The Lost Tribe

DESCRIPTION❈❈

The Lost Tribe is a wandering grifix settlement. They spend their time traveling all over Equestria, in search of the Everfree Village. They are led by the immortal priestess, Yantarka, who acts in the name of their vengeful ancestors, the First Warriors. They also have a monarchy, but it doesn’t stand a chance in front of the priestess. The current king and queen are Drakon and Soleila.

STORY❈❈

The story starts over 2000 years ago, back in the legendary queen’s reign, Starla. Back then, the grifix lived peacefully in the Forest of Leota, a place south from the today Ponyville.

Everything was great and their days were peaceful and the grifix lived in prosperity. That until something dark and evil took birth in the depths of the forest: The Changelings. Dark creatures who could change their shape to anything they could think of and were feeding with love.

Fortunately, they could not see the grifix, which also stopped them from turning into one (they could not turn into something they did not know how it looked). Unfortunately, they could sense their love, so they could find the grifix and drain their love.

Many grifix died back in that time but there was nothing they could do, just not to get out of the village only if they really had to, and then they had to bring more guards along then usual. They didn’t have enough food, but they were too afraid to go hunting. They were still safe in the village, because of the magic barrier and because the changelings never got close enough to sense them. But they all knew it was just a matter of time until they would be found, and nobody could tell if the barrier would be strong enough to keep the changelings out.


That’s when one grifix fell sick, and was on the death bed. The disease wasn’t that dangerous if treated, but the Queen didn’t want to let the healers go out of the village - they were the most important grifix in the village, they were perhaps even more important than the Queen in the situation they were in. They couldn’t afford losing them. They held ancient healing knowledge, and, the most important thing, they held the secret potion for the Sphirix Shape Ceremony.


But the healer couldn’t stand seeing the grifix die, so she persuaded the Queen to let at least the Healer Disciple go get the plant. The disciple was a very young mare, who didn’t know too much about healing yet, but could at least find the cure. Her name was Bluebell.

The Queen accepted to let the young mare go, but she gathered the best six warriors in the village to guard her. Those were Quick Mouse, Roc, Small Pebble, Brook, and the warrior captain at that time, Pine.

And the six of them left the village, in the pursuit of the cure. Bluebell knew where she could find it, and it shouldn’t have lasted long to get back to the village.


But when they were gone, the changelings found the village. Even if they couldn’t see it because of the barrier, they could sense the grifix love and knew it was there. They soon found a way to break the spell and break through the barrier.

There was only one thing left for the grifix to do: run away and leave their home for good.

But what could they do about the grifix that went to find the cure? They couldn’t leave them behind!

But there was no other choice. Queen Starla had to protect as many of her subjects as possible. They had to leave right at that moment, and they couldn’t wait not even one more second. They used their invisibility and somehow made it out alive, without losing any grifix.

But the seven grifix that weren’t in the village were left behind.

When they turned back to the village with the cure, they found no one. The village was destroyed by the changelings (who eventually left because they didn’t find anyone) and the forest was deserted. They soon understood what happened there, so they tried following the other grifix so they could reunite with the village.

But the grifix from the village were hiding every trace they left so the changelings wouldn’t find them. So neither could the lost grifix find them. They wandered around the forest, then around Equestria for years and years but it was clear that they would never find the village.


They slowly lost faith and started turning against the Queen, building rage inside themselves and hate for her. But none of them spoke about it. They all tried to carry on, even if they lost all hope. One day, the stronger of them, Pine, stood up and finally said out loud what every one of them was thinking.

The Queen has left them behind. She broke her promise to protect each and every Grifix until her last drop of blood. Was there a reason to stay loyal to the Queen who betrayed you?

He proclaimed himself “King” and they all swore to search for the village until their last breath and take revenge for what they had to go through because of her. They declared war to the Queen and the village and their fury only grew higher as the days, months, and years went by.

But they never found the village.


Some of them had children, and their children had children and so on. 


Pine had a daughter, named Yantarka. She was beautiful as the sun and pure as the moon. But after her father died, she started having strange moments when she acted like him. She had anger impulses and spoke with his words, her voice sounding almost like his sometimes. And after other of the First Warriors died,she started acting like them sometimes too. It was like they took control over her body.

Bluebell, who was the last to die, and could see the sphirix, saw that when that happened, Yantarka’s sphirix changed its shape to the shape of the deceased grifix.

Above all, Yantarka never seemed to age. Even after the grifix from her generation died, she looked just as young as the moment her father died.


It was a few years since the death of the First King, Pine. Most of the first warriors were dead as well, and their children forgot of the vow to seek revenge on Starla and the First Village. In a beautiful place besides the sea they settled. The ocean breeze was blowing over the camp, and they could easily catch fish in order to sustain themselves. Nearby on the cliffed shore there were a bunch of caves that were easily accessible most of the time and they could use for cover, but not permanently because the entrance was underwater for eight days every month due to high tides. It was a great place to settle in. They spent a few years there, almost half a lifetime for a grifix, time in which they got used to the nature cycles and built customs upon them. That place is now known as the Origin Shore.

All seemed great, but one day, Yantarka got extremely mad at them and started killing them. She was screaming with her father’s voice that they must never forget what Starla has done to them. And she kept killing them until only a few were left that swore to continue their journey in the pursuit of the village.


From that moment she was named “priestess” and through her words the living grifix could hear the First Warriors’ will. No grifix would go against her or contradict her or the First Warriors, for she would kill them without hesitation. Her words meant law.


The First Warriors, through her, established a new hierarchy: the tribe was ruled by a King. The King was the strongest grifix in the village and was also the warriors leader. The tribe was split into two types of grifix: warriors and healers. The warriors were more important than the healers. They defended the tribe and hunted for food. The healers, well, they healed. But they also did other tasks like cooking, making clothes and taking care of the children. The old warriors usually become healers, but young grifix can be healers too. They decide what they will be after they get their set sphirix shape. Even females can become warriors.

Even if the king ruled the village, the Priestess could come and change anything at her will. She could kill and judge anyone, even the king. She could end a dynasty and put up a new King at her choice. She never had to give an explanation for what she did, and everygrifix knew that it was surely for the best, for her power was beyond the understanding of the living.

But actually, none of those were her choices. All she was doing was under the First Warriors’ control.


When she wasn’t possessed, she was just an innocent teenage girl. But after all that mind controlling she went through, she lost all of her will. She doesn’t seem to care about anything and few things catch her attention. She doesn’t spend time with the other grifix and usually isolates herself from the others. But her magical power is huge and when she’s possessed she’s the most fearsome grifix in the world.


Because she assured the connection with the ancestors, the healers quickly lost that purpose and now they only heal and do other tasks. They don’t go blind anymore and they can’t see the sphirix - they’re just common grifix with healing knowledge, without any connection to the dead.


The Tribe worships the “First Warriors”, on top of them being the “First King”. Those are the grifix that have been left behind by the village and they are like gods to the tribe grifix. The souls of those who fight and support their will would go to the stars, to live with them, but the souls of those that oppose them will be forever linked to the earth and will never be able to leave and have a free soul.


The tribe continued moving around Equestria, living in tents and never staying in one place for long, traveling all over the world, hoping that one day they would find the lost village.


Without Yantarka, the First Warriors’ will would’ve been soon lost and the grifix in the tribe would have forgotten about the village and what happened back then. But because of her eternal presence and the first Warriors controlling her, they never forget their vow and one day, when they will find the village, they will make sure to take revenge for what happened back then.

HIERARCHY❈❈

The priestess

Yantarka

Immortal, has full rights over the lives of all grifix, including the king. Her word is divine law.

The lost king

The curent king is Drakon

Monarch with full rights over the lives of his subjects. He’s the military leader of the tribe. Wears the mask all the time.

The lost queen

The current queen is Soleila

Has very few rights as herself, but she can use the word of the king which gives her a lot of power. She has no rights in front of the king. Must not be seen without the mask by anyone but the King. From the moment she got married, not even her family is allowed to see her without her mask.

Note: Queen's that ruled the Lost Tribe with full rights are occupied the "Lost King" position. "Lost Queens" are only the mate of the Monarch, and never the Monarch. In the case of a female occupying the King position, she is still assigned a female mate, so a "Queen" from the Starfell Clan.

❈ The starfell maiden ❈

The mare chosen from the Starfell Clan to become the next Queen. Often younger than the King, she is deprived of most social interactions and always followed around by her servants. She's not allowed to take her mask off in front of anybody but her servants. If she takes her mask off, she will be considered impure and replaced, sometimes even killed.

The Starfell Clan

They are an ancient family descending directly from The First Healer, Bluebell. They take pride in their pure blood and only breed with other Clan grifix. In the Tribe hierarchy, they would be under the healers but their blood legacy earns them a lot of respect. Even though they are neither warriors nor healers, they do have a purpose and that is providing pure blood queens and serving the royals. Whenever a new king steps up, they will marry a female from the Starfell Clan, which has been raised especially for that. The other young females of the Clan become servants for the Queen and the Priestess. The Clan is so conservative, as they never show their face in front of a grifix from outside the Clan, excepting the Priestess. If someone else were to see their face, most of the Clan grifix would feel threatened and panic. Their names are based on lifeless things, such as rocks, minerals and celestial objects. They never take off their masks outside of their tent.

The crowned eye symbol

The Starfell Clan's symbol is the crowned eye, a symbol which is only worn by royalty in the Tribe.

 

Most Starfell Grifix have this symbol somewhere on their clothing or mask, and so do all Kings of the Tribe and the Priestess.

 

 

❈ Head of the Starfell Clan ❈

Currently Freezing Sun

Represents and speaks for the whole tribe, as well as makes decisions for them.

❈ Freefallens ❈

Mostly males and females that are higher in the hierarchy. They must only obey the Head of the Clan and have no other duty then raise Starfell Maidens, Starfell Maids and Celestial Maids.

❈ Sunfallen Maids ❈

A select few females that work for serving the Queen, chosen from the Starfell Clan. They are the only grifix that are allowed to see her face besides the king. When they are not working, their social status is the lowest of the tribe, but as long as they are on duty they are respected, being covered by the word of the king and Queen. If one were fired, she would be killed by the king’s order or would receive such a low status as any Grifix could kill her without anybody caring about it.

The sunfallen maid uniform:

❈ Moonfallen Maids ❈

They are similar to the Sunfallen Maids, except they serve the Starfell Maiden instead of the Queen.

The moonfallen maid uniform:

❈ Celestial Maids ❈

They are mostly the same as the Starfell Maids, but for the Priestess. They are the only otther grifix allowed to go into sacred places in order to assist her.

The celestial maid uniform:

commoners

Warriors and healers. Until they get their sphirix shape, they have a “kid name”. After their sphirix sets shape, they decide if they will be warriors or healers and they change their name accordingly to their new status.

the lost warriors

❈ The warrior mentor ❈

Trains the Warriors and commands them sometimes. However, the Commander is the King so the Mentor doesn't have much authority.

❈ The warriors ❈

They have a great honor. Their duty is defending the tribe and hunting for the tribe. No grifix haunts for themselves. It is forbidden. Everything they catch they bring back to the tribe and all the grifix eat together.

But, their most important job is to train and prepare for fighting the village. This is a sacred duty for a warrior.

They wear their masks and armors almost all the time, be it inside or outside the camp. The warriors usually have animal based names.

The warriors' armor:

❈ The Scouts ❈

They are a few selected warriors that are the fastest and have the most stamina, being able to travel long distances fast and investigate the ground around the path they take. For those there’s almost no rest. When the tribe stops to rest, they have to go exploring to find the next route they will take, and they have to go until they find a good place for the tribe to camp the next night. Sometimes they go even further, planning the tribe’s route for the next weeks or even longer.

They’re used to not getting very much rest, and even in the case the tribe sticks in one place for longer they keep exploring. It’s quite hard for them to stick in one place.

Their armors are also much better for exploring than the other warriors’. This is how they look:

The lost healers

❈ The Fire Mentor ❈

Teaches healers to use the healing properties of fire.

One might find that warmth is essential for healing, as well as heat is essential for preparing a cure.

However, fire is just as dangerous, so one needs special knowledge to use it properly without risking to cause more harm than healing. Such knowledge is essential to being a good healer.

❈ The Water Mentor ❈

Currently Toadstool

Teaches healers to use the healing properties of water.

There is no healing without water. Be it to clean a wound properly, prepare a potion or even just to be able to tell when one is dehydrated, water plays an essential role in healing, and every healer must know how to use it.

The Water Mentor performs the Sky falling Ceremony.

❈ The Sky Mentor ❈

Currently Blue Moonwort

Teaches healers to use the healing properties of air and sky. 

Air plays an essential role is life. It can be your greatest helper, but it can also be your biggest enemy.

One might find the wind to be very helpful. Knowing how to ride the wind can help a healer reach the wounded more easily. Some plants are depended on the wind as well, so knowing the wind might help you find such plants when in need. 

❈ The Earth Mentor ❈

Currently Hogweed

Teaches healers to use the healing properties of the earth, rocks and minerals.

Crystals contain the power and energy of the Earth, being a great manner of channeling such energies and turning them into healing energies.

It is also important to undertand that rocks contain minerals that plants and meat don't. A good healer must be able to tell when a grifix is missing a mineral that can be obtained from rocks, and also know what rock contains it. Somtimes, the cure is not a complicated potion but just... licking the right rock.

❈ Healers ❈

The healers’ sacred jobs are taking care of the injured and sick grifix, this also means gathering medicinal plants. They also cook and clean the tents and the clothes for all the grifix, but these aren’t part of their sacred duty.

They wear their masks and uniforms only when they do the sacred jobs or when they go outside of the camp. They aren’t taught to haunt or fight, only as kids when they must know the basics for haunting so they won’t die if they’re somehow left alone for many days. Their names are based on plants.

The Healers' outfits:

They also wear necklaces, but they aren't drawn on the bases because they are unique for each grifix.

Taleseekers

Cubs and Elders that are duty-free. They call themselves "The Bonefire Council".

❈ Cubs ❈

They have not found yet their path in life, but they are eager to star every day and discover the world they live in. They run around the Healers side of the Camp when the Warriors are out wreacking havoc. As the night falls, they all gather around the Bonefire to hear the tales of the elders. That's why they named thhemselves, together with the elders, "The Bonefire Council".

All cubs wear butterfly masks and have Bluebell as their patron:

❈ Elders ❈

Grifix too old to complete their duty anymore. After a life full of serving the First Warriors, they can finally rest.

Their tents are situated in the healers area of the Camp, and they help with whatever they can. That usually includes mostly watching the cubs.

Sometimes elders choose to wear butterfly masks like the cubs as well.

HISTORY❈❈

(Mostly talking about previous rulers and such)

✧ The First Warriors:

The Grifix that founded the tribe. Often they are represented by their sphirix animal in the tribe culture, so that is very important.

✦ Pine & Fang (also knows as The First King) - his sphirix is a bear:

Art and design by kazoowary

✦ Quick Mouse & Rusty - his sphirix is an owl:

Art and design by kazoowary

✦ Roc & Aqua - his sphirix is a lizard:

Art and design by kazoowary

✦ Small Pebble & Willow - his sphirix is a salmon:

Art and design by kazoowary

✦ Brook & Rana - his sphirix is a scorpion:

Art and design by kazoowary

✦ Bluebell & Feather - her sphirix is a butterfly:

Art and design by kazoowary

✧ Notable Rulers:

✦ King Titan - one of the most legendary figures in their history.

✦ Queen Touka - not named officially “queen”, but she was considered the next ruler after Titan,

✦ Queen Ivy - a strange figure in their history. There is more to be learned about her, but that story is for some other time.

CULTURE❈❈

✧ events:

✦✦The Sky Falling Ceremony

✧ The Masks:

The masks represent animals. They can either represent the grifix’s PATRON or their SPHIRIX.

The “Patron” of a grifix is the First Warrior who protects the grifix during their life. For deciding the patrons, the Grifix have a calendar, and the patron is decided after their birthday period (by example if someone is born in the Bear Period, their patron will be Pine, who’s sphirix is a bear). However, there are 6 “border days” that are in between periods. If a grifix is born in one of those days, they have two patrons.

The grifix's "birthday" isn't in fact the day they hatched, but the day they start their duty, which usually is the day they got their set sphirix shape. Cubs are considered unborn, which is why they don't use the calendar for their masks. Find more details about this by reading about the Sky Falling Ceremony.

Art by kazoowary

The Grifix born on a border day have masks with their sphirix animal. The others have masks with their Patron’s sphirix animal.

You can think of the patrons similar to zodiac signs.

✦✦Mask examples:

The grifix get their masks soon after their sphirix settles the shape, through the sphirix shape ceremony. As children, not all of them have masks but some do, like the Starfell Clan grifix. Children’s masks aren’t so strongly determined by their patron. Most of them have butterfly masks.

✧ The 7 year cyclic calendar:

The customs built back on the Origin Shore based on the nature cycles there had not been thrown away. The cycles of the ocean shore will forever guide the Tribe's journey.

There is a turtle species that visits that Origin Shore once every seven years in order to lay eggs. That marks the beginning of the seven-year-calendar for the Lost Tribe. This is a calendar is used by them to organize their travels, having a couple key-points which mark when and where they should be. Despite the Tribe trying to find something, and therefore trying to cover new places, they still have a couple places they always return to. One of them is the Origin Shore.
The calendar has a year for each of the seven warriors - or so the legend used to say, but every grifix nowadays knows that there are only six First Warriors, so there is one more year in the cycle. That’s why the years are labeled like this, in this order: The Bear Year, The Lizard Year, The Scorpion Year, The Salmon Year, The Owl Year, The Butterfly Year and The Warrior Year.

At the end of the cycle they head back to the Origin Shores, in order to begin the next cycle in the place they started from. 

✧ Their tents:

Art by kazoowary

The tribe grifix live in tents, because they are travelers and the tribe often changes it’s location.

The healers tents are light colored, and placed in the left side of the camping area. They often have a lot of ornaments on top, like feathers, animal skin, crystals and other stuff.

The warriors’ tents are dark blue, placed on the right side of the camp, and have less ornaments. They predominantly have animal skins at the top.

In the middle there are the king and the priestess’ tents, next to a totem of the First Warriors. There is also a fire in the middle of the camp.

✧ Marriage:

Marriage between different status grifix is not allowed. However, grifix may change status to get married.

✧ Status change

A grifix can change their status if they want to, from warrior to healer or healer to warrior. They can do that without a reason, but most of them do it because they want to get married to a grifix of a different status. Children mostly take after their parents, but if they are adopted by someone from a different status they’ll take after them. When a grifix changes their status, they also change their name, and they can even change their birthdate to the day they changed their status, because it’s like they’re a new person. They don’t have to change their birthdate though, it’s only optional. Doing so however, they can erase any bad omens from their birth.

✧ RELATIONship WITH OTHER SETTLEMENTS

✦ The Everfree Village - they know of their existence, and try to find its location. They hate the Village however, and declared war on it (though the Village doesn’t know about this).

✦ The Divided Grifix Camp - they don’t know of its existence

✦ Pony settlements - usually avoided

✦ The City of Thicket - unknown

❈ art Credits ❈

Blooming skull gif

Dog skull facing right
Dog skull facing left
Cat skull facing right
Cat skull facing left
Bird skull facing right
Bird skull facing left