Nitarem

Nitarem, named for the mythical Homini leader, is the island closest to the Nereu Fief. Once populated by neutral Homini, it was quaint village-state with a population never higher than two thousand, and shrouded in mist. Isolation gave it a distinct culture, but after a visit by an Archangel, mysteriously, it is now a ghost town...

## Origins

According to legend, the Nitarem can trace their origins back to the first Homini created in the Bloodbirth. When the war between the Elysians and the Sheolfolk began to escalate, Homini were beginning to be used as bonding partners, and the original Nitarem were angered by this endless violence. Choosing to reject the conflict, they sailed off the mainland, hoping to find independence and safety away from the Elysians and the Sheolfolk. They sailed into the mist, and found an uninhabited island. Once settled, the group vowed never to allow Elysians or Sheolfolk on their land, and never to return to the mainland.

The word "Nitarem" is homage to Nita Smith, the (possibly mythological) founder of Homini society on the mainland. Though it is unverified, it is believed the "rem" is derived from Old Homini, and may mean either "in honor of" or "place of."

## Geography

As an island, Nitarem is surrounded by a vast yet calm sea. To the south, mountains peak out of the waves, and the mist over the water is so thick, it has hidden the island for hundreds of years. The island itself contains both sandy beaches and rocky cliffs that drop off right into the water, and is roughly half arable land and half forests. There are no real lakes or rivers, but streams and ponds dot the landscape.

## Government

The government structure of Nitarem is surprisingly lax, likely because of its low population. Villages, if they exist, may run either by elected councils, or by individual leaders with advisers, depending on the social climate. Ultimately, everyone is expected to be involved in their community.

## Culture

### Food

Because of the limited variety of resources, Nitarem food usually contains rice, fish, grain, or small livestock such as chickens.

### Naming

Names are given by guardians to their children sometime shorty before or after they are born. Many Nitarem first names are gender neutral. Last names exist, but they aren't used as often as mainland Homini last names, as the Nitarem have such a low population. It's possible these last names were the names of the first settlers.

### Clothing

Like mainland Homini, the Nitarem are heavily inspired by Roman aesthetics, wearing robes, armor, and a variety of metal jewelry. However, they also have developed their own style after years of isolation, that includes more Japanese aesthetics including equivalents to kimonos, yukata, furisode, hakama, geta, and zori.

### Technology

Because of their long-term isolation, the Nitarem do not have the technological advancements that the mainland Homini do.

### Gender Roles and Orientation

Seeing as their religion affects many aspects of their lives, the Nitarem use their gods as a standard. The most significant of the gods have no human forms, and thus no gender, so the Nitarem feel no need to regulate gender or gender expression. Orientation is usually treated the same way; Nitarem find capacity, compatibility, and respect to be more important in the matters of love and attraction.

### Religion

#### *The Nitarem Pantheon*

The Nitarem have their own pantheon of gods, which, when broken down, gets somewhat complex. There are many gods, most of which aren’t even worshiped on consistent basis. A normal Nitarem citizen does not even know the names of all their gods, for example, Aquila can only name about thirty. Nitarem gods have “levels” in which they are categorized by the rules they must follow.

According to legend, The First Gods have existed as long as the world itself. They are divine concepts; They control the ebb and flow of life and death, and keep the celestial balance. As They will imbue the world with their powers whether or not creatures such as Homini, Elysians, and Sheolfolk exist, and are happy to have these creatures enjoy the gifts They bestow. The Nitarem prioritize these gods above all others - they worship these gods daily, have shrines dedicated to them, and priests that lead celebrations and prayer. These gods have no physical forms, but have been known to work by weaving fate, and most encounters with them have been through spiritual feelings.

* Seeing as they live on an island, the Nitarem spend much of their time either on or next to the ocean. Rava, god of the sea, provides food, in the form of fish, shellfish, seaweed, and salt, but also distance from the mainland. Citizens worship Rava by not allowing any foreign material in Their water, be it waste or boat parts; citizens must also carefully watch the population levels of the fish, not only that they take, but are still in ocean.
* Novion, god of the harvest, is the god of the land and soil, and all the food that springs from it. They are also god of livestock and other domesticated animals. Most of Novion’s worshipers are farmers or shepherds, but it is the job of all to take care of the land and the animals on it with respect.
* About half of the surface area of the Nitarem island is covered in forest, so it’s not a surprise that Imphion, god of the forest, is one of the First Gods. Imphion provides food, in the form of wild animals such as deer and birds, herbs for medicine, lumber for construction, and freshwater sources. Citizens worship Imphion by hunting for food, picking herbs, drinking freshwater, and using lumber; however, it is vital that the Nitarem take only what they need, and replant as many trees as possible.
* Fulgrim, god of the mist, is the god of..well, the mist. Specifically, They are the spirit of the fog that surrounds the island and protects the Nitarem from the threats of the mainland. Therefore, They are also the god of protection, self-defense, and warriors. Fulgrim is worshiped by having knowledge and respect of weapons and defense arts, and having the bravery to protect the weak.
* From when the sun rises to when the sun sets is under the watch of Maeshia, god of the day. They are a keeper of time, and see all that happens, whether or not the sky is clear. Citizens worship Maeshia by being productive in both work and pleasure, and enjoying the time they have in this life - no matter what it looks like outside.
* From when the moon rises to when the moon sets is under the watch of Katriis, god of the night. They watch over the world when Maeshia cannot, and also keep time. Citizens worship Katriis by resting after their work and play, either by sleeping or any other form of self-care. Katriis also protects the creatures that awaken at dark.
* Cetrix, god of the home, is the god that encompasses family, hearth, childcare, marriage, friendship, and love. Cetrix may be one of the easiest yet hardest gods to worship, as love is a complex thing. Cetrix emphasizes the bonds between loved ones, and how powerful love can be, but does not require worshipers to have certain relationships - individuals aren’t pressured to marry, partners aren’t required to raise children, and divorces are encouraged for partners who feel they need them. All Cetrix asks is that citizens do all they can to make their relationships mutually-beneficial and healthy.

The Creation Gods encompasses the next most powerful gods. These gods have the ability to use physical forms, but aren’t required to, and have never been recorded doing so. They cover topics of human creation. This class includes:

* Delta, the god of exploration, curiosity, discovery, and adventure.
* Upsilon, god of all forms of art, including poetry, songs, storytelling, paintings, architecture, fashion design, sculpting, and pottery.
* Lambda, god of social responsibilities, charity, fostercare, volunteer work, and community.
* Epsilon, god of all forms of craftsmanship, including smithing, woodworking, and construction.
* Rho, god of cuisine, food preparation, and cooking.
* Tau, the god of the hunt.
* Iota, god of healing, medicine, healthcare, doctors, and hygiene.

The Earthly Gods contains gods that are less powerful than the classes before it. They still do not require physical forms, but legends and myths state they have used them in the past, much like nymphs or spirits. They cover nature and natural phenomenon. This class includes:

* Kappa, the god of mountains, both on land and in the sea.
* Mu, god of herbs and flowers.
* Sigma, god of freshwater.
* Nu, god of animals, usually pets or non-hunted animals.
* Zeta, god of fire and heat.
* Theta, god of ice and cold.
* Eta, god of all weather phenomena, including rain, wind, lightening, clouds, thunder, snow, and hail.
* Xi, god of the cold months, and a keeper of time.
* Phi, god of the warm months, and a keeper of time.
* Chi, god of the hot months, and a keeper of time.
* Psi, god of the cool months, and a keeper of time.

The Physical Gods contains the gods that require a physical form, and have some level of mortality. These are the gods of human nature, and include:

* [REDACTED]
* Omicron, the god of all subconscious human nature and instincts, usually shown through dreams, either sleeping or waking. This god is said to only appear when one is sleeping.

The Mortal Gods gods are the weakest of the gods, having only passive powers. They must come in the form of mortal creatures, and will perish. Most of these gods are real or legendary Homini that have joined the pantheon after death. This class includes:

* Nita Smith, goddess of Homini independence and self-government.

#### *Religious Leaders*

Though there are Nitarem priests, they are not bound as only religious leaders - they are allowed and encouraged to have jobs, hobbies, partners, and even children. Average citizens, though they must worship all of the First Gods, often have a god they follow in their career. For example, a fisherman will likely worship Rava the most, and a foster parent may feel closest to Cetrix. Think of the First Gods as an idol group or Kpop band - you love them all, but there’s always one you love just a little bit more.

### Language

As they had not had any interaction with Sheolfolk or Elysians, the Nitarem continued to speak Old Homini. In the role play, this is illustrated by having the citizens speak in an Elizabethan dialect.

## Destruction

One day, a figure came down from the sky - a woman with wings. She called herself Imperiel, an Archangel of Justice, and she had come to see the island. She explained that her kind were the Elysians, the virtuous of Elodi, who were at war with the viceful Sheolfolk. Her superiors sent her to the island to scout for appropriate land to build a base, seeing as the island was close enough to Sheolfolk territory and often hidden in the misty seascape, but she was shocked to find Homini there. The Nitarem, of course, told her the land belonged to them, and that they wanted no part of the war, and asked her to leave. She chose to make a deal with them - she would leave and tell her superiors they couldn’t build a base on the island if the citizens gave her one of their own to Bond with.

Of those she discovered as candidates who would be best to be Bonded, Aquila Ueno was chosen to be sacrificed. Imperiel accepted them, and once they had Bonded, took them away from their family and community and locked them in a tower in Elysium, where they could be protected. While there, Aquila felt homesick and lonely, and the only real visitor they had was Imperiel, who only did so under the pretenses of her own type of loneliness.

After about a year, Imperiel brought Aquila back to Nitarem. At first, Aquila was ecstatic to be back with their family, until it dawned on them that Imperiel must have returned with an ulterior motive. And they were correct - Imperiel declared that it was Elodi’s will for the base to be built, and the Nitarem would cooperate. If not, they would have to be relocated so they could be kept out of Sheolfolk hands. When they refused, she reminded them that they could face great and terrible punishments if they disobeyed the word of Elodi. At first, Aquila tried begging Imperiel to keep her word and leave the citizens alone. When she did not yield, Aquila got into an argument with her, then threatened to kill themself, thinking that the Bond was life-binding, and that their death would also cause hers. They were mistaken. Imperiel explained to them that killing a Bonded Homini does not kill the Elysian, but now, they had really pissed her off. Any rebellion against her was a rebellion against Elodi, and she knew the best punishment for everyone.

Using her abilities, she encased Aquila’s legs in enough rocks so that they could not move, and then began to round up the Nitarem. She forced them into the temple and sealed the doors and windows shut, reminding the Homini that they were atoning for their sins against Elodi, and this was the only way justice could be served. Once they were all inside, she set the building on fire, while Aquila watched, crying and screaming and pleading in horror.

All Nitarem citizens, besides Aquila, are believed to be dead, as no bodies can be identified. Since the "cleansing," the island has been abandoned.

## Residents

* Aquila Ueno *(formerly)*
* Souma Ueno *(assumed deceased)*
* Semptima Ueno *(assumed deceased)*
* Aya Ueno *(deceased)*