Shut Up and Drive
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: A unique cultural identity for writers and NPCs
- Image Credit:
- Canon: n/a
- Permissions: n/a
- Links:
- Slavery (in-universe)
- Japor snippets
- Name: Amavikkan (p.), Amavikka (s.)
- Classification: Cultural group
- Origins: Tatooine, spread by slaves across the galaxy
- Affiliation: Code Zero
- Symbol: A Eulerian circle surrounded by a border of curved segments, often blue in color, but also depicted in orange or red depending on the tribe.
- Domain: Tribes of Amavikkan can be found in any region where slavery is present. Notable sectors and worlds with an Amavikkan presence include:
- Estimated Population: Scattered. Amavikkan are found in many places around the galaxy. Tribes can be as small as 4-5 individuals, or in some cases can number upwards of 100. Accurately calculating the total population of Amavikkan is nearly impossible due to the group's inherently secretive nature. However, the Amavikkan are estimated to number in the tens of thousands, dispersed greatly throughout the known galaxy.
- Demographics: Due to their prevalence in the galaxy, humans and near-humans comprise a majority of the Amavikkan's numbers. The number of other beings can greatly vary by tribe based on several factors, notably location. The Canto Bight tribe is comprised largely of humans and Keteerians, while the Denon population features a strong presence of Duros and Zeltrons. Also included in Amavikkan enclaves are droids, who are seen as equally sentient and rightfully deserving of the Amavikka way of life. Nearly every settlement contains droids of all models and levels of sentience, though their individual understanding and appreciation of Amavikka varies greatly from droid to droid.
- Description: The dregs of society, forgotten and all but invisible to the upper classes that stand upon them; slaves and their escaped descendants, living a life on the run from those who seek to capture or kill them; informants, spies, and urchins, gleaning impressive amounts of information from the world around them; these are the Amavikkan, but they are so much more than that. The cultural phenomenon known as 'Amavikka' or 'Amavikkan' originated on Tatooine, where slaves and servants were stripped of their defining identities and left nameless by their masters. Over time, in the absence of ethnic, national, and cultural belonging, the Amavikkan were born. It is a universal cultural identity forged from the shared experiences of slaves both imprisoned and free, transcending the divisive nature of one's species and origins to connect beings across the galaxy who have lost everything - together, reborn as the Amavikkan, they have regained everything.
- Distinctions: Generally speaking, the Amavikkan are such a diverse group that easily identifiable physical distinctions are difficult to pinpoint. However, their lives as slaves often leave visible reminders of who they were and where they came from. Brandings, tattoos, and other bodily markings can indicate an Amavikka's origins as a slave and reveal who their masters were. Scars and injuries from their enslavement can also be considered distinctions. These might include scars from lashings or crude bindings, improperly mended bones from untreated breaks, or other ailments that are typically uncharacteristic for the individual's demographic (i.e. complete blindness in a young person, chronic malnutrition in a hardy species, etc.)
- Force Sensitivity: Standard. As the Amavikkan are comprised of many different species, it is understood that their concentration of Force Sensitives is fairly standard. This may, of course, fluctuate on a case-by-case basis depending on the tribe in question's location and species demographics. Most Force-sensitive Amavikkan go untrained, interpreting their connection to the Force as blessings of Ar-Amu, the Mother Goddess and patron of the Amavikka faith.
- Membership: Amavikkan 'membership' is more or less a personal acceptance of the identity. Anyone who's been enslaved, found their freedom, or were born free to enslaved ancestors can count themselves an Amavikka. Such a choice is often symbolic and unspoken, rather than ceremonious. The Amavikkan are fervently reticent, guarding their identity and culture by keeping it a secret from those they do not or cannot trust. Advertisement of one's status as an Amavikka is virtually nonexistent.
- Climate: By nature, most pockets of Amavikkan are insular and cautious. In fact, few Amavikkan tribes are even known to the communities in which they inhabit. Some bolder members find themselves in league with local factions and cells that could stand to protect them, though largely through indirect means. In rare cases, Amavikkan might serve as rebels or freedom fighters. Most contribute to the cause through spying and destabilizing the enemy.
- Reputation: Most communities and groups are unaware of the Amavikkan's existence, but those that are often land on one end of the spectrum or the other. Free, democratic, and just societies tend to find the Amavikkan to be a positive force, while tyrannical and despotic factions distrust them at best, and are threatened by them at worst. In most cases, however, the Amavikkan are little more than ghosts in the shadows. Broadly speaking, the Amavikkan are most often written off as a fictional people fabricated by rumors and hearsay to undermine the upper echelons of unjust societies.
- Curios: It would be quite odd to meet an Amavikka that did not carry with them japor snippets carved with blessings and invocations. In fact, an Amavikka who goes without japor is often seen as seeking trouble, danger, or even death.
- Philosophy: The Amavikkan are a deeply superstitious people, remembering and sharing with new generations a trove of beliefs and mannerisms that are steeped with mysticism. Perhaps the most intriguing Amavikkan philosophy is their concept of death, which is accepted as the purest form of freedom one can attain. They do not actively seek death, as there are many ways one can be free, but they do not fear the end of life either. In a religious sense, the Amavikkan are reverent of several cultural icons. The most prominent of these is Ar-Amu, the Mother Goddess, and her child, Ekkreth the Trickster. Ekkreth is a deeply metaphorical being, an agender spirit regarded as the perfect embodiment of freedom. They are symbolized by a red bird, the Sky-Walker. The Amavikkan tell stories of Ekkreth’s many exploits to escape Depur, 'the one who binds in chains,' or more metaphorically the universal master figure all slaves recognize.
- Outward Views: It is the belief of many Amavikkan that the laws, regulations, and restrictions of their governments were designed to keep them enslaved. In a sense, this is true, as the majority of Amavikkan populations exists in regions where slavery is at best tolerated, and at worst a glorified market. If the local, regional, or sectoral leadership treats the people as commodities, the Amavikkan will ignore or even outrightly oppose the laws of the land. This can manifest as anything from quiet dissent and open demonstrations, to violent riots and blatant rebellion.
- The Arts: Art, music, and storytelling are central practices for any Amavikkan tribe. As they have no lands, no written history, and no uniform cultural manifest, it is by sharing their art that they keep their traditions alive. Amavikkan paint murals and facades that depict the stories of Ekkreth the Trickster, both symbolically as a tale of hope and literally as accounts of their escape to freedom. Japor carvings and other trinkets are carried by every Amavikka as both a blessing and remembrance. Music and dance are used frequently to tell stories and share experiences across generations. As salvagers and scrappers, the Amavikkan are very skilled at collecting old, useless, or broken things and repurposing them for both artistic and practical uses.
- Architecture: Amavikkan architecture varies greatly from tribe to tribe. As they are not a nation outright and therefore own no common territories or holdings, their architectural flair most often makes use of local materials and assets. The Amavikkan prefer to remain hidden from outsiders, leading them to find places to hide and retrofit into homesteads rather than construct new structures entirely of their own design. Oftentimes, these hidden settlements exist underground (as in the case of the Denon tribe), are integrated into abandoned structures (such as the warehouses of Etti IV), or are beyond the fringes of civilized urban centers (like the desert encampments on Cantonica). A defining trait of all Chelik-taa (safehouses) is how colorful they are. Whether it's chalk, paint, or colored lights, Amavikkan settlements are vibrantly adorned. It is a rarity to find one devoid of color.
- Habits: A strong compulsion to help one another is a prevalent habit among the Amavikkan. They desire to lend aide, offer lodging, and give food to those in need. This behavior is mostly practiced internally between the Amavikkan themselves, but an Amavikka may also feel the need to offer their assistance to outsiders as well, so long as it will not compromise the community. The Amavikkan also take very seriously the practice of traveling with japor snippets on their person, to the extent that not doing so is seen as welcoming personal danger.
- Lifestyle: Amavikkan are not a materialistic people, understanding that objects are temporary and may be taken or lost at any moment. They live secluded lives in humble conditions, relying on the land to provide for them rather than amassing wealth or depending on commercial luxuries. They often do no have much, but they cherish and celebrate what they do have.
- Laws: There are no distinct laws within Amavikkan society. Rather, they follow a code of strictures that are intended to keep the tribe hidden, healthy, and happy. The ultimate stricture followed by the Amavikkan is their code of silence. They must be wary of outsiders and secretive about their customs. The Amavikkan also strive to help one another by sharing excess supplies, materials, and food. Hoarding resources from others is extremely taboo. Without a nation, government, or true internal leadership, laws and crime are handled on a case-by-case basis within Amavikkan tribes. Typically, this is done vigilante-style, wherein punishments are relative to the crime. Amavikkan society is heavily focused on family and community, and as such, many crimes and wrongdoings are punished by exclusion or expulsion from the tribe. Imprisonment, dehumanization, and objectification are never levied against those who offend the tribe's strictures. Instead, they are often refused support from fellow Amavikkan.
- Customs & Traditions: Amavikkan customs are quite nuanced and intricate. Many traditions exist in the form of small mannerisms, spiritual invocations, and involuntary behaviors such as gestures. Breaking bread with visitors and guests is a common Amavikkan practice. Offering thanks to the proverbial winds is also a common practice, which is believed to bring good luck and tidings. The Amavikkan find great spiritual significance with birds and other avian creatures, especially red birds, which symbolize the spiritual icon Ekkreth the Trickster. Seeing a red bird in the wild compels the Amavikkan to offer it a simple prayer, acknowledging Ekkreth's freedom and, by extension, the freedom each Amavikka holds dearly inside.
- Education & Training: Trades, arts, and physical toils are often the extent of education and/or training afforded to many Amavikkan. In most cases, an Amavikka is limited to the knowledge they gained while enslaved. Moisture farmers, for example, may be quite skilled with related tasks, but would likely lack formal training or experience with other skills. As a result, the Amavikkan share and expand within their communities, imparting the things they do know and bartering their skills in an effort to learn new things that may better their communities. They are often considered 'street smart' over 'book smart.'
- Diet: Amavikkan diets can vary greatly from tribe to tribe, even family to family. Generally speaking, a typical Amavikka would grow their own fruits and vegetables, hunt for proteins, and cook/bake simple meals and snacks using locally sources foodstuffs. Sharing recipes and meals with one another is a powerful form of abstract storytelling and is one of the few cultural experiences the Amavikkan are not terribly secretive about. It is rare for a guest to visit an Amavikkan homestead and walk away unfed. Each family has their own distinct recipe for Tzai, a bread with deep cultural significance that is, contrary to other foods and recipes, not readily shared with those who are not extremely close with the Amavikka who bakes it.
- Communication: Dialects can differ in various degrees from place to place, but many Amavikkan make use of their own 'slave language' known as Amatakka. It is a polysynthetic communal conlang devised by its speakers to empower themselves and, in many cases, to undermine their current and/or former masters. Droids with linguistic capabilities, such as protocol droids, can be manually programmed with Amatakka words and phrases, making them excellent aides and sources of secure data. Amatakka is never spoken in the presence of masters or outsiders, for fear of its discovery or translation. The Amavikkan also make extensive use of cryptography to identify a variety of things for other members. Symbols are often used a waymarks, indicators of safe or dangerous areas, locations of supply caches, and helpful advice to those who come after the writer.
- Strength in Numbers: Amavikkan tribes stick together in tight-knit communities that focus on uplifting and protecting their people. They operate like large families, taking care of one another as if they were blood.
- Hope is Like the Sun: Amavikkan are perseverant and resilient. Even when the odds are stacked against them, an Amavikka knows to bide their time and wait for the perfect moment. It could take months, years, or even decades to see the fruit of their labor, but the Amavikkan know good things come to those who wait.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: To the world around them, an Amavikka is invisible. They are able to easily blend into the background of the bustling communities they hide within, making theme excellent sources of knowledge and secrets.
- Paranoia: Amavikkan are free slaves, and many of them won their freedom by force or flight. Fear of being hunted by their former owners causes great paranoia for the Amavikkan, who will go to many extremes to keep their presence hidden.
- One of Us: Understandably, the Amavikkan are incredibly insular, both emotionally and societally. Few others have experienced the hardships that they have, making it difficult for many Amavikkan to connect with the lives and struggles of outsiders.
- Shifting Sands: While the Amavikkan can and do support organizations that stand on tenets of justice and freedom, their allegiances can shift suddenly to protect the greater good of their communities.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
A wide breadth of the Amavikkan's history has been lost, both by choice and at the hands of those who seek to route them. It is unclear if there was a time when historical events were recorded by the tribes, but considering the Amavikkan's universal code of silence, it is unlikely that any substantial record ever existed in the first place. The Amavikkan recognize Tatooine as the birthplace of their people, a feature of their culture that is referenced often in their prayers to the wind and sands. As technology improves, the galaxy grows ever smaller, and the scourge of slave trading only deepens.
The original Amavikkan were born under the twin suns of Tatooine, but generations after generations have found their way across the stars. In most places where slavery is prevalent, the Amavikkan can be found. Individuals may recount their own stories, but most Amavikkan find little distinction between their actual personal histories and the mythological proverbs that they share. The lived experiences of the Amavikkan exist in the form of stories, legends, and works of art that all rely on self-insertion to convey lessons of the past. Through vagaries and myths, the tribes keep their story alive for future generations in a way that is easily recognizable and relatable.
Theirs is a living history, intangible and indestructible. So long as an Amavikka has the breath in their lungs to tell the old stories, their history will never die, no matter who or what threatens to steal it.
