Naerean
The largest tribe of the Sandsage Nomads, comprised almost completely of Humans. These people are masters of horsemanship and mounted archery to the point that even their enemies must acknowledge their skill. Most outsiders who can say they've interacted with nomads and lived have probably dealt with this tribe, as it has both the reputation and population to be more confident around outsiders than other tribes often are. The tribal population is so large that to have all of them in one place would stress the natural resources around them even with sustainable practices; as such, the Naerean tribe is broken down into multiple smaller communities that migrate independently but have no formal distinction from one another. Horses allow the populations of these communities to change fluidly as people choose to spend time with others of their tribe somewhere else in the migration.
Naerean society is build around a structure of roles which everyone must fill. They receive rudimentary training in all roles as children, then further training in the two roles they showed most aptitude for as determined by their Mentors before choosing one to serve for the rest of their lives (for more details, look at the Coming of Age Rites below). This allows them to function passably in a secondary set of responsibilities should it be required, strengthening the tribe with a small measure of redundancy. A Naerean works hard in their developmental years to excel and achieve the responsibilities they desire, so each role is filled with people dedicated to their tasks and the effects their work has on the tribe as a whole.
Hunters
Naerean hunters are the most skilled archers and fighters within the tribe. As such, they are also tasked with the people's defense in times of war or predation. When on the defensive, their documented strategy is to distract enemies and lead them away from the rest of the tribe. On the offensive they ride ahead of any unmounted allies and harry foes with storms of arrows from all directions.
A Naerean hunter isn't just a rider with a bow. They are expected to read populations of local wildlife, both predators and prey, and hunt species that are overpopulated or are exerting too much pressure on other species. Hunters and scouts are often found together ahead of larger Naerean groups but their responsibilities are quite distinctive.
Planters
All Sandsage tribes have a dedicated social group of people trained to plan and implement natural crops throughout their migratory lanes. The Naerean call them planters, but this role is virtually the same across all tribes. One might think that nomads have no use for crops since they do not linger to cultivate them. This is partially true. The tribes don't make use of annual crops like most other nations do. They plant perennial polycultures of native plants and let them develop naturally as they're supposed to. Orchards, prairies, arid brushy plains, and even desert cacti are all grown deliberately. Since this order of people develop complex combinations of useful plant life in the same space it hardly appears as agriculture to an outsider; a passerby would just see another copse of trees or open grassland where the tribes see plentiful, deliberate sustenance.
Planters (and their parallels in other tribes) do far more than merely plant seeds. They are in charge of planning the best arrangement of crops for an area depending on the local ecosystem and its ability to meet the needs of any tribe passing through. They are responsible for enforcing balance in these cropped areas to make sure invasive vegetation or disease aren't threatening these food sources.
Gatherers
Gatherers are responsible for collecting the resources needed within their immediate group. Food, fuel, forage, seeds for planting, and crafting materials are all within the purview of gatherers. Gatherers are also responsible for most of the tribal cooking duties. An important and respected, albeit somewhat straightforward, social group within the Naerean.
While there is no internal stigma against the gatherers, outsiders who have prolonged exposure to the tribe have noted that gatherers seem to be the group that displays the lowest standard of horsemanship. It should be noted, however, that the worse equestrian within the Naerean people is still far more competent on horseback than the majority of people in Yvard.
Scouts
Where hunters defend Naerean communities from threats near a tribal community, scouts are the first line of defense who prevent this from happening. Small groups of scouts, rarely more than 20, ride ahead of their communities to search for any threats before the others arrive. Any dangerous beasts or people are driven or led away by scout herds before they can pose a threat to the rest of the tribe.
Not all threats they look for are things of flesh and bone. Scouts are the primary forage managers of the tribe; they are expected to recognize if an area has the natural resources to support the approaching population and its horses. If wild herds of animals has grazed an area recently, or some fungus has stripped the planted orchards, scouts are the ones responsible to recognize this and plan a shift in migration that can accommodate the needs of the tribe and the environment. Horse Keeper
Every community group of Naerean people has a communal herd of horses. The animals are not bonded to anybody but are cared for and sustained as a reflection of the herd. Should injury or death befall a rider's mount, they must choose another from within one of these communal herds.
Horse keepers tend to these animals, ensure they don't overgraze an area, and track breeding schedules to make sure there are always foals for young Naerean people to choose from when they come of age to make The Choice. Serious issues of disease or injury among any of the tribe's horses, communal or bonded, are usually brought before a horse keeper for treatment.
Crafter
Crafters are responsible for seeing to the material needs of the tribe. Clothing, leather armor or horse tack, tether cords, weapons, and more are the responsibility of crafters. This is the group that spends the least amount of time mobile; while they produce as much as they can while moving from horseback, for some things that's simply not practical.
Gatherers collect the raw materials needed by crafters, but it's these artisans responsible for any refining or transformation of materials in order to meet the needs of the group. These are the ones who hollow out tree stumps and fill them with water for tanning animal skins and who knap flint or churt stones into tools or arrowheads. Some items made by crafters are traded with other tribes or even non-Sandsage people but most of these commodities are leather products. Naerean crafters are known by others to be highly skilled artisans in all things leather.
Naerean society is build around a structure of roles which everyone must fill. They receive rudimentary training in all roles as children, then further training in the two roles they showed most aptitude for as determined by their Mentors before choosing one to serve for the rest of their lives (for more details, look at the Coming of Age Rites below). This allows them to function passably in a secondary set of responsibilities should it be required, strengthening the tribe with a small measure of redundancy. A Naerean works hard in their developmental years to excel and achieve the responsibilities they desire, so each role is filled with people dedicated to their tasks and the effects their work has on the tribe as a whole.
Hunters
Naerean hunters are the most skilled archers and fighters within the tribe. As such, they are also tasked with the people's defense in times of war or predation. When on the defensive, their documented strategy is to distract enemies and lead them away from the rest of the tribe. On the offensive they ride ahead of any unmounted allies and harry foes with storms of arrows from all directions.
A Naerean hunter isn't just a rider with a bow. They are expected to read populations of local wildlife, both predators and prey, and hunt species that are overpopulated or are exerting too much pressure on other species. Hunters and scouts are often found together ahead of larger Naerean groups but their responsibilities are quite distinctive.
Planters
All Sandsage tribes have a dedicated social group of people trained to plan and implement natural crops throughout their migratory lanes. The Naerean call them planters, but this role is virtually the same across all tribes. One might think that nomads have no use for crops since they do not linger to cultivate them. This is partially true. The tribes don't make use of annual crops like most other nations do. They plant perennial polycultures of native plants and let them develop naturally as they're supposed to. Orchards, prairies, arid brushy plains, and even desert cacti are all grown deliberately. Since this order of people develop complex combinations of useful plant life in the same space it hardly appears as agriculture to an outsider; a passerby would just see another copse of trees or open grassland where the tribes see plentiful, deliberate sustenance.
Planters (and their parallels in other tribes) do far more than merely plant seeds. They are in charge of planning the best arrangement of crops for an area depending on the local ecosystem and its ability to meet the needs of any tribe passing through. They are responsible for enforcing balance in these cropped areas to make sure invasive vegetation or disease aren't threatening these food sources.
Gatherers
Gatherers are responsible for collecting the resources needed within their immediate group. Food, fuel, forage, seeds for planting, and crafting materials are all within the purview of gatherers. Gatherers are also responsible for most of the tribal cooking duties. An important and respected, albeit somewhat straightforward, social group within the Naerean.
While there is no internal stigma against the gatherers, outsiders who have prolonged exposure to the tribe have noted that gatherers seem to be the group that displays the lowest standard of horsemanship. It should be noted, however, that the worse equestrian within the Naerean people is still far more competent on horseback than the majority of people in Yvard.
Scouts
Where hunters defend Naerean communities from threats near a tribal community, scouts are the first line of defense who prevent this from happening. Small groups of scouts, rarely more than 20, ride ahead of their communities to search for any threats before the others arrive. Any dangerous beasts or people are driven or led away by scout herds before they can pose a threat to the rest of the tribe.
Not all threats they look for are things of flesh and bone. Scouts are the primary forage managers of the tribe; they are expected to recognize if an area has the natural resources to support the approaching population and its horses. If wild herds of animals has grazed an area recently, or some fungus has stripped the planted orchards, scouts are the ones responsible to recognize this and plan a shift in migration that can accommodate the needs of the tribe and the environment. Horse Keeper
Every community group of Naerean people has a communal herd of horses. The animals are not bonded to anybody but are cared for and sustained as a reflection of the herd. Should injury or death befall a rider's mount, they must choose another from within one of these communal herds.
Horse keepers tend to these animals, ensure they don't overgraze an area, and track breeding schedules to make sure there are always foals for young Naerean people to choose from when they come of age to make The Choice. Serious issues of disease or injury among any of the tribe's horses, communal or bonded, are usually brought before a horse keeper for treatment.
Crafter
Crafters are responsible for seeing to the material needs of the tribe. Clothing, leather armor or horse tack, tether cords, weapons, and more are the responsibility of crafters. This is the group that spends the least amount of time mobile; while they produce as much as they can while moving from horseback, for some things that's simply not practical.
Gatherers collect the raw materials needed by crafters, but it's these artisans responsible for any refining or transformation of materials in order to meet the needs of the group. These are the ones who hollow out tree stumps and fill them with water for tanning animal skins and who knap flint or churt stones into tools or arrowheads. Some items made by crafters are traded with other tribes or even non-Sandsage people but most of these commodities are leather products. Naerean crafters are known by others to be highly skilled artisans in all things leather.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Aleftia, Daralis, Jazah, Kuvuni, Silan, Sinret, Tiseri, Tumuli,
Masculine names
Arunajj, Jimal, Kusai, Latrum Mordek, Mulkun, Rakhed, Rezinru, Shek, Wolph
Unisex names
Kedrin,
Family names
The Naerean do not use family names, as all are considered of one tribe and there are no smaller clans or other authoritative bodies among them save the council of elders. The closest thing is the poly-amorous "herds" among the tribe, but these are distinguished with visual ornamentation instead of names.
Individuals with the same name are distinguished by identifiers that reflect accomplishments or features which set them apart, such as Tumuli Pale-Hair or Jimal Eagle-arm.
Individuals with the same name are distinguished by identifiers that reflect accomplishments or features which set them apart, such as Tumuli Pale-Hair or Jimal Eagle-arm.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Naerean and Valdéra used to have their own tongue, but as the tribes have spent more time speaking instead of warring between themselves this old Human language faded and eventually died out. All tribe members can speak the Common tongue, though it still remains heavily accented with phonetics from their dead language. Since nomadic migration patterns intersect and occasionally find tribes in the same areas, almost all of this tribe is capable of speaking one or more of the languages primary among other tribes. As a whole, the Naerean tribe is capable of speaking the native tongue of all their contemporaries, though some are known only to a few select individuals. The tribal languages of the Furskin tribe and the Orloth are particularly difficult for many outsiders to speak, but the Naerean manage them well enough to communicate.
Shared customary codes and values
Reverence of Horses
In this society, horses are sacred creatures that are revered as a more pure version of a humanoid soul. The exchange of trust and understanding between a rider and their mount is a deeply spiritual one, and the Naerean show great regard and respect for any creature that functions as a steed. Yet no dire wolf, worg, pony, or griffon is regarded as equal to an equine's noble beauty or emotional capacity.
A horse is not considered a possession of its rider so much as a part of them. A horse is a facet of body and personality in equal measure.
Stewards of Forage
Many of the Sandsage tribes make use of livestock, and almost all of them are herbivorous. As the tribe with the largest population, not to mention more horses than people, it falls on the Naerean to practice sustainable grazing patterns and manage forage areas used by other tribes. They are experts at understanding the ecosystems of arid grasslands and brushy deserts. Any imbalance which causes the landscape to cease supporting the grazing or browsing needs of tribal livestock falls to the Naerean to correct by magic or mundane means. This includes killing or driving away populations of humanoids who abuse the landscape with unsustainable practices.
Children
Naerean culture places great value in raising offspring successfully. Rearing a foal into adulthood is in a similar vein, and the care this culture places in caring for horses naturally merges with their tender attention to nurturing children. The life of a Naerean child is difficult and often short, but not for lack of care or affection from their parents. While all tribes wish to produce offspring and sustain their ways of life, none have as much devotion to the matter of procreation as these people. It's no wonder they are the largest of all the Sandsage tribes.
While not common, positions of authority are occasionally held by adolescent or even an older child. For this to happen, a youth must prove themselves extremely competent as a rider, survivalist, herder, and warrior. While this often means an individual is still less skilled than an adult, it demonstrates the tribe's respect for the young person and their trust in the stability they will provide their peers. Forage managers, tribal representatives, and even council elders have been known to begin their duties as youths. Such figures are famous names who exemplified what it means to be Naerean.
In this society, horses are sacred creatures that are revered as a more pure version of a humanoid soul. The exchange of trust and understanding between a rider and their mount is a deeply spiritual one, and the Naerean show great regard and respect for any creature that functions as a steed. Yet no dire wolf, worg, pony, or griffon is regarded as equal to an equine's noble beauty or emotional capacity.
A horse is not considered a possession of its rider so much as a part of them. A horse is a facet of body and personality in equal measure.
Stewards of Forage
Many of the Sandsage tribes make use of livestock, and almost all of them are herbivorous. As the tribe with the largest population, not to mention more horses than people, it falls on the Naerean to practice sustainable grazing patterns and manage forage areas used by other tribes. They are experts at understanding the ecosystems of arid grasslands and brushy deserts. Any imbalance which causes the landscape to cease supporting the grazing or browsing needs of tribal livestock falls to the Naerean to correct by magic or mundane means. This includes killing or driving away populations of humanoids who abuse the landscape with unsustainable practices.
Children
Naerean culture places great value in raising offspring successfully. Rearing a foal into adulthood is in a similar vein, and the care this culture places in caring for horses naturally merges with their tender attention to nurturing children. The life of a Naerean child is difficult and often short, but not for lack of care or affection from their parents. While all tribes wish to produce offspring and sustain their ways of life, none have as much devotion to the matter of procreation as these people. It's no wonder they are the largest of all the Sandsage tribes.
While not common, positions of authority are occasionally held by adolescent or even an older child. For this to happen, a youth must prove themselves extremely competent as a rider, survivalist, herder, and warrior. While this often means an individual is still less skilled than an adult, it demonstrates the tribe's respect for the young person and their trust in the stability they will provide their peers. Forage managers, tribal representatives, and even council elders have been known to begin their duties as youths. Such figures are famous names who exemplified what it means to be Naerean.
Average technological level
Like most other tribes, these people choose a mostly primitive level of technology. Between all the tribes, metalworking is about as sophisticated as technology gets and the Naerean use less metal than almost all of their contemporaries.
Arcane knowledge is not something sought in this culture except for magical care of the migratory lands or spiritual leadership. Unless a Naerean is born with sorcery in their blood, which is exceedingly rare, the only people to seek skill in magics do so as shamen or druids.
Arcane knowledge is not something sought in this culture except for magical care of the migratory lands or spiritual leadership. Unless a Naerean is born with sorcery in their blood, which is exceedingly rare, the only people to seek skill in magics do so as shamen or druids.
Common Dress code
There is no discernible dress code among this tribe. Their garments, like most of the Sandsage Tribes, primarily consist of leather and furs. Some will wear linen or silks that were earned in trade with outsiders, but these yield no indication of rank or authority. The general style of clothing is loose buckskin-type leather trousers and some sort of leather shirt, tunic, or tabbard for both males and females. Expressions of individualism can be seen in various designs of clothing or in adornments of leather, cloth, or bone incorporated into the hair.
The only standardized piece of dress or accessory are the braided tether cords that are worn to distinguish an individual's relationship (described in the "Relationship Ideals" section of this article).
The only standardized piece of dress or accessory are the braided tether cords that are worn to distinguish an individual's relationship (described in the "Relationship Ideals" section of this article).
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Nearly every child born into the tribe is birthed into water. Naerean migration patterns have evolved to make water easily accessible no matter where the tribe finds itself, and women who go into labor announce their birth to anyone nearby before departing to the nearest water source. If available, a shaman or local druid accompany the expecting mother to bless and cleanse the birthing waters. Female family members and friends who have given birth themselves are expected to be present and assist the birth in any way they can.
During the birth of a child, the father is expected to lead a great hunt with male relatives and friends. They seek out large prey which will be killed and fed to the tribe as a celebration; tradition says that mightier prey bestows a greater fate upon the child being born. A trophy from the Birthing Hunt is collected and held by the father until the child comes of age.
Once the child is born and the Birthing Hunt is complete, the male relatives begin processing the prey for the community to eat. The father collects the child from the mother once she has nursed the infant and leaves her to recover until the next time the child needs nursed. For the next 3-8 weeks, this process is repeated to allow the mother time to physically recover.
During the birth of a child, the father is expected to lead a great hunt with male relatives and friends. They seek out large prey which will be killed and fed to the tribe as a celebration; tradition says that mightier prey bestows a greater fate upon the child being born. A trophy from the Birthing Hunt is collected and held by the father until the child comes of age.
Once the child is born and the Birthing Hunt is complete, the male relatives begin processing the prey for the community to eat. The father collects the child from the mother once she has nursed the infant and leaves her to recover until the next time the child needs nursed. For the next 3-8 weeks, this process is repeated to allow the mother time to physically recover.
Coming of Age Rites
The Choice
The Choice is a major milestone in this culture for children between the ages of five and six. Though an unofficial and unceremonious event, it is nonetheless a defining moment and the first coming of age among this people. Among other things it signifies that a child has survived long enough to reach this point; The Choice is considered a compliment to the child and their parents for having reached this stage of development. Most importantly, however, it is the day a child chooses their first horse.
The managers of the communal horse herd gather all their foals and present them to the child and the child's family. The child must then choose the animal with whom they feel an immediate bond; if one is not found, the parents take the child to another group of Naerean nomads to search among their communal herd. With plenty of communal herds to choose from, even it takes a few days to find and search them all, a Naerean child finds the horse they will bond with and grow with for most of their lives. As they age together this animal is the one with which a child learns to ride, shoot, navigate, and perform equine care.
Training
Naerean children learn basic life and survival skills, as well as horse care, from a very early age. They receive their first knife at age 4 and begin training with a bow on foot by age 6. Bow skills develop somewhat slowly due to other demands, and a child is not usually considered a proficient horseback archer until sometime in their teenage years. But these skills are started early because at age 7 a child begins training for the Rite, a trial that will determine their future within the tribe.
Many of the Sandsage Tribes have similar roles that tribesfolk fulfill within their respective societies. These specializations define the primary duties and training one is expected to undergo, and a Naerean child spends an extended period between the ages of 7 and 10 learning the basic functions and responsibilities of these positions under various Mentors. When learning about the position(s) their parents fill, a child is mentored by their parents. Otherwise it is an individual designated to train youth in this initial period. These positions among the Naerean are as follows:
When these five years are up on the child's 15th birthday, they once again meet with the elder council and Mentors to discuss their most recent years of training. The child is then given a choice as to which responsibilities they wish to undergo. The council can deny the choice if one role is heavily saturated, but rarely does so. But once the decision has been made, the child must face the ultimate coming of age trial in Naerean society.
The Rite
The Rite a young Naerean must undergo depends on which group they have been allowed to join by the elder council. Each role in society has a different challenge and failing the Rite automatically places the youth into the Rite of the secondary role in which they received further training. Failing both leads to banishment from the Naerean tribe. The Rites associated with each role are as follows.
The Choice is a major milestone in this culture for children between the ages of five and six. Though an unofficial and unceremonious event, it is nonetheless a defining moment and the first coming of age among this people. Among other things it signifies that a child has survived long enough to reach this point; The Choice is considered a compliment to the child and their parents for having reached this stage of development. Most importantly, however, it is the day a child chooses their first horse.
The managers of the communal horse herd gather all their foals and present them to the child and the child's family. The child must then choose the animal with whom they feel an immediate bond; if one is not found, the parents take the child to another group of Naerean nomads to search among their communal herd. With plenty of communal herds to choose from, even it takes a few days to find and search them all, a Naerean child finds the horse they will bond with and grow with for most of their lives. As they age together this animal is the one with which a child learns to ride, shoot, navigate, and perform equine care.
Training
Naerean children learn basic life and survival skills, as well as horse care, from a very early age. They receive their first knife at age 4 and begin training with a bow on foot by age 6. Bow skills develop somewhat slowly due to other demands, and a child is not usually considered a proficient horseback archer until sometime in their teenage years. But these skills are started early because at age 7 a child begins training for the Rite, a trial that will determine their future within the tribe.
Many of the Sandsage Tribes have similar roles that tribesfolk fulfill within their respective societies. These specializations define the primary duties and training one is expected to undergo, and a Naerean child spends an extended period between the ages of 7 and 10 learning the basic functions and responsibilities of these positions under various Mentors. When learning about the position(s) their parents fill, a child is mentored by their parents. Otherwise it is an individual designated to train youth in this initial period. These positions among the Naerean are as follows:
- Hunter
- Gatherer
- Scout
- Planter
- Horse Keeper
- Crafter
When these five years are up on the child's 15th birthday, they once again meet with the elder council and Mentors to discuss their most recent years of training. The child is then given a choice as to which responsibilities they wish to undergo. The council can deny the choice if one role is heavily saturated, but rarely does so. But once the decision has been made, the child must face the ultimate coming of age trial in Naerean society.
The Rite
The Rite a young Naerean must undergo depends on which group they have been allowed to join by the elder council. Each role in society has a different challenge and failing the Rite automatically places the youth into the Rite of the secondary role in which they received further training. Failing both leads to banishment from the Naerean tribe. The Rites associated with each role are as follows.
- Hunter: ride out alone without weapons or armor and kill a dangerous animal. Weapons are allowed but must be sourced or created as part of the excursion. The kill must be brought back to a hunting Mentor and processed into as many useful parts as possible before the Rite is considered a success.
- Gatherer: ride out alone, far away from any Sandsage groups, and find a specific rare plant. Once found, collect and prepare the plant in ways and quantities that are useful to the tribe (medicine, specialty food, dyes, etc) and return the finished result to the Mentor.
- Scout & Planter: a prospective scout and planter must work together for their Rite by riding out to scout and identify new locations which would be suitable to migrate through. The planter must develop a plan for developing perennial polycultures of crops and/or forage in the area which would support any of the tribes who would make use of the area. The Scout must know migration patterns of various tribes and figure out when the Naerean could be supported without stressing the ecosystem too close or too far from other tribal presences. They then return and present these plans to their Mentors and the elder council for approval or denial. If the council approves of their propositions, the Rite is passed. The plans are judged separately, so one can pass and one can fail.
- Horse Keeper: ride out alone and locate a population of wild horses. Identify the finest specimen, earn its trust, and return it to the communal herd. See to its care and successfully breed it with another communal horse. If it breeds successfully, the Rite is passed.
- Crafter: in the 2.5 years a child studies with the tradesmen, they dabble in all forms of tribal craft and identify which they would devote themselves to upon entering the role. The Rite is to either complete multiple projects or a single unique project within a short period of time. The items produced are then inspected by master craftsfolk who determine if the child has passed or failed their Rite based on the quality of the completed product.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Naerean dead are burned on a pyre, their belongings given to children or family members. If a horse survives its rider, the family chooses if it should be given as a memorial of the dead (usually the deceased's child) or should be killed and burned to preserve the rider's bond for eternity. Since horses are considered an extension of the rider's personality and spirit, some believe it unfair to separate the two between planes of life and death; others wish to keep some form of the deceased with them to help with the grieving process, and having retaining that living bit of who was lost is too dear to surrender.
The ashes of the dead are collected after the pyre finishes burning. The surviving family chooses to either scatter the ashes to the wind so their loved one can ride the breeze forever, or bury the ashes to feed future generations of horses and riders.
The ashes of the dead are collected after the pyre finishes burning. The surviving family chooses to either scatter the ashes to the wind so their loved one can ride the breeze forever, or bury the ashes to feed future generations of horses and riders.
Common Taboos
This tribe is one of the most understanding and forgiving of outsiders who make innocent errors when dealing with tribal cultures. However, like any society, there are certain things that are not so easily forgiven. To the Naerean, these are some of the biggest things one should avoid doing when in their company:
- Branding or beating one's horse is an appalling act to these people. An outsider doing so to a Naerean person's steed is punishable by immediate death.
- Taking poor care of any mount, horse or otherwise, gives the Naerean a very poor impression of one's work ethic and priorities.
- Any violence or abuse of children, even an outsider's own child, is met with severe violence if not death.
- Disrupting any Sandsage food plots. The deliberately planted and maintained polycultures of food/medicinal plants are defended violently by all tribes, but often are protected by Naerean hunters. One of the reasons the nomad tribes plant perennial polycultures is to blend in to the natural landscape to avoid tampering or damaging from outsiders.
- Any comment or criticism which insults the various "marriage" structures common among this people.
Historical figures
Despite being the largest of the Sandsage tribes throughout most of Einborg's indigenous history, the Naerean tribe has only ever produce one Izen. While this is a sore spot for this people, many Naerean have made their mark on history as lieutenants and loyal enforcers beneath Izens of other tribes.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Hair
The Naerean people, with their close association to horses, consider hair to be a major beauty feature. Most Naerean refuse to cut their hair more than a handful of times in their entire life, and only for significant reasons related to health or safety. Both men and women keep long, dark hair and usually let it flow loose without braiding or styling. Sections of the head may be shaved, but any hair allowed to grow is grown out as far as possible.
Eyes
You've probably heard affectionate stories or metaphors used to describe the depth and tenderness of a horse's gaze. The creatures have a depth that appeals to many, and the only thing that rivals hair as a Naerean beauty standard is eyes. To outsiders, these people might seem to lack of variety in their eye color. But the Naerean can see the subtle differences that make an iris unique and they peer through it to see the reflection of character as displayed through human eyes. Eye shape, color, position, and intangible "depth" are all important factors to the cultural appreciation associated with eyes.
Horses
A Naerean's horse is considered an extension of themselves. An animal who lacks in behavior, discipline, or hygiene reflects shamefully on its partner and reveals shortcomings in the man or woman partnered with it. The personality of the animal is linked to the individual who rides it, and this bond is something that can be considered attractive or revolting to their peers. It is a very rare occurrence where two Naerean are attracted to each other yet do not get along or bond with their lover's mount.
The Naerean people, with their close association to horses, consider hair to be a major beauty feature. Most Naerean refuse to cut their hair more than a handful of times in their entire life, and only for significant reasons related to health or safety. Both men and women keep long, dark hair and usually let it flow loose without braiding or styling. Sections of the head may be shaved, but any hair allowed to grow is grown out as far as possible.
Eyes
You've probably heard affectionate stories or metaphors used to describe the depth and tenderness of a horse's gaze. The creatures have a depth that appeals to many, and the only thing that rivals hair as a Naerean beauty standard is eyes. To outsiders, these people might seem to lack of variety in their eye color. But the Naerean can see the subtle differences that make an iris unique and they peer through it to see the reflection of character as displayed through human eyes. Eye shape, color, position, and intangible "depth" are all important factors to the cultural appreciation associated with eyes.
Horses
A Naerean's horse is considered an extension of themselves. An animal who lacks in behavior, discipline, or hygiene reflects shamefully on its partner and reveals shortcomings in the man or woman partnered with it. The personality of the animal is linked to the individual who rides it, and this bond is something that can be considered attractive or revolting to their peers. It is a very rare occurrence where two Naerean are attracted to each other yet do not get along or bond with their lover's mount.
Gender Ideals
Social Expectations
There are virtually no defined gender roles among the Naerean. They live a fast-paced and active life where everyone must share responsibility for whatever needs to be accomplished. No single task is expected to be performed by a certain gender except one: after a child is born, the father (or male relative, if the father is dead) looks after the child for several weeks to allow the mother time to recover. Naerean women who survive childbirth have one to two months where their only expectation as a parent is to nurse the child and return them to care of their father.
Sexuality
The Naerean have no restrictions or stigmas against non-heterosexual relationships. Courtship and relationships are treated equally regardless of the gender(s) of those involved.
Same-sex pairs, once tethered to each other, are still an important component in this society. Some same-sex pairs see one or both people enter into a parent pair outside of the relationship; to propose such a thing is not strange to these people. Even if a same-sex pair doesn't end up breeding, they play an important role in nurturing and educating tribal children. If a child is orphaned they are often fostered or adopted by a same-sex pair.
Same-sex pairs of Naerean who do not have any children in their care, and therefore have more time for other tasks, see to duties of managing the local lands or the communal herd of horses. A large herd of horses is kept by every Naerean community to be used for coming of age ceremonies or replacing steeds that have died.
There are virtually no defined gender roles among the Naerean. They live a fast-paced and active life where everyone must share responsibility for whatever needs to be accomplished. No single task is expected to be performed by a certain gender except one: after a child is born, the father (or male relative, if the father is dead) looks after the child for several weeks to allow the mother time to recover. Naerean women who survive childbirth have one to two months where their only expectation as a parent is to nurse the child and return them to care of their father.
Sexuality
The Naerean have no restrictions or stigmas against non-heterosexual relationships. Courtship and relationships are treated equally regardless of the gender(s) of those involved.
Same-sex pairs, once tethered to each other, are still an important component in this society. Some same-sex pairs see one or both people enter into a parent pair outside of the relationship; to propose such a thing is not strange to these people. Even if a same-sex pair doesn't end up breeding, they play an important role in nurturing and educating tribal children. If a child is orphaned they are often fostered or adopted by a same-sex pair.
Same-sex pairs of Naerean who do not have any children in their care, and therefore have more time for other tasks, see to duties of managing the local lands or the communal herd of horses. A large herd of horses is kept by every Naerean community to be used for coming of age ceremonies or replacing steeds that have died.
Courtship Ideals
Initial Courtship
Naerean romance is very fluid and informal. Two people can express feeling for each other and develop their relationship however they see fit. Since the tribal culture lives primarily on horseback, Naerean people in courtship "ride together". The tribe doesn't use terms like "boyfriend", "girlfriend", or "couple"; one speaks of their significant other as "the one I ride with".
Advanced Courtship
The Naerean have several forms of intimate relationships which can come from riding together, and a relationship develops into whichever is most natural and appropriate for the couple. These relationships are defined in several ways, which are detailed below:
This culture knows no social stigma or restrictions on premarital sex, especially since there are several forms of "marriage" that are all considered equal in which sexual interaction can mean various things. However, if two people who ride together have an unexpected child they are regarded as at least a parent pair until the child comes of age.
Naerean romance is very fluid and informal. Two people can express feeling for each other and develop their relationship however they see fit. Since the tribal culture lives primarily on horseback, Naerean people in courtship "ride together". The tribe doesn't use terms like "boyfriend", "girlfriend", or "couple"; one speaks of their significant other as "the one I ride with".
Advanced Courtship
The Naerean have several forms of intimate relationships which can come from riding together, and a relationship develops into whichever is most natural and appropriate for the couple. These relationships are defined in several ways, which are detailed below:
- "Tethered" pair - two people who are romantically attracted to each other; more or less the conventional form of marriage known across Yvard with varying degrees of romantic and/or sexual exclusivity
- "Parent" pair - sexual pairing for rearing strong, capable children without a romantic attraction
- "Herd" - a combination of tethered and parent relationships in a polyamorous group
This culture knows no social stigma or restrictions on premarital sex, especially since there are several forms of "marriage" that are all considered equal in which sexual interaction can mean various things. However, if two people who ride together have an unexpected child they are regarded as at least a parent pair until the child comes of age.
Relationship Ideals
As noted above, these people hold value in several forms of marriage relationships. Each comes with its own demands, rewards, and expectations.
Tethered Pairs
Two people tethered are expected to maintain a strong sense of loyalty and exclusivity to each other. They have joined together primarily to meet each other's emotional and spiritual needs. Tethered pairs often raise children together, but procreating is not the primary aim of this dynamic. Much like other parts of the world, the exclusive nature of this relationship is demonstrated visually for others to see. In Naerean culture, tethered pairs wear a bracelet or armlet of braided leather once tethered; this exchange may take place with friends and family, but is not expected to be a social event. Tether braids are given rather unceremoniously and often in private.
Secret extramarital relationships outside of a tethered pair are as much a betrayal to the Naerean as to anyone else, but given the cultural acceptance of polygamy a potential interest in additional relationships are expected to be discussed openly and are rarely acted upon in secret. Likewise, someone in a tethered pair may be asked to enter a parent pair with somebody else; the request may or may not be accepted but to enter it is not considered violating the sanctity of a tethered bond.
Parent Pairs
Nomadic life is not for the faint of heart. It takes a strong body and strong heart to survive, and infant mortality among the Sandsage tribes is higher than in most settled areas. Occasionally, parent pairs are formed to produce strong children whose parentage are thought to give them better odds of survival. The parents agree to raise the child together, but have no romantic expectations between them. Paired parents often become tethered to someone else (if they weren't already) or join a herd while they are still responsible for the care of their child(ren). This practice is occasionally practiced between tribes of sexually-compatible races to prevent inbreeding within the greater nomadic culture.
Naerean people involved in a parent pair demonstrate this relationship with a longer version of the braided tether cord which is wrapped around the thigh, often with leather tassels left to trail and billow behind.
Herd
A herd is a poly-amorous collection of Naerean people of any gender composition. The nature of relationships within a herd may include simple parenting agreements, but romantic attraction is the basis upon which herds are established. A herd can start as a tethered pair that mutually agrees to expand their relationships, or can stem from a group of young nomads who decide to ride together at a young age and agree to commit to their shared emotional/romantic growth.
Contrary to the reports of many outsiders, Naerean herds are not a group of people from whom an outsider can expect casual fulfillment of emotional or sexual needs. Herds are made of the same trust and loyalty of any tethered or married person, and introducing a new person into a herd is a long process in which everyone must ride together to establish the basis of their relationships with a new rider.
A member of a herd wears a braided leather cord around the forehead, often enhanced or embellished with decorations to denote a specific herd.
Two people tethered are expected to maintain a strong sense of loyalty and exclusivity to each other. They have joined together primarily to meet each other's emotional and spiritual needs. Tethered pairs often raise children together, but procreating is not the primary aim of this dynamic. Much like other parts of the world, the exclusive nature of this relationship is demonstrated visually for others to see. In Naerean culture, tethered pairs wear a bracelet or armlet of braided leather once tethered; this exchange may take place with friends and family, but is not expected to be a social event. Tether braids are given rather unceremoniously and often in private.
Secret extramarital relationships outside of a tethered pair are as much a betrayal to the Naerean as to anyone else, but given the cultural acceptance of polygamy a potential interest in additional relationships are expected to be discussed openly and are rarely acted upon in secret. Likewise, someone in a tethered pair may be asked to enter a parent pair with somebody else; the request may or may not be accepted but to enter it is not considered violating the sanctity of a tethered bond.
Parent Pairs
Nomadic life is not for the faint of heart. It takes a strong body and strong heart to survive, and infant mortality among the Sandsage tribes is higher than in most settled areas. Occasionally, parent pairs are formed to produce strong children whose parentage are thought to give them better odds of survival. The parents agree to raise the child together, but have no romantic expectations between them. Paired parents often become tethered to someone else (if they weren't already) or join a herd while they are still responsible for the care of their child(ren). This practice is occasionally practiced between tribes of sexually-compatible races to prevent inbreeding within the greater nomadic culture.
Naerean people involved in a parent pair demonstrate this relationship with a longer version of the braided tether cord which is wrapped around the thigh, often with leather tassels left to trail and billow behind.
Herd
A herd is a poly-amorous collection of Naerean people of any gender composition. The nature of relationships within a herd may include simple parenting agreements, but romantic attraction is the basis upon which herds are established. A herd can start as a tethered pair that mutually agrees to expand their relationships, or can stem from a group of young nomads who decide to ride together at a young age and agree to commit to their shared emotional/romantic growth.
Contrary to the reports of many outsiders, Naerean herds are not a group of people from whom an outsider can expect casual fulfillment of emotional or sexual needs. Herds are made of the same trust and loyalty of any tethered or married person, and introducing a new person into a herd is a long process in which everyone must ride together to establish the basis of their relationships with a new rider.
A member of a herd wears a braided leather cord around the forehead, often enhanced or embellished with decorations to denote a specific herd.
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