Originally Tarin referred to all of the humans who lived in the
Taris Desert, however, in more recent times, the
Spiran who reside along the
Spira River consider themselves apart.
Lifestyle
The Tarin move across the desert in family groups between water sources, raising camels. The camel herds are integral to Tarin survival as a primary food source, both meat and milk, which is also made into yogurt and cheeses (thanks to a pepsin like enzyme produced by a local cacti). They also make use of the camels' pelt; both the guard hair and the inner down.
There are two permanently settled oases in the desert, Basyoon and Abydos. At Abydos they grow dates, figs, bananas, and citrus trees in the oasis. They do not grow anything at Basyoon.
Spirituality
The Tarin traditionally had a closer relationship to the god
Seese than to the other generations of the pantheon. It is unknown if this due to the
Free City of Seese having been located in the
Barere Mountain Range or if the Free City was built in the range due to a preexisting relationship with the god.
After
The Fall of the Free City of Seese, the Tarin drifted away from organized religion toward shamanism. The
Suneater Scorpion have become especially revered. The hunting of the Suneater is highly ritualized, and highly dangerous. After successful hunts the meat is consumed by the strongest hunters. A hallucinogen can be made from Suneater venom that is used for sacred rites by most families, but has also found its way to more unsavory markets. Armor, weapons, and goods made from the Suneater's exoskeleton are highly sought after.
History
The kingdom of Taris was possible due to two life-giving rivers that brought precious water to the desert, the Spira River which flows up from the south and the now extinct Anima River that flowed down from the
Barere Mountain Range to join with the Spira on its voyage to the ocean. While the cities along the Spira still thrive, those along the Anima had to be abandoned. Most of the abandoned cities were swallowed by the sand, but ruins still remain of the largest, Farzul and Taramon; the Tarin now avoid these ruins.
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