Nyehef

Nyehef (from Nyewid and "hef", *home*) is the homeland of the Nyewida and is located on a peninsula at the southern shore of the Old World.

## Technology

**Interaction**

* Nation's representative: Though mostly independent, the Nyewida are open for trading and sharing knowledge with others.

**Education**

* Schools: Nyewid settlements have schools where the youths of the country are tought basic life skills as well as their country's history.
* Indoctrination: The Nyewida are taught to stick together, thus being somewhat united despite their tribal culture.

**Mobility**

* Animal taming: The Nyewida have domesticated the Annina, a native cow-like species, that are mostly used for farm work and transportation as well as meat.
* Carts: The Nyewida are building carts to transport goods or people.
* Basic paths: The Nyewida built multiple paths connecting their cities with each other.

**Government**

* Complex law systems: The Nyewida put great value on a working justice system where everyone accused of a crime has the opportunity to defend themselves on a fair trial.
* Citizen's assembly: Each settlement has a representative that will regularly travel to the capital to discuss the local government with the leader of the Nyewida.

**Inventions**

* Basic recreation: Craftsmen are carving small items mostly out of wood or bone.

## Race

The Nyewida share many similarities to ordinary humans, an untrained eye might confuse them with one another. Nyewida reach about 1.3 to 1.5 m in height, shorter than humans, however, their average weight can even be higher (70 to 90 kg). The latter is primarily caused by a wider rib cage and pelvis as well as a greater amount of muscular tissue. Their bigger weight prevents them from running as fast and long as humans could, but in exchange Nyewida are generally stronger and more robust.

Nyewida undergoe a faster aging process than humans do, finishing their puberty already around the ages 10 to 14, the average lifespan being 60 years.

## Language

The Nyewida speak the Nyewid language. As a second language, primarily for trading, Tade Taadži is taught in the schools.

## Cities

### Awintebb

"Awin's shore", the nation's capital: Awintebb is located in the southernmost part of the Nyewid peninsula, unlike most settlements, however, it is not directly on the shore but further inland. It is said to have been founded by Awin the First who is the alleged first leader of the Nyewida to have led them to their current home.

### Waillornabben

"Waillorn's tower": Waillornabben is located on the western shore at the northern end of the Nyewid peninsula. It has a big tower right at its center that serves as a living place for the local leader. It was founded by Waillorn the Migrant who led some of the Nyewida further north.

### Nirreakyeen

"Nirrea's river": Nirreakyeen is located at a river near the border to Durankkhemér. It was founded by Nirrea the Bear-lover, also called the Fearless.

## Personalities

### Awin the First

Awin is said to be the first leader of the Nyewida who led his people to the Nyewid peninsula for settlement. It is disputed whether he actually existed or not.

### Okkar the Six-fingered

Okkar was a leader of the Nyewida. He was born with an additional finger on each hand, thus gaining his nickname. He went missing during a storm and was declaired dead.

### Faldin the Red

Faldin is the successing leader of the Nyewida after Okkar. He was elected with 21 years old and gained his nickname because of his red hair.

### Adir the Tall

Adir is the daughter of Faldin. Although she holds no governmental position she is equally - if not more - influential like her father. She is called "the Tall" because of her height of 1.9 m which makes her look like a giant compared the fellow Nyewida.

### Waillorn the Migrant

Waillorn moved with his family members and other followers further north of the peninsula, where he founded the settlement Waillornabben.

### Nirrea the Bear-lover

Nirrea was the wife of Waillorn until she abandoned her marriage and moved even further north, where she founded the settlement Nirreakyeen. She gained several nicknames along her way, such as "the Runaway", "the Mad", or "the Fearless", though "the Bear-lover" was the one that eventually sticked. As most of her nicknames suggest, she was both ridiculed as well as admired to search for contact with the people of Durankkhemér.

## Culture

### Foreign policy

The Nyewida are rather pacifist and try to avoid violent conflicts, however, they are willing to defend themselves if it is necessary.

Their somewhat isolated nature causes most of the Nyewida to be wary of strangers, though they keep any negative thoughts to themselves and are generally open for trade and other good relations.

### Age and gender roles

Men and women are somewhat equally treated, though there are distinct gender roles where everyone has to fit in. Leading roles are mostly preserved for men, especially in politics, while women have the responsibility of managing the household as well as education.

Children under the age of 12 are to remain on land at all times, as well as pregnant women and old or injured people. After the age of 12 Nyewid children are seen as adults, though it may take another two or three years until they are treated as such.

### Traditions

Nyewida do not bury their dead in the ground, instead the bodies are attached to a heavy object and thrown into the ocean where they sink to the very bottom.

### Art

Among the Nyewida wood carvings are vastly popular for religious as well as aesthetic reasons; they mostly portray different kinds of animals, fellow townpeople or the Linnida.

### Clothing and jewelry

Nyewida, living in a rather cold region, require special clothing in order to adjust to the temperature. They mostly wear several layers of dried animal skin as well as fur.

The most common jewelries are necklaces and earrings, both made out of either wood or bone.

## Religion

### Creation myth

At the beginning, the world was consisting only of a single giganteous ocean. It gave birth to the Linnida who would live at its bottom for centuries to come. At some point their three leaders started fighting each other and a disastrous war ensued. Over its course the piled up corpses of the fallen Linnida would turn into stone, resulting in the land being formed. Eventually the three leaders decided to end the war with a compromise. One leader would remain in the ocean with his people, another would settle on the land and the last one would move up into the sky. The Linnida transformed themselves into all the animals that live in the three worlds. The three leaders themselves kept their wisdom and gave it to their descendants who eventually became the sentient people of the world, like the Nyewida themselves or the dragons of Īvāsw̄.

### Afterlife

Upon death, all living things have the chance to become a Linnid once again, however, only if their bodies touch the bottom of the ocean before their flesh rots away.

### Gods

The Linnida of the afterlife have gained divine powers and control the powers of nature such as wind, water or thunder.

## Government

The Nyewida have a tribal system where each settlement has their own rules and has their own local leaders. However, they elect a collective leader in a somehwat democratic process who mostly serves as a negotiator between the single tribes.

The current leader is Faldin the Red who got elected at 21 years old after the former leader, Okkar the Six-fingered, went missing. While Faldin is officially the only leader, his daughter Adir is probably equally as powerful and influential.