#the veerali

[ivendarea]

The Veerali

Rooted in Nature

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Hidden away in the thick and humid jungles and swamps of southern Ivendarea, the Veerali are the smallest ethnic sub-group of the Nyr. The majority of them still lives in the lands of their ancestors, in small villages hidden away from plain sight, but a small portion of them have become nomads roaming the lands east and west of the Skyreach Mountains. They travel from village to village, city to city, telling stories and offering their services as talented artists, engineers, mages, or fighters.

Table of Contents:

Culture and History

Cultural Heritage

Language and Dialect

Shared Values

Common Etiquette

Fashion

Art and Architecture

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Courtship Ideals

Relationship Ideals

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Culture and History

Once the majority of their population had settled in Beldran and Maan Ganyr, mixing with the Wylaai and Gideya. But with both these cities destroyed more or less recently, they have become thinly spread and distrustful to outsiders.

Cultural Heritage

Originating from one of the most dangerous but also fertile and profitable regions of Ivendarea, the Veerali call the southern marshes their home. Vegetation and wildlife are rich, sustaining even larger communities with ease. But the swamps are treacherous to those not careful about where - or what - they step on. Flora and fauna are as deadly as they are beautiful.

The Veerali are a reluctant but curious people, very strongly inclined to magic. They have a rich culture of music, art, and poetry, are talented alchemists, and their organic architecture manipulating the growth of certain trees blends in perfectly with the environment. The Veerali are also the inventors of the Riverblade, a type of flat boat with a sail used to quickly transport wares, people, or news along the many small rivers of the swamps. It has become one of the most popular means of transportation across Ivendarea and many sub-types exist for different environments and purposes.

Despite some initial reluctance when the Aman’a Valeethi first surfaced a few millennia ago with their new religion centred on Aman, the Veerali are today devout followers of Aman’s Teachings. The virtues and values taught by Aman, their view on life, death, and rebirth and being in tune with the world and one’s magic strongly resonate with the Veerali.

On the southernmost shores of Ivendarea the Veerali also have a handful of settlements that used to be focused on fishing, but nowadays are dedicated artists’ communities. The Veerali create beautiful sculptures from driftwood and stone, and they dive for pearls and collect other treasures washed up on the shore. They turn them into enchanted jewellery, or incorporate them into their clothing symbolizing their social status in many ways.

Language and Dialect

The Veerali’s dialect is melodic and smooth, rather pleasant to listen to, and also comparatively close to pure Nyrval. There are some terms and phrases going back much further in time than the standardization of Nyrval though, so specific that they usually need to be explained to outsiders. Next to Nyrval, most Veerali also speak Trade and despite their isolation are eager learners and somewhat fluent in at least one or two additional languages as well.

Shared Values

The Veerali honour nature and despise its destruction for the purpose of constructing settlements or machines of war. Outsiders are to be treated with wariness and suspicion, particularly after the events of the Invasion War. But those who have earned the Veerali’s trust are welcomed wholeheartedly to the homes of this reclusive group.

The Veerali’s shyness is not to be confused with a lack of fierceness, and among the natives of Ivendarea they are the best-trained warriors. Due to their strong magical inclination and strength of will they are also very sought-after by recruiters of the Avon Julanor. Despite usually not launching attacks on outsiders, they don’t hesitate to fight those who invade their communities. Widely scattered across many insular communities, they are still well-connected among each other. News travel fast and far, and distances are quickly crossed in times of need. The Veerali stick together and hold on strongly to their heritage, deeply rooted in their values, environment, and community. They are very spiritual people, valuing the upkeep of religious tradition and rituals, tying them into their daily lives. They greatly enjoy their independence, living completely self-sufficient, although some express a desire to see more of the world, become more connected to the outside, maybe even establish a proper harbour on Ivendarea’s southern coast.

Common Etiquette

Outsiders - be it Assadin or just Nyr from outside a community - are not to be brought into the heart of a village before gaining approval from its respective council. The Veerali don’t like surprise visits. As a sign of good will when coming to a new community, the guest is usually required to bring a little gift - it doesn’t have to be valuable, but it has to have significance and meaning. Even better than a gift though is offering a service to the community.

The elders as well as those who were reborn many times, are to be treated with the utmost respect, as they carry vast knowledge and are the pillars of the community - Veerali and Nyr as a whole.

Fashion

Veerali clothing is made from light natural fibres that breathe easily and dry quickly in the humid south. While guards and workers in the outskirts of the villages tend to wear more muted colours to blend in with the environment, more vibrant colours are worn in everyday life and particularly for festive celebrations. The Veerali incorporate driftwood, amber, and pearls in their clothing and jewellery. Strands of fabric are braided to achieve not only interesting textures in everyday clothing but are also used to create a thick but flexible padding worn under armour for additional protection. The Veerali’s armour is made predominantly from small, lacquered wooden plates sewn onto woven fabrics, resembling fish, snake, or dragon scales. Sometimes similar elements can be found on everyday-clothing and jewellery.

A Veerali fighter wearing a very typical chest plate, pauldron, and glove made from wood, decorated with moss, fabric-straps, golden shimmering resin, an animal claw, and more. Notable are also the shoes with soles made from gum donning little spikes that make climbing easier. In comparison to the heavy armour the clothing more suitable for all-day wear is light and breathable, but created with the same eye for detail and organic shapes.

The Veerali are also known to wear a specific necklace that indicates the amount of times an individual has been reborn, depending on how many precious stones are attached to it. They receive it during their Vath’eran. Being very spiritual and connected to their past, the Veerali have a lot of respect for those reborn many times, deeming them wise and visionary.

Art & Architecture

Veerali art and architecture is organic and flowing, religious symbolism often sneakily incorporated so that it isn’t visible at first glance. Being at peace and one with nature is in focus, so their buildings are usually flooded with light. The base structures for most Veerali houses are trees manipulated during their growth to take on certain shapes that form living spaces similar to houses. The term “house” is definitely a bit of a stretch, as usually a house is not always a connected structure. Much more common are large communal areas at the base of trees where everyone comes together to cook and eat, while higher up in the trees spherical structures contain sleeping quarters and other personal rooms, offering shelter to individuals or small families. Yet again separate spaces for work and personal hygiene are spread across the whole communal area’s outskirts.

The Veerali wash and cook with collected rain water, and they purify their used water before releasing it again into nearby rivers or the ocean. Water pipes are made from specific types of hollow bamboo. They run entirely above ground, often aesthetically incorporated into existing buildings and structures such as bridges and pathways connecting living and working spheres.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

The Veerali braid their hair in a variety of fashions, tying it up, weaving it together, and decorating it to show and appreciate craftsmanship and creativity. Jewellery is worn by most individuals, fashioned from natural materials ranging from wood and metal to seashells and even types of grass. Fierceness and a determined attitude are well-liked and respected, independence and freedom are celebrated.

Courtship Ideals

Persistence is key when courting Veerali, as relationships are serious business and many are very picky when it comes to choosing their partner(s). It needs convincing and passion to woo the other party, fighting for them with all you have is only just enough. Material gifts are not as popular as elsewhere, they have to be truly unique and carry a lot of special meaning to matter. Much more valued than gifts are deeds.

A common saying originating from Veerali culture goes as follows: “How many miles would they chase the storm for you?” Devoting themselves to and sacrificing a lot to their partner, family, and community is a grand virtue, against all odds and probabilities.

Relationship Ideals

Relationships that go beyond pure physical aspects are treated as serious business and meant to last, all parties committing to a shared life together. The partners support each other through all hardships but also enjoy a lot of freedom and privileges within their hometowns. The community will help together to build a new private living space for the couple. Their children are raised in a communal effort, teaching them about history, art, life skills, and their heritage. Bonded partners don’t have to take on guard duties or other risky jobs, unless they truly want to, to fully devote their lives to each other, their craft, children, and their home.

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[ivendarea]

Ivendarea

The Cradle at the Green River

Located between the Amber Ocean in the east and the Quiet Sea in the west lies the territory of the Kingdom of Ivendarea. In the language of the native Nyr “Ivendarea” means as much as “the cradle at the green river”, which couldn’t be more accurate to describe the country’s heartlands. The massive Green River, called “Iven” by the natives, springs from the central massive mountain range, the Skyreach Mountains. Creating a large region of fertile valleys, plains, and lake-land along its length, the river is not only metaphorically considered Ivendarea’s lifeblood.

Both a sub-continent and an independent nation, Ivendarea can be separated into two main parts: the mainland, a huge peninsula covering around 85% of the nation’s surface, and a large jagged island off its west coast by the name of “Maan Garth”, “the gods’ garden”.   Surrounded by stormy waters on three sides and fairly isolated from the other continents, Ivendarea doesn’t immediately seem like the most desirable location to settle down. The country’s rich, wild, and often-times dangerous flora and fauna, its great range of different climate zones, and largely untamed nature seeping with magic make it a secret jewel hidden away behind deadly currents and unpredictable weather. In its cold north a sheer impenetrable ice desert forms a natural border to its only direct neighbouring nation, the just as isolated Darthonis.

Today Ivendarea is not only the home to its native inhabitants, the Nyr, but has also become the chosen home of some of the Aapha of Darthonis, the marginalized Kitu, and many Assadin that left their home continent Atrana over the course of the last few centuries in search of a better life.

Geography

Ivendarea is a topographically diverse country. Much longer than wide it stretches across a variety of climate zones that offer spectacularly different regions depending on where on the map a visitor finds themself. The following description will stick to Ivendarea’s landscapes that stand out the most, shaping the country significantly, and aid in showcasing its unique geographic features.  

The Skyreach Mountains

In the central portion of the mainland of Ivendarea lie the Skyreach Mountains. In the language of the natives, Nyrval, they are called “Sylaristrea” . This word is best translated as “reaching for the skies” and actually describes the action of a person stretching themself so far to be as tall as possible, hands reaching towards the sky. It’s a gesture that couldn’t be more fitting to use to illustrate the massif’s enormous dimensions when standing right in front of it, and it is most likely the origin of the mountains’ name. 

The massive mountain range stretches along almost the entirety of the country’s length, dividing its main peninsula almost in half. To the east of the mountains lies a thin, steep strip of land dominated by forests, a few lakes, and little villages that specialize in mining, hunting, or fishing and are mostly inhabited by Assadin. One of the largest settlements on the mountains’ eastern slopes is the town Stendell, famous for its blacksmiths, and sitting right at the Ashen Lake, a nowadays inactive volcano that serves as a reservoir of fresh water fed by the surrounding glaciers. 

To the west of the Skyreach Mountains lie the valleys that give Ivendarea its name. The Green River springs at the western slopes, providing the farmlands beneath with fresh water and creating fertile ground as far as the eye can see.

Towards the south the mountains become broad and shallow, eventually transitioning into rocky flats with increasingly more thickly growing jungles and treacherous marshlands.

Ivendarea’s oldest settlement is located slightly to the east of the Skyreach Mountains’ northernmost peaks: the old capital city Canwyl, birthplace of the kingdom of Ivendarea.  

The Green River

Name-giving to the country, the “Iven” – or Green River – is seen as the land’s lifeblood. It is supposedly carries a particularly potent magical essence or energy in its waters that some claim is a reason for the Nyr’s long lifespan. Taking a bath in the river is said to increase one’s life for a year, and at its shores grows an abundance of alchemically potent plants that have been used in herbal medicine for millennia. Springing from the Skyreach Mountains, near the capital city Saratheas, the river eventually splits into several large arms that form a gigantic river delta issuing into the Quiet Sea. 

The Quiet Sea

  The Quiet Sea (in Nyrval called “Naluar Serveetha”) lies to the west of Ivendarea. It is a predominantly cold, stormy ocean, with waters so dark and clear that its surface can appear almost like a mirror on the rare days it’s calm. Not much about the sea’s nature seems quiet, apart from its icy temperature, and in fact its name is not in reference to its temperament. Many ships have sunk in its storms, disappearing from this world without a trace in treacherous currents. “Naluar Serveetha” can both mean “quiet sea” or “sea of secrets”.

Part of the Quiet Sea, located between the mainland and the island Maan Garth, lies the Thorn Strait (“Candarnas”, literally the “thorny depths”). Millennia before Ivendarea became a united nation this portion of the Quiet Sea used to be the caldera of a huge volcano that is now dormant. There is still some volcanic activity in the area, accompanied by underwater earthquakes, but the true danger of the Thorn Strait is a huge and far-spread cluster of sharp, spike-like rocks that linger just below the water surface, ready to tear into the hull of an inexperienced sailor’s ship.    

The Amber Ocean

  At Ivendarea’s eastern shores lies the Amber Ocean. It has a calmer temperament than the Quiet Sea, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. On the relatively warm shores all sorts of underwater creatures feel at home, both friendly and deadly. The steep and porous cliffs make landing with a bigger ship nigh impossible, which is why merchants usually decide to take a detour around the southern cape of Ivendarea to anchor at one of the main harbours in the west.

The Amber Ocean has its name from the way the colours of rising and setting sun reflected in its waters in combination with many colourful sandbars winding along its coast create a unique spectacle of nature. The differently coloured sands found in the region range from black volcanic types to warm reds, yellows, and white quartz-sand. During dusk and dawn the sandbars only just covered by the golden waters can have the appearance of the strangely shaped insects or plants that can sometimes be found conserved in amber.    

Maan Garth

  While Ivendarea’s fauna and landscape is already wild and beautiful, Maan Garth takes its uniqueness to new extremes. The tremendously rugged island features the country’s steepest and highest cliff-sides, several active volcanoes, marshes and jungles resembling labyrinths, and creatures so distinctly different, they could have come from another plane of existence altogether. Not without reason the island is therefore called “Garden of the Gods” or “Thorn Island”. Just like the rest of the nation it is overflowing with magic.   The torn landscape makes the construction of roads and towns a major challenge, and so the majority of the inhabitants of the island live in the gigantic capital of Maan Garth, the harbour city Panthil. It sits on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Maan Garth and Thorn Strait, and on a clear day it is possible to see the coastline of the mainland on the horizon from its highest districts.

Maan Garth’s name-giving trademark are steep, thorn-like stone formations. Overgrown with mosses, grass, or even trees these rocks are the home to shepherds and tiny settlements far above the ragged valleys, winding rivers, and many hundred fjords. In opposition to the chalky western shores of the main peninsula it is notable that the beaches of Maan Garth are completely black, a hint at the strong volcanic activity in the area.  

Flora & Fauna

Ivendarea’s flora and fauna is rather unique, as it developed largely independent for a long time before the first travellers made their way to the isolated nation. Just like its natives, the creatures roaming the lands and the plants growing around them, are magical by nature – some possessing stronger powers or a more potent essence than others.  

Predatory Animals

  Many of Ivendarea’s predatory animals are of a reptile nature: from small venomous snakes, quadrupedal lizards the size of mountain lions, to a variety of dragons found both on mountaintops and deep at the bottom of the seas, anything can be found. There is a smaller range of non-reptile predators as well, but they are less commonly seen as their scaled brothers.  

Prey and Domesticated Animals

  Even Ivendarea’s more docile creatures often have something threatening about their appearance, for example the massive Giant Goat most commonly found on Maan Garth. With twisted spiky horns and muscular bodies they almost dare their natural predators to approach them carelessly, as they will definitely know how to defend themselves. Amphibians such as the large Arcane Axolotl as well as a variety of felines are popular pets and often found in the heraldry of old families. Unheard of in most other nations is the Silk Spider. It feels at home in the more humid south and produces a strong silk-like material for its webs. The webs are harvested and turned into some of the finest garments found across the globe.  

Wild Plants

  Ivendarea is sprawling with herbs, spices, and flowers used in alchemy, medicine, and cooking. Some are common, others rare or even under strict protection due to being close to extinction, such as the Riverroot. A large range of climate zones also brings forth a colourful abundance of trees and other larger plants, from fir trees almost as tall as castles in the far north, to winding jungle shrubbery, thick vines and bamboo-like plants in the west and south. The Veerali, an ethnic subgroup of Nyr at home along Ivendarea’s humid southern coast, cultivate a special type of tree that can be magically manipulated to grow into the shape of anything imaginable - in the Veerali’s case in particular housing for their people.  

Cultivated Plants

  The vast majority of the Nyr live as vegetarians, as do many Kitu, so the cultivation of farmland is essential for their survival. Fields of grains and different breeds of rice are a common sight, as well as vegetables such as beets, potatoes, and cabbages, to name a few. In Ivendarea’s warmer regions there is also plantations of fruit trees and tea, spices, as well as lacquer trees. The region around the town Fandyl is known for its production of honey, fittingly called the Honey Fields, where almost all-around the year the meadows are covered in flowers and the buzzing of insects.   Furthermore, Ivendarea’s forests and jungles also provide edible fruits, berries, mushrooms, roots, and vegetables that are eagerly gathered and part of a variety of popular traditional dishes.  

Foreign Flora and Fauna

  When the Assadin came to Ivendarea to settle down, some brought animals from their home-nations to the new continent along with them, but few actually seemed to be able to adapt to the living conditions of Ivendarea. Certain canines, snakes, and a few brands of farm animals though feel at home in the more moderate areas of the land. Similarly, seeds, plants, and animals from other continents and nations occasionally find their way to Ivendarea aboard of ships as accidental stowaways. Thankfully so far no species introduced to Ivendarea from a foreign place seems to be harmful to the isolated nations nature and creatures – quite the opposite, it seems that Ivendarea’s creatures are actually more hostile towards other nation’s ecology and habitat. Therefore checks at the harbours have become more strict over time – to prevent alive flora and fauna not only from entering but also from leaving the subcontinent.

Natural Resources

  Most of Ivendarea’s mineral resources in the shape of ore can be found in the Skyreach Mountains, along the southern coast, and on Maan Garth. Stone, metal, and glass made from the many beaches’ sands are the most commonly used building materials across the whole nation. Wood, due to religious reasons, is less commonly found in structures, apart from driftwood found at the shores and trees felled by storms, making it a very valuable and rare material despite its abundant natural occurrence.

  Ivendarea’s ore mines produce mostly iron, but precious metals like gold can be found in decent amounts as well, contributing to the nation’s wealth, and there are large quarries used for the mining of marble, sandstone, limestone, and more.

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