Necrin - Ancient Ethnicity

Necrin is the name of a Ancient Ethnicity that became the Vilegraven/Hemblick Ethnicity. Found in norther Europe, a icy cold tundra, dotted with forests, and with mountains that's height can intermediate any passer by. The Necrin people are best known for a few things, Being semi nomadic, Following the god Hemblin, And Casting Necromancy spells. There seen as very strange, When they speak they also use sign langue, They believe that there is 4 genders, No matter the season or weather The Nercin people cover most of there skin in clothing, There Very peaceful, and would never start a fight. But if you try to fight them, they'll send the undead to fight you. To outsiders they dont seem to care for their dead, there city walls have dead warriors 'standing guard' at all hours.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Old Necrol, A language both Signed and spoken at the same time. It's thought to make it easier to cast magic.
If you speak with out signing it's seen as your much too over emotional to talk. over all being seen as rude. Mean while Signing with out speaking is seen as being very polite. when praying or discussing holy matters its only signed. 
You can make any word you say a swear word, by signing the word for rude, or rudely while you say it.

Shared customary codes and values

Gift giving is a must, and just because you give a gift doesn't mean you'll get one back. These gifts can be anything, food, crafted goods, magic components, ect. It's expected of you that  you will give gifts to your other clan members, as they will give you gifts threw out the year. For sample, a Wool farmer might gift you some wool in the spring, And to be nice you would give them a gift of food during the winter. Or you might not even gift the farmer the gift but give one of there other house hold members a gift. This is one of the ways that goods get to everyone. But if you need something you can go ahead and ask someone for the gift of what ever you need. They'll expect that one day in the future you'll give them a gift back.

Common Dress code

Clothing is very imponent as it's seen as dangerous to have exposed skin. Hands are often covered by gloves. the only part that dosetn get covered is the face. normal clothing materials are Wolf Wool Yarn, Dandelion Woven cloth, Leathers, and furs. Colors of dyes use vary greatly from settlement to settlement, as Necrin people have a tabo about mining and going in caves. Only those brave or foolish enough go venture into the deapths to find new or rare kinds of dyes. Because of this each settlement mainly use colors most common for them. whether  that just be the natural colors of furs, leathers, and wools they can get. Or plants/surface rocks they can use to make dyes. Beacuse of this, it's really easy to see who is from witch settlement. 
 Most Clothing types are not gendered but the length of garments determine what gender the clothing is meant for. Most clothing is divided by what jobs they are for, most people have one or two sets of clothing for each job they are expending to do. But Most people outfits have these same graments.

• Oienged- These thick bands/belts are used to hold up Rivpour. they come in many driffrent styles, depending on how much movemnt the person wearing it needs to have. Those who are pregnant wear very lose bands. Kids wear simple leather ribbons as Oienged that's only use is to keep there clothes in place. People dont start wearing Oienged untill after puberty.
• Rivpour- a stiff fabric or leather  skirt/apron that is worn by all genders. it has a open slit at the front, and is held up by a thick belt or Band, A Rivpour often has inner pockets, and be seen in any length. Varying types of Rivpour exist, they range from upper thigh length to just above the ankle. Many longer Rivpour have buttons to fashion them closed. Rivpour are often woven with simple repeating patterns, or are leather painted/dyed with larger patterns.
• Spoegen-  a Sweater, these knitted sweaters have long sleaves that reach the wrist, and have a tight turle neck. These sweaters are made in a 2x2 rib patteren, with worstered weight wool. It's really special to have a Spoegen that goes outside of this pattern, the ones that do are often only woren for festivals or parties.
• Poeben- a woven shirt made of Benriv ( a type of dandelion) witch have big loose sleeves, and are mainly worn in the wamer months. 
• Nant-  these well fitted pants are mainly made of  Dandelion Woven cloth for the warmer months, or Leather for the winter months. These pants are rarely decorated. 
• Pul- This word means anything from shawls, cloaks or even vest. Bassically any outer wear goes in this category. When talking about Pul people call it Pul (type of material used) As the necin hardly mix types of Pul and its material. You would never see a Necrin leather vest, but leather Shawls are the must common. 

When it comes to making Cloth and other fabrics, There are many songs used to remember the pattern while weaving or knitting. As Necrin people used writing only for magic tablets.
Face paint is a must and something everyone wears every day. this facepaint is the symbol of your gender. The color of this facepaint is what ever is the most common pigment in your area.

• Land: A thick line that goes from ear, over the bridge of the nose to ear.
• Mountain: A triangle painted on each cheek.
• Sea: A line that goes from ear, over the bridge of the nose, to ear. Witch dips down under the eyes, and then back up.
• Sky: A crescent moon shape on each cheek

Those who for what ever reason are exiled from Nercrin clans. (Manly for greater crimes) Are casted outside of settlements and forced to wear a wooden mask. these masks have simple eye holes, and have painted on them three marks. One on the forhead witch is there gender marker, and one on each cheak is a symbol that represents the crime that they have done .

Art & Architecture

Necrin art is filled with geometric patterns that has simplified symbols of nature. there art rarely depicts people, focusing on animals, plants, and other natural objects. When it depicts people it depicts a simple person rather then a specific person.
They crave stone and wood, every bit of stone and wood they can get their hands on. The stone they use to build their buildings and homes are craved over the years. The older the building the most detailed they would be. Each home has a big craving on the door way that is the home's symbol. Most houses get additions over the years, making them longer and longer. The logs used to hold up the roof are also craved and detailed.
Making Clay pots is common, most are stained with local dyes. Going on adventures to find new dyes is seen as a big deal. But more popluar then clay pots is woven baskets. as they are lighter and break less often. being able to make complex woven items is one of the most impressive skills someone can have.

Foods & Cuisine

There staple food is Dandelion Based. They have 3 main Breeds of dandelion. This group of plants is called 'Beni'

• Benrel- a Type of Dandelion that has been breed to have bigger seeds witch are heaver and do not get blown by the wind.The leaves of this plant are last tasty then other breeds. These seeds can be eaten roasted or boiled into a rice like food.
• Benriv-A Type of Dandelion that has been breed to be very cotton like. The white fluff that Dandelion have are very dense in this breed, The stems of the breed are very oily and used for cooking.
• Jefben- A Type of Dandelion that has been breed to be have more large and dense leaves. These leaves are used for soups, stews, Teas, and even seasoning. the thick stems of this breed are dryed to use to weave baskets.

Classic Necrin foods.

• Fish Bun: Made of Benrel dough, Necrin Fish buns are Chewy and soft with Benriv seeds baked on top for crunch. The fish on the inside can vary, and are generally seasoned with Slat, Horseradish, and Spice stone.
• Beni Roll: Made with soft Marshmallow like dough, strips of dough are laid out and covered in fresh or dried flower petals. on special occasions Honey can be added. It is then rolled and baked.
• Jefben Winter Soup: The main part of this soup is Jefben leaves and seeds, often people add elk or fish.
• Aksear Tea: A tea that is a mix of Jefben leaves and Blue-Lilly Petals. While its boiling people use just a little bit of magic. giving this tea the ability's to relax your body and make you feel calm.
• Jefben Tea- A Tea  It has a Deep Gray-Green color, The Smell of it opens your nose. It taste like a mix of basil and mint, brwed with a hint of slat.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Gult-mie:"Spring 12/spring noon" Each season is seen as a time of day, Winter-Morning, Spring-Afternoon, Summer-evening, And Fall-Night) This is a Necrol Holliday, The day before the Spring solstice the town start to get the village ready. Decorating the place with dried flowers from last spring. The doorways have a wreath, the town gates are covered in flowers and the dead garding the village have flower crowns.
the day of the Solstice Hunters go out at dawn to hut male deer who is just starting to grow horns for the season.
Parents get there kids for the day dressing them in secally knit hats stitch have flower designs. the Kids then build things out of the remading snow, and have a little contest, the sculpture that gets the most vote wins, and that child gets to name the spring pups and calf that are born.
The young adult Land and Sky people take off there shirts, paint on there chest with the same kind of paint they use on there face, symbols and desgin evoking good hunts and protecting others. they have a spear throwing contest and the one who gets to hit the most targets get to sever deer to the village.
people of the mountain and sea, come togreater to show what they have crafted during the winter. They have someone who is not of Moutain of sea to come and pick there favorite craft. The winning craft is given to the oracle.
Summer Travels: During the early summer months Clans often go visit other clans, they go in big groups so they can hunt and gather on the route to the other clan. Sometimes these trips can take so long that some travel groups will be gone until early fall. Clans bring grand big gifts to the clan there visiting. Knowing that the clan their visiting will bring a gift when they go to there clan. These visits are full of fun for everyone, Children will teach the other kids games they made up in there clan, Adults will make new friends, the elder's who make the trip will share stories and spells. Nights are full of dancing and games, and mornings are filled teaching others crafts and skills that the other clan knows. Once the clan has been there for about a week, they will say good by and head back home or continue on there travels.
First Snow: When the freezing cold nights start rolling in, it starts to get darker sooner and longer, and dark clouds start to roll in. The children of the clan will keep there eyes out for "The first snow flake" each clan has different rules for witch snow flake is the first. Some say the first flake is the first snow flake that touches someone hands, or hair, or face. Others say its the first flake that touches a plant, or a stone, or even bowl. What ever the rule is, the child who sees the first snow flake takes the snow flakes into there hands, and counts how long it takes to melt. The number they count to is how many snow storms will happen this winter. If multiple kids think they got the first snow flake, they will go to the town leaders and tell them all the different numbers they counted. The leaders will then find what the median number is and that will be how many storms will happen. The adults know that this tradition dosent really show how many storms will happen during winter. But its fun for the kids so it lives on.
Thay Plalt: a Necrin Holiday for the Winter soloist. Once the sun sets people grather around a bonfire, play music and dace. people try to stay up as long as they can, the people you are awake by the time the sun rises again are seen as the "Ruler of winter" and get to wear a woven crown

Coming of Age Rites

The way choice: When a child turns 10 years old they go threw the coming of age event known way ‘The Way Choice’ where they chose what gender they will be now living as. Someone may change what gender they want to live as again at any age, they just have to go through ‘The Way Choice’ again. This rite is very simple to go threw. During the Clan’s shared meals, when everyone is gathered. The person going through ‘the way choice’ would stand up and clean off their face paint, that denotes what gender they are. In the case for children going threw this, they would wipe off the circle marks of there cheeks. After words they would say “I have made my choice, I will now being living the way of ____” where they would state what gender they will be living as, Sky, Mountain, Land, or Sea. The rest of the people there will congratulate them for finding what gender fits best for themselves. The person going through the rite would then paint on their face the marking that matches what gender they now identify with.

The workmanship Mark: From ages 10-15 older children and teens go from job to job to see what fits them best. Once they find the job they like, they’ll start training in the skills they’ll need to the job. Once they finish their training to the point people would class them qualified to do that job, they get a tattoo to celebrate their training. These tattoos can be placed anywhere but most common is the chest.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Funerary customs are very different Pre and Post Necromancy.

Pre-Necromancy

When someone dies there are a few steps that take place. The dead is brought to the Hemblin Temple by their household and family. The family talks to the Oracle about their love one, and the memories they have with them. The preparingoracle will then thank the family and ask them if they want to help with preparing the body. If they say yes the Oracle talks them threw preparing a body, Telling the youngest members of the family to go grab the dead's favorite items and or their most used tools. While that is happening the body is drained of most of it's blood. Witch is saved in pots. Next the Head is removed, and cleaned of Skin and flesh leaving only the skull. The family then takes the skull to carve with images that reflex the life story of their loved one.    The body is next moved to a 'Body Bunk' (a bed in a Hemblin Temple for the dead) with their favorite objects being places where there head would be. For the next few weeks the family displays the Skull by there front door, after that period they bring the skull inside to the household alter to their dead. Back in the temple, The body is left to decay for a week. Then the Oracle uses a corpse knife to remove the flesh from the bone. The flesh gets used as compost for the clan's farms, and the bones are given to the family to be used for crafting items, casting spells, or used to make art.

Post-Necromancy

The funereal practice of Necrin funerals start before someone dies. once someone turns 15 they get a tattoo that shows what they would want when they die. as in it shows if they would want ot be raised as a undead or not. These tattos are a simple band around the upper arm that has a dot above the line. Different Nerin clans my have there own flair with this  tattoo designs.    Once the person dies, if they wanted to be raised as a undead, they get raised as a undead. Undead have a part of there soul still in there body, giving them full control of there own body. They also are able to keep there memories from when they where alive. But undead can not speak and use sign langune to talk to others, undead also can not cast magic. This undead person can not say there good byes to there family and finshish up any business. Once the undead person feels ready to leave to the after life. They go to their Oracle who undoes the spell that raised them as a undead, And they get a normal pre-necromany funeral.    But if the person was a warrior there Death rights are every different then the everyday person. A warrior's body is dressed in there armor and say kneeled at the clan's walls, weapon in hand. These warriors only get brought back as zombies rather then normal undead. they have no souls and only act either in the way they where trained in life, or the way a living warrior or necromancer commands. The spell Gentle repose is casted on the dead warrior's body every 3-5 days by the clan's oracle to keep the body fresh. These zombie warriors do not get a funeral until there training becomes outdated, or other ways can not help there clan any longer. The fate of a warrior is seen as a noble sacrifice, being able to protecting your friends and family even when your dead is seen as a great way to use your body after death.

Common Taboos

• Showing skin that is not the hands or face, this is a taboo not for nuditiy or modestiy but for safety and fear of bleeding.
• Bleeding. Things like periods and pregnancy are very taboo to talk about. Those who experience those things have to follow rules about how that blood is handled. They are careful to make sure they can collect as much blood as possible to be able to offer it back to Hemblin. 
• Mining and exploring caves. Caves are seen as extreamly holy, and are belvied to connect to the afterlife, and the past. The only class of people who are allowed to go in caves are Oracles.
• it'a taboo to name someone after a existing creature, plant, stone, time, or place  with out any changes.

Common Myths and Legends

Creation

Just like everybody else the Necrin people have there own Myth about how the world was started. They believe that the Elder God (Known to them as the Originator) Made The lands, mountains, seas and the sky. But this god didnt know what to do with this world, so they had a child. the god Hemblin was born, the Farther of all life on earth. But Hemblin didn't fully finished the life he crafted. These living creatures and plants where simple. And being a good Father Hemblin did not force this life to be one way or another. Hemblin let these living things take there own path letting them change on there own. As each Creature and plant found there place in this world, They started to live in the lands, mountains, seas, and skies of the world. changing to fit where they live. Witch over time made all the animals and plants we know now. And now all life continues to change as they live the life that Hemblin gifted them.

The Moon

It's once been said, that there was a goddess who kept time, a goddess who would tell all the animals and plants what time it was. This nameless goddess would tell the trees when to lose there leaves, when the clouds should snow, even when deer should have kids. But one day the time goddess got sick, and none of the gods couldn't fix this young goddess, so she died. The Elder god could not make a replacement of this goddess of time, so she made the moon. The moon now replaces the dead time goddess. Telling the world what time it is, telling the world what season it should be. Rarely The moon will cover the sun to show how it still morns for the long gone and nearly forgotten Time goddess.

The After-Life

The Necrin belief of the after-life is not every clear. They aren't known for painting the after life in detail. As to them being alive is so precious that a After-life could not be any grander or better then being alive. What tales they do tell about what the believe the after life is goes around the ideas of "you leave your body behind, so you must change a lot in the after life." they believe that one's soul must be reused. Just like how someone's body feeds the plants, one's soul must be used too. perhaps one's soul feeds the Creatures who live outside of the mortal plane, Or maybe the Fey in the world feed on souls? or maybe you become reborn as one of the many strange creatures that live on the Outside. What ever it is the fate of the dead must not be great.

Menstruation

The menstrual cycle is belived to be the sacrifice that those who can have children, in order to be able to have the power of making life. The necrin people think that another god other then Hemblin had to of given human's this burden. As Hemblin would never waste blood in this matter. Belving that their bodies make more blood then male bodies, witch is why female bodies can get pregnant. Durring one's period its belived that their ability to cast spells is heighten, and praying over sacrificed menstrual blood is said to give you better guidness.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Each Gender has a beauty ideal.  this is what a ideal person of each gender would look like. 

1. Land: Wide set strong person, with Shoulder length messy hair, with short bangs. Black to dark brown hair is most favorable.  
2. Mountain: a thin tall body, with waist long hair witch well kept, with braids that frame the face. having a soft around face is popular. Dark brown to white color hair is popular.   
3. Sea: Curvy body shapes, with waist long hair that has a texture that is wavy to curly. with braids that frame the face, and often complex up-dues. All though uncommon Hair colors that are deep blues, stone gray, or dark green is every popular. 
4. Sky: Flat chest, with a strong frame. Hair that is messy that is cut in multiple lengths, from Shaven to shoulder length hair. A stern gaze is seen as sensual with this gender. Hair color that is light is popular. 

Gender Ideals

gender system is based on 4 genders. Called Mountain, Land, Sea, And Sky. Very different then man and women, These genders also don't correlate to Sex in any way other then some Sexes are found more often in some gender then others. In this gender system Children would be raised with out a gender until about 10 years old. Where the child would then chose one of the 4 genders to be in.

1. Mountain: We would call this gender masculine with undertones of feminine. Seen as the type to hold there ground, but can do with it with grace, and very emotionally driven. This gender are known to have jobs like teaching, church leadership, or crafter jobs.
2. Land: Seen as the most "Masculine" Land gender is the type to take care of people reliably, Being rough when they need to be but all ways the stable foundation a culture needs. There known for having such jobs like Farmer, Hunter, Warrior, general laborer, and other more active jobs.
3. Sea: The "feminine" Gender. Seen as the source of life, Someone that everyone needs to rely on in order to keep things running well, And seen as the ones who will protect there love ones no matter the cost. They tend to be in positions of power, Leader of the household, and matters of trading.
4. Sky: We would call this gender Feminine with undertones of masculine. Seen as hard to understand by those outside of there gender, loud both vibrant, and very smart. They often become Mages of all kinds, doing the best with most kinds of magic. Rarely would you see someone of the sky doing something that is far away from magic. Being known for having jobs like Warrior, Hunter, Mage, and animal herder.

Names

Names are ungendered but when introducing someone or formally talking about someone you say "(Name) Of (Gender)" Sample like "Yania of the sky" Most names come from a root word with sounds/letters to make a new word/name. It's seen as tabo to name someone a existing word with out any changes.
Family names are the names given to a the house they live in. Houses are often name after things around the house, like mountains, rivers, plants, and even detections. Houses are single family and multi generationral with kids living in the same house as the person who gave brith to them. The only time people move out of the house they where born in, is when they move into a driffrent settlement. When moving to a driffrent settlement, people commonly become adopted by another house. Rarely do people build new houses, as most people build onto there existing houes rather then build full new buildings.

Courtship Ideals

Asking someone to be in a relationship is very easy in Necrin culture. You just ask. No bits or bops, love is seen as a clear Yes or no.

Relationship Ideals

Love knows no gender, as any gender can be with any other gender. Believing that any combo of genders can be good together. monogamy is not a ideal, Love is tho but sleeping with other people isnt seen as doing something against your lover. The most ideal Relationship is Courting someone from a different clan, and having them visit during the summer months; with the belief that distance between lovers makes the love even stronger. Most romantic Relationship are seen as a short fling, with people going to partner to partner. Rarely dose a partner join's someone's household. if someone has a child with someone, the child lives with the parnet who gave brith to them. Rarely do they live with their other parnet . But as lose as this system is family lines are recorded quite well, as young children get tattos of the house symbols of both there parents.

Diverged ethnicities

• Narla {Velika Necrin Mix}
• Vernanen {Vernay}
• Vilegraven/Hemblick

Languages spoken

• Necrol