Heronoi

The **Heronoi** are an ethnic group of Epadwaranai who live mainly in the country of Heronoja.

## Characteristics

Most Epadwaranai are peach-skinned, with blue eyes and blond hair.

Their skin and hair can glow when left in the dark. They can also jump higher and run faster than humans.

Heronoi blood is flammable, and if their bleeding blood affects their skin it damages their bodies. This, along with their blond hair, fear of ice cream, and keeping wounds and blood away from fire, are their most notable traits that set them apart from other humans, including blond humans.

### Psychology

If a Heronoi is provoked to a certain extent, he or she would enter into a state of murderous rage. Even as their skin was burned away, his or her rage would make them strong enough to tear a fully-grown man to shreds.

Heronoi are more excitable and mentally-unstable than normal humans. One habit or instinct of theirs is saying the name of something they like if they see or think of it, often from giggling to yelling its name.

Heronoi suffer from a phobia of lunar eclipses and ice cream. Whenever a Heronoi is exposed to the light of a lunar eclipse, or the smell or taste of ice cream, the Heronoi will suffer from panic attacks. He or she will see visions of spikey men attacking him or her, making it hard for him or her to resist and concentrate on what he or she is currently doing. Many Heronoi would wail and cry after being exposed. The same effects also apply on the Moon during a lunar eclipse, so when they are on lunar bases by then, they are warned not to look at Jerde to avoid being caught in the moon's shadow.

Although Heronoi are not as violent as the Arnadjanai, they love exercise and fighting to some extent. If they do not stimulate their own muscles by moving and doing workouts in over a week, they will go insane from frustration. It can easily be relieved by punching something, such as the ground or a wall.

Even toddlers tend to crawl a lot, in circles, to ensure they do not become frustrated. Heronoi children are also observed to walk or jog a lot, and they take up sports, all to avoid losing their minds. It is also why they love to brawl or pick fights sometimes.

On the year before their 18th birthday, Heronoi may experience visions of themselves falling in love, as adults, or starting a family and having their own children. The visions become more common on the week before their adulthood, with seven nights of romantic dreams. Once they reach eighteen, their romantic dreams become more crude, reflecting their mental development as new adults.

### Reproduction

Heronoi women tend to be more fertile than normal humans, as they produce several eggs instead of just one or two.

Some women would gladly raise their multiple offspring together with their friends and/or spouses, while others use their fertility as the reason why they remained single and childless so that they can focus on their goals. In fact, despair over overpopulation and mass killings, and a constant amount of births to sustain the population had caused the Heronoi to divert their attention to personal achievement.

Some Heronoi do not marry or take any partners, so they can continue their personal goals; knowing that others out there, who keep the Heronoi people thriving, have freed them to focus on their own lives. This resulted in an informal division of all Heronoi people: the Dreamers, who do not marry or have children because they have bigger goals and projects to finish; and the Breeders (later Parents), who raise the next generation of Heronoi that will continue the Dreamers' work after they are gone. The Dreamers tend to consist of a quarter of all Heronoi, although in some generations it becomes a half, forming a sort of population control.

For the majority of Heronoi people, they have a lot of ambitions and dreams, accompanied by a quest to find the man or woman of their dreams. Nonetheless, many of them find their partners to become couples, who will then marry and start their own families. Without being pressured by society to reproduce, they seem to enjoy that process, and it also led to them and their partners becoming closer to each other.

As the high birth rates led to overpopulation, the kings of Heronoja mixed chemicals into the water supply to discourage certain desires and avoid unnecessary births. In spite of this, most Heronoi still want to start their own families when they reach adulthood, encouraged by many government programmes that supported families. They are also encouraged by a social culture where strangers and neighbours raise each others' children. This constant amount of births ensured that Heronoja remains an ever-young nation, but it managed to avoid overpopulation thanks to the chemicals in their water altering their minds and a culture that valued personal ambition over reproduction.

### Old Heronoi characteristics

The Old Heronoi, now known as "Ata-Heronoi", were the founding peoples of Heronoja. Back then, they had a purer bloodline:

* The ability to control the light that shines from their skin and hair
* Brighter light from their bodies when they are in darkness
* If they bleed and their blood burns, their skin was more resistant

## History

The Heronoi were created on Wosono by the Vigefionians as mockeries of the latter's aristocrats, made in the latter's image to mock the aristocrats and get their vengeance by killing them brutally. Eventually, they revolted against their abusive makers and formed their own independent kingdoms.

One of their rulers, Heros, built a ship and brought his people out of a great war, where the greatest rulers murdered many Heronoi men and women to use their blood as fuel. They arrived on Jerde during the Reorganisation War, where they fended off the Norse Rannariskar to the west and the Terrans to the east. They intermarried with the local Rakolans, Norsefolk, and especially the Gylharling Norse. The third was especially popular among young men and women for their beautiful appearance and their pitiful background as tortured mutants, resulting in the latter's blonde gene becoming a dominant gene among their descendants.

One latter king, Rauteko, created many mixed offspring in his attempts to repopulate the east and recover lost decadance, resulting in the Waxeroi hybrids. In a later riot, the Waxeroi were murdered and banished, hated for their promiscuous behaviour or their origins from Rauteko's depraved parties. It was followed by various natural disasters that killed more Heronoi.

The Heronoi were later overwhelmed and enslaved by the Thralondian Empire, who murdered thousands to create an explosive substance. Many slaves in the Thralondian capital fled east on boats, where they ended up in the countries of Sevraeja and Rukania. There, they shared a lot of information about the Thralondians' technology, allowing a local alliance to aim towards weaker spots in the Thralondian sky-fleets. The same runaways also joined the local armies, seeking revenge against their tormentors.

When the Wraithstorm wiped out much of the Thralondian forces, the Heronoi armies went into a savage rage, slaughtering almost every remaining Thralondian who tried to kill them.

The Waxeroi were a race of Heronoi who were descended from Arnadjanai-Heronoi unions centuries ago, designated to the eastern part of the peninsula where they thrived with big, chaotic families. Because of their Arnadjanai descent or their promiscuous behaviour, they were allowed to continue their distinct culture - mostly to degrade and mock them for their behaviour. They were blamed for the Thralondian Invasion, and many Waxeroi fled from a purge. Some claim that the natural disasters that struck Heronoja afterwards was a punishment from the Gods for the murders of Waxeroi.

Some Heronoi slaves were secretly sold to Wannaenid masters, in times when the two empires made peace or in secret. These later became the Heronoi minority of Bujan, who aided the Bujanski as they fought for independence.

## Heronoi in different countries

A Heronoi who lives in Heronoja is known as a "Homelander".

### Bujanski Heronoi

The Heronoi of Bujan are mostly descendants of slaves purchased during Tyrskan-Wannaenid rule. They joined the revolutionaries during their war of independence, and were granted citizenship after the victory of the Bujanski revolutionaries.

However, they also amused the Bujanski by their obsession with romance, cute things, fashion, and being too excitable. They also tried to be proper to emulate Bujanski society, yet the Bujanski laughed at them for their bad habits.

Many Heronoi, especially those in northern Bujan, tend to wear Americanised clothing, their spoils from killing the Satanist murderers that became a popular symbol of rebellion against Terrans, Wannaenids, demon-worshippers, and various evils. The women there like to improvise the same clothing with patterns from traditional Heronoi clothing, redeeming the "demonic" clothes into something more beautiful.

### Sevraejan Heronoi

The Heronoi migrated to Sevraeja during the Thralondian invasions, as they fled from slavery. There, they shared to the locals the secrets and technology of the Thralondians, allowing Sevraeja and its allies to find the enemy's weaknesses and defeat them.

Sevraejans think that Heronoi are very cute, from their blonde faces to their language sounding similar to the syllabic structure of the Sevraejan tongue. Many Heronoi in Sevraeja tend to be artists and tailors, and some have also became sportspeople.

Sevraeja is one of several nations with the most Heronoi outside Heronoja.

### Rukanian Heronoi

The other Heronoi whose ships were blown southwards ended up in Rukania, where the locals took them in. Like their northern counterparts, they shared more information about their Thralondian tormentors, aiding Rukania and its allies in defeating the Thralondian fleets.

In their new life, many Heronoi sent their sons to be knights. Their erratic attitude and their cute appearance became a source of ridicule and amusement to many Rukanians.

### Siangwaanian Heronoi

Siangwaan is one of many countries with the most Heronoi outside their homeland. Most Heronoi in Siangwaan are Waxeroi, being of partial Arnadjanai ancestry. This mixed bloodline makes them a little stronger than the average human, if not more emotional and exciteable.

To the disgust of their northern, "homelander" counterparts, Siangwaanian Heronoi rejected much of the properness practiced in Heronoja, making them seem more vulgar, rude, and unsophisticated. Many boys and girls tend to pick fights, resulting in blonde people being the subject of many local jokes.

### Nolworran Heronoi

Nolworra houses a community of Heronoi that dates back to thousands of years, with more Waxeroi refugees added recently. Many of them coexist with the Norse as their fellow-kin, more so than their homelander kin.

## Culture

See also: Heronoi language, Heronoi glossary, Heronoi calendar, Heronoi symbols

Popular hobbies in Heronoi culture include chariot racing, jousting, playing lyres and pianos, combing their own golden hair, and fighting with spears and swords.

Most Heronoi worship the Moon, as it was the symbol of their founder King Heros. Heros led their ancestors from Wosono to settle in what is now Heronoja and Pelarin, and for that he is venerated as a god. However, lunar eclipses and red moons are considered to be catastrophic in Heronoi culture. In such occasions, most Heronoi who have undergone puberty start to sweat, panic, and cry. Their religious members pray to whoever they worship; some Heronoi stand guard to prevent attacks while they were vulnerable; and other Heronoi hide and rest in dark areas until the lunar eclipse ends. Some Heronoi wear black armour and chant towards the scarlet moon, just as their ancestors did on Wosono.

Heronoi keep their wounds away from open flames, and wear gloves and mittens whenever they handle very hot objects, because of their flammable blood. Furthermore, they never smoke at all because smoking might ignite their lungs and blood veins. And because of their flammable blood, they were the target of various enemies that sought to kill them by stealing their blood, including the Thralondian Empire and other Abductor aliens.

Their tendency to snap into fits of violence -- and the fear of the ruin it may cause -- are among the reasons why the Heronoi greatly value discipline and self-control. They focus themselves on emulating higher forms of art, especially classics such as Ald-Ardeschen politeness.

Angered and saddened by the loss of their people to their enemies, Heronoi prefer to help their own poor rather than let them starve to death. However, they dislike any "parasites" who abuse any benefits and steal from the poor, putting said "parasites" to forced labour.

Twins, especially twin sons, are regarded as auspicious in Heronoi culture.

Like the related Arnadjanai race, the Heronoi love the colour blue. They tend to wear lighter shades of blue.

The national ethic of Heronoja is "personal achievement": every Heronoi man and woman is obligated to fulfill their goals in life. They could even stay single if it meant having more time to achieve their goals: being single and childless is considered a sign of wisdom, and that respect is also given to women who chose that lifestyle. In Heronoi culture, to live in despair and lose your dreams, with no escape (as in slavery or being too "damaged"), is regarded as a fate worse than death.

Heronoi people, by nature, are also obsessed with beauty. Men and boys may not be as "fashionable" as female Heronoi, but they like to surround themselves with art and wear stylish clothes. They are very proud of their golden hair, that even males sometimes spend a little longer playing with their own hair to relax. They also hate being bald, unless when it is a requirement (such as being monks in Siangwaanian monasteries).

When a Heronoi child reaches his or her first birthday, he or she is given a doll to accompany him or her in their room. Even if the child is a boy, he or she still keeps the doll as their "guardian" for their childhood. To symbolise the child's growth, the doll is brought along with the child on his or her coming birthday, and is given a new set of clothes and a little star after the birthday ends. Once the child reaches his or her thirteenth birthday, the doll is disposed of in a bigger birthday celebration to represent the child's transition into adulthood. He or she says farewell to the doll, and it is either given away to another toddler (and then remade into a new doll), given to a temple where it sits alongside the ancestors' shrines, or is burned as an offering to their ancestors. If the child dies before his or her thirteenth birthday, the doll is immediately burned to release their soul into the afterlife.

In Heronoi culture, asking someone when will they have children is considered an offensive insult, and it applies to both male and female Heronoi. It is due to the high birthrate of the country, and a question like this considered as likening a person to an animal, degrading the person's honour. That also reminded them of those days when their women and men were tortured as breeding stock. Other countries intentionally asked that question to mock Heronoi for not aggressively reproducing more people like them.

Heronoi seem to love cats a lot, either because they love cuteness, or they find cats to be very relatable. Street cats remind them of what they are to the world, being cute yet thrown aside by many people in the world.

Heronoi are considered adults when they reach eighteen years of age, so their eighteenth birthday must be celebrated on the night before their actual date. To celebrate or host a party on the exact day and after is considered unlucky, for it is believed to bring bad luck, especially recklessness to the new adult, getting an unruly spouse that matches their character, and ending up with reckless children.

### Gender

The Heronoi believe in four gender roles, two for each sex: males can either be warriors or artists (but they cannot be effeminate), and females can either be feminine or warriors (they cannot be "too masculine"). In simple terms, they can be known as:

* spearman, warman (masculine male)
* spearwoman, warwoman (masculine woman)
* brushman, artman (artistic male)
* brushwoman, artwoman (feminine female)

The four gender roles are known as the "gender axis" or the "gender cross". According to an old saying, "Instead of a pair of scales like other nations, Heronoi genders are a chandelier."

While other cultures' gender roles are more focused on the traditional family, Heronoi gender roles are more oriented towards individual ambition, and many Heronoi are proud of these gender roles for allowing them to have some flexibility. On the other end, crossdressing is unacceptable in Heronoi society, although nonbinary people are allowed to wear anything they want because they are considered outside the gender axis.

Tomboys are as popular as feminine women for men, and artist-men can also be popular among women.

Almost all Heronoi are shown to develop attractions to both genders at childhood. As they grow older, most Heronoi end up with opposite-sex mates, a sixth end up in same-sex relationships, and the rest are either asexual or remain attracted to both genders.

Men are expected to grow their hair to the level of their mouths or chins, tipped with bangs. Those who keep their hair above mouth length are considered immature.

## Symbols in Heronoi culture

See also: Heronoi symbols

* Full moon - holiness, righteousness, peace, happiness, completion, divine favour
* Night sky - the joys of creation, every possible blessing, opportunity
* Stars - hope, divine favour
* Ship - ambition, courage
* Blue - peace, happiness
	+ Blue is also the national colour of Heronoja. Many Heronoi people *love* wearing light blue clothes, as it not only complements their hair and eyes, but wearing them also makes them feel more relaxed and happier.
* Gold - beauty, joy
* White fern (farano) - royal symbol of King Heros, distinction, virtue
* Burning drop of blood - sacrifice, victory, destruction of all enemies
* Flaming sword or spear - death to enemies, victory, courage, heroism
	+ The spear is also a symbol of Odin, a god feared by the Heronoi.
* Burning spear striking a vampire - victory
* Unicorn - ambition
* White horse - dreams
* Blonde man and woman - love
* Blonde man and man, blonde woman and woman - happiness
* Winter - death, horror, fear
* Winter or spring stars - courage, victory over evil
* Warakura (valknut), zojena (death-eye), three triangles inside each other - despair, hopelessness, oblivion, destruction

## Religion

See also: Heronoi mythology

The Heronoi religion is polytheistic, worshipping hundreds of gods and thousands of wights and celestials. It uses idols to worship its gods.

### Heronoi traditions

When a Heronoi worships any of the gods, he or she uses a title for an aspect of their chosen god, thanks the god for their help, requests, and leaves an offering (such as burning a flower or a cake).

The full moon is considered sacred to all observant Heronoi: on the preceding day, all activity continues past midnight to 6 or 7 a.m. at sunrise, and everyone sleeps until the afternoon. They take a bath, wear white and blue silk robes, and have a dinner. Then, they go to temples at nightfall and bow to the Moon, saying their prayers and thanking the gods, before returning home to sleep. Some people instead keep services functioning during the full moon day, while others (especially minorities and non-observant Heronoi) relax on their extended weekends.

On the contrary, any night of a lunar eclipse is a national emergency in all of Heronoja and in parts of Uvjora. Sirens wail throughout the whole country, all business and entertainment (except emergencies) is shut down, and all citizens are advised to hide in dark areas and bunkers underneath temples. It was also during a lunar eclipse when the Thralondians -- their latest conquerors -- devastated their nation, so the anniversary of that night is now a national day of mourning. Red circles -- which may represent lunar eclipses -- can traumatise or frighten a Heronoi if shown against a black background.

Blood is considered sacred in the Heronoi religion, so drinking any blood is considered blasphemy against the gods.

Any usage of blood is considered a great sin in the Heronoi religion, as it encouraged Heronoja's enemies to attack its people. Therefore, when a Heronoi felt that there is no other option but to use their blood (such as fuel for a torch or to repel or burn an attacker), he or she would quickly pray to the gods for forgiveness. Heronoi also drain blood from the deceased before they cremate their bodies to avoid polluting the soil, and it takes roughly an hour of contemplation and remembrance for the dead to run out of blood. However, transferring blood to another person is acceptable because is it considered preserving life.

Heronoi avoid ice cream or "ice cream men", because these reminded them of Vigefionian hunters who killed them as food. As a result, Heronoja is the only nation on Jerde where the sale of ice cream is illegal.

Some Heronoi resort to meditation to prevent themselves from becoming enraged. Others write their prayers by starting with a glyph in the middle surrounded by an outward spiral of sentences.

Orchid flowers are commonly used as offerings to the gods, if the worshipper cannot afford to buy incense.

### Heronoi wedding

The Heronoi marriage ceremony consists of several parts:

* *kuro-g'ati* (gate-give) - the parents give the bride to her groom, and ask her to confirm her choice.
* *gísa-osa* (star-prayer) - a prayer to the stars and Moon to bless the couple
* *puro-taxe* (fire-hand) - the bride and groom hold hand before a sacred fire in the temple
* *axa-patta* (five-walk) - the bride and groom walk around the sacred fire six times
* *pura-koxa* (fire-oath) - the bride and groom say nine oaths to each other and before a priest to confirm their loyalty.
* *kaiwaque* - they chant hymns from the sacred scriptures to the gods to bless their marriage.
* *gwori-gísa* - a final prayer to the northern pole star for its blessings.

Foreigners remarked that the Heronoi wedding ceremony seems similar to those practiced by Prisapurans and Hindus/Sandharmins.

The husband and wife wear white and blue robes, symbolising the consecration of both of them to the gods and the heavens.

## Gallery

Traditional women's clothing among the Heronoi.A young Heronoi teenager, celebrating Independence Day.Several Heronoi women.Heronoi from their homeland and Siangwaan, compared. Homeland Heronoi are more proper, while Siangwaanian Heronoi are more vulgar and uncouth.An ethnic Heronoi knight in Sevraeja, clad in local-style armour.Kassarada, Gworofando's sister who loves chariot racing.Heronoi LOVE fashion! Even their men can get obsessed with looking pretty, even with just trousers.Several Heronoi women chasing a jousting champion. Heronoi tend to pursue attractive people when they reach adulthood.Heronoi love combat and exercise. It helps them stay sane.
## Terminology

In Heronoja, "Heronoi" refers to both a single individual of either gender, a group of Heronoi, the entire Heronoi race, or anything related to the kingdom and its culture. "Heronojan" refers specifically to the ancient Heronoi when they colonised the Heronoja Peninsula.

Some modern people proposed this terminology:

* Heronoisa (of Heronoja) - someone from Heronoja
* Heronowajo - a Heronoi person
* Heronawaja/Heronowaja - a female Heronoi. -awaja is used in Heronoja, while -owaja is used among the diaspora in other nations.
* Heronojanna - something from Heronoja, Heronoi culture

### Positive

#### Heronoi

* Gomigeno - Moonfolk
* Gomigwaira - Attendants of the Moon
* Herogwiramai, Herodatoi - Children of the Moon
* Irainoi - People of the Bright Realm
* Kurykazeno - Blonde and Blue-Eyed; Perfect People
* Purokara - Firebloods

#### Norse

* Synir Boldri - Sons of Baldr
* Bjartalings - Bright Ones
* "The Truest Norse"
	+ Often a sarcastic or mocking term. The joke is that many people think that Norsemen are blonde and blue-eyed. In turn, the Norse joke that the Heronoi look very much like their stereotype, so they should be raised as more Norsemen.

#### Other languages

* Dity Khorosu - (Rukanian) Children of Lord Khoros, the Moon God
	+ Referring to the Heronoi worship of the Moon or friendlier relations with Rukania. It also points out that the gods of both nations have opposite themes: Rukania worships the Sun, and Heronoja worships the Moon.
* Waxoronmi Uzoni, Waxoromoi - from Rukanian "Vaši skromni učni", meaning "your humble students", a collective address used by Heronoi students of Rukanian knights. Amusingly, it also sounds like the name of the Waxeroi, suggesting the Heronoi and Waxeroi are one and the same - which made the Waxeroi cry with joy as they feel loved at last!

### Negative

The most common curses against Heronoi people are "doll", "goldie", "dumb blonde", and "animal", mocking their emotional attitude.

#### Heronoi

* dojero - slave boy, good for nothing
* dojera - slave girl, good for nothing
	+ This and dojero are very offensive insults in Heronoi.
* sagi - a stupid person who likes to scream
* tubai, tuboka - stupid person
* tere - doll, pitiful person, stupid person, rabble
* terebaki - doll-face, stupid person, someone obsessed with looks, a crybaby
* zekoma - shaggy-hair, an unruly person, a hooligan
* zeko'sma - unruly blonde, stupid person, obsessed romantic
* teruxo - a jousting junkie, a fanboy/fangirl, a sports junkie
* rattago - a chariot junkie, a fanboy/fangirl
* raxawera, raixewa - someone who gets too excited
* gösyda - a nationalist, a stupid xenophobe who hates and abuses foreigners and non-Heronoi, a racist, a boomer/Karen
	+ What happens when the fear of foreigners manifests into panic and paranoia - self-destructive madness that may also attack other Heronoi in fear.
	+ This may be why the Heronoi emulate Ardeschen culture, to avoid descending into this madness.
* kasu(do) - a "dumb blonde", a stupid person, rabble, boor
	+ Also applies to Arnadjanai.
* g'akoso, g'okoso - not-blonde, not a true Heronoi, a mixed-blood
	+ An old word, "ekabi", used to be a curse word towards mixed Heronoi, but because it also led to more attacks and wars, the word was dropped from usage to avoid attracting foreign enemies. Instead, "kesenu" was used against non-Heronoi, usually humorously, unlike the more hateful "ekabi".
* twödu, itwödu, ditwö - "this is you", a stupid person
* gwódere, gworodere - northern doll, (stupid) Heronoi
* ēsonö - easterner, Waxero, pervert, fool, stupid person
* watoke - stupid easterner, Waxero
* ekabi - half-blood, impure one (now obsolete)
* bentu - foolish, stupid
* bentuko, bentuka - fool
* dabuti - very stupid
* döi - stupid boy
* quei - stupid girl
* gwigato - a runner, someone who is too obsessed with another person
* zagazaga - a disturbed person, someone who is too obsessed with someone
* tedé, mag'oraka - fine, noble tyrant
* kerewara - a ghost boy, half-ghost, naughty boy
* kerewari - a ghost girl, half-ghost, naughty girl
* doka-kara, dötkara(we) - "h(o)igh-blood", snobby elite
* wanxeko - someone from the capital, an arrogant snob
* gwesaba - reduced, country bumpkin, boor, bogan
* Jórotaru, Jórety - Yuletide tree
* konome - a man who likes to take off his shirt, a stupid person
* weware - doll
	+ A very strong curse in Heronoi.
* kaone - "I need you", a Heronoi who wants to make love to someone very desperately
* Baruminai, Barume - "the dolls", from a Terran language comparing Heronoi people to mindless dolls who think only of fashion. Originally a derogatory term, it was later reclaimed in opposition to the massacres of Waxeroi.
* Barenoi, Barejo - could mean "united as dolls". Originally a term that means "bastards", it was taken by Heronoi who protected and stood with Waxeroi to represent solidarity and kindness.
* Majare - a distortion of "barejo", it was even used by Heronoi students of Rukanian teachers and elders out of humility and admiration, referring themselves as "your majaremai" (your humble students). Such students bowed their heads when greeting those wise men and sages.

#### Norse languages

* Mónbruðar - Moondolls
* Vrangirmenn - False Men
* Séllausar - Soulless Ones
* Gylniþar - Cursed Gold People
* Loklingar - Spawn of Loki, Spawn of Demons
* Daudogar - Deadeyed
* Gangodaudar - Walking Dead
* Gyldraukar - Walking Ghosts
* Álfar - Elves, Fairies, Puny Weaklings
* Ljósti - "Goldie", a kind of doll brand used in the Rannarisk Empire
* Ljóstjotnor - "Light Jotnar", especially used in later Baesorja for Heronoi and Waxeroi due to their toplessness and muscular build.
* Gulsopp, Gylsoppar, Gylsop, Gilsop, Gulsop - "Gold Trash", "White Trash", because the Norse view the similar-looking Heronoi as mockeries of their own people.
	+ Heronoi who wear Norse clothing may be mistaken for Norse people because they look the same.

#### Other languages

* Gwáai Láau - (Siangwaanian) Monsters
	+ Also an archaic slur towards Tuksharans and Darroskei for their pale appearance and hair, which was considered similar to ghosts.
	+ Revived in modern Siangwaan against Heronoi refugees who fled the eastern purges, mocking their awkward behaviour, toplessness, amorous attitude, and erratic emotions. Some Heronoi do get *very* angry upon knowing that they were being compared to ghosts because of their vulgar behaviour.
	+ Although the term is sometimes also used towards Marnosyns for their vulgar attitudes, other White people in Siangwaan do not get this term because they were not considered as stupid as the Marnosyns and Heronoi.
* Gampaat Yǘ - (Siangwaanian) Dumb Blondes
	+ Again, comparing Heronoi oversensitivity and excitement to stupidity.
* Gamyǘ - (Siangwaanian) Goldfish
	+ Shortening the word "gampaat yǘ" to a pun that literally means "goldfish", referring both to the Heronoi's clumsy or awkward attitudes and their blonde hair by comparing them to fish.
	+ One meme derived from this during the 1900s was "I can count to fish".
* Wewaa - (Siangwaanian) Doll
	+ Considered more offensive than "Gwaai Laau", it suggests that Heronoi don't deserve any respect at all, only abuse.
* Aryans, Arisch, Arier - (Terran, Ironlords) "Aryans"
	+ Referring to their blonde and blue-eyed appearance, which was a stereotype of the "Aryan master race" of the White Imperium, one of their earliest enemies.
	+ When the Heronoi arrived during the Reorganisation War, they were courted by the White Imperium because all of them were blonde and blue-eyed. The Heronoi immediately rejected them as they did not want to drag themselves into another war, especially due to Rannarisk Norse attacks from the west.
	+ Because it was associated with the slaughters of the White Imperium against their people, the Heronoi consider it very offensive to call them "Aryan". Not even Hindu Heronoi would ever use that term for themselves.
	+ The word "arisch", from the Ironlords' and WI's language, became the Heronoi curses known as "arei"/"urejo" (a perfectionist that will never be satisfied, a Tantalus), "aurejo" (later "warei"/"waworei"/"waorejo", a very arrogant fool or tyrant, Hyperion or Ravana), and "orui"/"oruzö" (one who destroys himself).
	+ On the other hand, in Heronoi mythology, there is a goddess also known as "Arija", who represents apples and truth. She angrily murders liars, and the members of the White Imperium, seen as the worst liars, were among her greatest mortal enemies who she slaughtered. Some Heronoi believe that she was the one who caused hundreds of WI members to suddenly die of mysterious, brutal wounds and mutilations for harming her beloved, saving their people from being exterminated or enslaved by the Terrans.
* Zværinoi - (Bujanski) "Heranimals", "Heronoi animals"
	+ In Bujan, Heronoi are sometimes considered more stupid than the Arnadjanai, because of their emotions. They are stereotyped as berserk crybabies who spend too much time on fashion and brushing their hair. This bad attitude against the poor Heronoi, formerly slaves like the Arnadjanai, was eventually discouraged and removed during government-funded "good manners" campaigns to make Bujan a formalistic nation.
	+ As people became more polite and well-dressed, the Heronoi found Bujan to be a better and a more welcoming place. They can look good, and at last, as some people grudgingly apologised, they felt happier as if they felt loved.
* Maatimijo, Maatimo - (Eosome) "fairies"
	+ Mocking their blonde hair and their affectionate attitude by comparing them to water fairies.
* Grilsopp - (Siangwaanian Besotrosk) "golden trash"
	+ Mocking the Heronoi or Waxeroi obsession with romance and blonde hair.
* Zolvosnyk, Zolvonyčka (f)- (Rukanian, золвосник, золвоничка) "blondie"
	+ Heronoi refugees were accepted into Rukanian society, but their awkward behaviour became a source of amusement for the locals.
	+ Zolvonyčka and zolvyčka are terms used for Heronoi women, especially crushes and girlfriends.
* Millyj - (Rukanian, міллий) "cute thing"
* Millyk - (Rukanian, міллик) "a cute person"
* Jobarj - (Bujanski, јобарь, јобарі) "one who loves Heronoi people a lot, a very romantic and stupid Heronoi who behaves in a cringeworthy manner"
* Khuilo - (Bujanski, хуіло; plural: Khuila) "stupid people"
* Khuilonoi - (Bujanski, хуілоноі) "stupid people"

#### Translated

* Goldie
* Blondie
	+ Although this is an insult, many Heronoi also love the term because it is more affectionate, fitting their nature. It also suggests that the speaker loves them back.
* People of Gold
	+ Used by people to target them in attacks, to the point that Heronoi do not like to be compared to golden objects.
* daniel, damian, teniro, terirö, terinö
	+ Referring to a stereotypical blond man in some Earths who tended to be stupid. Heronoi also refer their friends as "tego", which mean "hey, stupid" or "dude".
	+ In Heronoja, this became a slang term for a "dude" or a young man, known as "danoi", "tanejo", or "tanajo". This is also used towards a crush towards a very handsome boyfriend or a laughably stupid man.
* Moneyhairs
* Comb/comb-hands/Brushie
	+ Refers to their blonde hair and their habit of brushing their own hair
* Moonstruck
* Moon-worshipper
* moonkid/moonboy/moongirl/moonfreak
	+ Refers to them worshipping the Moon.
* factory-thing/factory-stuff
* factory scrap
	+ Referring to their almost-identical facial structure and their origins as cloned slaves
* blood-fountain
	+ Mostly used in Norse countries, referring to their flammable blood.
* matchstick
* candle/candlestick
* torchie
	+ Refers to their flammable blood.
* doll
	+ A lot of foreign people call Heronoi people "dolls" because they look so identical and inhumanly "perfect", especially when they grin.
	+ It is usually young girls and some women who enjoy the term "doll", while boys hate being addressed like that because it makes them feel inferior.
* The Great Dollhouse - Heronoja
* The Shelf - Heronoja
	+ Also the name of a popular web forum for young Heronoi to discuss issues and seek advice.
* The Burning Shelf - Heronoja, or a term for Hell
* same-face
* ice cream
	+ Refers to their fear of ice cream and panic attacks every time they smell ice cream.
	+ Methods enemies used to torture Heronoi include force-feeding them with ice cream, showing them an ice cream cone, or drowning them in a vat of ice cream. The poor Heronoi would be traumatised for many years or for life if he or she survives: they would feel as if they ate someone.
	+ That is because it is linked with an in-built trauma all Heronoi suffer under, related to the Vigefionians murdering their primitive ancestors.
* this-is-you
* Mr. Perfect/Ms. Perfect
* slave
	+ Other people think that Heronoi are weaker because they look so innocent, in spite of Heronoja's warrior culture
* not-White-enough/not White
	+ Used by Marnosyns and Baesorthar because even though the Heronoi are supposed to look like "paragons", they are actually alien hybrids, so they cannot be considered as "White people".
* alien
* animals
	+ Referring to their obsession with romance and their emotional instability.
	+ A very common curse uttered in history against ethnic Heronoi, viewing their lack of mental stability and strong, passionate emotions as stupidity.
* monsters
	+ Referring to their alien origin, and sometimes their brute rage when provoked.
	+ Used mostly in Norse countries.
* space boy/space girl
* ghost
* Playthings of the Gods
* puppy
	+ Referring to the Heronoi being too affectionate to people who they like, especially if the unfortunate friend or lover is not a Heronoi.
* bunny, rabbit
	+ Referring to the tendency for Heronoi women to bear several children.
* unicorn
	+ Referring to their obsession with cuteness, horses, and pets.
* dumb blondes
	+ How other people typically view the Heronoi, because they tend to be more emotional than most people. It causes others to see them as beautiful, but stupid and weak. Perhaps a tip of a spear or the knuckles of a fist would change their mind?
* bimbo, "no-brains", dimwit
	+ Stereotyping Heronoi as stupid.
* gold trash, white trash
	+ Ironically, used by other "White" people (such as the Norse) towards Heronoi because of the latter's excitable attitude being seen as stupid or immature.
	+ In Norse: Gylsoppar
* stupid
	+ A very common stereotype for Heronoi, often mocking inability to control their own emotions as stupidity.
* cute
	+ It's true: Heronoi people *are* cute. But years of people torturing them because they are considered "cute" (and useless) make many Heronoi feel uncomfortable when outsiders call them that.
* breeder (borigoto, borika)
	+ One of the most offensive insults in the Heronoi language.
	+ It can traumatise even a modern Heronoi, if he or she understood what the term meant and it's directed to him or her. That is because it evokes the distant past, when their ancestors were tortured and used as breeding stock, considered among the most degrading of all tortures aside from being eaten.
* logbiter, muncher
	+ Referring to the unusual behaviour in some bored Heronoi to play with sticks or bite anything made of wood. It could be something programmed into their DNA to mock the aristocrats they were based on.

## Trivia

* Their culture was inspired by a mixture of Mycenaean Greek and Victorian English art.
	+ To some extent, they might correspond to "high elves" in fantasy literature like the Ontemazei, although their ears are also not pointed.
* Heronoi people are more emotional and mentally-unstable than typical humans.
	+ Although most Heronoi men do not do it, it is considered socially-acceptable (and encouraged) for Heronoi men to wail when they are sad.
* In older times, Freyrgardians used to buy or kidnap Heronoi as slaves. They mostly raised young Heronoi boys and girls to practice their Norse culture, because other people depicted blonde men as stereotypes for the Freyrgardians, so the Freyrgardians used their Heronoi servants to poke fun of that stereotype by making them look very much like the Norse archetype.
* In 2022, the author was amused by Heronoi and their romantic attitude, that sometimes he imagined that they would be like rednecks and hooligans if not for their traditional culture or their attempts to make themselves more Victorian. In other words, other countries see them as "stupid dumb blondes".
	+ Much of it may have been influenced by fanart of blonde characters, like Daniel (from Camp Camp), Star Butterfly, Barbie, and Fionna the Human.

## See also

* Arnadjanai, their less-civilised relatives
* Pelarin and Iruwasa, their less-pure relatives
* Kodequara, their former servants now under a magical curse
* Heronoification, making characters blonde to appeal to Heronoi audiences.