Dau Nu'a Dau
The Shadow Village
"A lovely place nestled within a mountain range. The people there seem to completely disconnected from Ravnica and the guilds, and I hope they stay like that."
Dau Nu'a Dau is a small village at the base of a mountain in the Fifth District, and is the home of the Bayang people. The Bayang are peaceful farmers who live communally, but what is most striking about them is that their shadows are sentient and live among them as solid beings.
The Shadows of the Bayang
BIRTH
The Bayang people live in the company of their shadows from birth until death. The only moments in a Bayang citizen’s life that are free from their shadow are the first few moments after birth, before the ritual that imparts part of their soul into their shadow is performed.
A LIFELONG BOND
Because shadow and master share the same soul, they are inseparable and share a bond unlike any other. Sharing the same soul allows them communicate telepathically and decently intuit feelings of the other, but it also prevents them from physically straying too far from each other. However, though shadow and master may bicker and argue, they are so similar and so attuned to the other that never do they desire significant separation.
Bayang shadows grow and learn with their masters over their entire lives, from infancy to old age. A shadow is also an exact physical copy of its master. Shadows age along with their masters, take on alternations to appearance (such as haircuts and changes of clothes), and are forced to adapt disfiguring injuries such as broken bones and amputations. Because of this, the Bayang people are generally in great health and take good care of their bodies their whole lives so that their shadows do not suffer.
DEATH
Shadows are not truly alive and are considered spirits, so they cannot feel pain and die like living beings can. However, significant trauma to a shadow shatters their bond to the physical world and they are thrust back into the Spirit World where they must be retrieved by their masters. Shadow retrieval is an exhausting and exceedingly difficult process for the Bayang to undergo, but the alternative—to continue to live without their shadow—is far worse. A shadow only dies when its master dies. After a master’s death, the shadow will linger for a few moments afterward before forever fading away. Most shadows spend their final moments embracing their beloved master.
Surrounding him was his family, hundreds of Bayang people coming to pay tribute to a man they had known all their lives. He was on his deathbed, barely able to conjure a smile on his wrinkled face. His doppelganger stayed motionless, staring at his master for weeks. You could tell his end was coming, both he and his lifelong friend knew it. The shadow hung his head in sorrow while his master drew his last breath. The dark spirit placed his hand on his twin's, clutching each other's palms and sharing one last bond until both faded away into nothing.
Life in Dau Nu'a Dau
FAMILY
The Bayang are a very tight-knit, communal people. The boundaries of family are frequently blurred as the children are raised by the village and elders—who are highly respected—are cared for regardless of lineage. To the Bayang, everyone is an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent, regardless of actual blood relations. To further blur the boundaries of family, Bayang do not marry and most will have had a couple of mates over the course of their life. Some Bayang stay with the same mate their whole lives, but this is by choice and not by obligation.
AGRICULTURE
However, no one is closer to a Bayang than their own shadow.
Dau Nu’a Dau is a farming village and the Bayang do very well for themselves, as—with their shadows—they are able to use twice the manpower to farm but only need resources for half of their working force—the humans. Because the work output is far greater than the input needed to work, the Bayang always have a surplus of goods and resources they trade and are among the highest income-earners of the area.
LUXURY
Yet despite the amount of income the Bayang bring in, they do not have the appearance of wealth. Bayang live very modest, comfortable lives and will often have only one or two luxuries in their possession. Instead of saving their money or flaunting their wealth, the Bayang instead choose to spend their money on events and experiences. The Bayang will use just about any excuse to hold festivals, feasts, dances, and celebrations. The Bayang also travel frequently and seek new experiences and novelty wherever they go. Due to the deceptively humble lifestyle and conditions of Dau Nu’a Dau, thieves and brigands tend to leave the village alone. But it is not just the unexceptional quality of the village that keeps outsiders at bay.
Uul Tolgod
The Bayang are a very tight-knit, communal people. The boundaries of family are frequently blurred as the children are raised by the village and elders—who are highly respected—are cared for regardless of lineage. To the Bayang, everyone is an aunt, uncle, cousin, or grandparent, regardless of actual blood relations. To further blur the boundaries of family, Bayang do not marry and most will have had a couple of mates over the course of their life. Some Bayang stay with the same mate their whole lives, but this is by choice and not by obligation.
However, the Bayang embrace the blinding brightness. For not only does it discourage encroachers and the unwanted, but their shadows greatly enjoy it, as the brightness defines their dark outlines and makes them feel more strongly tied to the physical world. While the shadows enjoy themselves outside, the humans take shelter in their houses (built intentionally to shield themselves from the glare) and take the time inside to nap, eat, bathe, copulate, or do any human thing that their shadow does not necessarily need to be present for.
The Bayang and Ravnica
Though the Bayang shadows are not necessarily kept strictly secret, the Bayang typically keep their shadows in shadow form when they’re outside the village and traveling about Ravnica. Some of it is due to avoiding unpleasant situations—anything from suspicion and unease among buyers and traders of their goods to accusations of worshiping Erebos.
Because of this the Bayang are typically weary of visitors to Dau Nu’a Dau, but once a visitor has established themselves as peaceful and meaning no harm, they become quite hospitable. Trusted outsiders are welcomed and are frequently invited to celebrations and encouraged to join in on customs and festivities. If an outsider is liked enough, often an impromptu party will spring forth to celebrate their return—dinners will be brought to be shared communally and dancing and music will be had. (No drink, however—the Bayang don’t partake in mind-altering substances because the slurred, altered state of their mind is very irritating to their shadows who do not feel the effects themselves)
The Bayang are also very eager to join in outside events and are not shy about participating. Often they’ll be first on the dancing stage, among the first to volunteer when audience participation is requested, and some of the loudest cheerers and hecklers during competitions. The Bayang, having grown up in the support and love of a communal culture, are very friendly and outgoing people and are quick to make friends wherever they go.
Demographics
100% Human
Government
Democratically ruled, though no there are no votes that take place and is instead voiced by opinion.
Defences
Their shadows and part of the Dau Nu'a Dau "curriculum" is learning to fight and disarm. Some citizens are trained in weaponry.
Natural Resources
The crops they grow: rice, grain, soybeans.
Type
Village
Population
~500
Inhabitant Demonym
Bayang
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