• Homeland: The Haranae are a people that don't live as one, instead they are scattered across varying caves and formations living in small bands throughout the Sinai Desert of Morven. They do however have a central city for meeting and trade within the vast desert known as Behrinein along with two other small villages; Alarcon, Tabuk

“The sands remember…” ─

Remember! We encourage variation; this is merely to be used as a reference guide not a requirement

The Haranae are a desert dwelling people, spread out in the various caves and crevices along the expanse of the Sinai desert, they are generally smaller in stature than many of their neighboring people, light and agile they are quick on their feet. The blistering temperatures of their home creates usually a darker pigment of skin, although they are known to vary among the different groups and tribes. Their hair is often dark, black being the most common but like all people variations are seen and hairstyles can range greatly and often depict ones status; the higher the status the more elaborate they may become. From braided ponytails or long flowing curls for women, to short, shaved or tied back for men. They wear light and baggy clothing, adopting materials that are breathable and most keep with them some sort of cloak or head cover to protect themselves from the heat. The Haranae tend to be a rather bold, flashy and even greedy people, accessories including bone, beads, and even gold. And many carry pouches with them to barter and trade goods and gold. Many often choose to sport daggers or other blades, but the Khopesh (a sickle-shaped sword) are unique to the Haranae.

Notes​

• Because of their vast culture Haranae can vary greatly in skin tone.
• Most of the time children born with albinism are mercy culled to avoid the difficult life ahead of them as they are sensitive to sunlight & burn easily under the desert heat.
• Light weight loose clothing is most common, many Haranae keep some kind of cloak or shawl to cover the head
• Like to accessories with bones, beads, gold & other flashy items.
• Khopesh blade is unique to them

• Albino's are viewed as cursed and are often culled, if not for their beliefs for the fact that they would not be capable of surviving in the Haranae's environment.

• Role: Spiritual and cultural leaders who guide the Haranae in all matters of the soul and maintain balance among their scattered bands.
• Description: The Keepers are deeply respected figures chosen for their mastery and understanding of the six parts of the soul. They oversee rituals, mediate conflicts, and provide spiritual and ethical guidance. Keepers may travel between bands or reside in the central city of Behrinein to offer their wisdom to the broader community.

Hierarchy:

• Grand Keeper: The highest-ranking Keeper who resides in Behrinein and serves as the primary spiritual leader and mediator among the Haranae.
• Regional Keepers: Reside in smaller bands or villages, acting as local leaders and reporting to the Grand Keeper when necessary.

• Role: Leaders of individual Haranae bands or settlements who manage daily affairs, enforce traditions, and make decisions regarding trade, defense, and community welfare.
• Description: Chieftains are chosen based on merit, wisdom, and their ability to lead with compassion and strength. They often work alongside the Keepers of the Six to ensure spiritual and cultural values are upheld within their bands. While their power is significant, they are expected to act in the community's best interest, and abuses of power are swiftly addressed.

• Role: Advisors to the Chieftains and Keepers, providing historical knowledge and wisdom rooted in experience.
• Description: The Elders often guide through storytelling, teaching, and mediating internal disputes. While they hold no official ruling power, their influence is considerable, and ignoring their advice is uncommon.

• Role: This class includes the Keepers of the Six and other spiritual figures who help interpret and guide matters related to the soul.
• Description: They hold the highest respect and influence among the Haranae due to their role in maintaining spiritual balance and guiding both individuals and the community in ethical and religious practices.

• Role: Leaders of the bands, villages, and settlements who manage practical aspects of Haranae life.
• Description: They are responsible for the welfare, safety, and prosperity of their groups. This class includes not only chieftains but also war-leaders, negotiators, and other figures who help manage external relations and defense.

• Role: Individuals who craft essential goods, tools, and sacred items, often using materials found in the desert and caves.
• Description: Artisans, including weavers, metalworkers, and stone-carvers, hold significant status due to their ability to create objects imbued with spiritual and practical value. Some may specialize in crafting magickal items tied to the soul, such as Ren-warding charms.

• Role: Guardians of the bands and travelers who protect the Haranae from external threats and ensure safe passage across the desert.
• Description: Warriors are respected for their skill and dedication to protecting their people. Scouts, who are often adept at survival, are valued for their ability to navigate harsh terrain, locate resources, and relay messages between scattered bands.

• Role: Facilitators of trade within and beyond the Haranae.
• Description: Given their scattered lifestyle, trade is crucial for the Haranae, and those skilled in negotiation, barter, and maintaining supply lines are well-regarded. Many traders travel regularly between Behrinein, Alarcon, Tabuk, and other regions.

• Role: Haranae who focus on gathering resources, hunting, and traveling between settlements.
• Description: While not as high-ranking as artisans or leaders, nomads play an essential role in providing for their people. They have deep knowledge of the desert, including hidden water sources, edible plants, and migrating game. Nomadic bands are resilient and capable of enduring the harsh environment.

• Role: General members of Haranae society who perform day-to-day tasks, assist with communal needs, and provide labor essential for survival.
• Description: This class includes a wide range of roles, from caretakers and builders to those involved in more mundane trades. While not of high status, the commonfolk are respected for their contributions.

• Role: Individuals who have broken sacred laws, such as revealing a true name or causing spiritual imbalance.
• Description: Outcasts are treated with a mixture of wariness and pity. Depending on their transgressions, they may seek redemption through service or penance. Violating the sanctity of Ren is considered one of the gravest offenses, leading to banishment or severe social consequences.

• Consensus and Respect: Decision-making within the Haranae often involves the input of Keepers, Chieftains, and Elders to ensure spiritual, ethical, and practical needs are balanced.
• Fluid Leadership: While leadership roles are respected, the Haranae value flexibility and adaptability, with leaders sometimes stepping aside if they fail to uphold their duties or the will of their people.

Religion of the Haranae: The Path of Six Souls

• The Cycle of Souls: The Haranae believe that life and existence are journeys to balance and harmonize the six parts of the soul. Proper alignment of these elements leads to a fulfilled existence, and misalignment can bring spiritual unrest or even misfortune.
• Soul Guardians: Spiritual leaders, known as Keepers of the Six, guide individuals and the community in rituals to maintain soul balance and interpret the signs and messages from the soul's parts.
• Sacred Sanctuaries: Caves with specific formations or markings are seen as conduits to understanding the soul’s parts and serve as places of meditation, rituals, and teachings.

• Khat (The Physical Body): Seen as the vessel that carries all other aspects. Maintaining physical health is a religious duty, and rituals often involve purification and self-discipline.
• Ka (The Double-Form): Represents one’s spiritual twin or life force, believed to exist alongside the physical self. Offerings and rituals often involve sharing food or drink with one’s Ka to maintain vitality.
• Shuyet (The Shadow-Self): Represents hidden desires, fears, and one’s potential darkness. Rituals of shadow-walking involve confronting and accepting one’s darker nature to bring balance.
• Akh (The Immortal, Transformed Self): The purified, immortal essence of a person that continues after physical death. The Haranae strive to become Akh by transcending earthly flaws through spiritual enlightenment and ethical living.
• Ab (The Heart): The source of morality, seen as the center of good and evil within a person. The Haranae practice Heart Trials—moments of introspection and judgment—to weigh their deeds and seek purification.
• Ren (The Secret Name): The true essence of a person, protected above all else. The act of naming is sacred, and one’s true name is revealed only to the Keepers of the Six during rare, significant rites.

• Name Concealment and Revelation: The secret name (Ren) is guarded fiercely. A trusted few may hold the true name, revealed only during rites of passage, such as coming-of-age ceremonies, union pacts, or death rituals.

• Shadow-Walking Ceremonies: Periodic rituals to confront and understand the Shuyet. Participants enter caves at night to meditate and face visions or challenges tied to their shadow-self.

• Offerings to the Ka: Food, water, and incense are left in sacred spaces or carried on one’s person to nourish their Ka, especially during times of illness, major decisions, or spiritual trials.

• Heart Trials: The Haranae regularly reflect on their actions in community gatherings led by the Keepers of the Six. Confessions, guidance, and symbolic acts of atonement are performed to purify the Ab.

• Transcendence Rituals: When a Haranae passes away, their journey to become an Akh is symbolized by elaborate rites to ensure their spirit moves on, purified and complete. This often includes entombment in sacred caves with items meaningful to their soul’s parts.

Key Principles

Guard the Ren (True Name)

• Description: The true name is the essence of one’s soul and must be protected at all costs. Sharing one’s name outside trusted circles is considered a grave risk and betrayal of one’s soul.
• Ethical Implications: Betraying another's name or using it for selfish gain is among the gravest of sins, resulting in severe punishment or exile.

Seek Balance Among the Six

• Description: Harmony among the soul’s parts is essential. Neglecting any aspect, such as ignoring physical needs or succumbing to darkness, is considered spiritually harmful.
• Ethical Implications: The Haranae strive to maintain balance in themselves and their community. Acts that disrupt balance, such as greed or dishonesty, are seen as personal and communal failures.

Respect the Shadow (Shuyet)

• Description: One must confront and understand their own darkness without succumbing to it. Denial or overindulgence of one’s darker nature leads to imbalance.
• Ethical Implications: Rituals are performed to acknowledge and balance the Shuyet, and those who refuse to confront their darkness are often guided by elders or face community intervention.

Cherish Life and the Khat

• Description: The body is sacred as the vessel of the soul. Self-care and physical health are essential duties.
• Ethical Implications: Harming one’s body or another’s, either through neglect or violence, is viewed as a transgression against the soul.

Heart Purity (Ab)

• Description: The Ab reflects moral purity and is weighed through actions. Acts of generosity, compassion, and courage strengthen the Ab, while selfishness and cruelty tarnish it.
• Ethical Implications: Regular Heart Trials ensure one’s moral compass remains aligned, and those found lacking must undergo acts of atonement.

Seek Akh (Transcendence)

• Description: The ultimate goal is to achieve a state of Akh, where the soul becomes immortal and transformed. This is achieved through enlightenment, balance, and moral purity.
• Ethical Implications: Lifelong dedication to spiritual growth and ethical behavior is the path to Akh. Failure to strive for transcendence is seen as a wasted existence.

• Timing: Once per year
• Description: This sacred night is dedicated to the acknowledgment and respect of the Ren (true name). The Haranae gather in small bands or convene in Behrinein to reflect on the power of names and secrecy. Whispered chants and protective wards are created to guard one’s true name from harm.

Traditions:

• Ceremonial storytelling of legendary figures whose Ren granted them great power.
• Gift-giving of Ren-warding charms to reinforce the secrecy of one’s true name.
• Meditative silence in hidden caves, where individuals renew their personal bond with their Ren.

• Timing: During the rare desert phenomenon when two suns appear due to mirages or celestial alignment
• Description: This festival honors the Ka (double-form), celebrating the connection between one’s spiritual essence and physical self. It is a time of renewal, energy sharing, and recognizing inner strength.

Traditions:

• Sharing meals with one’s Ka by symbolically splitting food and drink between oneself and a carved effigy or shadow representation.
• Community dances and rituals performed around bonfires, symbolizing the merging of physical and spiritual energy.
• Crafting of Ka-talismans, believed to protect and empower the wearer.

• Timing: Held on the longest night of the year
• Description: This ritualistic night is dedicated to the Shuyet (shadow-self), where individuals face their fears, hidden desires, and darker aspects. Participants undergo guided meditation, trials, and confrontations meant to bring balance and acceptance.

Traditions:

• Entering sacred caves or secluded desert spots to meditate in darkness.
• Ritual challenges where participants must confront symbolic representations of their fears or past regrets, often aided by the Keepers of the Six.
• Creation of Shadow Stones, personal tokens representing a triumph or acceptance of a part of oneself, carried as a reminder of balance.

• Timing: When a prominent member of the community transcends their earthly life (i.e., passes away)
• Description: This festival marks the passage of a Haranae soul to the Akh (immortal, transformed self). The community gathers to celebrate the life, contributions, and journey of the departed.

Traditions:

• Ritualized burial or entombment within sacred caves, accompanied by chants, offerings, and the lighting of Akh-lanterns to guide the soul.
• Storytelling of the departed’s deeds and moments that exemplified their spiritual journey.
• Sharing meals to honor the unity of life and the cycle of transformation.

• Timing: Mid-year festival
• Description: Dedicated to the Ab (the heart, source of good and evil), this festival centers around introspection, moral cleansing, and renewal. Haranae reflect on their actions, make amends, and purify their hearts.

Traditions:

• Confession and atonement rituals led by the Keepers of the Six, involving symbolic weighing of the heart using scales and tokens that represent one’s deeds.
• Ritual purification through bathing in rare desert springs or communal sweat lodges.
• Acts of service, generosity, or sacrifice to cleanse the Ab and reaffirm commitments to moral living.

• Timing: Held every few years when Haranae bands converge in Behrinein
• Description: A grand meeting where scattered Haranae bands reunite for trade, alliances, storytelling, and communal bonding. This festival also serves as a time to settle disputes and strengthen communal ties.

Traditions:

• Grand markets where goods, stories, and knowledge are shared.
• Challenge Games: Physical and spiritual contests to display prowess, skill, and balance among participants.
• Ceremonial dances around massive bonfires, symbolizing unity despite distance and separation.

• Timing: During rare desert blooms after rainfall
• Description: This festival celebrates life’s resilience and beauty in the harsh desert environment, as well as the Khat (physical body). The Haranae gather to express gratitude for physical strength and life’s renewal.

Traditions:

• Decorating homes, caves, and bodies with flowers, plants, and vibrant colors.
• Competitions of endurance, speed, and dexterity to honor physical strength.
• Communal feasting and sharing of stories that highlight acts of resilience and survival.

• Timing: Occurs once in a lifetime for individuals deemed spiritually ready
• Description: A sacred pilgrimage through specific desert routes believed to be touched by the Ren. Participants seek guidance, visions, or protection tied to their true name and spiritual essence.

Traditions:

• Travelling in solitude or with a guide, relying on signs from nature and visions during the journey.
• Creation of personal symbols or charms at significant waypoints, left as offerings to protect the Ren.
• Culmination in a hidden sanctuary where the participant undergoes a final ritual to reaffirm their spiritual path and secrecy.

• Mythological Origin: According to Haranae legend, the Sinai Desert was once a vast, barren void until Asheran, the Great Spirit of the Sands, exhaled life into it. This breath transformed the sands into a realm teeming with hidden magic and spiritual significance. The desert's harshness was meant to shape resilience and wisdom among its inhabitants.
• Significance: The story underscores the Haranae belief that their connection to the land is spiritual and transformative. Surviving the desert isn’t just about endurance; it is a spiritual journey that shapes and tests one's soul.

• The Legend: This story recounts the journey of Arinaya, a legendary Haranae heroine who sought to confront her own Shuyet (shadow-self) after it threatened to consume her. In a hidden cave, she faced her darkest fears and weaknesses, making a perilous bargain to balance her soul. She emerged changed, with new strength and wisdom, but forever marked by a shadow that followed her.
• Moral: The story teaches that accepting and understanding one’s darker nature is key to balance. It is often recited during the Shadow Confrontation festival to inspire courage and self-reflection.

• The Myth: Long ago, the Haranae were plagued by an enemy who learned to control them by stealing their Ren (true names). Desperate, a wise Keeper named Elimari sought a way to protect their people. She journeyed to the heart of the desert and made a pact with an ancient spirit, gaining the knowledge to conceal and shield the Ren. This story explains the sacred practice of name concealment and why sharing one’s true name is considered dangerous.
• Cultural Impact: This tale is foundational to Haranae culture, emphasizing the sacredness of names and the importance of spiritual protection.

• Story: When the Haranae were scattered across the Sinai Desert due to internal strife and external threats, a charismatic leader known as Mor Aden united the divided bands. He created the Wanderer’s Pact, a series of oaths binding all Haranae to come together in times of great need and to respect the freedom of each band.
• Legacy: The Wanderer’s Pact is often invoked during major disputes or gatherings, reinforcing unity despite their scattered lifestyle.

• Event: The central city of Behrinein was established centuries ago as a place for trade, diplomacy, and spiritual gatherings. It arose after several Haranae bands agreed to create a neutral meeting ground to prevent conflicts and foster cooperation.
• Historical Significance: Behrinein remains the heart of Haranae culture, symbolizing unity despite distance and serving as a spiritual and cultural center.

• Event: During a severe drought that nearly led to mass starvation, the Haranae believed their Ka (life-force) was being drained by spiritual imbalance. In desperation, the Keepers of the Six performed a grand ritual called the Covenant of Ka to restore balance and appease the spirits of the desert.
• Outcome: The rains returned, and the Haranae emerged with a renewed emphasis on maintaining balance in all aspects of life. This event is commemorated during the Festival of the Double Sun.

• Conflict: In their history, the Haranae faced a great threat from a rival faction known as the Nalthis, who sought to dominate the Sinai Desert. The Nalthis wielded magicks that corrupted Shuyet and sought to control the Ren of their enemies. The Haranae’s unity under Mor Aden and the knowledge of their spiritual practices allowed them to resist and eventually banish the Nalthis.
• Legacy: The Shadow War serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting one’s Ren and maintaining balance. Stories of bravery during this war are often retold to inspire future generations.

• Event: The first recorded Pilgrimage of Ren’Soja occurred when a group of Haranae elders received visions calling them to journey through the desert to sacred sites. This pilgrimage revealed hidden spiritual waypoints and led to new understandings of the Ren.
• Cultural Impact: This tradition continues today, with individuals seeking spiritual awakening or guidance tied to their true name.

• Treaty: When the bands in the villages of Alarcon and Tabuk experienced conflict over scarce resources, a treaty was forged, overseen by the Keepers of the Six. This treaty established cooperative resource sharing and solidified the connection between the settlements.
• Legacy: This concord emphasizes the value of collaboration and mutual respect among the Haranae, even during times of scarcity.

• Story: A fable of Jarek, a Haranae who could speak to the sands and learn their secrets. He used his gift to guide lost travelers, find hidden oases, and protect his people from sandstorms. However, when he grew proud and neglected balance, the sands turned against him.
• Moral: This fable teaches humility, respect for nature’s gifts, and the dangers of hubris.

• Epic: The tale of Zira, a hero who mastered all six parts of the soul and united her people through wisdom and strength. Her journey serves as a spiritual guide for those seeking balance and enlightenment.
• Cultural Impact: The story is often referenced during rites of passage and moments of personal struggle.

• When it comes to family affairs, family is very important for Haranae so they pay special attention to family values and relationships. This great blend between family members encourages children to live with their parents until they get married and then start their own families.

Mourning:

(unknown)

• Player aistiva created this on 2021/10/12 20:43.

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