The People of Rhoynur

The people of Rhoynur are magically gifted hunters and raiders, who live for battle and the challenge of survival; they rarely stay in one place for long, moving on horseback and taking their camps with them. Just a few thousand of their people have been enough to tear through entire nations. They can be identified by their brilliant yellow eyes and strong, tall frames, but it varies from person to person. The most hair color is a dark grey, ashy and faded. Their numbers are low, with a couple rarely able to produce more than a single child.

Summary

The tribe was originally loyal to the Empire of Barsburg, serving as an elite force within their ranks and enjoying the privileges that came with, but roughly a century ago they were exiled. The accounts of this exchange vary. A tale commonly passed down by the priestesses of Rhoynur is that there was a proposal to Natasa Dayndros, the High Lady of Rhoynur, by a Lord of the empire, captivated by her beauty and strength. She refused him - unless he could defeat her in a public spectacle. The Emperor sent out his champions and beasts in the Colosseum with all watching, but one by one they were defeated by the golden-haired, yellow-eyed warrior, until it was just the feeble old man left. He was beaten black and blue.

Since then, they were travelling mercenaries. They were tasked to topple the Kingdom of Esshar, and succeeded in razing a number of towns and spreading panic throughout the country. The Lightbringer Ardes Grimmore was called on to take care of the threat, and he did so in brilliant fashion, outplaying and outmatching the fierce raiders at every turn. After a long military campaign, the Conquest of Rhoynur resulted in the annexation of this proud people into Esshar, where they face discrimination and, in some cases, a life of indentured servitude.

Culture and Traditions

• As a remarkably physical culture, it is not uncommon for the Rhoynish to settle minor arguments through arm wrestling or racing, the nature of the challenge determined by the challenged party. Greater disagreements are often settled via wrestling or armed combat, sometimes to the death depending on the nature of the disagreement.
• Rhoynish are very communal, especially due to their low birth rate. As a result, many Rhoynish are part of a Clan, a collection of several families that are tied together by geographical location or choice. Clan bonds amongst the Rhoynish are very strong; children often consider each other siblings, regardless of blood relation.
• The Rhoynish are essentially nomadic people, and as such their history is mainly passed down via the elders of a clan orally. This also often expressed through singing and dancing. It is common for a clan to have one or two 'Lorespeakers', clan members specifically taught the entirety of the Clan's culture, stories and traditions.
• Rhoynish children are gifted a silver arm ring when they reach the age of twelve to reflect their beginning on the path to adulthood. The rite of passage into adulthood itself -undertaken at the age of nineteen- is to last thirty days in a forest by themselves, during which they must prevent their arm ring being taken by other participating members of the clan. Failing this test is uncommon, but those who do may try again after a month. Success in this rite results in the arm ring being replaced with a golden one.
• The people of Rhoynur chiefly worship their ancestors, as examples to both follow and avoid, and the Divine Spirits, with it being common for a clan to have a Patron Spirit they follow in particular. The Rhoynish faith is more on a person-by-person base than the Essharan faith, and lacks a formal clergy aside from a handful of Priestesses, who serve more as spiritual advisors to the Clans than an actual authority.
• The Rhoynish, being a martial people, respect strength above all else. As such, prior to the Conquest if a Clan Leader believed a High Lord or Lady to be weak, they were free to challenge them in a duel to the death. Upon victory, the Leader's Clan became the ruling clan. On defeat, the Clan Leader would die in battle.
• Despite common traditions shared universally by the Rhoynish people, individual Clans have a significant degree of variation in traditions and overall culture. Some may have different criteria for being considered an adult, stronger concepts of honour, or a tradition of favouring a particular weapon or form of combat. Clans often also have a variety of unique festivals and celebrations, many of which may be open to outsiders.

Festivals and Celebrations

• The Clans of Rhoynur each have their own celebrations, often including one for their patron spirit, if applicable. These commonly entail the telling of creation myths, and several other folk stories of dubious accuracy applied to the spirit being celebrated. Primordials - especially Njorun - are quite often the protagonists in these stories, granted something of a demi-god status within the Rhoynish culture.
• The Festival of Natasa in a universally celebrated occasion amongst the Rhoynish. Occurring once every five years, it is held in honour of Natasa Dayndros' defeat of Barsburg's finest, and the resulting freedom of the Rhoynish from foreign control. It usually involves athletic and martial contests, as well as singing and dancing. Festival-goers also paint themselves with the symbol of the Dayndros Clan, a rare exception to the taboo of wearing a Clanmark without belonging to the clan. In fact, it is only permitted in this case because the Dayndros Clan Elders permitted it as a way of honouring their famous ancestor. Given its connotation to freedom from foreign influence, this tradition was banned by Queen Ariadni II as part of the Treaty of Hessalia.

Noteworthy Clans

• Clan Ilian - By far the most notable clan on Essharan soil, modern Clan Ilian formed from the group of Rhoynish that resettled Ilburg in the 18th century, led at the time by Penelope - later revealed to be Pariah - of Clan Dayndros. While active Rhoynish involvement in Esshar in a group sense is rare in modern times, it is often Clan Ilian Rhoynish active on the Essharan stage.

• Clan Hauklos - A very martial clan, originally they served as a close range force within Njorun’s armies, acting as both the shield and spear. While within the Barsburg Empire they spent their time honing their skills as gladiators, often amassing great fortune as well as great ire from within the more noble circles of the empire. After their exodus from the empire they took to mercenary work, gravitating towards hunting great beasts.

• Clan Llandir - Often considered an anomaly within the Rhoynish society. The clan takes to runewriting, often tattooing extensive networks of runes across their arms. The clan originally studied the divine magic of the World Anchor, managing to replicate some of its protective magics. The magic is still rooted in faith but it is faith in the Clan’s ancestors to provide strength during difficult times. The clan spend their time travelling between Rhoynish settlements, ensuring they have adequate protection.

• Clan Kalthos - The closest Clan to Njorun, naming themselves after the surname Njorun adopted in his mortal form. The clan fervently hunts down the occult and those who have ties to Helheim. Often seen as fanatic to outsiders they do not rest until they eradicate all sources of the foul magic in an area before moving on. Their methods are indiscriminate and are often considered brutally excessive.

• Clan Arsali - A small clan in modern times, Clan Arsali is perhaps notable only for a handful of High Lords prior to the Conquest of Rhoynur, and two particular members who made some degree of impact on the city of Osrona; a terrorist in the 17th century and the first Magistrate of the failed Osronan Republic in the 18th. Clan Arsali is unfriendly towards Essharans as a general rule, remembering all too well the near extinction of the clan after the Conquest, and eschew some common Rhoynish beliefs by typical worshipping Asena and Saekanis rather than Njorun.

Settlements of Note

Ilburg

Roughly 50 years after the enslavement of the Rhoynish people, one clan, Clan Ilian, managed to escape from their bindings of slavery and settled the city of Ilburg within the deserts. Their city was built upon existing ruins which were discorver to have ties back to Njorun himself. A hidden city was constructed in the ruins beneath Ilburg, beneath the temple to Njorun.

The City’s main source of income was banditry and theft yet they were successful enough to attract other escaped clans and stray Rhoynish causing the population to swell past normal Rhoynish groups. Eventually, this drew the attention of Osrona who believed the city of Ilburg to be a den for Occultism. An inquisition followed but eventually Ilburg’s name is cleared leading to an alliance with Osrona resulting in the Gate of Njorun being fixed and purging it of all Nethradin influence.

Over the years Ilburg lost most of its Rhoynish identity, morphing to more of a cultural bastion for all peoples. In the recent years all Rhoynish slavery has been abolished within the areas surrounding Esshar and all previous items of heritage were returned.

Rhoynur

The oldest settlement in the Tribelands of Rhoynur, Rhoynur was the only settled city of the Rhoynish people until the recolonisation of Ilburg. Taken relatively non-violently at the end of the Conquest of Rhoynur by the Essharans, the city was ruled by an Essharan governor until the collapse of the Essharan Empire in the 1740s, at which point it was retaken by the Rhoynish.

Skill Tree (OOC)

• Rhoynish Passive: This grants 5 Vitality & doubles the Activity Points gained from Dangerous/Deadly RPBs.
• Battle Cry: Cleanses debuffs & grants immunity to debuffs for 10s. Adds a movement fade with 150 alpha for duration.

History

Origins - 150ish AC

In the heart of Aegis sits Mount Erradir, an imposing, unconquerable mountain within which lies a divine artifact, the World Anchor. Rooted to the very core of the planet itself, this device acts as a preventative measure against spells that threaten Eternia as a whole, perhaps being the one thing that has prevented the sundering of the world by such threats in the past. The people who settled around the mountain began to revere both it and the device within. A significant fortification was constructed and these people began to defend the World Anchor from the ever rising threat of Witchcraft and occultism.

In the middle of the second century the primordial Njorun, disguising himself as a mortal, came to these Erradiran people. He taught them strategy, tactics and war, transforming them from an already formidable people to an unstoppable army, and began a crusade against those under the influence of Helheim. Those that chose to join him became known as the first Rhoynish, while those that remained behind became the Mountain’s eternal protectors.

The Rhoynish travelled with Njorun, never staying for too long in one place as they routed out and destroyed the denizens of Helheim wherever they could be found. Upon his death, Njorun blessed his people allowing them to rejoin him after death in the eternal battle against the forces of Helheim. With their leader gone, eventually the people shattered into clans, being led by a High Lord or Lady and keeping these nomadic ways, passing down the teachings of Njorun through their Lorespeakers and Priestesses.

The Rhoynish people revere their ancestors and Njorun himself, often consulting them through ritual and prayer to guide their actions. However there is no organised religion beyond individual holy men and women. The will of Njorun is what all Rhoynish base their decisions upon and as such they seek out to destroy those with a connection to Helheim and specifically, the Dark Lord and his minions. A Rhoynish would never form a pact with the denizens of Hel of their own free will.

The Coalition and Empire Years - 300 AC - 620ish AC

In the years following Njorun’s mortal death, the clans spread across the lands and created the lands of Rhoynur. Retaining their nomadic ways, the people of Rhoynur spent most of their lives in a constant patrol of their lands, finding and eradicating any Helbound threat they came across. During these times there was no singular leader of the people as nobody believed they could match up to the leadership of their Primordial.

Their lives were never peaceful however as nearby Kingdoms increased in hostilities and began to push back on the Rhoynish people, their nomadic ways proving difficult to uphold during a defensive war. Eventually a Coalition was formed between the People of Rhoynur and the Kingdoms of Barsburg, Hart, and Leiya. Initially the alliance was unsteady but over time the Rhoynish people adapted as the Empire of Barsburg was formed.

Many clans strayed away from their initial purpose during this time. Many became elite soldiers that would fight for the Crown rather than for any spiritual purpose. One of the most popular professions during this time was as a Gladiator, often earning these individuals money, fame and sometimes even influence within the empire itself. During this time a Leader was appointed to the Rhoynish people, the High Lord/Lady. They acted in much the similar way a monarch would.

After serving the empire for close to 400 years, the Rhoynish eventually split from the empire. The High Lady, Natasa Dayndros, was proposed to by the Emperor. She refused, demanding that he best her in a public spectacle. They took to the Colosseum and the Emperor sent out his best warriors and beasts, however they all ultimately fell until all that was left was the Emperor himself. Upon his defeat, the Rhoynish people were exiled from the empire and, deciding that they had strayed from the path, attempted to return to their nomadic ways though they retained the notion of having a High Lord/Lady.

The Conquest of Rhoynur - 1650-1653 AC

A thousand years after their cessation from the empire, the Rhoynish people had settled one major city within the lands of Rhoynur and had spent the centuries losing sight of their original purpose as hunters of Hel. Their time within the Empire had given them a more martial and materialistic view of the world resulting in a practice of banditry and raiding. All of the leadership of the people were centralised within the city while people still live their day to day lives out in the country.

The day to day lives mostly consisted of invading neighbouring lands and with increased raids into the Kingdom of Esshar tensions began to rise. Esshar’s lack of response allowed the Rhoynish to push to the city of Hessalia, unprepared for a siege, the town surrendered to the forces within a week. The city was raised and most inhabitants slaughtered.

This action forced Esshar into a war with the Nation of Rhoynur, a war they fought capably and ultimately won, the High Lord Lucian of clan Shar signing the Treaty of Hessalia in .

Following their loss at the hands of the Essharan armies, the Rhoynish people were put into slavery and many of their practices were outlawed.

The Dark Years - 1643-1740 AC

The time following the Conquest of Rhoynur is universally remembered by the Rhoynish as perhaps the darkest era they had ever experienced. The aftermath of the Conquest left many clans completely destroyed, and the enslavement of the Rhoynish displaced clans' individual members. With the Rhoynish oral tradition the chief source of traditions and history being passed down, the Dark Years represented the near-cultural genocide of the Rhoynish people, with clans only kept alive in the enslaved populace through happenstance of concerted defiance within Essharan cities' slave quarters.

In the early 18th century, the development of successful avenues of smuggling Rhoynish slaves out of Essharan cities allowed many to escape slavery, several groups of which occupied the ruins of Ilburg and developed a free Rhoynish city.

Liberation - 1741 AC

Final liberation for the Rhoynish people came in the middle of the 18th Century. With the collapse of the Essharan Empire, and the Sack of Osrona by the forces of the Essharan League led by Myllenoris, the Treaty of Hessalia became defunt. While it would not be officially repealed by the Petrakis Monarchy until the 1860s, most Rhoynish still enslaved were able to find their liberation, settling largely in Ilburg and Alabastre.