Anireptian Gypsy Hosts
The Anireptian Gypsy Hosts are the gypsy tribes of Vulshain. Many mainly live near the Sesima and Quchica Mountain Ranges in the northern Confederate Provinces, especially the Provinces of Ibius, Hersane, Kauru, Muramou, and Amacul, although there are a few living in Chinine and Torshku.
Host is an anarchic term for army, although the Anireptians were actually clans.
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History
Earlier Times
The Anireptians were originally nomadic horse traders and singers, who travelled around seeking lodging or work. They paid for their lodging with money or with work by their horses. The Anireptians were made up of humans, Lobos, and Vulpines, although there were very few hosts that were racially mixed.
The Anireptians were talented and skilled with horses, especially the Mountain Thunder, or Tiergessern horse, a breed of horse similar to the Andalusian. The Anireptians also functioned as mercenaries serving as light cavalry and even mounted archers. They were extremely skilled in guerilla and shock tactics.
Many Vulpine Anireptians were extremely relunctant and resistant to conversion by the Vayan Catholic Church. Until 1498 AD, many Anireptians continued to practice Vulpine Paganism, although Anireptian Lobos were followers of Laiatan Protestantism. Human Anireptians were followers of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 1502 AD, all of the Anireptian Host Leaders, called Atamans, swore fealty and alligence to the Royal Family of Vulshain after the wife of the most powerful Anireptian Host, the Vityırımilar Host, had a vision that a terrible famine would end once the Hosts pledged their loyalty to the Crown of Vulshain. After the Hosts did this, the famine ended.
The Anireptians would then select their best and bravest soldiers to serve as the Anireptian Guards, the Royal Family's elite bodyguards. Many historians believe that had it not been for the Anireptian Guards, the coup caused by the 1515 Usurpers may have succeeded. The Anireptian Guards successfully smuggled the Royal Family out of the palace, with some of the Guards and their families disguising themselves as the Royal Family to trick the usurpers, and later assisted in putting down the devoted followers of the Usurper's Circle.
Decline and Restoration
The Anireptian Guards later rebelled in protest against the signing the of Constitution of the Confederacy by King Fersoltsy Arkadyon on November 10, 1715. Many Anireptians believed that King Arkadyon was betraying his ancestors and wished to protect the power of the Crown. However, King Arkadyon and his armies crushed the Anireptian Rebellion, and dissolved the Anireptian Guards. Ironically, King Arkadyon later married an Anireptian musician and dancer, as a way to prevent future Anireptian rebellions.
The Anireptian Guards would later be restored after Queen Sybilla Merririn came to power, believing that her great-grandfather, King Fersoltsy Arkadyon had overreacted when the Anireptian Hosts protested. She restored the Anireptian Guards. The horsemanship of the Anireptians later led to many serving in lancer cavalry units as well as grenadier units.
During the Five-Year War with Southern Yugoslavia, the Anireptians served as cavalry and scouts as well as serving as a line of defense against infantry charges during trench warfare. Many Anireptian halberdiers and grenadiers died at the Battle of Sacred Hollow on June 6, 1894.
Monarchical Revolution and Modern Times
The Anireptian Guards would later prove vital in saving the life of Queen Anatansya Olekalexein during the Uprising of the Republican Fists on March 1, 1958, that put Merrill Rivers in power.
The Anireptian Hosts rebelled again, but this time, for the Crown. The Anireptians carried out hit-and-run attacks against many Republican military bases and supplies lines in the northern Vulshainian Provinces. Several Hosts were eradicated in Rivers' genocidal Anireptian Purge. However, the Purge failed to wipe out all of the Hosts. The Anireptians became symbols of freedom and liberty as they fought against a dictator's tyrannical regime. Victory came on July 23, 1980, when the Republican Regime was toppled and the Monarchy was restored to Vulshain.
The Anireptian Guards were reorganized as the Royal Protectors on June 19, 1984, the birthday of Queen Sybilla Merririn.
During the Vulshainian Civil War, the Anireptians served as border guards and soldiers against the upstart insurgents and terrorists that plunged the nation into chaos.
In 2010, several insurgent groups in the Province of Ibius began a series of acts of ethnic cleansing against the Anireptians. After a couple of months, the Confederate Armed Forces crushed the insurgents.
Daily Life, Family Life, and Culture
The Anireptians have a long history of raising and training horses, and despite periods of war and famine, the Hosts have kept extremely excellent breeding records of their horses.
Music and dance are also important traditions of Anireptian culture; for example, the Anireptians have a strong and proud tradition of choral singing and dancing. Many festivals and rituals, such as marriages, funerals, and birthdays, feature much singing and dancing.
An Anireptian marriage is a complex ritual, accompanied by songs, dances, and performances. A bridegroom is to come on horseback and take his bride to the church. After the wedding everyone goes to the bride's house. Parents of both the bride and groom bless the newly wedded young couple by breaking a loaf of bread above the heads of the newly weds, and finally sprinkling the couple with flower petals. Then comes the rite of unbraiding the hairs of both bride and groom.
Anireptian family values are simple, rigid, and to foreign eyes, seem to come from another era. The men build the home and provide an income; the women cook, clean, and give birth to children. However, this is not actually true. Single and unmarried women are able to hold jobs. Those Anireptians who move further south quickly adopt more modern customs, although, they still cling to their native traditions and values.
The Anireptians were known throughout history for their superb military training, and it is not uncommon for an Anireptian to enlist in the Confederate Armed Forces, although enlistment in the Ground Forces and Main Military Intelligence Directorate (MMID) is the most sought after. However, in recent years, some Anireptians have started to join other branches of the military, such as Major Ferssia Katacsio, a high ranking member of the Vulshainian Confederate Space Forces. Another Anireptian famous is General-Colonel Kabya Kenenttz, the director of MMID, Vulshain's military intelligence agency.
Music is well-loved by Anireptians. The bandura is a very popular and commonly played stringed instrument among the Anireptian hosts.
