Human (Kellid)
Residents of cold, harsh northern Avistan, the Kellids (pronounced KEHL-ids) represent what every resident of the continent thinks of when they refer to "barbarians". Sandwiched between an empire of orcs, marauding demons of the Worldwound, and the witch-haunted kingdom of Irrisen, Kellids are a pragmatic product of their harsh environment and direct descendants of a more savage age.
They are generally lean in physique, gaining and shedding fat with equal ease as they feast heartily and march their lives on their backs across hundreds of miles. Most have very dark hair and light brown skin with deep tans; their dark eye colors range from brown to green.
Most Kellids bear scars from combat or their environment, and those who do not are often derided as weaklings given up to unbecomingly comfortable lives.
They are not originally native to Iobaria, but several of them found refuge in the harsh lands after the opening of the Worldwound. Their arrival en masse has created serious power struggles within the country and eventually led to the collapse of New Iobaria. Now that over a hundred years have passed and they have not gone, it goes to show that they found a certain comfort in these lands.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Feminine names are heavy with sounds of "a," "k," and "l." Regardless, they are short and to the point, only having one syllable or two.
Examples: Han, Halak, Kabe, Belka, Inkit, Yala, Maar
Masculine names
The short masculine names are heavy with "n," "o," "g," and "u" sounds.
Examples: Dron, Grund, Nogur, Kondu, Nork
Family names
Kellid names are as brusque and percussive as their Hallit language, and most use two or fewer syllables. Second names are rare and typically limited to those who distinguish themselves or draw from an especially significant lineage, though Kellid clan members hold their clan's name in even higher regard than their own.
Other names
Clan names are usually composed of animal or other natural features and colors. These represent the clan's general attributes.
Examples: Blacklion, Steadfast Mountain, Snowpeak, Dawnstrike
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Kellids have adapted and can now speak Iobarian (approximately) but their first and foremost language is Hallit, which has no written form and is harsh-sounding even for the people of Iobaria.
Culture and cultural heritage
Kellid culture, like the Kellid people, is shaped by its harsh surroundings. It is a primitive tribal culture that values tribal loyalty. Few Kellids trust magic due to being beset by the magical threats of the Worldwound. It's worth noting that they also have very little trust for technology, which entrenches the belief that they are simple, cruel and barbaric people.
Kellids view most gods introduced by contact with southerners as indistinguishable from nature, and often see arcane and divine magic, forces of nature, coincidence, and the fundamental acts of survival as equally valid expressions of spirits that live in all things. As such, many Kellids are druids who follow tenets similar to the Green Faith.
Shared customary codes and values
Clans battle over resources and prestige; even among Kellids, a clan makes and keeps few friends. Clan members keep to their own.
Common Dress code
Kellids tend to dress in primitive clothing made from leathers, furs, and hide. Their exact style of dress tends to change depending on the individual tribe and the local climate. One item of clothing unique to the Kellids is their zoic fetishes, small charms made out of bundles of twine hair and stone that are often enchanted with powerful druidic magic.
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