Malidite

Malidites are a resilient and resourceful people native to the deserts, savannahs, and salt flats of Northern Malidor. Of medium build and height, their dusky skin darkens the farther south they dwell. Brown hair and eyes are the most common, but variations exist across tribes and regions. Malidites are known for their practicality, ingenuity, and strong sense of community, traits born from their environment's challenges. Malidite culture is deeply rooted in tribal traditions, with each tribe possessing its own customs, oral histories, and leadership structures. Many tribes are nomadic, scouring Northern Malidor's inhospitable terrain for scarce resources. Those dwelling in the salt flats are particularly renowned for their craftsmanship, constructing skiffs to glide over the intraversable plains, wearing specialized goggles to shield their eyes from blinding light, and crafting boots with reinforced metal soles for stability on the sharp, salty earth. Malidites value adaptability, hospitality, and a strong connection to their ancestral lands. Storytelling, music, and dance are central to their culture, serving as both entertainment and a means of preserving history.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Aaliyah, Akilah, Amina, Dalia, Farah, Fatemah, Iesha, Kamaria, Layla, Nabila, Nadine, Nakia, Nura, Oma, Qadira, Qistina, Rihanna, Saadia, Sada, Saffron, Salma, Takisha, Zahra, Zaina

Masculine names

Abbad, Abdul, Amir, Bassam, Fahim, Farouk, Hakim, Hamid, Hussein, Jafar, Jahid, Kalim, Khalid, Mahmud, Mansour, Mustafa, Nadir, Nazim, Omar, Qadir, Rafiq, Rashad, Saladin, Samir, Tariq

Family names

Abboud, Amari, Bahar, Basara, Bishara, Fadel, Faheem, Farouq, Gaddafi, Ghulam, Hadid, Hashim, Irfan, Issawi, Jabal, Jalal, Jaziri, Kashif, Khalid, Maamoun, Nader, Nasser, Osman, Qasim, Rahim

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Most Malidites speak Western Common, which they use to communicate and trade with outside cultures. In addition, each Malidate tribe has its own native tongue that its people use among themselves. These Malidite languages have a harsh, guttural, consonant-forward quality, suggesting shared origins with Orcish. Many Malidite languages and dialects share roots and influences, allowing partial understanding between neighboring tribes.