Nirthan

Nirthans are an ancient and proud race of humans hailing from misty Iron Highlands. They place high value on familial bonds and have a deep respect for the land.

Appearance

Anatomy

As far as humans go, Nirthans tend to be on the taller and bulkier side and generally have the lightest skin tones. Their hair is generally a shade of blonde or brown, although ginger and black hair is also sometimes present.

Clothing

Most Nirthans tend to wear clothing made with earthy colors including shades of brown, green, and gray. Nirthan men commonly wear plaid kilts made from woolen fabric along with simple woolen or linen tunics. In contrast, women usually wear simple, full-length gowns cinched at the waist with a leather belt. In colder weather, cloaks and mantles of hide and fur are often added as additional insulation. Men and women alike will also commonly use familial brooches as fasteners as a way of representing their clan.

Armor

Warriors amongst the Nirthan commonly wear padded doublets and leather jerkins as additional protection. The fortunate few may also wear metal pauldrons or chain mail.

Culture

Family Ideals

Family is sacred to the Nirthan and is held in high regard. Nirthan males will commonly remain with their family for their entire life while women will join the family of their spouse upon marriage. When a family settles in an area, they are likely to stay there for a long time, and settlements are almost always named after the family that founded it.

Religious Ideals

Many Nirthans revere their ancestors and practice a form of ancestral worship in which they seek wisdom, guidance, and blessings from ancient members of their family line. To this end, it is common for the faithful to exchange tales of their ancestors in honor of their memory. Some perform in rituals in which hallucinogenic herbs or mushrooms are ingested before the grave of their ancestor in the hopes that the departed will come to them in a vision and offer advice and wisdom. In this way, the faithful hope to preserve an endless lineage of wisdom and knowledge across generations.

Governing Ideals

Nirthan settlements are referred to as “clansteads” and are generally ruled by whatever family founded it for many generations. To this end, clansteads are named after the family name prefixed with “Bal”, meaning “village”. For instance, the clanstead Bal Tarsin is ruled by the Tarsin Clan. If a clanstead as a castle, fort, or walls, it may be referred to instead as a “clanhold” and prefixed with “Dun”, meaning “stone”. Clanholds generally govern a larger population and thus hold more power in Nirthan politics. To this end, when a situation calls for the Nirthan to unify, they often unify under the banner of one of the clanholds.

Economic Ideals

Due to the spacious land in which the Nirthan live, many of them choose to pursue farming or ranching as an occupation. Many Nirthan prefer to barter for goods and services rather than exchange currency when possible, although most still carry currency for trade with other civilizations.

Military Ideals

Clan Militias

Most Nirthan settlements lack a trained military force. In its place, all able-bodied male residents are expected to take up arms in defense of the settlement should the need arise. These would-be soldiers are often poorly equipped--wearing little more than a hardened leather breastplate and wielding whatever dangerous tool they could get their hands on. It's uncommon, however, for clansteads in more dangerous areas to provide spears and round shields to men to be better equipped when the time for battle comes.

Greatcloaks

In clanholds and larger clansteads, the ruling clan may enlist a small collection of trained soldiers, either as dedicated defenders of the settlement or as personal bodyguards. These soldiers are far better equipped than militiamen and sport long fur cloaks, hence earning the name "Greatcloaks". These Greatcloaks are the elite amongst the warriors of the Nirthan.

Spread and Influence

Geographic Distribution

The vast majority of Nirthan settlements are located in the highlands of northern Oren, especially along rivers. The Shadowmoor serves as a northern barrier that separates Nirthan civilization from their Orcish neighbors to the north. Some Nirthan settlements are far enough east that they commonly interact with the Mountainborn.

Gallery

An Example of Nirthan Clothing

Appearance

Average Height

5'8" (male), 5'4" (female)

Hair

Blonde, Brown, Ginger

Eyes

Green, Blue, Brown

Culture

Languages

Orenic, Nirthic

Homeland

The Iron Highlands, northern parts of Goldenwood and The Backcountry

Organization

Clans

Religion

The Grave Shepherd, The Springmother