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Orcneas

One of the beliefs among the myriad faiths and myths of the world is that the gods created humans in their own image, as the simpler being from which they arose. The soul being composed of three parts (the mind, the animus, and the follower) according to this belief means that when one portion of the soul needs to learn further lessons, it reincarnates as a non-human. Dwarves are believed to house the animus and possess strong followers and clever minds, experiencing life through hard work and hard play, shaping raw stuff around them and in so doing, developing themselves.   Elves learn lessons of the mind, and credit their long lives to both a powerful animus and follower. Most believe that the elves are ancestors who are nearly ascended to godhood, explaining both their powerful magics and rarity, though this belief is far from universal. Lastly are the orcneas, possessing clever minds and durable animus, but in need of developing the follower (a portion of the soul believed by this faith to come from the gods as a blessing; some from our world may call this 'grace' or 'mana' or the 'fylgja'). Orcneas (also called 'orcs' for short and by other names in other tongues) tend to be reclusive and contemplative, as they strive to understand their place in the world and the extent to which they can (or should) work their wills. While the more wicked among them have proven to be dangerous opponents who challenge even the mighty elves, others are content to live their unusually long lives in peace.    The belief system touting this arrangement ably explains why orcneas often possess little charisma, and their distinctive features are usually off-putting to others. Though they look mostly human, unusual eyes and eye color mark them as orcneas, and regardless of their skin tone they tend to be more pallid and reminiscent of the dead. Many cultures connect them with the dead, more so than dwarves or elves (despite strong evidence of their links to ancestors as well), meaning that most orcneas settlements are somewhat remote and rarely trade with humans. Larger cities might have orcneas neighborhoods just as they do for dwarves and elves, and more cosmopolitan outlooks are also generally more accepting. If you're going to see one of the orcneas, it will almost certainly either be in a large city or in one of their remote settlements.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

Man'di have their own tongue, an extremely simplified form of elven (bastardized almost beyond recognition by elves themselves). Most will pick up local human languages or create a mishmash of the two, since humans often have convenient words for concepts the man'di can't be bothered to name themselves. The man'di tribes living in the southern Scythe region for instance have taken man'di and a healthy chunk or Hisarlik's tongue with a small handful of dwarven words, which makes trade between the two groups easier (however infrequent it may be).

Culture and cultural heritage

Man'di have a long and storied oral tradition, with only a handful of tribes bothering to write anything down (these same tribes collaborated to create a man'di alphabet, though most man'di don't even learn it). Stories are told as epics to inspire and teach children, with cautionary tales, stories of cunning and valor, and more passed along by gifted storytellers who take their tradition seriously. The man'di believe they were made by the gods to pursue conflict, and elves have often raised armies of man'di for this very purpose.

Shared customary codes and values

Man'di have an almost innate sense of honor. While this doesn't translate to foolishness in battle (man'di have no scruples about treating a war like a hunt, and using every advantage they can), none will suffer another to insult or besmirch their clan or family. Even the few man'di living in human and dwarven cities cleave to this code, leading to the majority of duels in 'civilized' lands.

Common Etiquette rules

Man'di are famously laconic, but their sense of honor instills a respect for others to the point that even semi-nomadic man'di have an informal pecking order which everyone in the tribe seems to understand. Manners and honorifics are important, even if the rest of the request or conversation is brusque; a starving man'di approaching a camp had better call out "Respected Elder, meat and water please" or risk not living to see how much longer he could have endured without food.

Common Dress code

Most man'di tribes dwell in forested or jungle regions, and dress solely for the temperature. Tribes in hot jungles during the summer months might see their members wearing loincloths and/or a bra with nothing else, or even nude.

Art & Architecture

Man'di have almost no architecture to speak of, aside from stone temple complexes at the handful of holy sites they claim. How these temples were built mystifies human sages (the dwarves seem to have figured it out) and they're often in a step pyramid shape with small passages tucked within. Most man'di buildings are hastily constructed wooden dwellings or light tents that are easy to move.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Man'di respect traditions of hospitality, but only for their own people. Humans and dwarves might receive any sort of welcome, making contact with the man'di a dicey proposition. Hospitality is assured when someone is invited to sit down for a meal; anyone with whom the man'di share food can expect to be allowed to remain for an evening and morning, after which they must be invited to eat again in order to stay.

Funerary and Memorial customs

All tribes observe a form of burial in which they clean the body and place it in the ground with a sapling of some kind. Man'di who fall on the battlefield are recovered or requested at expense to the man'di; legends tell of a haughty general who refused them this right, and of the wrath that followed after (an entire city burnt to ash with all who lived there still inside).

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The vivid colors on men's faces make them stand out to potential partners, and will do more to entice a man'di woman than any other characteristic. Some women prefer well muscled warriors and others prefer swift and canny hunters, leading to disparate standards between clans.

Gender Ideals

Given the origins sages have suggested, the man'di have surprisingly little sexual sexual dimorphism. Gender ideals vary widely from tribe to tribe; in some, women and men are indistinguishable in terms of social roles. In others, men prepare for war and launch raids while women are hunters, and in still others women maintain the household while men hunt and war. The last type is only common in more settled man'di tribes.

Courtship Ideals

Men and women are universally barred from mating until both parties have completed rites of passage, which typically include a first kill (either in war or hunting), while with women the appearance of menstruation is typically sufficient. Women often select partners and approach them, and though men can refuse few do. Man'di life is often short and harsh, meaning that even unhappy couplings won't last too long. The courtship process is typically an evening of seduction followed shortly after by a declaration by the couple, celebrated with games and food, though little pomp and circumstance compared to humans.   Opinions regarding same-sex couples varies between the tribes. Some don't care at all, and the couples declare themselves as couples normally. Some forbid marriage but tacitly allow individuals to pursue their desires discreetly; others celebrate those attracted to the same (or both) sexes as being particularly well suited to certain types of magic, and a rare few actively persecute them.

Relationship Ideals

Romantic love is a foreign notion to man'di, who instead promote respect between partners. Fulfilling roles is important, though in some situations (particularly same-sex couples) there is flexibility as to who does what.

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