Anor

Anor are a human culture of the far north-east and are mainly a nomadic hunter-gatherer culture. Most of their lands have been taken over by the Norska in the south, and they tend to keep away from population centres and remain in their own lands. The reindeer herds of the northern taiga and tundra are their main wealth, and it is quite rare for anyone of Anor heritage to be seen outside of their ancestral lands. Occasionally, due to a proclamation of destiny or curse, individuals will leave for periods of time, but it is the hope of all Anor to return home.

Naming Traditions

Family names

The family is an important part of Anor culture, and Anor family names are preceded by 'Seniv' for males, and 'Dottiv' for females (translated in Common as 'son of' and 'daughter of'). When two families mix, the new pairing typically takes the name of the family perceived as having the 'stronger' name, and this selection of name is often a major part of any discussions between inter-family marriages. It is not entirely unknown for conflicts to break out over this, especially if the family name of one group is in danger of dying out.
Since the hegemony of the Norska over Anor lands, Norska naming traditions are slowly taking over those Anor peoples who have integrated into Norska culture, much to the disgust of purists.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Anor language is quite distinct and carries very little in common with other human languages on Everland, even Norskan. It is thought that the Anor came to Everland in a distinct migration some time before the Norska and had a well established unique culture of their own before their arrival.

Culture and cultural heritage

Whilst acknowledging the existence of all the gods, including those of non-human origins, the Anor concentrate their worship on four gods, who they call the 'Pillars of the Sky'; Mielikki, goddess of the forests, Auril, goddess of winter, Selûne, goddess of the moon, and Talos, god of storms. Keeping the balance between the two 'givers', Mielikki and Selûne, and the two 'takers', Auril and Talos, is an important aspect of Anor faith.
Anor are split into family groups, each of which claims territory and the reindeer herds as they pass though them. Families will move around regularly, and either hunt reindeer and other species, fish or catch whales, depending on the location they are in. Open conflict between family groups is very rare, and disputes are typically resolved though their shamans consulting with the gods. For most of the year, family groups are split into smaller groups, led by a shaman, and they will typically avoid other groups during this time period. They will collect together every year to share collected resources, information and decide on the groups for the following year.
The shamans use a form of soothsaying to determine the will of the gods when making decisions. When families meet in their annual gatherings, it is the joint meeting of shamans that decides on the larger decisions for the family as a whole. On infrequent occasions, shamans from many family groups will meet to make decisions that may affect the whole Anor peoples.
As well as the shamans, an important section of Anor society are the hunters, who are responsible for collecting food for the group. Mainly equipped with spears and bows, reindeer and whales are the preferred choice, but fishing is common, as are other animals such as bears, elk and muskox when available. Whilst not all Anor are hunters, it is one of the more common occupations.

Common Dress code

Almost all Anor clothing is based on furs and leathers, due to the source materials available. Shamans are identified by their elaborate headdress, typically made of antlers and whalebones. The more ostentatious a headdress, the more wealthy the group is supposed to be and the more likely they are to gain the favour of the gods. Hunters can often be identified by the totems that they carry, in order to either bring good fortune in a hunt, or ward off bad luck.

Related Organizations

• The Dawn War Pantheon

Anor hunter