Anirniit

The **Anirniit** (Singular; **Anirniq**) are a Human ethnic group in Asul originally native to the frigid region of Aningan.

## Description

The Anirniit are a dark skinned people and generally have slightly short but robust builds in comparison to many other Human ethnic groups. This robustness is often exacerbated, or perhaps wholly a result, of their cultural views regarding what constitutes beauty and sexual appeal, as well as their fatty diets. Obviously cold adaptation plays a role, as well.

The largest known population of Anirniit can be found in Aningan, centered around their mighty city-state of Igaluk. These Anirniit represent the original Anirniit culture and population and it is from Aningan that all Anirniit ultimately descend.

### **Other Anirniit**

While the majority of Anirniit have remained in Aningan and are considered a part of the nation of Igaluk, at least two distinct populations of Anirniit are known to exist elsewhere in Asul; one in Vetrheim, and one in the Underdark.

Unless otherwise noted, it can be assumed that where possible these populations of Anirniit maintain the cultural practices, traditions, and views of those from Igaluk and do not have any significant or noteworthy physical differences that would allow one to distinguish them on sight alone.

#### **Anirniit of Snaervangr**

A sizable population of Anirniit dwell along the coast in Snaervangr, Vethreim. Their exact origins are somewhat unclear, but historians generally agree they were either the result of a small fleet of Anirniit ships from Aningan becoming shipwrecked, with the survivors forming the ancestors of the current population, or the result of a failed colonization attempt of some sort. Owing to the more brutal and isolated nature of Snaervangr, as well as their own history, the Anirniit of the region are rather backwards and impoverished by most standards, and generally unattractively thin by the standards of those who remained in Aningan.

The Anirniit of Snaevangr are, alone among the Anirniit peoples, illiterate as a society, but nonetheless employ a rich oral tradition of folklore and culture. The traditional Anirniit gender roles are ignored by these Anirniit, as the difficulty of life in Snaervangr has forced them to adopt an egalitarian view on gender roles with people being expected to do what they can, when they can, regardless of sex.

#### **Anirniit of Adlivun**

A third population of Anirniit can be found in the Upperdark region of Adlivun, even more culturally isolated and cut off from Igaluk than those dwelling in Snaervangr. As with those Anirniit, the Anirniit of Adlivun have a unclear origin, although presumably descend from Anirniit who either discovered the Underdark and attempted to settle it, or were brought down there against their will as slaves before ultimately escaping. Whatever the case, they have since managed to escape and create their own community and cultural legacy.

Besides some adaptations in eyesight (low-light vision and mild light sensitivity), which don't have any visible signs anyway, the Anirniit of Adlivun are indistinguishable from their peers in Igaluk, or at least they would be were it not for a difference resulting from cultural differences. Where the Anirniit of Igaluk and Snaervangr find heavyset, some might say fat, builds sexually attractive and beautiful, the Anirniit of Adlivun have gone the opposite route (or perhaps a parallel route, depending on one's views) and instead prize burly and muscular builds on men and women alike.

These Anirniit are also somewhat taller, averaging 5'7 for women and 6'0 for men. This, along with the preference for muscular builds and the relative ease at which they seem to attain them, is taken by some to be perhaps a sign of some long-diluted but still present Frost Giant ancestry.