Dòbhran (ˈt̪ɔːvɾan)
The Dòbhran are an ethnicity of the Selkie, descended from the Albannach people of northern Ynys. They are a part of the Dhewen cultural group. Their largest populations are found in the Arcaibh Islands, and smaller communities are located in the Kattalands and the islands of the Skìth Channel.
According to the Dòbhran, their ancestors were transformed by the god Lirnach to help them survive in their harsh environment. As Selkies, they are incredible swimmers and fisherfolk, and have thrived in the cold waters of the Arcaibh Islands. Their creation story is contested by some of the Tuniit Selkies of Umingmak in the Northern Region, who believe that the ancestors of the Dòbhran possessed the sacred Tuniit artifact known as Igalaaq's Wand, and that this is the true source of their transformation. This has caused some tension and conflict when the two groups of Selkies interacted in the past.
Physical Appearance
Like all Selkies, the Dòbhran have a thick coat of fur that protects them from the cold water. Their fur is usually lighter than other Selkies, with light brown, cream, grey, and white all very common. Their eyes are brown or black, and do not have visible sclera. Men and women have similar builds and stature, with an average height of 5'7" and a lean, wiry frame.Common Dress & Style
Most clothing among the Dòbhran is made from animal hides and furs, and is designed to be quickly donned and removed. Clothing is decorated with shells and beads, and intricate patterns are highly admired. Jewelry is also worn, often made from bone or shell. When swimming, or when the weather is warm, the Dòbhran will frequently forgo clothing altogether, although they are rarely without a satchel to hold their possessions. Selkie satchels are known to be particularly well waterproofed, and have several compartments, allowing them to separate items that may be used underwater from those that should not get wet. They are suspended from a strap that goes over one shoulder and across their torso, with the bag itself tucked under one arm.Social Structure
The Dòbhran live in clans and spend most of their lives out on the water on their floes. These floating structures serve as their homes and central warehouses, allowing them to fish and hunt for their sustenance. A Selkie floe is a collection of individual barges that can be lashed together. They are usually arranged with a space of open water in the center of the floe. The floe can be easily disassembled, and the Dòbhran will choose the most advantageous configuration for the current situation.
Dòbhran society is matriarchal, with women making up the majority of leaders and decision-makers. Young men leave their clans to spend their late teens and young adulthood in bachelor groups, seeking to join a clan when they outgrow the bachelor lifestyle. This period is seen as a rite of passage, allowing young men to gain independence and explore their connection to the sea. Young women may also choose to leave their birth clan and explore but this is rare as it typically sacrifices any seniority or status they had from their birth clan.
As the young wanderers mature, they will look for a clan to join. Once they find one that attracts them they will bring gifts of food and trade goods to prove their value to the clan, and request to be married into the family. The matriarch of each clan will evaluate any candidates who present themselves, and may set additional tests for them, to demonstrate their abilities and personality traits. They must show that they are responsible, hardworking, and loyal.Once a young person is accepted into a clan, they will spend time getting to know the other young people in the group. The matriarch will often facilitate these meetings, encouraging the young people to spend time together and get to know each other's personalities and interests. If a mutual attraction develops, the matriarch will then decree a marriage pair based on her own observations and the opinions of other members of the clan.
During the harshest months of the year, the clans gather at their rooks. These are frequently rocky islands traditionally inhospitable to other creatures, but can also be larger islands that support many clans in close proximity. These rooks serve as a stable place to give birth and raise pups, with permanent settlements for women with young pups, the elderly, and disabled. Each rook is protected by its own local god, and the Selkies pay their respects to the deity during their visit.
Religion & Folklore
Like most of the Dhewen cultures, the Dòbhran worship the gods and spirits known as the Ellyll. They are particularly tied to those of the Ellyll who embody the seas, and many of the stories of the Dòbhran are little known on land, such as the tales of Morvadan's Pod.
The Dòbhran celebrate many of the same holidays as the human Dhewen cultures, particularly the Albannach. They have four major festivals known as the Oidhcheannan Teine-Teine, or the Bonfire Nights. They roughly correspond with the turning of the seasons (which they place at the midpoints between equinoxes and solstices, like the other Dhewen peoples), and are marked with great fires built on the shore of every rook. The most important of the Bonfire nights is Samhain at the beginning of winter. This marks the time when many of Dòbhran clans have returned to their rooks for the winter, and they gather together in huge numbers to socialize with each other. It is said that many couples will meet at Samhain and wed at Meadgeamhradh when The Candles pass overhead, and that a wedding under the Candles is especially blessed.
The Samhain festival is also when the Dòbhran pay special honor to Lirnach the Sea Mother, who they credit with transforming them into Selkies. Handmade gifts and sacrifices to Lirnach are carried to the seabed during the festivities and tucked into holes and crevices, where the Dòbhran say that Lirnach will retrieve them.
I love the concept of Dobhran, and it's obvious you put a lot of thought into many details of their lives. Well done!
Thanks! The Selkies are one of my pet projects - I was unsatisfied with traditional mermaids, and this is one of my alternatives for marine humanoids. At some point I'll do the more mermaid-like version based on manatees, for the merfolk should be mammals, not fish! (the silly things we fixate on).