Pom Bacri

The Bacri, or the Bacri Pom, are a Najer subgroup that reside all across Najer. They are notable for being syncretic Noxists along with their Lost God beliefs.

History
The Bacri were formed after the collapse of the ancient Najer city-state known as Qwarakan. Diaspora from its fall eventually formed a community around a Najer temple and would later merge with a proto-Noxist clan, where their beliefs would mix to form a unique heritage.

Over the next thousand years, the Bacri would become more and more powerful by assimilating other, smaller clans into their ranks, as well as a mix of war, marriage, and soft political power.

Culture
The Bacri are one of the last remaining nomadic Najer clans. Unlike many other clans, that have joined together in permanent settlements and cities, most of the Bacri continue following the old ways of the Najer people: wandering across the deserts and steppes of southern Najer in search of feeding grounds for their flocks and trade opportunities with the settled peoples; moving from season to season along timeless routes and ancient camp sites.

Given the nomadic lifestyle of the Bacri, yurt like tents are the most common housing used by the Bacri clan members, although some sub-clans also use temporary stone settlements in some locations, mostly nearby holy sites and ancient temples (Tala’ii Village e.g.). It should also be noted that some Bacri members have fully or partially abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and live in fully fledged cities, some even become leaders of said settlements.

Though literacy has become the norm between Bacri nobility starting with the founding of the First City, most of Bacri folklore and culture is still passed down through the generations orally. Campfires gatherings, meals, and pilgrimages to ancient temples and sites are moments of great cultural exchange in the Bacri communities. The Bacri also engage in various cultural activities such as archery and horse ridding competitions, desert hare hunts, and falconry.

Most of the clan members are believers of the traditional Najer Pantheon, also known as “Lost Gods Pantheon”. Of all the pantheon's gods the Bacri worship Mayassioh (God of the Moon and Dreams) and Menkahour (The God of Time and Sand) the most, they also revere the many relics of the ancient pyramidal temples scattered throughout the Wandering Deserts as well as folk heroes such as the semi-divine being known as The Wanderer. Many Bacri also syncretise their beliefs with the Noxist faith, adding the gods of this ancient Northern faith, such as Afton, Baldemar, and Roaris, to their pantheon. The Bacri believe that the Moon protects them and view Mayassioh as the patron god of their tribe, even if they recognise Menkahour as the main God of the Pantheon. According to Bacri tradition, Mayassioh can also grant visions to the most faithful followers during their dreams. Some Bacri converted to Taurism during the settling of Mirwa, but since the city’s fall many have abandoned the faith of the One Bull God.

Bacri means "crescent moon" in the ancient Najer language. Although with time, this word has changed into Bacra in the modern Najer language, the clan’s name retains the old pronunciation. The upwards facing crescent moon is also a symbol associated with the Mayassioh, the patron and protector god of the Pom, for this reason this symbol as been chosen to also represent the clan and ward all evil from it.

Distribution
The traditional tribal lands of the Bacri extend from the steppes where Fort Silver currently lays up to the desert dunes and mountain slopes of Kijaro. Though vast, these lands are also shared with other nomadic clans that are associated with the Coalition of the Southern Steppes of which the Bacri are the hegemons of. The Bacri normally spend their winter months near Najera’Jad and their summer months close to Kijaro.

During the collapse of the Sterling Crownlands the Bacri clans occupied and gained effective control over the deserts of the Icarus Pass where they established a semi-temporary settlement on ancient hill-top fortification. This was done as the clan perceived this hill-fort to be associated with the The Wanderer and wished to control for religious, cultural motives and gain political prestige. The control of the fort and area was legally recognized by the Emirate in 66 AB. In the present day, several distinguished large cities such as Ajek Point, Wobambi-ak-Ahjun and Kijaro are ruled by Bacri clan members, even if outside the traditional lands of the clan.