Nilne Sichin (nuçi niln)

Forest Elves

Nilne Sichin (forest elves) is an umbrella term to indicate all the elven tribes living in the Endless Forest (sometimes called elven forest) in Western Nys. People all over Nys use it this way, including the forest elves themselves.
They have no central organization, are more different than similar, but happen to all be elves and to live in the same region, earning them their name.
Each tribe created its folkloric tales and dances, wrote its poems and songs. They are all different, with occasional, seemingly accidental. similarities. The only, strikingly recurrent, element is the legend of the lost temple, present all across the forests.
The tribes also share their most important values, culture and harmony. Every elf in the forest holds in high regard the culture of their clan and seeks harmony within the group, among the tribes and with the nature surrounding them.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Sichin talk various dialects of Nuchil, a language quite different from any other present on Nys. Different tribes speak dialects so different they cannot even understand each other, especially if they live far away from each other. Close groups tend to speak the same dialect with minimum variations, usually limited to food or everyday tools.
The leaders and the most erudite people, also speak the common language, usually referred to as Nuchil. According to some Doujatar scholars and to some Sichin lore, all the Sichin spoke Nuchil in origin. With time, the tribes lost contacts with each other, wandered far away and their language started to change.

Common Myths and Legends

Only one myth is shared across every tribe, the Lost Temple legend, which tells about a mythical temple located somewhere in the Forest, never to be found again.
There are more or less hidden meanings in stories and tales that might be reoccuring across different tribes, but the fables retelling them are basically different.

Major organizations

The Sichin lack a central organization. Usually, a chieftain leads each tribe and, on his death, a new one is chosen.
Once per year, on the first day of Spring (which corresponds to the first day of the year), many tribes meet under the branches of a massive tree in the center of the forests, and organize several days of festivities. Partecipation is free and non mandatory for any tribe wanting to join.
In this occasion, the Council of the Chiefs takes place, the annual meeting where the leaders discuss what has happened to their tribe (but usually nothing significant happens) and exchange wisdom. They might decide to take common actions in particular circumstances, but any decision taken during the meeting can't be enforced.