I wanted to draw "red-eyed na'vi", by what's the first image that comes to mind... I see this bald green fellow with a fingerprint-like tattoo in his face, who is surrounded by bright green fumes of some kind...?
Developed this concept further btw.
Tsoo'ek has the same linquistic roots as Tsahik, as the concepts have the same origin culturally as well. The difference is, there are multiple Tsoo'eks and they are more like a siblinghood of philosophers, mystics and healers that pursue the mystery of existence via their countless schools of thought stemming from thousands of years of discourses on that.
These subarctic na'vi live in a boreal coniferous forest biome, - and a terrain scratched up into hundreds of lakes by an ancient bygone ice sheet.
They fish, hunt, forage, as well as herd a small number of docile lumbering beasts for their milk and manure that fertilizes the land for many edible fungi and plants that otherwise wouldn't grow.
They practice slash-and-burn-cultivation of certain plants, in small patches of land at once, leaving these spots with fertile ash and nesting sites for small animals requiring burnt tree logs.
Their sacred place is deep in the bottom of a lake, - and the entry into it is a dangerous, traumatic experience usually only accessed by their Tsahik, Tsakarem or important warriors. It leaves oneself changed forever, but bearing important knowledge.
(This character is basically my na'visona, so he has an Eywa-granted androgynous top surgery by the way...)
The Ta'kxener see their lakes and water surfaces as portals into other worlds, and are very careful when it's time to dive into their vast lake networks for foraging or fishing. Especially the muddy lake bottom is seen as realm of death itself, and dropping someone's hairs or nails there on purpose is said to ruin or kill them.
They worship a great, semi-bipedal omnivorous beast that lurks deep in their forests, - and say that sometimes an amalgamation of ancient ancestral spirits possesses one of these beasts to speak, - they call this the 'Forest Elder'.
Typical build of the na'vi variant Ta'kxener belong to.
Like other aquatic na'vi (reef, arctic ocean), - their ribcages are really wide compared to fully terrestial na'vi, - protecting their huge efficient lungs.
Their ears are completely furred-over.
Ta'kxener are inspired by Finnish folklore, folk magic, mythology and pre-crusades (a. k. a. precolonial before christianity got forced down our throats and withchunts wiped out immeasurably precious cultural knowledge that was like 99% oral tradition) era culture.
For the sake of cool factor and fun, big artistic freedoms are also taken. I decided that this is what I want my own na'visona to be, drawing inspiration from where I come from.
Research is carefully done avoiding endemic Karelian concepts or cultural traits, as Finns have a history of appropriating Karelian culture while ignoring our own culture.
I study this subject with care and passion and don't want to blindly borrow from the National Romanticism era art and literature, as these sources tend to be the appropriative kinds.
Instead, I do my own research.
My own family line originates from the Karelian Isthmus and has a Greek Orthodox -derived name, but they became North Savonian Finns hundreds of years ago, - and the isthmus has been Lutheran + Finnish-speaking for quite some time now (unlike the Orthodox, Karelian-speaking regions up North from it), as has been my family.
I am an Eastern Finn, and most strongly identify with being North Savonian, - as we are a melting pot tribe among Finns. This suits me as another side of my family is South Ostrobothnian!
Therefore I do not consider myself culturally any other than Finn + gamer + autistic gay nerd, - but yeah. I try to be mindful when doing any stuff related to Finnish or "Finnish" mythology / inspired / etc. stuff.
(No I don't think people need to present some freak pedigree when doing na'vi fanclans but you know? I am a FREAK. A sicko. A weirdo. I also have really bad OCD. Would you please understand? lol)
After days of determining how to carry it out, heres my rough draft of a modern Pandoran empire! Everything is subject to change but I think this is really good starting point for now!
TĂŹfmi Aynawm (The Attempt of the Gathered)
Core Concept
A trade empire in early formation. Displaced Na'vi clans from various territories are converging in the savanna/grasslands with access to river deltas. Displacement is directly caused by human activity - mining, deforestation, hunting, resource extraction. The empire is a strategic response: safety in numbers and a united front against growing human infractions that individual clans cannot withstand alone.
The Setting
Geography: Vast savanna/grasslands with scattered trees, seasonal water sources, and major river systems flowing through the region creating fertile floodplains and deltas near the coast. Climate is seasonal - wet season brings flooding and lush growth, dry season shrinks water sources and concentrates game and people around remaining rivers and waterholes.
Pre-Empire Economy: Direhorses for mounts and transport. Zakru herds for food and materials. Yerik and hammerhead titanotheres for meat, hide, bone. River fish. Medicinal plants. Obsidian from mountain regions. Timber from gallery forests along waterways.
Pre-Empire Trade Routes: Multiple independent routes controlled by different clans. Direhorse patrols and caravans across open plains. River and delta canoe traffic. Clans taxed travelers passing through territory. Violence common - herd raids, caravan theft, control of waterholes.
The Problem: Routes fragmented by clan territories. Travelers at risk crossing between clan lands. Water sources contested - dry season waterholes are power. Herding lands disputed. River tolls arbitrary and multiple. Distant clans cannot reliably trade. Disputes over animals, water, and trade routes lead to constant low-level warfare.
---
Human/RDA Threat
Human Activities Impacting Clans: Mining unobtanium destroys sacred sites, poisons water, strips land. Deforestation clears forests for operations and destroys Eywa connections. Hunting kills thanators, direhorses, zakru for sport or specimens. Resource extraction takes timber, medicinal plants, animal products. Military operations attack clans that resist and burn villages. Disease introduces human pathogens Na'vi have no immunity to. All of these force clans off ancestral lands.
The RDA have aircraft (scorpions, samson helicopters), firearms and explosives, body armor, satellite surveillance, superior logistics and numbers in conflict zones. Individual clans are isolated and can be picked off one by one. There is no central warning system or unified military response. Several clans have fought back - some won small victories destroying a mining operation or killing patrols - but all have ultimately been overwhelmed or forced to flee. Human reprisals are brutal: villages burned, adults killed, children taken.
---
Origin
Catalyst: Human activity has displaced multiple clans over decades. Survivors have been fleeing toward the savanna/delta region because it is less targeted by humans (fewer mineral deposits), harder for aircraft to operate (open plains make them visible), easier to see threats approaching, has reliable water sources, and can support larger population.
The Displaced: Multiple clans from different regions - forest territories (deforestation), mountain regions (mining operations), coastal areas (human naval activity), grasslands (human hunting operations). All have lost ancestral homes to human activity, lost family members to human violence, and carry trauma, grief, and anger. They share one thing: they can't go home.
Resources Each Clan Brings: Different knowledge of human tactics. Different terrain experience. Different resources (some have captured human weapons and equipment). Different survival skills and trade connections. Direhorses, zakru, hunting skills, river knowledge.
The Opportunity: Displaced clans have nothing left to lose. They are desperate for security and open to new arrangements. Strength in numbers is their only hope. They can share intelligence about human movements, pool resources for defense, build warning networks, and present a united front that humans must take seriously.
The Bargain: Clans agree to central authority for defense purposes. Central authority coordinates patrols and watches for human activity, manages early warning systems, and organizes unified military response if attacked. Clans contribute warriors to a joint defense force, share intelligence about human movements, and pay taxes/tribute to fund defense operations. Clans keep internal governance for non-defense matters. Disputes between clans go to central authority to prevent infighting that humans could exploit.
---
Government Structure
The Council (Pxeylan): Representatives from each member clan proportional to clan size. Meets periodically (seasonally). Decides defense strategy, major trade agreements, admission of new clans, dispute resolution, and allocation of dry season water/grazing rights. Selects a leader (Eyktan) specifically for defense coordination who can propose measures but cannot unilaterally declare war.
The Bureaucracy: Tax collectors (TÏngkxitxÀ Ion) collect tribute.
Route wardens (Fya'omaktoyu) patrol trade routes.
River wardens (Fya'oÀ Sute) patrol waterways. Scouts (Ayfya'omakto) monitor human movements.
Lookouts (Aytswayon) man watchtowers.
Judges (TĂŹfyawĂŹntxuyu) hear disputes.
Scribes (Pamrel siyu) record trade, taxes, and human activity.
Water managers (PayoangÀ Eyktan) allocate dry season water.
Defense-Specific Roles: Human trackers follow patrols and map movements. Intelligence gatherers intercept communications and observe operations. Early warning riders rapidly spread word of human approach. Fort builders construct defensive positions. Weapon makers produce traditional weapons and adapt captured human weapons.
Clan Autonomy: Each clan governs internal affairs and keeps its olo'eyktan/olo'eykte, tsahĂŹk, customs, and language. Each clan contributes warriors and goods to common defense. Each clan can leave but leaving means losing protection. Defense decisions are binding on all clans.
---
Economy
War Economy Elements: Tribute goes toward defense supplies. Warriors need food, weapons, mounts. Lookout towers require construction materials. Scouts require direhorses and supplies. Healing supplies for wounded. Stockpiling food for potential sieges.
Taxation: Clans pay percentage of production to common treasury. Some tribute is designated for defense only (separate from trade taxes). Human-captured goods are shared or held for intelligence.
Goods Flow: Interior to Delta - direhorses, zakru products, hides, meat, medicinal plants, obsidian. Delta to Interior - dried fish, salt, shells, imported goods. River traffic - grains, fish, salt, timber. Intelligence Flow - reports of human movements and observations of operations.
Standardization: Empire creates standard weights/measures, standard trade language (creole of major dialects), dispute resolution system, safe harbors and waterhole access points protected from raiders.
---
Human Activity Tracking
Known Human Operations: Eastern forests have active deforestation and mining. Mountain regions have active unobtanium mining. Western coast has a growing naval base and operations. Northern savanna has intermittent hunting parties. Southern territories have increasing exploration.
Current Threat Level: Rising. Human operations expanding. New bases constructed. More clans being displaced. Human reconnaissance flights already spotted over savanna region.
---
Na'vi Titles/Leadership Titles
Olo'eyktan Clan chief (male)
Olo'eykte Clan chief (female)
TsahĂŹk Spiritual leader (female)
Eyktan General leader
EyktanÀ Pxeylan Leader of the Council
Taronyu Hunter/warrior
---
Council & Officials
Pxeylan Council
Fya'omaktoyu Route warden
Fya'oÀ Sute River warden
KxamtsengÀ Kameyu Market official
TÏngkxitxÀ Ion Tax collector
TĂŹfyawĂŹntxuyu Judge/mediator
Pamrel siyu Scribe
TÏngayÀ Kong Oath keeper
FpeioÀ TÏng Diplomat
PayoangÀ Eyktan Water manager
---
Defense-Specific Titles
Na'vi Meaning
TawtuteÀ Kameyu Human watcher
TawtuteÀ Ion Human tracker
TÏftxeyÀ Sute Scout
TÏfnuÀ Sute Silent guard
TxepÀ Sute Lookout
KxutuÀ Kong Defensive commander
TÏtstewÀ Eyktan Battle commander
---
Clan Status
Olo' Clan
Aynawm The Gathered (empire clans)
KxamtsengÀ Olo' Center Clan (hosts capital)
Fya'oyÀ Olo' Path Clan (controls major route)
Pxawpay Olo' Delta Clan (controls delta access)
Kelku txey Displaced (forced out by humans)
TĂŹsung Addition (new clan joining)
TĂŹfnu Silent (refusing to join)
Kekem Unproductive (failing tribute)
TĂŹkxey Wrong/Disputed (in conflict)
--
Tensions & Problems
Internal: Disputes over which clan leads and council seats. Access to dry season waterholes and grazing rights. River access. How much tribute is fair. Threat of fragmentation. Conservative clans resist new system. Language barriers. Displaced vs. host clan resentment. Favoritism in trade positions. Corruption in enforcement. Fear of human attack creates urgency and panic. Some clans want to fight humans directly, others want to hide. Trauma from displacement leads to demands for revenge. Debates on using captured human weapons. Arguments over interaction with friendly or neutral humans.
External: Outside savanna clans may raid instead of joining. Human operations expanding toward the delta. Coastal human base growing - naval threat. Trade partners may prefer dealing with individual clans over empire. Some clans consider making deals with humans for survival.
Practical Challenges: Building defenses without draining resources. Training enough scouts and watchers. Managing water allocation fairly. Creating early warning system across vast territory. Rapid communication between distant clans. Training warriors in anti-human tactics. Stockpiling weapons. Preparing for potential human attack. Refugees arriving constantly needing housing, food, work.
---
The Question of Resistance
Debates Within Council: Some argue they should attack human operations directly. Some argue they should avoid contact and hope humans pass them by. Some want to preserve Na'vi culture above all else. Some want to adapt human technology for defense. Some are unwilling to work with certain clans due to old enmities. Some believe Eywa will protect them if they remain faithful.
Key Issues: Response to human attack - fight back, flee, or negotiate. Use of human weapons - accept or reject captured technology. Prisoners - take human prisoners and what to do with them. Diplomatic contact - engage with human authorities or not. Refugee policy - accept all displaced clans despite limited resources. Unity or autonomy - is defense the only binding rule.
---
Growth Path
Phase 1 - Gathering: Displaced clans arrive at delta. Tentative cooperation around water sources. Basic council formed. Simple tribute system. First route protections. First watchers posted.
Phase 2 - Stabilization: More clans join voluntarily. Council gains authority. Trade routes regularized. Capital established at delta. Standardization begins. Early warning system established. First defensive structures built.
Phase 3 - Expansion: Clans join by choice or pressure. Empire controls key waterholes and grazing lands. Taxation becomes systematic. Outsiders recognize authority. Complex bureaucracy develops. Human tracking network expands.
Phase 4 - Consolidation: Internal disputes resolved. Trade networks fixed. Military power established. Identity as "empire" emerges. Human threat response coordinated. First major confrontation with humans.
A bit of rant and suggestion when it comes to writing Na'vi cultures and identity
So I've been rewatching James Cameron's Avatar mostly for educational purposes and it struck me just how much this man AND many people within this fandom will go to extreme lengths to avoid going indeginous people any form of power or control.
Starting from the very obvious Cameron's idealized and fetishy fantasy of indeginous people, to users on here unable to stop with copying the exact same story format from the first movie and refusal to actually engage in the cultures they want to use for dress up on their Na'vi ocs it seems most fans especially white westerns ones are truly incapable viewing Na'vi as creating and developing beyond what is established.
And by that I mean the lack of empires, confederations, etc. For Na'vi peoples. Like everyone keeps very close to the established "all na'vi are super communal clans and isolated from one another with a few rare exceptions" and just accept it as hard truth and not to be challenged or ignored. And its both a shame and jarring! Im not saying EVERYONE must get into extreme world building and take an Advance class on tribal politics (actually on second thought maybe yall should since you cant stop the whole Disney's Pocahontas meets Romeo and Juliet meets a An American Vietnam war vet taking a war bride from a village he bombed out bullshit) But realize that the major cultures Cameron ripped off from had wide spanning empires, complex social and hierarchy, and their own political games within themselves with schemes, bribes, etc. As well as their own scholars and learned men and women!
So I ask you why not apply this to Na'vi? Why not habe kingoms and confederations and trade unions between clans that grew absolutely massive? Why not have a group of Na'vi that have the splendor and grandeur of the Aztec empire, looking down on the RDA both physically and metaphorically, lounging in luxury from traders all around while humans walk around their cities stupified and in awe, thay Na'vi mathematians have their own unique systems and forms of mathematic theories that make even human scholars giddy with delight?
So much potential and yet there's still an ever present idea of just having na'vi be some flavor of naive, isolated, and mystical dark heart of Africa caricatures and nothing more
Me: After decades of dealing with humans and the fact Na'vi are directly based on a number of real life tribes and cultures, there should be at least one new empire or confederacy of tribes forming as seen again with real life tribes and cultures as it would make sense from both a narrative pov due to increased human wars and aggression and a need to contect more for security and strength as well as properly acknowledging how irl cultures do so aswell
Racist chuckle fucks on here:
Newsflash asshole tribal empires and cities have existed for centuries to thousands of years, stop being so damn selective, also fuck you this is EXACTLY what I mean
People love to indulge in the tribal community aspects with zero thought to the fact the same cultures picked apart and pasted in were often trade partners or even under the control of said spanning empires or other cities within a day or so travel. And this mindset needs to change.
ALSO this happening on a fucking alien planet where humans have been interacting with consistently for DECADES at this point and you think not a single clan has ever advanced or adapted thanks to all that technology and new knowledge left behind? Again this is all plausible and the only reason it hasn't happened is cause the same guy who said if native had just fought harder than they wouldn't have been victims of genocide said so
All these an more ancient cities from the Americans and West Africa grand and developed on their own merits and ideas but according to this rando (who uses outdated terms and a very euro-centric view) claims otherwise which i am not surprised in the least
A bit of rant and suggestion when it comes to writing Na'vi cultures and identity
So I've been rewatching James Cameron's Avatar mostly for educational purposes and it struck me just how much this man AND many people within this fandom will go to extreme lengths to avoid going indeginous people any form of power or control.
Starting from the very obvious Cameron's idealized and fetishy fantasy of indeginous people, to users on here unable to stop with copying the exact same story format from the first movie and refusal to actually engage in the cultures they want to use for dress up on their Na'vi ocs it seems most fans especially white westerns ones are truly incapable viewing Na'vi as creating and developing beyond what is established.
And by that I mean the lack of empires, confederations, etc. For Na'vi peoples. Like everyone keeps very close to the established "all na'vi are super communal clans and isolated from one another with a few rare exceptions" and just accept it as hard truth and not to be challenged or ignored. And its both a shame and jarring! Im not saying EVERYONE must get into extreme world building and take an Advance class on tribal politics (actually on second thought maybe yall should since you cant stop the whole Disney's Pocahontas meets Romeo and Juliet meets a An American Vietnam war vet taking a war bride from a village he bombed out bullshit) But realize that the major cultures Cameron ripped off from had wide spanning empires, complex social and hierarchy, and their own political games within themselves with schemes, bribes, etc. As well as their own scholars and learned men and women!
So I ask you why not apply this to Na'vi? Why not habe kingoms and confederations and trade unions between clans that grew absolutely massive? Why not have a group of Na'vi that have the splendor and grandeur of the Aztec empire, looking down on the RDA both physically and metaphorically, lounging in luxury from traders all around while humans walk around their cities stupified and in awe, thay Na'vi mathematians have their own unique systems and forms of mathematic theories that make even human scholars giddy with delight?
So much potential and yet there's still an ever present idea of just having na'vi be some flavor of naive, isolated, and mystical dark heart of Africa caricatures and nothing more
Back in 2023, one of the servers I was on caught (sparked?) the crechemaster!Obi-Wan fever.
I read by the following acts committed, and chewed on it.
In 2024, one of @jedijune prompt was "music" and I really wanted to do a fanart of Obi-Wan playing space-gottan. Not enough time.
Then one of @codywanweek prompt was "Crechemaster!Obi-Wan". So I was determined to make a crechemaster!Obi-Wan playing space-gottan to his kids and Cody would be involved somehow.
My love for and desire to draw the Room of a Thousand Fountains got mixed in. Started but could not finish it in time.
Since then, I have been working on it on and off. I have asked @cacodaemonia for her opinion and help a million times. Her patience with me cannot be overstated. I was wriggling my hands like crazy. I wanted to finish it for @codywanweek 2025.
Then I saw the prompts of this year but none seemed to fit. Tragedy. @thesunlikehoney was the one who kindly pointed out it was actually a "No Order 66", if it was supposed to be a happy AU where nothing bad happened to them and they had a happy ending.
The mods of @codywanweek were very kind to accept this "recycling" and my questions about it.
My apologies to @jedijune for finishing a year too late. At least you've got to see what became of that prompt?
IN SHORT, it took forever and a village.
Thank you to everyone :') đđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđđ
You guys don't even know how happy it makes me.
Cody is on leave, visiting the Temple and heard music. He followed the sound and...
Obi-Wan is wearing an obi in the colors of his little pantoran to make him feel like he belongs because the poor little guy is the only one who doesn't fit the color scheme of the clan.
This is a True Disney Princess Moment where our hero falls in love at the princess's first song. Yes. I am unrepentant about that one.
Then Obi-Wan discovers Cody has a lovely voice too! Since it's a happy AU, there will be many more opportunities for them to sing together đ
Cody loves the Room of a Thousand Fountains and never wants to leave. Obi-Wan is happy to oblige. His clan allows it. He makes a good climbing tree.
Now, I was 100% sure that I had already said it on the first part of this post, but apparently I fucking didnât because Iâm a stupid bitch so Iâm gonna say it now:
The idea that sprouted this little project of mine comes from this - this - this post, all of them by @symeona!
I. Unknown // II. Last Sext by Melissa Broder // III. Detail of Joan of Arc by Sir John Everett Millais // IV. Detail of Judith and Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi // V. Unknown // VI. Detail of Courage, Anxiety and Despair: Watching the Battle by James Sant // VII. Detail of The Head of Medusa by Caravaggio // VIII. Unknown // IX. Unknown // X. Unknown //
Minific below, including my headcanon of Naboo culture- âmirroringâ, imitating someone elseâs appearance to show your admiration and respect for them.
âŒïžMinific:
âSenator Amidala?â Cal asked hesitantly, focused entirely on his face in the mirror.
Cal had similar hairpieces too, ornate twisting ones that they had somehow got in his exact shade of red despite the short time constraints. A handmaiden was helping pin them in for him, having already done his makeup. That was what he was staring at right now, taken aback by the delicate scarlet staining his skin.
âJustâŠwhy these?â Cal asked, gesturing to his face markings. As he jostled the handmaiden doing his hair, he grimaced apologetically, the other woman just shrugging it off cheerily.
A Jedi who couldnât be a Jedi, a Padawan without a braid, a secret in the Senate.
âAh, your markings.â His new cousin sighed in realisation, beautifully painted lips pursing. âItâs customary in high Naboo culture to have symbols like this on your face.â
âIs there a meaning?â Cal asked, mystified by the red lines and dots panning his face. He didnât have the white foundation the Senator had, the other having refused to have his impressing array of freckles covered up even for one holophoto.
âThatâs why you have the dots on your cheeks and line on your lip, like I do.â The Senator continued, pointing to Calâs reflection. âThe Council thought it best if we showed we were close to eachother in this way, to keep up appearances.â
Cal didnât answer, still leant close to the mirror in inspection.
Even though he didnât know the Senator very well yet, Cal could tell she was a woman worth admiring. Heâd only ever heard tales of the once Queen of Naboo, as kind as she was fierce, and as fierce as she was dedicated. One of the Senators who strived most for peace, compassionate even to a child sheâd barely just met, and she was to be Calâs new âfamily.â
