Fidayan

Very spiritual, and intuitive. Wide faces, with heavy-set forehead, big mouths, sharp jawlines. Very smart, with great observational skills, in tune with their emotions, loyalty means everything to them.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Always end in a.

Family names

Names consist of a GIVEN NAME (imia), a PATRONYMIC (otchestvo), and a SURNAME (familiia). Patronymics are derived from the father's given name and end with -ovich or -evich. The female patronymics end in -ovna or -evna. Also -in/ina ending surnames are prevalent, and -ski /-skaya and -ii or -oi/-aya.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Russian-adjacent

Shared customary codes and values

The Everlasting Scroll is what they believe in, what they pray to, what they consult. It exists in a time away from their world, before their world, and will be there after it as well. On it is written everything that has ever happened, and everything that may happen, and all the billions of possibilities there are for the world. The al-Nahr gave them this power, the ability to see the future and make decisions based on what they see, and it is not a job they take lightly. Children are taught from birth how important it is to use their words carefully, to never say something they haven't considered from all angles. They are warned that if they make a prediction half-heartedly, they will be robbed of their power, and all the bad possibilities written on the Scroll will happen to them. Children do not take this threat lightly.

Common Etiquette rules

Roughly spoken, gruff, loud voices. But respectful - in that they do not yell with no good reason. They don't argue for nothing. They listen and understand. And then they yell if they're not happy. But in a controlled manner.

Common Dress code

Fidayans comes from a land of ice, and so dress accordingly for that. Big coats, long trousers, boots. However, as they are accustomed to it, after generations of living in the land, they can also survive much colder temperatures than others. But if the sun shows its face for a moment, they strip down to almost nothing. They do not mix well with the heat.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

The child's real name is only known by their parents, and siblings. Everyone else refers to them by a nickname. This is to deter the 'unclean force' from knowing who they are. As a result, when asked for their name a Fidayan will say, "They call me..." even if saying their full name.

Coming of Age Rites

At their Coming of Age rituals involve the teen sitting in front of a table of elders, and giving in to their Sight. If it manifests, and if they survive it, they pass, and are painted with whorls of black ink along their arms. They now possess the Sight, and have higher standing in society. Some Fidayans are slow to develop the Sight. The Scroll chooses its vessels wisely. But the usual age is around 14.

Funerary and Memorial customs

The body is washed, and dressed in white, then brought back to the home where it stays for three days, in a room on its own. This is because of their belief that bodies still feel for a little while after death. One the three days are over, the body is placed in a comfortable coffin, and taken on the backs of family members to the prayer house. This is when the people are allowed to weep openly. The leader prays for the deceased, and the congregation throws soil into the coffin, along with coins, for their journey to the other side of the Scroll. They also place important things from the person's life beside their body as well. The coffin is placed in the ground, buried, and all the handkerchiefs used at the ceremony must be disposed of and never taken inside the home, to prevent the sadness of the ceremony to permeate the home. Fidayans do not - try not to - dwell on death. It is as the Scroll is written, after all. Sleep is linked to death. Fidayans don't sleep often, for when they do, their Sight is at its strongest. The door to the other world, the world of the Scroll, is accessible in sleep, and the visions Fidayans are privy to are often hard to handle at such high altitudes. Sleep is more exhausting than anything, for the very powerful ones.

Common Taboos

If one pretends to consult the Everlasting Scroll - a prank of sorts - the Fidayans do not take this lightly. They will light a candle, extinguish it, and wave it, until the smoke hangs heavy in the air. Then they pray, sending up apologies to the Scroll, to forgive this prankster, to not let what they said either (a) come to pass, or (b) ruin all foretelling in the future.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The Fidayans have shining silver skin, sapphire black hair, and deep purple eyes. They are tall, but broad-shouldered. The taller one is, the more they attract. Eyes that are stark purple are more attractive, because it means the Fidayan who has them also has a deeper and more powerful Sight.

Gender Ideals

Women have a slightly higher ground, only because the Sight is often much more powerful in women. Every Fidayan is born with it, but the women of the race are more reliable in their predictions.

Courtship Ideals

It is uncommon for Fidayans to court each other for long stretches of time. They do not 'date' meaninglessly, or for 'fun.' If any courtship happens, it is expected that it will end in matrimony. Usually males and females are matched by their parents, be it for negotiation between families, or if the boy or girl needs assistance finding someone.

Relationship Ideals

Fidayans marry young, and stay married for life. The males are the breadwinners, the females needing to keep their strength to keep their Sight as strong as possible. It's like having your personal, free crystal ball, after all.