Iananosians
Originating from precursor tribes, the Iananosians are known for their persistence and maintaining ancient traditions for a millennia. They specialize in natural healing, medicines, alchemy, and survival.
Origin: Disconnected tribes, known first existence as far back as 800 BR
Presence: Nearly extinct
Common Religions: Poscaean Pantheon, Aetian Pantheon, Ghiskan Real World Influence: Carthaginian, Ancient Iberian 5e Additions:
Magic Proficiency: Divination
Non-Magic Proficiency: Survival
History
The Iananosian people used to occupy the entire coastline between Ghiska and Sria. They shared much in common with the Balans and the Ghiskans, lending to rapid developments in Iananosian civilization than, say, the Balans or Parsans. The few wars Iananosian people did wage were predominantly against the Balans to the south around Lake Ube. Around 300 BR a proto state arose for which the Iananosian culture takes its name: Iananosia, with its capital city of Chelas. Iananosia's influence extended from the borders of the Amnus people to the west to the peoples of Muros to the east. While many a learned Iananosian might contend that Muros itself was Iananosian in culture, surviving records of the country show that its primitive government was built more around serving the proto-Ghiskan cultures.
Decline and Revival of Iananosian Culture
At the turn of the era, Iananosia was invaded by Poscaea, the world's first empire, and quickly subdued under Poscaean rule. Under the Poscaeans, Iananosians were treated as second-rate citizens, and there was immense pressure to convert to Poscaean lifestyle. When Poscaea fell to the Seleutine Empire decades later, the area Iananosians inhabited became predominantly ruled by a Poscaean break-away state called Neo-Poscaea. Between 144 and 155 AR, Neo Poscaea disintegrated and dozens of city-states declared their independence. Among them was Cana, which soon found itself at war with the other cities. In its struggles, Cana managed to take control of Chelas and proclaimed themselves the rightful successors to Iananosia. Cana attempted to revive Iananosian culture despite the Poscaeans militantly settling the region for almost 200 years. Needless to say, the resurgence of Iananosian culture was an uphill battle with many setbacks over the next dozen centuries.
Competition with Aomekion
The other notable breakaway state was Aomekion, being of mixed Iananosian, Srian, and Aetian cultural makeup. The newly independent rulers of Aomekion were ambitious and they quickly set out conquering most of the other break-away states. By 220 AR the former domain of Neo-Poscaea had been reconquered by either Aomekion or Cana. Soon the Aomekionic Empire attacked Cana in an effort to claim Chelas for themselves. Cana, with its then-allies of Ghiska, Kos, and the Rillan Empire, managed to survive the war but ultimately lost Chelas. The resulting treaty from the war saw Cana's allies Ghiska, Kos, Rilla, as well as Aomekion all recognize the reduced territory Cana held as legal and legitimate - in perhaps the world's first instance of legal territory ownership and recognition.
Recent Times
Since then, Cana has prevailed through history as a hub of trade and diplomacy between all confederacies, leagues, and states of the region. Recently as far as the Daahken Dresnid invasions, Cana was among the many to join the fight against the great horde. Cana managed to maintain most of its territorial integrity, but lost consistently to the Dresnids - and later the Aklahan Khanate that succeeded the Daahken Empire.
Traditions
Iananosians revere and respect nature above all else. Where many see Nature as violent and unrelenting, the Iananosians see a realm full of serene grace, peace, and holding the answers to life's mysteries. Many festivals and traditions revolve around celebrating life and the natural cycle, with some involving elaborate and artistic endeavors of gardening. The gardens of the Iananosians were something to behold before they were decimated by the invading Poscaeans, complemented by the subsequent lack of maintenance after the Iananosian resurgence under Cana. Later Iananosian traditions involved continued celebrations of life, but also good fortune. "To wish one a good future" became common vernacular in Cana. However, with the culture reduced to a mere province or two of land, there is not much known of their other practices.
Mythos
In the ancient days the Iananosians consisted of humans, elves, and orcs which lived in isolated tribes throughout the region. Their skills and discovery of magic was indeed largely tied to nature and thus they bore many druidic traditions and magics. The most common form of magic user to emerge out of Iananosians are druids. Along with druids came earth and water elemental magics, including the manipulation of the natural elements of vines, roots, and soil. In later traditions, the Canan high royalty also adopted the practice of prophecy, utilizing the oracle skills of several gifted women who formed a guild called The Astraeas. The Lords of Cana utilized the predictive abilities of these Astaeas to foretell certain events and battles, which allowed them to stay alive against all odds in the face of the Dresnid invasions. It soon became common for high ranking Astraeas to find a heightened status at court and even accompany commanders on the battlefield.
Naming Traditions
Iananosian names are perhaps the most unique, remaining unchanged of their ancient origins: Iananosians are given a name at birth and then add an additional name every 10 years. The name an Iananosian chooses can be anything and are decided by themselves or their community.
As one can guess, an Iananosian's second name often reflects the nature of a 10-year-old child. Children of nobility are expected (or forced) to take their family dynastic name as their second on their 10th birthday as a formality. Common examples:
Male: Tarsin Stormwatcher Dawnstride Zaleyn, Velthar Marendis the Steward Palantis Durian, Thesmar, Durnan, Othion, Seredos
Female: Arzena Wild Heart Sun-Touched, Ithari Firegazer Mythelia Lunaris, Zelara Oona Kyrathis Asema Ilia, Edrana Silly Courtley, Orlithe, Calixa
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