There are four major groups, each with an associated ancestral core territory.
The group most worked on to date are the Felser derived people, whose cultural hearth rests within the limestone plateau of the Felspaat. Most of the material to date deals with the tribespeople of the core region, and there are many within the coastal cities, who, while they are Felser-descended would never even consider the possibility of that relationship. This is evidenced by much of the common cultural basics. Felser religious concepts dominate the greater continent, and the language of science is Felser-derived. Felser people, particularly of pure blood are distinguished by their tall and statuesque appearance. Typically their skin tones are best described as ‘ashen’, with chiselled features, blue eyes and tend to dark hair.
The second major group, commonly accepted as being a distant off-shoot of the Felser group, are the Laneej, a violent tribal group taking their name from the Laneej (spine) mountains of the grithen portion of the major continent. They are of stockier build than the Felser, given to narrower eyes, but with softer and fuller features than their more angular cousins, and a more 'normal' white Caucasian flesh-tones. Laneej religion exhibits something of their harsh surroundings as much as their societal attitude: a principle of creation spawning from the severed limbs of a celestial sacrifice, and humanity being very much an accidental product, and a relatively weak and minor one at that in comparison to both elemental forces and other species. From that first sacrifice the tribes need to repeat the principle lest they lose their strength and fail from the land. The Laneej have their origins in the Felser, some of which are hinted at in Felser mythology, although this is lost to the Laneej themselves. A large group of Felser left the plains long ago, possibly under Rukimiuk the mythological ‘Father’ of Umber.
Hailing from the ushtoj forest ranges (and strangely on both major and minor continents) are the Imbretch. They are readily identified by the deep-set green eyes, matted moss-like hair, and their long hands and feet. Soft of speech, they are easily the most elegant and lithe of the people groups. Imbretch religion and philosophy has no concept of god as individual entities: humanity is the wilful and fickle creation of the Urges. Worship centres around nature spirits and reverence for the departed ancestors (who may, or may not, be aware of that reverence).
From the Dimupxi plains of the telf are the Pxin group, short and slender with straight jet-black hair, copper skin tones and vestigial epicanthic folds around their eyes. Their faith pattern is very mechanistic and impersonal, although there are certain personifications, especially Chance, who some philosophers regard as the creating and sustaining force of the universe.
There are, of course, other minor groups. The corsair Reef peoples value strength in all realms of life, and their pantheon reflects this: full of ascended heroes and demi-gods. In short "Might is Right" and the strongest rule, possibly ascending to godhead.
A further group are the Veneti, inhabiting the most of coastal portions of the major continent. Drawing their livelihood from the seas in extensive fishing fleets, and less so from the land they have a very benign and gentle mythology. They revere Mother Sea and Father Earth, with most of the aspects of life being drawn from their origin. They are universalist, benignly all-embracing in their view of reincarnation as the ultimate reality.
This page last updated November 2001. All material unless otherwise stated is ©:1998 Dr. S.N.Mousir-Harrison
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