throwing around the idea of a pre-colonial philippines inspired Na’vi clan, featuring a (wip) oc, Hìra’syul (they/them)
notes under the cut!
the clan is called Tsawkpayìva, the “jungle island clan,”
their name is based of the Na’vi word for sun, “tsawk”
they are located on the tropical island, Kiey’an, which is at the edge of a series of islands in Pandora’s oceans, each one housing its own clan and culture
similar to the Aranahe, they are well-known for their dyes, specializing in colorful fabrics and pottery
they are often adorned with jewelry made of golden bark, a cultural staple of their people and arts
similar to the Metkayina, tattoos made of plant and charcoal document the wearer’s life and status, with the location and design holding its own meaning (such as one coming from the mouth representing a strong voice)
to combat the heat of the islands, they will typically wear loose, flowy fabrics paired with a wide-brimmed sun hat
they rely on their farms for nourishment, building their villages around fields of grain
their homes are canopy-like structures built around the trunks of large palm trees, using their leaves for shade while remaining fairly close to the ground
physically, they are built a bit shorter and stockier than the Omatikaya— with shorter, thicker tails and lighter blue skin (a halfway point between the the Omatikaya and Metkayina)
i’m still working on other details (such as what their spiritual animal will be), but i’ve been having fun figuring them out and learning about pre-colonial life in the philippines :) !
