Nomadic Stormherald Culture
This page provides information on nomadic stormheralds. Read about city-dwelling stormheralds here.
Nomadic stormheralds, unlike their settled brethren, name their young according to the season they were born.
Children born during a solar or lunar eclipse are viewed as cursed by the Forgotten One, a god that once attempted to usurp the Four Beloved, and are not given a name. They are known as the Forgotten Children and cast out from their tribes at age fourteen to live on their own, and after that point never spoken of again.
- During the spring, when the rain goddess Baran rules the land, children are named words related to rain, plant growth, and water.
- Sunshower
- Deluge
- Vesa
- During the summer, when the sun goddess Mehr rules the land, children are named words related to the sun, heat, fire, and the desert sands.
- Blaze
- Ignis
- Fajra
- During the fall, when the wind goddess Esen rules the land, children are named words related to the sky, storms, wind, and rocks.
- Boulder
- Cumulus
- Alizée
- During the winter, when the death goddess Cemre rules the land, children are named for the cold, winter, death, darkness, snow, and ice.
- Blizzard
- Icicle
- Ayaz
Children born during a solar or lunar eclipse are viewed as cursed by the Forgotten One, a god that once attempted to usurp the Four Beloved, and are not given a name. They are known as the Forgotten Children and cast out from their tribes at age fourteen to live on their own, and after that point never spoken of again.
Nomadic stormheralds practice an old tradition with the bodies of their dead. Their remains are buried in the sand along with their most prized possessions (to inform the Four Beloved of who they were so that they might choose a suitable next life for them) and then blasted with lightning so that they are entombed in glass. It is then carved and painted with symbols of the Four Beloved, and offerings are left to the goddess who rules the land, the goddess who rules the current season, the goddess of the dragon’s birth season, and the goddess of death, Cemre. If they died an infant, an offering is made to Baran, if they died a teen or young adult, to Mehr, in their middle age to Esen, and if they were elderly the offering to Cemre is all that’s needed.
These offerings are to ensure that their spirit makes it to their next life, as well as thank the Four Beloved for guiding them throughout the years, and are usually as follows:
These offerings are to ensure that their spirit makes it to their next life, as well as thank the Four Beloved for guiding them throughout the years, and are usually as follows:
- For Baran; seeds, bark, fertile soil, green/blue stones and gemstones, wood, flowers, fruit
- For Mehr; ashes/coals, red/gold/yellow stones and gemstones, teeth and claws, blood
- For Esen; mountain stones, feathers, dragon scales, fulgurite, clear rocks and gemstones
- For Cemre; bones, ice sculptures, dead soil, black or white gemstones and rocks
Nomadic stormheralds rarely stay in one place for more than a week, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require shelter. When they come across a suitable place to rest, they’ll often expand and improve upon it - like carving out a cave into a more habitable place, and digging wells - before leaving it behind. They’ll mark it with painted and carved symbols (circles and knotwork) of the Four Beloved so that other tribes in the area can recognize that they were once there and that the location is a potential place to rest and take shelter.
There are many such places scattered throughout the desert, and it’s considered acceptable for travelers who are not from a tribe to use them, so long as they do not damage the place. And, generally, it’s expected that they also attempt to improve upon the place.
Staying for more than a month, especially if one is an outsider, is seen as extremely taboo and selfish. They’re not meant to be lived in for long periods and should be vacated quickly so that the next tribe or group of travelers can use them in peace.
There are many such places scattered throughout the desert, and it’s considered acceptable for travelers who are not from a tribe to use them, so long as they do not damage the place. And, generally, it’s expected that they also attempt to improve upon the place.
Staying for more than a month, especially if one is an outsider, is seen as extremely taboo and selfish. They’re not meant to be lived in for long periods and should be vacated quickly so that the next tribe or group of travelers can use them in peace.
Nomadic stormheralds are similarly fond of the arts, but prefer them in forms that can be carried with them in their travels and traded to others. Small sculptures, woven garments, singing, dancing, and painting on scrolls of traded paper and papyrus are all fairly common.
As for personal fashionm painted markings - often knotwork and circles - in bright blues and golds onto their scales are typical. Handmade fulgurite jewelry is also common.
As for personal fashionm painted markings - often knotwork and circles - in bright blues and golds onto their scales are typical. Handmade fulgurite jewelry is also common.
Stormheralds love to cook and use a wide variety of ingredients in their cuisine. Nomadic stormheralds don’t farm themselves, but get their food from the wilds or trade with city-dwellers and other tribes for some products:
- Dates
- Watermelons
- Apples
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Green onions
- Cucumbers
- Corn
- Hot peppers are a particular favourite
- Bell peppers
- Radishes
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Soybeans
- Squash
- Spinach
- Millet
- Sorghum
- Cactus fruit
- Figs
- Eggs
- Meat (commonly goat, mutton, camel or chicken)
- Couscous
- Fish (for those who live near the ocean or rivers)
- Due to the heat, milk is extremely rare and very expensive; most nomadic stormheralds never have any
Nomadic stormheralds have a relatively egalitarian society, with no strict social classes; excluding the Forgotten Children, who are exiled from society at age fourteen and shunned by other nomads. Everyone is expected to help their tribe in some way but also can expect to receive help in return.
Nomadic stormheralds worship the Four Beloved, a quartet of goddesses that share their rule over the deserts of Cyr. They are sometimes known as the Four Queens and together they mothered the stormheralds. Legend tells that before they did this, they raised an abandoned child known today as the Forgotten One - he was their son, and while they did name him, it became an evil word and is now forgotten to the ages.
There is a strong emphasis on the seasons and the cyclical nature of life. Circles and knotwork are sacred symbols, and often painted onto scales and dyed onto clothing.
The Four Beloved (or simply the Beloved) are as follows:
The Forgotten One is an angry god who betrayed the Beloved and attempted to usurp their power. They fought him and only barely managed to defeat him, creating the Shimmering Wastes to imprison him there. It is said that the mutations those who linger too long there experience are caused by the Forgotten One’s anger and desire to destroy anything he can touch and that the wound in the desert will only be healed when the Beloved and the Forgotten One can put aside their respective anger and reunite as a family once more.
It is also said that the rift between nomadic and settled stormheralds mirrors the rift between the Four Beloved and the Forgotten One and that the reckless pursuit of knowledge of their city-dwelling brethren serves only to make this scar on the world more deadly. Some nomadic stormheralds go so far as to claim that one day if the city-dwellers continue down their path, the Wastes will grow to consume all of Cyr, but most view such things as ridiculous talk.
Until then, every time the moons or sun grows dark, the seal on the Forgotten One grows weaker, and children who hatch at this time are viewed as cursed by his influence and exiled from their tribe at age fourteen. It is believed that when, and only when, the Forgotten One is forgiven their children will cease to be cursed.
The main principles nomadic stormheralds follow are:
There is a strong emphasis on the seasons and the cyclical nature of life. Circles and knotwork are sacred symbols, and often painted onto scales and dyed onto clothing.
The Four Beloved (or simply the Beloved) are as follows:
- Baran, goddess of the rain, spring, water, and new life. Her main territory is the far southern desert, where it borders the rainforest, and she comes into greatest power during the spring rains. One of Baran’s main responsibilities is to take the souls of the dead from Cemre and ensure they are reborn into their next life.
She prefers the following offerings (given by being vaporized with lightning):- Seeds, bark, fertile soil, green/blue stones and gemstones, wood, flowers, and fruit.
- Mehr, goddess of the sun, summer, fire, heat, and those in the prime of their life. Her main territory is the central desert, where the heat is almost unbearable, and she comes into greatest power during the summer. Mehr’s main responsibility is to the young, to ensure they learn and grow, as well as to stoke the fires in their hearts and guide them to defend their families and those weaker than themselves. Mehr’s name is invoked before battles.
She prefers the following offerings (given by being vaporized with lightning):- Ashes/coals, red/gold/yellow stones and gemstones, teeth, claws and blood.
- Esen, goddess of the wind, autumn, storms, the sky, and those in their middling years. Her main territory is the high mountains of the Thundercrack Cascades, and she comes into greatest power during the autumn. Esen’s main responsibility is to those in their middling years, to ensure that they take the time to pass on their knowledge to Mehr’s charges and that they do not forget that they have time yet to learn new things themselves.
She prefers the following offerings (given by being vaporized with lightning):- Mountain stones, feathers, dragon scales, clear rocks/gemstones and fulgurite.
- Cemre, goddess of death, winter, cold, and the elderly. Her main territory is the far northern desert, where it border’s Ironbrook and is quite chilly, and she comes into greatest power during the winter. One of Cemre’s main duties is to collect the souls of the dead and pass them on to Baran.
She prefers the following offerings (given by being vaporized with lightning):- Bones, ice sculptures, dead soil, and black/white gemstones/rocks.
The Forgotten One is an angry god who betrayed the Beloved and attempted to usurp their power. They fought him and only barely managed to defeat him, creating the Shimmering Wastes to imprison him there. It is said that the mutations those who linger too long there experience are caused by the Forgotten One’s anger and desire to destroy anything he can touch and that the wound in the desert will only be healed when the Beloved and the Forgotten One can put aside their respective anger and reunite as a family once more.
It is also said that the rift between nomadic and settled stormheralds mirrors the rift between the Four Beloved and the Forgotten One and that the reckless pursuit of knowledge of their city-dwelling brethren serves only to make this scar on the world more deadly. Some nomadic stormheralds go so far as to claim that one day if the city-dwellers continue down their path, the Wastes will grow to consume all of Cyr, but most view such things as ridiculous talk.
Until then, every time the moons or sun grows dark, the seal on the Forgotten One grows weaker, and children who hatch at this time are viewed as cursed by his influence and exiled from their tribe at age fourteen. It is believed that when, and only when, the Forgotten One is forgiven their children will cease to be cursed.
The main principles nomadic stormheralds follow are:
- Forgiveness; while the Beloved and the Forgotten One have yet to reunite and set aside their anger for each other, their story tells that resentment and vengeance leads only to destruction, and that one should not repeat their mistakes. Forgiving someone else is something that one does for themself, so that their anger will not poison them and lead them down a dark path, not necessarily something they do for the person who wronged them.
- Life is a cycle; everything comes back around. The seasons, migrating birds, and the travelling stormherald tribes are all examples of this. Life starts and ends, but will begin again soon enough after. One should not fear death; it is merely a chance to step into a new life. Nomadic stormheralds also apply this principle to one’s actions; if one spreads evil and inflicts harm upon the world, eventually it will come back around for them. If one is good and helps others, the same applies.
- Generosity; one should always be willing to help a stranger in the desert. Life here is hard and selfishness only serves to make it more difficult. It isn’t uncommon for nomadic stormherald tribes to rescue those lost in the desert and nurse them back to health, or accept outsiders into their ranks - even other dragons and humans - should they prove themselves worthy of and interested in doing so.
Baran’s Blessing - Spring
A period of heaving rainfall each year that forms the Vanishing Lake in the Rain District. Every nomadic tribe travels south to gather at its shores, to rest and share tales of their journeys for a handful of months.
It’s one of the few occasions where you’ll find more than one or two groups close together; not that they avoid others of their kind, just that normally their travelling lifestyle leaves few opportunities for them to encounter other nomadic stormheralds. It’s during these periods that romances happen - most tribes are made up of singular families - and although marriage and longer relationships are uncommon, most nomadic hatchlings are born after the gathering at the Vanishing lake.
A period of heaving rainfall each year that forms the Vanishing Lake in the Rain District. Every nomadic tribe travels south to gather at its shores, to rest and share tales of their journeys for a handful of months.
It’s one of the few occasions where you’ll find more than one or two groups close together; not that they avoid others of their kind, just that normally their travelling lifestyle leaves few opportunities for them to encounter other nomadic stormheralds. It’s during these periods that romances happen - most tribes are made up of singular families - and although marriage and longer relationships are uncommon, most nomadic hatchlings are born after the gathering at the Vanishing lake.
Due to their nomadic nature, these stormheralds do not have established schools or universities. A youngster instead learns from their parents and extended family how to survive in the desert, as well as stories of the Four Beloved that serve to help them learn and to entertain and teach good morals.
Some nomadic stormheralds attempt to attend schools in the cities or even the University of the Spire, but it’s rare for them to be admitted unless they show some prodigious talent.
Some nomadic stormheralds attempt to attend schools in the cities or even the University of the Spire, but it’s rare for them to be admitted unless they show some prodigious talent.
Nomadic stormheralds have a few, vital roles to fill in their societies to ensure that their tribe remains strong and healthy. It’s not uncommon for them to possess the skills of multiple roles, even if only one is their primary responsibility.
- Scouts/guides - usually only a handful of each tribe’s number will work as scouts and guides. Their duty is as the name might suggest; to scout ahead for water, food, and suitable locations to make camp for a few days. They are always trained as warriors and hunters as well, as they may encounter dangers or have to feed themselves for some time if they get lost.
- Navigators - navigators usually hold another duty on top of their own. Their task is highly important; they learn the stars and the landmarks of the desert to guide the tribe and to follow the reports of the scouts to lead them to safety and water.
- Warriors - those whose primary duty is to fight off threats and protect their family and tribemates. They are often also trained as hunters or scouts.
- Hunters - those of the tribe whose primary task is to hunt and forage for food for their kin. They are often trained to fight as well and assist the warriors in defending the tribe if needed.
- Healers - those who learn how to treat injuries, both physical and mental, as well as how to prevent illness and wounds. They learn their skills from older members of the tribe, as well as what plants and animals in the desert can help and harm them. They often help the minders with their tasks.
- Spiritual guides - usually only the eldest of the tribe take on this role; they interpret signs from the F our Beloved, tell stories and legends, and oversee burial practices and the preservation of nomadic tradition.
- Minders - their primary task is to care for the eggs, hatchlings, and the elderly. They’ll usually be middle-aged dragons, getting nearer to retirement, or parents who want to spend more time with their hatchlings instead of participating in other duties. Minders are highly respected by the rest of their tribe. They often help the healers with their tasks.
Nomadic stormheralds value family highly, and it is considered a grave misdeed to abuse or mistreat one’s relatives, as it mirrors the resentment between the Four Beloved and the Forgotten One. Instead, one should show love and care for their parents, children, grandparents, uncles, cousins, and other more distant relations.
The only exception to this is, of course, the Forgotten Children - those born on eclipses that are believed to be corrupted by the Forgotten One’s bitterness and anger. They are left nameless and cast out from their tribe at age fourteen to survive on their own. While another tribe may take them in if they hide their status, if they are discovered - and they usually will, as the tribes meet up yearly during the spring rains - they will be cast out once more.
It is usually easier for them to live with the springsingers or the city-dwellers than try to hide with a remote tribe.
The only exception to this is, of course, the Forgotten Children - those born on eclipses that are believed to be corrupted by the Forgotten One’s bitterness and anger. They are left nameless and cast out from their tribe at age fourteen to survive on their own. While another tribe may take them in if they hide their status, if they are discovered - and they usually will, as the tribes meet up yearly during the spring rains - they will be cast out once more.
It is usually easier for them to live with the springsingers or the city-dwellers than try to hide with a remote tribe.
While most tribes speak the common tongue primarily, they are the last vestiges of society that still use the old stormherald tongue of ‘sky speak’. Not all tribes possess knowledge of it and it’s slowly fading away into history, but it is said to be the language of the Four Beloved themselves and used for sacred ceremonies.
Sky Speak sounds like thunder, and some words require the use of lightning to create the right sounds, and as such is extremely difficult for outsiders to learn. It has a written form that combines round shapes - reminiscent of clouds - and sharp, jagged ones - reminiscent of lightning - to create letters.
Sky Speak sounds like thunder, and some words require the use of lightning to create the right sounds, and as such is extremely difficult for outsiders to learn. It has a written form that combines round shapes - reminiscent of clouds - and sharp, jagged ones - reminiscent of lightning - to create letters.
Stormheralds are incredibly superstitious regarding the practice of Harvest Magic and necromancy. Harvest Mages are viewed favourably, as being blessed by both Baran and Cemre, but necromancers are viewed in the opposite manner, as the souls of dead dead humans and dragons belong to the Four Beloved alone, and are not for mortals to touch.
The revived are viewed with… deep discomfort. They aren’t treated with outright hostility, but if they received a proper burial, they’re not viewed as the same person they once were. That soul was reborn; whoever they are not, it’s someone else.
Unlike city-dwelling stormheralds, they do not have a tradition of runesmithing and alchemy and view such things as wonderful and bizarre.
The revived are viewed with… deep discomfort. They aren’t treated with outright hostility, but if they received a proper burial, they’re not viewed as the same person they once were. That soul was reborn; whoever they are not, it’s someone else.
Unlike city-dwelling stormheralds, they do not have a tradition of runesmithing and alchemy and view such things as wonderful and bizarre.
Unlike their settled brethren, the nomadic stormheralds are treated with disdain by Ironbrook’s elite and as they do not normally possess passports, are rarely permitted beyond the border. If one does manage to obtain one from the Spire they’ll be permitted to cross, but will be looked down upon if they reveal their background as a nomad.
Nomadic stormherald tribes travel through the desert regions of Hovell, sometimes fighting with and other times working with the nation’s people and Warlords - it depends on the era and the leaders involved. Some even travel only in Hovell’s lands and bear the tattoos proclaiming loyalty to one of the Warlords, while others remain undevoted to any and travel at the edges of cities.
Nomadic and city-dwelling stormheralds have an… odd relationship with each other. They’re the same type of dragon and physically indistinguishable, but have vastly different lifestyles and cultures; sometimes they can get along, but generally, nomads try to avoid them and are viewed with disdain when they do visit larger cities. If they must trade with their settled kin, then they prefer to do so in smaller towns and villages where they’ll be viewed as a little less… odd.
The nomads and the springsingers don’t often come into contact. Some tribes might travel south and skirt the border with the springsingers, but most don’t seek out contact with them - their home is the desert, not the rainforest. If they stumbled upon each other they might trade with them, but otherwise have few interactions.
Nomadic stormherald tribes travel through the desert regions of Hovell, sometimes fighting with and other times working with the nation’s people and Warlords - it depends on the era and the leaders involved. Some even travel only in Hovell’s lands and bear the tattoos proclaiming loyalty to one of the Warlords, while others remain undevoted to any and travel at the edges of cities.
Nomadic and city-dwelling stormheralds have an… odd relationship with each other. They’re the same type of dragon and physically indistinguishable, but have vastly different lifestyles and cultures; sometimes they can get along, but generally, nomads try to avoid them and are viewed with disdain when they do visit larger cities. If they must trade with their settled kin, then they prefer to do so in smaller towns and villages where they’ll be viewed as a little less… odd.
The nomads and the springsingers don’t often come into contact. Some tribes might travel south and skirt the border with the springsingers, but most don’t seek out contact with them - their home is the desert, not the rainforest. If they stumbled upon each other they might trade with them, but otherwise have few interactions.