The Merrimac

The Merrimac are a small tribe of about 2,000. They are based upon Iroquois, Pawnee, and Comanche Native Americans, with a slight twist of Runescape lore.

History
The Merrimac were a tribe that broke off from the Shawsheen during their "Age of Desperation" due to initially peaceful religious differences. Since the Death of Guthix, they seem to have grown much more radical in their beliefs, likely in tune with Asgarnian Emissaries.

The Age of Conversion
With the Fourth Age imbound, it wasn't long until the Merrimac had their first encounter with another society, already developing well compared to Misthalin, Fremennik explorers came in the cold of winter to the shores, cutting down trees to build houses of wood and stones to build altars to their spirits. The Shawsheen and Merrimac noticed soon, fighting off the Fremennik and their long, metal "claws" due to sheer numbers, and their arrow-work. The War-Chief Sturdy Oak led the men to battle, the Shawsheen and Merrimac winning the day. However, those who lived by the coast initially were slain, dropping the population down to around 9,400.

After this first encounter with metal men, the Shawsheen decided it was best to form some kind of leadership, choosing the council of Clan Mothers. The Merrimac disagreed, the clans in agreement with them forming another Tribe under their Shamans

Within another 200 years, Saradominists exploring the world came to discover the Merrimac, finding their area poor in resources. They traded, and in turn the Saradominists converted the Shamans into the ways of the Monks. The Shamans who refused, soon found themselves killed. The Merrimac soon became a Saradominist society, led by their brutal, now unrestrained warriors.

The Age of Exploration
With the death of Guthix, men in white and gold armour persuaded War Chief Wamsutta to begin attacks against their rival tribe, the Shawsheen.

Notable Merrimac
Wamsutta "King William" - The Current War Chief of the Merrimac.

Political System
Within Merrimac Culture, the War Chief is a permanent position appointed by the Council of Shamans to lead all combative needs of the people. He is known as the undisputed leader, chosen for skills, faith, and humility. The War Chief negotiates all treaties, and acts as a figurehead for the Tribe and the Shamans.
 * The War Chief (Osamekin)

At the head of every clan is the clan mother. Due to the Matriarchal heritage, the Clan Mother was considered the most important leader among the Merrimac. Their government is now run by a council of Saradominist Shamans, compared to the Clan Mother Council of before. All day to day life is run by the Clan Mothers, who approve marriages and teach working trades to the youth.
 * The Clan Mother (Akshotha)

When a Clan Mother dies, it is the job of the Shaman to lay her to rest, and hail the next Clan Mother of that clan. The most fit warrior of a clan, as chosen by that clan's warriors. The Champion, or Ashkii, is a dedicated warrior to teach the youth combat. He defends the honour of the clan if needed. All warriors of his clan serve him, over the Clan Mother. The Champion can be of any age, from his naming to his death. He could be married into the Clan, or born into it, but when he leaves the clan due to marriage a new Champion must be chosen.
 * The Clan Champion (Ashkii)

In modern days, the Clan Champion has taken a role as a Knight, enforcing Chivalry, wearing armour, and protecting his populace with faith and fury. Literally named "Spirit-Man," the Shaman plays a heavily important role in ceremonies concerning his clan, and the world around them. It is his or her job to speak to the Spirits about them, fulfilling similar roles to the Monks of Entrana through the practice of preaching Saradomin's word in translation, or the Seers of the Fremennik through predicting the weather to come. A Merrimac Brave is a standard warrior among the Tribe. Braves learn most of their combat through hunting and practice. Their style of fighting obsessed with patience and eventual swift, clean tactics to preserve as much of the body as possible.
 * The Shaman (Otkon-Ronkwe)
 * The Brave

Braves often fight with either Tomahawks, Bow and Arrow, or Spears. Each serves as having multiple purposes in survival and combat.

Braves can only be male in the Merrimac, due in part to religious circumstances of Saradominism. Coming from the Shawsheen word for Spider, the Iktomi are crafters who create all the tools and equipment used by the society. Traditionally women, the crafters shape what was taken in death to protect, aid, and cultivate life. They are considered somewhat sacred in their task to put an animal's spirit to its full use, as to not waste the life they had taken.
 * The Crafters (Iktomi)

Weapons are made solely by the warriors themselves, for the dual purpose of women not crafting tools of death, and the men knowing how to repair their own weapons, should they break.

Religion
The Merrimac are staunch Saradominists, the religion creeping into their culture. Much like other Saradominists, the Merrimac have crafted towns to live in, with large wooden walls and stone houses, sturdy structures that they believe to be impenetrable. They are used by missionaries as places of refuge, and trade.

Names
The Shawsheen go for up to ten years of their lives without having a name set in stone, to be remembered for generations to come.

Names mean more to the Shawsheen than what someone is called. Each name marks an achievement, or a quality the person carries with them through life. As an example, Three Arrows could be the name of a man who fired three arrows into the sky, and took down three geese of the same flock.

A Shawsheen can have many, many names. Each name acts almost as a title. A Shawsheen is considered an adult as soon as they earn their first name that doesn't come from a clan name. Until then, they are called something along the lines of "Eagle-Child" "Bear-Cub" or "Wolf Pup."

Clan names come from the Maternal side of the family, passed Mother to Child.

Dying
The Shawsheen make many, many dyes for ceremonial use from their surroundings. It is common for both men and women to wear them for formal events, applied directly onto the skin or simply dying clothing. There seems to be no distinct pattern among dying, besides warriors wearing black dye during times of war.

Otherwise, a Shawsheen may wear green over the right arm, yellow over their skin, and red around the eyes one day, but wear half blue half red the next. Each clan has a colour they tend to favour more than the others, but they don't require these colours to be worn.

Black is traditionally used solely in times of war. Warriors wearing black mark themselves as killers of mortal life, but out of necessity for the protection of the tribe. Tactically speaking, it is harder to see a Brave wearing natural clothing with dark, dyed skin compared to the usual bright colours. White, and other colours, are often used on top of the black to create stunning artwork.

Tattoos, are also possible among the Shawsheen. Given by a kebbit claw needle and ink, they usually carry religious importance to the wearer, or a tie of family. In this way, the permanent dying never leaves them.

Hairstyles
The Shawsheen have a deep love with keeping and grooming various hairstyles in their culture. It is not uncommon for dyes to be worn in the hair, to add a sense of self to it. Natural, plain Shawsheen hair is jet black in youth, but darker gray with age. Used by the real world Pawnee tribe, not the Mohawk Tribe, the Mohawk hairstyle is a single crest of hair over the head, the sides methodically picked clean of hair. The crest is often greased up with animal fat or plant resin for wartime, giving an addition to the wearer's height for intimidation. It is favoured by males of the society. Long, flowing hair, kept loose by the sides of the wearer. This style of hair is natural, never cut since birth. It is the first hairstyle worn by all Shawsheen, and many choose to keep it until death. It was once considered a sign of humility to cut the long locks when asking for forgiveness from the Anima Mundi for taking a life. Typically, this is why warriors cut their hair short, but that requirement has since been waived.
 * The "Mohawk"
 * The River

It is considered a good quality for women to let their hair grow as long as it can (To show they are pure), typically it doesn't get longer than the thigh area, however. Basically, Shawsheen think long hair is attractive. This style was worn by the real-world Comanche. A way to make long hair move out of the way for less formal events, the Braid is used among men and women alike. It is useful in everyday tasks to keep long hair from getting in their way of work.
 * The Braid

Shawsheen often tie their braids with copper wire, holding shells, feathers, and other ornaments into the hair. This style was worn by the real world Comanche, and some Iroquois. A Shawsheen with a Gustoweh is almost always a male warrior. The warrior plucks tuft after tuft of hair from their head, leaving the scalp bald until they reach a patch behind the crown of the head, located on the back. Leaving a square there, three short braids are made with various decorations adorning them. This style was worn by the actual Mohawk Native Americans, as well as the rest of the Iroquois league.
 * Gustoweh

Armbands
Some Shawsheen of high repute have earned an armband, or Wampum. Someone carrying the beaded armband has earned it many times over, the band serving as a badge of office to a Shaman, Clan Mother, Champion, Chief, or Hero.

Wampum armbands are made of many beads tied together with wire or flax. The beads, are made from shells. Different coloured, but well arranged beaded patterns are worth more. The skill is considered honourable, and all Wampum go through the Clan Mother's hands, as well as the War-Chief in times of war.

Tools
The Shawsheen believe in weapons that also serve a function as tools of some kind. If it isn't effective as a tool, it isn't worth carrying to them. After all, they don't fight very often, and in fact its hardwired into their minds to take a peaceful lifestyle over a combative one. The Tomahawk is both ceremonial and functional. An easily concealed weapon, the Tomahawk can be thrown or used in a swinging motion at a target, but it's main function is for cutting branches and ceremonial use.
 * Tomahawk

Tomahawks are traditionally made of stone and oak, adorned with feathers, claws, and other trophies of importance to the holder. A special Tomahawk exists for each clan, held only by the Champion of the Clan. These are made of shining white stone, and carved with scrimshaw on the bone handle. They are said to hold a mystical property to them.

With the Age of Exploration, the Shawsheen have gained access to metal working through their Renderra allies. The Renderra have began to make tomahawk heads out of iron and steel, traded in exchange for animal pelts and dyes. The Bow is a weapon that permeates across all cultures, each bearing their own version, their own twist to make it unique. The Shawsheen adorn their bows with feathers, and only feathers. The feather is tied to sinew string, then left loose to the wind.
 * Bow

In this effect, the wind blows in such a way that the feather moves, accurately gauging how an arrow will move in the wind.

Each bow is symbolic and important to its holder, but it also has a dual purpose in being able to light a fire through friction. The Shawsheen spear is a one-handed spear originally used for fishing. The difference between a warrior's spear and a fishing spear is purely in ornamentation.
 * Spear

A Warrior's spear, like all Shawsheen weapons, is adorned with various items of importance to its wielder. While this would be the case with a fishing spear, these ornaments could fall off into the water. Instead, a pair of warrior's spears can double as a stretcher with clothing between them, a walking stick, and a roasting spit.

A Fishing spear is kept simple in appearance, sometimes having only some feathers tied on. Possibly the smallest tool used by the Shawsheen, is a skinner's knife. Made from sharpened stone or bone, the blade is only an inch long. It it used to remove hides from animals cleanly, and efficiently to prevent waste. A simple tool, with a simple purpose. It's use in combat is near-obvious, as a knife.
 * Skinning knife