Demihumans

Demihumans are beings that have a similar body structure--human body with elongated fingers and large domed heads--from being closely descended from the shemir.

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Cephalans

These nations formed later, focusing on sciences. Their insinsi traditions became less mystic, but they are still considered insinsi nations because of their shared culture and history.

• Cephalan (science)

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Gondals

Gondals developed from shemir who went to live underground. They move through earth and stone as if it were water, seeking out metals to absorb and convert to the energy mashoaab.

Gondal Template

• Gondal (value) - phases through stone, absorbs metal, converts to mashoaab

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Lemniscates

Lemniscates are insinsi who split off from cephalans late on Second Shem. They took their subculture of the study of math so far it became a whole new national culture. Lemniscates developed new powers, features, and ways of being.

• Lemniscate (infinity) - infinite capacity for mathematics

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Lunarians

Lunarians: moon-dwelling nations of tall, blue-skinned people who have cyclical lives and live on the moons. Each of Shem's moon has a different nation of lunarians, and a fourth nation exists spread out among other moons in the system. They developed from Shemir very early on as they adapted to living outside of Shem.

• Lunarian (moons) - lunar cycle - Grey Moon
• Kadruman (greed) - business cycle - Green Moon
• Nwyotian (fate) - karma - White Moon
• Habitian (nature) - natural cycles - other moons

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Shemir

Shemir

Shapers of reality. The first mortals on Shem.

Basics

• Taxonomic Order: Insinsi

• Alignment: Aetherial

• Energy: Genesis

• Lifespan: 2,000 years

• Diet: Normal mortal fare

• Habitat: Northern tundra hot springs

Origins

Fashioned from the fabric of reality by Gadzira, the Creator.

Description

Shemir appear to be anthropomorphic beings with high foreheads and a variety of color skin hues (blue, purple, gray, green, or even pale white). They have fingers that are proportionately longer than one might expect from the size of their hands. They have hair on the fringes of their heads but not on top.

Procreation

Shemir reproduce sexually with one another. They sometimes reproduce with other insinsis, where the species of the offspring follows that of the mother. Reproduction with any other species requires supernatural intervention.

Powers

Beyond their ability to fashion matter from genesis, shemir have the power to turn themselves into raw genesis, converting their entire being into it, when faced with beings from the Rending, the great hole in reality from which destroyers come. They can also sense genesis, appraise the skill with which an object was made, and have a natural talent for creative arts and crafts.

Fashioning

Shemir have the ability to fashion genesis into physical matter. If they wish to make an object that is imbued with energies other than genesis, they must have access to that energy at the time of fashioning. Fashioning is done primarily with the hands (though shemir who have lost their hands have found ways to work fashioning with feet, legs, arms, and even their eyes). By focusing their attention on the genesis around them (which they can sense), they are able to take hold of it and weave it together into matter. They generate this genesis either by making something small by hand or by drawing from their own physical form.

Weaknesses

Slitna harms them greatly.

Nations

Within the First Nation of the shemir, there are twelve tribes:

• Tsoho: considered the oldest tribe, the tribe of the Alpha Shemir

• Na Farko: the first tribe to split off, they became their own tribe upon a dispute over basic resources

• Halitta: those who split from the Na Farko to go back to where they came from but found they could not

• Duniya: those who split from the Tsoho to wander the world but came back

• Kirkira: those among the Halitta who went their own way over creative differences

• Tsari: those of the Tsoho who split to focus on the design of their community

• Na Asali: those who split from all tribes to return once more to their origin, but could not

• Gini: those of the Tsari who went on to build the community

• Magini: those of the Gini who did the building but did not like the result

• Siffar: those among the Tsari who wanted too many changes to the design

• Uwa: those of the Tsoho who wanted to focus on the hunt

• Uba: those of the Tsoho who wanted to focus on the gathering

Culture

The first shemir societies were matriarchal communities clustered near to hot springs in the tundras of Cassaru. As their societies grew, they each began to take on new forms, eventually merging into the city of Madziar, which is split into hundreds of sectors, each one a different kind of society, ranging from matriarchal communities to autocratic to feudal to capitalist to socialist to communist communities and everything in between. They get along because of their shared interest in maintaining the power of creation, and those that fail to maintain it or who stray into dangerous powers too irresponsibly or who simply rebel are banished into the cold tundras around the city. For many Ages, there was also a small camp in the tundra run by a being known as the Omega Shemir. This camp has since been left in ruins.

Though every community is different, the main community, the original community, remains. This community is considered the First Nation of the world. The First Nation is an advanced matriarchal community led by a council of 101, the eldest and most revered being the Shemir Subsequent. The Alpha Shemir is not part of the council, but tasked with unifying, policing, and handling the affairs of all of the other communities and their interactions. He answers to the council, however, though he is greatly respected. He is the head of the Ogichidaa, the special force that enforces the laws of Madziar through all of the communities.

Members of the council are elected from the tribes (32 councilors), faiths (12 councilors), workers' councils (36 councilors), or arts (20 councilors) they represent. These four sectors are the main parts of the First Nation. The tribes are made mostly of massive extended families, each one led by a council of elders. The elders make decisions for the tribe, but the tribe elects their member of the national council.

Faiths are the smallest group. Those shemir who join special religious orders outside of the tribe, worker, or artists communities belong to this category. They are a hierarchical group, but the hierarchy is determined through consensus among them. There are 12 of these orders, and each of them is a mixture of worship of Gadzira and of Mother Shem herself, save for one which worships Bahamut.

The workers' councils are the largest group along with the tribal councilors. Every shemir save those in the faith orders or those who join the special artists communities are workers. They work a job, they serve a function in society, even if it is a small one. These jobs are represented by a council of some kind, and as workers, they get to decide who represents them. The workers' councils advocate for their workers, and they elect their representatives on the national council.

Finally, there are the artists, who split from the workers long ago to form different communities where they could be more independent. They elect their own representatives but have no strong leadership themselves.

In the First Nation, children are raised communally amongst the tribe or by the faith group. They begin their education as soon as they are old enough to understand, and by the time they are 12, they are invited to partake in different work, art, or faith groups. They have long lives to choose, to change, to decide who they are, and thus, they rarely decide before they are 100 or so to settle on anything specific. Most do end up settling, eventually. They have schools for those who wish to pursue further knowledge, but it is not compulsory, as the tribes usually take care of fundamental education.

Once a shemir settles into their role in the First Nation, they join a workers' council (essentially a union), a faith group, or an artists community. These groups represent them politically outside of the tribe. Some few shemir take up life as tribal leaders only.

Shemir in the First Nation celebrate birthdays frequently when they are young, but less frequently as they age. Once a decade, then a century is the usual progression. Eventually, most forget. The first day of the year is celebrated as the birth of the world, collectively, and the last day is celebrated as the survival of the world. These two days are the most important among the shemir. Other important days include the start of each season, the various tribal founding celebrations, the workers' days, the artists' days, and the 10 other holy days.

Communities

Madziar is split into hundreds of communities, each representing a different facet of the world and its myriad views. It is considered a city that contains the whole world. Some communities are tiny, others large, but most are about 100 to 200 people. These are outside of the First Nation, who represent the original shemir society. These are shemir who have seen the world, come back, and created new communities, often villages on the outskirts absorbed into the city. After the civil war of the Age of Legends on First Shem, all communities are grouped by similarity rather than randomly determined by space and opportunity.

Major communities include

• Second Nation, the silver city, where life is honored most.

• Rhododendron Nation, hope and aspiration, the flower gardens.

• Viridian Nation, nature and the World Tree, canopied lanes.

• Cedar Nation, equality and justice, the inner city.

• Sard Nation, neutrality and the status quo, the wren's nest.

• Allnation, the infinite, all-encompassing, a complex mirror of First Nation.

• Spider Nation, manipulation and infernal power, the Webweaver's community.

• Diamond Nation, merchants and bankers, trade and accumulation.

• Indigo Nation, dreamers and fey worship, traditions and indigo ink.

Every esoteric energy and many variants on them are contained within Madziar, save for the powers of slitna and its variations. Each community has its own social structure, economic type, and government (if any).

National Cultures

The ancient meanings and roots (see above) of the twelve tribes are well remembered, but generally not definitive anymore. Instead, each tribe differs slightly in customs, stories, clothing, and language. These differences are very noticeable amongst the shemir but not at all among outsiders.

Majalisa and Shawara

Each tribe is similarly structured: a council (majalisa) of elected elders (at least 1,000 years old) leads, supplemented by a group of younger shemir who study under the elders and represent the modern outlook of the world. This supplemental group is called the shawara. The shawara is elected by their peers in their age group. The majalisa is elected by the entire tribe.

Tribal duties are all family-related: raising children, caring for the infirm, planning and executing festivals and celebrations, watching out for disputes or problems among family members, arranging community support for emergencies. The majalisa and shawara are responsible for making sure these duties are handled well.

Members of both councils may be recalled at any time by demand of the tribe. If a member of the tribe has a complaint about a member of either council, they go to the other council to make their demand. A recall period follows during which the community discusses the issues, and the council where the offender is not decides their fate. Their decision can be overturned by overwhelming tribal support.

The tribes elect two elders each to the national council. The other eight national councillors shift between the tribes on a millennial rotation.

Haraji

Every member of the tribe must pay a small portion of their wages, if they have any, to the tribe every year. This haraji goes to funding the needs of the tribe. Those who cannot pay their haraji are forgiven, but those who can pay but do not risk banishment from the tribe if they are consistent and have no legal reason. This is decided by the majalisa, as is the rate of the haraji. The shawara is tasked with the accounting for the treasury of the tribe.

Symbols and Traditions

The tribes each have their own set of symbols and traditions. The main symbol of a tribe is their alama ce:

• Tsoho: whitebeam tree

• Na Farko: beaver

• Halitta: elk

• Duniya: lapis lazuli

• Kirkira: yale

• Tsari: rhododendron

• Na Asali: amphisbaena

• Gini: middle steel rod

• Magini: hammer

• Siffar: sphere

• Uwa: simurgh

• Uba: chamrosh

Their alama ce are extremely important and held sacred, and anyone who defiles or insults the alama ce is an enemy to the tribe. Wars have been started over this. The tribe uses images of their alama ce in ceremonial clothing and formal attire, on banners and signage, and in architecture. Every tribe has a singular example of their alama ce kept by the majalisa that is considered the original (even if this is not possible - the Halitta eat theirs every year). This alama ce is only brought out on special holidays or ceremonies.

Each tribe has a unique relationship with their alama ce beyond these basics. The Tsoho make jelly from whitebeam berries and use their trees for special carvings and sculptures. The use of the tree is considered more sacred than growing or tending it, though the latter are also revered. The Na Farko respect and revere beavers, but they do not keep them as pets; they let them live as intended in nature and honor them from afar. Wearing beaver fur is not allowed among them, nor eating beaver meat. The Halitta, however, honor the elk by eating it, wearing its leather, and herding it. The elk is even ridden by the Halitta. The Kirkira have a similar relationship to the yale. The Duniya fashion their own lapis lazuli, using it in jewelry, pottery, and clothing, but must keep it polished, clean, unchipped. The Tsari have massive rhododendron gardens which they tend fervently; flowers are only picked at special times and worn at special times. The Na Asali keep only one amphisbaena and otherwise only interact with them via images and illustrations. If they find one in the wild or elsewhere in the world, they revere it, help it, but do not try to own it nor bring it to their homes. The Gini use ailsilver in their building and designing, but rarely let it form a rod except in special circumstances, but the Magini use hammers all the time, favoring them for all work if possible. A well worn hammer is more revered than a new one. The Siffar use spheres in all of their designs, buildings, sculptures, imagery, etc. Spheres are omnipresent. Both the Uwa and the Uba, however, treat their respective alama ces as people, as members of the tribe. They allow them in if they wish to be, but never force it.

The traditions of each tribe vary. They have their own holidays, their own customs for courtship, their own teachings to their children, their own histories, their own rituals of initiation. Most are similar, but variations are important and respect for those variations keeps the tribes at peace.

National Council

The National Council of the First Nation of the shemir is the main governing body of Madziar. Non-First Nation communities do not have a say in this council, but they can appeal to it like any common shemir.

The National Council is composed of the Shemir Subsequent, Neshua, who acts as a guide, advisor, and tiebreaker vote. The rest of the council is made up of 32 tribal representatives, 36 workers' council representatives, 12 faith representatives, and 20 arts representatives. They represent the will of their respective groups, which elect them in various ways (usually by direct vote).

Representatives serve terms based on their respective groups, usually about a millennium. Representatives may be recalled through a process determined by their respective group, usually a community vote, and may not run for reelection until another has had their seat for at least 3,000 years. There are different political factions within the council that represent different interests of the people, and representatives can be part of any faction as long as their constituents approve. Switching factions is very common.

The main purpose of the council is to make laws that govern the city of Madziar and surrounds, declare or denounce war and levy troops from the militias and ogichidaa when necessary, coordinate with the Alpha Shemir, and maintain First Nation control of the city. Laws passed always have time limits and must be revisited at least once a millennium. Laws can be revoked, altered, and rewritten when needed, by vote. Everything is done by majority vote.

Any shemir, no matter where they live or who they are, may appeal any law or decision of the council. They simply show up or write a letter to the council with their request, and it will be taken up by vote after the appealer is given a full opportunity to represent their views.

Debates on laws, decisions, and issues are given ample time to be considered, and effort is made for all to be heard, save in circumstances of urgency.

Esoterica

Shemir are beings of genesis and its greatest users. They also use every other form of aether. They are capable of using any esoteric energy except for slitna, and some facet of Madziar will have the other energies as its focus.

Religion

The First Nation of the shemir has 12 religious orders:

The Dinya: an order of ascetics who worship Gadzira as the maker of the world. They commune with the world and with the Maker through meditative practices, honor all things that exist, and believe that the world is unending. The Dinya gain powers through their communion, mostly making them better makers or specializing in making certain sacred things (hiriwa, lapis lazuli, whitebeam). They make a pilgrimage to the World Tree every millennium. To join the Dinya, one must prove oneself by joining them in meditation. They are the simplest group to join, but one of the smallest. When they are not meditating, fasting, or on pilgrimage, they are out in the streets singing and dancing in celebration of the world. They are led by one elder, a woman named Cohova, one of the earliest of the shemir. She has six Disciples elected from the body of the Dinya, and one of these is chosen as her successor (in case of emergency) and representative on the national council. After the six Disciples are the elder councils, which are made up of the oldest of the Dinya, and so on, ranked by which Age a shemir joined the order.

Order of Destpek: a group of proselytizers who worship Gadzira and honor Mother Shem as the beginning of all things. They use prayer, fasting, and conversion to all upon their Divine and the world itself, and this worship brings them out into the streets with their preaching. They were founded by Destpek, but he died during the end of First Shem in battle with the Omega Shemir. Since then, they honor his death as their holiest day, calling it their New Beginning. Members of this order elect a vestry of ten leaders, including one to represent them on the national council. The vestry coordinates when and where each member of the order is sent to proselytize. They go out in groups of twelve, and each group has an appointed leader, usually the eldest or best recruiter. Their goal is to constantly recruit, and they have one of the largest congregations of the orders.

Yekemites: the Yekemites are an order of warrior-monks who worship Gadzira as a protector of Mother Shem, and they believe they have a role in protecting her. They dedicate their lives and their work to her and the Maker. Every Yekemite is recruited from the various militias of Madziar's tribes and communities; the more devout shemir are often given an opportunity to join when they are younger. As a Yekemite, they join the monastery on the outskirts of Madziar and begin specialized training in both the faith and in combat, combining faith, hegnh, and genesis. They use quarterstaves, hand-to-hand, and special ropes called weris as their main weapons. Yekemites are led by their abbott-general, Eheul, one of the earliest of the shemir. He has four Disciples, the masters of each weapon (abbott-colonels) and the head of the faith. The latter is the only elected leader, and they represent the Yekemites on the national council. Each weapon master has an abbott-captain, and then a whole military hierarchy below them. The Yekemites are a moderately sized order.

Xuliqi Emir: Xuliqi Emir is a religious group focused on teaching ancient writings and arts of creation. They are led by nine dests. Each dest is focused on a different art: carpentry, sculpture, weaving, mound-building, metalworking, pottery-making, painting and visual arts, music, and leather-making. The dests are the best teachers of their arts, and they each choose their best students to be part of a council that goes out to promote their arts and their faith. This council is made up of 99 students. These students elect their own leader. The entire order elects one representative to the national council, usually one of the dests but not always. They honor the Maker as the great artist and Mother Shem as the source of all their materials. Their art is made in dedication, which sometimes imbues it with esoteric energies.

Association of Avakirin: Those who call Gadzira “the Builder”, the Association of Avakirin focuses on building massive structures not as art, but as craft. They focus on practicality and dedicate the use of their works to the Builder and his mother, Mother Shem. From this, they derive holy powers. They are named for Avakarin, their founder and an early shemir, who died in Starfall. She was one of the greatest builders in the entire world, and her works are known all over. She gave one last command to her people before her death: to construct a great temple in the Forest of Genesis. They have since been working on this incredible structure. They recruit from builders unions, focusing on those with skills they need. They form small crews, and each crew elects a crew leader. The crew leaders elect a crew-general, who represents the order in the national council.

Sikilists: Sikilism is the belief that form comes before being, that Mother Shem created the Maker from her earth and water, and that eventually all will return to form, leaving being behind. Sikilists are a small order focused on philosophical matters; they recruit from the schools and scholars. They honor Gadzira and Mother Shem through rituals that represent the form, the formation, and the being. They are led by a triumvirate of elders elected by the entire order (or those who are present) at each millennium's convocation. The triumvirate chooses one amongst them to represent them on the national council. Besides the triumvirate, there are groups of three in a hierarchy going down to the main body of the Sikilists. They spend more time in debate and study than in any other works.

Cins: a Cin is a believer that the shape of something determines its essence. All spheres are connected, all angles are related, all lines are the same line. This obscure order uses mantras and chanting to center themselves in their honoring of Gadzira (the drawer of the line) and Mother Shem (the great sphere). They appeal to the common shemir because of their low engagement and focus on daily life, recognizing patterns and shapes, and using those to glean wisdom from situations, not unlike astrology or tarot. They have few gatherings, occurring once every few millennia, but when they meet up, they choose new leadership to represent them on the national council and to read the great signs of the universe. These leaders bring teachings back every hundred years.

The Dinyagog: this offshoot of the Dinya believes that Gadzira shaped Mother Shem and all things, but that these things then shaped him back. This cycle is called the zivirok. We are made, then we make. They are split into two groups: the Makers and the Made. Members of the makers are responsible for supporting the made, the made are responsible for the work of the order, recruiting, preaching, and leading rituals. Members of the groups shift between the two, depending on which they started in, every millennium. They are led by one Made and one Maker, each one elected from their respective bodies. The leader of the Made represents them on the national council. Like the Dinya, they use meditative practices and fasting if they are Makers, but unlike the Dinya, the Made proselytize.

Qunduz: Qunduz is a shamanistic faith in Gadzira and Mother Shem, viewing them as a pair of ancient beavers. They focus on communing with the world and nature through altered states of being. Every believer in Qunduz partakes in these rituals, led by shamans. A shaman is elected every millennium to represent them in the national council. They recruit from the fringes of shemir society, seeking those who need escape and transcendence.

Morism: the Morist Order wear only purple, cover their faces with elaborate masks, and never speak outside of their convent. They are a group who believes that Mother Shem is dying and the Maker is killing her by forming her into existence. They wear purple to mourn her, engage in rituals and meditation that honor her, and only leave the convent to process to special holy altars where they leave sacrifices. They do not speak outside their convent as a sacrifice, and from this, their faith and fashioning become more powerful. They believe greatly in sacrifice as their main form of worship. They quietly recruit by sending messages to the leaders of various tribes, communities, and unions, suggesting support in exchange for small services or sacrifices in their honor. They are led by Sister Falroh, one of the earliest shemir, and her Disciples the Sisters of Mor. They lead the faith, but the acolytes, mask-bearers, sacrificers, and painters of the faith are the main body, and they elect a national council representative every millennium among their own. This representative never speaks in council, but sends notes and essays, using gesture to vote.

Order of De: The Order of De worships Mother Shem first and Gadzira second. They believe that he was formed by Mother Shem, and that all the Divines and all that is began with Mother Shem, who was once in the heart of the universe. She left to become herself. They believe in the act of becoming. They believe that all beings are becoming, transforming, ascending to a higher form all the time. They honor what is and work to make it better because that is the process of becoming. They go out into the community to perform acts of improvement and support for all. They are led by Gahuine, a non-binary shemir elder from the earliest days, who has twelve Disciples, each one charged with coordinating one of the monthly outings each year. From these, the Order elects a representative on the national council. Their works tend to be a great recruitment method, and they are one of the largest faith groups.

The Masi: the Masi worship Bahamut, the great fish upon which the universe rests, whom they consider synonymous with the Foundation and the Book of Names. They believe Mother Shem and Gadzira are Shem's representatives of Bahamut and honor them as its vessels. The Masi are the smallest of the faiths, but very powerful. They have a complex network of cells, which consist of 40 people each. These cells each have a different task and purpose, though they do not always make sense: protect this shrine, build this bridge, move this stone, etc. It is all part of a huge ritual that empowers them and allows them to commune with Bahamut itself every millennium. In this communion, they gain great wisdom and power. Every cell elects a leader, who represents them on the Order's council, which then elects a representative to the national council.

Gender

Shemir respect all genders. Gender is diverse, universally respected, and not controlled. Marriage is unknown in the First Nation. Tribes take the place of families; most people know their parents, but all older relatives are equally important. (Though birthing parents sometimes take special significance.)

Economy

Shemir communities explore and exist within all economies and modes of production in Madziar.

Military

Every tribe has a small force of warriors, called jarumawa (plural) or jarumi (singular), who serve as a militia and police force. They handle crimes and the defense of the tribe. Each tribe's jarumawa use a different weapon:

• Tsoho: spear

• Na Farko: quarterstaff

• Halitta: broadsword

• Duniya: dagger

• Kirkira: handgun

• Tsari: rapier

• Na Asali: sling

• Gini: club

• Magini: hammer

• Siffar: chakram

• Uwa: bow and arrow

• Uba: net and trident

The head of the jarumawa is called the sarki. The sarki is an elder jarumi who is skilled in tactics, administration, and dispute management, and they are elected out of the jarumawa by the jarumawa. The sarki answers to the majalisa.

Language

Their language combines Shona and Hausa with various other languages, including Hebrew.

Trade

The shemir make almost anything and trade it with the rest of the world.

Occupations

• The Fabricweavers: powerful aedificarians who once served the Champion.

• Aedificarian: makers

• Jarumi: warriors

• Ogichidaa: police

Workers

The unions, the workers' councils, who represent all of the working shemir. There are 36 collectives:

• Builders, Carpenters, Masons, and Metalworkers (Union of Makers)

• Weavers and Clothworkers, Rope-Makers, and Thread Processors (Union of Weavers)

• Miners and Extractors (Union of Miners)

• Distributors, Transporters, and Movers (Union of Carters)

• Farm Workers, Fishing, and Foresters (Union of Farmers)

• Cleaners and Sanitation (Union of Cleaners)

• Medical and Sciences (Union of Healers and Scholars)

• Administration and Clerks (Union of Clerks)

• Legal Services and Government (Union of Lawyers)

• Firefighters, First Responders, and Emergency Services (Union of Protectors)

• Teachers, Advisors, and Education Workers (Union of Teachers)

• Hospitality and Service Workers (Union of Servants)

• Sex Workers and Reproductive and Emotional Laborers (Union of Sex Workers)

• Tanners and Leather-Workers (Union of Tanners)

• Architects, Designers, and Engineers (Union of Design)

• Mechanics, Repairmen, and Computer Workers (Union of Fixers)

• Hunters, Trappers, and Butchers (Union of Hunters)

• Grocers, Retail, and General Stores (Union of Grocers)

• Promotions, Advertising, and Marketing (Union of Sellers)

• Print-Making and Printing (Union of Printers)

• Journalism and Media (Union of Cryers)

• Social Services (Union of Support)

• Logistics and Production (Union of Planners)

• Millers (Union of Millers)

And twelve other unions in constant flux, as they represent odd jobs and other crossover situations. Every collective elects a national council representative.

Every shemir who goes to work joins a collective, which handles the economic planning, trade, and wages of every worker, as well as supporting them in disputes with government, tribes, faiths, etc. Every collective has an esoteric branch, a legal branch, and a political branch.

Artists

In the First Nation of the shemir, the artist broke off from the workers' collectives to form communities, which is less engaged with economic planning and more engaged in creating and finding support for artists and art itself. These are the main communities:

• Painters and Graphic Designers

• Photography and Videography

• Music

• Poetry

• Literature and Writing

• Sculpture and Pottery

• Fashion and Cloth Arts

• Jewelry and Metal Arts

• Architecture and Interior Design

• Dance and Performance Art

• Theatre and Oratory

• Culinary Arts

• Garden Design and Horticultural Arts

• Physical and Sexual Arts

• Sports and Athletics

• Games and Puzzles

• Martial Arts

• Wood Arts

• Landscape Arts

• Sundry Artists

Each community has a representative on the national council, plus their own council, promotional boards, contests and showings, and festivals.

Outside View

The shemir are respected throughout the world, but also distrusted. Many view them as mysterious (though they are not; just remote) or manipulative (they are not this either, at least not universally or collectively). These stereotypes lead to persecution and discrimination amongst other nations.

Notables

• Bohoniv, the Alpha Shemir, Shemir Manifest, first being on Shem

• Hausteen, the Omega Shemir

• Neshua, Consort of the Maker, Shemir Subsequent

• Gaesom (deceased), Champion of Gadzira

• Lotsep, Second to Champion of Gadzira

• Pazsul, Custodian to the Champion of Gadzira

Estimated Populations

There are about 10 million shemir.

Sample Stats

PRO 7
ATH 7
STR 7
AWA 16
WIL 15
PRS 9
STH 7

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Thaumari

These insinsi nations developed early on as users of magic, but after the Fall of Magic, they splintered, forsaking magic for other arts. In the end, one nation survived.

• Tenagari (ginginyuneti) (word)
• Thaumar (symbolism) (philosophy)

Thaumar Template

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Watchers

Some say watchers predated shemir; others say watchers split off from shemir, then went back in time to be there when shemir were created. Others still say neither is true, or that they exist outside the flow of time. There is but one nation of watchers, the Chronurians, for they do not allow rogues to survive. They are stewards of time itself.

• Chronurian (time)

Watcher Template

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