Dunedari (A1-0)
Døneðari | |
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| Biological Classification | |
| Designation | Sapient |
| Classification | Humanoid |
| Ancestral species | Humans |
| Races | Agulvar Areskan Arngun Gauldr Gellir Gimir Iskarkir Opir Telnir Thurid |
| Related subspecies | Alari Arkanians Dhaneghulans Jhadorans Panuri Prill Xalarians |
| Related species | Chiss/Cheunh Owette Venterrans Zeltrex |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Average height | 1,7 - 1,9 m |
| Skin colour | Pink, white |
| Eye colour | Blue, green |
| Hair colour | Red |
| Breathe | Oxygen |
| Lifespan | 80 standard years |
| Maturity | 18 standard years |
| Sexes | 2 |
| Distinctions | Blue facial markings |
| Sociocultural characteristics | |
| Place of origin | Unknown Valterra (adopted, formerly) Nau Valterra (adopted, currently) |
| Star nation |  Dunedari Free-Standings |
| Total population | ~24,8 billion
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| Key worlds | Agulmar Areskjarna Arngard Gauldrasil Gevellir Gimingr Iskard Opiror Tellarin Thurdnir Nau Valterra |
| Languages | Duntau |
| Religion | Valsharanism |
| Marital customs | Monogamous |
| Notable individuals | Jarla Tyri I Gelnir Arbiter Jeggur Telgeir |
"The fairly recent events - historically speaking - by the Dunedari show us that we must fully understand a situation before we act. Those who may bring injustice often are victims themselves. Like the Dunedari, one can always redeem themselves if given the proper chance."—Jo'Dai Master Borerc Deh'ran, Historian of the Jo'Dai Order
The Dunedari (singular: Dunedar; plural: Dunedari; adjective: Dunedari) are a fairly new race of Terrans in the Tiyanki Territories. Regardless of their troubled history, the Dunedari have shunned their shameful past and maintain their territory in the Dunedari Free-Standings. Their militant nature is well known and respected. Therefore, few people ever tread through their territory unwarranted.
Biology and appearance
The Dunedari, being a Terran race, share many similarities with their ancestral species. However, all Dunedari have pale skin and a shade of red hair. Some speculate they were genetically altered, but interbreeding with other Terran races have led to the conclusion that the genes responsible for their appearance are in fact recessive. Their blue facial tattoos, a rite of passage, are permanent and give their race a distinct look compared to the other races.
Like the other redhaired Terrans, the Dunedari too have many freckles. Though it is peculiar that almost in all cases the freckles disappear during puberty. Therefore the freckles have become a symbol of youth and members who have them well into their adulthood are considered to have a vigorous soul.
The Dunedari also are slightly taller with the men easily towering smaller members of other Terran races. It's speculated that this is a result from their time journeying to their newly adopted homeworlds, where they sometime had to survive long periods in zero-G on their Dunedari Migrant Fleet.
History
The Dunedari originated on their homeworld of Valterra, currently located in the Treecuu Star Empire. It is believed that roughly 10.000 standard years ago, they were brought by their Gods from the heavens to a heavenly planet. Soon the Dunedari began to form their own clans which would after thousands of years of infighting and quarrelling, would found the Dunedari State. This state even colonized other worlds, but was short-lived as the Loo-Yee destroyed their worlds in a decade long war, known to the Dunedari as the Litån Råðorak or "Small Apocalypse".
Forced into a nomadic lifestyle, the Dunedari set out to find a new home for themselves. Forming the Dunedari Migrant Fleet, they travelled through the Badlands of Anarchy towards the Ch'Rattan Cartel. Not wishing to be associated with these criminal empires, the Dunedari continued their search. Supplies were becoming sparser and some resorted to piracy. Clans Gauldr and Iskarkir were such cases and brought a stigma upon the Dunedari which now were being shunned away from all the star nations in the Tiyanki Territories. After decades of searching a new home, the finally found a planet adequate for their needs, Nau Valterra.
Realizing that they needed to form a defensive perimiter as soon as possible, the Dunedari aggressively claimed more space. This would however put them at odds with the Sellorians resulting in a short war known as the Sellorian-Dunedari War. Now having proven their martial prowess to the other star nations, the Dunedari proclaimed their Free-Standings at at its head, Jarl Urjo I Gelnir. Their domain was now secured in their loose confederation and have since begun to prove themselves equal to their neighbouring star nations while being fiercely territorial. Though the stigma as space pirates still remain to the nations of the Territories, the Dunedari are doing their best to dissuade this prejudice.
Society and culture
Dunedari society is still remarkably tribalistic. Tribe and Clan structure is immensely important to the people and few even dare question it. While equality between male and female has been achieved, some roles remain preferred by each gender through the many traditions. Dunedari society still is somewhat stratified, with the "freemen" or Kårli being at the bottom, the "clergy" or Seiðrkap acting as the middleclass and at the top are the "nobility" or Ødeli. Rising up in the castes is possible, but requires great devotion and trials of spirit. For without proving one's faith, no Dunedari can be truly deemed a Dunedari as the Dunedari religion is paramount to its people.
Religion
The Dunedari religion is called Valsharanism. It's a tribalistic religion fused with many shamanism and mysticism. The main belief is that the Dunedari people once lived together with their Gods in Valshara, but were punished for their arrogance. Hence why they were given a heavenly planet, for the Gods didn't wish to punish them too hard. It was hoped that the Dunedari would see the errors in their beliefs by seeing the hardship of the real world. Dunedari could return to Valshara only if they had proven themselves worthy. By the ancient Dunedari it was mostly perceived as dying in battle, but as the Tribes began to understand that cooperation would be most beneficial, this believe was largely set aside to incorporate more peaceful means.
The Valsharan pantheon consists of multiple deities. The Dunedari turn to these Gods for respective occasions through many rituals. Often Dunedari follow the path of one God which is most aligned with their profession. At the top of the pantheon is Ådar, the Father-God. Beneath him there are many other Gods such as Thurin, destroyer of evil and the Warrior-God, Fraya, Goddess of Nature and Fertility, Frarin, the Seagod, Tyrin, God of War, Løthin, God of Mischief and Laughter, Baldir, God of Artisanry and Forges, and Ymra, Goddess of Beauty.
The Dunedari faith also guides its people on how to live in conjunction with the universe. However, there also is a emphasis on sacrifice. It is believed that sacrifices need to be made to honour the Gods and ease their path towards Valshara, the Afterlife. Dunedari children will be tested on their spirit and physique from a young age in preparation for their final test. The Trials of Valshara.
The Trials of Valshara (Valsharens Trulai in Duntau) can be seen as a form of baptism, though it requires much more effort on the part of the baptised. Before completion of the Trials, it is uncertain if the Dunedari will go to Valshara. By completing these Trials, the Dunedari has earned a place in Valshara, though not the most prestigious one. It is believed that only after completion of these Trials an individual can call themselves a true Dunedari.
The Trials consists of multiple phases. In the first phase the trial taker must fast for 5 days and pray for strength to their main God. The second phase is at the end of the first phase where a Dunedar must stand watch all night without food or rest for his Tribe. The third phase takes place a few days after the first two and is a trial of combat. This trial of combat consists of a 10 mile hike after which the Dunedari must defeat an assigned combatant. After the completion of these Trials, a giant celebration is held in the Tribe and the Dunedar is welcomed as an equal. Excessive use of alcohol is most prevalent in these celebrations accompanied by wardancing and singing. Usually these celebrations take up all night and the Dunedar is likely at the point of fainting. The following day, the Dunedar receives the facial markings of their Tribe and is from that point on officially a fully fledged Dunedar.
These Trials are taken by all Dunedari at the age of 17 and can be initiated multiple times until completion. Those who do not complete the trials are seen as outcasts and often die while training to finish these Trials. While many perished in the ancient times, the Dunedari of today rarely fail in their trials as they train for this moment their entire life.
The Dunedari also believe that at the end of time a large scale battle will happen between their Gods and the demons of evil. This cataclysmic event is called Råðorak and the Dunedari have vowed to fight alongside their Gods when the time comes. It is believed that this final act would repent their arrogance which banished them from their Heavens.
Dunedari wardancing and singing
The Dunedari are tribalistic and their music reflects it. Dunedari music consists of heavy usage of drums and steady rhythm accompanied by male throat singing. Females too have their own songs, though they don't use any throat singing techniques and their songs have either a joyful or lamenting tone.
While not all Dunedari master the muse of music, all are well-versed in wardancing. Used by their ancestors on their homeworld to prepare for battle, the Dunedari used these dances to prepare for battle. Nowadays the dances have shifted to a form of celebration and are widely used on many occasions. These dances consist of many varieties but are known to contain many twists and curls compared to the dancing of other species.
Tribes
The Dunedari are split into ten Tribes. Each of them have their own unique traditions that separates them from the larger Dunedari culture. From clothing styles to their tattoo patterns, each Tribe has their own uniqueness which is most prevalent on the Tribe homeworld. The Tribes have their own structure. At the top is the Leðir or "Chieftain" whose court is filled by smaller nobility and their fiefs. The Seiðr or "clergy" are also important to the Tribe as they provide wisdom and guidance to their Tribe while readings signs and omens.
The ten Tribes are Agulvar, Areskan, Arngun, Gauldr, Gellir, Gimir, Iskarkir, Opir, Telnir and Thurid. Their Chieftains hold absolute authority of the Tribe and can only be overruled by the Jarl in very few instances. These Tribes have banded together in the past, but now that a loose confederation holds their separated planets together, their traditions and ideologies have begun to diverge from one another.
Taðovingr - Tattoos
The main symbol of a Dunedari and their Tribe is their facial markings. These are sign of the completion of their Trials of Valshara and the Tribe to which they belong. Each Tribe has their own distinguihed basic pattern. After doing great deeds or accomplishments, more tattoos can be added signifying their prowess. Similarly, if a Dunedar does a crime, punishment requires them to receive a tattoo which marks their previous crimes. Those punished will then go through great lengths to earn markings which absolve their crimes. These tattoos aren't solely for the face and many also tattoo their Tribe's patterns on other body parts. It should be noted that these tattoos are permanent and cannot be removed through any non destructive means.
Aside from facial tattoos, piercings are also popular amongst the Dunedari. Both sexes, males and females alike, can be seen wearing piercings on their faces. Though it's not uncommon to find piercings on other body parts.
A woman of Tribe Agulvar.
A man of Tribe Agulvar.
A woman of Tribe Areskan.
A man of Tribe Areskan.
A woman of Tribe Arngun.
A man of Tribe Arngun.
A woman of Tribe Gauldr.
A man of Tribe Gauldr.
A woman of Tribe Gellir.
A man of Tribe Gellir.
A woman of Tribe Gimir.
A man of Tribe Gimir.
A woman of Tribe Iskarkir.
A man of Tribe Iskarkir.
A woman of Tribe Opir.
A man of Tribe Opir.
A woman of Tribe Telnir.
A man of Tribe Telnir.
A woman of Tribe Thurid.
A man of Tribe Thurid.
Naming conventions
The Dunedari follow the same naming system as the Terrans throughout Sector A1-0. Each individual has their own personal name which is then followed by their family name. Dunedari are also separated into 10 clans, but they represent this through their tattoos and thus have no special names to signify their clan. Dunedari names also follow their own rules which may appear quite foreign to other Terrans, though names ending on "-ar" are similar to Anglish names ending on "-son".
Dunedari in Sector A1-0
The Dunedari remain largely isolationist It is as of this moment yet unknown what the future of Dunedari exactly is. Though it is speculated that relations will strengthen with the Stoinian Star Kingdom as the larger star nation aims to protect the smaller star nation as a part of their foreign policy.
Their reputation as pirates still remains in recent memory and many in the Tiyanki Territories haven't forgotten it. Though star nations with more recent first contacts will undoubtedly approach the Dunedari more amiable.
Derogatory terms
A pejorative term commonly used to insult a Dunedar is the term "ginger pirate". It refers to the species' red hair and their troubled past. However, the Dunedari will take offence and likely take affirmative action against anyone who uses the derogatory term. Hence why it's advised the not use the term, especially within their territory.