Nerim Tribes

## History

The Nemir people of the Corteau Canyon can trace their ancestry to a group of people that fled from the Khenomeric Empire, back when it was but a small state, vying for regional dominance. Although Nemir oral traditions speak little of this migration, historians theorize that they must hail from the region that now encompasses the northwestern portion of the Gnoll Empire, reaching into the Ogabo Desert. The reason for this mass migration is unknown, although a lot of religious immigrants were known to have been created during the Khenomerics’ early days.

The Nemir undertook this monumental trek, and eventually ended up to the far north, in the large island of Zemyland and the Corteau Canyon, untouched by the presence of any race. According to evidence, the Nemir were the first human inhabitants in Zemyland, predating the ancestors of the Hyperboreans. The Nemir made the inhospitable canyon their home, where they’ve lived ever since. Even though it’s been thousands of years, the Nemir are still isolated from the outside world, the majority of them preferring to live in their canyon, even when they’ve got opportunities to immigrate to more “civilized” areas in Zemyland. Despite their isolation, stories and legends of their incredible survival skills and fighting prowess have reached all corners of Giantstep.

Even though the Nerim have been inhabiting the cold reaches of Zemyland for millennia, due to their tendencies to marry solely within their own culture group, they have retained some of the physical characteristics of the Ancient Khenomerics, like swarthy skin and a deep, amber eye color.

## Government

The Corteau Canyon is made up of several tribes. Each tribe is led by a Naib, meaning “Judge” in their tongue, who serves as both a spiritual and political leader. The Naib is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the tribe, settling disputes, and maintaining the customs and traditions of their people. Below the Naib are the Sietch (Nerim word for a singular community) leaders, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the tribe, and the warriors, who form the backbone of the society and are responsible for defending the tribe against external threats.

Each tribe lives in small communities inside huge corals or caves in rock formations around the canyon. Those communities are scattered around the canyon and the tribes usually are fighting with each other, preventing them from uniting and dominating the island. Despite that, the various Nerim tribes are known to have united in the past, when faced against external threats, such as during the first arrival of the Zemylanders.

The title of the Naib is not hereditary, as each time a Naib dies, a new one is elected by the tribe, which usually consists of several Sietches. Typically, Naibs are skilled sorcerers, and they are able to manipulate sand (a form of magic known as "Sandweaving") as well as magically harness the power of the creatures that inhabit it, such as the wooly centipedes. Naibs can usually be identified by their bronze masks, which they wear at all times in public.

## Economy

The Nerim are skilled craftsmen, known to create fine tapestries from plant roots, as well as armor and weapons from corals and the exoskeletons of the wooly rhino beetles and the shells of the berbagazi. When necessary, the tribes will trade with each other, but that usually occurs in times of need, as each tribe has learned to be self sufficient.

The Nerim are known to provide services such as protection or passage through the forest of Shelkividur, while others are hired by sailors seeking to explore the hazardous Sea of Wraiths. Some, like the company of the Immortals of the Desert, are employed as mercenaries, making their fortune far away from the Corteau Canyon.

## Society and Culture

To the Nerim, the fight for survival had long dominated their cultural identity. The brutal environment of the Corteau Canyon necessitated the frugal use of energy and resources, especially water. These harsh conditions mandated the need for combat knowledge, making them emerge as hardy warriors and survivalists.

Their social structure is egalitarian, with both men and women playing important roles in all aspects of their society. They value individual skills and expertise over wealth or social status, and decisions are made through a consensus-building process that allows all members of the tribe to have a voice, even with the Sietch leader and the Naib being the final authority.

Polygamy is commonplace in Nerim society, with more prominent men having several wives and children with each of them.

The tribe reigns supreme for the Nerim, with their identification firmly rooted in their own tribe or sietch, rather than the broader Nerim culture, despite sharing a common language, traditions, and religion across all tribes. Individuals are expected to devote their lives to their tribe, providing for it until the day of their death.

## Religion

The Nerim religion is centered around the belief in a universal force that permeates all living things, known as the "Sandsong", or "Sufi Alramal" They believe that the Sandsong is a manifestation of the universe's underlying unity and that it can be harnessed through meditation and spiritual practices.

The Nerim see the world as a constant struggle between order and chaos, and they believe that their purpose is to maintain balance in the universe. They see themselves as the guardians of this balance and believe that they have a sacred duty to protect and preserve the natural world.

The Nerim have a deep respect for nature, and they believe that all living things are connected through the Sandsong. In some versions of their faith, certain animals, such as giant woolly Scorpions, are revered as the manifestations of god. They have a strict code of ethics that emphasizes self-discipline, community, and sacrifice. They believe that by living in harmony with nature and with each other, they can achieve spiritual enlightenment and become one with the Sandsong.

The Nerim also have a strong tradition of prophecy and divination. They believe that certain individuals are blessed with the ability to see the future and to interpret the will of the Sandsong. There is also a a stern belief in an afterlife, which they see as a return to the Sandsong, by living a virtuous life and making safrifices to their tribe.

## Demographics

The Nerim are the sole inhabitants of the Corteau Canyon, save for a small population of Norskyrie amazons that live on the mountains and plateaus near the center of the canyon.

Throughout history, some individual Nerim, particularly sellswords, have settled in foreign lands, such as the various Zemylander realms or Smallstep. Despite largely retaining their religion and traditions, they are referred to as "city dwellers" or "pariahs" by their fellow Nerim. When returning to the canyon, they are treated like any other foreigner.

## Foreign Relations

The Nerim have limited contact with the outside world. They typically ignore conflicts that don't directly involve them, apart from the Nerim that are employed as sellswords. Foreign traders (usually from the kingdoms of Copper, Gold, and Silver, as well as the Platinum Strait Princedom) are allowed to enter the canyon, but only under the protection and supervision of the Nerim tribes.

## Millitary

The Nerim are masters of guerilla warfare, using the terrain of the Corteau Canyon to their advantage, employing tactics such as hiding under hidden crevices to ambush their enemies, or walking in the natural rhythm of the sand, to hide their footsteps.

The Nerim usually use lightweight and agile armor made of materials such as leather or fabric, sometimes even insect fur or carapace, that allows them to move with ease in battle, but also protect themselves from the cold. The Nerim are skilled bowmen, as well as close combat fighters, utilizing small bucklers (known as "sand-shields") made out of woven fibers and coral, as well as short, curved blades.

Some Nerim able to utilise a special form of magic, known as Sand magic, to manipulate the terrain around them, control the canyon's animals and form illusions, disorienting their opponents. A Naib is usually one of those expected to be profficient in sand magic, and is taught by a shaman upon his ascension as the tribe's leader, if he wasn't profficient enough before.