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Imperiums

The Tuathan Humans

Though there are many tribes and differences between the Humans of the Tuatha, the have a strong cultural identity that loosely binds all who live on their plains. Ever since the invasion of the Avitian Empire into their lands, this cultural identity has become even stronger. The Clans may bicker and fight on occasion, but when push comes to shove with the Avitians, Tuatha know who their people are.


Physiology

In general, Thathan Humans are fair skinned and haired. Hair colors tend towards blondes, light browns, and red. Most humans prefer to wear their hair long as a full head of long hair is a minor source of pride among the people. Beards are common amoung the males and braids and hair adornments are common among both sexes.

Men average in height from 5’7"-6’2" and women from 5’4" to 5’8". As such the average Tuathan Human is slightly taller than the average Avitian, though slightly shorter than the average Ostman.

Society

The Tuatha also have a complex tribal structure, which has quasi-democratic as well as oligarchic features. The nature of this form of government allows for greater flexibility in both day-to-day life and matters of state, but can be a liability as the Tuatha do not have a centralized power structure. Other cultures have since surpassed Tuathan ability in matters of writing and crafting, but the Tuatha remain a powerful culture of fierce warriors possessed of a deep spirituality. Visitors to the Tuathan Plains are often surprised by the coexistence of two contradictory strains of cultural practice, but it must be remembered that the Tuathan Gods are much closer to their people than are the gods of other regions.

The Tuatha culture’s basic social unit is the clan. A clan is comprised of family members, both natural and adopted, who live in a same area. These clans generally band together in loose alliances with other clans to form Cantrevs. The thirteen cantrevs can be thought of as kingdoms, though the area a cantrev rules over is fluid with out the defined borders of a Kingdom. It should also be noted that the ties that bind a cantrev together are less than permanent and for that reason, it is not unusual for a clan to change allegiance from time to time.

In addition to clan chieftans, Druids and Bards are highly respected advisers and judges in the Tuathan community. Unlike chieftans, bards and druids can roam from clan to clan with little fear of being accosted even if the clans in questions are at war. This is due to their role as advisors and carriers of news to the Tuatha as a whole, not merely one particular clan.

Once upon a time clans commonly fought each other, if for no other reason than the glory defeating a foe would bring the clan. Dur these days it was common for a victorious warrior to take the head of a defeated foe and keep it as a trophy. These heads would be shown off during important feasts and holidays and were thought to keep evil Fae and spirits at bay. Heads would be passed down from generation to generation.

While such treasures are still valued and passed down, the practices of intra-clan conflict and ritual beheading has fallen out of favor in current times. Due to the pressures put on the people by the presence of the Avitians, cattle raiding has replaced outright warfare. Being able to raid another clan of some of their cattle is seen as a show of strength and one that does not require the death and beheading of warriors and chieftains.

Arts


History