wonderful treat to be able to peak at the archives for those that came before her.
This is only if it is a possibility and that it wouldn’t interfere with the progress being made on the next books, though.
Comment by elizabeth — April 3, 2011 @ 7:26 am
Keenan: the maps other races make (those that make maps–elves don’t make or need maps) just might show up in another book (ahem…) I might indeed write from the Archives of the Fellowship of Gird someday, if I can pry loose some time, and also learn what’s in there.
Comment by Chae — April 3, 2011 @ 8:47 am
I think these guys killed a paladin in Deeds so I guess they’re not too impressed with them. 🙂
Comment by karl — April 24, 2011 @ 11:46 am
Its always good to see background information, writing a story is very different to putting together (for example) a role-play sourcebook.
Maybe Ive missed it somewhere but I cant find any background or much information on the phelani troop itself, how big is a cohort? a military cohort(roman) is several hundred men, based on a reference by dorin about housing nearly a hundred men I take it to be a centuria of ~80
and is the shield motif on oath of fealty a phelani fox head? it looks like a fox but its blue not maroon
🙂
Comment by elizabeth — April 24, 2011 @ 7:40 pm
Karl: A cohort is a nominal 100, but starts each campaign year overstrength, because recruits in their first campaign year die off faster. Under Phelan, it had become common to recruit 110-120, of whom some would wash out, and then fill each cohort (which was possibly down to 85 or so) to 115-ish. In Paks’s third campaign year, when Phelan took south not only a full component of recruits but also all the veterans he could call on, all three cohorts were substantially overstrength to start with. So the Company hires as (if all hired) 300, with one cohort skilled “mixed” (short sword & bow, and often used as an archery component.) Somewhere in Sheepfarmer’s Daughter (I think, anyway) there are comments to that effect.
Artwork on covers is fictional. That is, in the interest of making an attention grabbing cover, details may vary from what is in the book. Phelani insignia was either (depending on the piece of equipment) a dark red foxhead on white (OK: cream: the color of natural “white” wool) or occasionally black or brown, or a white foxhead on dark red, or a stamped or carved or engraved foxhead without coloration on wood, metal, leather.