Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 3 - Race and Ethnicity

I. Peoples

• There are six Peoples, often called the Six Speaking Peoples (rűþ sa̋ɱantu le̋uðus). In order of creation they are:
  • 1. The Ethrans (gąḷőnu), the Children of Air.
  • 2. The Pyrans (ąþ̇őnu), the Children of Fire.
  • 3. The Hýdorans (meṭőnu), the Children of Water.
  • 4. The Humans (taḷőnu), the Children of Earth.
  • 5. The Xylans (mąṭőnu), the Children of Wood.
  • 6. The Lithans (taiṅőnu), the Children of Stone.

I. Distribution

• The distribution of the Peoples is important because it determines much about their life styles. This distribution is accounted for in their mythology.
  • 1. The Ethrans, the Children of Air, were given the “air” in which to live. They settled on mountain tops where they were close to the openness of space and from where they could observe this world into which they had been placed. They live in strongholds called citadels (ðų̋no) on the top of mountains. There are six of them. The elevations given are those of the present day.
    • The Rose Citadel (ɱordëðų̋no) is on the summit of Mt. Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains at 5,642 m. (18,510 ft.).
    • The Columbine Citadel (penálunðų̋no) is on Mt. Yamantau in the southern Urals at 1,640 m. (5,381 ft.).
    • The Red Clover Citadel (dovðų̋no) is on Roman-Kosh on the Crimean Peninsula at 1,545 m. (5,069 ft.).
    • The Primrose Citadel (puðų̋no) is on Botev Peak in the Balkans at 2,376 m. (7,795 ft.).
    • The Lavender Citadel (hadðų̋no) is on Mt. Hoverla in the eastern Carpathian Mountains at 2,061 m. (6,762 ft.).
    • The Violet Citadel (ṡumðų̋no) is on Gerlach Peak in the western Carpathain Mountains at 2,654 m. (8,709 ft.).
    • In the beginning there was a seventh citadel, the North Citadel (kuðų̋no). It was on Mt. Narodnaya in the Urals at 1,772 m (6,217 ft). This was the citadel of Tseliu before she turned to evil. At her expulsion the citadel was destroyed.
  • 2. The Pyrans, the Children of Fire, were given the riparian plains of the rivers. Here, in the fertile soil, they grow their crops and pasture their reindeer.
  • 3. The Hydorans, the Children of Water, were given the “water”, the still water, on which to live.
  • 4. The Humans, the Children of Earth, were created to dwell in the grasslands. They are a herding people, practicing a type of transhumance, whose men follow their herds of horses (known today as Przewalski’s horse, (Equus ferus przewalskii) across the steppes. These herds never number more than ten to twelve head. Each community (ce̋iɱo) enjoys an established territory which consists of grazing ground and a source of water. In the spring the herds are taken as far north as possible. The foals are born at the summer feeding ground. The number of foals permitted is limited so as not to produce herds too large for a family to handle. Then, before the snows begin, the herds are taken back to the ce̋imo. Often the herds of several ce̋imos will graze together. While the horses are in the north, those who remain in the ce̋imo farm, growing food for themselves and fodder for the horses to last through the winter. Many of the foals are eaten during the winter.
  • 5. The Xylans, the Children of Wood, were created to live in the forests, where most of them live, although some now live as well in other ecosystems where they can remain isolated. They lead solitary lives and there is nothing resembling a society in the life of the Xylans. Each individual fends for himself. The Xylans are capable, however, of a limited telepathy with each other and respond to each other as needed.
  • 6. The Lithans, the Children of Stone, are the most settled of the Peoples. They were created for the mountains where they work their mines. Villages (kı̋lo) are established in valleys where there is flowing water and from which they have easy access to their mines. Since the Great Sundering (mezpűlo) defensive walls are built at each end of the valley. Their villages are scattered among the Carpathian, Balkan, Caucasus, and Ural ranges.

III. Language, appearance, and ancestry

• The Six Loquent Peoples all spoke the same language, Senjecas (senȝe̋ka), until the Great Sundering. After that problems arose among and within the different Peoples and dialects arose which often became mutually unintelligible.
• Unfortunately, genetic studies were never made before the non-human Peoples passed through the portals. (There are some who maintain, however, that some of them still live among us.) Because of this the only account we have of their ancestry is their mythology. Geneticists have tentatively assigned a binomial name to each of the Peoples.
  • 1. Ethrans – Homo primicreatus
  • 2. Pyrans – Homo ripacola
  • 3. Hydorans – Homo lacucola
  • 4. Humans – Homo sapiens (If this name had not already been assigned, they would have been given the binomial Homo campicola.)
  • 5. Xylans – Homo sylvicola
  • 6. Lithans – Homo monticola
• The Six Loquent Peoples can be grouped into two major groups based on their bone structure. The Ethrans, the Humans, and the Lithans have solid bones. The Pyrans, the Hydorans, and the Xylans have hollow bones.
• Some general descriptions:
  • 1. The Xylans and the Lithans have a tapetum which enhances their night vision.
  • 2. The Six Peoples are each a different species, thus there is no interbreeding. Sexual intercourse is, however, possible between those Peoples of the same size.
  • 3. The excretory, digestive, circulatory, respiratory and endocrine systems function in basically the same ways in all the Peoples.
  • 4. The blood types of each of the Peoples is different and, thus, there can be no transfusions between the Peoples.
  • 5. In those peoples that procreate, the females possess only two breasts.
  • 6. The males of all the peoples possess a foreskin.
• A. The Ethrans
  • 1. The Ethrans are much like Humans in anatomy and physiology. The average height of the Ethrans is 2 m. (6’6”), with the females slightly shorter.
  • 2. Their hair is blonde of varying shades, although the hair of the sundered Ethrans has turned gray.
  • 3. Among the male Ethrans, some have body hair and some do not similar to Humans.
  • 4. Their eyes are the light blue color of the sky and they can see into the ultraviolet range.
  • 5. In a manner similar to electric eels, they have somatic cells designed to be conduits for dwimorcraft, the energy in earth mistakenly called magic.
  • 6. Dentition is the same as in Humans.
  • 7. In the beginning of creation they were all created at the same time, thus there is no procreation. But there are two sexes, complete with genitalia. The females have neither uteri nor ovaries and the secondary sexual characteristics are promoted by a hormone from the adrenal glands. The necessary hormone for secondary sexual characteristics in the males is produced by the testicles, which, however, do not produce sperm. Sex is enjoyed for pleasure. With the sundered Ethrans, sex has become a means of domination.
  • 8. Neither the males nor the females have breasts.
  • 9. The Ethrans are immortal.
  • 10. In the tales and legends of Humans, the Ethrans are remembered as wizards, mages, etc. Some cultures remember them as angels.
• B. The Pyrans
  • 1. The Pyrans are much like Humans in anatomy and physiology. They are, on the average, the same height as Humans, i.e., 1.7 m. (5’8”). Although more slender than Humans, they are very muscular. They are one of the three peoples that are hollow-boned (cűlmi), in a manner similar to birds.
  • 2. Their hair is red.
  • 3. Their eyes are amber-colored and possess an epicanthal fold. Their visual acuity is exceptional.
  • 4. They have no body hair, except in the axillae and groin.
  • 5. Dentition is the same as in Humans.
  • 6. They may engage in sex at any time, but the female is in estrus only in the fall. One child, rarely two, is born after a gestation of ten lunar months. The sex of the child is by chance as with Humans. The child is not weaned until two years of age and the female will not go into estrus while she is nursing. Menopause occurs around the age of 70.
  • 7. The average life span of a Pyran is about 200 years.
  • 8. In the tales and legends of Humans, the Pyrans are remembered as elves.
• C. The Hydorans
  • 1. The Hydorans are smaller than Human at .9 m. (3’) and are very slender. They are one of the hollow-boned peoples and, thus, are very light.
  • 2. They possess in their knees a device similar to that found in fleas which enables them to jump a great distance.
  • 3. Their hair is blond and they have no body hair at all.
  • 4. Their eyes are blue but a darker blue than that of the Ethrans.
  • 5. Their hands have proportionally longer fingers and the proximal and intermediate phalanges are webbed which facilitates swimming. The finger tips are permanently wrinkled to provide better handling of wet objects.
  • 6. Just under the mandibular angle below the ear on either side is one gill slit, which is used both for respiration and the excretion of electrolytes when in the water. It is covered by a muscular flap which prevents desiccation when on land. These gills do not function in salt water. There are valves that close off the nostrils and ears when they dive.
  • 7. Dentition is the same as in Humans.
  • 8. They may engage in sex at any time, but the female is in estrus only in the winter. One child, rarely two, is born after a gestation of six lunar months. The sex of the child is by chance as with Humans. The child is not weaned until two years of age and the female will not go into estrus while she is nursing. Menopause occurs around the age of 50.
  • 9. The sex-determining chromosome is produced by the female.
  • 10. Because of their slightness the children often fall prey to predatory animals.
  • 11. The average life span of a Hydoran is about 100 years.
  • 12. In the tales and legends of Humans, the Hydorans are remembered as fairies.
• D. The Xylans
  • 1. The Xylans average 2.5 m. (8’) tall and they are proportionately wide, but they are one of the hollow-boned peoples and thus lighter than they seem. There are valves in the veins in their legs and abdomen which assist the return flow of blood. The larynx and nasal passages are proportionately larger and their blood is rich in erythrocytes, a large amount of which are stored in the spleen for emergency use. All this combines to make them superior sprinters and runners.
  • 2. Their hair is dark brown and their skin is dark, and except for their bearded faces, they are covered with hair; not in the manner of a yeti or sasquatch, but as in Human males who are extremely hirsute.
  • 3. Their eyes are a deep green with vertical pupils.
  • 4. Dentition consists of one more set of molars than in human dentition, that is, 2-1-2-4. The maxilla and the mandible are not hollow-boned and the temporal muscle is proportionally more massive to facilitate the cracking of the nuts that comprise a large part of the diet. The temporal muscles are attached to a sagittal crest which is not visible because of the skull hair.
  • 5. They can hear frequencies both above and below those perceptible by the other Peoples.
  • 6. There are no female Xylans. The males possess a penis. The necessary hormone for secondary sexual characteristics in the males is produced by the testicles, which, however, do not produce sperm.
  • 7. The Xylans are not susceptible to any diseases, but as long as they are not killed, they are immortal. To date only one has been killed.
  • 8. In the tales and legends of Humans, the Xylans are remembered as giants.
• E. The Lithans
  • 1. Lithans are more like midgets than dwarves, in height between the Humans and the Hydorans, about three-quarters the height of a Human, 1.5 m. (4’9”).
  • 2. Their hair is black and the males are rather hirsute. Their skin is a light brown.
  • 3. Their eyes are black with vertical pupils.
  • 4. Dentition is the same as in the Humans.
  • 5. They may engage in sex at any time, but the female is in estrus only every three years. The gestation period is about seven months and the birth of one child, never twins, occurs in the spring. The child is not weaned until three years of age and the female will not go into estrus while she is nursing. Menopause occurs around the age of 100.
  • 6. The average life span of a Lithan is about 300 years.
  • 7. In the tales and legends of Humans, the Lithans are remembered as dwarves.

IV. Occupations

• The chief occupation of the Six Loquent Peoples is determined by the ecosystem to which they have been assigned. Of course, each community has other tasks to be performed for the life of the community.
• A. The Ethrans, as the first created, became the scientists and scholars who began to investigate the world in which they were placed. Much was learned and recorded about the world in the 25,765 years before the Pyrans were created. This era of 25,765 years is known as a mezdı̨̋a. This first period is known as the iðṙónmezdı̨̋a.
  • There are six ranks of Ethrans:
    • 1. mage (seȝǫ̋nu) – There are six mages. Each one is in charge of one of the citadels. The eldest is known as the archimage (réðseȝǫ̋nu).
    • 2. praetors (zı̋lþu) – There are 12 praetors, two to each citadel who assist the mages in administration.
    • 3. archon (vęlǫ̋nu) – There are 36 archons, six to each citadel. Each of them is assigned as a supervisor over various departments in the citadel:
      • a. food provision: kitchen and refectory, apiary, bakery, mill, greenhouses, threshing floor.
      • b. drink provision: dairy, winery, brewery.
      • c. industry: smithy; tannery; carpentry; chandlery; glaziery; dyeing, spinning and weaving sheds.
      • d. maintenance: cleaning, laundry, repair, bathhouse, sauna, sewing room.
      • e. livestock: stables, goose coops, silkworm sheds.
      • f. gardens: vegetable, orchard, vineyard, buckwheat fields.
    • 4. 144 assistants (ręgǫ̋nu), 24 to each citadel, four of them assigned to each department.
    • 5. 720 guardians (potǫ̋nu), 120 to each citadel, 20 of them assigned to each department.
    • 6. 4,320 ministers (nįxǫ̋nu), 720 to each citadel. Of these 720, 120 are assigned to each of the six departments. Their tasks are to cook, clean, muck, weed, herd, plant, harvest, etc.
    • In total there are 5,238 Ethrans.
• B. The Pyrans, the Children of Fire, were given the riparian plains of the rivers and streams. Here, in the fertile soil, they grow their crops and pasture their reindeer. The Pyrans became herders of reindeer which they domesticated from the wild reindeer. The herding is the task of the men. The women maintain the hayfields and the family vegetable gardens and care for the flocks of ducks. Each village (da̋bo) has a smithy. Both men and women share in the making of cheese from reindeer milk. This second era is known as the ąþ̇ónmezdı̨̋a.
• C. The Hydorans, in their water environment, became fishers. Both men and women fish and gather other water creatures for food. It is the women who harvest the cattails (Typha latifolia) (kűrði) which they prepare as food and from which they obtain a fiber for making their clothes. This third era is known as the ɱeṭónmezdı̨̋a.
• D. The Human men herd their horses across the steppes. On horseback, the men also hunt game using the golden eagle and their gazehounds to bring down the game. Game adds variety to the horsemeat diet. The women remain at the settlement (ce̋iɱo) to do the subsistence gardening and other household tasks. They also search the surrounding steppe in the spring for birds’ eggs. This fourth era is known as the taḷónmezdı̨̋a.
• E. The Xylans have no regular occupations. They live free lives roaming the vast forests of Sefdaania. Because they are Children of Wood, they have an extensive knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants. They often travel to the settlements of the other Peoples to trade their simples (ȝaxmų̋lo) for whatever the people have to offer in trade. This fifth era is known as the mąṭónmezdı̨̋a.
• F. The Lithans in their mountain villages (kı̋lo) have mined the mountains for metals and gems. Working in their smithies (temda̋ro), the Lithans are master artisans (dubǫ̋nu), making implements from the metals and jewelry from the gems. The women are responsible for the other tasks: maintaining the household tasks, maintaining the vegetable gardens and the fields of flax (Linum usitatissimum) (lı̋ni) from which they weave cloth for their clothes, and caring for the yaks (Bus mutus) (űde) and turs (Capra caucasica) (kı̋te). Some of the Lithan men wander Sefdaania to barter their wares with the other Peoples. This sixth era is known as the taiṅónmezdı̨̋a.

V. The Six Honorable Trades (rűþ k̬e̋iṭo dą̋ros)

• The various occupations and avocations are grouped into:
• A. ruler (zilǫ̋nu)
  • 1. Governor (ðų́ndasǫ̋nu)
  • 2. Dabo head (davnę̋ȝu)
  • 3. Nado head (naðnę̋ȝu)
  • 4. Ceiɱo head (ceiɱnę̋ȝu)
  • 5. Kilo head (kilnę̋ȝu)
  • 6. Oldest brother (ƶïƶę̋ru ƶa̋mu)
• B. healer (ȝakǫ̋nu)
  • 1. Priest (vlaᵹmǫ̋nu) and Priestess (tove̋ru)
  • 2. Physician (lę̋gu) and Nurse (t̬ęǫ̋nu)
  • 3. Judge (medǫ̋nu)
  • 4. Herbalist (ṭáþmųlą̋gu)
  • 5. Teacher (dokǫ̋nu)
  • 6. Sorcerer (lumǫ̋nu) and Diviner (tųlkǫ̋nu)
• C. food provider (pątǫ̋nu)
  • 1. Farmer (zɔðǫ̋nu) and Vinedresser (mésortą̋gu)
  • 2. Herder (tandǫ̋nu)
  • 3. Fisher (peiskǫ̋nu)
  • 4. Brewer (saǫ̋nu) and Vintner (ɱeiną̋gu)
  • 5. Hunter (vędǫ̋nu)
  • 6. Apiarist (vįǫ̋nu)
• D. craftsman (ųrǫ̋nu)
  • 1. Painter (tęrǫ̋nu), Scribe (ȝarǫ̋nu) and Sculptor (laðǫ̋nu)
  • 2. Weaver (ǫrǫ̋nu)
  • 3. Basket Maker (k̬esǫ̋nu)
  • 4. Potter (lįgǫ̋nu) and Glazier (vedǫ̋nu)
  • 5. Carpenter (k̬ɔsǫ̋nu)
  • 6. Smith (temǫ̋nu), Metalworker (póntemǫ̋nu), Locksmith (tą́zt̨emǫ̋nu), Tinsmith (tagártemǫ̋nu), Goldsmith (háltemǫ̋nu), Coppersmith (ráuðtemǫ̋nu), Blacksmith (ṡą́ltemǫ̋nu), Silversmith (kúrtemǫ̋nu), Jeweler (ṅemǫ̋nu), and Minter (pisdǫ̋nu)
• E. merchant (k̬a̋pu)
  • 1. Grocer (éðk̬a̋pu), Tobacconist (mų́xmųlk̬a̋pu) and Florist (nank̬a̋pu)
  • 2. Apothecary (ȝaxtÿk̬a̋pu)
  • 3. Baker (vǫgǫ̋nu) and Butcher (k̬olǫ̋nu)
  • 4. Clothier (ouþk̬a̋pu), Glover (mantávtaɱǫ̋nu), Seamstress (ṡųǫ̋nu) and Tailor (ouþta̋ɱu)
  • 5. Trader (ċogǫ̋nu)
  • 6. Chandler (ȝąkǫ̋nu)
• F. laborer (dąrǫ̋nu)
  • 1. Mason (tainą̋gu) and Sawyer (locǫ̋nu)
  • 2. Cleaner (cuvǫ̋nu)
  • 3. Police (þ̇órnaɱǫ̋nu)
  • 4. Miller (molǫ̋nu)
  • 5. Teamster (zidǫ̋nu), Sailor (nąɱǫ̋nu) and Ferryman (perɱǫ̋nu)
  • 6. Miner (gųpǫ̋nu)

VI. Epithets - eþfę̋tos

• Each of these peoples has several bynames which are used frequently to refer to them.
  • A. The Ethrans are:
    • the Children of Ilmus (ílmëƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the peak dwellers (címɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the eagle riders (ormı̋mu)
    • the bird-bidders (ɱéȝęvǫ̋nu)
  • B. The Pyrans are:
    • the Children of Puusanus (pų́sanƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the watercourse dwellers (gávɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the reindeer riders (ɱasmı̋mu)
    • the slingers (kipǫ̋nu)
  • C. The Hydorans are:
    • the Children of Neerus (nęrƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the lake dwellers (ehérɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the fish eagle riders (ḳunmı̋mu)
    • the blowpipers (ɱę́ġorą̋gu)
  • D. The Humans are:
    • the Children of Taronus (táronƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the steppe dwellers (kebárɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the horse riders (mormı̋mu)
    • the archers (ḷomǫ̋nu)
  • E. The Xylans are:
    • the Children of Perkunus (pérkunƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the forest dwellers (fúrɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the having-lots-of-body-hair ones (þ̇ų̋xmu)
    • the staff wielders ('baxlǫ̋nu)
  • F. The Lithans are:
    • the Children of Kabeirus (kábeirƶǫ̋naþu)
    • the mountain dwellers (ǧárɱęsǫ̋nu)
    • the tur riders (kiþmı̋mu)
    • the battle-axe wielders (áǧesǫ̋nu)