Human, Janati
Race
Human
Physical Description
Brown to ebony skin, hair ranging from dusty red to mahogany. Average height and weight.
Styles
They adorn themselves with gold jewelry, from necklaces and bangles to masks. Their hair is often highly elaborate and the same red as the land. Their hair is styled with butter, sometimes mixed with the red soil. The butter keeps different looks in place, and allows for different variations, including long curls and voluminous afros.
Their style of dress is often long robes of bright textiles with intricate patterns. Some who are going bald or prefer to keep their hair short will often where boxed-shaped hats of the same textile used to create the robes. The hats may be adorned with gold chains all the way around, creating a hair-type look and often covering the eyes.
Habitation
The Janati live in various types of habitats throughout the Blood Desert. Some live in camps in a nomadic lifestyle, others live in converted cave networks made to be comfortable or in old ruins found out in the desert.
Capital
The capital of the Janati - Jantuwyn - is located West of Ra'azum along the Bay of Londfolas. It is the old ruins of an elven city gone empty long ago during "The Colonizing". Its location, equally distant from Ra'azum and Tawar-Nur, made it uninteresting for those wishing to take up shop around the glorious remains of the Dol Londfolas castle.
History
It is said when man and gnome came to Elwindil and infiltrated the lands, the Janati were brought along as low-wage workers and expendable troops. Many died during the fighting days of The Colonizing. When the war had come to an end, the Janati were looking for their own place within the new society they had built. Their overlords wanted to keep everything to themselves and would only provide the Janati with the leftovers: shacks, the lowest wages, or servitude. As a free people, they determined that they no longer had need of the Efrishar humans who brought them here. The Janati, unknown to the Efrishar, determined that they would all leave, together, and out into the Blood Desert.
On Ra'azum Founders Day of the following year, the Janati made their exit. The Efrishar, in a word, panicked. They depended on the Janati for so much, including their willingness to work for low wages, and the great care the Janati took in raising the Efrishar's families as nannies, nurses, butlers, and cooks. What they saw that morning shook them as almost all of the Janati of Ra'azum gathered on the Boulevard of Titans from their shanty town outside of the city walls with horses, camels, and wagons. Altogether, man, woman, child, livestock, households. The great train left very early on that high day of Ra'azum Founders Day without a single word of explanation from the Janati who left with it. A long, silent train of focused people all together made their dramatic exit that day, even as the Efrishar followed them, begging them to stay, demanding they return to their jobs, or even physically attacking them.
It was unknown to the people of Ra'azum what would become of the Janati, and many suffered as they cast out into the desert looking for a new home. The elven city they found was crumbling with age when they arrived. The suspicious among them suspected that it must be haunted with evil for so many to have left. The Janati raised the city to a new height the years following, repairing structures, upgrading the infrastructure, and even developing magical improvements to the running of the city and its security. Jantuwyn was safe and functioning, and it was their own.
The Janati have since thrived in Jantuwyn, despite the challenges of the harsh desert environment. They have established a unique culture and society that is a mix of their Janati heritage and the magic and technology of Elwindil. They are known for their intricate gold jewelry, elaborate hairstyles, and brightly colored robes. Despite their history of being brought to Elwindil as low-wage workers, the Janati have carved out their own place in the world and now have a thriving city in Jantuwyn. Despite some tension with the Efrishar and the druidic elves in the desert, the Janati have proven their resilience and determination to build a better life for themselves.
Religion
The Janati people have a deep spiritual connection to the land and the natural world. They believe in a pantheon of deities who control the forces of nature and guide the spiritual realm.
Central to the Janati religion is the belief in the deity Nuvu, the creator of the universe and all life within it. Nuvu is seen as a wise and benevolent figure who watches over the Janati people and guides them on their spiritual journey.
The Janati also worship a number of other deities who are associated with various aspects of nature and human life. These deities include Kpomasse, the deity of the earth and fertility, and Azon, the deity of the rivers and oceans.
The Janati believe that by honoring and respecting these deities, they can maintain a balance between the natural world and the spiritual realm. They also place a strong emphasis on community and social cohesion, believing that by working together and supporting one another, they can achieve spiritual enlightenment and overcome any challenges that may come their way.
The Janati religion also incorporates the concept of ancestor worship, with the belief that the souls of their departed loved ones continue to exist in the spiritual world and can influence the lives of the living. As such, the Janati regularly make offerings and perform rituals to honor their ancestors and seek their guidance.
Overall, the Janati religion is a reflection of their unique history and culture, as well as their deep connection to the land and the natural world. It emphasizes the importance of balance, community, and spiritual growth, and provides the Janati with a strong sense of identity and purpose.
