Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 1 - Place

Introduction

• In Sefdaania there are six Peoples. In order of creation, these Peoples are the Ethrans (Children of Air), the Pyrans (Children of Fire), the Hydorans (Children of Water), the Humans (Children of Earth), the Xylans (Children of Wood), and the Lithans (Children of Stone). These are known as the Loquent Peoples to distinguish them from other sapient beings. In describing their customs, anatomy, etc., the many things they have in common will be treated together, followed by individual notes.

Geography

• Sefdaania (sefdą̋nia) is that part of Europe bounded
  • on the north by the receding or advancing glacier;
  • on the east by the Ural Mountains (v̌ę́þṅakı̋ȝo, earth spine), the Ural River (ausdą̋e, eastern river) and the Caspian Sea (ausma̋re, eastern sea);
  • on the south by the Caucasus Mountains (ȝusmármonı̋ȝo, intersea mountains), the Black Sea (ɱesma̋re, western sea), and the Balkan Mountains (ɱésmonı̋ȝo; and
  • on the west by the Carpathian Mountains (þífmonı̋ȝo) and the forests of Central Europe (me̋ƶo fűro, the Great Forest).
• Thus much of the homeland is covered by the Great Steppe (mézkeba̋ro). The land to the east of the Ural Mountains is known as me̋ƶo ɱą̋sto, the Great Wasteland.
• Sefdaania means “seven rivers” and refers to the seven major rivers that flow through the land and empty into the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. These rivers are, from west to east,

1. the Danube (ɱesdą̋e, western river),
2. the Dniester (mónįdą̋e, mountain river),
3. the Southern Bug (lųðdą̋e, little river),
4. the Dnieper (meðdą̋e, middle river),
5. the Don (lų́ðmardą̋e, small sea river),
6. the Volga (áusmardą̋e, eastern sea river), and
7. the Ural (ausdą̋e, eastern river).

• The land is divided into seven river-regions (dąta̋ima) which correspond to the watersheds of these seven rivers. The chart below lists these river-regions in order of size, from largest to smallest, although the relative sizes may vary depending on the activity of the glaciers.

1	mezdą̋ṅa	138,000,000	533,000
2	ɱesdą̋ṅa	817,000	315,000
3	meðdą̋ṅa	504,000	195,000
4	lų́ðmardą̋ṅa	422,000	163,000
5	ausdą̋ṅa	237,000	91,500
6	mónįdą̋ṅa	72,000	28,000
7	lųðdą̋ṅa	63,740	24,610

• Each of the regions is inhabited by more than one of the peoples, although they live only in the ecosystem to which they have been assigned.

Climate

• Covered as it is by the Great Steppe, most of Sefdaania experiences a humid continental climate, which is marked by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Again there will be variations depending upon the extent of the glaciers.
• Precipitation is relatively well-distributed year-round in many areas with this climate. Snowfall, regardless of average seasonal totals, is more common than rain during the height of winter and the snow cover is often deep. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and the occasional tropical system.

Natural disasters

• Snow is common in the winter and the peoples have adjusted to the reduced activity caused by the snow. But the occasional really severe blizzard (ᵹǫsı̋ġo) can cause more severe privation. There is also the danger of avalanche (tóɱǧarfőla), but communes (kőintu) are not placed where there is a significant danger from them.
• In a year of low precipitation there is the possibility of steppe wildfires (kébarą̋þe).
• When the spring temperature is unusually high, the quick thawing of snow and glacier may cause flooding in some of the watercourses.

Travel

• Because of the great distances involved and the scattered populations, travel is not frequent. There are some Lithans who have become traders, bartering their metal products and jewelry for items they need. Any necessary travel is done on the peoples’ steeds (described in the section on domesticated animals). The Peoples have the wheel and the Pyrans, Humans, and Lithans have wheeled vehicles. Peoples that live close to each other will travel to barter what they have produced or caught. (See Ch. 14 Technology for a description of a caravansary.)

Population count

• Because of the great distances involved, there is no count of the population.

Communes

The Ethrans

• The Ethrans live in great stone edifices known as citadels (ðų̋no) consisting of dormitories (šefte̋ro), offices (dąrte̋ro), refectory (eðte̋ro) and kitchen (duᵹte̋ro), a worship room (tozte̋ro), a meeting room (muþte̋ro), a recreation room (nųvte̋ro), observation towers (geþǫ̋ro), the room of portals (þifge̋nlo), greenhouses (zɔðde̋mo), and extensive gardens (pa̋þo). The citadels cannot be seen as they are made invisible by the dweomercraft (seȝűra). Outsiders can gain access only through a visible archway (ᵹuvle̋ȝo) which is activated when necessary. Dweomercraft also enables the Ethrans to create space.
• The main entrance leads into a large rotunda (ǧeþte̋ro), the ceiling of which is painted a light blue. On it in gold are painted the stars visible from that location at midnight on the winter solstice. Against the walls to either side, following the curve of the wall, are staircases leading up to the second floor. The second floor landing is a balcony about 12 feet long. In the center of the rotunda is a fountain of a different design in each citadel.
• Straight ahead there is a semi-circular alcove, on either side of which there is an entrance into the worship room. All doors are high enough to permit the comfortable entrance of a Xylan. On the wall of the alcove are six wooden arches. Each of these arches is identified by a carving at the top as a doorway to one of the other citadels. As one steps through an arch, one emerges in another citadel from the portal of the citadel of departure. For example, if one is in the Hollyhock Citadel and wants to go to the Rose Citadel, one steps through the Hollyhock Arch and emerges from the Rose Arch. To return, one steps into the Hollyhock Arch and emerges from the Rose Arch.
• The arch on the far left is dark, no longer functioning. It became inoperable when the citadel of Tseliu was destroyed upon her rebellion against Ȝűmu (God). Each of the other arches is illuminated by dweomer light, the source of which cannot be seen. From left to right, the portals are illuminated as follows:
  • The light in the Red Clover portal is red.
  • The light in the Rose portal is green.
  • The light in the Columbine portal is yellow.
  • The light in the Primrose portal is orange.
  • The light in the Violet portal is blue.
  • The light in the Lavendar portal is purple.
• The worship room is a circular room painted all in white. The center point is surrounded by six sections of seating, one for each of the Loquent Peoples who may be in attendance.
• There are four two-story wings of the citadel, one to the right upon entering the rotunda, one to the left, and one to either side between the front wings and the worship room. The wing to the left contains the refectory and the kitchen. The wing to the right contains offices. The second floors of these wings and both floors of the two other wings contain dormitories, male on the left side, female on the right. The ministers sleep in a dormitory. Each has a desk and chair and there is storage space under the bed. The other Ethrans have small private rooms with the same furniture. Through the combined use of dweomercraft and mechanics there is indoor plumbing. All of the wings have glass windows, one window in each room, one window at each desk. Each sleeping wing has a shower room (ᵹiþte̋ro) and a bathroom (oite̋ro) at the far end. The window in the shower rooms is at the top of the wall, just under the ceiling.
• Above the rotunda rises a tower on the top of which are the accomodations of the archimage of that citadel: private quarters, office, laboratory (siᵹte̋ro), and observation deck (geþḅa̋so).
• Outside the building, both between the wings and scattered over the estate are various workshops, gardens and greenhouses.

The Pyrans

• The Pyrans live in a commune called a da̋bo. These communes are always located along a river, preferably where a smaller stream meets the river. Distance from the river is determined by the pattern of flooding. The plan of the commune is U-shaped with the opening toward the river. There are four rows of six houses, two on each side of the village square (koina̋rɱo). The rows of houses are back to back. The road (gı̋ro) comes from down river to the da̋bo, divides and goes around the village square, then continues upriver. On the right coming from downriver is another gı̋ro that goes from the village square to the river. On the opposite side of the village square are two buildings, the bath house (laɱde̋mo) and the community house (koinde̋mo). The bath house will have several guest rooms for travelers. The traveler will be invited to eat with one of the families, usually that of the headwoman (davnę̋ilu). On its left is the community house where the people meet for town meetings and worship. In front of the community house is a wooden pole from which flies the da̋bo’s standard (pa̋do). In either direction along the road from the da̋bo are the pasture lands (le̋šo). Workshops are situated on the downwind side of the da̋bo based on the prevailing wind direction. The following are typical workshops found in any da̋bo: smithy (koɱde̋mo), weaving shed (ɱevde̋mo), chandlery (ȝąxde̋mo), tannery (ǧįnde̋mo), smokehouse (pįᵹde̋mo) and dung preparation (kǫrde̋mo).
• The Pyran family lives in a cobblestone (dąta̋ino) house with a flat adobe roof (ðeihkőro). This type of house is known as an a̋xlo. The cobblestones are gathered from the rivers or from those left behind by retreating glaciers. The adobe is made from the clay (ðe̋iho) of the river banks. The typical a̋xlo contains five rooms. Entrance is into the center room which is the living area/kitchen (ǧįȝte̋ro). On each side are two rooms, three bedrooms (šefte̋ro) and a bathroom (oite̋ro). Strewing herbs (ƶadkı̨̋ro) are used in the bathroom, especially those which repel insects. The front bedrooms extend out toward the road farther than the living area providing a covered porch (pųse̋ðo) for protected entry and for relaxation. The dirt floor is covered with rush mats, which the homemaker (nómtesǫ̋nu) will strew with her favorite strewing herb. An adobe oven (a̋uk̬o), centered on the back wall of the living room provides heat for warmth and cooking. The fuel is dung and sometimes wood. To the left of the oven is a sink and to the right shelves. The windows are covered on the interior with oiled parchment. The windows are protected on the outside by wooden shutters. Tapestries (ǫrsı̋do) woven from reindeer hair are hung wherever there is a need to prevent a draft. Candles provide needed light.
• On the right side of the house is a walled garden in which there is a staircase (renı̋ȝo) leading to the roof.
• Along the back of the house is the stable (ᵹőmo) with twelve stalls. Entry is through exterior doors or through the bathroom.

The Hydorans

• The Hydorans (accent on the <y>) live in a commune called a ną̋do. These communes are established on the shores of still water, such as lakes and ponds. There are many ną̋dos around the Black Sea which, at this time, has no connection to the Mediterranean Sea. If there is an island in the lake, the ną̋do may be established on it. Six to eight houses (a̋ito) are built in a semi-circle, open to the water. In the center of the semicircle is a larger a̋ito. The women and children live in the smaller houses, so this type of house is known as a ǧena̋ito. In the large house live the men, so it is known as the ɱira̋ito. At a distance from the shore is a floating platform (kafbőḍo) with walls. It is connected to the shore by a reed rope bridge (ṡasþőlo) which can be cut down if the na̋do is attacked. The kafbőḍo can then be poled out of reach of the enemy.
• The one-room houses are built of wood. They are round with a steeply pitched roofs (þ̣ofkőro) of thatch (ġőro) made from the rushes that grow along the lake shores. The thatch is attached to a lattice (ǫrdőlo) frame. Several thicknesses make them virtually waterproof and well insulated. Although there are no windows, there are two doors which admit some light in the warmer weather. Rushes are strewn on the floor, along with water mint, and the family sleeps on rush mats on the floor. In warm weather, hammocks are hung outside. Rushlights (ȝoinh̬a̋ko) are used to provide light. A stone-lined firepan (ąþɱűło) in the center under a smoke hole (ra̋po) provides heat for warmth and for cooking. The fuel is peat (tala̋umo) or rushes (ȝőini). If the a̋ito becomes too small to accommodate the family, it is dismantled and a larger one built.

The Humans

• The Humans live in a commune called a ce̋iɱo. These are situated near a source of fresh water. The ce̋iɱo is laid out in a large circle. On the perimeter a trench is dug. The dirt removed is made into a motte (ȝą̋mo). Around the interior of the perimeter are constructed the underground dwellings (arge̋ḷo), with their entrances facing the center of the circle. There may be up to twelve arge̋ḷos in a ce̋imo. In the trench a hedge of hawthorn (x̌aȝa̋ti) is planted to protect the Humans from predators. The entrance to the ce̋imo is on the side facing the water. A wooden drawbridge (davþőlo) extends from this entrance across the motte. At the entrance to the ce̋iɱo is a wooden gate which is closed at sunset. To the right, as one enters, is a wooden pole from which flies the standard (pa̋do) of the ce̋imo. Between each of the arge̋ḷos are the communal gardens where the women grow their lentils, basil and other vegetables. Around the ce̋imo, on the outside of the hawthorn hedge, grows a row of cherry plum trees (Prunus cerasifera) (lı̨̋ɱi). The horses are kept hobbled inside the ce̋iɱo during the night. Every day the children gather the manure and take it out of the ce̋imo to be dried out for use as fuel and fertilizer.
• The family lives in a partially underground dwelling (arge̋ḷo) which consists of a large pit (xa̋no) about six feet deep. The part of the house above ground is made of sod. This two-foot high sod wall (sįfa̋do) and a roof of wooden latticework (ǫrdőlo), covered with horsehide or wisenthide, are constructed over the pit. The hide is then covered with sod upon which grass is allowed to grow. At various places on the sod roof the homemaker will plant patches of herbs. Several holes are dug into the underground walls for cold storage. The floors of these holes are strewn with aromatic herbs. Along the wall are sleeping platforms (inle̋ᵹo) with storage space underneath. The walls may be hung with hide, reed mats or even tapestries acquired in trade from the Pyrans or Lithans. There is an exterior staircase (renı̋ȝo), parallel to the wall, going down to the entrance. Over this staircase is a hardened leather canopy (űngo) to prevent rainwater from falling on the staircase. A high sill (ṗőso) at the door further helps prevent rainwater from entering the house. The wooden door is often covered on the inside with a horsehide hanging to prevent drafts. A stone-lined fire hole (ąþɱűło) in the center under the smoke hole (ra̋po) provides heat for warmth and cooking. The fuel is dung, of either horse or wild cattle. A hardened leather canopy and chimney (kőᵹlo) help direct the smoke up and out the smokehole. In good weather the door is left open for light; otherwise the only source of light is that from fat lamps (pįmle̋uko). While on the steppes, pasturing the horses, the men build temporary horsehide shelters (coᵹőmo) using the bones of the steppe mammoth (Mammuthus armeniacus) for the frame.

The Xylans

• Each Xylan builds for himself a log cabin (rąþɱę̋so) in his personal territory in the forest, most often near a creek (ȝűke). It is here that he keeps his supplies and personal items, but he is seldom in his cabin. The Xylans roam freely across the land.
• The Xylans are impervious to the heat and the cold, but having a place to call one’s own is a good thing. It is a place for storing food, supplies and equipment, and a fire, even though not needed, is pleasant. The cabin has a fireplace (cőlo) which is also used for cooking, although, being vegetarians, Xylans eat a lot of their food raw. The fuel is deadfall (fǫlda̋ro).

The Lithans

• The Lithans live in a commune called a kı̋lo. At a distance above the flood line is the road. Their stone houses (gų̋lo) are built on the other side of the road in a line along the river. In a central location is the village square (koina̋rɱo) where the great lithophone (tainkűmlo) occupies a central position. The number of gų̋los is limited to 30, 15 on either side of the koina̋rɱo. On one side of the koina̋rɱo is the community house (muþde̋mo) where the people meet for town meetings and worship. In front of the muþde̋mo is a wooden pole from which flies the kı̋lo’s standard (pa̋do). To one side of the community house is the bath house (laɱde̋mo). Behind the houses, on the river plain and up the mountain are the gardens and hemp and sorghum fields. At various intervals are the entrances to the mines.
• The gų̋lo is made of stone and has a metal, slate (šı̋bo) or thatch roof. The metal and the slate are mined in their mountains. Entrance is into the center room which is the living area/kitchen (duᵹte̋ro). On one side are two rooms, a bedroom (šefte̋ro) and a bathroom (oite̋ro). Strewing herbs are used in the bathroom, especially those which repel insects. A ladder in the back right corner leads up to a loft which is the bedroom for the children. Oiled parchment covers the windows and there are metal or wooden shutters on the outside. A stone oven stands against the back wall for heating and cooking. The fuel is dung from the yaks and turs, and wood. The dirt floor is covered with rush mats, which the homemaker (nomte̋slu) will strew with her favorite strewing herb (ƶąðkı̨̋ro). Tapestries woven from yak hair are hung wherever there is a need to prevent a draft.
• Along the back of the house is the stable (ᵹőmo) with twelve stalls. Entry is through an exterior door or through the bathroom. The yaks and turs are stabled together.
• Work buildings are built in a common area separate from the houses. These include smithies (koɱde̋mo), chandleries (ȝąxde̋mo), tanneries (ǧįnde̋mo), etc.

Caravansaries

• A caravansary (saþda̋ro) is a fortified building at river crossings where assistance is given to travelers (ta̋ᵹlu) and caravans (sa̋þo). The assistance includes lodging and help in crossing the rivers. It is staffed by members of the Peoples who devote their lives to prayer and the care of travelers.
• All of the caravansaries are of the same design, but all are not of the same size. All of them are square with 18-foot (5.5 m.) high defensive walls. In the beginning, these walls were to protect the travelers from predators, but, since the Great Sundering, they also protect the travelers from the slaves of Tseliu, the renegade archimage. These walls are built of rubble masonry (ƶaxta̋ino), the stone either native or brought in from the nearest source. There are no openings to the outside. Sloe bushes (Prunus spinosa) (ṡǫ̋fi) are planted around the caravansaries forming a well-nigh impenetrable hedge at the base of the walls. Only the walls are of stone; all the interior construction is of wood.
• The caravansaries are located at fords (ɱą̋ðo) where a river’s current is most amenable to crossing. A few of the crossing are done by means of rope bridges (ðǫɱþőlo).
• In the center of one wall (taþfa̋do) is the outer gate (pųsta̋þo), which is the only entrance into the courtyard (a̋ulo). The casemate rooms in the walls are 12 feet deep which gives an entranceway (pőrto) of 12 feet. At the inner end of the entranceway is the inner gate (ȝuta̋þo). Arrow slits open onto the entranceway from the adjoining casemates.
• The wall to the right (amsɘfa̋do), as one enters the gate, is a casemate wall (terfa̋do), the rooms of which are for the lodging of the travelers (taᵹte̋ro). These rooms have a stone-lined firepan (ąþɱűło), vented through chimneys (kőᵹlo) up through the storage decking (gǫlḅa̋so) to provide for heat and cooking. The wall to the left (ᵹomfa̋do) is a casemate wall also, the rooms of which are stables (ᵹőmo) for any livestock, most commonly the yaks of the Lithans. A barricade (xáfviðı̋ȝo) along the stables prevents animals from wandering out of the stable area. One of these casemate rooms is the kennel where the guard dogs are kept. The rooms and stables have 12-foot (3.6 m.) ceilings. At each of the four corners there is a staircase (renı̋ȝo) for access to the area over the rooms for purposes of storage or defense.
• Depending on the size of the courtyard, there will be one or two wells (nűȝo). The livestock is not permitted to drink from these wells. Instead, along the stable wall are located troughs (a̋lðo) which the owner fills from the wells for his livestock.
• In each of the back corners is a bathing room (laɱte̋ro); no hot water! The room also has several toilets (oise̋do). As needed, the pits (surxa̋no) are emptied and the manure (kǫ̋ro) scattered on the fields, as is the manure from the stable. There are also several urinals (cįxda̋ro) which, by way of underground pipes, empty into the river.
• The back wall is the monastery proper (rųmnőmo) in the center of which is a hexagonal worship room (tozte̋ro). To either side of the worship room are the monastery’s dormitories and other rooms, women to the right, men to the left. The six-foot (1.8 m.) high storage area continues over the monastery proper.
• In front of all four walls is a portico (teᵹf̣ǫ̋lo) for sleeping in the warm weather or for shelter from the weather.
• Unknown to the travelers is a concealed door (ląðűro) in the monastery proper, in case the caravansary has to be evacuated should the defenses be breached.

Domesticated animals

• There are several animals which have a close association with each of the Loquent Peoples. Two groups in especial are those known as the steeds (mı̋me) and the companions (sűne). Each of the Peoples has an animal that best suits it as a steed. And each people has discovered an animal that shares its domestic life.

The Ethrans

• When there is a need to visit the settlements of the other Peoples, the Ethrans ride a pterippus (Hippotragus volans) (kudı̋re), a winged member of the Hippotraginae subfamily. Its body configuration is that of a roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), although it stands taller to accomodate the 6’-7’ Ethrans. Only the males have a horn, two horns actually, which turn inward and spiral around each other giving the semblance of a single horn. The natural color is sorrel with white wings. White pterippi are bred for the mages.
• A pterippus proper forcene (šę̋ðe re̋nante kudı̋re) is the emblem of the Ethrans.
• As companions, the Ethrans have the gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) (argı̋pe) which they use for hunting.
• Every citadel also raises a flock of greylag geese (A. anser) (ha̋nse) for food.

The Pyrans

• The Pyran steed is the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) (ɱa̋ce). These domesticated deer are descendants of wild reindeer that lived farther south during the time of the expanding glaciers. The wild reindeer then retreated north with the melting of the glaciers. These reindeer serve as steed, pack animal, and draft animal. The males (pa̋ᵹne) are known as bulls, the females (gőḷe) as cows. The reindeer are a source of meat, milk, hides, bone and antlers.
• A reindeer head caboshed (ɱace̋s nı̨̋vro) is the emblem of the Pyrans.
• Their companion is a breed of herding dog (taðną̋ȝe) similar to the Šarplaninac or Sharr Mountain dog. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers and the front legs account for approximately 55% of the height. The head is large but proportional to the body, with dark eyes. They are solid in color, usually fawn, but sometimes grey, white or almost black. The coat is dense, about four inches in length and can be either rough or smooth. They are not reluctant to chase off or even fight wolves, lynxes, and even bears. When in the house, they serve as excellent guards.

The Hydorans

• The Hydoran steed is the giant swan (†Cygnus falconeri) (kų̋ge). They are only semi-domesticated, but come when they hear the Hydorans whistle. A harness fastened across the back and around the wings insures that the rider, who sits crosslegged, does not fall off. They act as guards, whistling when danger approaches and attacking predators. Depending on the size of the lake, there are one or more nesting pairs wherever there is a Hydoran commune. The males are known as cobs (urkų̋ge), the females as pens (įkų̋ge).
• A giant swan naiant proper (šę̋ðe še̋mante kų̋ge) is the symbol of the Hydorans.
• The protein staple of the Hydorans is, quite logically, fish. To help them catch fish they enjoy the companionship of the river otter (L. lutra) (űðre).

The Humans

• Humans ride the horse (Equus przewalskii) (mőre) as a steed.
• Much of the humans’ protein comes from game, especially the saiga antelope (Saiga tartarica) (dı̋ᵹe) and they have bred a gazehound (naxną̋ȝe) as their companion, a breed ancestral to, but larger than, the hortaya borzaya, with which they hunt game on the steppes. These dogs are trained to protect the horses and are fierce defenders of the ce̋imos and their crops from grazing animals, wolves and enemies. Humans also hunt with golden eagles (Aquila chrysaëtos) (műire).

The Xylans

• As swift as they are, Xylans have no need of a steed, but they have been seen riding a mammoth (†Mammuthus spp.) (ǧı̋ȝe), or an aurochs (†Bos primigenius) (ta̋ure).
• As forest dwellers, they have discovered the squirrel, specifically the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) (oɱe̋re) to be a fun companion. Their diets are very similar!

The Lithans

• The Lithans in their mountain strongholds have need of a steed that is at home on the crags. They decided upon one of the mountain sheep, the tur (Capra caucasica) (őɱe). With their magnificent curled horns they make a fine war steed, putting the horns to use as both battering ram and shield.
• They also domesticated the yak (Bos mutus) (űde) which were native to the eastern European mountains before dying out and retreating to the mountains of eastern Asia. These bovines are used as beasts of burden in the trade caravans, as draft animals and as providers of meat, milk, and wool.
• The Lithans, too, have herding dogs (taðną̋ȝe) which are used to guard the communes and the herds of yaks and turs. These dogs also accompany the trading caravans. They are large dogs, similar to the Armenian gampr.
• The Lithans keep extensive breeding records on all three of these animals.
• The three mortal herding peoples (taðle̋uðu), that is, the Pyrans, Humans, and Lithans, have also domesticated a mongoose (műnge), related to †Herpestes lemanensis, to help keep the rodent population under control.