Nomads

Reputation

How they think of themselves

The Nomads are fairly self-aware. They have strong ties to their history and how they relate to the natural world. They see themselves as being at one with nature and pride themselves on their traditions.
They see themselves as open and flexible, dealing with the things that come their way. They are understanding with one another and present a united front, choosing to work together where they can rather than competing with each other.

How others think of them

They are seen very differently by the Townsfolks, who consider them little more than heathens as they do not follow the Religion of The Towns.
The Nomads are considered to be barbarians, prone to violence, who are more likely to resolve something with fists than with their words. They are thought of as uncivilised and brutal, and their choice to live in the forests rather than in towns means they must be extremely foolish.

People of the Forests and the Mountains

In their own tongue (The Old Tongue) they are known as the 'People of the Forests and the Mountains'. They understand their place in the natural world, and name themselves after where they came from, where they are and where they're going to.
They are called the 'Nomads' by outsiders because they are thought to be nomadic by the Townsfolk, but this is a misnomer. While some clans choose to travel around, they stay in the same place for anywhere between a few days to ten moons. Others stay in permanent camps where they live for years at a time.

Culture

Behaviours

Sharing

The clans of the Nomads are very communal. They eat together, bathe together, laugh together and cry together.
They are all individuals but a lot of their behaviours are based on this idea of sharing. Food is cooked in a communal place, and is shared between those who want to eat it. Jobs and chores are also shared based on skill and propensity.

Non-verbal Greetings

Non-verbal greetings vary depending on how well they know each other.
A pat on the upper arm is a formal meeting between strangers. An arm around the shoulder is less formal and more familiar. Those who have been separated for a long time may grab each other's forearms before pulling into a hug. No physical contact shows severe distance or disrespect.

Beliefs

Everyone is equal

No person is better than any other person. Some people take on more responsibility, and some are better at some things than others. But no one is superior.

Magic is what it is

Magic is neither good nor evil. It depends on how it's being used.

No one is purely good or evil

No one is born good or evil, nor do they become purely good or purely evil. A person can do things which are good or evil, but they are not the soul of the person.

Choices are what matters

You can tell a lot about someone based on the choices they make.

Gender & Sexuality

Gender

While Nomads do use male and female pronouns, the concept of gender roles is something which is considered very old-fashioned. While Initially a child is referred to by their birth gender, it is widely accepted that if a child asks for a change in that regard, the request is respected by everyone.
There are roles within a clan which are considered "traditionally" masculine or feminine, but there is nothing unusual about either gender participating in either type of role. It is more important that everyone contributes.
There are forms of dress which are also thought of as traditionally masculine or feminine and this, more than anything else, remains from the outdated views on gender held by those several hundred years ago. For example, skirts are thought of as feminine and trousers as masculine, but they no longer define the people who wear them. That being said, Nomads generally wear such garments to highlight masculine or feminine elements of their body. For example, someone identifying as female may pull their outfit tight around their waist, or accentuate their breasts or bum. Someone identifying as male is more likely to draw attention to their shoulders and chest. Non-binary people may do either, neither or both.

Sexuality

The Nomads understand sexuality to be fluid and that fluidity has two parts.
First, they recognise that generally, people have a preference which remains the same throughout their lives. However, it's also known for changes in a person's life or situation to prompt a change in those preferences.
Second, they understand that those preferences fall on several spectrums. These include partner gender preference (from male to female), sexual appetite (from high to non-existent), romantic appetite (from high to non-existent) and number of partners (from monogamy to polyamory). While they might not use these words for these concepts, they understand that everyone is different, and everyone is accepted for their differences.

Committed Relationships

Committed relationships within the Nomads are generally between two people, but it is not uncommon for there to be groups of three or four who commit to each other. The primary concerns for those in a relationship are consent and communication.

Naming Traditions

People of the forests and the mountains follow fairly traditional lines. The name of the child is chosen at birth, with some flexibility if the child wishes to change or adjust their name once they are old enough. This isn't common practice but is not looked at as strange. The surname is generally taken from the name of the family that the person grows up with, although it can change if the person marries. Then the name may become that of the partner, or may become a combination of their names to create a new family name.
Surnames come from a wide variety of sources and inspirations, but are most commonly based around where a person has come from, where they are, or where they are going. So a person born to the Chief Among Equals in the permanent camp in Backwards of Yesteryear, may then be named 'of Yesteryear' or even 'of Backwards of Yesteryear', to show where they are from. Or a person living near the Candid Mountains may simply be named 'of the Mountain's Shadow'. Alternatively, if a family wishes to travel more and see the world, they may choose a name like 'of the Farwanderers'. Below are some examples of different types of name.

Female

• Hilda
• Mara
• Astrid
• Freya

Male

• Dag
• Njal
• Bjørn
• Erik

Non-Binary

• Bo
• Gorm
• Lief
• Åsa

Surnames

• Of the Glenholders
• Of the Early Trees
• Of the Morning Sun
• Of the Pine Tree Shade

Heritage

Rituals

Rituals, as is true with so much of the culture of the people of the forests and the mountains, are flexible and vary depending on who is involved and their perspective on things. With that said, there are some fundamentals which remain true regardless.

Births

Births are always celebrated. This is usually organised by friends of the family of the new child, and is joined by the whole clan. It traditionally involves drinking, eating and dancing. There is always a moment when the new baby is brought out and presented to the people who have come to celebrate. The baby is carried around by one of the parents, while another parent carries a small bag or chest around next to them. Those who would like to are able to place a small message or gift for the child into it. This is then presented to the child when they are older as something to hold onto.

In some areas, it is traditional for the Chief Among Equals to carve the small chest, with images and symbols of hope for the new child. In others, it is traditional to place small wooden tokens with runes on them into the bag. The bag is then buried under a tree which is marked with the name of the child. When the child comes of age, they are presented with a map of where the bag was buried and are expected to retrieve it as part of becoming an adult.

Deaths

Deaths are always sad, but they are not necessarily sombre occasions. They too include eating and drinking, and likely some dancing. Their purpose is to celebrate the life of the person and give them a good send-off into the afterlife. It is traditional for each person present to tell a story of the person who has died which best represents them or their relationship. How the body is dealt with varies greatly depending on who they are, where they are and under what circumstances they die, but these rituals usually start at sunset around a large fire, and if it is possible, the body is placed on a pyre to send them on with fire in their heart and mind.

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See the Townsfolk equivalent

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