Nefisian
The Nefisians are an ethnic group that makes up most of the population of the kingdom of Nefis. Everyone with Nefisian blood is easy to spot as they have dark tawny skin, black eyes, and red hair. The red hair can come in shades as bright as copper and as dark as mahogany red, but, there is always red in the hair of someone from Nefis.
Those born and raised in Nefis can trace their ancestry back centuries to when their ancestors roamed the same lands in tribes. Four significant tribes, the Sada, Varby, Birme, and Kayada tribes, divided the farmlands between them while five smaller nomadic tribes, Dabelo, Nikyla, Affolsee, Oplach, and Baritui, roamed between the lands between Nefis and what would become the Kingdom of Kinvarra, the only other nation on the Sibone continent. It was from the unification of the four major tribes after Zufan Maren found the valley Beskerm was settled in that signaled the birth of Nefis. Some members of the nomadic tribes joined as well, while others settled in the southern part of Sibone in what would be Kinvarra.
Nefis has always had a friendly relationship with Kinvarra as, for the longest time, they were the only nation willing to send traders up the mountains to get to Beskerm. As a result, it is not uncommon for people from these two nations to get married; even some kings and queens of Kinvarra have married Nefisian citizens. Through this blending of blood, a minor section of the population in Kinvarra has red hair and dark eyes, while many Nefisian citizens have paler skin or blue or grey eyes.
Due to its natural defenses, Nefis has yet to be subjected to a land invasion by a proper army. Early in Nefis' history, bandit groups attempted to take the few resources the fledgling nation had. Still, more often than not, these small forces were defeated by the forests and mountains surrounding Nefis than the Nefisian rangers that patrol them. After the discovery of the sea cave and the creation of the dock and Kambar, the Nefisian Navy was tested by many pirate attacks. However, none were successful enough for a pirate to reach the port city. Because of these attacks, the Nefisian people are distrustful at best of anyone who comes from Sanctuary.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Ayele, Bara, Bodhild, Brynja, Chuni, Dalla, Frida, Habte, Margit, Masego, Signý, Tefsa, Zufan
Masculine names
Abate, Astvar, Bjorn Gwrtheyrn, Isgaut, Kalu, Markos, Otieno, Runolf, Sigve, Thorhild
Unisex names
Ade, Chinwe, Esme, Hanne, Imani, Inga, Kris, Ndidi, Oyibo, Uzoma
Family names
Aman, Boesen, Duri, Hovde, Idowu, Kalu, Maren, Nylund, Olli, Pekkala, Solum, Tofidottir, Wakeyo, Yemane
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Nefisian
Sibian
Sibian
Culture and cultural heritage
Tattoos, scarification, and piercings are common sight amongst the Nefisian people with many men and women having a combination of tattoos and scars on their arms and torso as well as piercings in their ears, lips, and noses. The tattoos and scars represent moments in a person's life.
When the four tribes first combined, they used piercings honor specific tribal ancestry with many wearing disks in their lower lips and earlobes and having rings on their nostrils or rods going through the bridge of their noses. Because of so much blending between the tribes, and people not from Nefis, it is now considered that any piercings on the mouth, nose or ears, regardless of piercing type, honors the person's ancestry.
Shared customary codes and values
Built upon the hard work, trust, and cooperation between the four tribes that founded Nefis, the Nefisian people emphasize hard work, honesty, camraderie, and kindness.
Common Dress code
Nefisian people wear clothing based on the season or climate. During the winter months, those living on the mountain live in the city of Kambar within the mountain wear thick clothing made from wool and leather and lined with fur as well as fur coats. Those that live in the few grassland areas wear thick linen clothing with fur or thick leather jerkins on top of them. During spring and fall months, the people in the grassland wear just their linen clothing, while the others will continue to wear at least two layers of clothing, one layer of linen and the other a layer of furs. Finally, during summer months, the people of the grasslands wear thin linen clothing that doesn't retain much heat while the rest wear thick linen clothing.
The wearing of skirts and dresses is not limited to women, nor are pants and breeches reserved solely for men. Instead, the only rules or laws surrounding the wearing of clothing is that everyone above the age of four must have at least their genitals covered. The laws acknowledge that children younger than this have a bad habit of stripping off clothes, so, parents of these children will not be punished if they run about naked, but it is advised that the parents redress their offspring as soon as possible.
Most clothing made out of linen is dyed bright, eye-catching colors like red, orange, blue, green, and purple. The shirts are long, coming to rest at mid-thigh of the average man and have an ornate V-shaped neck. Along the chest and the sleeves, the shirts sport intricate, repeating, motifs in blacks or browns that stand out against the brightly colored backgrounds. Dresses have similar patterns along the chest and sleeves and also sport many vibrant hues. Pants are made out of thick wool or linen and are less vibrant than the shirts or dresses, typically being a warm brown, dark grey or white color. Leg wrappings made out of wool or linen are mainly worn during winter can are dyed as vibrantly as the shirts and dresses are. Boots are made from deer or elk hide and lined with fox or wolf fur.
Art & Architecture
The architecture of the Nefisian people comes in three different varieties: grassland architecture, mountainside architecture, and subterranean architecture.
Mountainside Architecture: These buildings are made of wood, stone, and mortar, with thick, sturdy walls and roofs with massive stone hearths in the center of both homes and shops. Every home and business has a deep root cellar made of stone and wood with enough room to comfortably store a month's worth of food and the entire family for severe winters. Small rectangular windows of thick glass allow natural light into these buildings, although the hearth's fire mainly provides light.
Grassland Architecture: These houses are made from wood, with high-sloped roofs and small to medium-sized hearths. They also have deep root cellars lined with stone.
Subterranean Architecture: In Kambar, everything is made primarily of stone, with stained glass used as decoration. Because most homes were carved into the rock wall, most did not have root cellars. Instead, they have above-ground storage areas next to the house made of stone or wood. In addition, most shops closer to the docks are made from wood.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Spring Festivals:
At the beginning of the year, when spring arrives, the Nefisian people will celebrate surviving another year by having the Spring Festival during which the people spend three days feasting, drinking, and dancing.
Summer Festivals:
Every year, during the week of the longest day of the year, the people of Nefis will participate in the Lumberjack Tournament where loggers from Nefis and all over the world will participate in games and tests of skill during the day. The nights are filled with drinking, feasting, and dancing.
Fall Festivals:
In the fall, the Nefisian people observe the Fall Harvest, the day the main harvest of the year's crops occurs. During this holiday, the people sing hymns, pray and offer sacrifices to the divine beings for protection during the winter and a prosperous harvest the following year.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
When the mother enters her eighth month of pregnancy, the father will go out into the forests in search of the biggest and most dangerous predators. This is one of the few times when the ban on hunting the Nefisian Lynx is lifted. The father is allowed help from his siblings, friends, and parents and is encouraged to seek out this help. When the animal, whether a bear, wolf, or lynx, is killed, the father and his helpers will bring the kill back to the village, where it will be stripped of its hide and fur, and its meat will be prepared for consumption. The meat from this animal will be the primary source of food for the mother while the fur will be turned into a blanket for the child, and a rattle for a child will be made out of the animal's bones while its sinew will be used in the creation of the child's first set of clothing.
When the mother gives birth, she does it in the home they share with the child's father, usually in front of or near the hearth. Helping her in the birthing process is any male or female family member knowledgeable in healing or are midwives. Those who do not possess this knowledge will chant, provide assistance to the healers, and do whatever is needed to make the mother more comfortable. The mother will sit in a specially made chair with a back that angles back and legs half that of a regular chair's legs, encouraging her to keep her knees and body bent at an angle. During the entire time, the mother is in labor, the whole household will fast no matter how long the birth takes.
When the child emerges, the father will cut the umbilical cord with a new knife that was newly sharpened with a blade kept clean during the birth. The child will then be bathed in a tub of warm water that had been previously boiled, placed in the clothes made from the father's kill, and then swaddled in the fur blanket. Once the child is clothed and swaddled, they will be passed from family member to family member until finally they are given back to the mother. Finally, the placenta will be cooked and eaten by the whole family.
During the first year of the child's life, they will be carried around in a sling by either the father or mother or a family member, depending on if the parents have dangerous occupations like mining or logging.
Coming of Age Rites
When a child turns nine, they will be exposed to the various industries that make up the economy of Nefis by working in that industry for the next two and a half weeks. After that, for more dangerous or strenuous occupations like mining or logging, the child will be relegated to observing or sawing small logs into smaller logs and using small pickaxes on veins close to the surface that has already been chiefly mined. After two and a half weeks, the child will be exposed to a different industry, which will continue for the next two years.
At 11, the child will be asked which industries they like the least. Whichever ones the child enjoys the least will be removed from the rotation, and more time will be given to the remaining industries, with them being given more hands-on tasks. This will continue for the next three years, where the now teens will be asked which industries they like the most or if they feel that they have made an error, which industries they would like to try again. Again, whichever industries were not named will be removed from the rotation, and the teens will be given more intensive tasks, with them being allowed to cut down trees and mine along with the men and women currently working at that job.
After three years, the teens/young adults will be asked which industry they enjoy the most, or if they don't enjoy any of their previous choices, which industry they would like to try again. If they choose to switch to a new industry, their training will continue until they are 21, where they will be given one final chance to try something new to try for the three years following that. If they choose a single industry, they enjoy over the others, that will be the young adult's career, though they will be asked at age 21 if they are sure they enjoy that line of work and will be given a final chance to try a new industry.
Funerary and Memorial customs
When a person dies, the priests and priestesses will pray over their bodies all day and night. While the prayers are going on, the deceased's family members will build a traditional raft made from reeds and logs. Once the prayer is over, the body will be wrapped in soft linens and carried to the raft for each family member and friend to say goodbye before the raft is pushed into the river or ocean. Those on shore will watch the raft float downstream or into the sea until they can no longer see it.
Common Taboos
The only taboos within Nefis culture are those that violate the primary values these people hold dear. Corruption and thievery are two of the worst crimes that can be committed within the kingdom with those found guilty of committing these crimes banished from Nefis.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Everyone within the kingdom of Nefis is held to the same standard: always strive to work to the best of their ability in their chosen field.
Relationship Ideals
Love is encouraged and honored amongst the Nefisian people. The perfect relationship is between two people who make each other better when together.
Major organizations
Related Organizations
Related Myths
Related Locations
This was very extensive and well linked. Very thoughtful. the added links, I think on the side were wonderful for getting me to see that there was more to see. One thing that seems to be missing is a basic history of these people. How long have they lived in this land and any great tragedies or victories that they have experienced? Any wars come their way and how warrior like are they? I would have like a bit more on the lumberjack thingy. Just like a single sentence or phrase on what that is. Just to wet my appetite on wanting to read it. Also is that really their only holiday? This is so detailed that I find that hard to believe. Keep up the good work.