Sanguisugery of the Harbingers of Dawn
P3 Client of Enyo
Stats
Population:17 million
Capital: Pit’s Impasse
Official Language: Galischork
Demonym: Sanguisuginal
Government
Sanguisuge:
Scourge of Scourges:
Lord-Haruspex:
Harbingers:
Home system:
Name: Achlys
Spectral Class: G
Planet: Phlegethon
Planetary Class: K
Planet: Anaplekte
Planetary Class: MN
Moons: 1
-Stygere (Class D)
Planet: Tisiphone
Planetary Class: M
Moons: 45
Planet: Hypnos
Planetary Class: K
P3 Client of Enyo
Stats
Population:17 million
Capital: Pit’s Impasse
Official Language: Galischork
Demonym: Sanguisuginal
Government
Sanguisuge:
Scourge of Scourges:
Lord-Haruspex:
Harbingers:
Home system:
Name: Achlys
Spectral Class: G
Planet: Phlegethon
Planetary Class: K
Planet: Anaplekte
Planetary Class: MN
Moons: 1
-Stygere (Class D)
Planet: Tisiphone
Planetary Class: M
Moons: 45
Planet: Hypnos
Planetary Class: K
For most of their history, the Enyos survived as nomadic tribes, locked into a state of perpetual migration as they seek to escape the scorching heat of day and the fatal cold of night. Competing tribes known as waybands fought for control of the passes that allowed traversal through the most difficult terrain, using any means necessary to stymie the progress of their rivals, leaving the weak closer and closer to the slow yet inescapable death that awaits those who fall behind on Anaplekte. In time, settled communities formed near the polar regions, where the differences in temperature are less considerable, where agricultural remains possible for the majority of their planet’s languid day. Every such community was constantly assailed by passing waybands, eager to reap the harvest for themselves, as the leaders of this endless race for survival set to the torch what foragable prey remained within the zone of habitable twilight.
The arrival of a Nexus Gate- known as the Pit to the Enyos- changed the status quo. The prospects it foretold were enough to vaguely unify many squabbling waybands of the dayward path, and in the process, the Sanguisugery of the Harbingers of Dawn was formed. This polity serves as an alliance between countless fractious waybands, each unified under the leadership of a Harbinger, who in turn submit to the Sanguisuge, ultimate ruler of this barbarian empire. Casting aside parts of their nomadic history to secure the Pit, the Sanguisugery faces conflict from both the northern sedentary powers who considered themselves the only examples of truly civilised Enyos, and from growing hordes of militant waybands that wish to claim the benefit of this otherworldly communion for their own gain.
Culture
The Sanguisugery, for all its radical policies and extensive territory, maintains many of the traditional trappings of any Enyo wayband. This is the direct result of its heritage- rendering the polity a fascinating hybrid between a sedentary and nomadic society, and a rare example of a transitional phase between the two states on the harsh hellscape of Anaplekte.
Like any Enyo society, the Sanguisugery’s social structure is based upon domination, supremacy, and relentless cruelty. Weaklings are either caste aside into the ranks of diminished husks- serving as slaves to be drained, worked or mated with on a whim- or brutally tormented and executed in one of many elaborate spectacles. One traditional spectacle is the death totem. Death totems are an art form amongst many nomadic waybands, a delicate play of two parts- death and humiliation. A victim is killed in the most brutal and emasculating way imagined by their tormentor’s sinister mind, before their body is tied to a totem. Carved images inscribed nearby depict the carnage as a warning to would-be trespassers. In the Sanguisguery, entire theatres exist to display the excruciating and emasculating downfalls of countless traitors, enemies, and trespassers. Another example of wanton sadism used as a deterrent is the common use of flayed skin in instruments, with the dying words of each victim recited in a guarded procession that marches through hostile and friendly territory alike, recounting each gruesome defeat in mocking song as a warning to others not to make the same mistake.
Enyos are a sexually dimorphic species, with intense and violent rivalries developing over which female belongs to which male’s harem. Any Sanguisuginal of importance possesses a substantial number of mates. Often, the parasitic young of these females are implanted into traditional livestock- but on occasion, they will be injected instead into Enyo captives as a means of execution. Some female husks are designated birth-husks, and used solely as reproductive stock.
Husks indeed form a substantial portion of the Sanguisugery’s population. Aside from birth-husks, there also exist the work-husks devoted to menial labour, the the war-husks drafted into armed service, and even the elite play-husks, who exist to be tormented and killed to give their noble superiors a sense of catharsis and to satisfy their sadism. Huskdom is a brutal state of affairs, defined by minimal freedoms and a demand for total obedience to one’s master. It is possible for husks to be elevated beyond such status, but this is relatively uncommon.
Politics
The highest level of authority within the Sanguisugery is possessed by the Sanguisuge, an effective equivalent of a ‘khan’ or ‘emperor’. Beneath him are the Harbingers, lords of their own waybands that answer to the Sanguisuge on important matters but also have a considerable degree of independence. Indeed, the polity acts largely like a confederation or alliance. The Scourge of Scourges administers the lesser Scourges, members of the Sanguisuge’s bloodline appointed to monitor and punish Harbingers of their own accord. The Lord-Haruspex is the religious head of the state, and also afforded essential authority on matters regarding the so-called Pit.
As an assembly of waybands, the lesser domains of the Sanguisugery are in constant conflict and competition with one another in a manner vaguely equivalent to a feudal system of government. These wars and trespasses are permitted as long as all involved ultimately submit to the interests of the Sanguisugery as a whole. The understanding of stationary territory defining boundaries- as opposed to gradual progression through the terrain on a worldwide march- is a relatively new concept, and one not always accepted. Many define their control via bloodline more so than territory. Additionally, some groups consider their endless march against the night to be a pilgrimage, and entire armies have departed their locations to take part in the often bloodsoaked ritual.
Military
A considerable portion of the military consists of war-husks, thankless slaves driven into battle by the vain hope that freedom awaits should they achieve a sufficient number of victories. However, the noble cavalry is far more infamous. Chariot warfare is a dominant tactic within the Sanguisugery, and the Sanguisuge himself is renowned for his ability to command mahouts and chariots with incredible effectiveness. The sturdy nature of Anaplekte’s crepuscular fauna allows beasts of war to wreak incredible destruction upon unprepared armies.
The warhosts of the Sanguisugery are more disciplined and numerous than most nomadic way bands can hope to muster, and more mobile than any force of the sedentary states. There is, however, a distinct issue with overall logistics and organisation, with allied warhosts in competition with each other as much as their external enemies due to the feudal system in place. It is also worth noting that despite the ruthless sadism of the Enyos, war between their civilisations is often a ritualised affair, albeit one designed to maximise rather than minimise the carnage on display,
Due to their body plan, Enyos are capable of holding a substantial number of objects at once. It is common for them to carry broad mantlet shields using all six tendrils. Some Sanguisuginal warriors carry instead an array of three small, overlapping shields, one for each pair of tendrils. A spear or lance can then be mounted on the muscular and sturdy lower limb, protruding from below. Ranged weapons tend to be less effective against Enyos due to their ability to use multiple shields and their armoured shells offering protection from light projectiles. This, coupled with their generally pitiful throwing ability, has left only archers as commonplace. Another category of weapons that sees common use are blunt hacking weapons, such as maces, clubs and hammers, and weapons that can penetrate armour, such as the Enyo equivalents of war-picks and war-axes. These weapons must typically be carried in the tendrils or mounted on the uppermost limbs. It is worth noting that armour is not very advanced within the Sanguisugery. It is also worth noting that Enyos are capable of incredibly vicious charges, even without mounting- a stampeding Enyo can strike with almost as much force as a human cavalryman.
As mounting directly is impossible for an Enyo, the only cavalry they are capable of using involves chariots, carts, and howdahs. An equivalent of the scythed chariot is employed on a regular basis. There is also the Enyo equivalent of elephantry, involving howdahs mounted on colossal pentapedal beasts, often with multiple lancers involved. Naturally, it is common for any chariots or howdahs to be adorned with trophies and decorations from past conquests. It is also common for thirst-husks and common livestock to be brought to the on campaign to provide rations and refreshments.
