Thisaazhou

The Southern Nomads

The Thisaazhou nomads, also sometimes known as the Southern Nomads, are a group of people who travel throughout the year, primarily in the Southern Continent. They make their living by serving as a delivery and trade route for businesses throughout the continent, as well as a few in the Southern Islands and on the Major Continent, particularly southern Nefrale. The Thisaazhou are also known for their artwork, including wood carvings, intricate embroidery, and beautiful maps.

History

Many of the things we generally consider the cornerstones of Thisaazhou culture actually came about by mistake

— Green by Hermes Swift and Olive Newell.

The Thisaazhou first appeared on the Southern Continent in the 3rd century, though some anthropologists believe they began traveling before that. They were a nomadic group of people who originally survived by hunting, especially the wild goats that are known to roam the continent. They had a mixed reception among the sedentary peoples they encountered, but ingratiated themselves by offering the services of transport and trade across the continent. As their reputation as traders traveled with them, this became an integral part of their identity, and most Thisaazhou today are still nomadic, buying, selling, and delivering trade goods from a variety of people throughout the continent. They are especially popular among small businesses and people who buy and sell specialized items.

Thisaazhou Artforms

As children, all Thisaazhou are taught to carve wood and bone. This begins with small figurines, but is honed into crafting tools, such as bows and arrows. Boys are also taught to sew and embroider and girls are taught cartography. As Thisaazhou carvings, maps, and embroidery became known in cities for their unique style and beauty (and in the case of maps, also their accuracy), outsiders sought to purchase them, and over time, these items became staples of Thisaazhou trade. They are still known for these artforms today,

Changing Technology

As nomadic hunters, Thisaazhou were skilled with their primary weapon, the bow and arrow. Traditionally, all Thisaazhou children were taught to make their own recurve bows, and bows were common coming of age and courtship gifts. When firearms became accurate, many Thisaazhou also adapted these, but never abandoned the bow and arrow. Most Thisaazhou today still learn to make and fire their own bows, and are expected to do so before they learn firearms.
Thisaazhou have updated their lifestyle in other ways. Originally traveling on horses, with portable tents of their own making, many Thisaazhou switched to pre-made tents as they became available, and then to cars. Today, it is more common to see Thisaazhou travelers in a vehicle which pulls a wagon or trailer behind it, though some do still travel on horses.

Thisaashou in the Great Southern War

During the Great Southern War, most Thisaazhou continued to travel, though their normal routes were disrupted at times by battlelines. Because the Thisaazhou had learned many routes apart from the main roads, they were able to pass over national boundaries sometimes served as spies and message carriers for people on both sides of the war.

Thisaazhou Culture in Atlinthaia

In the 1930s, the king of Atlinthaia married a Thisaazhou woman, and since that time, Thisaazhou culture has impacted the country. Some Thisaazhou have settled in the area, many of them on farms where they raise horses and teach riding. These Thisaazhou are known for having carried on the skills of trick riding which were once taught to Thisaazhou along with hunting and craft arts. Other sedentary Thisaazhou have taken up professions creating wood and stone carvings of greater size, such as those that stand outside the Shax'ia temple in Atlinthaia's capital.

Traditional Clothing

Thisaazhou clothing is simple in design and made to create as little fabric waste as possible. Thisaazhou commonly wear loose tunics and wide-legged, loose drawstring pants. While the clothing was originally made from animal fibers, usually what was acquired from hunted goats, now Thisaazhou wear a variety of fabrics, though the Shax'ia religion, which most Thisaazhou follow, prohibits people from wearing a garment made of multiple types of fibers, or made from synthetic fibers. These are usually accompanied by leather boots.
The only exception to the rule regarding mixed fibers is Thisaazhou embroidery. Thisaazhou normally batch dyed their fabrics using natural dyes. This combined with the simple design of the clothing meant that clothes had very little personalization. To change this, Thisaazhou men often embroidered the necklines, sleeves, hems, and pockets of the clothing they made, creating an array of symbols which represented different people and life events. Furthermore, the Thisaazhou frequently used metallic thread for this, giving their embroidery a particularly unique appearance. Though most Thisaazhou clothing uses earth-tones, wedding clothes are often brighter, with turqouise being a popular color.
While women usually wear their hair long, leaving it down or pulling it back with a comb, men crop their hair short, and usually go clean shaven. Thisaazhou also consider a muscular build better than a slight one and sun-darkened skin is a sign of a well-traveled person.

Skirts

Though skirts created less fabric waste, the Thisaazhou normally preferred pants for riding. Thus, skirts became symbols of the sedentary. Shax'ia priests, who maintain religious shrines and do not frequently travel, wear drawstring skirts made from sewing two panels of fabric together. Sometimes Thisaazhou men, while searching for a wife, will stop with a Shax'ia priest and stay with them for a time, helping them tend to the shrine. These men often wear skirts as well, but the priest's skirt is always a crimson color, one of the few bright colors worn by Thisaazhou. As crimson in the holy color of the Thisaazhou faith, this makes them easily identifiable.
As skirts became a symbol of the sedentary, those who dealt with buyers and sellers often wore them as well. As opposed to the Shax'ia priests, trade skirts are wrap skirts, which Thisaazhou could quickly take on and off over their riding trousers. Because the Thisaazhou have a matriarchal society, the women more commonly made trades, and soon the significance of the wrap skirt came not be be associated with trade specifically, but with family matriarchs. As girls begin learning trade and navigation from their mothers, they usually adopt a single colored wrap skirt, which is replaced by a two-colored skirt at their coming of age. As Thisaazhou often travel in family groups, which may have several women, the number of colors used in a wrap skirt signifies the placement of a matriarch within a larger family unit.
Among the Thisaazhou in Atlinthaia, the skirt has become more popular. Many men have taken up wearing the drawstring skirt of Shax'ia priest attendants, signifying their sedentary nature. Among those who raise horses, however, skirts are much rarer, with even women and girls usually preferring practical trousers over the wrap skirt, whether or not they are riding.

Rites and Rituals

Birth Rites

Coming Soon: An excerpt from a Thisaazhou text about baby shawls

When a Thisaazhou woman becomes pregnant, her husband weaves and embroiders a baby shawl. This is usually a soft piece of wool, with a tassel at each end which double as fasteners. The elaborate embroidery represents the family's history, with one side of the shawl representing the mother's family and the other representing the father's family. It is intended to be a reminder for the child of their origins. After babies are born, they are swaddled in their baby shawls, and as children and adults, the baby shawls are often used for decoration, or even sometimes for warmth. If more than one child is born (twins, triplets, etc.) then neither baby is swaddled in the shawl, and it is hung somewhere in the home where it can represent all the children, as a symbol of what they share.

Coming of Age

A Thisaazhou child is considered an adult at age sixteen. This is marked by a ceremony held at a Thisaazhou song circle. The child has a call and response with a family matriach in which the matriarch asks if they are ready to take on the history and duty of their people. In response, the child takes an oath to the Shax'ia gods and sometimes selects a specific to dedicate their lives to. The members of the song circle each take a turn to offer a blessing or gift, beginning with the matriarch and ending with the Shax'ia priest, who offers the Blessing of Adulthood. Then the child leads the circle in the Song of Wandering. This song is unique to the Thisaazhou musical canon because it does not have a hand-step pattern, though it does have a call and response.

Courtship

In Thisaazhou culture, men approach women, as women are to be served and men are to serve them. To indicate his interest, the Thisaazhou man presents the woman with a gift, often something he has made, such as a gods' trinket, a hair ornament, or a bow. Others present women with clothing, poetry, or even a meal. Before motorized vehicles became common among the Thisaazhou, some men would offer a horse, though this was not necessarily more valuable than a hand-made item, which indicated the man's skill at craftsmanship. If the woman returns his interest she will accept the gift and invite the man to travel with her.
Once the man has been invited to travel with the woman, he takes over part of the household duties for her family. During this time, the two are expected to learn about each other and determine if they believe the other would made a good spouse. At any time during travel, the man or the woman may decide to end the courtship, and the man will depart (with enough resources to return to his own family). In some cases the courtship is ended instead by the family of the woman, if they do not believe the man is an acceptable husband. Traditionally, the two must complete a full cycle around the southern continent before they marry, though if they choose to travel longer than this time together before marrying, or even if they choose never to marry at all, there is no stigma against this. If the couple has any children, they traditionally stay with the mother, unless the couple decides otherwise.
Virginity has no value in Thisaazhou culture. If two people want to engage in sex while courting, they are welcome to. If two single people want to engage in sex without courting this is also acceptable, but once one is in a relationship, whether married or courting, they should reserve their lust for that person. Some men will work for a time under a Shax'ia priest, in order to meet Thisaazhou women as they travel through. This gives possible couples a chance to engage in platonic, romantic, and sexual relations before they begin serious involvement with one person. For a single person to engage in sex with someone outside of Thisaazhou culture is also acceptable, but same sex relationships are taboo.

Marriage and Divorce:

Thisaazhou weddings are an unusual ceremony. Though they occur at a Thisaazhou song circle, they do not include any of the traditional song and dance. The couple meets in the center of the circle, over a tame fire, with a Shax'ia priest to officiate. After saying vows to one another, they cut their hands and bleed into the fire together. Joining their bloody hands over their fire, to allow their blood to become one, the priest offers a blessing upon the couple, and the congregation joins in a wordless melody lacking in hand-foot rhythm. Thisaazhou weddings were traditionally reserved for people of import, but have become more common today for people, especially as official marriage can provide easier travel in certain countries. When the king of Atlinthaia married his wife, they held a traditional Thisaazhou wedding to honor her family.
There is no stigma against divorce in Thisaazhou culture. Similar to a wedding, if two parties wish to divorce, they meet at a Thisaazhou song circle with a Shax'ia priest officiating. They stand in front of the fire and make an agreement of divorce. Then the woman presents the man with a token. Unless prior arrangements have been made, the woman takes custody of children and keeps the majority of shared assets, but is required to provide the man with enough resources to return to his travels as a single man. Traditionally, this is the amount needed to complete half a circuit around the Southern Continent. Unlike weddings, Thisaazhou divorces may be followed by traditional Thisaazhou singing, which is often considered a celebration that the divorced couple are now single and once again looking for partners.
Though marriage is not mandatory, there is some pressure on women to bear children in order to pass down family heritage and continue the family line. There is not a preference for boys or girls, however, as either may connect to the mother's family as an adult. Because marriage was not common historically, men and women did not generally change their names upon starting a relationship, but children always carried their mother's last name. Today, some Thisaazhou men consider it lucky to change their name when marrying--that the act will ensure a strong marriage.

Funeral Rites

When a Thisaazhou person dies, they are mourned at a Thisaazhou song circle. Traditionally, one of the deceased horses would be sacrificed, so they might ride it into the afterlife. Then both bodies are burned in the fire while the Thisaazhou sing a traditional song of farewell. This song is also not sung over a rhythm. Since many Thisaazhou do not own horses any more, a wooden horse is burned with the body in place of an actual horse.

Family Units

Song Circle

Gender Roles

Thisaazhou have very strict gender roles. Though both genders are expected to have basic competency in most skills, such as cooking, trade, and medicine, showing too much of an interest in those skills which are considered tasks for the opposite gender is frowned upon.
As the group is matriarchal, women are expected to lead their families. They must be fluent in several languages, in order to deal with the different peoples of the Southern Continent. Though the Thisaazhou culture is primarily oral, literacy has also become increasingly important to Thisaazhou families. Girls must also have a good head for money and be good ad budgeting and trading, as well as navigation. As a result, many girls are taught from a young age to read and draw maps.
Men traditionally care for the home domain. They are expected to be be able to cook and sew, as well as have a good grasp of medicines. Though they are also taught multiple languages, boys do not always have the same level of education when it comes to learning other languages, especially in the case of literacy. They should also be good with money, though again, because they are expected to handle it less, their economic education is less rigorous. The most valuable economic skill for men is bargaining, as they are likely to make trades with customers, but the budget will be handled by the woman of the household.
Both sexes are trained in archery, firearms, and stone and wood carving. Traditionally, both sexes were also trained in horsemanship, though many Thisaazhou now travel in motorized vehicles. Some families do still keep horses or ensure their children are trained in horsemanship during their travels.
Thisaazhou gender roles are also reflected in Thisaazhou Music , which usually has a call-and-response pattern, in which women call and men respond.
The Thisaazhou only recognize cis-male and cis-female genders. The suggestion that someone might have a gender other than what they were assigned at birth is baffling to most Thisaazhou and socially frowned upon. It is likely that historically those who identify as a different gender have either hid this part of their identity or left the culture altogether.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

The Thisaazhou have always roamed the Southern Continent, and do not have histories that proceed this. Many of their traditions, however, including common myths, language, and nomadic culture, are shared by the Pelan , though this group originated in what is modern day Feren. Some people believe that several millenia ago, there was a land bridge connecting the Southern Continent to the southern part of the Major Continent, though there is little evidence to support this theory. This remains, however, the best explanation for why the two cultures are so similar despite hailing from different areas of Nideon. The Thisaazhou people consider the Pelan a "sister culture."

Birth & Baptismal Rites

When a Thisaazhou woman becomes pregnant, her husband begins embroidering a woolen shawl for the baby. After the baby is born, they are wrapped in the shawl and presented to other Thisaazhou families in a joyous celebration during a Thisaazhou song circle. When the child is young, the shawl serves as a blanket, and when they grow older and become an adult, it can be used as a covering during bad weather. The embroidery on the shawl traditionally represents the family history, so that the child will never forget their history. If twins are born, and the family is not prepared, then the children are wrapped in blankets, but the shawl is hung in a shared space, a reminder that the children are of one spirit.

Coming of Age Rites

A Thisaazhou child is considered an adult at the age of sixteen. The coming of age ceremony begins as a solemn event at a traditional Thisaazhou song circle. The child is presented with gifts from other Thisaazhou families. These are often small tokens, such as sweets, clothing, or money, but sometimes they are presented with more elaborate gifts, such as a bow. They then recite the Shax'ia creed, declaring that they belong to the Thisaazhou community and to the Shax'ia gods. As part of this declaration, they confirm their loyalty to their family, their people, and their gods. Some choose to offer thanks and prayers a particular god they feel have guided them, but this is optional. After they have spoken their declaration, the new adult leads the circle in a song. This song is one of the few Thisaazhou songs that has a melody without a rhythm.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When a Thisaazhou person dies, they are mourned at a Thisaazhou song circle. Traditionally, one of the deceased horses would be sacrificed, so they might ride it into the afterlife. Then both bodies are burned in the fire while the Thisaazhou sing a traditional song of farewell. This song is also not sung over a rhythm. Since many Thisaazhou do not own horses any more, a wooden horse is burned with the body in place of an actual horse.

Coming Soon: A quote about the Pelan being the sister culture of the Thisaazhou

Similarities with the Pelan

Related Organizations

• Atlinthaia
• Virarona

Languages spoken

• Imk