Nyedout ((Nyeh-Dtou-T'))
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
A Child of the Dunes can earn a name through identifying themselves through reputable means. Things like slaying a powerful creature, showing affinity towards a beast, being skilled in specific tactics or weaponry, being talented in any profession, etcetera.
Family names
A family name is typically two words with one guaranteed noun. The familial names have some sort of trait attached to them, things like power, agility, intuition, cleverness. When a child is born, they are granted the family name of either parent, depending on what they seem to be more tied to. So a child goes without a family name until they're old enough to solidify their reputation as having a specific trait. A child who runs fast with a mother who has a family name tied to agility or speed would be granted their mother's name, for example.
Though the name is usually two words, it's most often they are simplified during introductions to the subject noun of their name. a full Family name is something kept close to the heart, as revealing it also reveals their strength, and in turn, their weakness.
(Translated)
Sun Water, Dune Walker, Sand storm, Cliff Breaker.
Other names
Before outsiders were common, a child would simply be referred to as their parent's child. But when outsiders became commonplace, the naming scheme changed. Due to the Nyedtout's distrust, and borderline hatred of outsiders, they began naming their children after them in order to motivate their children to shed the name. However, some children keep the name into adulthood, and their parents have no choice but to accept it. On the opposite end, a parent who had close attachment to an Outsider might choose to name their child after an outsider out of respect, and doesn't pressure them to earn a new name.
Children named after an outsider in a positive way mostly keep the name, even after earning a new one, adopting it as a "middle" name, which is an outsider tradition they adopt to honor the name and what it means to their parent.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
The Nyedtout speak 'Dune Tongue', and few speak any other language, making the Nyedtout one of the few ethnicities that don't speak common. However, in the capital, it is a little more common, since most merchants, pirates, and travelers make port at it.
Shared customary codes and values
Fight Each other, Stand Together is a common code the Nyedout live by. Their distrust of outsiders ensure their unition should an outsider cause problems, however they also commonly get into altercations with each other over food, water, trade prices, and drunken brawls. However, should and outsider interfere with their altercation, it'll ensure both sides aggression being focused on the outsider. For this reason, some village mayors hire outsiders to patrol their towns specifically to intervene should a fight or altercation break out in their presence. Since the outsider was hired by the mayor, it nearly ensures their safety, and it stops fights in their tracks.
Common Etiquette rules
The Nyedtout greet one another via a head nod and a short hand gesture that indicates their current social mood. If they aren't in the mood to talk, or if they are in a hurry, they'll drag their pinky along their cheek. If they are willing to talk, they'll put their index finger and ring finger on either end of their lips, with their middle finger curled up. If they are wanting to initiate a conversation, they'll do the same motion as before, however with their middle finger uncurled and pointing up.
When hosting a guest at their residence, a Nyedtout will prepare a small meal for their guest, often with a full glass of cold water. Not offering the water is a sign of disrespect, and not offering the meal is a sign of outright hatred.
Common Dress code
It'll be hard to find a Nyedtout wear anything but cloth and rags, typically one that's well ventilated but also covers their body. Style wise though, citizens typically wear long baggy cloth clothing, shawls or parasols, and eye wraps for the sunlight and sand particles. When night falls, they don a long robe usually carried in a specialized bag.
For people who frequent the dunes, for hunting, resource gathering, or other reasons, wear short sleeve clothing with bandage-like wraps covering their entire arms and legs. Sandals, face and eye wraps, knuckle gloves (Gloves that cover the back of the hand, but not the palm), and shoulder coverings that create a small circle of shade for their sides. When night falls, the shoulder coverings are repurposed into long sleeves for their arms.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
To most Nyedout, beauty is tied to either flexibility and thin, lightweight bodies, or strong, muscular or stocky bodies. Both of which show that the individual is experienced with the Dunes, as either of the body types are typically the result of time spent in the dangerous desert. Many Nyedout also adorn their bodies in tattoos, made out of scorpion venom and scale. The color of the tattoo often remained black, however more wealthy figures have been able to combine it with imported, or commissioned, dyes.
Related Locations
Comments