Nisani Tribes

The Nisani are a loose term referring to the sporadic collection of minor fiefdoms, villages, and city-states across the continent's easternmost border, particularly the Nisa Desert and Entaran Basin. Their religious traditions vary richly from locale to locale, however some similarities exist across the culture as a whole. Various branches of the Nisani have been at odds with the Zathryan Empire for nearly as long as both civilizations have existed, with the Zathryans viewing Nisani as heathens due to their near veneration of magic and nomadic tendencies while Nisani, particularly those of the southern deserts, see the Zathryans as *Sidu'ati* (lit. "Traitors"), people who have turned their backs on the ancestor gods.

A common Nisani belief is that all life in Mithra is descended from the ancestor gods. The first descendants were the *Aladum Nai'du* or "Original Tribe" from which all Nisani as well as *Sidu'ati* may claim ancestry.

Another common belief found particularly in the Entaran village of Maliitani, is that reality and the world as mortals know it is the result of a dreaming, god-like being known only as the Entity. Maliitanic Nisa perform various rituals of appeasement towards the Entity to prevent things like natural disasters as suffering is seen as the dream becoming a nightmare from which the Entity must be soothed to abate.

## Notable Groups & Individuals

Nisa boundaries change like the wind, however some have stood out more than others over the years.

### ***Ayabili***

The Ayabili Nisani were an old family whose territory at its widest spanned the entire bottom half of the Nisa Desert, hedging more into being considered a small kingdom as opposed to a fiefdom. Led by a fearsome warlord by the name of Medura Ayabili, the Ayabili became noteworthy for their war against the Second Zathryan Empire from 1204-1209 GA. While the war ultimately led to defeat, the disgraced Medura hatched a plot to use an ancient Nisa artifact to create a time loop around the Zathryan capital while most of its military forces were inside preparing for a festival celebrating their recent victory. While the capital was trapped, Medura would lead a march across the countryside, razing anything in his path, and eventually siege and conquer the Imperial seat when it was unawares. The plan backfired despite his success in killing Emperor Arcus IV Zath-Garon due to betrayal from his uncle and chief advisor, Mesi of Kalsan, and Medura was killed in Eira of 1209 GA by a group of heroes who helped Mesi undo the magic keeping the city hostage.

The Ayabili term for their priests loosely translates to Sand Walker. Sand Walkers are extremely important in Ayabili society, and several will usually tag along on military missions both due to their fearsome ability with magic and also to keep morale up among warriors.

Notable Ayabili include:

* Medura Ayabili
* Mesi of Kalsan

### ***Māt bet-Ahantār (Entaran Nisani)***

The collective term for a handful of semi-nomadic tribes that make their home in the Entaran Basin, they are more accustomed to forests and grasslands than their southern counterparts, though they are no less Nisani. The village of Maliitani is a settlement of the Māt bet-Ahantār.

Notable Entarans include:

* Nīneveh eah-Lazuli (Nina)
* Amulun
* Iktah eah-Sabai