Dunaan

From WFU Wiki
Dunaan

Dúnáin

Type Men
Affiliations
Religion(s) The Collective
Language(s) Dunese, Atherin

Dunaan, or Dúnáin (Dunese: “People of the Dún”) are a race of Men inhabiting the eastern coasts and mountains of mainland Atheryin, in their namesake region of the Dún. Originating from populations of Fínnan who migrated east from Daín and north from Hebena, the Dunaan find distinction from other races of men in their dark hair, sun-kissed skin tones, and unique culture and language. Their distinction from other, more closely-related groups of men, such as the Fónnan and Arano, is the result of centuries of physical and cultural isolation on the eastern slopes of the Byne Mountains.

Culture and Religion

Dunaan culture is centered around families. Family is the strongest bond, and bloodlines often mean more than anything else. An entire village is an extended family - usually not by blood, but by heart. Anyone who proves their worth can be inducted into a family if they so wish, and are treated like brothers and sisters, and inherit parents and grandparents. Fresh blood is always sought after, as it keeps families centered on deed instead of title.

Dunaan are famed for their bards. As deadly as they are jovial, these traveling wastrels tell tales of great battles and great joy, spreading the culture of their own, as well as the culture of others. Dunaan are fond of music, poetry, and stories, and their taverns are filled with laughter, joy, tears, anger.

The Dunaan are extremely fond of Ambrosia, but only the smokeable paste form. They carve eloquent pipes from the wood of the Eder tree, which are famous the world over as the best pipes around.

History

After the Schism of Men in the Hebena Valley, some populations of Fínnan who did not follow the teachings of Kul or the early leaders of Sauīljar, migrated north into the untamed wetlands and foothills east of the Byne Mountains. This migration was primarily driven by groups who still clung to Harbinger Cults. Although unknown how far north these groups actually traveled, it is estimated they at least made it as far as modern-day Túm.

Centuries later, following the collapse of society in Daín (due to an unspecified event which I will probably identify later), groups of Fónnan began to migrate east over the Byne Mountains and the Nag River delta, into modern-day Jún, Nún, and Rín. Contact with earlier migrants residing in the Tóbh region, combined with feelings of disillusion in the early Collective church, led to most Fónnan arrivals converting to Harbinger Cults. After settling in the Dún and integrating with older Fínnan, they began to form familial clans that formed the groundwork for later Dunaan families.

The Lyrian Empire first made contact with the Dunaan after their invasions of the Nag Valley region. Seeking control over the entirety of the Nag River as a means to provide quicker access from the foot of the Pearlknife Mountains to the Sea of Dunai, the Lyrians began their invasions of the disorganized Jún clans rather swiftly. The early Dunaan, still worshipping Harbingers, saw the Lyrians as god-like figures, and were mostly not resistant to the empire’s occupation, leading to a swift Lyrian domination of Jún, Nún, Rín, and northern Tóbh. Although the Lyrians attempted further invasions of the southern Dún, combinations of stronger nationalistic feelings among the southern Dunaan, difficult geography, and imperial resource overextension led to the eventual abandonment of these efforts.

The Dunaan lived under Lyrian rule for several centuries, mostly peacefully. Tensions began to grow as a national identity among the Dunaan began to form. This occurred primarily due to Dunaan familial clams being allowed a rise to power among the merchant class. Lyrian government saw familial ownership of mercantile industries in the Dún to be beneficial, as it centralized the industry and made it easier for them to tax and manipulate. As their wealth grew, Dunaan families began to become angry with their inability to own property and businesses within their homeland, a luxury reserved solely for Lyrians. This, combined with a growing sympathy for the anger of Daín at Lydia’s colonial practices, eventually led to their rebellion alongside the Fónnan after the Schism at Daín.

Politics

Dunaan cities function independently of one another, with only a loose affiliation based on trade and mutual benefit keeping them together. Their rugged, mountaineous homeland of the Dun makes for long journeys, and harsh winters, and so the Dunaan often have many villages set up along these trade routes, rest stops for weary travellers and hungry warriors.

Dunaan politics is very much factured. Some families are warring barbarians, and others are peaceful traders. For the most part, families work together, but blood feuds can go on for a long time, and underhanded deals with other families have seen many a war break out.

While most families operate mostly independently, there is a king of the Dunaan. The High King is elected between the families from the smartest, strongest, wisest men of the land - though it usually ends up that the richest or the most powerful family elects their leader, however old, weak, and stupid he may be. He operates as the supreme ruler of all the families, and in times of war, leads the entire race against their enemies. Most of the time he is simply a figurehead, on a position designed to give old men a comfortable bed in which to die.

The Dunaan make up the majority race in the Nokana Empire, and operate completely separately from the Dunaan in the south, and identify not as Dunaan, but as Nokanian. This can cause political tension between the two areas.

Military and Magic