Isaani Ethnicity

Adiirya, Aemara, Aikiilaraan ("Aiika"), Ajaeya, Alaana, Alaanya, Alaea, Aliin, Althaaian ("Thaaia"), Althaa'el, Anuen, Ardalieth, Ardalian (both "Ardya", also a name in its own right), Arnandra, Asiilya, Aterazya ("Atera"), Atiina, Atvara, Aumriel, Avaruen, Aljien, Aamaena, Aarthial, Aarthien, Aarenta, Daurien, Daryaena ("Darya"), Delia, Delsien, Delthavriel (both "Dela"), Delyaena ("Dyena"), Dezhada, Dlestaea, Eanta, Eaana, Eldiinya, Elinaera, Elaan, Elaana, Elaena, Eliina, Eliirien, Elnyian, Elua, Eluarien, Esilmien, Ensaia, Erin, Erinien, Eriniel, Erenthien, Esaida, Etanthria ("Etra"), Haliaera, Halian, Heliindiel, Ijiidiel, Ileian, Imaha, Inaie, Istien, Itiralan, Ithirien, Iryestha, Iila, Iilida, Iina, Iiyesthora ("Thora"), Iiyesthien ("Iisen"), Jadiinien, Jaiya, Jirien, Jaezia, Jestaelya ("Staeya"), Jihiildien, Kaiaena, Kaldarel, Kalduen, Kelendiel, Kaiyiida, Laiyaela, Laiyaelin (both "Laiya"), Liyaena, Lorathien, Melinthia, Misthiira, Miithrien, Miithriyel (all three: "Miiya"), Moryaena, Navia, Navisthian (both "Navi"), Nesthian, Nimiirien, Nimuen, Niilya, Noriel, Oraesa, Omaedya, Orna, Raiena, Rahalueth, Rahalien (both "Hali"), Razyuulien ("Zyuula"), Relinya, Risaenya, Rilueth, Seliirian ("Selii"), Sinthaurien, Tanivian, Taltauriel ("Talthi"), Tamyentiel ("Tamë"), Telethiel, Telethrian, Telethirian (all three: "Letha"), Tiirhanya ("Tirya"), Tiyantha, Tharia, Theristaana ("Thera"), Thelia, Tyaela, Tlesvaana ("Vaana"), Tlemientaara ("Tlela"), Ulara, Uthona, Uudanel, Vandaien, Vaelien, Vanda'el, Veren, Vyazaera ("Vyaza"), Yaena, Yazhviriin, Yasthaarien, Yezhantha, Zara, Zadiien ("Zadi"), Zadiihiel, Zahiilya, Zejiel, Ziyaena, Zhaliaana (Zhala), Zherazada, Zhia, Zhiana, Zhirlien, Zhulantha ("Zhuna")...

Adyeros, Ahentar, Aikiirahad ("Aekiir"), Alaer, Aliaer, Aldros, Alraz, Amezh, Ajaer, Ajai'iiz, Althaaiad, An'uaar, Ardaliir, Ardelad, Arthuzhad, Asaruul, Asarad, Aumeyar, Ausmir, Avindol, Az'haar, Azkaezh, Aastheron, Aasthreyak (both "Aaster"), Aamaezhad ("Aazhad"), Aar'entho, Avarahad, Dezhol, Daurinar ("Daur"), Daseron, Derentar, Dejeryos, Diiros, Dlerezh, Dulrendar ("Dul"), Eantaar/Eantor, Ekyos, Eldiinvor ("Diin"), Erendol, Erestar, Esald, Ethvol, Etlasiir, Ezhem, Ezhemiir, Harad, Haravad, Hastaam, Hastol, Haelemdor ("Hael"), Haezhem ("Haezh"), Haelden, Haelvakar ("Haek"), Iazhon, Iistinaro ("Iistar"), Itaane, Ithirahad ("Ithir"), Jazar, Jaalun, Jaalenthar ("Jaal"), Jelaan, Jaeros, Jeheir, Jiriad, Kaseith, Karezhar ("Kazh" or "Rezh"), Kaldar, Kaldorn, Kalenar, Lanthar, Laedrak, Laezhantiir, Laezhantiirion (both "Laeon"), Marnos, Marthaer, Miildros, Morendar, Nakath, Narvaeth, Navos, Naethald, Nelaar, Odalanthol ("Odol"), Oraesar, Oros'had, Ornoth, Raieth/Reieth, Raelvar, Rahaayad ("Rayt"), Ralar, Rezhest, Rezhentar (both "Rezh"), Renyaer, Saidar, Sarvanthos ("Sa(v)os"), Saevros, Seliiriol, Sinthar, Surul,Taerask, Taelyar, Taelzad, Taeyantaro ("Taeyo", "Taro"), Tarahad ("Tzhar"), Tazhvaar, Teyar, Tlementar, Ualenar, Uelvres, Ulomar, Vandar, Vandrad, Vesaazaeher ("Ves"), Zaor, Zehasar, Zirlad...

Takaan, Althaai'es, Suura, Naavir, Mazhaan, Dakai, Aldiir, Seliir, Kamaras, Elentas, Kaare, Kelithi, Leiorhalas (m. "Leior", f. "Leia"), Mejeh, Ma'ethre, Oloreh, Zeru...

Traditionally, the Isaani have two family names, separated by an apostrophe, which originally signified a clan and individual family line. For instance, "Asir'halindai" would mean "of clan Asir, and the Halindai line". When two people marry, they must agree to become part of the clan of either one spouse or the other, but the individual family name is preserved. For instance, if someone named Kaldorn Asir'halindai marries someone named Melinthia Tiris'yande, either Kaldorn would be joined with Clan Tiris, becoming Kaldorn Tiris'halindai, or Melinthia would enter Clan Asir, becoming Melinthia Asir'yande. Their children would usually carry the father's family name, becoming either Tiris'halindai or Asir'halindai depending on which of the married couple moved to the other clan.

  Sometimes, an individual would take an entirely new family name. This typically occurred if they wished to separate themselves from the identity of their parent(s) or better associate themselves with their independent home. It was most common for this to occur upon marriage, in which case both the husband and wife would end up with identical surnames.
The founding of entirely new clans was a larger affair, and usually involved large groups from one or more clans settling a new territory and agreeing to unite under one name. Once Isaana's societies grew and developed into a stable feudal order, the clan system became mostly ceremonial and clan foundings almost never occurred outside of a few schisms within royal clans.

  In many regions, the old convention was only preserved within the aristocratic clans. Among the common folk, the names had eventually 'crystallized' and were passed down patrilineally in a similar manner to Terran European surnames. The original tradition ultimately experienced a revival in large parts of Greater Isaana following the founding of the Imperium, and is now commonly practiced. However, due to the aforementioned period of crystallization, many of the current "clan" lineages would not be considered valid under the ancient rules.   Some major clans in current existence are:

• Ivrar of Viarai (the current Imperial dynasty)
• Asir of Vanis
• Asir of Tesrelaan
• Narz
• Nora
• Maeruu
• Aulend
• Dahar
• Maraj
• Nehiir
• Oronde
• Layaz
• Uenya
• Talas
• Surn
• Zahand
• Tiiris
• Valyar

Virtually all ethnically Isaani peoples speak one of the Isaani dialects. The most common of these was Riani (Eastern), which later became a continental then global lingua franca and is now simply thought of as the Imperial [Aethi tongue.

Because much of Greater Isaana is arid, Isaani cuisine makes heavy use of the local succulent and cactus-like plants. The peel of these plants often contains chemicals originally evolved to ward off herbivores and water-siphoning creatures, but which are harmless and flavourful to the Aethi - thus, they are often sliced, dried, and used as spices. The gel-like insides are used as bases to make various types of sauces and starch-based dishes. Meat from many types of animal are consumed, including but by no means limited to:

• The flat-tailed, lizardlike laerul, the most popular meat animal on all of Aethis. These are relatively easy to farm, and appropximately equivalent to Earth's chicken in flavour and versatility. The four legs, underbelly, and tail yield the most and best meat.
• Certain breeds of raptor-like kazhri, with the base section of their tails being a particularly prized cut.
• Rethta, bat-like creatures which yield a tough but flavourful meat used in stews. Domestic rethta have been bred to be flightless and have bulkier abdomens.
• The large, herbivorous ulmar and seh, native to the lowland regions of Vanis
• Nyavaet, smaller browsing herbivorous reptiloids originally native to the Saeaani territory of @Narlenya, where they are known as Nyalvuyt.