Fianni

The Fianni are a mostly tribal people that are found across the Chain of Fire, a string of tropical, volcanic isles. They can still be frequently found outside of their homeland due to their nomadic lifestyle and recent arrival of the Elves, which left them free to wander outside of their isles, though many Fianni find the prospect of leaving their homeland a daunting and daring task.
Like the Elves, Fianni heritage traces itself back towards the Fae. They are always eager to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, and thus eschew technology and modern comforts in favor of living a life surrounded by nature.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Fianni are almost human in shape, and are relatively tall in terms of height. They possess the legs of a cervine, carrying themselves on cloven hooves. Fianni are covered in a soft fur that ranges in shades depending on the tribe or clan they're born from; with the most common shades being greys, browns, or blacks.
They have a set of cervine ears that are capable of twitching and moving to the sounds they hear. Fianni ears are notably extra sensitive and capable of pinpointing the location with precision. Both genders grow antlers that surmount the tops of their heads.

Growth Rate & Stages

A Rite of Passage

Fianni children are closely protected, kept within the confines of the tribe up until they're around twelve years old. At this age, the children are given a special rite of passage that gives them the first opportunity to walk alone without the restraint of their fellow tribesmen. Upon reaching this age, the two are instructed to leave the tribe, and are left to wander through the wilds in search of their fate. This unique rite of passage would normally leave most children on the brink of death, as they're forced to survive and rough it out within a wild and untamed land rife with predators.
However, all Fianni children eventually meet with one of the Three Norns. At the brink of their would-be-demise, the Norn intervenes and grants them wisdom of their foretold fate, granting them sight of their predestined path henceforth.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Fianni live a very nomadic lifestyle and have a diet that reflects that. While many tribes are found fractured and scattered across the Chain of Fire, leading to a difference in dietary needs and habits, most Fianni eat animal products; like dairy and eggs, with livestock or foraged fruit.

Gathering

With a nomadic lifestyle, Fianni spend most of their time gathering and foraging. Wild berries or fruit found along the road are an important part of their dessert, adding a sweetness towards a diet that would otherwise lack most sugars. Most Fianni also follow creeks or rivers when they're travelling. Coconuts are a very common fruit found by the Fianni people, as are Dragonfruit and other tropical plants.
Deer are often considered sacred to the Fianni. Venison is avoided, and they instead often fish along the coast or rivers found throughout the Chain of Fire. Reptile meat is an important staple to their diet, as are amphibians, such as the [tooltip=Gigantic frogs]Kalnese Frog[/tooltip] found within the marsh. Fishing is a cornerstone to the Fianni; with tribes often forming camps at night to fish at nearby riversides.

Animal Products

Another cornerstone to the Fianni lifestyle is their livestock. The Fianni rarely ever raise animals to slaughter, preferring to raise them alongside the tribe so that they can provide different products over time. Yaks, Goat, and Sheep are important to their people, and are raised for wool and milk. While chickens are only found through trade and are valued greatly by the tribes, the Fianni have always made do with the Cockatrice; a fairly aggressive avian that's renown for their hot temper and aggressive demeanor. Despite this, Cockatrices lay large eggs daily, and can still be trained to become decent guard dogs so long as their handlers get past the danger of being petrified.

Biological Cycle

Fianni shed fur and antlers with the seasons. At the beginning of winter, their antlers are left snapping off while they sprout thicker fur to protect them from the cold. During the spring, their fur begins to shed off, while their antlers slowly begin to regrow over time. 
Antlers possess a unique role in Fianni society; larger antlers is often seen as a sign of wisdom or intelligence.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Fianni are found worldwide, though they're most often found within their tropical home of the Chain of Fire. Fianni found outside of this are generally lone adventurers, though some clans are known to have wandered far outside of their comfort zone shortly after the Elves arrived on board ship, reassuring the potential for finding new and interesting lands to explore.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Male: Odhrán, Conláed, Columb, Ruadhri, Ruarc, Ceallach, Tighearnach
Female: Bébinn, Railda, Caoilinn, Deirbhile, Aife
Last Names: Fianni Last names are typically after the clan that they're born under. O' is a shorthand form of 'Of the'; whereas A' is short hand for 'Child Of'
Example: Fianni born under the N-Eescann clan would have the last name O'N-Eescann. Ruadhri, a Fianni born under this clan, would be named Ruadhri O'N-Eescann.
Whereas a daughter born under a Fianni named Columb could possibly be named Railda A'Columb, this is often rare, as it typically implies the child was born outside of a clan, and thus, outside of usual Fianni society.

Beauty Ideals

The Antlers atop a Fianni's head are often considered to be a sign of wisdom or valor; depending on the size of the antlers. They are often kept shortly after and carved into pieces of simple jewelry to serve as a momento. Fianni are also fond of decorating their antlers; men typically etch them with different markings or carvings into the surface if they're large enough, whereas women are fond of weaving in trinkets or hanging bits of jewelry -- sometimes even made from past antlers.

Gender Ideals

There is no real ideal found within the genders for the Fianni people; they're often on an even playing field due to the nature of their childhood. Fianni children are granted predetermined fates by the Norns. Women are thus just as likely to field a battle as a man is to be left a healer or caretaker.

Relationship Ideals

Fianni are generally naturally loners, thus, a relationship between two Fianni is often a very close friendship. Due to their preference to follow their own predestined path and explore the world at large, they are often found separating themselves from their fellow folk outside of the nomadic group they were born under -- and even then, it isn't too uncommon for a Fianni to find themselves straying far from their tribe in pursuit of whatever destiny they perceive as their ultimate end. This leads to many Fianni separating from each other quite frequently, though when brought together and left to venture alongside each other on the same path, it's often seen as the fates bringing them together.
Romance is thus often formed through multiple ventures taken together. Whenever a Fianni finds a romantic partner, they only ever do so when they are certain that they wish to be spending the rest of their life at their side.

Average Technological Level

The Fianni eschew most technology due to it being an artificial construct that's brought forth outside of the Fae's will. Despite that, they make up for this with many of their people being talented in the art of Feycraft; a form of magic that allows them to make up for the shortcomings that come with a lack of modernization.

Common Etiquette Rules

Fianni hold a place that's often seen as uncivilized by many some. Elves might view them as a little bit too stuck in the old times, whereas humans view them as savages that lack culture or decency. They are very aloof when it comes to common etiquette and are very free-spirited in nature; walking naked for example, is never a common issue for the Fianni people, though they will wear clothing, it's more often done to protect them from the elements than anything else, presuming their fur isn't already managing to do that job for them. 
Aside from that, Fianni often do use chopsticks and never eat with their hands, viewing it as a nuisance or sloppy of they do otherwise. This is mostly due to the fact that their fur sheds consistently throughout the seasons, meaning that finger food leads to hairballs.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

In general, the culture of the Fianni people is very diverse due to each individual tribe following a specific Fae's teachings. As a result, they are greatly varied. The only universal thing within the Fianni is the fact that they remain as separate tribes, and they typically worship powerful Fae.

History

The Fianni are known for having a heritage that traces right back to the Fae, much like the Elves; unlike the Elves, however, the Fianni have always been the nomadic tribes that they are today. Even during times when the Sahali empire still remained the largest civilization across the world of Veska, the Fianni were often seen as nomadic traders -- or even outcasts, for their faith being placed upon their Fae Gods. 
The Fae have been around for time immemorial, so while the creation of the Fianni is lost, at one point, they came into existence, and managed to walk as one of the first mortal races to step within the world. There are many myths that trace back to the Fianni; though each tribe often has a different belief to their origins. The most common origin is rather simple; a bored, wily Fae decided to grant a small herd of deer sapience, which lead to the deer learning to walk upon two legs, use tools, and in time, become the nomadic tradesmen that they're known as today.
Fianni have always remained silent about their history to outsiders, believing that their history is best left among themselves, though an intervention was made on the behalf of the Elven during the crusades, where the Fianni helped them rebuild their lost kingdoms across the Chain of Fire, and subsequently warded away any crusader that would pursue them.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

It's not too uncommon for interspecies relations to happen between a Fianni and those of other species; and is in fact actively encouraged. Such trysts are typically built when a wanderer from a tribe winds up forming a bond with a fellow adventurer.

Average Height

Between 6'6~7 Feet

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

It's noted that asides from their furs and pelts, some Fianni develop what's called Comhra Fidhach; or Wild Scars, in the Fianni language. When a Fianni reaches adulthood, these markings begin to form beneath their furs. The markings are generally unnoticeable, but those that are blessed with the ability to use Feycraft find that they supplement their casting -- and often glow when using magic.

Geographic Distribution

• Chain of Fire