Eraldoi

"If your gods inspire you to the actions you have taken, then I will take pride in denying them my worship."

The Eraldoi are an Atashyi human culture to Zinruna, who have lived along the northwestern coastal regions for hundreds of years prior to the Great Invasions and the Empire of Zinruna. Like most other pre-invasion human cultures, the Eraldoi were treated very poorly by the Kosva following their conquest of the region. The Eraldoi were subjected to resettlement, forced conversions, and even mandatory integration where Eraldoi were forbidden from marrying amongst themselves and were only permitted to do so with Kosva or other approved groups. These policies wrecked havoc on Eraldoi culture and language as well as the Eraldoi identity itself. Yet, the Eraldoi, unlike the majority of pre-invasion cultures, managed to cling to their traditions and survive into the present day.

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Harisha, Nashi, Vayu, Suva, Hinam, Nagra

Masculine names

Ganat, Simil, Ktir, Damo, Naryo

Family names

The Eraldoi do not use surnames.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Eraldi
Ekoyan 
Radivian 
Buvostian

Shared customary codes and values

Anti-Theism

Like several of the indigenous peoples of Zinruna, the Eraldoi are known for their disdain for the gods and religion. Individual Eraldoi have differing opinions on whether or not the gods exist, but those who do believe in them generally view them as evil beings responsible for the suffering of the world.
It is not known if this aspect of Eraldoi culture developed in response to the Kosva invasions or if it was present beforehand, but it is fair to say that the majority of the animosity shown by the Eraldoi of today are directed at the Patrokist Pantheon and their worshippers.

Community

The Eraldoi are a very communal people; highly valuing their neighbors and community members and thinking of their communities as large families. This sense of community is traditionally associated with suspicion towards those who are not a part of the community, especially towards elves and humans who arrived following the Great Invasions; especially the Kosva.

Exceptionalism

The Eraldoi are a proud people who relish their achievements and the achievements of their community. They believe themselves to be unique in the world and capable of greater feats than other people groups. Hardships in life are opportunities to show oneself capable of rising to the challenge.

Average technological level

The Eraldoi are roughly at technological parity with their Ekoyan, Buvostian, and Radivi neighbors; having a solid grasp of smithing, masonry, and crop rotation. Despite this, they are often perceived as being "primitive" by their Kosva neighbors due to the popular image of Atashyi peoples being backwards tribals.

Art & Architecture

Eraldoi art has commonly been described as being human-centric, often utilizing the human form and human subject matter. Eraldoi painters and sculptors rarely if ever create a piece without a human focal point.

Birth & Baptismal Rites

Upon the birth of a healthy child, the family and community are expected to come together and swear a blood oath to raise the child properly.

Coming of Age Rites

Wrist Branding

Many Eraldoi continue the traditional practice of wrist branding upon one's becoming an adult. In the past, red hot clamps were placed around both wrists to permanently scar the skin. While many in modern times opt for less extreme forms of the practice, such as getting a smaller brand on one wrist or simply tattooing it, some still opt for the traditional method. This practice is said to have begun after Felthschild caused all the chains binding the Eraldoi slaves to burn, causing their screams to drown out the praises sung to the elven gods. Whatever the veracity of this origin, the practice is inseparably associated with the fierce antitheistic sentiment the Eraldoi are known for. While the practice is not required, there is immense social pressure to partake in it when one comes of age.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Eraldoi generally cremate their dead and scatter the ashes across a wide area. This is theorized to have originated as a tactic to avoid having the bodies buried in religious grave sites where they could lend legitimacy to Patrokism in Eraldoi society as there are scattered reports of various Kosva groups throughout history digging out Eraldoi dead and reinterring them in Patrokist temple graveyards. This practice is no longer used, even among the Atashyi who do continue to practice ground burials, but the Eraldoi preference for cremation remains.
Figures of significance to a particular community will often have pieces of their skeleton, usually the skull, preserved and maintained by the family or community to which they belonged in life. This practice was declared illegal since the early days of the Empire of Zinruna and many of these preserved skulls have since been stolen and buried or outright destroyed. The practice is still illegal in the empire's successor states but there are still some communities who maintain this practice in secret.

Common Myths and Legends

The Eraldoi maintain a rich mythological tradition that is passed down in their oral tradition. Many of their myths center around conflict with the elves who once inhabited Zinruna as well as various gods and nearly all of them have a strong anti-theist message. A central figure in many of these myths is Felthschild, a legendary man who humiliated gods and stole power from them. Precise details of their tradition are hard to decipher as they have seen their myths twisted and remade into stories antithetical to their original purposes in the past and as such they fiercely guard what they have left against further corruption.

Related Locations

• Zinruna