The Khadan Humans

The Humans of Al Khadir

Nicknames	The Orphans Of Anjyarr
Spoken Languages	Common Tongue Azari Linguae
Average Height	1.70m - 1.90m
Average Weight	65kg - 80kg
Capital	Al-Khadir
Religion	The Path
Current Leader	N/A
Location	The Emirate of Al-Khadir

History

“We’re each other’s harvest; we’re each other’s business; we’re each other’s magnitude and bond.”

This ancient adage is well-understood by the Khadans. Originally a group of nomads that roamed the wasteland of Anjyarr, the Khadans were known for their perseverance and prevailing sense of unity. While most historians in Eden judge the Khadans’ unity as a legacy of their nomadic lifestyles, some others claim that the roots of this quality can be in fact traced back to before the Khadans set foot on Eden.

Although little is known of the mysterious ancestral home of the Khadans, most believe that their ancestors left the native land in search of asylum. As such, it is also believed that the ancestors of the Khadans first realized the significance of unity through witnessing how their beloved homeland disintegrated in years of quarrels and wars.

Due to the harsh climate and the lack of available resources, the ancestors of the Khadans initially separated into two groups with one group traveling along the shoreline and the other moving in-land. This decision eventually led to the rise of two clans that share the same philosophy but each adopting a different way of living. Although the two clans resemble each other in the sense that they both hold family values and self-fulfillment in high regard, the clans also differ greatly in terms of skills and traits.

Clan Zenthir - The smaller one out of the two clans. The Zenthirs would rarely abandon the shores of Anjyarr except for trade and occasionally marriage purposes. This clan relied on ship-building and fishing for a living, with the former being a legacy passed down by the earlier sailors that brought the Khadans to Eden through the unpredictable sea. Despite age or gender, the Zenthirs are often skilled swimmers and have mastered both hand-to-hand water combat and wielding the deadly trident. Using the trident they would develop a renowned combating style known as “Water Dancing”, an elegant dance-like fighting style that emphasizes using the opponent’s momentum against them and dealing swift strikes to quickly immobilize them. Since this fighting style focuses more on swiftness instead of strength, it has gained popularity among the dark elves and Khadans alike. To this day, both humans and dark elves in the Emirate of Al-Khadir still practice Water Dancing and adopt the fighting style as either their preferred or signature style of combat.

Clan Valmir - This clan surpasses its counterpart in size. The Valmirs were initially the adventurers that explored the barren in-lands of Anjyarr in search of a more suitable living condition. This clan roamed the desert consisting of seemingly never-ending dunes, making them the true children of the sands with every single hill and body of water known to them. Relying on their knowledge of the region and local wildlife, the Valmirs would put their focus on taming horses native to the outstretched plains bordering the deserts of Anjyarr. These great steeds are considered to be the most beautiful in Eden, having flowing manes, elegant heads and naturally slender bodies. Despite being smaller than regular warhorses and being light-boned, making them unable to bear the weight of heavy armor, this also brings with it many benefits. These Anjyarrian steeds are very swift and possess unrivaled endurance just like their masters, as well as being accustomed to the harsh climate which allows for relatively little maintenance, only needing a few drinks of water over the course of a day. This clan wouldn’t be as skilled in combat as their counterparts in clan Zenthir, they would quickly learn to appreciate the art of archery. Using a special short bow they would take their Anjyarrian steeds in search of wildlife to hunt, tracking them to bodies of water which would afterward make a suitable place to stay for the clan as well as providing food and water.

This clan wouldn’t be as skilled in combat as their counterparts in clan Zenthir, they would quickly learn to appreciate the art of archery. Using a special short bow they would take their Anjyarrian steeds in search of wildlife to hunt, tracking them to bodies of water which would afterward make a suitable place to stay for the clan as well as providing food and water.

The two clans lived in concord for five generations after the Khadans’ arrival in Eden. Through the few established trade routes they would barter goods such as livestock, life necessities and basic weaponry with each other and even the Hadrians on occasion. Despite the existence of trade routes, bartering did not take up a considerable part in the culture of both clans given that there were very limited kinds of commodities to be traded for. But as the resources – wildlife and especially fresh water – in both clans’ territories started to run short, their passes began to cross more often.

The search for available resources led to an increasing conflict between the clans, and with another massive drought occurring, the two clans eventually broke into fights over the still existing bodies of water which came in the form of the two rivers that still run through Anjyarr to this day.

It is known that on a certain day both clans would cross paths at the river known as Ifriq that now flows through the city of Al-Khadir, a day that will forever be remembered as both the beginning and the end of an era. Upon the arrival of the clans and purely based on friction caused by the dire circumstances, the two chieftains clashed and engaged in combat. A battle erupted under the ever-burning sun that would shine brightly upon the battlefield. This battle would decide the fate of both clans or so they thought.

Knowing that the defeat would certainly lead to the demise of their respective clan, neither of the chieftains was willing to give in easily. It is believed that the battle on the riverbank of Ifriq lasted for three whole days, and by the sunrise of the fourth day both chiefs were wound-covered, exhausted, and on the edge of collapsing. Yet they were so well matched that neither could gain an upper hand.

But just as the warriors on both sides were about to join and to turn the duel into a blood-shedding war, it is believed that something miraculous happened. For the first time in that year-long drought that drained the lives of many, it began to rain. Standing dumbfounded in the pouring rain, the Khadans lowered their weapons one after another until eventually, the two chieftains dropped their trident and bow. What happened next was very much based on Khadan folklore and is nowhere to be found in any documented history. But it is believed that when the trident of the Zenthir chieftain hit the ground, its sharpened tip bounced on a large piece of rock and sliced it open. To the Khadans’ surprise, the rock’s inner facet was decorated with gold deposits. Further scouting along the river bank convinced the Khadans that this land they set foot on, despite being barren and fruitless for what lives on the surface of it, is actually quite the opposite below.

Appearance

The Khadan, also known as The Orphans of Anjyarr, are quite different in comparison to the other humans inhabiting the lands of Eden. The Khadan are generally a bit shorter than the Hadrians and grow to be about 180 cm tall at most, with their female counterparts usually only reaching a height of about 170 cm on average.

Previously split into two clans, the Khadan are known to vary in skin colour between the ones who decided to settle down near the coast of Anjyarr and the ones who travelled farther inland. The Khadan skin can range from olive to an almond brown. The Khadan invariably come with a full head of wavy black/brown hair. Within Khadan culture it is also common to see women with braided hair due to the heat.

The eyes of the Khadan are often dark in colour. There are however a wide variety of possible colours, like the occasional sea greens or sapphire blues which are seen as very attractive amongst the Khadan.

Beauty amongst the female Khadan is often recognized by having an oval shaped face, long dark eyelashes and well defined arched eyebrows which act as complementary features to one's eyes which are the main focal point.

Whereas men in contrast to their dark brethren are regularly seen with well maintained facial hair. Beards and moustaches are seen as attractive features.

A general consensus within Khadan culture is that scars are seen as a sign of beauty and a badge of strength and courage.

Apparel

Despite the many differences between the characteristics of both races, the inhabitants of Al-Khadir have managed to develop a common trend in apparel.

The harsh climate of Anjyarr favors loose, layered robes often made out of many different materials like cotton and linen or silk and satin depending on one’s wealth. The wealthy will often be seen wearing clothes accessorized with jewels as well as wearing jewelry which are mostly made out of gold.

These robes are usually very colourful and often have accents of gold weaved within the fabric. The only true difference, between the humans and Azari’cill that together form the Khadan, when it comes to their apparel is that the ‘lunn seem to prefer elegant dark-coloured robes decorated with mostly purple gems and inlaid with silver instead of gold. The Khadan are often seen wearing piercings, with the ‘lunn preferring silver over gold once more.

When it comes down to the armor worn by the Khadan it is well known that their armors exist out of similar robes, protected by chainmail and then covered in brass plates heavily enameled and inlaid with shining silvers and golds. Both sexes favour armour of ornate design. The Khadan usually wear gloves and boots made out of leather which is both lighter than any kind of metal as well as making them more agile, which heavily plays into their kind of fighting style. These armors are often accessorized by mostly red coloured cloaks to keep the sun out. It is common to see the Khadan wrap their helmets in long scarves to prevent the sun from beating down upon it.

While travelling through the deserts of Anjyarr, the Khadan are often seen wearing hoods over their heads as protection as well as to conceal their identity.On top of that the women are often seen with veils in front of their faces to keep sand out of their face and prevent it from reaching their eyes.

Culture and Society

Not a single race in Eden could define “the perfect mixture of fire and water” more accurately like the humans of Al-Khadir. The Khadans are peaceful but vigilant; to friends they are the most loyal ally one could ever hope for, but to foes they’re also the most ruthless enemy one would ever imagine.

Initially a group of war refugees from a distant continent, the Khadans have tamed the wasteland of Anjyarr and made their second home in the heart of the desert. The nomadic history of the Khadans have made them skilled riders and masters of bow and arrows, and the trading history has made them great merchants and courageous explorers.

Despite making home in the barren desert, the humans of Al-Khadir are far from barren spiritually. Establishing their own creeds of life, the Khadans believe in a philosophy named “The Path” – that is, to live one’s life solely on the goal of finding inner-peace, despite how one might define peace – and follow it almost piously. The Khadans hold this philosophy to such high regard that the rules they live by are based on their sacred philosophy. The Khadans also do not worship any kind of deity, and nor do they wish to do so.

It is worth noting that the harsh climate of their living environment has made the Khadans extremely loyal to their friends, partners and families. Betrayal of any kind has been deemed a felony by the Khadans throughout their history. This quality of the Khadans, combined with their open-mindedness, has made their alliance with the Azari’lunn one that surpasses all others in strength and duration. Because of that, one might find the culture and society in the Emirate of Al-Khadir so special that it is unfound in any other places in Eden: one that truly treasures diversity and incorporates the best of all races while leaving out the worst.

Holidays and Celebrations

• Sangh:
  • A three-day festival that takes place annually. Starting on the believed date of the reunion between the two Clans, the Khadans spend their time hosting duels (in a friendly and sportive manner), feasting and dancing. Traditionally the two strongest warriors would also put on a performance duel that would continue throughout the festival, but due to such performance being too exhausting, it has been replaced by shorter duels between anyone who would like to be challenged.

• Kura:

• A festival that emphasizes the significance of love of life in the Khadan’s life philosophy. A significant trait of this festival is that different events would take place during the day and the evening. During the day, the younger people would celebrate by hosting a series of competitive sport events such as horse racing or archery, while the elders would spend time visiting their friends or relatives. On the contrary, the evening is a time when the lovers would spend time with each other and when the singles would seek for a potential partner.

• Wahid:
  • This festival celebrates the date when the dark elves and humans first formed their alliance. Originally a Khadan festival, the Wahid has gained enough significance in Al-Khadir that it has been made a national holiday celebrated by humans and elves alike.

Romance, Marriage and Reproduction

As previously mentioned, the humans of Al-Khadir greatly value loyalty. Such ideology manifests especially in romantic and family relationships. As such, the Khadans are often extremely loyal to their partners and seldomly would one separate with their partner. However, the Khadans are also extremely selective when it comes to choosing their partners, for that they treat marriage as almost sacred and are generally very reluctant to start a relationship unless both parties are certain about their choices.

It could take years for a Khadan to determine if they wish to start a relationship with the one they deem special, and many would rather live a single life than to commit to someone carelessly. Usually, once a relationship begins, the family of both parties would gather together for a feast. Such feasts would seldomly end unpleasantly, and in the few cases that it does, the families would still respect the couple’s decision as the final one.

Death and Funeral

Within Khadan’ society death isn’t looked upon as something to fear, for as long as one has lived by the rules of their sacred philosophy, one believes that they will be granted the blessing of reincarnation.

From a young age, a Khadan is taught to live, to enjoy and to serve oneself. For the Khadans, family has the utmost importance. Thus upon the death of a beloved one, a private ceremony will be held at night for all of their relatives to attend accompanied by the stars which illuminate the night sky. The body of the deceased one will be carefully wrapped in robes, decorated with flowers and golden trinkets for all to be seen.

It is worth mentioning that these decorations are meant as a symbol of wishing one luck in their next life, hopefully ensuring they will be living a prosperous one. At the end of the ceremony the cremation will be held, the body will be burned alongside the gifts until just the ashes remain. After this the ashes will be returned to the sea from which their ancestors once came. This is because within the philosophy of the Khadan, the dead aren’t to be mourned as they believe that the generations of the future will be built upon the ashes of their ancestors.