History

The first Sultan of Nejem was Nazim Ozan, said to have married the most beautiful woman in all of Noar, Nufer Sahai. The Sultanah bore the Sultan three sons, Kerem, the oldest, Saban, the middle child, and Emel, the youngest. Tragedy struck only days after the birth of their third son, with sickness taking the life of Nufer, leaving the Sultan to raise the boys on his own. Overcome with grief, Nazim was too distraught to run the Sultanate, leaving the honour to his oldest son, who was twelve at the time, while he left on a journey to find the Gem of Sryn, a teardrop shaped jewel of gold, said to harness the power of life and immortality.

Nazim ventured into the heart of the desert, beyond the red hills and through the valley of bones to the parched sea, an endless expanse of sand that stretches as far as the eye can see. There he found the temple of Sryn, God of Sun and Sky, and took from its core, a golden drop of sun, a gem no bigger than his palm, that flashed red and gold in the sunlight. He returned home and raced to the crypt of his beloved, setting the gem in her cold, rotting hands.

Nufer rose with the sun the next morning, and Sryn’s retribution was instant. Nazim begged for mercy, stating that Nufer was the light of his life and all that he lived for. Sryn let the woman live, but did not let the Sultan go unpunished, choosing instead to turn his wrath on the sons, cursing them with blindness. Nufer said her life was not worth the suffering of her sons, and traveled to the city temple of Nesein, God of Fortune and Visions. She held a wavy dagger to her wrist, invoking the God of her people listen to her plight. Nazim took the dagger from her, knowing the sacrifice must be his own.

“Light of my life,” Nazim said, “love and protect our sons always.”

The Sultan and all his treasures in this world were buried in Sryn’s temple in an attempt to please the Sun God, but Nufer’s sons remained blinded by the curse Sryn had hexed them with. It was Nesein who took pity on the young men some years later, when Sryn had forgotten all about the sons of Nazim. He blessed Kerem, the oldest of Nazim’s sons, with the gift of hindsight, so that he may never forget the mistakes of his father and race. To Saban, the middle child, he bestowed the gift of foresight, allowing him to look forward into the future, so that he may lead his people with the wisdom of what was yet to come. Finally, to Emel, the youngest of Nazim’s boys, he offered the blessing of truesight, allowing him to see through any web of lies he may encounter, especially those spun with magic.

With these blessings, came a strange, but unique trait passed on from father to son for a hundred generations. Descendants of Kerem Ozan found they too possessed the gift of hindsight, an ability that, when in use, caused their veins to glow black or white. Descendants of Saban inherited foresight as well as veins that glowed red, orange, or yellow. Emel’s descendants gained true sight with veins that glowed blue, purple, or green.

Legends

Legend says that the God Sryn, ruler of the sun, once enslaved the N’jiin people, tasking them with building a temple dedicated to himself. The temple was said to be so grand, that the moon Goddess, Nyne, grew jealous. Each night that Sryn slept, Nyne would bury his temple with sand, and each day, the N’jiin people had to uncover it.

Tired of digging for the temple each day, the Sultan at the time, Dajin Shazende, ordered his people to conceal the temple with magic. Illusionists worked day and night to figure out a way to hide something so large, until they were able to successful trick Nyne.

Angry, Nyne tried to fool the N’jiin people, remaining in the sky one morning as the sun rose. Unsuspecting, the Sultan ordered the people to reveal the temple for morning worship. As the illusion was dropped, Nyne discovered the location of the temple and moved in front of the sun. She cast the world into darkness in what the N’jiin have recorded as the first ever solar eclipse.

Furious that the mortals had been able to trick her, she dipped her hands into the flat desert and lifted the sand, heaping it into large piles that stretched as far as the eye could see. The temple is rumoured to exist to this day, filled with all the treasures of Sryn, hidden somewhere beneath the moving dunes Nyne created.

Appearance

Adapted to weather the harsh desert climates surrounding Nejem, the N’jiin are a hardy people with distinguishable features that speak of their origins long before they need voice them. The majority of this race possess mocha, bronze, or deep brown skin tones with hair that spans from ebony black to chocolate brown and eyes of the same colors. The most prominent trait they carry is within their veins— a power that, when manifested, causes their blood to glow beneath the flesh.

Evolved due to nearly constant exposure to sunlight, the N’jiin find that not only is their flesh thicker and harder to scratch or pierce than most mortals, but they don’t sunburn even after hours beneath Sryn’s light. That’s not to say they don’t feel the effect of heat as strongly. They tend to wear enough clothing and armor that is necessary for their protection, finding it more comfortable to expose flesh rather than contain it beneath wraps.

N’jiin men pride themselves on their facial hair, its length, volume, color, and style. Often times, men are judged simply by its presentation, however, the status of a man is reflected by the jewels, metal bands, and ties he uses to secure his beard. While most men adhere to this unwritten rule of status, N’jiin who find it difficult to grow facial hair will follow the same guidelines with their hair. Like female N’jiin, some men will forgo the beard to style their hair with the same embellishments.

Someone with no hair or short hair is assumed to be the rank of a slave or lesser. N’jiin who have cut their hair short may leave a thick strand long to show that they are above this rank. Medium hair denotes a ‘commoner’s’ status, normally resting between just below the jawline and above the shoulders. Long hair denotes a member of high status, such as priests and royal guards.

Braids mark major achievements or events experienced by the wearer (such as expeditions or battles) and each is described by the length and thickness of the braid and its style and decoration. A braid is worn like a trophy, another symbol of status, and those who take up braids in their hair without the achievements to show for them will have them cut out.

Women who have married don a Maang Tikka, a jewelry piece that is pinned into the hair and dangles down the hairline with an ornamental piece attached to the end. Most maang tikkas worn by commoners are simply made while the bigger, more extravagant pieces are sold only to those of high status.

Men who have married wear a band that wraps around their forehead and ties into their hair. This band could be made of cloth, leather, or metal, have jewels and/or designs, and be as intricate or plain as they wish it.

Racial Ability

The N’jiin ability of sight is unique in all the world, said to have been bestowed to them by the God of Fortune and Visions hundreds of years ago. There are no living documents that tell the actual tale of events, though N’jiin are known to be very accurate record keepers when it comes to history. This fable exists only in spoken word, passed down through the generations as a story of caution and fortune.

The gift of hindsight is activated through touch, causing their veins to glow from the point of contact (normally their hands) and travel throughout the rest of their body. When a N’jiin comes into contact with another person or object, they are able to flip through memories as if turning through the pages of a book. No spoken word is shared through these visions and memories only occur in the order in which they most recently took place. This means to see right back into someones or something's past, the individual would have to concentrate for some time, working through the maze of information they are bombarded with. Of course, this connection is severed as soon as the object is dropped or the individual they’re touching pulls away. (In writing, players must agree on the information shared).

Foresight is perhaps the most interesting of the three different gifts of sight. Looking into the future is a bit like taking a peek at that which is forbidden. N’jiin who have harnessed the gift of foresight are few and far between, said to make less appealing life partners, as their ability to determine the near and distant future is sometimes thought to be rather morbid. The gift is limited, however, as an individual with foresight, for example, cannot predict their own death, the will of the Gods, or that which magic protects. Some visions come to them in dreams, others through contact with people or things, or simply through meditation. What is seen does not always come to pass, as the slight shift in thought of action in the present has been known to change outcomes in the future. (Once again, any information should be agreed to by all parties in the thread).

Truesight is said to be the most practical and common of the three gifts of sight, allowing the N’jiin individual to see through any tricks of the eye and mind. Magic especially is easy for them to see through, making it difficult for shapeshifters, illusionists and the likes, to pull the wool over their eyes. This applies to both Casters and mythical creatures with the ability to change their appearance or energy force. Those with truesight have been able to see through magical doors, find hidden traps more easily, and decipher the difference between real and fake objects, jewels, and personalities. They are able to read people well, and can tell the difference between someone who is genuine and who is not. The only magic those with truesight have trouble seeing through is the Ontari’s ability of Mirroring, as this involves the use of wild Esen, also known as divine Esen. (Truesight has some pretty simple guidelines to follow, but it’s important to make sure your writing partner is happy with what you decide).

Philosophy

Due to their racial abilities, the N’jiin are taught from an early age to think first before taking action in any matter. That’s not to say they can’t be hotheaded and temperamental at times, but their reactions steam more often from logic than emotion. Their ideologies pull from the knowledge that all actions have consequences, be they positive or negative. Sometimes the truth isn’t needed, sometimes it may be best to manipulate others down another path, and sometimes, it’s best to do nothing. While most N’jiin tend to follow a decent moral compass, some fall to dark temptations in hopes of accomplishing their dreams or destroying the ambitions of others. Their gifts of sight makes them a race to steer clear of, as one never knows if they can truly trust the guidance of a N’jiin once they’ve glimpsed you with a touch.

Perception

The N’jiin are a steadfast, religious people, just as wary of others as the world seems to be of them. With their own kind, they are more open and trusting, knowing that they each share the burden of visions and find common ground in that. Their values revolve around their religion, thus conflict blooms across the factions within their society, each claiming to be the only righteous path to follow. Wars have been struck over such simple matters while the blood of innocents stained many temples before the sands of the desert swallowed their bodies whole. While claimed to be the oldest race survived in Noar (disputed only by the Ontari), the N’jiin are a reactionary people with differing philosophical ideas that have more often than not, seen them take one step forward and two steps back.

The people are famed for their culture, mainly their paintings, bright mosaics, architecture, colorful fabrics, spices, and jewelry. A N’jiin abode is always decorated with some kind of bright color and decorative piece, usually something relating to their family or deity, while the outsides of their houses remain very plain.

There is a clear line between nobility and poverty among the N’jiin people. Those that can afford higher education from paid tutors normally have access to parchment and ink, both of which are expensive to import into the desert region of Nejem. They have a better understanding of reading and writing, a collection of books to learn mathematics and sciences from, and the advantage of obtaining a job that would see them comfortable for the rest of their lives. N’jiin who are born as commoners have hardly any skills in reading and writing, mathematics, and science without the intervention from someone of higher status. Thus, if one is born into one of these two status groups, they will normally remain within them until the day they die.

By trade, a lot of N’jiin are known to be skilled animal handlers, taming all sorts of exotic pets from snakes to tigers and everything in between. Royals traverse the city streets on the backs of desert elephants. The race is also known for using these fearsome mounts in times of war. Their most treasured animals, however, are the black winged Ajal, lions they keep and train for battle. These creatures have red eyes, and their veins, like some of the N’jiin, also glow red when using the power of sight to influence their moves in battle. Their wings, black fur, golden manes, and curled horns, set them apart from the traditional beasts.

Food

Dates are eaten very widely in the desert and included in lots of dishes. The most common meats the N’jiin cook with are goat, mutton, camel, snake, and chicken. Eggs are also widely used by many of the rich and poor alike. Fruits and vegetables consist of watermelons, apples, green onions, cucumbers, corn, hot peppers, melons, bell peppers, radishes, carrots, cabbage, soybeans, pears, tomatoes, squash, and spinach. Many farmers raise alfalfa as feed for their animals.

On a particularly bad year when the crops fail due to heat and lack of water, meat is the go to meal for most families. Rich and often hot spices are used to mask the flavours of any foods that has seen their use-by date, as it is frowned upon to waste food in the N’jiin culture. A lot of time is spent preparing meals. Most meats are dried, salted, or slow cooked. The N’jiin people aren’t known for smoking meat, but do so for foreigners.

Family

N’jiin households are tended by the mother of the family, who is responsible for caring for and educating her children on societal formalities, fine arts, history, and language, while the father instructs his kin on physical and social proficiencies. While most N’jiin parents seek to have relations with their children, it is not a societal norm to coddle their kin any longer past their name day. Children are encouraged to discover their own talents and step away from the guiding hands of their mothers and fathers to grow on their own. Due to this, there are a number of young workers found in shops and fields throughout Noar, some as old as ten.

Names

Names beginning with A, B, E, G, H, K, M, N, S, and T are considered the most traditional in Nejem. Most names begin with a combination of the letters Ab, Aj, Al, Ay, Az, Ba, Be, Bo, Bu, Em, En, Er, Es, Gu, Hi, Hu, Ka, Ku, Ma, Me, Mu, Na, Ne, Ni, Nu, and Se, Si, So, Su. N’jiin have four names. Sons have their given name, their father’s given name (for a middle name), their grandfather’s given name (as a second middle name), and their family name (surname). For daughters it works the same way only they take their mother, and their grandmother’s names for middle names.

Language

Rahni is the official language of the N’jiin people. It is pleasing to the ear and soft, but has often been described as mumbled and difficult to decipher. Words are strung together in a way that leaves little room for pause, something the N’jiin people are able to achieve effortlessly.

Education

Only high status individuals or royalty are afforded a formal education, usually by hiring a private tutor. Much of what is practiced among the common people are their language and writing, most of which is made up of intricate symbols. History is taught through oral lore which is passed down from the royal scribes to the people, detailing events the N’jiin have suffered and overcome as a whole, on holidays and major festivals. It is rare that N’jiin seek knowledge from books, adapting to a hands on and visual approach rather than text. Those who don’t reside within Nejem might find their knowledge of the world more plentiful than the citizens there. However, Nejem is home to many Masters of the Arts and, while books might be lacking, experience is not.

Music

The Pungi and Oud are thought to be the most popular instruments in N’jiin culture. The Pungi is a simple folk instrument traditionally played by snake charmers. Good intonation depends on using the right air pressure and requires a certain practice, something the N’jiin race have mastered. The Pungi is thus a very entertaining, expressive solo instrument, but is considered difficult to use together with other melodies or harmonic instruments.

The Oud is a plucked instrument with a pear-shaped sound-box built around a mould, and a short angled back neck. The gut strings are plucked with a piece of tortoise shell or an eagle feather, producing a deep, dark sound. Its three resonating sound holes and short neck help to manifest a sound that evokes scenes of the desert, royal palaces, and smoke-filled cafés. N’jiin Ouds are tuned low, making a heavier, throatier sound than other Ouds played around the world of Noar.

Craft

The N’jiin people are framed for the craftsmanship of fabrics, specifically rugs, carpets, sheets, silks, clothes, and shoes. They make excellent saddles, tanned leathers of vibrant colours, intricate jewelry, most famous for jewelled headpieces.

Their craft also extends to potions, poisons, and balms. They work with both animal and plant poisons made available in certain market shops and stalls. N’jiin are rumoured to have a cure for every ailment, including headaches, coughs, depression, and pain.

Perhaps the craft they are most famous for, however, is their tobacco and spices. Seasoning and marinating food is a big part of N’jiin culture, and smoking is a common sight on the streets of Nejem.

Traditions

Sahul an’i Paji - Otherwise known as Day of the Dead among the N’jiin people and practiced on the first day of Blaze. This is a tradition celebrated among the people, regardless of their location, to commemorate friends and family who’ve passed away. Unlike the ceremony of the Path of Three, Sahul an’i Paji is a week long festival that offers music, dance, and food as sources of entertainment, along with eye popping colors that paint the streets at the beat of every drum. Before the festivities begin, portraits, artwork, crafted items, or other items that honor loved ones are placed on altars lined with flowers, candles, and incense as a place of worship and prayer. These altars are decorated with bright, soft fabrics and holy relics to honor the Gods their loved ones had prayed to. Once food and music have been offered to the dead, usually on the first night of the festival, the entertainment truly begins. The preceding days are celebrated by the living, reminding each to enjoy the company of family and friends while they’re still alive.

Cekaj Nyjoi - A N’jiin tradition of sacrifice, one that is mainly practice in the city of Nejem as there are limited laws against who may be offered up for this celebration. From as far back as the first account of a N’jiin scribe within Nejem territory, the people have always believed that their powers were a blessing from Nesein, given only by the grace of his will. When the royal bloodlines dwindled in numbers, it was believed that the Sultan of Nejem had forsaken worship to Nesein and, out of wrath, the God cursed the people with misfortune. Thus, Cekaj Nyjoi, or Gods’ Favor, was created.

Cekaj Nyjoi begins in Blaze when the royal body issues a decree for sacrifices. Three scholars from the palace, all masters of their sight, accompany a seer who visits the common people weekly to search for their candidates. Several are chosen throughout the weeks, some men, some women, regardless of age or race, and are escorted back to the palace whether willingly or by force. Prepping begins as these individuals are washed in holy water with scented soaps and oils and clothed in refine silks. They are fed a diet of vegetables, broth, and are given comfortable lodging until the scholars and seer return to assess them. One by one, these individuals are sent away, given payment to compensate for their time away from work and family, until only two remain.

On the last day of Blaze, Cekaj Nyjoi is announced as well as the names of the sacrifices, so that all may celebrate the heroes who will renew their gifts in the coming day. The night is spent in as much relaxation as the temple and palace can offer the sacrifices before morning, where they are escorted into personal palkis and carried to the main temple grounds. There, they are given drugged wine and tied to stone pillars before the seer lights a blue fire between the two and carves their eyes out with a ceremonial blade. The eyes are sacrificed into the flame with a prayer to Nesein before a spell is enacted that syphons the esen from the two still fastened to the pillars until their bodies crumble into dust and their energy, consumed by fire.

Birth

Giving birth is a very private affair in Nejem. From the time an expectant mother begins to show, up until the day she gives birth, she is expected to do little else than keep the house in order, care for any existing children, and otherwise stay off her feet. All births that take place in Nejem are home-births, most of which take place without a healer present, though first time mothers have been known to request a healer be there for the birth.

Newborns are bathed in warm water and wrapped in silk. As Nejem is such a hot continent, precautions are taken to ensure mother and child do not overheat. This is why silk is usually the material of choice. There is a fifty, fifty chance of the child inheriting either their mother or father’s gifts of sight, and no gift is considered or known to be more dominant than another.

Extended family often gift small pieces of gold to the family of the newborn. These pieces are collected and melted down to form a small bracelet for the child. As N’jiin often wear their wealth, the thicker the armband, the wealthier the status of the family appears. This is done even amongst the poor, even if the end result is a flimsy band of gold, the tradition is thought to go back right to the Ozan royal family.

Marriage

Unity to another within the N’jiin culture is considered a very sacred and holy matter, especially within the royal circles. There are no second chances once two people have taken their vows as one, so the process of courtship and marriage is a long and tedious one. Courting an individual can take many years and even then, the two may never marry if they discover they’re not as compatible as they had hoped. Marriage within N’jiin society means that the couple has exposed their past deeds to each other, defining in those experiences what makes them who they are, have the strength to support and guide them with present conflicts, and have woven themselves onto future pathways with their significant other, through hardship and sickness. When N’jiin decide to marry, it is for life, as it takes time and dedication to truly know another person to the extent of their being.

When a formal courtship has been marked, the man will offer to his partner a decorative tie, called a Tsychi, that is to be wrapped around her wrist, arm, neck, or braided into her hair. The tsychi is extravagant and jeweled so any who look upon it will know that another seeks her attention. Thus the pair enter into a courtship with a small amount of rules presiding over their relationship. During the courtship, the woman must wear the tsychi at all times. She must refrain from touching other men, be it casually or sexually, unless explicit permission has been given from her partner. She must also remain pure and/or abstain from intercourse until the ceremony of the path of three has been completed. Should the courtship be detrimental to her health or her partner has abused her to the point of trauma, the woman is not to leave it unless agreed upon by both parties. Within a courtship, the man is not required to wear a tsychi, though it is common most don one as a sign of possession by their female interest. Men carry the right to defend their courtship if they find another male attempting to steal their significant other’s attention. This may range from simple assault to murder, depending on the situation. Men may also challenge a courtship if they feel it is wrong, but risk losing status should they lose (have their beards cut, heads shaved, jewels and finery taken).

Courtship is a time for the partners to come to know each other. Every trait, every flaw and virtue, every joyful and soul crushing memory that makes them who they are. It is a time of understanding, to see who they are and who they will become.

When the time comes to propose marriage, it is actually the woman who will offer up part of her tsychi and either tie it around her partner’s arm, beard, or weave it into their hair with a vow of unity that is usually performed in front of family as witnesses. The Vow of Unity promises their marriage while the Path of Three ceremony solidifies it.

The Path of Three details the walk of life from the past, the present, and the future. As with their abilities and culture, N’jiin also weave into their marriage the significance and importance of these three pillars, marking three days to celebrate and commemorate each. The first day is celebrated by honoring the dead, normally ancestors of both families who have passed on for one reason or another. This is meant as a solemn day where gifts fill family crypts or temples and those who were loved are remembered with their favorite things. The second day is meant for party and celebration, a time where food and wine is of abundance and dance and music spill forth from the home and onto the streets around. The husband and wife punctuate the day by sharing a kiss within a necklace of Wild Poppies, meant to represent everlasting love. Finally, the third day ties everything up, literally. To represent their future together, the husband and wife come together before a priest of the temple for the ceremony of the Path of Three.

Sand is laid about in a large circle that the two must walk within, their hands tied together by the tsychi. As they walk opposite the other, they repeat the vows given to them by the priest, their footprints covering that of their partners, interwoven and joined together within the sands. They walk until the vows are finished and thus, they are wed and may consummate their marriage.

“On this day, I give you my heart, My promise: That I will walk with you, hand in hand, wherever our journey leads us. Living, learning, loving, together, until the Gods see us part in death.”

Faith

The sons of Nufer Sahai chose to rule the city of Nejem together, splitting it into three factions. Kerem’s people chose to worship Nesein, God of Fortune and Visions. Aethea, Goddess of Love and Peace, was worshiped by the people who followed Emel, and Saban, considered the most ambitious of his brothers, chose to put his faith in Rhum, God of Sacrifice and War.

Once upon a time there was strict adherence to the rules of worship within Nejem, those with the gifts of foresight, for example, often strictly worshiped Rhum, as Saban once had. Nowadays, factions lean more towards mindsets than tradition, and while individuals are free to worship whoever they please, there are certain extremists who adhere to the old ways.

Death

The tradition of embalming is one that has been upheld for hundreds of years within the N’jiin culture. Of course, the process of embalming a body is highly technical, which is why it is only an option for royalty and the wealthy. Any member of the Sultan’s direct family are always embalmed upon death. The body is preserved in the belief that the soul may one day return to it. The process is long and laborious and, once complete, the individual is sealed within the Royal Crypt to prevent air from spoiling the remains.

For the wealthy, those who pay are given their own, smaller tombs, usually stone or marble caskets that are airtight. They aren’t buried with their treasures like nobility, but are left with any jewels they wore in death. All those who are embalmed are dressed in simple white, or highly decorative robes stitched with gold or silver thread. The N’jiin believe that this makes the body easier for the soul to find.

Those who are less fortunate are buried in the City Crypt, a long tunnel that runs deep underground, stretching from one side of the city to the other. Down here the air is cool all year round. The walls are lined with horizontal shelves just big enough to house the dead. Soul magic is used to protect the tunnels, while Rune Magic keeps Necromancers at bay.

Those who lived a life of crime or were sentenced to death are not given the privilege of rest within the crypt. Their bodies are burned to ash, the charred bones and scraps tossed into a deep pit located off one of the veins within the underground tunnels, stopping the soul from revisiting or ever entering the body ever again.