Desert Eridian
As the Numensari Elves ruled Eridia and enslaved the majority of its human population, some managed to escape them by hiding deep in the Eridian Desert. For millenniums, they learned to live and thrive in this harsh environment. By the time the Nmensari fell and the kingdom of Myr took its place, the human clans of the desert had become so different from their city counterparts, that they could not resolve themselves to rejoin them. Having kept to the peaceful way of their ancestors, they were horrified by the actions of the Myrish people, who seemed to continue in the footprints of the elves. And so they remain in the Eridean desert to this day, living simple lives as nomadic shepherds and guides to those few who would cross the Eridean desert. Some acknowledge the authority of the Empire, and even trade with them, while other still harbor a deep hostility to any who would try and call themselves superior.
Naming Traditions
Family names
In addition to the clan name that serves as Desert Eridians' surnames, and if the clan is part of a confederation, its name too is added after the first surname. Confederation surnames are always composed of the prefix "Tel", followed by a hyphen and a second part indicating the name of the confederation.
Culture
Culture and cultural heritage
Following millennia-old traditions, Desert Eridians live simple lifes as shepherds in the desert. Having adapted to this hostile environment, they are, with a few tribes of beast-folks, the only ones to be able to truly navigate and survive in the treacherous Eridian desert. As such, they often serve as guides to those who would brave the dunes and can sell the resources they bring from deep in the desert at a high price to the many who wish to acquire them.
Having kept their nomadic lifestyle, Desert Eridians navigate the desert thanks to a combination of wind and sky readings, as well as a number of geographical markers only known to them. Dedicated navigators are often the keepers of such knowledge, having perfected the technics necessary to perfectly orient themselves, travelling alongside what they refer as the "Sand Roads". Those navigators often also double as spiritual guides, leading their clans on pilgrimages to the sacred mountains of Myr, and often wield even more authority than the leaders of the families.
Desert Erideans regroup most often travel in groups of 20 to 50 individuals all parts of the same few families which together form a clan. Each clan operates in a designated part of the desert, with rotations at designated times of the year, and is centered around their herd of goats, which provide them with food and clothing. The size of a clan's herd is directly related to the number of members it can sustain, and the prestige of its families. Occasionally, multiple clans will pool their resources together, forming coalitions. This can be due to a merging of families, a strategic alliance, or a necessity in times of hardship. Those coalitions rarely last more than a few years, but exception occurs and some coalition have been known to even merge into a single clan under the leadership of a particularly charismatic leader. In those rare cases, the newly formed clan can lay claim to a significant portion of the desert, and even transition into a partially sedentary lifestyle, although none have been known to last beyond a few generations.
Common Dress code
Each tribe of the desert is associated with a color, which they wear on their veils and cape. The only exceptions being white, which is reserved for members of the clergy, and black which is worn only by warriors. The traditional garb of Desert Eridians is made of a long cloth of thin wool wrapped around their body, with a veil and/or cape above. Finally, Desert Eridians wear long socks, reaching above the knee, and sandals to protect their feet and legs from the burning hot sand. This also serves to protect their modesty, as showing one's legs in public is considered improper for Desert Eridians.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Desert Eridians praise luxurious and well-kept hair, signs of purity and nobility. Women wear intricated braids that they display when courting, while men keep their hair under their veils at all times, except when washing them and when they go to bed. Body paint is also widely used by both men and women, especially on the hands, feet, and face. Complex patterns of curves and swirls meant to represent the lines of life energy coursing through the body, all the while accentuating the features of the wearer.
Parent ethnicities
Related Locations
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