Amazwean
Amazweans are a human population descended from Skaldoran settlers and Bazir tribesmen. Over the millennia, they have become the rulers of Amazwe and by default the Arid at large.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Leila, Aisha, Imani, Kalila, and Zara are quite popular names for girls.
Masculine names
Amir, Rayan, Omar, Jayal, and Zezar are the most common names for boys.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Amazweans speak Ahzulhu, a child dialect of Ztuna. Nobility speak a dialect called High Ahzulhu, which is intentionally more complex and contains additional written letters. Those who live away from the bigger cities have developed over time a dialect that is closely mixed with both Ztuna and Byr.
Shared customary codes and values
Most populations of The Arid put survival above all else, and Amazweans are no different. They have managed to conquer the region by joining the Empire early on, but they are not safe. Amazweans are typically paranoid and suspicious of others, but welcome other Amazweans with open arms, and strangely do place high trust and value on their Bazir servants.
Common Etiquette rules
Amazweans have retained several of the customs of the Bazir, including greeting each member of a group by name and washing hands with sand before eating. It is considered polite to acknowledge the eldest first and the youngest last. A formal bow is reserved only for those who are of a similar social standing to oneself as an acknowledgement of equality. Tribute to a nobleman of any stature is done by placing the left hand over the right shoulder and bowing the head for a long moment.
Common Dress code
Amazweans outside of the Arid are easily identified by their insistence on wearing veils over the lower half of their face, which originated as a means of comfort during sandy travel and has since become a source of pride. The veils are often colorful or decorated. These are different than the traditional Bazir coverings, which only expose the eyes. Light and loose clothing are popular choices for Amazweans, and beige hooded cloaks with many pockets have been popular since before the founding of Amazwe itself. Hands and feet are commonly wrapped in cloth strips, though among the nobility this is less prevalent.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Amazwean families spend many hours with their dead in one last extravagant party. These are usually arranged and done on the day of death, before burial in extraordinarily deep holes. Legend holds that jackals are the enemies of the death god, and they can prevent a soul from being judged by consuming the body. That being said, the presence of jackals on the night of a death is considered a good sign, as the deceased was clearly good enough in their life that demons do not want them to go on to the next world.
Common Taboos
The theft of food, destruction of clothing, and the touching of the sick seem to be unmentionable in Amazwean society. For reasons they are unwilling to discuss with outsiders, Amazweans avoid deceased Bazir, unlike their own dead which are showered with affection before burial.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Amazweans are often described as wiry by outsiders. The ritual martial arts of T'Mah and Ashun keep practitioners this way, and are even practiced among the highest of nobility for health reasons rather than defense training. As such, Amazweans have come to largely view massive muscles or excess fat as unsightly. Traditional plays, poetry, and songs often describe people of great beauty as having 'burning' or orange eyes, a trait which several Amazweans do possess.
Gender Ideals
Somewhat more than other races of men on the continent, Amazweans have different standards for men and women. However, this primarily comes down to women being expected to be head of household and men being expected to provide food and shelter. As with all peoples of The Arid, Amazweans will abandon all tradition in the name of survival. Both men and women are expected to have rudimentary martial knowledge.
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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