Nartens
The nartens1 are a predominantly human tribe inhabiting the province of Velúsía in the eastern Kingdom of Núrak, especially in and around the city of Miryn.
While the bekórans have since merged with native Nemirkíans in the region, the nartens established a kingdom that managed to resist numerous invasion by the successor states of Paþaría for centuries, until finally one of them, Pérgal, proved successful. Pérgal's rule was relatively brief, as during its wars with the budding Sikíron Empire, the Núrakic Elves conquered the region, and since then the nartens have been under núrakic control.
Being the only notable human ethnic group in the Kingdom of Núrak, nartens are distrusted by most núrakic elves, a sentiment that has only worsened as the kingdom's territorial disputes with the (predominantly human) Sikíron Empire over Velúsía have become ever more tense over the years. Most live out in the countryside, as nartens are not welcome in Miryn or other major settlements of Velúsía, and their culture and language are in decline.
The few native elements still present to some extend are tattoos worn on the arms, and striped woolen caps.
History
Nartens originally lived in the Wild Mountains to the far northeast, but migrated south along with a number of other northern tribes after the fall of the old Paþarían Empire. Initially they settled down on the Meldon Plain, but were forced further south by invading Narsíans into modern Velúsía about a century after the empire's collapse, where they in turn forced the bekórans2 (another Wild Mountains tribe that had already conquered the region) east across the river Geþrus.While the bekórans have since merged with native Nemirkíans in the region, the nartens established a kingdom that managed to resist numerous invasion by the successor states of Paþaría for centuries, until finally one of them, Pérgal, proved successful. Pérgal's rule was relatively brief, as during its wars with the budding Sikíron Empire, the Núrakic Elves conquered the region, and since then the nartens have been under núrakic control.
Being the only notable human ethnic group in the Kingdom of Núrak, nartens are distrusted by most núrakic elves, a sentiment that has only worsened as the kingdom's territorial disputes with the (predominantly human) Sikíron Empire over Velúsía have become ever more tense over the years. Most live out in the countryside, as nartens are not welcome in Miryn or other major settlements of Velúsía, and their culture and language are in decline.
Culture
Apparel
Narten clothing tends to incorporate nemirkían styles as well as núrakic ones to varying degree, with men often wearing sleeveless tunics like the former along with the long, baggy trousers and boots of the latter, and women usually wear a long, short-sleeved dress.The few native elements still present to some extend are tattoos worn on the arms, and striped woolen caps.
Cuisine
Traditional narten diet is heavily based on meat and dairy, especially cheese, mutton, pork and, to lesser extend, beef and horse meat, as agriculture was unknown to them before settling on the Meldon Plain.Religion
Main deities
Jaxus
A fertility god and patron deity of the nartens, depicted as a ram with golden wool. Four-horned sheep are believed to be sacred to the god, and thus are kept in special enclosures and pampered to ensure good fortune. Traditionally, certain garments and other ceremonial objects used by the nartens can only be made from the wool of these sheep.Tarikía
Originally worshipped by ancestors of the larúneans, Tarikía is associated with a waterfall in the upper Geþrus River, where a horse is offered to the goddess to ensure bountiful harvest.Funerary rites
Burial is the norm among the nartens, with wealthy families often being laid to rest in tombs imitating houses, complete with furniture, food and colourful frescoes. The latter practice was adopted from the bekórans.1Original icelandic: Nartenar, singular: Narteni
2Bekórar, singular: Bekóri
Narten by Lappalingur
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