Exíans
The Exíans1 are a reptilian people who inhabit southern Lássordikía, a region in the Múlíat Mountains of southern Dragonía. They are related to the Kroks inhabiting the Vorran Peninsula far to the west.
Aside from their throats, Exían skin is generally mottled brown and grey, and no two individuals share the exact same pattern.
Exíans have a set mating season each year, and all the pregnant women lay one or two eggs around the same time, which hatch a few weeks later.
Compared to most other inhabitants of the region, Exían history is remarkably peaceful, as they inhabit a relatively remote part of the mountains and keep to themselves for the most part.
They know of the Traks on the Dakrúzú Peninsula across the Hahagak Sea to the south, but direct contact between the two is rare.
Unlike their western cousins, Exían towns and cities are inhabited throughout the year rather than only during the time the eggs are stored in the hatcheries. The greatest city along the coast is Attarakka, and Vrúkken in the hinterlands.
Like the deity, Exíans believe that their souls are composed of different parts, including a person's breath, name, personality, shadow and reflection. Upon death, these aspects are scattered until a year has passed, at which point they unite once more and the Exían is reborn as a bird. Birds are thus sacred to the Exíans, and their behaviour can be a sign of good and ill omens alike.
Exíans consider harming a bird deliberately an unforgivable crime, along with repeatedly lying to one's face about serious matters past a certain age, both of result in capital punishments, either by being buried alive or thrown off a cliff.
Appearance and abilities
Like the Kroks, Exíans are bipedal and stocky, with beak-like mouths and three, thick claws on each limb, and display their emotions via patch of chameleon-like skin on their throat, similarly to the twin crests of spikes with membranes between at the back of a Krok's head. Because of this, lying is quite difficult for an Exían, as doing so would usually require either looking down or wearing something over their neck, both of which would be considered suspicious in the first place.Aside from their throats, Exían skin is generally mottled brown and grey, and no two individuals share the exact same pattern.
Exíans have a set mating season each year, and all the pregnant women lay one or two eggs around the same time, which hatch a few weeks later.
History
The first Exíans settled in Lássordikía some 18.000 years ago, and they were the only Mlakets outside of Kvaror in the northwesternmost Múlíat Mountains to survive as the carnivorous Gobíls began their conquest of most the western part of the mountains and Sjorg Desert beyond, mostly as they live far beyond Gobíl territory.Compared to most other inhabitants of the region, Exían history is remarkably peaceful, as they inhabit a relatively remote part of the mountains and keep to themselves for the most part.
They know of the Traks on the Dakrúzú Peninsula across the Hahagak Sea to the south, but direct contact between the two is rare.
Society
Exían society is divided into several territories, each centered around a hatchery in much the same way as among Kroks, and are relatively egalitarian. Those living along the coast of Hahagak Sea or Derkniss Sea to the south mostly subsist on fishing or gathering seaweed, mollusks and crustaceans, while Exíans living in the valleys further inland grow various tubers, nuts and a cotton-like plant used to make clothing and nets, which they barter along with metals in exchange for dried seafood.Unlike their western cousins, Exían towns and cities are inhabited throughout the year rather than only during the time the eggs are stored in the hatcheries. The greatest city along the coast is Attarakka, and Vrúkken in the hinterlands.
Culture
Apparel
Clothing among the Exíans consists mostly of simple loincloths and bracelets, adorned with shells or colourful stones and dyed in different ways to identify which territory one belongs to.Art
Architecture
Most Exían structures, particularly homes, are domed or beehive-shaped and made primarily out of clay, and invariably painted black and white, though the exact patterns vary between settlements. Larger structures such as hatcheries are an exception, as they are circular with flat roofs.Religion
Exíans worship spirits associated with various natural phenomena, believed to be different parts of the soul of their creator god who attempted to separate heaven and earth at the dawn of time, but died before his work was complete, which is why floods, droughts, earthquakes and other disasters plague the world to this day. The god's remains became the sun and moon, and the moon later gave birth to all the world's flora, fauna and peoples.Like the deity, Exíans believe that their souls are composed of different parts, including a person's breath, name, personality, shadow and reflection. Upon death, these aspects are scattered until a year has passed, at which point they unite once more and the Exían is reborn as a bird. Birds are thus sacred to the Exíans, and their behaviour can be a sign of good and ill omens alike.
Exíans consider harming a bird deliberately an unforgivable crime, along with repeatedly lying to one's face about serious matters past a certain age, both of result in capital punishments, either by being buried alive or thrown off a cliff.
1Original icelandic: Exíar, singular: Exi.
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